As frequent user of Twitter, the football presenter said he wanted to go back to life without the distraction of the popular website.

"I left Twitter because it tends to take over and I thought I would try life without it. There is absolutely nothing sinister about the decision at all," the Match Of The Day host told The Sun.
Lineker left Twitter on Friday night and posted a farewell tweet to his followers telling them he was deleting his account.

He tweeted: "I'm leaving Twitter for personal reasons. Thanks all."

A huge new radio telescope facility in Western Australia will scour vast regions of space to provide new clues about galaxy evolution.

The £65 million Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (Askap) is located in a remote desert region of Western Australia, 196 miles from the port of Geraldton.

Askap, which starts scanning the southern skies this year, will also help astronomers investigate one of the greatest mysteries of the universe: dark energy.

This is the anti-gravity force which appears to be causing galaxies to fly apart at an accelerating rate.

Although no one is sure what dark energy is, it accounts for 73% of all the mass-energy in the universe.

Scientists were able to predict Askap's capabilities by combining its specifications with computer simulations.

Dr Alan Duffy, a member of the Askap team from the University of Western Australia, said: "Askap is a highly capable telescope. Its surveys will find more galaxies, further away and be able to study them in more detail than any other radio telescope in the world.

"We predict that Wallaby will find an amazing 600,000 new galaxies and Dingo 100,000, spread over trillions of cubic light years of space."

The telescope will examine galactic hydrogen gas - the fuel that forms stars - to see how galaxies have changed in the last four billion years.

Askap is itself a curtain raiser for an even more ambitious project, the Square Kilometre Array (Ska).
With receiving stations stretching between South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Ska will be the world's largest radio telescope when it begins operating in 2019.

Its combined antennae will provide a total radiation collecting area of approximately one square kilometre.

A total of 357 instances of potentially inappropriate behaviour were identified on social media, spread across 185 profiles, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) said.

Offensive language, comments on police procedure, negativity towards work and extreme opinions on Government were among cases of inappropriate behaviour found during the July and August inspection.

The Inspectorate was asked by the Home Secretary to look at integrity issues among police officers, such as how to interact with the media and acceptance of gifts and hospitality.

Unveiling its progress report, HM Inspector of Constabulary Roger Baker said HMIC is concerned that "progress is inconsistent, and lacks a uniform sense of urgency".

He said: "Integrity is fundamental to the core values of the police and what it means to be a police officer.

"As such it must be at the heart of every action carried out and word spoken by police officers and staff."

The latest research identified 1,588 social media profiles belonging to police officers and staff who identified themselves openly. This compared to 1,849 profiles across just eight forces in 2011.

Some 71% of inappropriate behaviour was found on Twitter, the Inspectorate said, which was all referred back to the relevant forces.

While data suggests that the number of investigations into potential misuse of social media is increasing, monitoring is largely confined to examining comments on their own force-run sites.

Nine forces said they had the capacity to check for inappropriate behaviour on staff accounts, HMIC said, while nine forces reported that they were not carrying out any checks at all.

A public survey, conducted as part of the update, found that public perception of the police was little changed since 2011.

About a third of respondents still questioned the integrity of the police, with 36% believing corruption was fairly or very common in the service.

The original 2011 report, Without Fear or Favour, found no evidence that corruption was endemic in police relationships with the media and others.

However, it revealed concerns that few forces provided any policy or guidance in relation to key integrity issues.

HMIC said: "While some progress has been made, particularly by putting in place processes and policies to manage threats to integrity, more needs to be done.

"The pace of change also needs to increase, not least to demonstrate to the public that the police service is serious about managing integrity issues."

Today's report said progress is inconsistent across forces and more needs to be done with a greater sense of urgency if "the public is to have confidence that the service takes integrity matters seriously".

In addition, a more transparent and challenging environment needs to be created, the HMIC said.

Looking at police relationships with the media, HMIC said forces have taken some action since 2011.

Some 38 forces have set up processes to ensure closer working between communication teams and professional standards departments to identify potential media leaks.

1. Olympics: David Cameron, Samantha Cameron and Boris Johnson dancing together at the Games closing ceremony on Sunday August 12.

2. Euro 2012: England losing on penalties to Italy in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 in Kiev on Sunday June 24

3. X Factor: Ella Henderson being voted off after finishing in the bottom two with James Arthur on Sunday November 18.

4. Olympics: Usain Bolt winning the men's 100m gold medal on Sunday August 5.

5. Olympics: Rowan Atkinson's Mr Bean Chariots Of Fire sketch in the opening ceremony on Friday July 27.

6. X Factor: Rylan Clark and Kye Sones' deadlock on Sunday November 4.

7. Euro 2012: Theo Walcott's goal to bring England level at 2-2 against Sweden, which set up an eventual 3-2 win on June 15.

8. X Factor: Gary Barlow storming off as Carolynne Poole was voted off in favour of Rylan Clark on Sunday October 7.

9. Euro 2012: Joleon Lescott's goal to put England 1-0 up against France in the eventual 1-1 draw on Monday June 11.

10. Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo's goal puts Real Madrid 3-2 up against Manchester City, ultimately resulting in a victory on Tuesday September 18.

Veterans were talked through how to use social media sites including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter on a course run by Synapptic, a provider of IT equipment for the visually impaired.

It was held at the Sheffield centre of Blind Veterans UK, a national organisation which helps blind ex-servicemen and women.

Peter said: "I found Synapptic's social networking course at Blind Veterans UK's Sheffield centre just excellent. I have just 5% sight, and this course will allow me to do things I did not think were possible.

"I will now be able to use Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Audioboo, which will make a big difference to my life. I have friends who live abroad and it will be fantastic to be able to contact them through Facebook from now on. It makes me feel whole."

He was joined on the course by Peter Bartholomew, who was born and raised in Sheffield, and who joined the Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment (TA) in March 1963 but was discharged two years later due to sight problems.

Peter said: "The course was extremely helpful. I will get so much out of being able to use websites such as YouTube which I was not able to use before."

Blind Veterans UK recently launched its No One Alone campaign which aims to reach out to the estimated 68,000 plus ex-service personnel who are eligible for the charity's help.

Mrs Bercow, already on a list of those who wrongly named or linked former senior Tory Lord McAlpine with child abuse claims, sent a message on Sunday night to her 59,000-plus followers asking what happened to teacher Jeremy Forrest, 30, and reportedly named the girl.

An order has been made under Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, banning identification of the girl.

The order states: "Any publication by whatever media in breach of this order is punishable by a fine in the sum of £5,000."

Sussex Police, the investigating force in the Forrest case, said: "Sussex Police is fully aware of reporting restrictions around the case involving Jeremy Forrest and, therefore, is being cautious in the information we release.

"We will actively investigate potential criminal breaches of these restrictions by others."
Scots-born Forrest, a teacher at Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was arrested in Bordeaux in France on September 28 after a European arrest warrant was issued.

He was charged with child abduction after being extradited, and at his latest court hearing he was further remanded into custody at Brighton Magistrates' Court to face a committal hearing at the same court via videolink on December 3.

Media law specialist Mark Stephens, a partner with law firm Finers Stephens Innocent, said he did not think Mrs Bercow had broken the law.

He said: "It seems to me that everyone is treating her as if she is mainstream media.
"But, in fact, she is only using her memory. Her tweet was not a report of the case, it was a comment.

"Even if she was technically in breach of the law - and she would have had no knowledge of the reporting restriction order - there would be no public interest in a prosecution. She cannot un-know what she already knew."

Mike Dodd, legal editor of the Press Association news agency, said: "Mrs Bercow might not, in fact, face the risk of prosecution, or, if she does, should have a defence.

"Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 makes it an offence, punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to £5,000, to publish a report of the proceedings in court which includes information calculated or likely to lead to the identification of any juvenile covered by the order.

"If Mrs Bercow's message was not a report of the relevant court proceedings, it is difficult to see how she could be said to have committed an offence.

"Section 39 orders are not intended to give an individual juvenile anonymity in relation to anything other than the relevant court proceedings."

Today people trying to access Mrs Bercow's Twitter account were met with a page saying: "Sorry, that page doesn't exist!"

It is the second time this month that Mrs Bercow's use of Twitter has resulted in potential problems for her.

On November 4 she tweeted: "Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *innocent face*."

She is accused of linking Lord McAlpine with a BBC Newsnight programme which made unfounded allegations of sexual abuse against a senior Tory at a children's home in Wales.

Mrs Bercow has defended her tweet, describing it as not libellous but "just foolish".

The outraged peer and his lawyers did not agree and his solicitor Andrew Reid confirmed that Mrs Bercow's name was on an extensive list of those against whom legal action might be taken.

She responded to suggestions that she would be contacted by Lord McAlpine's lawyers by taking to Twitter again, posting: "Thanks for phone calls/texts/tweets.

"I guess I'd better get some legal advice then.

"Still maintain was not a libellous tweet - just foolish."

On Sunday she tweeted that she was "a bit scared to comment on trending topics nowadays".

And she told her followers that she does "not have the money to contest a multimillionaire".

The victim's name was circulated on social network sites, including Twitter and Facebook, following Evans's conviction at Caernarfon Crown Court in April.

Some of the defendants also launched abuse at the victim, calling her names like "money grabbing whore" and "poor little victim".

They all claimed that they were not aware that naming her was a criminal offence.
The law gives the victims and alleged victims of rape and other sexual offences lifelong anonymity.

The defendants are: Benjamin Davies, 27, of Elwy Drive, Rhyl, Michael Ashton, 21, of Gwelfor Terrace, Llanddulas, Dominic Green, 23, of Oakwood Road, Rhyl, Craig MacDonald, 26, of Greenacres Caravan Park, Prestatyn, Holly Price, 25, of Derwent Close, Prestatyn, and Gemma Thomas, 18, of South Drive, Rhyl, all North Wales.

Paul Devine, 26, of Buchanan Road, Daniel Cardwell, 25, of White Lane, Chapeltown, and Shaun Littler, 22, of Ashbourne Road, Handsworth, all Sheffield, also pleaded guilty.

Former Sheffield United and Wales striker Evans was found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman in a Rhyl hotel room.

Evans admitted having sex with her, but the woman told the jury she had no memory of the incident - and the prosecution said she was too drunk to consent to sexual intercourse.

He is due to appeal against the conviction at the Court of Appeal tomorrow.

District Judge Andrew Shaw ordered the defendants to pay the victim compensation of £624 each.

App store bosses need to explore ways to regulate content, they said, after they found that tobacco products are being promoted through smartphones.

Researchers examined apps available through the Apple App Store and the Android Market identified 107 "pro-smoking" apps.

During a search of the stores, the researchers found 42 apps in the Android Market and 65 apps in the Apple App Store which they found to include information about brands of tobacco or where to buy tobacco products, or contained images of tobacco brands or cigarettes, or apps that might encourage smoking behaviour.

One app - called Puff Puff Pass - is a cartoon game where the user must click on the characters to order them to smoke and pass the cigarette to the other characters.

"Pro-smoking apps that show that smoking is 'cool' in a cartoon game, and provide a chance to explore the available cigarette brands and even simulate the smoking experience with high quality, free apps could potentially increase teens' risk of smoking initiation," researchers said.

Another app, called MyAshtray, simulates an ashtray and lets the user pretend they are depositing ash into it, after a few drops of ash, the app displays messages such as: "Would be even better with a beer in your hand!"

The apps, which were identified in February this year, were available under the retail categories health and fitness, entertainment and games and lifestyle.

"These apps could also easily attract teens and children due to their high quality graphics and availability under the Game and Entertainment categories in the app stores," the authors wrote in an article published in Tobacco Control.

The researchers said that the content violates the World Health Organisation convention on tobacco control, which bans advertising and the promotion of tobacco products across all media.

"Tobacco products are being promoted in the new smartphone app medium which has global reach, a huge consumer base of various age groups and underdeveloped regulation," the authors conclude.

"Pro-smoking content including explicit cigarette brand images is promoted in smartphone apps, which are reaching millions of users, including teenagers and children. App stores need to explore ways of regulating this content.

"Individual countries could also include monitoring of app stores when enforcing tobacco control policies, as the current technical infrastructure of the Apple and Android app stores could be used to apply local laws and regulations."

The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act bans press, poster and most advertising on the internet for tobacco products across the UK.