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The family of a man who may have remained undiscovered an hour after crashing his car have said they are "heartbroken".
Thomas High, 29, from Tongham, Surrey, was pronounced dead at the scene in North Camp, Hampshire on 17 April. Police were called to the crash on the A331 at 00:20 BST but said it "could have happened much earlier". In a statement, Mr High's family said: "He leaves behind a heartbroken family including his two young sons." Police said Mr High, of Poyle Road, had been driving a Peugeot 206 which left the northbound carriageway and crashed into trees. Officers have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the vehicle on the road between 23:00 and 23:30 on 16 April to come forward. Related Internet Links Hampshire Constabulary
Residents have questioned why more was not done to protect their homes after they were flooded for the third time in nine years.
Parts of Birmingham saw more than a month's rainfall in an hour on Sunday. Houses in Selly Oak and Selly Park were flooded, with waist-high water reported in one street and cars submerged. The Environment Agency, which confirmed a flood defence scheme for the area has been delayed, said surface water in the drains caused the problems. A man in his 80s died in Walsall after his car was submerged in flood-waters as rain swept the West Midlands. Areas of Northamptonshire were also flooded. In Sir John's Road, Selly Park, homes were flooded and cars were under water, while wheelie bins floated down the road. The street last flooded in June 2016 which affected more than 100 houses and some people had to leave their homes. Residents have asked why more was not done to keep their homes safe. You may also be interested in: Karina Thompson said: "The dirt and mess and the aggravation from the insurance company... to be quite honest, it is extremely upsetting and this shouldn't have happened. "It happened two years ago and people could have protected us." Ben Lees, a 25-year-old drainage engineer, was on his way home on Sunday night when he spotted a submerged vehicle in Walsall and dived into water deeper than 6ft (1.8m) to save a man trapped in the car. "I opened the door, told him to take a breath and dragged him out," he said. The Environment Agency confirmed a multimillion-pound flood defence scheme for Selly Park North, which started last February, has been delayed but said other flood defences are working. A defence in Selly Park South was recently completed. Joe Cuthbertson, from the agency, said: "A lot of Environment Agency schemes protect homes and businesses from river flooding. "What we have seen in these areas of Birmingham over the weekend has been surface water flooding." The deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, Brigid Jones, added the authority will be looking at what happened and what could be done better. The city council also apologised after 51-year-old Trevor Thomas, who is disabled, was trapped in his flooded bungalow in Kings Norton before a neighbour saved him. His mother, Pat, said she called social services to find him somewhere else to live and was told no-one was available to help on a bank holiday. A council spokesman said: "We have robust procedures in place to ensure that assistance is available to service users in emergency situations. "We apologise to Mr Thomas and will be investigating to see what has gone wrong." A driver escaped serious injury when a tree fell on his car in Great Barr. It happened in Shady Lane just after 17:00 BST, and resident Lara Pike said the road was temporarily blocked while the scene was cleared. West Midlands Ambulance Service said one man had been able to free himself from the vehicle and was discharged by crews at the scene. What questions do you have about this story? Use the form below to ask us and we could be in touch. If you are reading this page on the BBC News app, you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question on this topic.
A former British and European boxing champion says he is "disappointed" that two boxing glove ornaments have been stolen from his garden.
Dave 'Boy' Green, 61, bought the two concrete ornaments about 30 years ago, around the time he went toe-to-toe with greats including Sugar Ray Leonard. They were stolen from the front garden of his home in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, overnight. "It's very disappointing," he said. "But these things happen." Mr Green had a successful boxing career, securing two shots at the welterweight world title against Carlos Palomino and Sugar Ray Leonard, before he retired at the age of 28. Sugar Ray Leonard said his knock out blow was "was perhaps the most beautiful punch" he ever threw. Mr Green, who was also known as the Fen Tiger, went on to become a businessman and in 2011 was appointed an MBE for his charitable services. "It's not as if I'm not a nice person," he said about the theft of the ornaments. "I try to help other people whenever I can, opening fetes and other things." Cambridgeshire Police has asked for anyone with information about the stolen gloves to come forward. They were stolen between 21:30 and 08:00 GMT.
Israeli businessman Beny Steinmetz has been given a five-year jail sentence by a court in Geneva, in a trial described as the mining sector's biggest-ever corruption case.
By Imogen FoulkesBBC News, Geneva The trial threw a spotlight on an often murky struggle for control of Africa's natural resources. Steinmetz, a former diamond magnate who also holds French citizenship, was convicted of bribing public officials in Guinea, in order to gain control of the country's iron ore deposits. The court also ordered him to pay compensation of 50m Swiss francs (£41m; $56m) to the state of Geneva. "It is clear from what has been presented... that the rights were obtained through corruption and that Steinmetz co-operated with others," to obtain them, Chief Justice Alexandra Banna told the court, according to AFP news agency. Steinmetz, who has always denied bribery, condemned the verdict as a "big injustice". He plans to challenge the verdict and will not go to jail pending the appeal, his lawyer said. The Simandou mines, in south-eastern Guinea, are estimated to be the most valuable untapped iron ore deposits in the world. The case dates back to 2006 when, according to the prosecution, the businessman, working for a company called Beny Steinmetz Resources Group (BSGR), paid bribes so that BSGR could acquire mining rights in Simandou. These had originally been held by mining giant Rio Tinto. The trial took place in Switzerland because Mr Steinmetz lived in Geneva until 2016, and ran businesses there. Some of the bribes, the prosecution said, were paid through Swiss banks. Key witnesses and hot shot lawyers Steinmetz now lives in Israel, but travelled to Geneva to appear in court in person, hiring one of Geneva's most high-profile lawyers, Marc Bonnant, to defend him. The court found that Steinmetz, 64, and his two co-defendants had paid $8,5m (£6,2m) in bribes to a wife of Guinea's late president Lansana Conté, who died in 2008. They were found guilty of setting up elaborate schemes to hide the link between BSGR and Conté's fourth wife, Mamadie Touré. She had been scheduled to appear in court herself but did not turn up. She now lives in the United States. Defence lawyer Mr Bonnant told the trial that Steinmetz had never "paid a cent" to Ms Touré, and that anyway she was never actually legally married to President Conté, and therefore under Swiss law did not qualify as a bribable public official. What's more, Mr Bonnant said, some of the alleged bribes were paid after President Conté's death, which made no sense at all: "How do you bribe a ghost?" he asked the court. Only a 'spokesperson' But the prosecution presented evidence which, it said, proved there was a trail of bribery and corruption stretching from Geneva, via Liechtenstein, to the Virgin Islands and back again. Another high-flying Geneva lawyer, chief prosecutor Yves Bertossa, scored points questioning Beny Steinmetz. Since it was a fact that BSGR had acquired the mining rights for Simandou, he asked, how did Mr Steinmetz not know about the financial transactions that led to that acquisition? Beny Steinmetz, who cut a subdued figure in court, and sometimes, speaking in French, stumbled over his responses, insisted he had only been an "adviser" or a "spokesperson" for the company that bears his name. When confronted with details of the alleged bribery, as well as transcripts of conversations, his frequent response was: "I don't know. I wasn't involved and I don't know the details." Mr Bertossa produced details of a conversation (recorded by the FBI in 2013) in which one of Steinmetz's co-defendants appeared to try to persuade Ms Touré to get rid of evidence of corruption, mentioning a certain person "up there" at BSGR who made all the decisions. "Who's 'up there'?" asked the prosecution. "I don't know who is up there," replied the businessman. "There may be God, but not me." Even when the prosecution produced evidence of meetings, emails, and money transfers that allegedly proved bribery had taken place, Steinmetz denied all knowledge of them, leading Mr Bertossa to scoff that it seemed highly odd that Beny Steinmetz knew nothing about the workings of a company called Beny Steinmetz Resources Group. Beny Steinmetz is no stranger to investigations into his financial affairs. He has been questioned at least once by Israeli authorities, and was recently convicted of money laundering (in absentia) in Romania, in a case believed to be linked to the Guinea bribery scandal. Historic trial For observers of the trial, including non-governmental organisations that for years have followed the tangled web of BSGR's finances, the trial has been historic. Agathe Duparc of Swiss NGO Public Eye, which focuses on big Swiss businesses and multinationals based in Switzerland, said the case had "starkly revealed the inner workings of international corruption, against the backdrop of one of the poorest countries in the world". While the trial had sent a strong signal to the commodities sector, it also showed that Switzerland should tackle legal loopholes that allowed such "predatory practices," she said. In fact this very public trial took place against a backdrop of other moves aimed at cleaning up Switzerland's financial sector, and proving the country has put some of its more questionable financial practices behind it. In November a nationwide referendum, which would have made businesses domiciled in Switzerland legally responsible for human rights violations and environmental damage along their supply chains anywhere in the world, won the popular vote but not the required number of cantons. Nevertheless, the Swiss government, mindful of public opinion, has introduced new legislation for Swiss businesses, requiring them to report on human rights and environmental standards and conduct due diligence when it comes to child labour and mineral sourcing from conflict areas. At the same time, Switzerland's Attorney General is conducting painstaking investigations into global financial scandals in which there may have been some Swiss involvement, including Malaysian state wealth fund 1MDB and Brazilian oil giant Petrobras. Just last week Swiss prosecutors said they had opened an investigation into money laundering and embezzlement linked to Lebanon's Central Bank. Big implications for mining industry This case has much wider implications than the fate of Beny Steinmetz. When BSGR acquired the Simandou mining rights, it did not extract any iron ore. A few years later, BSGR sold the mining rights to Brazilian multinational Vale for an estimated $2.5bn. Vale has yet to show an interest in Simandou either. Businesses and their shareholders in places far from Guinea have done extremely well trading those mining rights. The people of Guinea themselves have got precisely nothing - and the iron ore deposits, described by Agathe Duparc as "fabulous" resources, lie untouched, the Simandou region undeveloped and lacking in investment. It's a story that NGOs such as Public Eye insist is repeated across Africa. In the fight for control of highly valuable mineral resources, unscrupulous businesses see ways to get rich quick, and there is little control of their financial practices. The bribery in Guinea only came to light when, after the death of President Lansana Conté, his democratically elected successor Alpha Condé ordered an audit into the Simandou mines. It has been seven years since the Steinmetz investigation was opened. This trial is now likely to bring more pressure on Switzerland to prevent what Public Eye calls "predatory practices that deprive the populations of resource-rich countries of essential revenues".
A £100,000 system to divert traffic away from a busy Swansea street to prevent European pollution levels being broken, will go live early next year.
The affected section of Neath Road in Hafod runs from the Liberty Stadium to the traffic lights at Dyfatty. It has suffered for a number of years with traffic problems. The Nowcaster system monitors air, traffic and weather and sends messages to signs in the city centre telling motorists to use other routes. The information signs have been erected along Fabian Way, Quay Parade and in the Hafod area. The scheme was first announced two years ago but there have been delays in developing the software for Nowcaster, which was trialled and developed in Sweden. Exceeding safe levels Mark Thomas, Swansea council's cabinet member for environment and transportation, said: "This system is one of the first in the country to be developed and it's taken a couple of years for us to get to this point. "We are confident that when it is launched it will be a great benefit to residents in the communities where air pollution caused by vehicles is a concern." Hafod has been a designated air quality management area since 2001 because pollution in the air exceeds safe levels. Heavy goods vehicles were banned from the road in 1999, and speed bumps were removed in 2007 to help ease traffic flow. Buses have also been diverted from Neath Road to another road running alongside and a relief road is being built to help ease congestion.
The Queen's Baton Relay has seen its biggest crowds so far on its journey around Wales as thousands of people welcomed it to Carmarthenshire.
The baton started its fourth day in the country with a visit to Dylan Thomas's writing shed in Laugharne, helping to mark 100 years since the poet's birth. Crowds then greeted it as it went to Ammanford, Llanelli and Carmarthen. It now heads to Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, where it will be blessed at St Davids Cathedral. A dry day helped draw people out to watch the relay on Tuesday, with baton bearers including Stella actor Julian Lewis Jones, Welsh tenor and BBC Radio Wales presenter Wynne Evans and Non Evans, the weightlifter and former Wales rugby international. In Llanelli alone police said they thought about 2,200 people had turned out. Baton bearer Kevin Evans, a triple Commonwealth medal-winning boxer from Carmarthen, said: "It was brilliant, a really good experience - great turnout." Entertainment and sporting activities were laid on as the relay wound its way around the county, culminating with celebrations in Carmarthen town centre on Tuesday evening. The relay is building up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow which start on 23 July. The baton's fifth day in Wales will start with a blessing on Wednesday morning in the grounds of St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire by the Bishop of St Davids, the Right Reverend Wyn Evans. Baton bearers will continue the relay in Cardigan, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth, before it finishes the day in Machynlleth with sporting activities and entertainment. Jack Bradick, 11, who will carry the Queen's baton along Aberystwyth promenade, said he had been inspired to take part after the Olympic Torch Relay travelled through the town in 2012. "I am quite excited. I have seen some very famous people who have carried it, like Tom Daley," said Jack, who as a Welsh Sports Ambassador for Schools encourages and motivates other children to take up sport. "It is unusual to be part of something so big." BATON RELAY ROUTE IN WALES •Day five: St Davids, Machynlleth •Day six: Llanberis, Beaumaris, Menai Strait, Caernarfon •Day seven: Rhyl, Moel Famau, Ruthin, Llandegla The baton arrived at Cardiff Airport on Saturday morning and was greeted in the rain by crowds in Abertillery, Ebbw Vale, Tredegar and Merthyr Tydfil. On Sunday it visited several places in Rhondda Cynon Taf, as the downpours continued before heading to Llandrindod Wells in Powys in the evening. Sunshine finally greeted the baton on Monday as it headed north to visit the Urdd Eisteddfod, a touring Welsh language youth festival that attracts around 100,000 visitors each year. At the end of its seven days in Wales, the baton will have travelled 731 miles (1,176km) in Wales visiting sights including the summit of Snowdon. The baton tradition started before the 1958 Cardiff Games and has taken place in some form before every Games since.
Major gains by the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in England's local elections appear to be part of a wider revolt against the political establishment in much of Europe.
By Patrick JacksonBBC News Europe's traditional left-right-centre pattern of parliamentary democracy is being increasingly challenged by alternative parties and protest movements. In Greece, the once-mighty Socialist party Pasok was thrashed into third place by an anti-bailout coalition of the left, while in Italy the success of a protest movement called Five Star forced left and right into an unlikely coalition. Here BBC News looks at some of the anti-establishment forces making an impact in the EU. Italy Tapping into a mood of anger and resentment over the deep recession, former TV comedian Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement came from virtually nowhere to win a quarter of the popular vote. Disparaging parties of the left and right alike, Five Star railed against corruption and austerity, and promised to hold a referendum on continued membership of the euro. In an interview for the BBC in February, Mr Grillo attributed his movement's success to "democratic rage". He predicted the "right and the left [would] get together and... govern a country of rubble that they are responsible for". Five Star's hugely effective campaign relied on the internet and public rallies, shunning the country's traditional media. Share of vote at February 2013 election: 25.5%; number of MPs: 109 out of 690 (Note: Throughout "MPs" refers to politicians in lower house.) Syriza, an acronym for Radical Coalition of the Left, rallied disparate small parties against Greece's EU-IMF bailouts, led by charismatic young politician Alexis Tsipras. During the heated election campaigns of 2012, Mr Tsipras shocked eurozone leaders by asserting that Greece could simultaneously renege on its loan commitments and remain in the eurozone. In 2009, his coalition had polled just 5%, while the Pasok socialists won the vote with a convincing 44%. In 2012, after two huge, painful international bailouts of the economy, Syriza came close to winning both the May election and its repeat in June, while Pasok's support crumbled to 12%. Share of vote at June 2012 election: 27%; number of MPs: 71 out of 300 The other big surprise of the 2012 elections was the arrival in parliament of the far-right Golden Dawn, coming fifth in the June vote after taking less than 1% in 2009. In a country which has become the arrival point for four out of five illegal immigrants entering the EU, it pursued a staunchly anti-immigration campaign. Reviled by many as neo-Nazis - its supporters wear black shirts and use neo-Nazi symbols - Golden Dawn has been linked to street violence. One controversial party tactic has been to hand out free food for Greek citizens only. Share of vote at June 2012 election: 7%; number of MPs: 18 out of 300 While executive power still rotates between the traditional left and right, the far-right Front National (FN) remains in third place, campaigning against "Islamisation" and the euro. Its leader, Marine Le Pen, has sought to end the party's racist image, pointing out, for instance, that it has Jews among its members, but many still identify the FN with her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, a convicted Holocaust-denier. Ms Le Pen told the BBC in February she supported UK Prime Minister David Cameron's desire to renegotiate the balance of power in the EU. Pointing to UKIP, she said: "We've managed to move the goal posts." Share of vote in first round of May 2012 presidential election: 18% While the Left Front came behind the FN in the presidential election, they dislodged centrist candidate Francois Bayrou from fourth place, a significant gain from the last election in 2007. Capitalising on anger towards bankers and capitalism, their firebrand leader Jean-Luc Melenchon described his movement as "the people of French revolutions and rebellions". Share of vote in first round of May 2012 presidential election: 11% The Party for Freedom (PVV) took 15.5% of the vote in the 2010 election on a strongly anti-Islamist platform, falling back to 10% in 2012. Under its leader Geert Wilders, it stoked fears about the size and influence of the country's Muslim minority, now nearly 6% of the population. However, it rejects the far-right label because of its espousal of liberal values such as gay rights. It is also notably Eurosceptic. Share of vote at September 2012 election: 10%; number of MPs: 24 out of 150 Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) won about 20% of the vote at local elections in Dutch-speaking Flanders in 2006, campaigning on a platform of independence for Flanders and anti-immigration. The following year, it took 12% of the vote in national polls - its strongest ever result. But it has since declined, falling back to just under 8% in 2010. Last year, its leader, Filip Dewinter, launched a controversial campaign called "Women Against Islamisation", featuring his own 19-year-old daughter wearing a burka and a bikini. Share of vote at June 2010 national election: 7.7%; number of MPs: 12 out of 150 When the Socialists were ejected from office in 2010 after eight years in power, they lost half of their share of the vote, with the conservative Fidesz party taking an overall majority. The shock result of the poll, however, was the leap made by the far-right party Jobbik, which took nearly 17% on an anti-globalisation platform despite winning no seats in 2006. Jobbik, with its paramilitary uniforms and parades, has gained notoriety for its rhetoric against the Roma minority. It makes a special issue of "gypsy crime" and marches through Roma-majority areas. One of its MPs caused outrage in parliament when he called for the compilation of a list of names of Jews who posed a "national security risk". Share of vote at 2010 election: 16.7%; number of MPs: 47 out of 386 The True Finns took nearly a fifth of the vote in 2011, finishing third, after campaigning against further eurozone bailouts. More populist than extremist, the party's charismatic leader, Timo Soini, has advocated reforming the EU into a free trade union without the euro. After several of the party's MPs made derogatory remarks about immigrants, Islam and homosexuality, Mr Soini insisted in an interview for the BBC this year that the party was not racist. Share of vote at 2010 election: 19%; number of MPs: 39 out of 200 Despite slipping by a few points at the 2011 election, the Danish People's Party remains the country's third-biggest. Regarded as populist and right-wing in its policies, the party seeks to limit immigration while integrating existing immigrants. Analysts attribute its best electoral result - 13.8% in 2007 - to a backlash in public opinion after Muslim unrest in 2005 over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in Denmark. Share of vote at 2011 election: 12.3%; number of MPs: 22 out of 179 The Sweden Democrats entered parliament in Stockholm for the first time in 2010, demanding curbs on immigration. Their leader, Jimmie Akesson, said in a BBC interview in 2011 that Muslim immigrants had created "parallel societies" and said immigrants were a "little bit more criminal" than native Swedes. Critics accuse the party of being xenophobic. Share of vote at 2010 election: 5.7%; number of MPs: 20 out of 349 Austro-Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach, who has vowed to shake up the eurozone, created a new parliamentary party without contesting an election last year. Team Stronach aims to give Austria a new entrepreneurial impetus and end the traditional left-right coalitions. It was formed after the car parts magnate persuaded five MPs to defect from a small right-wing alliance. Opinion polls at the time suggested the new party had the support of an estimated 10% of the electorate. The country elects a new parliament in September. No elections fought to date; number of MPs: 5 out of 183
Whales, dolphins and porpoises are to be photographed and their calls recorded during a new survey of marine life off Scotland's west coast.
Scientists and volunteers will gather the data between May and September. The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) project will also seek to record behaviour and numbers of basking sharks. The survey work will be carried out over seven to 10 days from the charity's yacht, Silurian. HWDT said 24 species of cetaceans - whales, dolphins and porpoises - can be found off Scotland's west coast, including species designated as national and international conservation priorities. The survey will involve photographing dorsal fins for use in identifying individual animals and to improve understanding of species' movements and interactions. Photo identification work has already catalogued 125 minke whales, some of which HWDT believe stay in Hebridean seas all year round. The waters also support the UK's only resident population of killer whales and two feeding and breeding hotspots for basking sharks, the world's second biggest fish. During the survey work, an underwater microphone called a hydrophone will be used to record the high frequency sounds of harbour porpoises and white-beaked dolphins for analysis. Olivia Harries, HWDT biodiversity officer, said: "Given environmental and climate change, action to monitor and conserve Scotland's spectacular whales, dolphins and porpoises is more important than ever. "With 2013 being the Year of Natural Scotland, we're keen for people to take part in our surveys." Volunteers will have to pay a fee to join the survey trips. Shark tagging Earlier this year HWDT warned that the UK's only known resident population of killer whales was at risk of becoming extinct. The group, which ranges from the north and west coast of Scotland to Ireland's west coast, is thought to contain just nine older animals. The trust said the group was at risk as a result of the "skewed" demographics and its studies suggested the animals had become isolated from other groups in the north east Atlantic. In February, a sighting of sperm whales off Scotland's north-west coast in winter was described as "extraordinary" by research charity Sea Watch. Creel fishermen working between Loch Torridon and South Rona spotted the deep-diving whales. Sea Watch said groups of sperm whales had been seen off Scotland in the summer, but it was unusual for them to be spotted at this time of year. It said the change could be a sign of warming sea temperatures. This year has also seen a basking shark tagging and tracking project extended. In 2012, eight sharks were satellite tagged off Scotland's west coast and their travels could be followed online. One of the sharks was tracked to the west coast of Portugal and another swam 1,864 miles (3,000km) to the Canary Islands off west Africa. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the University of Exeter plan to tag 29 sharks this summer. The project aims to increase understanding of the behaviour of the fish which gather in large numbers around the islands of Coll, Tiree and Canna every summer. The work is also part of a wider programme of marine research led by SNH and Scottish government agency Marine Scotland.
In death she received some of the sympathy denied her while she was alive.
Tiziana Cantone had already tried to take her own life twice before her third and final attempt, her mother said. The 31-year-old was a "sensitive" girl who - despite moving home, changing her name and fighting through the courts to have the videos removed from the internet - could not escape the notoriety caused by the sex tape she featured in. "She was hurting and at times took refuge in alcohol. But she was always a healthy and normal girl," her mother Maria Teresa told investigators, La Repubblica newspaper reported. Tiziana had won a "right to be forgotten" ruling - but could not understand why the court had ordered her to pay €20,000 (£17,000; $22,500) in legal costs. By then it was much too late - the video had been copied and republished thousands of times. "She was suffering from everything she saw and heard and in particular from the outcome of the legal proceedings, because she believed justice had not been done," her mother said. Her mother has been joined in grief by many Italians - but not all. Some continued to condemn her, such as Walter Caputo, a Turin city councillor for the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Mr Caputo wrote on Facebook that Tiziana had in sending the video to acquaintances perhaps been "aiming for a certain notoriety" and was "certainly not a saint". Mr Caputo later apologised for the remarks, which he said had been poorly considered, Fanpage.it website reported. Author Roberto Saviano said the hostility towards Tiziana stemmed from what he described as Italy's "morbid" relationship with sex. "I grieve for Tiziana, who killed herself because she was a woman in a country where uninhibited and playful sex is still the worst of sins," he wrote on Twitter. Another commenter suggested that had Tiziana been a man - "if she were called Tiziano" - she would still be alive because men having sex do not attract the same kind of scandalised reaction. One mourner at her funeral said she was surprised by how few men had attended. "There were many women and very few men and this thing made me feel really bad," she told reporters. Tiziana's suicide came just as friends thought she was finally putting the episode behind her. "I wonder how anyone can be so fierce, how to rage against a girl who has not done anything wrong," Teresa Petrosino told Corriere della Sera. "I think that they should be ashamed, all those who have filled the web with insults and meanwhile secretly watched the images."
A man developed an acute liver problem because of his daily energy drink intake, doctors suggest.
The case occurred in Florida when a 50-year-old construction worker sought help after developing vomiting, jaundice and abdominal pain. He already had an underlying liver problem, which doctors think increased the risk from his four or five drinks per day. British experts said it added up to a "double whammy" for his liver. The patient originally thought he had flu, but sought medical advice when he developed other symptoms including dark-coloured urine and jaundice. Writing in BMJ Case Reports, the medical team from the University of Florida College say the man did already have chronic hepatitis C - a liver condition - but these symptoms developed separately. Tests showed he had high levels of liver enzymes, called transaminases, which are a sign of liver damage, as well as evidence of his chronic hepatitis C infection. A biopsy revealed severe hepatitis. Working day To try to find out what had caused his condition, they asked the patient about any smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use and diet. But the only thing which he reported as different from the norm was his use of energy drinks to get him through his working day - four to five drinks a day over the preceding three weeks. Each had around 40mg of niacin (vitamin B3) - UK recommendations are that men have no more than 17mg a day and women 13mg. People usually experience toxic symptoms only if they have more than 500mg, but in this man's case, 160mg-200mg a day was enough to affect his liver. His symptoms disappeared when he stopped consuming energy drinks. This is only the second such case to be reported in medical journals. The researchers, led by Dr Jennifer Harb, said: "As the energy drink market continues to rapidly expand, consumers should be aware of the potential risks of their various ingredients. "Vitamins and nutrients, such as niacin, are present in quantities that greatly exceed the recommended daily intake, lending to their high risk for harmful accumulation and toxicity." 'Your body's factory' Her colleague Dr Vikas Khullar told the BBC that everyone, not just those with hepatitis or other liver disorders, should be cautious about how many energy drinks or herbal teas they drink. He said: "We are not sure how many of the ingredients are filtered through the liver, and what levels may lead to toxicity and liver injury." Andrew Langford, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: "The liver is your body's factory - it carries out hundreds of functions that are vital to life. "These functions include destroying and dealing with drugs or toxins, processing food and drink once it has been digested and storing energy so that it can be used effectively. "Energy drinks offer no nutritional benefit and drinking too many of them can stop the liver from doing its job properly and lead to serious problems." He added having a pre-existing liver condition was "likely to exacerbate the problem and create a 'double whammy' effect". Mr Langford said a balanced diet - including plenty of water, exercising regularly and limiting alcohol consumption - would help maintain a healthy liver,
Most deaths of young children around the world are from mainly preventable infectious causes, experts have said.
A US team, writing in the Lancet , looked at mortality figures from 2010. They found two-thirds of the 7.6m children who died before their fifth birthday did so due to infectious causes - and pneumonia was found to be the leading cause of death. One expert said it was very important to "translate such findings into action". The team from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health looked at data from a range of sources, including household surveys and registration systems for 193 countries. Mathematical modelling was used where data was incomplete. They found child deaths had fallen by two million (26%) since 2000, and there have been significant reductions in leading causes of death including diarrhoea and measles - as well as pneumonia. But they say there are still significant challenges. International targets Half of child deaths occurred in Africa - two thirds (2.6m) were due to infectious causes, including malaria and Aids. In South East Asia, neonatal causes were the leading cause of death. Five countries (India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and China) accounted for almost half (3.75m) of deaths in children under five. The researchers warn that very few countries will achieve international targets for improving child survival - the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 - by the 2015 deadline. Only tetanus, measles, and HIV/Aids have fallen enough to meet the target. Writing in the Lancet, the researchers say: "Across all the previous and current rounds of causes of childhood death estimation, pneumonia and pre-term birth complications consistently rank as the leading causes at the global level. "Africa and South East Asia are repeatedly the regions with the most deaths in children younger than five years. "Our trend analysis shows that accelerated reductions are needed in the two major causes and in the two high-burden regions to achieve MDG4 by 2015."
Businesses which make a living from the land or sea can get grants from Jersey's States.
The Rural Initiative Scheme gives money for research, energy efficient schemes, training and new facilities. There is also money for projects to help industry as a whole, such as new processing plants and schemes which offset the effects of climate change. The organisers want to support projects which bring in new business in an environmentally friendly way. There are four categories that businesses can apply for, up to £10,000 for research, up to £50,000 for energy efficiency or enterprise and there is no cap on the level of funding for an industry-wide grant. Deputy Carolyn Labey, Economic Development's assistant minister for Rural Economy, said: "The [Rural Initiative Scheme] has been a hugely popular and successful scheme since its launch in 2006. "70% of applications received meet the scheme's objectives and consequently are offered grant aid to support projects that promote economic growth in the countryside. "The objective of the [Rural Initiative Scheme] is to provide support for rural businesses investing in new markets, adding value to existing products, improving productivity, reducing the costs of production, adapting to future challenges or researching new opportunities." Businesses need to submit their applications by 31 August.
A woman who has gone missing with her two-year-old child left the UK for Spain, police have said.
Zivile Jokubonyte, 29, and her son Saliamonas caught a flight from Bristol Airport to Valencia on 31 August. Avon and Somerset Police said there were concerns for the welfare of Ms Jokubonyte, a Lithuanian national living in Bridgwater, Somerset. The force said her disappearance was "unexpected" and she had not contacted her mother since 4 September. A spokesperson said the force was liaising with Spanish authorities. The have appealed for her, or anyone who is in touch with her, to contact them to confirm that she and her son are safe and well.
Seven people have been rescued after writing a message in sand calling for help.
The four adults and three children had sailed to a beach in Cornwall but were trapped by a 2m (6ft) onshore swell on Tuesday, the RNLI said. They wrote "send for help" in the sand, which was spotted by a cliff-top walker who called emergency services. The RNLI's inshore lifeboat at Rock got them off the beach and transferred them to other vessels to be taken ashore. 'Suitable contact' The party had travelled around Stepper Point to a beach at Butter Hole in a sailing dinghy and a small rigid inflatable boat (RIB) for a picnic, the RNLI said. After the swell started, the adults were afraid to launch back into the sea with the children on board. They wrote their message in the sand because they had no VHF radio and no mobile phone reception, the charity said. The Rock lifeboat was launched at about 15:20 BST. The Padstow coastguard team and the Padstow all-weather lifeboat were also called out. The inshore lifeboat transferred the rescued party to a nearby tripping boat, the Ocean Voyager, and the all-weather lifeboat. The RNLI volunteer lifeboat operations manager at Rock, Mike Hewitt, said the group made a "very sensible decision" not to launch their boats to return but were lucky the passing walker saw the message. He said: "I would remind people that it's important to have a suitable means of contacting someone when going to sea. "Don't assume you will have a mobile phone signal when you go to a beach by water, so take a VHF radio."
A Manx local authority has banned the release of balloons and sky lanterns from its land and properties.
Port St Mary Commissioners said a complete ban would be introduced after the board unanimously backed the move. A spokeswoman said its members were concerned about plastic pollution, especially in the marine environment. The Manx Wildlife Trust recently criticised a large balloon release in Belfast, which they said could have a "horrendous" impact on local wildlife. Port St Mary chairwoman Dr Michelle Haywood said a number of local authorities across the UK and Ireland had taken a similar steps. "We are surrounded by coastline and it is inevitable that the plastic waste would end up in the sea," she said. "We don't want to see that sort of littering." Releases will also be prohibited as part of the rental agreement for the Town Hall, though the ban will not be introduced in bye-laws until a public consultation is held. Related Internet Links Port St Mary Commissioners
The government has rejected a call for a UK reparations fund for victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA attacks.
By Stephen WalkerBBC News NI Political Correspondent The fund was originally suggested by a cross-party group of MPs on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. They have described the government's response as unacceptable. Former Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi supplied arms to the IRA and, during the Troubles, Libyan Semtex plastic explosive was a key weapon in the group's bombing campaign. MPs on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, which investigated the issue for many months during the last parliament, originally called for compensation for victims. They also wanted a special fund set up and Libyan assets in the UK frozen. 'Tea and sympathy' Conservative and Labour Party politicians sit on the committee, along with DUP MPs Gregory Campbell, Jim Shannon, Ian Paisley and the independent MP Lady Hermon. The Northern Ireland Secretary, James Brokenshire, said compensation claims were a "private" matter. Establishing such a fund was not a viable option, the government added. Mr Paisley, the MP for North Antrim, said he had had enough of "tea and sympathy". If the government was so convinced about payments eventually coming from the Libyan authorities, the victims should receive "payments in lieu", he said. "I note the ongoing dialogue ministers have with Libyan counterparts on the issue, which is welcome," he said. "I now invite them to formally update the committee on a regular basis until the matter is resolved." The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee also includes Labour MPs Kate Hoey and Conor McGinn, who are both from Northern Ireland. Ms Hoey, a long-serving member of the committee who has campaigned for victims' compensation, said the government response was "as unsurprising as it is unacceptable". "They are telling people to seek justice on their own, to bear the cost and overcome the language barrier of obtaining compensation directly from the Libyan government," she said. "There is a duty to represent the victims, just as the US and German governments fought for compensation for their citizens." According to the committee, the government does not consider it to be in the UK national interest to use political or financial support to Libya as leverage to secure compensation for victims. 'Position of cowardice' Kenny Donaldson, of the campaign group Innocent Victims United, said the government's "dismissive" response was typical of its attitude towards terrorist victims. "This position is the position of cowardice and is both politically and morally indefensible," he said. "The UK government repeatedly pushes its chest out when terror attacks happen - there is the pomp and ceremony, there are the strong and well crafted words of repudiation of that terrorism and violence at the time. "But what happens after for those left devastated? "The answer is very little." A government spokesperson said: "The government notes the potential challenges of making additional UK resources available specifically to the victims of Gaddafi-sponsored IRA terrorism, which would need to be considered carefully against government support to victims of terrorism more generally, including in Northern Ireland." The government also said the issue of compensation has been raised with the Libyan authorities at the highest level.
Ex-FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe has given memos about conversations he had with President Donald Trump to an inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, US media say.
The memos could support claims that Mr Trump sought to obstruct justice. Mr McCabe was fired from the FBI on Friday. Mr Trump had accused him of bias and said on Sunday Mr McCabe had never taken notes when the two met. The president has also dismissed the Russia investigation as a "witch hunt". The investigation is led by special counsel Robert Mueller, himself a former FBI director. He has so far indicted 19 people. The president's lawyer, John Dowd, issued a statement on Saturday saying it was time for the special counsel's investigation to end. Mr Trump has since complained that the Mueller team is composed of "13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans". Why was McCabe fired? Mr McCabe had been under internal investigation by the FBI and had already stepped down from his deputy post in January pending the review. He was sacked just two days short of his 50 birthday on Sunday, when he was expected to retire with a federal pension. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the "extensive and fair investigation" had concluded that Mr McCabe "made an unauthorised disclosure to the news media and lacked candour - including under oath - on multiple occasions". Although the decision to fire Mr McCabe was made by Mr Sessions, Mr Trump had criticised him for months. He has publicly pointed to donations that Mr McCabe's wife, a Democrat, received from a Clinton ally when she ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 2015 as evidence that Mr McCabe was politically biased. In December Mr Trump tweeted: "FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe is racing the clock to retire with full benefits. 90 days to go?!!!" He welcomed the news of his dismissal almost immediately after Mr Sessions announced it, calling the move a "great day for democracy". Mr Trump's tweet about the firing provoked an angry response from former CIA director John Brennan, who implied Mr McCabe was being made a scapegoat. What could the memos say? News that Mr McCabe had kept records of his conversations with Mr Trump at the time he was acting FBI director emerged on Saturday. US media say the memos will support Mr Comey's account of the circumstances of his dismissal last May. Mr Comey has testified that Mr Trump had asked him for his "loyalty" and requested he drop an inquiry into his former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. He too has said he kept contemporaneous notes of his dealings with the president. But President Trump cast doubt over the notes. Tweeting on Sunday, he said he had spent "very little time" with Mr McCabe - and the acting FBI director had never taken notes during those meetings. He added: "Same with lying James Comey. Can we call them Fake Memos?" In a statement responding to his firing on Friday, Mr McCabe vehemently denied wrongdoing. "I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey," his response said. The statement alleges that the justice department report recommending his firing was "accelerated" after he indicated that he would corroborate Mr Comey's version of events. On Saturday Mr Comey - who is due to release a book - said Americans would soon be able to judge for themselves "who is honourable or not" after the president again criticised him on Saturday. What did Trump say on Saturday? The president continued posting about Mr McCabe's departure on social media, saying there had been "leaking, lying and corruption" at the FBI, as well as the defence and state departments. In an email to The Daily Beast website, Mr Dowd said he prayed that Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would follow the "brilliant and courageous example" set by Mr Sessions to bring the investigation to an end. He initially said the statement was made on behalf of the president, before backtracking and saying the comments had been made in a personal capacity. Mr Dowd's statement provoked an angry response from Democrats. Senate Intelligence Committee Vice-Chairman Mark Warner called for a bipartisan defence of Mueller's Russia probe. The statement was echoed by Sen Patrick Leahy, who said the Senate Judiciary Committee should hold a hearing on the "attempted politicisation of the FBI". Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff tweeted: "Obstruction of justice is no less a threat to our democracy when done in the open than behind closed doors."
A sweet shop worker who encouraged children to expose themselves by bribing them with confectionery has been jailed.
Paul Lewis, 33, offered children as young as eight free snacks as an enticement to engage in sexual activity, police said. After he was reported, officers raided Lewis's home and found an indecent video on his phone. He was jailed for 10 years at Sheffield Crown Court. Lewis, of Lower Dolcliffe Road, Mexborough, admitted seven sexual offences, committed between July and October 2018. against boys and girls aged eight to 11. Investigating Officer Amy Fourlis said police identified the victim in the video found on Lewis's mobile, and managed to speak to the child. This resulted in additional charges being brought against him. More Yorkshire stories "Lewis abused a clear position of trust and the victims have shown courage in telling their parents what happened and being interviewed by police," said Ms Fourlis. "Thanks to them, we were able to build a strong case against Lewis and identify further offences. I'm pleased that he has been handed a significant jail term and offers the community some reassurance." Lewis admitted inciting a girl under 13 and a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity, possessing an indecent photograph of a child, outraging public decency and one count of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.
A Zambian court has acquitted a human rights activist on charges of promoting homosexuality, in a ruling hailed as a boost for gay rights in Africa.
Paul Kasonkomona was charged with "soliciting for immoral purposes" after arguing for gay rights on a TV show in April 2013. But on Tuesday a magistrate found that the state had failed to prove its case. Homosexuality is illegal in deeply conservative Zambia - as it is in some 40 African countries. On Monday, Uganda toughened its anti-gay laws - introducing life sentences for gay sex and same-sex marriage, banning the "promotion" of homosexuality and requiring citizens to report suspected homosexuals. Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands have blocked some direct aid to the Ugandan government as a result. 'Landmark judgement' Mr Kasonkomona was arrested and released on bail after arguing that recognition of gay rights was necessary if the Aids epidemic was to be effectively addressed in Africa. "The magistrate was clear: public discussion is important," Anneke Meerkotter - a lawyer at the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, which campaigned for Mr Kasonkomona - told AFP news agency. "This is a great victory for freedom of expression. The mood in court was one of great relief. Kasonkomona did not deserve to be arrested for expressing his opinion and the court ruling vindicates his rights." Mr Kasonkomona told AFP his acquittal was a "landmark judgement" and vowed to keep to speak out "for the rights of all Zambians".
A "brutal and manipulative" pimp has been jailed for stalking his wife and threatening to kill her.
Ion Raduca's wife Sylvia fled to Britain while he was in prison in Romania for attempted murder. Raduca, 34, followed her to Exeter after his release from jail in 2018 and found her through social media. Judge Paul Cook sentenced Raduca, of Deepdale, Lancashire, to four-and-half years in jail after he pleaded guilty to stalking at Exeter Crown Court. Raduca told his wife she would never see their four-year-old daughter again. He also threatened to sexually assault the daughter of his wife's friend who refused to reveal Sylvia Raduca's location. During sentencing, the judge told Raduca: "Throughout your relationship you treated her with contempt and brutality and you controlled her." Raduca, originally from Romania, had been jailed for making women work as prostitutes in France in 2013 and was jailed again in Romania for attempted murder in 2016. 'Intense and sinister' After his release from prison in December 2018, Raduca came to the UK in January the following year to find his wife. Raduca sent hundreds of messages described by the judge as "obscene, repellent, deeply offensive and disturbing". "Your stalking of her was prolonged, determined, intense and sinister," he added. Raduca was arrested in a car park in Exeter in February after his wife called the police. A pre-sentence report prepared for the court assessed Raduca as "brutal and manipulative" with an "utter disregard for the rights of women". He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years with an extended licence period of two years and an indefinite order prohibiting contact with his wife.
US President-elect Joe Biden has fractured his foot while playing with one of his dogs, his doctor has said.
Mr Biden, 78, twisted his ankle on Saturday when he slipped while with Major, one of his two German shepherds. The Democrat visited an orthopaedist in Newark, Delaware, a day later "out of an abundance of caution". His personal physician, Kevin O'Connor, said initial x-rays did not show an "obvious fracture", but ordered a more detailed CT scan. The subsequent scan found that Mr Biden had suffered "hairline fractures" of two small bones in the middle of his right foot, the doctor said. "It is anticipated that he will likely require a walking boot for several weeks," Mr O'Connor said. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump tweeted: "Get well soon!" Mr Biden, who beat Republican Mr Trump in November's election, is due to receive his first presidential daily briefing on Monday. This was made possible by the announcement a week ago that the transition process had begun. Mr Biden, who turned 78 earlier this month, will become the oldest US president to take office after he's inaugurated on 20 January next year. Given this, Mr Biden's health is expected to be watched closely by allies and opponents. His doctor described him as "healthy, vigorous" and "fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency" in a medical report released last December. Mr Biden is set to bring his two German shepherds - Champ and Major - with him to the White House. The president-elect and his wife, Jill Biden, fostered Major from a dog shelter in Delaware and made his adoption official in November 2018. Champ lived with the Bidens on Capitol Hill in Washington DC during Barack Obama's presidency, when the former senator for Delaware was vice-president. More on President-elect Biden:
UK businesses face more than £1bn in costs from the introduction of the National Living Wage next year, according to government advisors.
From April, workers aged over 25 will receive a minimum of £7.20 per hour. The Regulatory Policy Committee, which advises government, estimates the change will cost companies £804.4m in extra wages and staff costs. A further £234.3m of "spillover" costs from keeping pay differentials will take it over £1bn, the body said. The amount is slightly higher when including the public sector, where more workers are already paid above the National Living Wage. According to the Institute of Directors (IoD), the figures show George Osborne must now "come good" on his promise to cut taxes. 'Red tape' "IoD members supported the introduction of the Chancellor's living wage as part of a deal he made with business - lower taxes for higher wages," said IoD director Seamus Nevin. He said companies would pay £12bn over the next five years for the government's new apprenticeship levy, as well as further costs from pensions auto-enrolment and extra reporting requirements. Living wages: how does it add up? Mr Nevin added: "It is imperative that the government now comes good on its promise of less red tape, fewer regulatory hurdles, and a lower rate of corporation tax to help employers absorb these additional costs and raise pay." The National Living Wage is separate to the voluntary living wage, which is set at £8.25 per hour and £9.40 an hour in London. More than 2,000 businesses, with almost 70,000 workers, are signed up to the latter scheme.
Mattel's profits rose in its third quarter after Disney's Pixar movies helped spur demand for its toys.
The US firm's net income totalled $301m (£191m) for the three months, up 15% on the previous year. Worldwide sales rose by 9%, with most of that growth coming from the firm's international markets. "This year's big entertainment property, Cars 2, is... fuelling momentum," said chairman and chief executive Robert A Eckert. He was referring to a 6% rise in sales of the firm's Hot Wheels range. Mattel released tie-in models and playsets featuring characters from the animated film. Demand for the company's Barbie dolls saw an even bigger spike, up 17% on the year. Its Barbie and Ken dolls had featured in Pixar's previous film, Toy Story 3. "Getting licenses from films, particularly cartoons, makes a big difference for manufacturers like Mattel," said Greg Hodge, global retail director at the consumer research agency Iconoculture. "Having the right product to utilise the licence in the case of Cars was wonderful for Mattel. But picking the right film is the key to success, and choosing can be difficult." Mattel said it also benefited from a favourable exchange rate. Weakness in the US dollar helped add to its bottom line once foreign earnings had been converted. However, the gain was partially offset by higher production costs. Mattel said it will boost its next dividend payment, due in December. For the year as a whole shareholders will receive $0.92 a share, an 11% rise on last year. The firm's board also revealed it is increasing a previously announced share repurchase programme by a further $500m.
A man has been shot in the chest in what police believe was a drive-by shooting.
The victim, in his 20s, was hurt on Palace Road in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, just after 22:30 BST on Sunday. His condition is not believed to be life-threatening. Police said the car thought to have been involved made off from the scene, and inquiries were ongoing. The ambulance service said it was called to reports of a gunshot. A spokesman said: "On arrival we discovered one patient, a man, who had suffered potentially serious injuries. Following treatment at the scene he was transported to hospital." Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]
A Cardiff councillor is engaged in a row with a dance school boss over a £10,000 coronavirus business grant.
By Paul MartinBBC Wales political reporter Rubylicious owner Vickie Bennett says it's "morally wrong" landlord Ramesh Patel has not passed the cash to her. Mr Patel - who works for First Minister Mark Drakeford - says the money will be used to give Ms Bennett a "rent holiday." He said he would keep "not a penny". But he wants Ms Bennett to apologise first. The cash went to Mr Patel as he is the registered ratepayer at the property. Ms Bennett said she and another tenant pay rates and bills through Mr Patel, so should receive the grant. But when Ms Bennett tried to access the money from Cardiff Council she was told it had been claimed by Mr Patel. Ms Bennett feels Mr Patel should then have given the money to her and the other business at the Cardiff property. She said: "I just feel he's let us all down. "That money would have been a great help. "I feel it's morally wrong, it's the decision he's made to take this money when he doesn't have a business that is in jeopardy, he doesn't have a business that is running from this premises that is in jeopardy." Rubylicious is currently closed because of coronavirus. Mr Patel, who works as office manager for Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan and MS Mark Drakeford, "categorically disputes" Ms Bennett's "accusations". "I am the legally responsible ratepayer of the commercial property and thereby was legally entitled to the grant in the amount of £10,000," he said. "Even before I received the grant, I provided Ms Bennett with rent relief for three months during this very difficult period. "After receiving the grant, my intention was to offer 100% of the grant in the form of further rent relief at the end of the three-month period. "I have instructed my solicitors to write to Ms Bennett asking her to withdraw all false allegations against me and to offer a full apology. "Once Ms Bennett complies with my solicitor's request, I will be able to offer her further rent relief." Ms Bennett said she won't be "bullied" by Mr Patel and won't apologise for "embarrassing him by telling the truth". There is no suggestion Mr Patel has done anything illegal. But BBC Wales has been told there is unhappiness in the local Labour Party at his handling of the situation. The matter was raised in the Senedd last month by South Wales Central MS Neil McEvoy. Speaking in the Senedd, he said Mr Patel was "refusing to pass on the £10,000". Addressing Economy Minister Ken Skates, he said: "I thought maybe I'd ask you to address that and possibly as well have a word with the first minister and ask him if he could ask his member of staff, Councillor Patel, to maybe pass on the £10,000 to Rubylicious in Cardiff West instead of pocketing it." Finance Minister Rebecca Evans wrote to Mr McEvoy, saying the grants were awarded to a property's registered bill payer. "Tenants who have entered into agreements with their landlord about the payment of rates would need to contact their landlord if they wish to make changes to the arrangements," she said. Business analyst and chartered surveyor Chris Sutton said there were "issues" with the scheme. "But the scheme was very definitely aimed at the occupier at the small business," he said. Ben Cottam, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said Welsh Government guidance does not "mandate" landlords to pass the grant to tenants but said he would hope landlords "show understanding" towards the needs of small businesses. The scheme supposed to help firms stay afloat during lockdown Firms eligible for small business rates relief - those with a rateable value of up to £12,000 - can receive a grant of £10,000. The way the scheme was set up has been criticised because firms that operate from properties where the landlord handles business rates cannot claim. There is a similar scheme in England. The UK government has reportedly suggested companies ask landlords to claim the grant and pass it on. But there is no legal obligation for landlords to do that.
A civil rights march in Londonderry 50 years ago "galvanised the movement for civil rights in Ireland," the Irish president has said.
Michael D Higgins was addressing a commemoration in the city of the October, 1968 march that ended in violence. Police used batons and water cannon to break up the march, and dramatic images were broadcast around the world. Mr Higgins also paid tribute to "the vision" of Nobel laureate John Hume. He said it was "a vision of a shared Ireland, one that recognises the unionist and nationalist traditions, one that is capable of reconciling communities." Mr Higgins said it was a vision that preserved human dignity and vindicated and expanded fundamental human rights. The 5 October 1968 Duke Street March in Derry had been organised by local activists, with the support of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA). NICRA had formed in 1967, and drew inspiration from the campaign for equal rights in the US. They demanded an end to gerrymandering and discrimination and called for "one man, one vote". Their first march in Dungannon in August 1968 raised concerns around housing in County Tyrone, highlighted by one case, in particular, when a single Protestant woman was allocated a house ahead of Catholic families. In October 1968, their attention turned to the unionist-controlled Londonderry Corporation, and its housing policy. The previous day, the march was banned by the Northern Ireland government. It went ahead, in defiance. Officers from the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) drew batons and beat marchers. They then used water cannon to disperse the crowd. The Irish president told those gathered in Derry's Guildhall on Saturday commemorating the march 50 years ago that he feared the contribution of Mr Hume and his "dogged persistence through the dark twilight years of the Troubles, might be eclipsed amidst the disputations of the contemporary moment." That would be unjust, he said. "If we remain true to that vision, we can not only sustain peace on our island, but can, together, confront the shared challenges of the future with confidence and courage." President Higgins said he could still remember the television images of the 1968 march, and the actions of police on that day. "The 5th of October march galvanised the movement for civil rights in Ireland," he said. A series of events have been taking place in Derry to mark the anniversary. At the Guildhall, civil rights leader Ivan Cooper was honoured for his role in the civil rights movement. 1968 march 'galvanised civil rights' Politicians, journalists and academics have been sharing their memories and their views on that march at the commemoration. Sinn Féin held a separate event in the city to mark the anniversary of the Duke Street march. Party members and supporters walked through Derry to a rally in Guildhall Square. Mary Lou McDonald, the party president, said that "rights are not orange or green issues" and that the campaign for civil rights and equality "continues today". 'Complex period' In Belfast, the Ulster History Project held a one-day conference focusing on the involvement and reactions of Unionism. Dr Andrew Charles said that the Duke Street march was seen as a "mainly nationalist event, but it was an event that affected everyone's lives". "I think a lot of people, particularly unionists, are likely to just bury their head in the sand and ignore it. "It's a very complex period of our history and I think what we're doing here today is exploring that in some depth." Liam Kennedy, professor of economic history at Queen's University Belfast, said: "I think it's important that nationalists and unionists, or those of us who don't subscribe to either of those two ideologies, are able to bring different views, interpretations, perspectives together and, out of that, we may actually learn something that is helpful in terms of our current politics." This article was first published on October 6, 2018 - it was updated on October 9, 2018.
More job losses cannot be ruled out, Jersey Post's chief executive has said.
Kevin Keen said its business from mail order companies had fallen by 66% since April when the UK Treasury stopped Channel Island companies from selling goods tax-free to UK customers. He said: "Unfortunately we might see some redundancies. We had 40 people working in business, we are down to 30, but... it might be a few more." Jersey Post could also reduce the number of postboxes in the island. Mr Keen said there were 189 collection boxes in Jersey and many were rarely used. "Something I want to do and we are going to try and do it later in the year is probably reduce the number of these so that we can dedicate the resource to the collection boxes that people do use," he said. "In the last few months we have increased the pick up rates at the some of the more popular boxes in the village areas of some of the parishes."
When Joe Biden visited his ancestral roots in Carlingford he turned to an inquisitive Secret Service man and said "Man, you're in heaven."
By Gareth GordonBBC News NI Political Correspondent That was four years ago. Mr Biden was vice president. He wants to return, but next time as president. For now, heaven can wait. For Ronald Reagan it was Ballyporeen. For Barack Obama it was Moneygall. For Joe Biden it is Carlingford. Or Ballina. His Irishness means a lot to him. He told Donald Trump during the recent televised debate that people like him "look down their nose on... Irish Catholics like me." Joe Biden has never been to Northern Ireland, but he's done the next best thing. Four years ago, he arrived in Carlingford, just a few miles from the border. Now the people of Carlingford have begun a campaign to help, first of all, get him elected. And then invite him back. Local man Eamonn Thornton spent a lot of time with Mr Biden on his first visit to the Cooley Peninsula and remembers walking him towards Finnegan's Pub, once owned by distant relatives of the presidential candidate. "Having dropped off the vice president, the Secret Service cars went on down to turn at the end of the road," he says. "As he was coming towards the pub this Secret Service guy said to me 'Where the hell are we' and the vice president happened to overhear and said: 'Man, you're in heaven'." Many shop windows in Carlingford now display "Irish For Biden" posters. The local organiser of the campaign is Paul Allen, a public relations man from Dublin. He says Carlingford can expect a big visitor spin-off if Joe Biden becomes president. "We saw for one moment when he came to Carlingford the impact thereafter from 2016," said Mr Allen. "The amount of people that were coming from America and around fascinated to learn of this magnificent jewel. "It's a remarkable place, and it's a great opportunity for the people of Carlingford to exploit the moment." Genealogist Megan Smolenyak says "he's about as Irish-American as you can get. He's about five eighths Irish." She got to know Joe Biden when she wrote a piece about his Irish roots. "He just called me out of the blue one day when he was vice president," she says. "And then he started to invite me each St Patrick's Day when he has an event. "And so I've gone to perhaps six or seven of those events and there's a lot of big name politicians, but there's also average Joes like myself. "And that right there gives you a little taste for Joe, he treats everybody the same. It doesn't matter what your station is in life. He really is the caring person that you see when you watch television." Caroline Feeney, a former intern for Hillary Clinton, says a Biden presidency would maintain US interest in Northern Ireland. She told the BBC NI's The View: "I'm hearing from his close advisers on the campaign trail that he has said that he wants to visit Ireland within the early stages of his presidency and that would be both north and south. "So, while he may have strong links to Mayo and Carlingford, particularly with his family ties there, he is aware of how strong a message it would be to come to Northern Ireland also." Mr Biden recently fired a warning shot across Downing Street's bows over Brexit by warning that any undermining of the Good Friday Agreement would jeopardise a future trade deal with the US. Shane Greer, a Washington-based political consultant originally from Northern Ireland, says Mr Biden would feel passionately about the issue. "A lot of folks who aren't that familiar with American politics immediately jumped to the assumption that this is about the Irish-American vote in the United States, and maybe in a fractional way it is," he says. "But not significantly so. "This is much more fundamentally about an American perspective on the Good Friday Agreement and American political leaders - both Republican and Democrat - feel a weight of responsibility there because its a key foreign affairs achievement for America over the last few decades, so Biden absolutely would have been involved in that." Three DUP MPs - Ian Paisley, Sammy Wilson and Paul Girvan - were recently photographed with a Trump flag at Westminster. 'There are issues' But not all DUP politicians are Trump supporters. Assembly member Christopher Stalford says "there are issues" around his temperament though he says "Joe Biden is not without his faults either". Six years ago, on St Patrick's Day, Mr Biden angered unionists with a throwaway remark "If you're Orange you're not welcome here." But Christopher Stalford is forgiving: "I'm not going to throw someone under a bus for what I suspect was probably just an off the cuff joke. "I think one of the things that's gone wrong in politics over the course of the last five or six years is that I think a lot of people have lost their sense of humour. "I don't really think that he was saying that people like me - I'm an Orangeman and come from that tradition - I don't really think he was saying that we're not welcome." The View is on BBC 1 on Thursday night at 22.45 BST and later on BBC iPlayer.
Aerial images have been released showing what a £2.5m redevelopment of Norwich city centre would look like.
The armchair helicopter tour gives a bird's eye virtual view of the near future, developers say. It is part of the public consultation into changes in and around Golden Ball Street, All Saints Green and Westlegate. Norwich City and Norfolk County councils want residents' comments on the new Transport for Norwich designs. Steve Morphew, chair of the joint Norwich highways agency committee, said: "This is an excellent way of helping people see how these changes will affect this important part of the city centre. "It can be quite difficult to grasp how plans will work in reality, especially when there are a number of measures over quite a wide area." The aim of the new development is to reduce conflict between vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, while maintaining access for all modes of travel.
Jennifer Aniston has told Newsbeat she feels " very secure" after she got a court order stopping a stalker.
Twenty-four-year-old Jason R. Peyton was arrested near her home in California. He'd travelled across America thinking he was going to marry the star. Peyton was found with what court papers say was a sharp object, along with duct tape and some love notes addressed to Jennifer Aniston. Police said he'd spent days trying to find the star on Sunset Boulevard before he was taken in. He told officers that even though they'd held him for psychiatric reasons it wouldn't stop him pursuing her. Jennifer spoke briefly about the case while in London to launch a new perfume. Asked about the risks that go with being a celebrity, the former Friends star said: "I think the positives are always going to outweigh the negatives. "Everything we can do creatively and everything we're able to do because of our public awareness affords us a lot of freedom to give back." As well as stalking Jennifer Aniston, Peyton apparently believes he's related to numerous celebrities including Courteney Cox, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z and Donald Trump. He's now been ordered to stay at least 100 yards (91m) away from Jennifer's home ahead of a court hearing next month.
It was the most notorious political crime in Portugal's modern history, and 50 years on no-one has ever gone to jail for it.
By James BadcockMadrid On 13 February 1965, a charismatic opponent of the Portuguese nationalist dictatorship, Gen Humberto Delgado, was assassinated over the border in rural Spain. His grandson, Frederico Delgado Rosa, believes he was deliberately disposed of by the regime of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. Salazar's government said it was the accidental death of a political exile, but historians increasingly see it as proof that Portugal's dictatorship was a ruthless and bloodthirsty regime. "Salazar always managed to retain this image of being a saintly figure, the good dictator, but he was aware of General Delgado's murder and covered it up," says Mr Delgado Rosa, an academic who has written a biography of his grandfather. One morning in April 1965, two teenage boys went looking for birds' nests from Villanueva del Fresno, a Spanish village 5km (three miles) from the Portuguese border, and 202km east of Lisbon. What they stumbled on instead, in a patch of eucalyptus trees, were the decomposed remains of Humberto Delgado and his secretary and long-term lover, a Brazilian woman named Arajaryr Campos. How had a highly decorated air force general, who once ran for Portugal's presidency, ended up dead in Spain's rural western region of Extremadura? The answer lies in Delgado's brave anti-Salazar stance and the popularity it earned him. Portugal: Dictatorship to democracy Portugal Timeline After declaring his candidacy in the 1958 presidential election, Gen Delgado was asked what he would do with Salazar if he became president. "Obviously, I'll sack him," was his reply. Delgado became known as the "Fearless General" and thousands flocked on to the streets of Oporto to see the man promising to break the iron grip that Salazar had established on Portugal since becoming prime minister in 1932. Marked man When Delgado returned to Lisbon, the police broke up the multitude that had gathered at the station to meet him. He was defeated in the 8 June election by official candidate Americo Tomas under dubious circumstances. Salazar's government had ordered that opposition representatives were not to attend the ballot counts. Delgado's brief dalliance with popularity made him a marked man. He was dismissed from the military, and therefore lost his immunity from Salazar's PIDE secret police force. Leaving his wife and three children in Lisbon, he flew to Brazil in April 1959. Later that year he visited Britain and returned in 1964, addressing political leaders and the media in a country he knew from World War Two bilateral co-operation. Delgado flitted between Brazil, Algeria and Angola, where an anti-colonialist uprising was starting. In late 1961, he briefly slipped back into Portugal to lead an abortive military coup. Finally, in February 1965, Delgado travelled to Spain convinced that he was going to meet "revolutionary Portuguese officers". In reality, the four men who picked up Delgado and his secretary at Badajoz station just inside the Spanish border were PIDE secret police. They were part of a plot called "Operation Autumn", which the instigators would later say was aimed at capturing the general to make him stand trial in Portugal. According to one of the four-man team, Ernesto Lopes Ramos, another PIDE agent Casimiro Monteiro unexpectedly shot Delgado before disposing with his Brazilian secretary, Arajaryr Campos, in the same fashion. Monteiro fled to South Africa and was found guilty in absentia by a military court in 1981, the judges in effect backing the PIDE version that their orders had been not to kill Delgado but put him on trial. Humberto Delgado While researching his book, Humberto Delgado: Biography of the Fearless General (2008), the general's grandson came across a copy of the post mortem examination, supplied by Spanish authorities to the Lisbon court, which concludes that Delgado was beaten to death. This evidence, and other forensic studies of the crime scene, were ignored by a court whose purpose, according to Frederico Delgado Rosa, was "to preserve the figure of Salazar". Asked if he believes Salazar ordered the killing, the general's grandson says he gave his secret police a "blank cheque" to deal with the matter. "I don't think he would take the risk of pronouncing an explicit order. That could have consequences and he was always cautious," he said. Award-winning Portuguese historian Irene Pimentel agrees that Salazar's role was "all-important" in the crime. "We mustn't think that PIDE was a state within a state; it responded to the leadership." Democratic Portugal is marking 50 years since the assassination, a dark stain on the Salazar regime. Although Portuguese condemn the repressive practices of the PIDE, not everyone is willing to condemn Salazar's regime as an entirely dark episode in the country's history. "We still haven't properly discussed Salazar's legacy in Portugal," says Pedro Lains, an economic history professor at the University of Lisbon. "People are divided on it according to their political preferences. The left argues it's a terrible legacy, whereas the right says Salazar made mistakes but was not bad overall." However, Lisbon council has now made an unambiguous statement in favour of the general, announcing that the city's airport will be renamed Aeroporto Humberto Delgado, as long as the Portuguese government gives its blessing. And a ceremony is being held in his honour. Portugal's murdered air force hero may finally be winning the popular approval he craved.
Testing for Covid-19 is to be ramped up in the West Midlands after confirmation a case of the South African variant was identified in Walsall.
The case is not being linked to international travel and the council is working with Public Health England in a bid to stop it spreading. Residents in the WS2 postcode area are being urged to get tested this week. Home testing kits will be issued and a mobile unit is being set up in the borough. Health teams hope to reach an extra 10,000 people, even those who have had their vaccine. A regional meeting on Monday heard just one case of the South African variant had so far been found in Walsall. It is believed to relate to a positive test in December. However, Dr Justin Varney, Director of Public Health in Birmingham, said there were likely to be other cases so far undetected in the West Midlands. Two cases have also been found in Surrey, and testing will also take place in London, Kent, Hertfordshire and West Lancashire. Stephen Craddock, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Walsall Council, said the individual who tested positive in the borough, a male, had no history of travel so the virus had come about through community transmission. Birchills Leamore, Blakenhall and Bloxwich East fall into the WS2 postcode and the council is looking at exactly which of the areas to target, he added. Stephen Gunther, Director of Public Health in Walsall, said there was currently no evidence the variant caused more severe illness, or that vaccines would not protect against it, but research showed it was transmitted more easily. He said the more cases were found, the better the chance of "suppressing it". Faith and other community leaders in Walsall are being asked to help encourage everyone over the age of 16 living or working in the WS2 postcode to get tested, even if they do not have symptoms. Currently in Walsall, 480.9 people out of 100,000, tested positive for coronavirus for the week ending 28 January, one of the highest rates in England. But the figures show the rate of infection dropped by 33% from the week before. Analysis by Dr David Gregory-Kumar, science, environment and rural affairs correspondent. All viruses mutate and there are 1000's of slightly different versions of the coronavirus out there. What worries scientists is when a variant starts to spread and become dominant because that usually means it's more infectious. On top of this vaccines can also be less effective against them. That's the case with the South African variant. Just as we are making progress with vaccination along comes a new version of the virus that could potentially knock those gains back a bit. We need to understand what's happened with the South African variant in Walsall. That's why everyone in WS2 who is over 16 needs to get tested. That will allow us to find anyone with the new variant and get them to isolate. If we can break the chain of infection and stop this outbreak in its tracks we pull ahead again in the ongoing race between infection and injection. Nationwide, the cases caused by the variant were identified as part of Public Health England's random checks on tests. It is not known how many have been identified in all. Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor for NHS Test and Trace said a small proportion had no link to international travel and in response, testing was being "ramped up" in targeted areas. The variant now accounts for 90% of all infections in South Africa, Dr Varney said, adding it was one of thousands of variants of Covid-19 discovered. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]
Legislation which will lead to motorists not having to stop to pay at Dartford Crossing toll booths has come into force, the Department for Transport said.
Transport Minister Stephen Hammond approved the law. Number plate recognition technology will record motorists' journeys and they will be sent bills in the post. The crossing barriers between Kent and Essex will be removed from October next year. The Highways Agency said the new "free flow" toll system would improve congestion, but its own figures suggested it could cost as much as £21m a year in unpaid charges, from foreign drivers. The existing Dartford to Thurrock crossing, which consists of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and two tunnels, is used by 140,000 vehicles a day. Motorists using the Dartford Crossing have been plagued by congestion on a daily basis for several years. In an effort to combat this, three locations have been put forward as possible sites for a new River Thames crossing between the two counties. Thurrock and Dartford councils have said they wanted to see the effect of the removal of toll barriers at the existing crossing before another Thames crossing was built.
High childcare costs will make it "impossible" for many UK families to work their way out of poverty under new welfare reforms, a charity has warned.
A report by Barnardo's says some single parents with two pre-school children will "gain nothing" from working longer hours and could "have to pay" to do so. The universal credit benefit system due this year will replace a number of existing working-age benefits. Ministers said the changes would "make millions of people better off". Children aged three and four, and many two-year-olds from the poorest families, are entitled to 15 hours of free early years education in the UK. But in its Paying to Work report, Barnardo's - the UK's largest children's charity - suggests that parents trying to increase their hours face paying for childcare while simultaneously having their benefits reduced, and starting to pay tax. This combination, it says, "will potentially leave some parents with very little money left over". 'Pay to work' The report claims that a single parent with two pre-school children, who tries to work more than 15 hours a week on the national minimum wage of £6.19 an hour, will "gain nothing from working more hours". "Lone parents with two pre-school children will potentially have to pay to go to work," it adds. Those working more than 23 hours a week - after which national insurance is deducted - could effectively end up paying 28p per hour to work. In London, where childcare is more expensive than average, every hour of extra work could cost a parent 91p, according to the report. Working more than 28 hours per week, when income tax is also deducted, could cost a single parent of two pre-school children up to 72p per additional working hour. And London-based parents will pay £1.61 per hour more than they earn if they work 28 hours or more, the charity warns. Where a lone parent has just one pre-school child, the incentives to work longer hours are still "relatively low", the report claims. For each extra hour worked between 16 and 24 on the minimum wage, a parent will potentially gain just £1.10. Barnardo's report comes amid a series of government pledges marking the midway point of the coalition - including a promise to help with the expense of childcare. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Barnardo's chief executive Anne Marie Carrie welcomed government support on childcare costs - which she said was the "single biggest barrier to raising children out of child poverty, and to people progressing on in work". However, she warned that changes introduced under the Universal Credit system would not help the poorest "strivers" for whom "work doesn't pay". 'Work, not hand-outs' She also urged the government to raise the proportion of childcare costs parents could claim back from 70% to 80%. "If we want the poorest parents to be genuinely able to work their way out of poverty, then they must be able to afford the costs of childcare. This is why we're calling on the government to provide more help to the most disadvantaged families". Responding to the report, a spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "Universal credit will make millions of people better off, including 700,000 lone parents. "We're also changing the rules so that people can access childcare support when they are working only a handful of hours - around 100,000 more families will be able to take up work because of this change." Universal credit - being introduced by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith this year - aims to simplify the welfare system by replacing a number of existing working-age benefits, including the income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment support allowance, housing benefit, working tax credit, child tax credit and income support. Millions of existing claimants will be transferred onto the new system over a period of about four years, with the expectation that most people will apply for benefits and manage them online.
On Monday, the new general secretary of the UK's biggest union - Unison - will be announced.
By Iain WatsonPolitical correspondent, BBC News Under its outgoing leader Dave Prentis, the union backed Sir Keir Starmer's successful Labour leadership bid. And Sir Keir can currently rely on support from the union's representatives on Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC). The outcome of the contest could have consequences for that support. The expectation is that one of the assistant general secretaries, Christina McAnea, will prevail and become the first woman to lead the union. She has a strong background as a negotiator and has shown little interest in internal Labour politics, but is expected to be broadly supportive of the party's current leadership. But the outcome isn't certain. She has faced a strong challenge from another assistant general secretary - Roger Mackenzie - who has the backing of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. He hopes to be the first candidate from a BAME background to take the top job. His chances of victory may be undermined by the fact that two other candidates - Paul Holmes and Hugo Pierre - have also been competing for the Left vote. But, Mr Mackenzie's campaign was given a fillip when Mr Corbyn was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party, giving him a defining rallying cry. And developments are expected soon in the country's second biggest union - Unite. Unite divided? Unite is the biggest trade union funder of the Labour Party so whoever succeeds Len McCluskey as general secretary could determine how generous, or otherwise, it is in its contributions. Mr McCluskey still has not announced exactly when he will stand down and can stay in office until next year, but the election contest to succeed him is expected to take place this year. While the potential successors have agreed not to campaign openly, insiders say there has been something of a "phoney war" going on. The United Left faction is backing Steve Turner, an assistant general secretary who has declared he does not want "a war of attrition" with the Labour leadership. Another assistant general secretary - Howard Beckett - complained that there were irregularities in the United Left ballot which backed Mr Turner and he will challenge for the top job from the Left. Unlike Mr Turner, he has been an outspoken critic of Sir Keir and is one of the union's representatives on Labour's NEC He led a left-wing walkout (or a zoom 'switch off') from the NEC in November, denouncing what he called "Keir Starmer's factionalism". He and his colleagues were not just unhappy at Mr Corbyn's treatment by the party leadership but the elevation of another Beckett - Dame Margaret - to the chair of the NEC rather than a more left-wing member, trade unionist Ian Murray. But it seems another candidate in the forthcoming Unite contest is about to emerge. Workers' Unite Next week, I'm told, a new grouping in the union will be formed - Workers' Unite. This grouping - made up of grassroots activists - is likely to morph in to a campaign to support Sharon Graham when a formal contest gets under way. She has said she would stand when there is a vacancy. She is the union's executive officer for "organising and leverage", who has overseen successful industrial disputes and would be the first female general secretary were she to succeed. One of the leading figures behind Workers' Unite is Kathy Smith, a member of the union's executive representing local government workers. She told the BBC that Sharon Graham "would be a breath of fresh air" at the top of the union. According to its launch literature, a major theme of the Workers' Unite campaign will be to "move beyond internal Labour Party politics" and "to always prioritise the workplace". That is likely to be met with relief by those around Sir Keir. Sharon Graham and supporter Kathy Smith are both on the Left. But Ms Smith believes any campaign for the leadership of the union would appeal beyond that base by focusing on "the members' priorities: jobs, pay and terms and conditions. Not contemplating our belly buttons." And she argues that Ms Graham's willingness not just to negotiate with big employers - such as British Airways - but to stand on picket lines in local disputes will help build solid support among grassroots activists. The candidate Len McCluskey beat in the Unite leadership election in 2017 - Gerard Coyne - has thrown his hat in the ring again. Seen as an anti-Corbyn candidate by many members of Labour's parliamentary party last time round, he unsuccessfully challenged the union's internal electoral processes following his defeat in what was a particularly bitter contest. But if the Left territory in the union is going to be fought over, Mr Coyne seems to have calculated that he could - in a first-past-the-post contest - prevail.
A man has been stabbed to death and a suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The victim, in his 20s, was declared dead in Affleck Road in Colchester, Essex, when police were called just after 00:15 GMT. A teenager was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The arrested man, a 25-year-old from the town, was also detained by Essex Police on suspicion of attempted murder. Ch Insp Jon Evans said the force was treating it as "a targeted, isolated incident" and asked for information. "Since our appeal, we've had locals send us CCTV and doorbell footage, as well as talking us through anything they may have seen or heard late last night or early this morning," he said. "Greenstead is a tight-knit community. We know that the answers to this crime will lie somewhere within it - whether that's in CCTV or dashcam footage, something you've heard, or something you've witnessed." Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]
Bill Harry went to art college with John Lennon, ran the Mersey Beat newspaper and arranged for the band's future manager Brian Epstein to see them at the Cavern Club for the first time.
"It was an epiphany," Harry says of the first time he set eyes on John Lennon at college. "I remember the particular moment exactly as it happened. I was sitting in the canteen, suddenly I looked up and this guy was striding by and he was like a teddy boy. He was quite striking. "I saw all the other art students in the canteen and virtually every one of them was in a duffle coat and turtle-neck sweater. I thought blimey, they're supposed to be non-conformists and yet they all look the same. That guy is the one who looks different, he's the rebel, he's the one I'd like to meet. "So I got to know him and took him to our local pub and introduced him to Stuart Sutcliffe and Rod Murray. "He was a Jekyll and Hyde character. With me, Stuart and Rod, the four of us called ourselves The Dissenters. We used to talk about art and literature and read books by the San Francisco poets and the Olympia press in Paris. "Then on the other hand, John went with this other bunch from the art college and used to get drunk and steal and get up to all sorts of mischief. With them he'd be rough, aggressive, wild, and with us he was talking about creative ideas and inspiration. "When The Dissenters got together, we made a vow to make Liverpool famous. John would do it with his music, Stuart and Rod with their painting and I'd do it with my writing. That was the aim. But we didn't know how big things would get. "There was great creativity, particularly in the Liverpool 8 area where we lived. We had the Mersey poets, country music groups, folk groups, sculptors, comedians, and we knew them. We used to drink together. We felt we were right in the middle of something that was mushrooming. We really made an effort to change things and create things. "I booked The Beatles for the art college dances. We used to do dances on a Saturday night. Paul and George were next door to us in the Institute [The Liverpool Institute High School for Boys] and they used to come into the canteen. "I was there when John and Stuart came up with the name Beatles. I just called them the college band because they weren't using The Quarrymen any more and couldn't seem to think of a decent name. "They were sitting talking in Gambier Terrace [where Lennon and Sutcliffe shared a flat] trying to think of a decent name - they'd come up with silly names like The Moondogs. "Stuart was saying 'We play a lot of Buddy Holly numbers, how about a name like Buddy Holly's backing band The Crickets?' And John said 'Yeah, let's think of insects'. So they tried The Beetles. It was in August 1960 that they finally decided on The Beatles. "When I took the first edition of Mersey Beat to all the music shops, I went into [Brian Epstein's shop] Nems and asked to see the manager. Brian came down, I told him about the paper and he took a dozen. In the afternoon, he phoned me and couldn't believe that the dozen had sold straight away. For issue two, he ordered 12 dozen copies. "The entire front cover was 'The Beatles record in Germany' with a photo of the leather-clad Beatles. He called me into his office and asked if he could be my record reviewer. I said OK, so his reviews appeared in issue three. "He took me to lunch twice to ask about The Beatles and then asked if I could arrange for him to go down to the Cavern. He didn't want to stand in a queue with kids. So I phoned and Brian went down with his assistant and that's how it happened. "It was with Love Me Do when they realised it was going to take off - they suddenly felt, this is it, we've made it. That was the turning point." Bill Harry's new e-book titled Love Me Do, about the story of the song, is out now.
A 44-year-old has been charged with murder after a man was found with fatal stab wounds in the West Midlands.
Martin Biggs, 47, was found in Corngreaves Walk, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, on 12 November. Karl Glancey, of Tividale, has been charged with murder. He is also accused of two counts of attempted murder and one of wounding, in connection with attacks on three other people. He appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday. West Midlands Police said the attempted murder and wounding charges related to incidents that took place in Dingle Avenue, Cradley Heath, and Poplar Close and West Avenue, Tividale, on or around 12 November. Mr Glancey is due to reappear at court for a plea hearing on 3 August.
More than 140 children are not getting a school education after exclusions hit a record high in Norfolk, it has emerged.
By Nic Rigby and Amelia ReynoldsBBC News Council figures show 290 pupils were barred in 2015-16, with numbers set to remain the same in 2016-17. The BBC has been told many of the 140 Norfolk children not in schools are being tutored online and at home. North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said it was "shameful". The council said it was funding extra places. A report to Norfolk County Council's children's services committee said there were concerns exclusion were not being used as a "last resort" and instead as a "mechanism for fairly low level behavioural issues". Des Reynolds, chief executive of not-for-profit charity Engage Trust, which finds places for excluded pupils at its 10 short stay schools in Norfolk, said: "Currently, the system for providing places for challenging and vulnerable children is under an enormous amount of pressure and there is a shortage of places. "If children and young people are not in school, that places them in a detrimental position. It's very important that the authorities work together to find a solution." Case study: The Knight Family Holly Knight, 14, from North Walsham, has not been at school since February after being excluded over behavioural issues. "I would have a panic attack and I would start screaming and shouting and just saying I don't like it - and even say I'd rather die than go to school sometimes," she said. Her mother Elizabeth Knight said she has been bullied, is often anxious and is being assessed for Asperger's syndrome. She said Holly's sister, Cacey-Jane, 16, has epilepsy. Ms Knight said Casey-Jane had been "signed off" rather than excluded, but the result was the same - she had to complete her education through online learning at home. She said: "I mean I'm quite a pushy parent in the sense that I want education to be quite important in their lives. Even if they're not high flyers it should still be important, but it's been the most stressful time." Ms Knight said had left her job as a teaching assistant to look after her daughters. In the last few days, Holly has been given a place at a short stay school from September. Her sister hopes to go to college. Mr Lamb, a Liberal Democrat MP, said: "I think it is a shameful situation we have in Norfolk. "I don't underestimate the challenge some pupils present to schools but I am acutely aware that the consequences of permanent exclusions are so dire. "Norfolk has a legal obligation to every child to bring down those appalling numbers." Figures for 2014/15 show there were 5,800 exclusions nationally. A Norfolk County Council spokeswoman said: "We commission 290 places per year for pupils who have been permanently excluded, through the Short Stay School for Norfolk. We are aware of a capacity issue and have now commissioned extra funded places. "We are also working with head teacher associations to reduce exclusions through a new 'managed move' process." Scott Lyons, of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), said he believed 142 pupils were going without education with excluded pupils from as young as six years to 16. He said the NUT recognised that teacher should be protected and some pupils needed to be excluded, but he said the "state also has a duty to children". The Department for Education said: "Permanent exclusion should only be used as a last resort. "There are also clear duties in place to ensure suitable, full-time education is put in place for excluded children. We are raising the standards of this alternative provision to ensure every child is given the support they need to achieve their potential."
"Tomorrow is the day. Disobedience is legitimate and a duty. Here, no one surrenders," - the final words by Spanish rapper Valtonyc before he went on the run on Wednesday.
By Georgina RannardBBC News Now his whereabouts are a mystery. An international arrest warrant has been issued and Spanish social media is up in arms about freedom of speech. The 24-year-old, whose real name is Josep Miquel Arenas Beltran, was due to begin a three-and-a-half year prison sentence on Thursday for producing lyrics the Spanish courts ruled glorify terrorism and insult the Spanish monarchy. In one song Valtonyc rapped: "I want to send a message of hope to Spaniards: Eta is a great nation," in a reference to the Basque militant group. "The king has a rendezvous at the village square, with a noose around his neck," he says in another. The musician's appeal to the Supreme Court, on the grounds that he was protected by his right to freedom of expression, was rejected. The defiant tweet, in which he calls Spain a "fascist state," has been retweeted almost 40,000 times and #FreeValtonyc was used to express support for the rapper, featuring in more than 350,000 tweets, largely supporting the musician. You might also be interested in: Catalonia's ex-leader Carles Puidgdemont, recently detained in Germany after himself going into exile following the Catalan independence referendum last year, tweeted support for Valtonyc: "All my affection to you for a difficult decision, but it allows you to continue defending values and fundamental freedoms without which there is no democracy." Journalist Fonsi Loaiza wrote: "Rapper @valtonyc is 24 years old and has had to leave his family to go into exile. He was going to prison for rapping, when he was 19, a song in Catalan against the King. In Spain there are 1,900 politicians charged with corruption, just 80 are in prison." "You are very brave. I would leave and denounce it away from here. Whatever you do, I'll stick with you," wrote Twitter user Lulu, and others called on him to challenge the ruling while in exile. Meanwhile, Ica Inca commented that it was "shameful" people were turning a blind eye to the challenges to freedom of expression in Spain. However others criticised the rapper for the violent lyrics, saying he was content to rap "violent" lyrics but fled when it landed him in trouble. Another suggested the country he has fled to will not be happy if he begins to rap about "killing their policeman". In a recent concert, Valtonyc shouted, "Kill a Civil Guard (police) officer tonight." 'Extremism or intolerance' The case is the latest in a series of convictions of artists, filmmakers and journalists who have fallen foul of anti-terrorism laws in Spain. Human rights group Amnesty International has called the actions "draconian" and "a sustained attack on freedom of speech". The Spanish government has defended the legislation: "We have to fight against any sign of extremism or intolerance," Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said. Turkish rapper arrest In a similar case this week, Turkish police arrested rapper Ezhel, real name Sercan Ipekcioglu, claiming his lyrics encourage drug use, although no specific song was mentioned. Thousands are using #FreeEzhel on Twitter to defend the singer, who was due to appear at popular music festival Sziget in Hungary in August. "I should tell you something funnier than your jokes about Ezhel. The mentality which puts artists in prison due to their lyrics is the mentality that will one day want to meddle with the length of your skirts while walking on the streets, the colour of your hair, your beard and your earring," one user wrote. Ezhel has more than 570,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and his song Sehrimin Tadi (Taste Of My City) has had 31 million views on YouTube since July 2017.
Commons Speaker John Bercow has said several female MPs have told him Prime Minister's Questions is "so bad" they no longer take part.
By Chris Mason and Thomas EdgingtonBBC Radio 4's PM He said it was worrying that members from both sides of the House "with a lot to contribute" were put off attending the weekly session. The "histrionics and cacophony of noise are so damaging as to cause them to look elsewhere", he added. Mr Bercow was speaking exclusively to BBC Radio 4's PM programme. In the interview, he said: "I'm sorry if some of those people are lost to the chamber because they think, 'I won't take part in that atmosphere.' "I think it is a big deal. I think it is a real problem. A number of seasoned parliamentarians, who are not shrinking violets, not delicate creatures at all, are saying, 'This is so bad that I am not going to take part, I am not going to come along, I feel embarrassed by it,'" he told us. 'Disengagement' In February, Mr Bercow said in the Commons that too many "outstanding" women MPs were standing down from parliament. In his interview, he expresses concern about disillusionment with politics and urged political leaders to manage expectations better about what they can achieve. "The statistics don't lie. There is very widespread disengagement with and disapproval of the political process and politicians. "We certainly do have to dampen down expectations a bit. We can't pretend we are en route to the perfect solution and just give us a bit more time. Let's promise a bit less and deliver a bit better." Labour MP for Rotherham Sarah Champion told the BBC that the atmosphere at prime minister's questions was "very, very testosterone-fuelled". "I understand in that sort of environment that people do say and do things that are slightly more extreme than they would do in a normal environment," she said. "But PMQs is there so that we can have a serious discussion, a serious debate, and ask the right question to our prime minister. The environment we've got at the moment, where it is two teams warring, is just not right." Ms Champion said sexism was part of the problem. But she added: "Anything that people can use as a tool to put people off their stride, they will do, whether that's your weight, which team you support, your gender, or your sexuality, you'll hear those comments." Asked about the implications for Parliament of the row over former Culture Secretary Maria Miller's expenses, Mr Bercow said it had not been well handled by MPs. He said that when MPs "reach a different view, say from an independent observer or judge, then we have a duty to explain rather better in the media reporting of a row why we've taken a different view. In recent weeks we neglected that duty." 'Bullying hotline' The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who conducted an investigation into the culture secretary's expenses, ruled she should repay £45,000 but the House of Commons Committee on Standards, which has the final say on issues on ethics and disciplinary matters, cut this to £5,800. The speaker was also quizzed about what changes may be required in Parliament after the trial of his former deputy, Nigel Evans. prompted a debate about working conditions and the culture of behaviour at Westminster. Mr Evans was accused of one count of rape, five sexual assaults, one attempted sexual assault and two indecent assaults - all of which were dismissed unanimously by a jury. Mr Bercow said measures should be introduced to offer more support to those working for MPs. He said: "We're in the process of establishing a confidential helpline that staff can go to and say, 'Look I've got this worry, I'm not being fairly treated, where do I go?' That should be a signposting service that can help them. "I think each of the political parties, and I've spoken to each of the party whips about this, have got to recognise that it's no good saying that the relationship between the MP and the staffer is sacrosanct. "The party's reputation and Parliament's reputation suffers if an MP treats a staffer badly and gets way scot-free."
Sarajevo is a city where the past constantly resonates, and next year it will commemorate two of the biggest moments in its history, writes Kenneth Morrison.
2014 is the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip, the spark that lit the fuse of World War One. It is also 30 years since the 1984 Winter Olympics, the high point in the city's modern history. Sarajevo's iconic Holiday Inn hotel was built for those Olympics, and has had a front row seat for the tumultuous events that have unfolded in Bosnia in the past 30 years. It remains familiar to many around the world, who remember the news reports filed from the hotel at the height of the 1990s Bosnian war, when reporters used it as their base and it was regularly shelled. Designed by the celebrated Bosnian architect Ivan Straus, and built in 1982-83, it remains Sarajevo's most aesthetically interesting building, though arguably not its most aesthetically pleasing. Facade 'a joke' In mid-1983, as the exterior of the building gradually emerged, it became a source of controversy. The bold yellow, ochre, brown and grey exterior did not hold universal appeal, and many stood aghast. Construction workers, according to Straus, "thought it was a joke". "The original scale model had been designed with a similar yellow facade, but no-one expected that the actual exterior of the hotel would be same colour." But what mattered to the city far more was the delivery of a successful Winter Olympics, and the opening of the hotel in October 1983, by the then president of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, set Sarajevo on the road to what was indeed to be a hugely successful Games. The Olympics passed, but the reputation of the city - and the hotel - was established. The Holiday Inn's clients included international and domestic music stars, sportsmen, actors and, of course, politicians. It remained the place to be seen in Sarajevo, a byword for sophistication. By the early 1990s, as the Yugoslav crisis intensified, it was regularly used by political parties as a meeting place. The Bosnian-Serb Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), led by Radovan Karadzic, held numerous meetings in the hotel, and it was, by February 1992, the temporary home of the Karadzic family. But, on 6 April 1992, as demonstrators massed outside the Bosnian parliament building and then marched on the hotel, shots were allegedly fired from within the building by snipers loyal to Mr Karadzic. The hotel was then stormed by Bosnian government forces and the snipers arrested, by which time Mr Karadzic and his entourage had fled. Bosnian Serb forces were surrounding the city, and in the following days and weeks, the siege of Sarajevo tightened. Numerous international news agencies established their bureaux in the hotel, and for the next three years their employees were the hotel's most regular paying guests. Survival strategies Located on "Sniper Alley", the area around the hotel was one of the most dangerous in the city, in immediate proximity to the front line. The BBC correspondent, Martin Bell, described the Holiday Inn during the siege as "ground zero". "From there," he said, "you didn't go out to the war, the war came in to you." Throughout the siege, the hotel, though hardly providing luxury, functioned. Amira Delalic, who worked as a receptionist, says the hotel's staff "developed their own survival strategies" in order to preserve a semblance of normality. Food for the guests was often cooked on an open fire in the kitchen, and oil for the hotel's electricity generator was bought on the black market with the foreign currency brought by journalists. Water was often not available, and almost never hot. However bed linen was changed regularly, unless it was impossible to do so. Waiting staff kept up appearances by serving drinks in neatly ironed jackets, white shirts and bow ties. The staff, some dodging snipers' bullets to come to work, mastered the art of hostelry in wartime. "It was," says Ms Delalic, "hard to be professional under such dangerous circumstances. We did what we could to maintain a decent level of service, but it was very far from what we could provide during pre-war times." The siege lasted for more than three years - the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare. The spring and summer of 1992 was the worst period for the hotel. Its then manager estimated that the hotel had been hit more than 100 times in the early weeks of the siege. However it was not deliberately targeted that often and, in comparison to neighbouring buildings, was relatively untouched. That led many of the resident journalists to speculate that an agreement had been reached between the Bosnian government and the besieging Serb nationalist forces to preserve the hotel. Uncertain future Following the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in December 1995, which brought the 1992-95 Bosnian war to an end, the hotel accommodated many of the army of "internationals" that descended upon Sarajevo as post-war reconstruction began. But, as international engagement in Bosnia was scaled down, the hotel's fortunes began to change. The hotel was initially privatised in 2000, has changed hands subsequently and has suffered, as have many enterprises in Bosnia, from the impact of the global economic crisis, and the country's ongoing political paralysis. As it enters it fourth decade - now called the Olympic Hotel Holiday Sarajevo - it faces an uncertain future in an increasingly competitive market. But the management are convinced that the hotel remains unique. Its quality control manager, Alena Bukvic, recognises the current challenges but maintains that: "The hotel is an important symbol of Sarajevo, architecturally and historically, and is instantly recognised by visitors to Sarajevo. It has a real history, and that's what sets us apart from our competitors." Despite its name change, for the vast majority of the citizens of Sarajevo, and those familiar with the city's landmarks, it remains simply The Holiday Inn. Dr Kenneth Morrison is a Reader in Modern Southeast European History, De Montfort University, Leicester
A planned increase in hospital parking charges in North and East Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire should pay for improved facilities, bosses have said.
Fees at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust are to rise by 46% (£1.60) for a two-hour stay from next month. The Royal College of Nursing said it would be the "most expensive anywhere in the south bank of the Humber". The trust said it was creating 50 additional parking spaces in Grimsby. It also said it would install new lighting and electronic availability signs, which would be updated in real-time, at all three of its hospitals in Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Goole, East Yorkshire. The new fees range from £3.50 instead of £1.90 for two hours, £4.50 instead of £3 for four hours and £5 instead of £3.70 for more than four hours. Disabled blue badge holders will be charged a maximum of £2.50 for the day. Parking 'quite harsh' Parking for cancer patients remains free of charge, the trust said. Trac Peach, whose teenage son is an outpatient at Scunthorpe General Hospital, said he has to attend the hospital on a regular basis and the planned rise in parking charges was "quite harsh". "The parking's not that great, there's lots of restrictions. So [the hike is] another strain on finances," she said. Nigel Myhill, director of facilities at the trust, said: "Unfortunately to be able to improve the facilities we do need to off-set the costs by increasing the amount we charge people. "The main use of the income generated by car parking charges is to pay for our car park and security service, along with the running costs like maintenance and utilities. "We are seeing an increased security requirement which protects our staff, patients and visitors from violent and aggressive behaviour. Surplus income will be used directly for patient care across the organisation."
A pledge to spend more than £13m on improving flood defences on Teesside has been welcomed.
Dozens of homes in Port Clarence, Skinningrove, Greatham and Stockton have been affected by severe flooding over the past two years. Floods Minister Dan Rogerson confirmed £13.3m will be spent on projects in the area over the next 18 months, which will protect more than 600 properties. Stockton Council said the cash was a "welcome relief" for many residents. A £1.7m scheme will help to protect 183 homes and businesses near Lustrum Beck which were hit by flooding in Autumn 2012. A further £2.2m will fund a project at Skinningrove, where 126 properties are at risk. 'Damage and stress' A £9.4m scheme to protect 351 properties at Port Clarence - proposed last year - has been confirmed. In December residents there were hit by devastating floods resulting from the highest tide recorded in the area for 150 years. Stockton Council's cabinet member for environment, David Rose, said: "There is a vital need to improve flood defences for Port Clarence and Lustrum Beck so this is excellent news and a welcome relief for many residents. "December's floods in Port Clarence were a reminder of the devastating impact flooding can have on our communities." Stockton South MP James Wharton added: "Flooding causes a huge amount of damage and distress so I am sure this investment will mean a lot to the people who will benefit from the protection it affords. "I had raised our need for funding a number of times with the minister and I know Stockton Council was also pushing hard. "The sooner these works can be completed the better."
The founder of a coronavirus help group has vowed to carry on despite vandals damaging her car twice in 48 hours.
Helen Crouch, 41, returned to her broken-down vehicle in Main Street, Thornton, Leicestershire, to find all four tyres slashed on Sunday. The next evening, she was told the car had been targeted again - its windows smashed and paintwork scratched. Ms Crouch, from Bagworth, said she felt "let down" and "shook up", but would continue to help the community. Ms Crouch set up a team two weeks ago to help villagers during the coronavirus outbreak. She helps residents by delivering food and prescriptions as well as offering on-the-phone support. Her car had broken down on Main Street before 19:00 GMT on Saturday. She returned at 12:00 BST on Sunday to find all four tyres slashed. Before she could change the tyres, she was alerted at about 22:45 BST on Monday about the most recent damage. "First the tyres, now this, I haven't got my head around it," she said. "I'm tired, fed up and of course upset and the car's a write-off, but I need to carry on. "We must carry on because we have people relying on us. I'm not going to let this stop me." After the first attack, an online fundraising page was set up to replace Ms Crouch's tyres and raise money for the Bagworth, Thornton and Stanton coronavirus response team, raising more than £2,280. Leicestershire Police said it had received a report a car had been "damaged by another vehicle and deliberately scratched". It has urged anyone with information about the damage to contact the force on 101. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].
Singer George Michael is being kept in hospital for treatment after sustaining head injuries on the M1 in Hertfordshire, his spokeswoman said.
The former Wham! star, aged 49, was a passenger in a Range Rover involved in an accident on Thursday at junction 6A, near St Albans. Michael, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, was airlifted to a specialist trauma centre in London. A spokeswoman for the star said he was "making good progress". Michael was found on the road by paramedics at the scene of the accident on Thursday afternoon. 'Bumps and bruises' His spokeswoman said: "Following the traffic accident on Thursday, we can confirm that he is still in hospital. "We are keen to stress it's purely as a precaution for observation. "He did suffer a couple of bumps and bruises to the head and that's why they are keeping him in - to keep an eye on him. "He is doing better. He is making good progress and is looking forward to getting out." An ambulance service spokesman confirmed the patient, a man in his 40s, was "fully conscious" throughout the incident. "The patient was on the road when paramedics arrived," said Gary Sanderson, of the East of England Ambulance Service. "The patient required further assessments at a specialist trauma centre after he received a head injury. "He was fully conscious throughout his treatment at the scene and flight to hospital and the injuries were deemed non life threatening." A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said officers were unaware of any damage to the Range Rover and confirmed no other vehicles were involved.
As the Conservative Party loses its overall majority in the general election, the outcome has prompted many questions to be asked about the vote itself and what happens next.
From a possible power block created between the Conservatives and the DUP, to fears of another election or even a bad Brexit deal, voters want to know what the future holds and what sort of government the UK will get in the end. Here, we tackle some of the questions being raised by BBC audiences. Can the DUP demand key posts within the cabinet? Theresa May has already started her cabinet reshuffle and the main ministers to stay in place include Brexit Secretary David Davis, Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Chancellor Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, and Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon. To win the DUP's support the prime minister will undoubtedly have to make some concessions but it remains to be seen if this will include cabinet appointments for any of its 10 members. It is mostly likely that deals will be around securing additional funding for Northern Ireland and extended powers for its Executive if it can be reconstituted. Will Jeremy Corbyn be prime minister if Theresa May resigns? Theresa May has vowed to form a successful government although there is some speculation that her tenure at No 10 might be limited. If she were to resign then it would be for the Conservative Party to chose a new leader who would then become prime minister. This is what happened when David Cameron resigned after the EU Referendum last year. The Conservatives won the largest number of seats at the 2017 general election, but if its minority government proves ineffective and another poll is called Jeremy Corbyn could lead Labour to victory. Why doesn't the party with the most votes automatically become the governing party? Why do they have to reach 326 seats? There are 650 MPs elected to the House of Commons and for a party to turn its policies into law, it technically needs the support of 50% of them plus one seat, which is 326. If a party has 326 MPs or more it will be able to form a majority government and secure sufficient backing to ensure it can pass legislation. If it has fewer than 326 MPs it will always need to rely on the support of others - either from other parties or Independents - in order to implement its decisions. So the party which forms the government must be able to guarantee that it can push its agenda forward and be effective in its leadership of the country. Could there be a government like in Switzerland where the four major parties rule together? The political system in Switzerland is very different to that in the UK and is unusual because it has a collective head of state - the seven-member Federal Council - which is also the country's cabinet. The council was set up by the constitution of 1848 which is still in force today. Members are elected for four-year terms by a joint session of both houses of parliament, although in practice changes in membership are rare, making the Federal Council one of the world's most stable governments. Each year a different member of the council fills the largely ceremonial post of federal president on a rotating basis. However, the office does not confer the status of head of state, which is held jointly by all the councillors. In the UK the House of Commons is the democratically-elected chamber and a government needs to have at least 326 MPs (which is just more than half the total number) in order to pass its legislation. To create a government like the one in Switzerland the UK would have to completely restructure its political systems. Even it it was acceptable to voters it would take years to put in place. Why don't we have a written constitution? Although people refer to the "constitution", in the UK it does not exist in the traditional form with a single document outlining a constitutional charter. However, most other modern states in the world do have one of these. Instead the UK's unwritten constitution has evolved over the centuries from an amalgamation of Acts of Parliament, court rulings that lay down precedents for future decisions and accepted conventions. Two of its historic building blocks are the 1689 Bill of Rights which established the supremacy of Parliament over the Crown and Magna Carta of 1215. The prospect of creating a written constitution continues to be considered and in 2015 the Parliamentary Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, which had consulted on the matter, concluded: "While there was broad general support for a written constitution, we recognise that there are strong views expressed against codifying our existing constitution, or at least codifying it in its current form." The committee published a draft summary of the UK's constitution along with together with some options for reform and encouraged further work on the project. Why can't the Conservatives and Labour work together to run our country? Numbers-wise, both parties could join to form a working majority that could vote legislation through. However, the biggest problem could be agreeing on policies in the first place. You can see from their manifesto pledges that there may be more issues that divide them rather than unite them. While both main parties have ruled out a second referendum on Brexit, Labour have not been explicit about many of their aims on the issue. The parties differ enormously on the future funding of the NHS, taxation and social care - to list only a few important areas where reaching a consensus could prove more of an issue than simply having a big enough cohort of MPs. Could there be another election? It is possible to have another election but as Theresa May has learned, forcing the public into another round of voting is not always a good idea. Voter fatigue could set in as the electorate may feel it cannot face going through a fourth UK-wide vote (including the EU referendum) in three years. Another vote could backfire with a drop in turnout. However, the prime minister has said she will not resign and will find a way to form a minority government, indicating the Conservatives will seek the support of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, general elections take place on the first Thursday in May every five years but there are some ways in which another election could be called. First, it could happen if two-thirds of MPs back a motion calling for an early election. It's two-thirds of all the seats in the House of Commons - not only those who vote - and it includes vacant seats. With 650 seats, that means 434 MPs must back an early election. This would be the quickest way. Alternatively, an election could come about if a motion of no confidence in the government is passed in the House of Commons and no motion expressing confidence in the government is subsequently passed within 14 days - the wording of these motions has to be precisely as set out by the Act. How will a hung Parliament affect Brexit? The single reason Mrs May said she called the election was to strengthen her position in negotiating a good Brexit deal. It is inevitable now that with a reduced majority she will have to compromise her aims in order to get support from the other parties. In particular the DUP - with whom Mrs May has said she will work - could be very influential here. Time is of the essence though, as negotiations with the remaining European Union (EU) countries is due to start on 19 June. The new government and its partners will have to work hard to agree a strategy, although the EU's budget commissioner, Gunther Oettinger, tweeted that the UK is now a weaker negotiating partner than prior to the election and questioned whether the Brexit negotiations could start on schedule. What is The Queen's Speech and how can you be 'defeated' on it? The Queen's Speech is the address that the Queen reads out on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament in front of MPs and peers. It is written by the government and outlines the programme of legislation that it wants to pass in the forthcoming Parliamentary year. It is an event filled with pageantry dating back many centuries and generally happens at the start of each Parliamentary session - although in 2011 the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government decided against having one. After the pomp and ceremony of the occasion, the Queen returns to Buckingham Palace and MPs move to the House of Commons to debate the speech. This can last a number of days. While the vote at the end is generally symbolic, it is possible that someone could take the opportunity to voice their opposition to its contents by voting against it. With a minority government therefore it is feasible that Mrs May's proposals could be rejected before they pass the first hurdle. Members of the House of Lords also debate the Queen's Speech but do not vote on it. By Annie Flury, UGC and Social News
The US and German leaders say sanctions on Russia must stay until it implements a deal to end fighting in Ukraine.
President Barack Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks as the G7 summit of economic powers began in southern Germany. Moscow is the target of European Union and US sanctions over its role in support of Ukrainian rebels. Russia has been excluded from what was previously known as the G8, since the annexation of Crimea last year. The West accuses Russia of sending military forces into eastern Ukraine to help the rebels - a charge echoed by analysts. Moscow denies this, saying any Russian soldiers there are volunteers. As he arrived in the Bavarian Alps, Mr Obama said G7 leaders would discuss "standing up to Russian aggression" in Ukraine. The White House issued a statement after Mr Obama's talks with Mrs Merkel, saying: "The duration of sanctions should be clearly linked to Russia's full implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty." Germany, Britain and the US want an agreement to offer support to any EU member state tempted to withdraw backing for the sanctions on Moscow, which are hurting the Russian economy. Last September's Minsk accord, involving Russia, pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian government, included the establishment of a 30km (19-mile) buffer zone between the two sides. But fighting has intensified in recent weeks. In the latest incident, two Ukrainian coastguards were injured when a blast ripped through their patrol boat in the port of Mariupol, though the exact circumstances remain unclear. The European Union's President of the Council of Ministers, Donald Tusk, signalled a toughening of sanctions in a statement at the G7. "If anyone wants to start a debate about changing the sanctions regime, the discussion could only be about strengthening it." UK Prime Minister David Cameron said he was hopeful that there would be a united front to ensure that sanctions were "rolled over" despite admitting that "sanctions are having an impact on all of us". EU sanctions are due to expire at the end of July. UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond echoed concerns about wider Russian military pressure in an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. But, when asked if the US should redeploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe, Mr Hammond said the West had a "delicate act to perform". "We've got to send a clear signal to Russia that we will not allow them to transgress our red lines. At the same time we have to recognise that the Russians do have a sense of being surrounded and under attack, and we don't want to make unnecessary provocations." Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia was not a threat and had "other things to worry about". He told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: "Only an insane person and only in a dream can imagine that Russia would suddenly attack Nato. Sausages Mr Obama was greeted in the town of Kruen by Germany's Chancellor Merkel. The two leaders then sat down to a traditional Bavarian meal of sausages and beer in the sunshine. Greece's debt crisis and how to tackle global warming will also be on the agenda. Ahead of the G7 gathering, thousands of protesters marched in the nearby town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, sparking sporadic clashes with police. Several marchers were taken to hospital with injuries, but the violence was minor compared to some previous summits. Security is being provided by 17,000 police officers. The other leaders at the summit are Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, French President Francois Hollande, Canada's PM Stephen Harper and Italian PM Matteo Renzi. Mrs Merkel will also be hoping to use the summit to discuss her plans for radical reform of global responses to pandemics like Ebola. She wants to streamline and re-focus the World Health Organization, widely judged to have been ill-equipped when Ebola hit, and build up an international reserve force of doctors and scientists for deployment in a future crisis. Mr Cameron will unveil plans for a squad of "disease detectives" ready to fly anywhere to identify new infections. On Monday, the summit is also due to discuss militant threats from groups like Islamic State and Boko Haram with the leaders of Nigeria, Tunisia and Iraq, who form part of an "outreach" group of non-G7 countries.
Pregnant women who live in areas with significant air pollution risk having babies of low birth weight, the largest study to date suggests.
The study, in Environmental Health Perspectives, looked at more than three million births in nine nations. The effect was small and individuals should not be alarmed, but there was a notable impact on the population as a whole, the researchers said. Low birth weight babies have a higher risk of health problems and death. The majority survive but have an increased risk of developing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease as adults. The International Collaboration on Air Pollution and Pregnancy Outcomes (ICAPPO), by Prof Tracey Woodruff and colleagues at the University California, San Francisco, focused on airborne particulate matter small enough to penetrate the human respiratory tract. The findings indicated the relationship between birth weight and pollution was dose related - the higher the exposure, the lower the average birth weight. Prof Woodruff said: "What's significant is that these are air pollution levels to which practically everyone in the world is commonly exposed." Prof Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University said, based on the findings, if Newcastle were to halve its current particulate air pollution level it would lead to two or three fewer low weight babies out of the total 3,500 or so born in the city each year. He said: "That sort of reduction might well be worth having, but it's not something that pregnant mothers should lose sleep over, I'd say." Dr Tony Fletcher, senior lecturer in Environmental Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "The study is of excellent quality and the conclusions are clear. While the average effect on each baby is small and so should not alarm individual prospective parents, for the whole population these small risks add up across millions of people." The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said even though air quality in the UK is "generally good, more needs to be done, especially in the cities, to reduce the harmful effects of air pollution".
A new 1,000-seat venue will be created on a derelict plot in Coventry for music, comedy and arts performances.
The Assembly Festival Garden, near the council house in the city centre, will also include a smaller 180-seat tent and an outdoor venue, said organisers. Event group Assembly Festival, involved with Edinburgh Festival Fringe for 40 years, will run the Coventry hub. The space will be the "centrepiece" for events from 1 July to mid-October, said Coventry City of Culture Trust. Coventry's year as UK City of Culture officially launched on Saturday with thousands of people tuning in to watch a short film posted on the festival website. Its signature event Coventry Moves was originally due to coincide with the launch, but was moved to 5 June because of the coronavirus pandemic. Performances at the Assembly Festival Garden, on the site of the demolished former Civic Centre buildings, will take place in the Queen of Flanders double-decker Spiegeltent. Local food outlets and a box office will also be there. Cabaret, circus events, comedy and children's shows will form part of the programme. The old buildings were demolished and the site cleared by owner Coventry University for development. It has handed over the space for free during the festival. Trees and lighting will transform the space into one with a "family-friendly festival vibe", the culture trust said. Tickets are set to go on sale for the first major event at the end of May. The site will eventually be home to Coventry University's new hub for academic and research facilities as well as public spaces for the wider community. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected] Related Internet Links Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 Coventry University Assembly Festival
The BBC has issued staff new guidance on the use of racist language in the wake of the controversy provoked by the use of a racial slur in a news report.
Use of the strongest racist language, as defined by broadcasting regulator Ofcom, must be personally approved by the corporation's divisional directors. "There must be exceptional editorial reasons to use the strongest racist terms," the updated guidance reads. It follows the apology former director general Tony Hall made last month. Lord Hall said the BBC had "made a mistake" in using the N-word in full in a report about a racially aggravated attack in Bristol. The new guidance says the use of racist language "must be editorially justified, and signposted, to ensure it meets audience expectations, wherever it appears". It says the "editorial justification test" would "now carry a presumption that such language will not normally be used" unless a judgement at divisional director level had ruled otherwise. Divisional directors, the guidance continues, "should be made aware of and agree the use of the strongest racist language in any upcoming programmes or output on TV, Radio and Online/Digital." The same applies to any use of the strongest racial language before the 9pm watershed, which again should take place only "in exceptional circumstances" and should be signed off beforehand. More than 18,600 people complained after the N-word was used in full in a report broadcast by Points West and the BBC News Channel on 29 July. The report described an attack on a 21-year-old NHS worker and musician known as K or K-Dogg, who was hit by a car on 22 July while walking to a bus stop from his workplace. K-Dogg, who worked at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, suffered serious injuries including a broken leg, nose and cheekbone in the attack. Police said the incident was being treated as racially aggravated due to the racist language used by the occupants of the car. The use of the N-word in the broadcast prompted widespread criticism, including by a number of politicians and BBC staff. In its initial defence, the BBC said the decision to report the racial slur had not been taken lightly and that it understood people would be upset. BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ Sideman quit the station over the row, saying the report and the BBC's defence of it felt like " a slap in the face of our community". Last month Lord Hall said the BBC's intention had been "to highlight an alleged racist attack" but had "ended up creating distress amongst many people". "The BBC now accepts that we should have taken a different approach at the time of broadcast and we are very sorry for that," he continued. Lord Hall's tenure as director general came to an end shortly afterwards, with Tim Davie taking over at the beginning of September. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].
Analysis of entries for the Walter Scott Prize has revealed which periods are popular settings for historical fiction - and which ones are not.
By Giancarlo RinaldiSouth Scotland reporter, BBC Scotland news website The study is based on the 650 novels submitted over the eight-year history of the award given out at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose. It coincides with the opening of entries for this year's prize. Shortlists were also analysed to see whether the period setting had an effect on their success. Recent past Alistair Moffat, who chairs the prize judges, said the results of the survey shed "fascinating light" on trends and inspiration. A large slice of entries were found to be from relatively modern times. In total, 38% of submissions were set in the 20th Century making "relatively recent history by far the most popular setting for literary fiction". War stories Writers and publishers continued to be drawn to the two World Wars as settings or backdrops for fiction. In total, 14% of all submissions were set during World War Two, while 9% were set during World War One. Nearly a quarter (23%) of the books shortlisted for the prize were set during World War One while 14% of shortlisted books were set during World War Two. We are amused The Victorian era proved to be another very popular period for entries. More than 120 of the books submitted for the prize - nearly 20% - were set between 1837 and 1901. "The Victorian era continues to fascinate writers and provides a rich seam of inspiration for novels, as exemplified by the recent success of books such as Sarah Perry's The Essex Serpent," said Mr Moffat. Prize judge and historical novelist Katharine Grant added that the era encompassed "so many great themes" including "exploration, industrial expansion, empire, scientific discovery, religious doubt". Justified but not ancient The study found that some periods produced just a "scattering of submissions" with novels set in ancient or medieval times relatively rare. However, the Tudor, Stuart and Regency periods did prove popular. Secret of success? If anyone is hoping to find a formula for producing a winner, it looks like it might be forlorn. Books which won the prize came from a spread of several hundred years ranging from the 14th to 20th Centuries. "The diverse settings of our overall winning novels shows that our rule of quality of writing as the deciding factor has prevailed over any publishing trend for particular periods of history," Mr Moffat said. Past winners of the Walter Scott Prize This year's prize has just opened for entries, with a shortlist to be announced in March and the winner of the £25,000 prize revealed in Melrose in June.
A former assistant magistrate who defrauded an investor has lost his appeal against his conviction and sentence, at Jersey's Court of Appeal.
Ian Christmas is serving 15 months in prison after committing fraud in a United States property investment scheme. The £100,000 investment was used to pay off debts. Three former financial advisers, Russell Foot, James Cameron and John Lewis also lost their appeals. Cameron did however get his conviction for one of his 16 counts of fraud overturned, but not his appeal on his sentence. Foot, Cameron and Lewis are serving four-and-a-half year prison sentences. During the trial last year, the court heard the four men had been involved in a property purchase in the United States but had defrauded a number of investors to help settle debts. Earlier this month, Christmas was ordered to pay an investor he defrauded £100,000 in compensation. Cameron's advocate Timothy Hanson, said: "The hearing in the Court of Appeal took seven days and the arguments raised on appeal were diverse and often complex. "On behalf of Mr Cameron, we are obviously delighted to have succeeded in part of his appeal and will be scrutinising the judgment with great care to see whether or not it would be appropriate for the matter to be taken to the next appeal stage."
A bronze statue of comedy character Frank Sidebottom has been revealed at a Czech Republic foundry ahead of its installation in his home village.
The statue pays tribute to the character, who was the alter-ego of musician and comedian Chris Sievey. Sievey, who played Sidebottom wearing an oversized papier-mache head, died of cancer in 2010 aged 54. The statue, paid for by donations from fans, will be installed in Timperley, Greater Manchester in the autumn. Neil Taylor, chair of the Frank Sidebottom Statue appeal, said the process of erecting it was "approaching the final stage". "The body needs polishing off and the head needs painting - we're hoping that will take place in the next couple of weeks. "The statue will then be shipped over to Timperley, when we'll be bringing Frank home." The appeal, launched shortly after Sievey's death, sought to raise £60,000 to create and install the life-size statue. Timperley sunset Mr Taylor said about £1,500 was still needed to pay for the statue's foundations, erection costs and a memorial plaque. Sievey set his character's life in the village, where he lived himself, and, as Frank, hosted tours of the area for fans. He often referenced Timperley in his TV and music work, notably on his 1987 release, The Timperley EP, which featured a version of The Kinks' 1967 song Waterloo Sunset with altered lyrics that referred extensively to the Trafford village. Mr Taylor said the installation of the statue would mean that "Frank will gaze on the Timperley sunset forever". Although best known for Frank Sidebottom, Sievey also had success in the late 1970s with his punk band The Freshies, who had a hit with I'm In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk. His TV fame peaked in the early 1990s with his own series Frank Sidebottom's Fantastic Shed Show.
East London residents opposed to plans to site surface-to-air missiles on roofs for added security during the Olympics, are to march through Bow.
Six sites have been picked for surface-to-air missiles, some in residential spots, including Bow and Leytonstone. Campaigners say 1,000 people have signed a petition in protest. The Ministry of Defence said the safety of the Games was paramount and a "broad range of community engagement" had taken place. Air threat The sites, chosen from an original list of 100, include the Lexington Building in Tower Hamlets and the Fred Wigg Tower in Waltham Forest, east London. The four other London sites identified as suitable for Rapier missiles are Blackheath Common; Oxleas Wood, Eltham; William Girling Reservoir, Enfield and Barn Hill in Epping Forest. The proposals have yet to be confirmed. Campaigner Chris Nineham said: "We don't believe they will add anything to security. If they are going to be used they will explode over some of the most densely populated areas in London." He added: "I simply don't believe that since 9/11 a security system hasn't been put in place to protect Canary Wharf and east London. "If fighter jets are sent from another country I hope they will be taken out before they get to London." When a major security exercise took place in April standing joint commander General Sir Nick Parker explained there must be a plan which could deal with "the unlikely but very serious threat" that might exist to the Olympic Park. He explained: "It's an air threat, really categorised in two ways, the sort of 9/11 threat everyone knows about, and also for the lower, slower type of target which might pop up closer to the Olympic Park, which we would need to intervene." Residents of Fred Wigg Tower, Leytonstone, have launched legal proceedings in the hope of preventing the installation of missiles on their building's roof during the Olympics.
The first new design of an electricity pylon in almost 90 years has been erected at a site in Nottinghamshire.
By Claire MarshallBBC environment correspondent After the best part of a century of service, the traditional steel "lattice" pylon has been updated. The "T-pylon" is shorter, standing at about 120ft (36m); the old steel giants are typically 165ft (50m). The National Grid says it will respond to the need to harvest energy from an increasing number of lower-carbon energy sources. The new tower can be shorter yet still capable of operating at 400,000 volts because of the way the cables are held in place. Instead of being attached to three arms, a diamond arrangement is used to carry the cables off in one arm in a much smaller space. Each arm has to carry 60 tonnes. With only eight main structural components plus bolts, it is easier to erect and install - taking a day rather than a week. According to the National Grid, new pylons are needed to respond to the move away from coal and towards other forms of generation such as wind, solar and nuclear. These new low-carbon energy sources come from different geographical locations to the "traditional ring" of coal-fired generation in the centre of England. This test line won't be connected to the rest of the grid, it will be used to train staff and contractors. In particular, it will be used for people to practise "stringing" the conductors (wires) on to the pylons, as a very different technique is needed. The T-Pylon design was adopted after an international competition held by the National Grid in 2011, won by Danish company Bystrup. The claim is that these pylons will be less obtrusive not just because of their shorter stature, but because the design allows them to "follow the contours of the land". According to project manager Alan Large, maintenance will be easier because operators will not have to climb up the tower, they will work from elevated platforms positioned alongside it. Their smooth, impenetrable surface will also make them more difficult to vandalise. It won't replace the 88,000 lattice pylons that currently bestride the UK countryside. It will principally be used in the construction of new power lines in England and Wales. The National Grid is applying to use them to connect the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station to the UK's electricity transmission network. The start of the UK's electricity transmission network began with the building of the first pylon in 1928 near Edinburgh. Follow Claire on Twitter. A spotter's guide to pylons To some they are a blot on the landscape; to others they have a kind of skeletal beauty. But for a small number of pylon enthusiasts, these giant structures hold a lifelong fascination. Read more: Pylon passion
A secret FBI dossier on civil rights leader Martin Luther King alleges that he had a string of affairs and other "sexual aberrations", as well as links to the Communist Party.
It is dated just three weeks before Dr King's assassination in April 1968. The file was released in a tranche of documents relating to the assassination of John F Kennedy released on Friday. Mr Kennedy is not referenced in the file and it is not clear why it was kept secret for almost 50 years. There is no evidence that any of the claims in the report were verified. Its cover shows it was assessed in 1994 by an FBI task force on the JFK assassination, which concluded none of the document should be released. Many of the allegations contained in the paper appear to be reports of private conversations between others, or hearsay reported third-hand. One allegation, that King had a mistress in California with whom he fathered a child, was attributed to "a very responsible Los Angeles individual in a position to know". Among its other accusations are that: The list of alleged indiscretions would likely have been deeply problematic for the civil rights leader if it had been made public in 1968. The paper paints Dr King in an extremely negative light, despite his receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize and his contribution to passing the Civil Rights Act four years previously. It is not entirely clear why the dossier was commissioned. But several pages of the 20-page document are concerned with Mr King's upcoming "Washington Spring project" which was scheduled for the coming months. It warned that despite Dr King's history of calling for peaceful protest, "the combined forces of the communist influence and the black nationalists advocating violence give the 'Washington Spring Project' a potential for an extremely explosive situation." Dr King was killed before the planned march. A 'slow thinker' with 'abnormal' sexual preferences Despite Dr King's historical reputation as a skilled speaker, the FBI file claimed that other advisers approved everything Mr King said. "King is such a slow thinker he is usually not prepared to make statements without help from someone," it reads. Linking Dr King to communism, it claimed: "King is a whole-hearted Marxist who has studied it (Marxism), believes in it and agrees with it, but because of his being a minister of religion, does no dare to espouse it publicly." And in another part says: "During the early 1960s, the CPUSA [the communist party] was striving to obtain a Negro-labor coalition to achieve its goals in this country… Martin Luther King, Jr, and his organisation were made to order to achieve these objectives." The most salacious claims about Dr King's sex life are contained in a dense collection of rumours in the final two pages. At a February 1968 workshop to train ministers in urban leadership, it is alleged: "One Negro minister in attendance later expressed his disgust with the behind-the scene drinking, fornication, and homosexuality that went on at the conference." "Several Negro and white prostitute[s] were brought in from the Miami area. An all-night sex orgy was held with these prostitutes and some of the delegates." The document alleged that Dr King also engaged in a "two-day drunken sex orgy" in Washington in January 1964. "When one of the females shied away from engaging in an unnatural act, King and other of the males present discussed how she was to be taught and initiated in this respect," it added. "It is a fact that King not only regularly indulges in adulterous acts but enjoys the abnormal by engaging in group sexual orgies."
Syria's government has firmly rejected a call from Qatar for Arab troops to be deployed in the country to end the deadly crackdown on protesters.
A foreign ministry statement said such a move would "worsen the crisis... and pave the way for foreign intervention". On Sunday, the emir of Qatar said "some troops should go to stop the killing". An Arab League observer mission tasked with verifying the implementation of a peace plan has not ended the violence, which the UN says has left 5,000 dead. At least 18 civilians have so far been killed on Tuesday, including eight who died when a minibus was hit by an explosion in the north-western province of Idlib and eight in the central city of Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Another activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees, put the death toll at 30, including 18 in Homs and seven in Idlib province. The state news agency, Sana, meanwhile said six soldiers had been killed in a rocket attack on a rural checkpoint near the capital, Damascus. 'Astonished' On Sunday, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, became the first Arab leader to propose Arab military intervention to halt the violent crackdown on dissent by Syrian security forces. He told the US television network CBS: "For such a situation to stop the killing... some troops should go to stop the killing." Last year, the emir gave his full support to Nato's intervention in Libya to protect civilians, which helped rebels overthrow Muammar Gaddafi. There has been little suggestion from other Arab states or Western powers that they are considering military intervention in Syria, and Arab League officials insisted on Sunday that there had been no agreement. On Tuesday, the Syrian foreign ministry said it had been "astonished" by Qatar's suggestion, which it "absolutely rejected". "Syria rejects the statements of officials of Qatar on sending Arab troops to worsen the crisis... and pave the way for foreign intervention," a statement said. "The Syrian people... will oppose any attempt to undermine the sovereignty of Syria and the integrity of its territory." "It would be regrettable for Arab blood to flow on Syria's territory to serve known [interests]," the statement added, without elaborating. President Bashar al-Assad has blamed a "foreign conspiracy" for the 10-month uprising, and officials say "armed gangs and terrorists" have killed 2,000 security forces personnel. The BBC's Jonathan Head, who is in neighbouring Turkey, says the Arab League is divided over what to do, and in any case has little experience of forming a multi-national peacekeeping force. Such a force would also need either an invitation from the Syrian government, or the approval of the UN Security Council, and neither is likely, our correspondent adds. 'Unacceptable point' The Arab League must also decide soon whether to withdraw its 165 monitors, whose mandate expires on Thursday, or keep them in Syria. The organisation is expected to announce that Syria has failed to abide by the peace plan it accepted last year, which was supposed to see tanks and troops withdrawn from towns and cities, detained protesters released, access given to the media, and talks opened with the opposition. It could also refer the matter to the UN Security Council, but until now Russia and China have prevented any action on Syria. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned on Monday that the situation in Syria had "reached an unacceptable point". The leader of the Free Syrian Army, a group of army defectors seeking to topple President Assad, also urged the Security Council to intervene. "The Arab League and their monitors failed in their mission," Col Riyad al-Asaad told the Reuters news agency from Turkey. "For that reason we call on them to turn the issue over to the UN Security Council and we ask that the international community intervene because they are more capable of protecting Syrians at this stage than our Arab brothers," he added. Arab diplomats say the Syrian government is willing to extend the mandate of the observer mission and allow in more monitors, but would not allow an expansion of the mission's scope, according to Reuters. In a separate development, the prominent human rights activist Najati Tayyara has been released from custody, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Mr Tayyara was arrested in May after criticising the abuse of pro-reformist protesters by the government. A judge ordered his release on bail on 29 August, but he was reportedly re-arrested the same day.
Sports giant Adidas is suspending the sale of World Cup T-shirts after Brazil's authorities complained they sexualised the country's image.
One read "Looking to score?" next to a scantily-dressed woman; another printed a heart shaped like a bikini-clad bottom with the phrase "I love Brazil". Brazil's tourism board, Embratur, says it is vehemently against any products that link Brazil's image to sex appeal. Adidas is one of the World Cup's main sponsors and its ball provider. Following the controversy, the company said it was withdrawing the T-shirts - a limited edition meant for sale in the United States. "Adidas always pays close attention to the opinion of its consumers and partners," its statement read. 'Sex appeal' "Therefore, it is announcing that these products will not be sold anymore." Earlier on Tuesday, the country's tourism ministry had already criticised the products saying "any links between national icons and images with sex appeal" were against the country's official marketing policies. "Such an attitude indirectly contributes to committing crimes such as sexual child and adolescent exploitation," it said. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff also reacted, tweeting that Brazil was happy to greet tourists for the World Cup. But her country was also ready to fight sexual tourism, Mrs Rousseff wrote. In a statement, Brazil's Embratur said that "Brazil does not tolerate this type of crime on its territory." Brazil says it has been trying to distance itself from the sexual stereotypes that marked the country for decades.
Indian budget airline IndiGo plans to conduct an initial share offering this week as it seeks to raise as much as 32.68bn rupees ($500m; £325.6m), according to reports.
The share offering would be India's largest since 2012. Owned by InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo is the country's largest domestic airline by market share. The public offer is set to open on Tuesday and close on 29 October. It proposed to list on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India. Global coordinators of the share sale include JP Morgan, Barclays and UBS, according to the firm's preliminary prospectus filed in June. The firm warned in its initial prospectus that there was "no assurance that the new routes which we expand into will be profitable or become profitable." IndiGo's international destinations currently include Singapore, Dubai and Bangkok and consultancy firm Centre of Aviation (CAPA) said it has been the only consistently profitable carrier in the country for the past seven years. IndiGo said it may not be able to successfully implement its planned expansion of its route network "due to factors beyond our control" - including economic, political and business conditions. Analysis: By Simon Atkinson, BBC Mumbai From its inflight magazine named after the airline code - called Hello 6E (think about it) - to the novelty packaging for snacks, IndiGo is trying to stand out from its rivals. And the unusual policy of forcing female cabin crew to wear a wig if their hair doesn't meet the airline style never stops being a bit weird. But for investors, what appeals about IndiGo is that it is profit-making, with big expansion plans: hundreds of new Airbus planes on order to meet future demand from the growing number of Indians who can afford and want to fly. In August this year the budget airline finalised a deal with Airbus to buy 250 A320neo aircraft. The deal followed a series of orders Indigo has placed with Airbus, as it continues to win a bigger share of India's fast growing aviation market. The agreement was Airbus' single largest order by number of aircraft and was worth a $26.5bn (£17bn) at list prices. IndiGo was founded in 2006 by travel entrepreneur Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal, a former chief executive of US Airways.
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson has said Irish cross-border relations have never been better.
By Mark SimpsonBBC Ireland Correspondent The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader was speaking ahead of his keynote speech to his party's annual conference on Saturday. Mr Robinson said he regards the Irish Republic as "good neighbours" rather than a threat. On Friday, an Irish government minister was invited to the conference for the first time. Speaking after the Republic's Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney, addressed the DUP, Mr Robinson said: "The very fact there was no fuss or fanfare would indicate that normalisation has taken place. "Our position within the United Kingdom is not under threat - we feel confident and secure within the union and we want to have the best possible relationship with our neighbours," the first minister added. 'Position of strength' The DUP is the biggest party in Northern Ireland and the fourth largest at Westminster. It is in a position of strength, and confident enough to have friendly relations with people once seen as enemies. The decision to invite a member of the Irish cabinet to speak at this weekend's party conference is the latest sign of changing times in Northern Ireland. When Ian Paisley founded the DUP 40 years ago, the party's attitude to co-operation with the Irish government was, to use his own phrase, "never, never, never". The peace process has transformed cross-border relations. Nonetheless, the current DUP leader Peter Robinson will tell his party's conference on Saturday that he sees Northern Ireland's future firmly within the United Kingdom.
Three head teachers have been sent in to help oversee the running of an academy trust following the suspension of its two most senior staff.
The Thrive Partnership in Essex runs Philip Morant School in Colchester and the Colne School in Brightlingsea. The chief executive and executive head teacher of the Thrive Partnership are currently suspended. Partnership chairman Neil Jones said he was unable to comment on the situation at the present time. The reason for the suspensions of chief executive Nardeep Sharma OBE and executive head teacher Catherine Hutley have not been made public, though the trust has stressed the move was a "neutral act". The day-to-day running of both schools, in a head teacher capacity, is currently being carried out by other senior staff members Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System Lord Agnew, in a letter to Essex MPs Will Quince and Bernard Jenkin, said the government had taken "swift action" to support the trust. He also confirmed the Department for Education will be "looking at" allegations raised with the two Conservative MPs by both "parents of children attending the schools and by staff employed by the trust". He said both the trust and the department would "move swiftly to ensure any necessary action is taken". The new trustees will be carrying on their day jobs with their existing schools at the same time as working with Thrive. The three new head teacher trustees are joined by one non-head teacher:
The driver of an abandoned car is being sought by police officers investigating a robbery that left a 100-year-old woman with a broken neck.
The victim was pushed to the floor near St Chad's Road and Empress Road, in Normanton, Derby, on Monday morning. The beige Seat Leon, registration plate SL02 KVZ, was seen in the area at the time of the attack and found left in a nearby car park two days later. Police said the woman was "recovering well considering her ordeal". Derbyshire Police said the Seat was in the Pear Tree area in the days running up to the attack and then abandoned in Jackson Street car park on Wednesday. Supt Tracy Harrison said: "We know that there will be people out there who have seen this car - and may even know the man driving it. "We believe he is a key person in helping our inquiries into this despicable crime and we need your help to identify him." The woman, who has not been named, was on the her way to a Polish church when she was attacked from behind. She also suffered a fractured cheekbone and facial bruising. Her green handbag was found dumped a few hundred yards away. The victim's friends Monika Zareba and Maria Wojtczak said they are "shocked and scared". "It shouldn't happen. We can't believe it... shocked," they said. Police has urged anyone with information about the driver, has CCTV or dashcam footage of the vehicle, to contact them. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].
Theresa May must ask the EU to delay Brexit, the Welsh and Scottish first ministers have said in a statement.
Mark Drakeford and Nicola Sturgeon said an extension to Article 50, the process for leaving the EU, was needed. They made the call as Mrs May headed to Brussels to seek legal changes to the withdrawal deal she signed with the EU. Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said she was "within spitting distance of landing a deal - providing the European Union are prepared to move". In a joint statement, the Welsh and Scottish First Ministers said: "The point has been reached where there is now no time to waste. "We therefore renew our call for the prime minister to make clear that she and her government will ensure 'no deal' is taken off the table." They said: "This should include putting forward secondary legislation now to remove 29 March 2019 as Exit Day from the EU (Withdrawal) Act. "The prime minister must also request an extension from the EU of the Article 50 deadline." "We call on the prime minister to request such an extension immediately to put an end to the threat of the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal in only eight weeks' time," they added. Mrs May is due to arrive in Brussels later on Thursday to seek legal changes to the withdrawal deal she signed with the EU, hoping these changes will help her get her deal through the UK Parliament. Earlier this week, Mrs May was on a two-day visit to Northern Ireland try to reassure people she can secure a Brexit deal that avoids a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. On Wednesday, Welsh Secretary Mr Cairns said the UK government was "within spitting distance of landing a deal - providing the European Union are prepared to move". "If the EU are prepared to move in the same way that we've moved on many areas, I believe that we can get to that position," he said.
Is smartphone hardware treading water while industrial designers wait for bendy screens and other flexible, futuristic components to make more radical models possible? And will sales continue to decline until they do?
By Leo KelionTechnology desk editor Samsung is casting a long shadow over this year's Mobile World Congress. The technology industry get-together in Barcelona is set to be dominated by the launch of its Galaxy S9 and S9+ handsets. The reaction from many rivals - including Huawei, HTC and LG - appears to have been to hold off their own flagship launches until later in the year. Based on "leaks", the S9 looks to be another rectangular, rigid product with an almost-all glass front and sleek metal back. Samsung's own teaser campaign has centred on its camera's capabilities rather than a radical form. Of the few other new phones expected, speculation has focused on how many lenses they will feature, where their fingerprint sensors will be placed, their display dimensions and whether they will retain a headphone jack, rather than any expectation of a major leap forward. "The tragedy is that we had two decades of incredible innovation with flip-phones, candy-bar phones, sliders, round phones, square phones - all kinds of different things," said Ben Wood, from the consultancy CCS Insight. "But the world changed in 2007 when Steve Jobs pulled the iPhone out of his pocket, and had what became the dominant design. "We've since gravitated to the black rectangle with a touchscreen as the form factor of choice, and it feels like we've now reached a technology plateau where firms compete by offering marginal changes around the edges." Even so, there does appear to be an appetite for something "a bit different". The big story from last year's MWC was the Nokia 3310. The "reimagined" version of the Finnish company's classic handset had both physical number keys and a screen that bulged at its bottom. Its manufacturer, HMD Global, struggled to meet demand when it went on sale, despite several critical reviews. More revolutionary still, Lenovo has previously shown off a foldable phone concept that wrapped around the wrist. And Samsung has exhibited a prototype with a roll-out display. Both prompted lots of online chatter but have yet to be turned into commercial products. But change for change's sake can be a mistake. Two generations of LG's curved-screened Flex smartphones left many consumers confused as to what benefit the design had. And the South Korean company quickly retreated from the G5's ability to pop off its bottom to allow bolt-on hardware modules to be added, after sales disappointed. Pixel planner It's somewhat telling about the current state of smartphone design that when the creative lead of Google's Pixel 2 discussed his work with the BBC, much of the conversation was dedicated to its colour schemes. "On the panda one [there's a] very bold, very expressive black-and-white colourway, with... a spark of optimistic colour in the orange power button," Alberto Villarreal said. The Mexico-born designer said he had been excited by recent trends in the fashion industry, and in particular the way people were combining formal items with athletics wear. "The mix-and-match of those neutral tones, with some sparks of colour that make it more sporty, are things we definitely looked at for inspiration," he said. When it came to the rest of the design, Mr Villarreal says he took a less-is-more approach. "One thing that we been very careful about is making sure that when you look at the phone from the front, the attention of the user is focused on the screen. "So [it was about] removing anything that is distracting from that. "We have no branding, no buttons. And even details like the front-facing stereo speakers [is] something that we are treating very discreetly, blending with the black front. "Even the bezels of the phone are black." Mr Villarreal declined to discuss how flexible components and other innovations might affect future designs. But he did say the public should be sceptical when they read reports about technology companies making last-minute hardware changes. "We were were working on the [Pixel 2] before we had released the previous one," he said. "In order to manufacture a product in high-volume, you have to start the pre-production quite a few months before. "So, I cannot think of major changes that could happen to a product very close to the launch date." Handset-makers may currently be more occupied dreaming up new artificial intelligence features and augmented reality capabilities than trying to rethink how mobiles look in the hand. But recent shipment figures indicate many consumers don't see these features as compelling reasons to upgrade. IDC recently reported the global market was down 6.3% over the October-to-December quarter in 2017 compared with the same three months the previous year, while Strategy Analytics put the fall at 8.8%. China - the world's biggest market - represented a particular black spot. Local demand for smartphones suffered a 14% year-on-year plunge, according to Canalys. While absorbing those figures, it's worth noting that the data would have been even worse had Apple not released the iPhone X - a device that at least looked different to its predecessors, even if it too conformed to the current minimalistic aesthetic trend. "Hardware is always the easiest thing to sell - if it looks different you get consumers attention, and then you build from there," said Carolina Milanesi, a consumer technology analyst at Creative Strategies. "Trying to get someone into a store for something that looks the same as last year is difficult, even if it has new things to offer." She added that shop workers often struggled to explain new artificial intelligence and cloud-based facilities, while many consumers had proved suspicious of the privacy implications. Return of the flip That's not to say there aren't some companies attempting something out of the ordinary. UK-based Bullit Group - which previously designed a Kodak-branded phone whose rear resembled a compact camera - has a new rugged CAT phone with a smell sensor, and is also promising to unveil a Land Rover-inspired handset at this year's MWC. Movie camera-maker Red is developing the Hydrogen One for later in the year. The phone promises a new type of "holographic display" and is intended to have a variety of camera-based modules attached to its back. And Samsung itself recently launched a modern take on the flip-phone, in China - the W2018 - with screens on both its inside and outside as well as a physical dial-pad. It is, however, expected to cost upwards of $3,000 (£2,140) - an idiosyncratic look, it seems, can merit an extraordinary price. MWC news event timetable: Sunday 25 February Monday 26 February Tuesday 27 February
At lunchtime today the normally bustling city of Manchester paused to pay tribute.
Mark EastonHome editor@BBCMarkEastonon Twitter Hundreds of police officers from every rank and branch filed solemnly into the cathedral as thousands more lined the streets, boots and service medals shining in the autumn sun. Among the many ordinary Mancunians who stopped to pay their respects, few knew Nicola Hughes. But they know what she stood for; the values she lived for; the values she died for. It was a crime that saw the nation catch its breath: two constables hurrying to answer what they thought was a call for help from a stranger when, upon the ordinary lawn of an unremarkable house, their lives were cut short in an explosion of bullets and grenade shrapnel. 'Act of solidarity' Such extreme, unprovoked violence is mercifully rare in this country and that, in part, is what made it so shocking. But the outrage was deepened because the victims were doing their duty: unarmed, young women who had taken an oath to protect and serve others. From across the United Kingdom, the police family gathered in Manchester - an act of solidarity between colleagues and recognition of the risks all officers swear to accept whenever they wear the badge. Some came to attend the funeral. But two representatives from each of the 53 UK forces were in the city to help patrol its streets, allowing local officers to say their farewell to a friend and workmate: the gesture a reminder that responsibility for safeguarding our communities never stops. It was not a day for salutes, but for bowed heads. At the family's request, those policemen and women paying their respects in Manchester did so with a gesture that spoke to the humanity of Nicola Hughes: a moment to grieve; a time to reflect. Nicola was just 23 years old, having joined Greater Manchester Police three years ago. She died, her mother Susan said, "doing the job she loved". Her colleague and friend 32-year-old Fiona Bone had served for five years. Tomorrow, the city will pause once again to grieve for the death of one of its constables, an officer described as "a calm, gentle, woman". Funerals are occasions to mourn what we have lost, but also to remind ourselves what we still have. Today the police paid their respects to a colleague greatly missed. But the public was also paying tribute to those who continue to protect, those who continue to serve.
Sales in department stores rose for the first time this year in July, the Office for National Statistics said, with data showing an unexpected rise in total retail sales in the month.
Monthly retail sales rose 0.2% - defying forecasts for a 0.2% fall - boosted by online sales. Department stores rose 1.6%, reversing their decline through sales of clothes. But over the three months to July, the ONS said growth in sales in all sectors was "only modest". In the three months to July 2019, sales increased by 0.5% when compared with the previous three months, with food stores and fuel stores seeing a decline. That is the lowest increase this year. Rhian Murphy, head of retail sales at the ONS, said: "Retail sales saw only modest growth in the last three months, "Although still declining across the quarter, there was an increase in sales for department stores in July for the first time this year. Strong online sales growth on the month was driven by promotions." The ONS data showed that internet sales recorded a 6.9% jump in the month - the biggest rise for three years. Sales of household goods plunged 5.4% month-on-month in July and were down 3.3% year-on-year Last Friday, separate data showed that the UK economy contracted in the second quarter for the first time since 2012. Economists looked to the retail sales data for clues for the strength of the economy at the start of the third quarter. Gabriella Dickens, assistant economist at Capital Economics, said: "The rise in retail sales in July was encouraging and supports our view that the economy has picked up in [the third quarter]. "Of course, the retail sector only makes up about 30% of total household spending. But spending growth off the High Street appears to have remained fairly steady. So July's figures leave us more confident that the economy avoided another contraction in Q3".
The emergence of the novel coronavirus is a reminder of the potential threat we face from emerging diseases. A decade ago hundreds of people were killed by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Fergus WalshMedical correspondent Although the novel coronavirus is from the same large family of pathogens as SARS, it is very different. And although media reports usually mentions the new virus and SARS in the same breath it is worth pointing out that coronaviruses also produce infections like the common cold. Crucially the new virus seems hard to catch and is difficult to spread. Had it been otherwise there would have been far more cases. The World Health Organization says there have been 34 confirmed cases since September 2012. That does not mean the threat from this virus should be ignored. If you are unlucky enough to get infected the odds are not good. More than half the patients with confirmed infection have died and others remains seriously ill. The respiratory illness causes pneumonia, can attack the kidneys and other organs. 'No reason to panic' The reason why the virus is in the news is because the WHO has said there is more evidence of person-to-person transmission. A patient who was being treated for the infection in northern France appears to have passed on the virus to another man who had been sharing a hospital room with him. Both are now being cared for in isolation. In February there was a family cluster of three cases in England. A man who had been travelling in Saudi Arabia returned to the UK and apparently passed on the infection to his son and another family member. Both he and his son died. The third member of the family recovered. Both the French and English cases suggest the virus is not very contagious and requires close proximity. Health officials in England traced up to 100 people who had been in contact with the man who returned from the Middle East, and none apart from family members got the virus. "We are right to be concerned about the reporting of transmission from person-to-person, but there is absolutely no reason to panic. "The 'super-spreading' events, in which one person infects several dozen people at a time (as was seen with SARS coronavirus), do not seem to be happening with this coronavirus" said Prof Peter Openshaw, Director of the Centre for Respiratory Infection, Imperial College London. Mystery But that does not mean there is any room for complacency. A fourth UK case - a man who acquired the infection in the Middle East - has been in hospital in London since September. The sheer virulence of the infection, which can cause multi-organ failure, means it must be regarded a potent threat. The virus is thought to have originated in bats, but how the initial infection gets passed to humans remains a mystery. It is probable that it has an animal source, but whether it spreads from contaminated food or something else in the environment is unknown. Until scientists can establish this route of infection they can't initiate measures to try to eradicate the virus. "The most important goal remains to locate the source of infection so that measures to minimise contact can be taken", said Prof Ian Jones, Professor of Virology, University of Reading. So for the moment this novel coronavirus remains a dangerous but thankfully very rare infection.
OK, a lot of people don't like arachnids. But c'mon, these little guys are simply stunning.
By Jonathan AmosScience correspondent Seven new peacock spiders have been described in the journal Zootaxa. And just like their cousins in the Maratus genus, they all live in Australia and they all feature those amazing iridescent colours that the males will flaunt during courtship. The man behind the descriptions is Museums Victoria's Joseph Schubert, a 22-year-old peacock spider specialist. He's now written up 12 of the 85 known species in this group. He often gets sent specimens to identify, but also conducts fieldwork. The names of the new species are Maratus azureus, Maratus constellatus, Maratus laurenae, Maratus noggerup, Maratus suae, Maratus volpei, and Maratus inaquosus. Most are from Western Australia, "My favourite species would have to be Maratus constellatus," he said. "I ventured all the way to Kalbarri to find this species which is about a seven-hour drive north of Perth. The patterns on the abdomen to me just look so much like Starry Night by van Gogh, hence the name constellatus which means starry in Latin. "A few of the spiders in this paper were named after the people who had discovered them. A lot of the species are actually discovered by citizen scientists who'd documented the locality data and taken photos of the spiders and sent images to me. Considering how many peacock spider species have been discovered in the past few years, I certainly think that there are more out there to be found." Peacock spiders are generally very small, about the size of a grain of rice. It's the males that sport the ostentatious colouring; females have a more mottled look made up of browns, blacks and beiges. Males will wave their abdomens and legs during a courtship dance. Some even have flaps that can be extended like a fan - hence the association with peacock birds. There has been a flurry of new species discoveries in recent years, and given their popularity it's likely many more previously unrecognised species will be identified in the future as people go looking for them.
Former residents of the Chagos Islands who were forcibly removed from their homeland more than 40 years ago have lost their legal challenge to return.
Families left the Indian Ocean islands in the 1960s and 70s to make way for a US Air Force base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the group of islands. An Immigration Order preventing anyone from going back was issued in 1971. The Supreme Court - UK's highest court - upheld a 2008 House of Lords ruling that the exiles could not return. Olivier Bancoult, the Chagossian leader who has been fighting in the courts on behalf of the islanders, had argued that decision should be set aside. Cameron 'announcement' In the latest challenge, justices were told it relied heavily on a 2002 feasibility study into resettlement, which concluded that the costs of long-term inhabitation of the outer islands would be prohibitive and life there precarious. Information about the feasibility study was not disclosed before the decision was made, the islanders said. But the five justices dismissed the islanders' appeal by a majority of three to two - the same numerical split as the Law Lords in 2008. Sabrina Jean from Crawley, West Sussex, chairs the Chagos Refugees UK group. Her father was originally from Chagos Island and is one of the 3,000-strong Chagossian community who live in the town, which is near Gatwick Airport. She told BBC Sussex: "We are disappointed about the result but we will never give up. We will continue our fight to find justice for the Chagossian community. All the people have the right to live on the islands." At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Henry Smith, MP for Crawley asked David Cameron if it would be a good legacy to allow the islanders to return. Mr Cameron said the National Security Council was considering the case and had looked at the alternative options and costs. "We will be making an announcement in the coming months," he said. Fogle's support Stefan Donnelly, of the UK Chagos Support Association, said the decision was "disappointing" after decades of "peaceful and powerful" campaigning but "justice is still within reach though". "It is ministers' responsibility to conclude their long-running policy review on the resettlement of the Chagos Islands," he said. "Chagossians are our fellow citizens and we need to stand together and demand ministers get started on a fair return programme now." TV presenter Ben Fogle has supported the campaign. He said it was "hard to accept the ruling", but added: "The government's own policy review has already concluded that return is feasible, costs are modest and plenty of Chagossians are ready to go. "So this fight for justice will continue - and grow." UKIP's Commonwealth spokesman James Carver MEP said he was "dismayed" by the ruling, saying: "This moral injustice continues to be a stain on our history." Long battle The Supreme Court case was the latest in a long legal battle over the right of the islanders to return. In 2000, High Court judges ruled that Chagossians could return to 65 of the islands, but not to Diego Garcia. In 2004, the government used the royal prerogative - exercised by ministers in the Queen's name - to effectively nullify the decision. Then in 2007, the court overturned that order and rejected the government's argument that the royal prerogative was immune from scrutiny. However, the following year the government won an appeal, with the House of Lords ruling the exiles could not return. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been a long-standing supporter of their campaign to go back.
The government has admitted sending about 50,000 coronavirus tests to the US last week for processing after "operational issues" in UK labs.
The Department of Health said sending swabs abroad is among the contingencies to deal with "teething problems". The samples were airlifted to the US in chartered flights from Stansted Airport, the Sunday Telegraph said. Results will be validated in the UK and sent to patients as soon as possible. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said expanding Britain's virus testing network had involved setting up an "entirely new" lab network to process tests, adding "contingencies" - such as sending swabs abroad - were in place for when "problems arise". Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the kits had to be sent abroad because of a "temporary failure" at a lab. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that the move "shows our determination to get the job done". Meanwhile, the government has sent an urgent alert to hospitals recalling 15.8m protective goggles due to safety concerns. Although the "Tiger Eye" protectors, purchased in 2009 during the swine flu pandemic, were in CE marked boxes - meaning they should have met European Union safety requirements - the goggles have since been retested and do not provide proper splash protection. Commenting on the recall, which was first reported in the Sunday Telegraph, a DHSC spokeswoman said the safety of front-line staff was "our top priority". She added that hospital trusts should have enough goggles to "immediately stop" using the "Tiger Eye" protectors. A further 9.2m of the goggles are in quarantine, she added. The revelations come as the government failed to hit the 100,000 daily tests target set by Health Secretary Matt Hancock for the seventh day in a row. There were 96,878 tests delivered in the 24 hours up to 09:00 BST on Friday, down from 97,029 the day before. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said his "ambition" was to hit 200,000 tests "by the end of this month - and then go even higher". But health leaders said they expected "fluctuations" in the figures, and that testing was still much higher than it was at the start of the outbreak. Speaking at the Downing Street coronavirus briefing on Saturday, deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam said he expected "fluctuation" in the day-to-day figures. He said: "We are now really at a high plateau, in the region of 100,000 tests per day. "I don't think we can read too much into day-to-day variations, but the macro picture is this is now at a much, much higher level than it ever was at the beginning of this crisis." BBC health reporter Rachel Schraer said the UK did not start with the resources to do mass testing, unlike some other countries. But it also took several weeks to expand from an initial eight public health laboratories to a wider network of private and university labs. Unlike the UK, countries like Germany and South Korea rapidly stockpiled kits and made the test available to a larger number of labs. Prof Van-Tam also told the briefing that the test-and-trace strategy of finding people with the virus and tracking people they have been in contact with was "part of the solution" needed to ease the lockdown.
A former detective says a double-murderer he arrested may be linked to missing York chef Claudia Lawrence.
Christopher Halliwell was jailed on Friday for the 2003 murder of Becky Godden, having already been convicted of killing Sian O'Callaghan in 2011. Ex-detective Steve Fulcher told the Sunday Express Ms Lawrence's case fitted Halliwell's behaviour. But North Yorkshire Police said they are "not aware" of any evidence to link Halliwell to Ms Lawrence. She vanished in York in March 2009. Mr Fulcher told the Sunday Express: "Halliwell's father lived a few streets away from where Claudia went missing. "It fits his pattern of behaviour - abducting women walking alone either late at night or early in the morning." Mr Fulcher resigned from Wiltshire Police in 2014 after being found guilty of gross misconduct for failing to follow the proper procedures when arresting Halliwell in 2011. The 52-year-old taxi driver from Swindon was jailed for life in 2011 for killing Ms O'Callaghan, whose body was found in Uffington, Oxfordshire. Becky Godden's remains were also discovered in 2011, in a field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire. Ms Lawrence was last seen on 18 March 2009 and was reported missing the following day after she failed to turn up for work at the University of York. North Yorkshire Police believe the 35-year-old was murdered, although no body has ever been discovered. Following Mr Fulcher's claims in the Sunday Express, a spokesman for the force said: "The investigation team is aware of this matter and they will carefully assess the information in line with the on-going review of the Claudia Lawrence case. "However, to be clear, the team is not aware of any evidence that would link this individual [Halliwell] to the disappearance and suspected murder of Claudia." Martin Dales, friend and spokesman of Miss Lawrence's father Peter, said the claim should be investigated. He said: "I think the retired officer in question has a detailed knowledge of things. The overriding point is really whoever has done whatever to Claudia, it has been an incredibly long time." Claudia Lawrence disappearance timeline
Violence in Myanmar has spiralled into the "the world's fastest-developing refugee emergency" and a "humanitarian nightmare", the UN chief has warned.
Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on Myanmar to end its military operation, which has sparked the exodus of over 500,000 Rohingya since August. He also demanded "unfettered access" to the region to deliver humanitarian aid. Earlier, at least 14 Rohingya, all women and children, drowned after their boat capsized off Bangladesh's coast. Survivors say the boat overturned after apparently hitting a submerged object near the coastal city of Cox's Bazar. In the past 48 hours, about 2,000 Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh by boat, fleeing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state. In Thursday's briefing to the UN Security Council, Mr Guterres said: "The situation has spiralled into the world's fastest developing refugee emergency, a humanitarian and human rights nightmare." "We have received bone-chilling accounts from those who fled - mainly women, children and the elderly. "These testimonials point to excessive violence and serious violations of human rights, including indiscriminate firing of weapons, the use of landmines against civilians and sexual violence." Mr Guterres also warned that "the failure to address the systematic violence could result in a spill over into central Rakhine where an additional 250,000 Muslims could potentially face displacement". UN aid personnel were forced to leave Rakhine when the military began a crackdown on Rohingya militants behind attacks on security personnel in August. Fleeing Rohingya - the majority of whom are Muslim - accuse Myanmar's military, backed by Buddhist mobs, of trying to drive them out with a campaign of beatings, killings and village burnings. Images and reports from journalists confirm many villages have been razed. But the military say they are targeting only militants.
A pair of Beatle boots worn by Ringo Starr on stage in 1963 are to go under the auctioneer's hammer in Liverpool.
Unlike the leather boots worn by the rest of the Fab Four, Starr had his own suede versions of the distinctive pointed-toe footwear with a lower heel. This was so he could use the pedals of his drum kit while performing on stage. The sale has been organised by The Beatles Shop in Liverpool. Its owner estimates the boots will fetch up to £5,000 in the 26 August auction. The size-seven boots were given to a family friend by Starr's mother and stepfather in the 1960s and have remained in his possession ever since. The sale organisers describe them as "worn but in good condition". More than 300 Beatles lots are up for sale in the auction. These include front door of the Arnold Grove, Wavertree home where George Harrison was born, and a Cavern Club membership card from 1960. Beatles Shop owner Ian Wallace said: "It's just incredible that these things keep turning up. We have never had a pair of Beatles boots for sale before." The auction will be held at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room on 26 August.
The price of rice is to fall within a week, a senior government minister said.
Agriculture minister, Maithreepala Sirisena, told BBC Sandeshaya that the government will start buying rice as harvest from Batticaloa and Ampara districts is to be produced to the market from next week. "The price of rice rapidly going down. When we get more rice in the market, the price will go down in a week," he told journalist Thakshila Dilrukshi. The minister, whose family owns the Araliya rice mills, was accused of fixing the rice price in the country by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). War of words President Mahinda Rajapaksa's political ally, JVP, and his senior cabinet minister was engaged in war of words over the issue. JVP Polonnaruwa district MP, SK Subasinghe, said the minister in fact could predict the price of rice. "Minister Sirisena is certain that his rice malls will buy rice for peanuts," the MP told journalist Thakshila Dilrukshi. However, the minister who is also the General Secretary of ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), accused the JVP of a 'political conspiracy'. "This is a vicious campaign aiming at political character assassination," Minister Sirisena told BBC Sinhala.com. Preferential votes Mr. Sirisena accused the JVP parliamentarian of trying to undermine the popularity of SLFP leaders in the district: himself and deputy minister Siripala Gamalath, who is also a rice mill owner. But Mr. Subasinghe says his party has no plans to consider the two SLFP leaders to as future candidates from the JVP. "How can we engage in a row over preferential votes, if we never invited him to contest from the JVP," the legislator questioned. The JVP contested the 2004 general elections together with the SLFP in UPFA ticket. Minister Sirisena added that he revealed to the parliament that Mr. Subasinghe, MP, bought 200,000kg of rice from his ministry. The JVP legislator challenged the minister to prove the allegation. A kilogram of rice currently cost about Rs. 70 in the market. A campaign by the main opposition, United National Party (UNP) against the rising cost of living was postponed as military authorities pledged the finish the war within months.
Irish police have seized drugs with an estimated street value of more than 950,000 euros (£868,000).
Nearly 500,000 euros (£457,000) in cash and three guns were also found during a planned search of business premises in Rathfeigh, County Meath, on Tuesday. Gardaí (Irish police) were backed up by the Armed Support Unit, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Garda Dog Unit. A man in his early 40s was arrested at the scene. Police found 570,000 euros (£521,000) of suspected MDMA tablets and about 156,000 euros (£143,000) of suspected MDMA powder. They also seized 140,800 euros (£129,000) of suspected cocaine. Also discovered during the search were 80,000 euros (£73,000) of suspected cannabis herb and 6,000 suspected Xanax tablets, with an estimated street value of 12,000 euros (£11,000). The total amount of cash recovered was 489,120 euros (£448,000). Gardaí also recovered a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun, two Walther 9mm handguns, two silencers, and 75 rounds of 9mm Luger and Fiocchi ammunition. The firearms will be sent to the ballistics unit for analysis.
Four doctors have criticised the "breakdown of trust" at a hospital that asked staff for fingerprints to try to find the identity of a whistleblower.
Jon Warby received an anonymous letter about failings in his wife's care at West Suffolk Hospital after she died there in August 2018. A government review is being held into whistleblowing at the hospital. The hospital said it had apologised to staff involved and it had begun a review of its "culture and openness". Mrs Warby died five weeks after bowel surgery in which there was a series of errors, it was heard at an inquest, which has been adjourned. The 57-year-old mother of two was given glucose instead of saline through an arterial line in one operation, suffered a punctured lung during another and a week later contracted a fungal infection. A letter was received by her husband two months later saying questions about a particular doctor should be raised. The hospital was accused of conducting a "witch-hunt" after it asked staff for fingerprints and handwriting samples in an attempt to find the letter's author. 'I wish somebody came forward and told me' Lucy Wheatley's mum Sheila Coley died at West Suffolk Hospital three years ago. Ms Coley fell out of her hospital bed, which eventually led to her death. It had not been picked up that she had been on medication that increased the risk of falls. Before the inquest into her mother's death, Ms Wheatley said she felt she had to try to track down a member of staff who no longer worked at the hospital. "She was the key to unlocking what had happened that night," she said. "She made it clear on oath that she was completely unaware that my mum had been medicated, they were so understaffed that night, that she had asked for help but the entire hospital was at a staffing deficit." Ms Wheatley added: "You know I wish somebody had come forward and told me what had happened to my mum before the inquest. "It took over a year before me and my dad got any of the answers we needed." West Suffolk Hospital apologised and said it had since brought in measures to reduce falls. Following the Department of Health and Social Care's request for a review, Dr Rinesh Parmar from the Doctors' Association UK has shared views from four doctors with the BBC. They said the atmosphere at the hospital was "still tense" and "not a lot of learning has happened". There was a general feeling among staff that the "external investigation is going to take too long and may not lead to a change in the senior management team responsible", they said. It was claimed a senior member of management told staff "nothing different would be done in the future if the same situation was to occur". "There seems to be a disconnect between us and senior management," the Doctors' Association was told. "This has all just led to a breakdown of trust." West Suffolk Hospital said a serious incident investigation had already begun and the family had been informed before the letter was sent. As a result, it said confidential patient information was "accessed and shared inappropriately, causing distress to a patient's family" and an investigation into that data breach was held. However, it said it was "determined to make sure we learn, and create an environment where everyone has an opportunity to contribute freely and play a full part in our improvement". You can watch the full story on BBC Inside Out East at 19:30 GMT on BBC One, and afterwards on BBC iPlayer.
HS2 risks dividing and destroying "huge swathes" of "irreplaceable" natural habitats, including 108 ancient woodlands, a report has warned.
The Wildlife Trust said the high-speed rail line linking London and northern England could wipe out rare species. The organisation says if the project, which is currently on hold, goes ahead a "greener" approach will be needed. HS2 Ltd said the number of sites flagged as at risk in the report "simply isn't accurate". It said its railway would respect the environment and plant millions of trees and shrubs to create a "green corridor" along the route. The government commissioned a review into HS2 in August and is set to decide in the coming weeks whether to proceed. The Wildlife Trust said its report - which uses data from 14 local trusts affected by the plans - is the "most comprehensive" assessment of the environmental damage the high-speed rail line could cause. It claims HS2 could have a significant impact on hundreds of nature reserves, sites of Special Scientific Interest and ancient woodlands. The organisation fears rare species such as the Dingy Skipper Butterfly could become extinct in some local habitats. Barn Owls and the endangered White Clawed Crayfish could also be impacted by the project, it added. The Wildlife Trust called on the government to "stop and rethink". Nikki Williams, director of campaigns and policy, said: "HS2 will destroy precious carbon-capturing habitats if it's allowed to continue in its current form. "It will damage the very ecosystems that provide a natural solution to the climate emergency." Hilary McGrady, director general of the National Trust, said HS2 Ltd had "a vital responsibility to lead by example" and "must not end up cutting corners at the expense of the environment". But HS2 said at-risk areas in the report had been identified through a simplistic list of all wildlife sites within 500m of the railway. It added the report did not show evidence of significant impact at the sites. However, the Wildlife Trust said in response that the report was based on evidence provided by numerous organisations including the RSPB and the National Trust. "If HS2 Ltd is saying the impacts are lower than presented in the report, we would welcome the evidence," the Trust said. "Until we see it, we are raising our concerns about the risks both actual and potential and call on the prime minister to stop and review the project, while the full ecological impacts and approach are considered." HS2 said it had carried out extensive work to relocate animals, such as the Great Crested Newt, away from sites and into newly-created habitats. The company said its "green corridor" will deliver a railway that "respects" the natural environment. A total of seven million new trees - a mix of oak, hazel, dogwood and holly - are being planted as part of the programme. HS2 claims it is planting more than double the amount of trees and shrubs affected by the project. But Nikki Williams labelled HS2's proposed measures to temper the effects of the works "amateurish". Stop HS2 campaigner Lindsey Batham said hedgerows and trees being cleared for the project were "the roads and railways that wildlife uses". She said the project only called off uprooting vegetation during nesting season when she and her fellow campaigners intervened. "It's just not acceptable. No other contractor in the country would be able to do that - HS2 seems to have carte blanche," she added.
Donald Trump has said he will raise tariffs on $200bn (£152bn) of Chinese goods, because talks on a US-China trade deal are moving "too slowly".
The US president tweeted that tariffs of 10% on certain goods would rise to 25% on Friday, and $325bn of untaxed goods could face 25% duties "shortly". "The Trade Deal with China continues, but too slowly, as they attempt to renegotiate. No!" he tweeted. The countries have seemed near to striking a trade deal in recent weeks. Mr Trump delayed further tariff increases earlier in the year, citing progress in talks. The move increases pressure on China as Vice-Premier Liu He prepares to travel Washington this week to resume negotiations. That follows talks in April in Beijing that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called "productive". White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told Fox News that the president's tweet was a warning. "The president is, I think, issuing a warning here, that, you know, we bent over backwards earlier, we suspended the 25% tariff to 10 and then we've left it there. "That may not be forever if the talks don't work out," he said. But Michael Pillsbury, an informal trade adviser to Trump, said he took the president's tweet "at face value". Is the deal over? So far, the US has imposed tariffs on $250bn of Chinese goods, having accused the country of unfair trade practices. Beijing hit back with duties on $110bn of US goods, blaming the US for starting "the largest trade war in economic history". According to reports, in recent days US officials have become frustrated by China seeking to row back on earlier commitments made over a deal. It is understood that key sticking points include how to police any deal, and whether existing tariffs will be removed or stay in place. Tom Orlik, chief economist at Bloomberg Economics, said: "It's possible talks are breaking down, with China offering insufficient concessions, and an increase in tariffs a genuine prospect. "More likely, in our view, is that this renewed threat is an attempt to extract a few more minor concessions in the final days of talks." What will the tariff rise affect? Mr Trump's latest move will raise duties on more than 5,000 products made by Chinese producers, ranging from chemicals to textiles and consumer goods. The US president originally imposed a 10% tariff on these goods in September that was due to rise in January, but postponed this as negotiations advanced. "The Tariffs paid to the USA have had little impact on product cost, mostly borne by China," he tweeted on Sunday. However, both US and international firms have said they are being harmed by the trade war. Fears about a further escalation caused a slump in world stock markets towards the end of last year. The IMF has warned a full-blown trade war would weaken the global economy.
Working for the White House is tough, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders - like many of those who serve in senior positions in the administration - seems at times to be planning her departure.
By Tara McKelveyBBC White House reporter CBS News reported on Wednesday that the White House press secretary's decision to leave - and that of her deputy Raj Shah - was near, and she responded quickly and forcefully. Her statement on social media said she knew nothing about the story, but did not deny its accuracy. It all seemed very Trumpian. Yet she does not say that the report is inaccurate. She just says she did not talk to the reporter before the piece was published. As David Cay Johnston, author of The Making of Donald Trump, says, she is using a communications strategy that her boss, the president, often relies on. "Her denial is: 'I don't know anything about this.' She doesn't say: 'I'm not leaving'," Johnston explains. "It's what we call a non-denial denial." When I emailed Ms Sanders about the CBS story, asking for her reaction to the piece, she referred me to her tweet. 'Well suited to her role' President Trump and his aides can claim that an article is not true, describing it as fake news, and later if the report turns out to be accurate they can count on the fact that most people have already forgotten about what they said earlier. In this way the president and his aides "muddy the water", says Mr Johnston. Afterwards their supporters will defend them - and will also lash out at the media. If Sarah Sanders does end up leaving the administration though, it will be a loss for the president. By nearly all accounts, she is good at her job. David Litt, a former Obama administration official and author of the memoir Thanks Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years, says she seems particularly well-suited for her role in the Trump White House. All administration officials, regardless of which political party they belong to, spin - they marshal facts to support an argument. Yet Mr Litt says that those who work in the Trump White House have taken the art of spin to a new level: they "lie outright". Nevertheless, he says, Ms Sanders seems "comfortable" with her work for the administration, describing her as someone who believes "facts should be entirely in service of ideology". Ms Sanders says she is not a liar. She clearly loves her work, and many people would be sad to see her go. "I think she's got a pretty good sense of humour," says Victoria Snitsar, the state chairwoman for College Republicans of Kansas, who describes her as a role model. "And she doesn't back down from tough questions." Safety fears Sarah Sanders has a tough job - and a demanding boss. As the press secretary, she is responsible for delivering the president's messages. Yet he likes to handle his own communications strategy and does not necessarily tell her beforehand when he is trying to get a message out to the public. She gets frustrated when he talks to journalists - and not her - about his plans. As one White House official tells me, sometimes she will throw up her arms in surprise when she hears about what the president has said or done. (She gets frustrated with reporters, too, but that is normal for a press secretary). And while she is popular among other White House staffers and conservatives, she is often attacked by liberals on social media and has a high profile that makes her vulnerable. I heard from a White House official that she cannot go shopping without being recognised and that she has received threats. Her colleagues worry about her - so much so that they have spoken in an informal way with the US Secret Service about getting a security detail for her. A spokeswoman for the Secret Service did not get back to me when I asked for a comment, but two former agents tell me they have never heard of a security detail for a press secretary. Still, they say, it is possible to arrange it - one of them says he thinks it is warranted in her case. Ms Sanders would certainly have an easier time if she were not working for the White House, and daily life would be less stressful. At this point, as she says, she is staying in her job at the White House. Still it is the Trump White House, and things change. As her predecessor, Sean Spicer, used to say: "Stay tuned."
This year's TV Baftas were notable for the prevalence of powerful crime dramas that picked up prizes.
By Tim MastersEntertainment correspondent Both the lead actor and actress awards were for roles inspired by real-life murder cases. Georgina Campbell beat Keely Hawes, Sarah Lancashire and Sheridan Smith to win leading actress for her harrowing portrayal of a domestic abuse victim in BBC Three drama Murdered by My Boyfriend. "I knew it was going to be difficult," the actress said backstage at London's Theatre Royal on Sunday night. "I didn't know that domestic abuse affected mostly 16-25 year-olds. Reading the script I could relate to it very well." She told the BBC: "There have have been a lot of people who said that they felt it was really true to the experience they had. "A police officer contacted us and said a girl had come in and her phone was smashed up and she had been hit and she said she had watched the show and decided that she wanted [to report it]." Murdered By My Boyfriend, which aired last June, was based on a tragic true story. It focuses on 21-year-old Ashley, who was beaten to death after four years of mental and physical abuse at the hands of a man she loved. In a Daily Telegraph interview last year, the drama's writer Regina Moore gave some insight into her research. "What are the little things that set the stage for more serious abuse down the line? When does teasing become bullying? When does being in love become being in control? "The challenge was to try to embed some of these subtle details into the film because often they're the signals that a relationship is on the way to becoming abusive. "It took four years for Ashley to die. In that time, at least 229 women in Britain were murdered as a result of domestic violence." 'Crossed line' Jason Watkins received his first Bafta for playing the title role in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, which also won the award for mini-series. Written by Peter Morgan, the ITV drama was based on the true story of Christopher Jefferies, a retired schoolmaster who was arrested when his tenant, 25-year-old landscape architect Joanna Yeates, was found murdered on Christmas Day in 2010. The drama followed the innocent Jefferies as he struggled to clear his name and cope with the unwanted spotlight upon him. The real killer, neighbour Vincent Tabak, was arrested almost a month later. The drama was directed by Roger Michell, a former pupil of Jefferies. Watkins spent several days watching footage of the ex-teacher before he decided to take on the role. Backstage, the actor said: "It was about getting it right. If I could impersonate him - not just on a surface level - then all the details and sensitivities about the case would work out. It was a joy to do that and then to meet him in person." In an earlier Radio Times interview he said: "What really struck me about doing the film is how shocking it is that a line can be crossed in an instant, and a life is ended, or something can be written down and printed and what impact that can have on a life." 'Symphonic writing' Although not based on a true-life murder case, Happy Valley on BBC One was a dark police drama set in West Yorkshire that some TV critics hailed as the best thing on British TV in 2014. Others were troubled by its scenes of violence. Written and partly directed by Sally Wainwright, it stars Sarah Lancashire as police sergeant Catherine Cawood, who stumbles on a kidnap plot as she pursues a man she holds responsible for her daughter's rape and suicide. Lancashire, who won a Bafta last year for her role in Wainwright's Last Tango in Halifax, said she had been captivated by the scripts. "It was very different to other pieces that I've done but I do find Sally's writing is symphonic because it is so varied and rich." Wainwright revealed backstage that series two of Happy Valley would feature the return of killer villain Tommy Lee Royce, played by James Norton (who had been nominated for best supporting actor). Norton said he had read three of the new scripts and that viewers would have to wait until next year to find out what happened next. And it was not just home-grown crime drama that did well at the Baftas. The International category was won by HBO's True Detective, which stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as two Louisiana detectives in their 17-year pursuit of a brutal killer.
Westminster has shut down ahead of the snap general election on 12 December - but the Scottish Parliament will continue to sit. What happens at Holyrood during the general election period?
By Philip SimBBC Scotland News Budgetary bind In theory, the day job of devolved governance continues as usual at Holyrood, even against the backdrop of the election campaign, right up to (but not including) polling day. Debates are still held, committees continue to sit, and scrutiny of legislation continues. However, one major set-piece event on the political calendar has already been disrupted - the budget. Finance Secretary Derek Mackay was planning on announcing his spending plans for the year ahead to MSPs on December 12, but something else has come up that day. Mr Mackay can't really make plans until the Chancellor has set out the UK budget, which will confirm how much funding is heading north in the block grant. And with the UK budget being scrapped in favour of an election, we don't even know who the Chancellor is going to be. This could have serious knock-on consequences for Holyrood. Realistically, by the time a new government is installed at Westminster and has set out its own spending plans, Mr Mackay's budget is probably going to be announced in January. That's presuming there isn't a hung parliament and lengthy talks about who takes power. MSPs had already voiced concerns that they didn't have enough time to scrutinise the budget on its previous December timetable; now they face the prospect of having to push a budget bill through in a matter of weeks. The uncertainty knocks on to councils, who can't set their budgets until they find out how much funding they're getting from Holyrood. If the situation gets really drawn out, the budget bill can always be postponed - spending plans would simply continue at the levels set last year. However, what can't be put off is a vote on the Scottish Rate Resolution. If one of those isn't passed to set Scotland's devolved income tax rates by the start of the new financial year - the end of March - then the Scottish rate of income tax simply ceases to apply. This is a real worry for Mr Mackay, but it's one that ultimately can't be resolved until after the election. Sticking to the day job While the day job for the most part continues at Holyrood, there are certain restrictions in place to make sure that public money isn't being used for party-political purposes. Guidance to civil servants issued before the 2017 poll noted that "it needs to be borne in mind that the activities of the Scottish government could have a bearing on the UK general election campaign". This is particularly the case around ministerial visits and "the announcement of Scottish government decisions". Ministers themselves are advised to have "be aware of particular sensitivities" during this period, and even in some circumstances to "postpone making certain speeches or announcements until after the general election". In practice, party political controversy is going to be hard to avoid at Holyrood. The government of the day has the right to continue to pursue its policy agenda, and at least parts of that are knitted right into the election debate. For example, the issue of a future Scottish independence referendum is already a big deal in the campaign, with the SNP putting it at the heart of their platform and the Conservatives and Labour arguing about who would or wouldn't agree to holding one. There is going to be no getting around this issue at Holyrood, given the Referendums (Scotland) Bill, designed to facilitate "indyref2", is currently halfway through the parliamentary process and indeed is due to be debated this Thursday. Literally every speech in that debate, by ministers and opposition members alike, could potentially have a bearing on the election. Deflating debates The business of government is one thing, but what about the parliament as a whole? Technically, the daily work of the parliament should continue to be about the Scottish government and its actions in devolved areas, not what's going on or indeed who's in charge at Westminster. The day after it was confirmed the country was going to the polls on December 12, Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh appealed for MSPs "not to bring election politics into the chamber too much", stressing that "I do not want to hear any pleas to vote for one party or another". Best of luck with that, Ken. The following day at first minister's questions, there were no fewer than a dozen references to "election politics", with seven separate "pleas to vote for one party or another". It actually got to the point where leaders were outlining target seats and urging voters there to back their side. It was like a hustings, and there was little Mr Macintosh could do about it. The other issue is that MSPs are going to have to split their time between Holyrood and the campaign trail, where they will be helping get the vote out for their local party colleagues. For all that party chiefs will want them out knocking on doors around the country, members will still need to be back in Edinburgh to vote come 17:00, Tuesday to Thursday, particularly when there is legislation under consideration.
A Tory MP's expenses form for his general election battle was forged, a handwriting expert has told a court.
South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay, 52, is on trial alongside his election agent Nathan Gray, and party activist Marion Little, accused of overspending during the 2015 general election. Forensic scientist Oliver Thorne said Mr Gray's signature on the expenses declaration was an "imitation". The culprit was not likely to be Mrs Little or Mr Mackinlay, he added. 'Significant differences' Southwark Crown Court heard that as the election agent, Mr Gray was tasked with producing and signing the declaration and, to the untrained eye, his signature appeared on it. However Mr Thorne said "significant differences" show the writing on the form was forged, as well as the signature. The election saw Mr Mackinlay win the seat from Ukip leader Nigel Farage, in what the court previously heard was a "nasty" election. Mr Mackinlay, an accountant by profession, was elected to Parliament on 7 May 2015 with a majority of about 2,800 from an electorate of 70,000. Declared spending came in under the strict £52,000 limit. But jurors have been told his victory could have been made void if up to £66,000 of undeclared spending on staffing, accommodation and advertising was included on returns. Mr Mackinlay, from Ramsgate, Kent, denies two charges of making a false election expenses declaration under the Representation of the People Act 1983. Mr Gray, of Hawkhurst, Kent, denies one charge of making a false election expenses declaration and denies a further charge of using a false instrument under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. Mrs Little, of Ware, Hertfordshire, denies three counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007. The defendants are all on bail and the trial continues and is expected to last until December.
A new report claims 30 Welsh patients have been denied potentially life-prolonging cancer drugs on the NHS.
A further 91 had to apply for funds for treatment recommended by a doctor using "exceptional case procedures" as it was not routinely available. The figures have come to light under Freedom of Information requests by the Rarer Cancers Foundation (RCF). The charity is calling on the next assembly government to improve access to treatment. The report by RCF, Exceptional Cymru?, claims there are currently 22 drugs which are not available to patients in Wales but that doctors in England can apply for on behalf of patients. It said the 30 Welsh patients were denied funding for treatment between October 2009 and December 2010 after the NHS "refused to pay for drugs which could have prolonged their lives". They had made their application to their local health board which pays for NHS treatment on their behalf. However, the report found approval rates for "exceptional case applications" is significantly lower in Wales (67%) than Scotland (87%). It called the system "restrictive", claiming it is deterring doctors from applying in Wales where they are six times less likely to make an exceptional case application than they are in Scotland. RCF chief executive Andrew Wilson said: "The NHS should be there when you need it the most, but this is sadly not the case for all cancer patients in Wales. "Access to treatment should be based on clinical need and not a lottery based on which side of the border you live. He said the report provided proof that patients in Wales are being denied treatments which they would get elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Mr Wilson callled on the assembly government to look at the evidence and "act now to fix this broken and unfair system." 'Exceptional circumstances' Cancer treatments may not be routinely available to patients in Wales due to a number of circumstances. A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said "all new drugs deemed clinically and cost effective" by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) or AWMSG (All Wales Medicines Strategy Group) "are made available on the NHS. "Where these drugs are not approved, or are waiting approval, mechanisms are in place to ensure consistent access for patients in exceptional circumstances. He added that the assembly government said the next administration will consider the report's finding and recommendations. The Routledge Report - commissioned by the assembly health minister - was published in March 2009 with 11 recommendations aimed at improving the availability of medicines for people in Wales. The RCF report, Exceptional Cymru?, makes 20 recommendations, including calling on the next Welsh Assembly Government to "publish a report on the progress made in implementing Professor Routledge's recommendations and how they intend to build on this".
"It's controversial - and it's becoming more controversial every minute," said Prof Torsten Oppelland, from the University of Jena.
By Jenny HillBBC News, Erfurt For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 a German state has a far-left prime minister. Bodo Ramelow is from the socialist Die Linke - the "left" party. It is the democratic descendant of the communist party which governed old East Germany. On Friday Mr Ramelow won a second-round vote to become leader of a coalition in the state of Thuringia. It is called "Red-Red-Green" - Die Linke with the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Green Party. Die Linke has been represented in other regional governments, but this is the first time one of its politicians has led one of Germany's 16 states. And that, Prof Oppelland says, is "really emotional for Die Linke, because it symbolises their success story and recognition in the political system". "On the other hand it's very emotional for conservatives, or those who experienced persecution in the DDR [former East Germany]," he adds. Christmas cheer At Erfurt's Christmas market, Ellen tells me: "It's time to try new ways." She is partially obscured by the clusters of carved wooden decorations. People pause, Gluehwein in hand, to admire the intricately patterned stars that hang on ribbons along the front of the stall. But few of the tourists in the bustling market under the gothic spires of Erfurt's cathedral are aware of what many here describe as an historic moment for this state. Thuringia is conservative country. But, as of today, that has changed. Critics of Die Linke accuse some members of having former links to the Stasi - East Germany's secret police. And the Thuringia coalition was agreed on condition that the new prime minister acknowledged that former East Germany was an "Unrechtsstaat" - an unlawful state. It is an emotive admission for the party, not least because the same word is applied to Nazi Germany. Die Linke describes itself as a party which stands for alternatives, for a better future. It wants to scrap Nato, ban fracking - controversial shale gas extraction - and supports the introduction of a minimum wage. And it is still regarded with suspicion by the political mainstream. Controversially, Germany's President Joachim Gauck warned voters in Thuringia against Die Linke. So did Chancellor Angela Merkel who, like Mr Gauck, grew up in East Germany. "Karl Marx is to be carried into the offices of government," she said. Ideological past In fact Marx featured prominently on the campaign trail for Bodo Ramelow, who regularly spoke in public alongside a bright red bust of the author of the Communist Manifesto. But Mr Ramelow attributes Die Linke's success at regional level to practical rather than ideological reasons. Mr Ramelow, 58, is a former trade union official from the west. "It's the Heimatgefuehl," he told the BBC, referring to the German concept of emotional connection to one's home. "And it's also the principle of care." He has pledged to improve schools and roads. It was the promise of free kindergarten places that won over a young mum I met at the Christmas market. Melanie cannot get her daughter Keira into a nursery until February because of a shortage of spaces. Keira's grandmother stood close by. "It's good to bring in change," she said. But Robert, supervising his staff rolling out dough for pretzels at a nearby stall, was furious. "It's terrible that this man's come to power. Where are they going to get the money from for these policies? By taxing small companies like mine!" he said angrily. "The socialists are not competent at economics." Certainly the central government in Berlin will be watching closely. Angela Merkel's conservatives govern in coalition with the left-wing SPD, the same party which - at regional level - has now joined with Die Linke. Few believe what has happened in Thuringia would work at federal level. The left-wing parties simply differ too much over foreign policy, for example. Nevertheless, the situation is "playing right into the hands of Alternativ fuer Deutschland (AfD)", says Dr Patricia Hogwood from the University of Westminster, referring to Germany's new populist anti-euro party, which campaigns for tighter immigration. "It's making Chancellor Merkel take them seriously because that's the contingency approach for coalition." And under the sparkling lights of the Christmas market, I ask Ellen whether she would like to see Die Linke represented more substantially at national level. She smiles, rearranges a decoration. "Why not. The party's changed a lot. They should get a chance."
The schedule of sailing events in Weymouth and Portland for the London 2012 Olympic Games has been released.
Events such as the Finn, Laser and Star classes will run from 29 July to 11 August, with ticket prices ranging from £35 to £55. Up to 50,000 visitors are expected to watch the sailing events during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. Osprey Quay was the first site for the games to be completed and will host up to 400 international athletes. British sailors began intensive training at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy after the Christmas holidays. Other nations' teams are also set to train there over the course of the year.
French President Francois Hollande has told the European Parliament there can be no "a la carte" attitude to the EU, as tough budget talks approach.
He called for a "multi-faceted Europe which would be neither a two-speed Europe nor an a la carte Europe". National interests, he said in Strasbourg, risked taking precedence over the interests of the EU. His remarks were aimed at UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the BBC's Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, reports. Mr Cameron announced last month that a referendum would be held on EU membership if his Conservative Party was returned to power at the next general election, expected in 2015. Voters would be asked to choose between a renegotiated form of membership, and exiting. Mr Hollande's Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, commented at the time: "We want the British to be able to bring all their positive characteristics to Europe... but you can't do Europe a la carte." The French president's speech comes two days before a summit on the EU's seven-year budget, which is likely to be marked by sharp differences between the leaders. The UK is pushing for a spending freeze while most other EU members want either to maintain or increase the proposed budget. 'Endless austerity' Setting out French priorities, Mr Hollande called for "Yes to making cuts but no to weakening the economy," he said, rejecting "endless austerity". Elected last year on a pro-growth platform, the Socialist president was making his first speech as France's head of state to the European Parliament. "National interest is overtaking the European interest," he said. "If it is true that the eurozone crisis is now largely behind us, we are far from drawing all the consequences. The threat we face now is no longer the mistrust of the markets but that of the peoples." Strasbourg Mr Hollande warned that Europe was leaving the euro vulnerable to "irrational developments". "A monetary zone must have an exchange rate policy or else it ends up subjected to an exchange rate that does not match the true state of its economy," he said. There is growing concern within France's Socialist government that the euro is too strong, potentially undermining exporters and wider economic growth. Mr Hollande called on member-states with strong export economies to stimulate internal demand to create a fairer balance. His remark puts pressure on Germany, the EU's biggest exporter, our Europe editor notes. On France's military operation in the west African state of Mali, Mr Hollande said: "Europe must do its bit in the fight for democracy and human dignity - that is why I decided to intervene in Mali." Members of the European Parliament later questioned the French leader. In a speech, former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who now heads the parliament's liberal bloc, called on France to consider making savings by agreeing to have the European Parliament sit permanently in Brussels. The chamber currently divides its sessions between the Belgian capital and Strasbourg, in north-eastern France. The arrangement is fixed in an EU treaty. "I defend Strasbourg as capital of Europe because history reminds us of Strasbourg's role," Mr Hollande replied, referring to France's former border dispute with Germany. It is believed that having a single seat for the parliament would achieve annual savings of some 180m euros (£156m; $245m).
Three former or current Chicago police officers have been charged with allegedly conspiring to cover up the fatal police shooting of a black teen.
Detective David March and officers Joseph Walsh and Thomas Gaffney face charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and official misconduct. Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times by a white officer in 2014, sparking widespread protests across the city. Prosecutors accuse the three men of lying in the shooting's aftermath. "The indictment makes clear that these defendants did more than merely obey an unofficial 'code of silence,' rather it alleges that they lied about what occurred to prevent independent criminal investigators from learning the truth," Special Prosecutor Patricia Brown said in a statement on Tuesday. Officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder in 2015 after dashcam footage appeared to show him fatally shooting Mr McDonald as he moved away from officers, contradicting police accounts. He has pleaded not guilty. According to the indictment, the three officers allegedly falsified reports and tried to conceal the events surrounding Mr McDonald's death "to shield their fellow officer from criminal investigation". "The defendants allegedly lied about what occurred and mischaracterised the video recordings so that independent criminal investigators would not learn the truth about the killing and the public would not see the video recordings," Ms Holmes' office said. Ms Holmes was appointed last July to investigate whether several officers at the scene attempted to cover up the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death. Mr March, the lead detective, left the department after a damning report by the city's Inspector General Joseph Ferguson he made false statements about the shooting. The Chicago Police Department has also moved to fire Mr Walsh, who was Mr Van Dyke's partner at the time of the incident. Police released the dashcam footage in November 2015 after Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration fought to withhold the video for a year before a judge ordered its release. The long-delayed footage prompted public backlash and mass protests, culminating with the dismissal of the police chief and a Justice Department investigation into the Chicago Police Department's use of force and practices.
US President Donald Trump's Miami golf resort and Manhattan skyscraper, jewels in the crown of his property empire, are in decline, say US media.
The Trump National Doral Miami has reported a steep drop in profit since 2015, according to the Washington Post. Since 2015 net operating income fell by 69%, the paper reported, citing Trump Organization documents. And owners of units at Trump Tower in New York have been selling at heavy losses, Bloomberg reports. The 643-room Doral resort - which is Mr Trump's highest-earning hotel - is "severely underperforming" other resorts in south Florida, a Trump Organization tax consultant told a Miami-Dade County official last year, according to the Post. "There is some negative connotation that is associated with the brand," said the consultant while seeking to lower the property's tax rate. Kimberly Benza, a Trump Organization representative, told BBC News: "The article is absolute garbage. "2018 is one of the best years in the history of the property." President Trump bragged in 2016 of claiming depreciation on his commercial real estate as an old property developers' tactic to lower his taxes. Bloomberg News reports that apartment owners in Trump Tower, Manhattan, were selling for "brutal" losses. Some flats at the skyscraper - where Mr Trump ran his 2016 presidential campaign and filmed TV show The Apprentice - have been sold at losses as high as 20%. In Manhattan, only 0.23% of homes over the last two years have sold at a loss, according to data provider PropertyShark. The tower's occupancy rate is double the average vacancy of most Manhattan properties, according to Bloomberg. By contrast, the Trump Organization this year reported a 26% increase in profit from foreign governments. The company said it planned to donate that money to the US Department of Treasury. The Trump International Hotel in Washington seems to be prospering as diplomats and lobbyists reportedly splurge there. During the hotel's 2018 year of operation, revenues topped $40m (£31m), financial disclosures show.
Special measures have been lifted at a south Wales council after "sufficient progress" was made in schools.
Torfaen council's education department was put under supervision in February 2013 by education watchdog Estyn. This was due to a lack of progress following an inspection in 2011 where serious failings were highlighted and a rating of unsatisfactory was given. Subsequent checks were made and the necessary steps were taken to allow measures to be lifted on Friday. When it was subjected to those conditions in 2013, Torfaen became the sixth Welsh council to be placed in special measures. It followed Anglesey, Blaenau Gwent, Pembrokeshire, Monmouthshire and Merthyr Tydfil. Of these, only Merthyr Tydfil remains in special measures. Education Minister Huw Lewis said: "I am heartened at the good progress we are seeing with local authorities being removed from special measures and I hope this will provide a springboard for further success in the future." In a letter to Torfaen's chief executive Alison Ward, Clive Phillips, an assistant director at Estyn, said inspectors looked at seven recommendations made from inspections in 2011 and 2013. These said the council needed to raise standards in secondary schools and do more for school leavers who do not go on to find jobs or training. The authority also came in for criticism for standards at GCSE level. A report said over half of schools were in the bottom quarter for performance in the core subjects of English or Welsh, maths and science. No school was above average on the proportion of pupils achieving the equivalent of five GCSEs at grade A* to C. After it was placed in special measures, the Welsh government ordered the creation of a recovery board to support and scrutinise the council as it sought to rectify the problems. Mr Phillips's letter said the council, elected members and the recovery board had "worked well together" to improve these areas. It added: "As a result, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales considers that the authority no longer requires special measures and is removing it from further follow-up activity." Torfaen council's executive member for education David Yeowell said: "We are delighted with this news that reflects well on the combined efforts of colleagues both in our schools and the education service."
A Swansea window firm fined for ringing people who had opted out of sales calls was still using the practice months later, a BBC Wales investigation finds.
Direct Choice Home Improvements Ltd was fined £50,000 in March 2016 by the Information Commissioner's Office for cold-calling 168 people who had opted out of receiving sales calls. But BBC X-Ray found similar practices were continuing months later. Direct Choice said one manager has now been sacked and another disciplined. The firm had been fined for calling people who were on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) - the register for people who do not want sales calls. At the time, the company promised it had invested in new systems to prevent the problems happening again. But BBC Wales' X-Ray programme has spoken to two customers on the TPS who were cold-called by the company in December 2016. Mark Davies, from Narberth in Pembrokeshire, said: "They rang me completely out of the blue... I was annoyed because I'm registered with TPS." Mr Davies ended up speaking to a manager. "I pointed out that it was an offence now to phone people on the TPS and it was up to him to check our number against it, and he basically said if he did that he couldn't possibly run a business," he said. Chris Harvey-Jones, from Tenby, Pembrokeshire, who is also on the TPS, told X-Ray the company had called him about 23 times. "I've said, right, take me off your database. I've got no intention of ever buying anything from you, so you're wasting your time, and they say, 'oh yes, we'll take you off and you'll never get a call from us again', and then three days later you get another call," he said. Mr Harvey-Jones even agreed to a visit from one of Direct Choice's sales reps in March last year to tell him he wanted the company to stop calling him. But, in December the company phoned him again. "We feel like it's harassment," Mr Harvey-Jones said. "I really am at the end of my tether. It's making me angry now that they're still calling me. I've done everything I can do, so I just don't know what to do next." Direct Choice has also been fined for the way the firm's reps sell its windows, doors and conservatories. In 2015, it was fined £3,500 for falsely telling one customer their windows had a top A+ energy efficiency rating. That prosecution was brought by Trading Standards in Merthyr Tydfil. And in October 2016, the company was given a £10,000 fine after a sales representative pressurised a grieving widow from Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taff, into signing a finance deal. X-Ray sent a researcher to work undercover at Direct Choice in January to investigate the company's sales tactics, and the way it was cold-calling people. The training was basic, with one manager telling new staff: "It's not customer services we're doing, it's not thanks for your time, have a lovely day, enjoy yourself - we keep them on the phone until they either say yes or they put the phone down." John Mitchison, from the Direct Marketing Association, which runs the TPS, watched some of the programme's undercover footage. He said: "It does shock me. It's probably one of the worst attitudes I've seen in the way they're treating consumers." In response, Direct Choice told the programme that following the BBC investigation it has now sacked one manager and disciplined another. It has admitted it had issues with its "call centre making calls to persons who do not want to be contacted, through registering with the TPS or otherwise". It said its system does now filter out people on the TPS, and added: "Direct Choice Home Improvements Directors are now in regular contact with the ICO, who note a significant reduction in complaints regarding the company in recent months. "Recommendations made by them are taken on board to ensure the company constantly improves." The company also apologised for the upset caused by one of its reps to the widow from Ferndale. It said the sales rep was dismissed after the court case and it has significantly changed their working practices to stop such incidents happening again.
The government wants to get planning officers "off people's backs" with a relaxation of current rules in England.
The government will consult on allowing people, for a three-year period, to build larger extensions on houses - up to 8m long for detached homes. Rules on shops and offices expanding and on developments having to include affordable housing will be relaxed as ministers seek to boost the economy. But Labour says that ministers are "kidding themselves". The proposals, it says, are "not up to the scale of the challenge" and do not address the real problem of a "lack of confidence and demand in the economy". Affordable homes And the Local Government Association says it is a "myth" that the planning system was stopping house-building. It released figures which show a backlog of 400,000 prospective homes which have planning permission but have not yet been built. It says these "conclusively prove" the planning system is not holding back development. The coalition, which has undergone a reshuffle this week, is looking for ways to boost the economy and end the ongoing recession. Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy PM Nick Clegg have announced that 16,500 first-time buyers are to receive help getting on the housing ladder under an extension of the FirstBuy scheme. Under this, would-be homeowners without a deposit are given an equity loan of up to 20% of the purchase price. Just a few months ago the government rewrote the entire planning framework for England, after fierce initial resistance from countryside campaigners. Now ministers want further changes to planning in England in an attempt to boost house-building and revive the economy. The announcements come as the economy continues to languish, with the recession now having lasted more than nine months. The construction sector has performed particularly badly. Mr Cameron said: "This government means business in delivering plans to help people build new homes and kick-start the economy. "We're determined to cut through the bureaucracy that holds us back. That starts with getting the planners off our backs, getting behind the businesses that have the ambition to expand and meeting the aspirations of families that want to buy or improve a home." He told ITV's Daybreak developers were being held back by the "many obligations" on them to build affordable housing. Under the government's plans, if developers can prove these requirements make a site commercially unviable, the conditions will be removed. There will be a one month consultation on allowing homeowners and businesses, for a three-year period, to be able to build much bigger extensions without planning permission than they can at present. The new Permitted Development Rights would make it easier to install conservatories and loft extensions without going through weeks of planning bureaucracy. If the plans go ahead, full planning permission - required for extensions of more than three or four metres from the rear wall of any home - would only be needed for those reaching beyond 8m for detached homes and 6m for others. Rules that restrict an extension to no more than 50% of a property's garden will remain. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told the BBC that the extension rule changes would benefit local businesses as well as householders, as new carpets and furnishings would be needed for them. Businesses would be able to expand shops by 100 square metres and industrial units by 200 square metres. There will also be £300m of additional funding to provide up to 15,000 affordable homes and bring 5,000 empty homes back into use. 'Conservatories not an economic plan' Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Nick Clegg said the government was putting forward a "big set of measures" to boost house-building but accepted some of the proposals would be controversial. "We have a real crisis. We're not employing enough people in the construction sector. The construction sector has had a really hard time of it. "We're not building enough homes. We're not building enough affordable homes. We've got to take some of these difficult decisions - yes, even with some controversy around them - to get Britain building." The National Housing Federation, which represents England's housing associations, welcomed the package of measures as "a major step forward" with "the potential to transform the housing market". "It will provide homes for some of the millions of families on waiting lists, create jobs and give the UK economy a shot in the arm with a speed and effectiveness few industries can match," the group said. Meanwhile, Labour leader Ed Miliband and shadow chancellor Ed Balls launched an attack on the coalition's economic record and set out what they see as the start for a fundamental rethink about how a future Labour government would approach the economy. As big a shift in thinking is needed now, Mr Miliband said, as happened after the second world war and in the late 1970s. "Instead of a change of direction," Mr Miliband said "we get increasingly complex schemes and initiatives". "Someone in New Labour said if you want to understand aspiration you need to understand conservatories. They were right about that. "But a one-year holiday from the current rules on planning for a conservatory extension of up to eight metres into a garden which is what the government is announcing today, does not represent an economic plan."
A number of UK universities are preparing to keep lectures online into the autumn term.
By Sean CoughlanFamily and education correspondent It raises the prospect of Covid disrupting another academic year - and will prompt more questions about fee refunds. Students have called plans for another term of online lectures "unacceptable". "Online teaching is in no way a substitute for in-person learning," says a petition launched by University of Leeds students. About half of students in England have only been able to return to face-to-face teaching this week, not long before the term ends - having been taught online since Christmas. 'Pre-recorded video' But a growing number of universities seem to be anticipating carrying on with a mix of online and in-person teaching into the autumn term. The University of Liverpool says it wants as "much face-to-face teaching as possible", but is expecting a blend of online and in-person. "In practice this may mean instead of coming on to campus for lectures you may be asked to watch some short pre-recorded videos created by your tutor which cover the same themes and topics as the original lecture," says Liverpool's plan for teaching next year. A University of Leeds spokesman said: "We intend to give every student a substantial on-campus experience throughout next semester, including multiple face-to-face sessions each week." But many lectures "will be delivered online as part of an overall hybrid approach". Keeping lectures online prompted an angry response from some students, who started a petition saying that it was "ridiculous" and a "disgrace" - and calling for a "complete return to in-person teaching". Supporters of the petition complained about the £9,250 tuition fees being charged and that many students have had very few hours of in-person teaching this year. "Now children are in school full time, people are back in the workplace and the general public can visit pubs, theatres and cinemas... there is absolutely no need for any lectures to remain online," wrote a petitioner. "My daughter has had an awful year stuck in her room… Get a grip please," wrote a parent backing the petition. The students' union at Leeds says it is planning a survey of students' experience of online learning this year and what they want for next year. Third year of disruption The previous two academic years have been disrupted - with many students having to spend months off campus - but it seems as though the pandemic could mean a third year of changes. Even if students are back on campus they could still be watching lectures online. The London School of Economics expects the "vast majority" of seminars and classes to be taught in-person, but lectures will be "largely delivered online". St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh expect large lectures to be online - and the University of Manchester is planning a "blended approach, with a mix of both on-campus and online elements". St Andrews says this "interim" guidance reflects the "significant uncertainty" about physical distancing requirements in the autumn. University College London says courses on campus would "prioritise interactive face-to-face teaching, such as seminars and workshops". But some modules "will be mostly online and others completely online if all learning outcomes can be met this way", says the information for next year's students. An academic at a London university, speaking anonymously, contacted the BBC to suggest there would be financial savings for universities from reducing staffing levels and making a longer-term shift to keeping lectures online. More flexibility But the National Union of Students also said there could be some positive advantages in teaching online. "Online lectures, remote access to resources and other digital provision has significantly improved access to education and, offered alongside in-person teaching, gives students greater choice over how they learn," said union vice president, Hillary Gyebi-Ababio. "No matter what teaching methods universities and colleges use, they must provide consistently good courses for all students," said Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students. Universities had to provide "timely and clear information for students on how their courses will be taught next year", she said. A spokeswoman for Universities UK said universities were trying to plan without knowing what restrictions will be in place in the autumn - and that even if lectures were online, students would still have access to facilities such as libraries and laboratories. "Universities have a strong track record in delivering excellent blended tuition, and we have been clear that quality and quantity should not drop," said a Department for Education spokeswoman.
US President Joe Biden has warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin about election meddling in their first call as counterparts, the White House says.
The conversation also included a discussion about the ongoing opposition protests in Russia. A Kremlin statement did not refer to any points of friction, saying the call was "businesslike and frank". Both sides reportedly agreed to extend the countries' last remaining nuclear deal during the call. Former US President Donald Trump sometimes undercut his own administration's tough posture on Russia and was accused by some of being too deferential to Mr Putin. But Mr Trump's predecessor Barack Obama - under whom Mr Biden served as vice-president - was also criticised for failing to check Russia as it annexed Crimea, supported rebel forces in eastern Ukraine and backed the government of warn-torn Syria. What did the White House and Kremlin say? "President Biden made clear that the United States will act firmly in defence of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us or our allies," the White House said in a statement, referencing the main talking points of Tuesday afternoon's call but listing no further details. The US said that the two presidents also discussed the massive SolarWinds cyber-attack, which has been blamed on Moscow; reports that the Kremlin placed bounties on US soldiers in Afghanistan; and the poisoning of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny. The Kremlin statement about the call said their president had "noted that the normalisation of relations between Russia and the United States would meet the interests of both countries and - taking into account their special responsibility for maintaining security and stability in the world - of the entire international community". The leaders also discussed the New Start treaty, an Obama-era accord that limits the amounts of warheads, missiles and launchers in the two countries' nuclear arsenals. It had been due to expire on 5 February, but both sides reportedly agreed to extend the treaty during Tuesday's call. The Trump administration, however, had refused to sign it and talks over an extension stalled. On Wednesday, Russia's parliament ratified a five-year extension of the treaty. Mr Putin said the move was a "step in the right direction" to reducing global tensions. Biden doesn't want a confrontation Joe Biden had indicated he would be tougher on Vladimir Putin than Donald Trump, who refused to take on the Kremlin and frequently cast doubt on Russian interference in the 2016 elections. On that matter Mr Biden made his sharpest break with Mr Trump, reportedly telling Mr Putin that he knew Russia had tried to meddle in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. He also warned the Russian president that the US was ready to defend itself against cyber-espionage, and any other attacks. Despite Mr Trump's conciliatory approach, the Kremlin did not benefit from his presidency, because his administration heavily sanctioned Russians for issues ranging from Ukraine to attacks on dissidents. Joe Biden and his foreign policy team will take a robust position on human rights and Mr Putin's intentions in Europe. But they are not looking for a confrontation. Rather, they hope to manage relations and co-operate where possible. In that vein, the two presidents agreed to work at completing the extension of the New Start arms control treaty before it expires next month. What does the New Start treaty actually do? The treaty, signed in 2010, limits each side to 1,550 long-range nuclear warheads, a lower number than under the previous deal. Each country is allowed, in total, no more than 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear arms. Another 100 are allowed if they are not operationally deployed - for example, missiles removed from a sub undergoing a long-term overhaul. Again, this is a significant reduction from the original treaty. You may also be interested in:
An incident involving drones at Gatwick Airport that has caused travel chaos for thousands of people has affected flights to and from Northern Ireland.
The runway was closed throughout Thursday night, but reopened on Friday. Gatwick chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said on Thursday: "We will review overnight whether there is any potential to open tomorrow." EasyJet is the only airline which flies between Northern Ireland and Gatwick. The runway had been shut since Wednesday night, when drones were seen flying over the perimeter fence. EasyJet had to cancel several flights on its route to and from Belfast International Airport on Thursday and Friday. A police search for those operating the unmanned aircraft is continuing. Kathryn Wilson and her family from Northern Ireland were intending to travel to Barbados for Christmas and have faced a long wait in the airport's terminal. She said it was difficult to walk around the many people who were lying on the ground in the Gatwick terminal. "I think a lot of the staff don't know what's going on," she told BBC News NI. "We keep asking for updates - the screens where we're sitting haven't changed all morning." Cameron Murphy, a student at Queen's University in Belfast, was trying to get home from Belfast International Airport to England for Christmas. "It's just annoying - it's inconsiderate", he said. "You've got to keep positive, that's the main thing - just smile and keep on going." Flights to Dublin have also been affected. On Wednesday night a flight from Belfast to Gatwick had to be diverted to Birmingham. Some passengers spent hours in the plane as it sat on the tarmac before they were allowed to disembark.
The Scottish government has published a paper outlining its thinking on a potential strategy for lifting the country's coronavirus lockdown.
By Stuart NicolsonBBC Scotland News The paper states categorically that "now is not the right time" to relax the UK-wide lockdown that was imposed on 23 March, and does not speculate on when this might begin to happen. But it says a number of options will be considered over the next few weeks, with decisions on what to do - and when to do it - based on the scientific evidence and expert advice that is available. These options are likely to include the easing of restrictions in a phased manner, which could see different parts of the economy opened up sector by sector, or having different restrictions in different areas depending on how the pandemic is progressing. Options will also be considered for different population groups - for example the elderly and people with underlying health conditions, who will almost certainly continue to be shielded as they are now. The paper says the government's approach will aim to: It says that it would be unrealistic to expect everything to be normal any time soon, but that it is equally clear that we cannot stay in complete lockdown indefinitely. So it proposes a "new reality" where some measures are relaxed while others stay in force until scientists manage to develop new vaccines and treatments - which is likely to still be many months away at best, and there is "no guarantee of quick success nor of permanent success". This could mean schools and many businesses reopening so that society can begin to function again, and could see some outdoor activities allowed to return before indoor activities. But classrooms and workplaces may have to be redesigned to ensure social distancing rules can still be followed - so there might not be room for every pupil to attend school on the same day, for example. People will also still be told to stay at home if they are showing any potential symptoms of the virus, and good hand and cough hygiene will have to become "fundamental habits" for everyone. It also seems likely that places where large numbers of people gather in close proximity to each other - for example in pubs or at major public events - will continue to be closed completely or heavily restricted for some time to come. The paper warns that "each one of us will have to adapt to this as the new normal, at least until we are sure that we can be more protected by a vaccine or treatment." And it says that, if these measures are not successful in containing the spread of the virus, then a full lockdown would have to be re-imposed, potentially at very short notice. It adds: "While we will do our best to avoid this, it is possible that such a cycle may happen more than once until we reach a point when we have in place an effective vaccine." The paper also makes clear that the Scottish government wants to work alongside the UK government and the other devolved administrations on a "collective decision-making process" and in areas such as border control and health surveillance of people coming into the UK. But it says the Scottish government would consider taking a separate course of action if it was felt necessary to meet Scotland's specific needs and circumstances.
"Killjoys" who removed red plastic which turned the Westbury White Horse into an England flag have been criticised on social media.
The plastic is believed to have been put up by a football fan ahead of the England team's World Cup semi-final match against Croatia. English Heritage said it removed the covering to make sure the 175ft (53m) tall landmark was not damaged. Members of the public have criticised the move on a community Facebook page. Maurice John Bizeray wrote: "They are doing no damage and think of the money coming to Westbury with people coming to see it. Killjoys. It is only concrete. Took you months to finally clean it." Samantha Mitchell said football was "sadly" not coming home in Westbury because of a lack of a "sense of humour", adding: "What harm was it doing?". And Jason White said: "In a time when there is so much bad stuff going on, a little smile on the face is all it needs." The covering was removed by Westbury Town Council on behalf of English Heritage. In a statement, English Heritage said it fully supports the England football team and wishes them well on Wednesday. It added: "It's great to see people coming up with ingenious ways to show their support, but we do need to make sure that the Westbury White Horse is not damaged in the process." Westbury's horse is said to be the oldest in Wiltshire. It was restored in 1778, but many believe it is much older than that. It is thought to have been originally carved in 878 AD to commemorate King Alfred's victory over the Danes at the Battle of Ethandune.
Lily Allen has criticised a new documentary TV series about herself, saying she feels "embarrassed" by it.
On Twitter she said: "We started filming it a year ago and I feel like a completely different person to the one that features in the programme. "I'm inclined to ask you not to watch it cause [sic] quite frankly I am embarrassed." Channel 4's From Riches To Rags follows the singer's career move into fashion from music. Press coverage In an audio clip from the series given to BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat by Channel 4 yesterday (8 March) the 25-year-old said she battled with an eating disorder in 2009. During the series she said: "There was a point last summer where I'd say that I had an eating disorder. I used to vomit after meals. It's not something I'm proud of." A statement from Channel 4 has said: "The series is an observational documentary that follows Lily and Sarah as they plan the opening of their vintage store and all personal issues are portrayed sensitively." In her comments on Twitter today Lily Allen added that she felt media coverage surrounding the build-up to the first episode had been exaggerated. "On the other hand I want you all to watch it so you can see how the press coverage of it has been totally sensationalised and quotes taken out of context. "I should probably know better than to write this here but I feel it's the only place that my words don't get minced." She also claimed the title of the show was "not my idea". The first episode of Lily Allen: From Riches To Rags airs on Tuesday 15 March on Channel 4.
Narendra Modi hails a "landmark" victory for his BJP party. Experts on US-India relations now predict big changes for how the two nations will get along.
Mr Modi has been a controversial figure in India and the US. Critics say he did little to stop the 2002 riots in Gujarat, in which at least 1,000 people died. He has denied these allegations, and he was never charged with wrongdoing. The US denied him visas, however, and he became an international pariah. As prime minister, he will be working closely with US officials. Here experts look at the implications of his election for the relationship between the US and India. Doing business with Mr Modi The Obama administration must send a clear signal that it is ready to do business with Mr Modi and that it will not give him the cold shoulder over the issue of the Gujarat riots. Mr Modi stayed away from communal politics and focused instead on the economy and good governance during the election campaign. Moreover, the sheer scale of the BJP win gives him a strong mandate. New Delhi and Washington share strategic objectives, whether it involves fighting terrorism, maintaining open seaways or hedging against China's rise. Specifically, the BJP's interest in adopting a more assertive hedging strategy regarding China will give US officials a chance to engage closely with them. A more assertive Indian foreign policy could pose challenges to the US, however. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's commitment to maintaining peaceful ties with Islamabad, despite attacks in India over the last several years that were often traced back to Pakistan-based groups, has kept bilateral ties in check. There are indications a BJP-led government would be less patient with Pakistan. -Lisa Curtis, Heritage Foundation A new relationship with India The Obama administration has no choice but to engage Mr Modi as the democratically elected leader of India. This kind of decision is not unprecedented. One only has to look next door to Pakistan to understand the ability of the US to support individuals in power despite of their unsavoury pasts. Indeed the Indian elections offer the US a chance of a fresh start for the stalled India policy of the Obama administration. US officials have faced significant obstacles with India in the past, ranging from disagreements over issues such as Libya, Crimea and Iran to an overly protectionist economic environment in India that dampened hopes of US businesses. US officials now have a chance to develop a new relationship with India - and to change the playing field. -Shamila Chaudhary, Johns Hopkins University Overcoming resentment A range of differences has dogged the two nations. These include the arrest of an Indian diplomat, Devyani Khaobragade, in New York for her failure to pay adequate wages to a maid to issues of intellectual property pertaining to India's pharmaceutical industry. Even worse, the US ambassador to India resigned in April, and the Obama administration has yet to appoint a replacement. Indeed the relationship seems to have lost much of the steam that it had during Mr Obama's visit to the country in 2010. In addition any attempt to strengthen ties will need to overcome another hurdle - Mr Modi's resentment about the US decision to deny him a visa in 2005. Still Mr Modi is a pragmatist. He has made it clear that he is intent on restoring economic growth, providing employment opportunities and providing good governance. If he wishes to remain true to these goals, he will need to find ways to work with the US. -Sumit Ganguly, Indiana University, Bloomington Business relations hold the two nations together US officials have avoided Mr Modi for the past decade, but nevertheless business relations have held the US and India together. He is likely to focus his attention on increasing economic growth. This bodes well for business leaders in India, many of whom have withheld investments in recent years because they felt under attack by the government. Now they are more likely to invest. Government ties between the US and India are likely to strengthen because of these reasons. In addition Mr Modi's party has historically engaged in a robust foreign policy and the strategic interests of both countries are well-aligned. With his focus on economic development and their common strategic interests, Mr Modi has a foundation for success in his dealings with US officials. -Richard Rossow, Center for Strategic and International Studies
The headline of Tuesday's Financial Stability Report from the Bank of England sounds comforting.
Simon JackBusiness editor@BBCSimonJackon Twitter The UK financial system is strong enough to withstand a "disorderly Brexit". By that, the Bank means an exit from the EU without a trade deal to replace our current relationship, the introduction of tariff and regulatory barriers and the potential forced relocation of people and businesses from the UK to the EU. So everything is all right then? Er, not quite. What the Bank is actually saying is that the economic shock to the system would be no worse than the economic tests it puts banks through anyway. These economic tests are severe. A 33% fall in house prices, a more than doubling of the unemployment rate, a 25% drop in the pound and a rapid rise in interest rates from 0.5% to 4%. This is a dire economic scenario. All the Bank is saying is that a disorderly Brexit would be no more apocalyptic than that. That is not much comfort. Double whammy The Bank of England also said that if the system was hit by a double whammy - namely if a disorderly Brexit was followed by a major economic downturn in the UK and around the world, the banks would struggle to lend to support the UK economy. The Bank of England also highlighted big concerns around the insurance market. Six million UK customers buy long-term insurance products - like life insurance for example - from EU companies. When the UK leaves the EU, those companies would not be permitted to collect premiums and pay claims unless there is specific legislation to ensure they can. Thirty million EU citizens who are customers of UK companies would also be vulnerable, so there is considerable incentive for both sides to reach a deal on this, but it will take a lot of detailed work to draft new laws. The same concerns apply to the financial insurance that banks sell each other to manage the risk of interest rate or currency moves. There are £26 trillion worth of these contracts between EU and UK banks and they underpin the entire risk management plumbing of the financial system. Rewriting all of these would be a gargantuan task and could prove beyond the capacity of any new system in the time available, according to the Bank. Bank of England governor Mark Carney stressed both sides have much to lose but need to get cracking on how to avoid potential threats to the current financial system. "This system is absolutely integral to the financing of the European Union and it is absolutely in the interests of all parties and very much in the interests of the EU, to maintain the close co-operation we have now," he stressed. It is important to remember that these visions of financial Armageddon played through by the Bank do not mean they expect any of this to happen. They are the Bank of England's equivalents of war games - simulations of situations that they might have to deal with in the very worst case. For the first time since they started playing these games in 2014, all of the major banks emerged in one piece and were not required to set aside an additional financial cushion. That is good news. But what the Bank was not saying is that everyone can relax - and that includes Mr Carney. It's tempting to think that it is a no-brainer that the result of a disorderly Brexit will be less devastating than the dire economic vision in his simulations. Mr Carney himself, however, is not complacent. "Let's be clear, this is a big call. We will still be here to see what happens in March 2019 in the unlikely event of a disorderly Brexit. We are putting our money where our mouth is." That's a reference to his leaving date of June 2019. The time between now and then will be some of the most tense and challenging of his career.