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The BBC News app keeps you informed with live and breaking news you can trust - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Get our news coverage on your phone or tablet and discover a range of compelling features. | BBC News Services | If you are not sure about the potential charges, please ask your mobile network provider. You may find some costs are included in your existing price plan or that you can opt for a data package that gives reduced charges for accessing the internet. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994 |
Robin Swann to step down as health minister before Westminster campaign - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Robin Swann previously said he would stay on as health minister while running to become an MP. | Northern Ireland | Robin Swann was health minister throughout the Covid-19 pandemic
Stormont's health minister has said he will step down from his role once the general election campaign begins.
Robin Swann is also the Ulster Unionist party (UUP) candidate for Westminster in South Antrim.
He told the BBC's Sunday Politics that once the election was called and the election period begins, he would give up his seat at the Stormont Executive.
In 2016, "double-jobbing" - holding seats in both Westminster and Stormont - was banned.
Mr Swann had previously insisted he could remain in the health minister role while campaigning for a seat at Westminster.
He was health minister throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and returned to the role once devolution was restored in February, the same month that he confirmed he would be standing in the general election.
The minister said he was absolutely committed to the job despite intending to run for Westminster, but admitted he would not be staying in the role until polling day.
"My intention would not be to stay right up until polling day because purdah will kick in and there will be other stages as well," he said.
"So that decision will be made long before the election day is called, by my party leader."
His UUP party colleague and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Mike Nesbitt, has been appointed as the private secretary to the health minister and is due to start the role soon.
Mike Nesbitt, seen here in 2023, has been named as a potential new health minister
Mr Swann said it would be for his party leader, Doug Beattie, to decide whether Mr Nesbitt was to replace him.
"It could be the thinking of my party leader, yes," he said.
"It would be a rational approach in regards to that."
He added: "I need to be clear as well when we talk about Westminster candidates and the current executive.
"If you look across other parties and constituencies as well, it's obvious that some of the executive colleagues sitting around the executive table at the minute are also going to be candidates.
"One of the things we've done as a party, one of the things that I've done, we've actually come out and said it and been honest with the people."
The health minister also told the programme the health system needed £1bn of funding "just to stand still".
Mr Swann is attempting to tackle the longest waiting lists in the UK, while also pushing through reform of health and social care services in Northern Ireland.
"To stand still I need an additional £1bn and that's in regard to additional monies to honour the pay settlements that we made this year but also to look at pay settlements for next year," he said.
"To look at the increasing cost of drugs, new treatments but also look at making sure that our workforce is at a living wage level - there is a legal commitment for us to do that as well.
"Those are the sort of pressures we are under."
Mr Swann said he has had a couple of meetings with the Finance Minister, Caoimhe Archibald.
"Her job at this moment in time is going to be far more challenging trying to get a budget that actually recognises challenges across all departments, but also what is realistic to do with the portfolio she has," he said.
Stormont ministers have said they need £2bn more than the amount of funding that is available this year.
The finance minister has previously said she would like the budget to be agreed by the end of April.
We need strong and stable leadership in health - Liz Kimmins
The chair of Stormont's health committee, Sinn Féin's Liz Kimmins, told Sunday Politics it was "disappointing" that Mr Swann was intending to give up his ministerial role to run in the general election.
"However, it was inevitable we would see this because we would need someone who is completely focused on our health service," she said.
"Particularly during that Westminster campaign, that is going to be a distraction." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68865821 |
London Marathon photos: Fundraisers run as minions and camels - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | More than 50,000 people are running through the capital, many in fancy dress. | London | With many fundraising for charity, eye-catching costumes are aplenty with people dressed in plane and camel costumes among those lining up at the start. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68868419 |
Ukraine: TV tower collapses after missile strike in Kharkiv - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | null | The local military says that digital TV has been cut off in the surrounding area. | null | Footage shows the moment a major TV tower broke in half and fell to the ground in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Local officials said it was likely to be a Russian missile attack on television infrastructure.
The local military told the BBC that digital TV was cut off in the surrounding area.
There were no casualties because workers were in shelters, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Kharkiv, which is Ukraine's second largest city, has been pounded by Russian missile and drone strikes in recent weeks. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68877813 |
Brenda Blethyn's Vera: More than a scruffy mac and hat - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The star of the popular detective series on how she has learned to love her dogged, scruffy sleuth. | Entertainment & Arts | "There are lots of good crime stories on telly but Vera different," says Blethyn
TV viewer loyalty - the kind that propels a series into double digits - is these days a rarity.
Too many platforms offering too much content have us constantly tempted elsewhere.
Still, one show that's defied the odds is ITV's detective drama Vera, which this year reaches its decade-long milestone.
Admittedly, Vera began before the boom in streaming services. But its audience need not have stayed, averaging 7.8 million people per episode. It's also one of the best-selling British dramas internationally.
Our never-ending love affair with crime dramas could explain its longevity. As could the trend for those which are female-led. Yet the TV graveyard is populated with shows that can be similarly categorised.
Brenda Blethyn, director Mike Leigh and co-star Marianne Jean-Baptiste from Secrets and Lies
In truth, the secret to success lies in a fortuitous alchemy of ingredients.
Having Oscar-nominated Little Voice and Secrets and Lies actor Brenda Blethyn playing the eponymous sleuth is a good start.
Each stand-alone case episode is based on or inspired by the bestselling novels by Ann Cleeves, guaranteeing the source material is sound.
Her scruffy mac- and bucket hat-wearing Geordie detective chief inspector Vera Stanhope is a straight-talking, work-obsessed loner - with a compassionate underbelly.
In charge of a team of men (there is one woman), she has no time for the trappings of make-up, fashion, romance or personal angst. Solving a crime and seeing justice done are Vera's sole objectives.
Brenda Blethyn earned a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for Little Voice
"I don't think people liked her very much," she says. "But then they could see she was respected by her team and she would defend them like a mother [dog] her puppies. So people began to warm to her," she says.
"There are lots of good crime stories on telly but she's different. She looks like someone who could live down the street. You don't know much about her personal life, you're not lusting after her, so nothing gets in the way of the drama.
"It's also good to see a woman of her age in a position of authority, telling a load of men what to do. I know lots of women around her age rejoice in that."
In person Blethyn is nothing like Vera. She laughs and cracks jokes and is glamorous in an understated way. You can't help but like her.
But she does share some of her characteristics - some born out of her humble background growing up in Ramsgate, she says.
"I'm a coper and can be pretty independent. And solving puzzles has been my passion from when I was a kid. We didn't have a TV and the radio would get cut off because the bill hadn't been paid. Still now, I challenge my brother every day to do the Times cryptic crossword."
Blethyn has built a strong friendship with Cleeves, has read all her books and feels very protective of the author's character. She will tell the scriptwriters if they've included something Vera just wouldn't say or do.
The show's executive producer Phil Hunter says Blethyn "embodies this character in a way which captivates an audience and really lands an emotional stone in the heart".
He also considers the show a "trailblazer" in female protagonist police shows.
"There's now an appetite for telling stories with really capable women in those positions. The more gender balance we get on screen, the better," he adds.
The new series' first episode sees Vera investigating the death of an entrepreneur whose body is found by bailiffs attempting to repossess his house.
Ultimately, it is a classic "crime of passion" Vera story - one where the tension is ramped up, to be brought down to a cathartic conclusion.
Professor Charlotte Brunsdon from Warwick University's Department of Film and Television Studies says in this sense Vera "belongs more in the British detective fiction tradition, along with the likes of Inspector Morse and Rebus, rather than female-led detective series".
"Classic to that strand of detective fiction is that it sets a mystery that can be solved, shown in a real world, a flawed world. So you get the feeling of closure and satisfaction that Vera has managed to get something right," she says.
"But there's no pretence that she can put right the things that have caused either what's happened or the things she encounters along the way.
"In some ways it's misleading to think of her in relation to female detectives. Some of these shows tend to be more about the drama of being a modern woman.
"You get a lot about their private lives because they have endlessly to circle the question, 'How can a woman be doing this? What's wrong with her?' because it's still difficult plausibly to have female characters who are devoted to their jobs and aren't monsters."
It also means such series have a running narrative focusing on the woman's personal difficulties. Their stories have inevitably to reach a conclusion, meaning the show is more likely to fizzle out.
Among reviewers, the programme has its fans and detractors. The Telegraph's Michael Hogan declared after the first episode of series nine: "Brenda Blethyn deserves better than this slow drama.
"The script plodded from one plot point to the next, like Vera herself through the handsome Northumbrian scenery... This was Death in Paradise without the Caribbean sun or Midsomer Murders without the camp fun."
Meanwhile, Chitra Ramaswamy from The Guardian, praised the show, saying in 2016: "Brenda Blethyn stomps across the moor with a solvable murder on the horizon. What's not to like? Closely followed by Northumberland, Blethyn is the best thing about Vera...
"She has the loveliest voice, at once girlish and gruff. Her face is kind but means business. Not many actors can pull off shambolic but effective but Blethyn can do it with a single, penetrating glance from beneath that hat."
As the critics highlight, the setting of Vera is a key component. It's at once glorious and threatening - a character in its own right.
Brenda Blethyn: Not ready to hand up her mac yet
Vera has boosted tourism to the area, which was marked with a Royal Television Society Award last year. For each series the cast and crew spend six months filming all round Northumberland and specifically Newcastle.
As well as showcasing the beautiful landscapes, Vera delves into the industrial heartland. Kenny Doughty, who plays Vera's main sidekick Detective Sergeant Aiden Healy, loves the region.
"Northumberland and the coastline are breathtaking but people don't really know it's there," he says.
"And Newcastle has its own cultural identity. It's still rooted in its working-class roots and there's a real sense of community even though it's a city. I've never felt unwelcome. Everyone wants to talk to you, and everyone's got a story to tell."
If Ann Cleeves ever hangs up Vera's mac and hat, the TV scriptwriters could feasibly continue creating new stories way into the future. Contemplating getter older and older as Vera, Blethyn gets misty-eyed.
"Oh, imagine. It could be really good," she says. "But they would probably have to wheel me around in a chair.
"Deciding who would do it... well, they'd have to draw straws."
The tenth series of Vera begins on ITV1 at 20:00 GMT on Sunday 12 January. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-50971819 |
Deadly opioids smuggled into UK in dog food, BBC learns - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Powerful synthetic drugs linked to dozens of deaths are being sent to the UK from China, BBC finds. | UK | Deadly drugs known as nitazenes are being smuggled into the UK inside dog food and catering supplies, a BBC investigation has found.
Nitazenes - more deadly than heroin - have recently been linked to nearly three UK deaths a week on average.
The BBC also found the drugs were being offered for sale on social media platforms including X and SoundCloud.
SoundCloud said it had been "targeted by bad actors" while X did not respond to requests for comment.
The posts on SoundCloud have now been removed. X, formerly Twitter, took down hundreds but many listings remain.
Nitazenes, which are illegal in the UK, are synthetic drugs produced in laboratories. They are similar to heroin and morphine, but can be several hundred times more potent.
It's thought users often take them unknowingly - because they are hidden within other illegal substances by dealers looking to cut production costs.
Nitazenes have been found by a publicly funded testing lab in a range of drugs, including street heroin and black market pills which dealers had wrongly claimed contained anti-anxiety drugs, such as Xanax and Valium.
The SoundCloud adverts contained brief audio clips with the drug's name and contact details appearing as the title of the track
Our evidence suggests dozens of suppliers are advertising openly on the internet and sending nitazenes in the post from China, where they are manufactured in laboratories.
There are many varieties of nitazene, with different chemical structures and potencies. The BBC found more than a dozen types of nitazenes being advertised under their various chemical names.
The BBC investigation identified thousands of social media posts advertising the drugs, including:
Posing as a drug dealer, we contacted 35 suppliers - 14 of whom were advertising on SoundCloud, six advertising on X, and 15 whom we contacted via a website promoting wholesale chemical manufacturers. Thirty offered to post the drug to the UK.
The BBC did not actually buy any nitazenes.
The majority of suppliers claimed to work for companies that otherwise appeared legitimate, with professional websites and business addresses in Chinese cities.
Most adverts followed a pattern, containing the names and pictures of the nitazenes, contact details for secure messaging platforms and promises of secure shipping or customs clearance.
An investigation into the growing illicit trade in a new type of lethal drug called nitazenes.
The adverts appeared to target drug dealers, offering bulk purchases for the criminals to sell on in smaller batches.
While we found evidence that dealers in the US and the UK are using social media to connect with the suppliers, we have no evidence of individual drug users doing this.
The suppliers sent us videos and photos of the drugs, including kilogram bags on digital scales. Some explained they would evade customs by disguising the drugs in dog food and catering supplies. One supplier sent a video and pictures of a pristine laboratory where they claimed the drugs were made.
More than £4.2m in Bitcoin had been transferred into the cryptocurrency accounts of 19 of the suppliers within the past two years, our analysis found.
X removed hundreds of adverts after being contacted by the BBC
In secretly recorded video calls, our undercover reporter was repeatedly reassured by suppliers that the drugs were safe, despite them never having been cleared for medical use anywhere in the world.
One supplier laughed as they explained how they used SoundCloud: "It's a music platform but we can make an advertisement on it."
Another supplier felt that X was "good to use" and was better for advertising drugs as, in their experience, they were less likely to get blocked on X than on other platforms.
Prof Vicki Nash, director of the Oxford Internet Institute, a department at the University of Oxford that researches online behaviour, says: "Finding adverts on this scale, hundreds, thousands of adverts, is horrifying with potentially a very significant risk to human life."
She adds that the BBC's investigation has uncovered how criminals have been "blatantly misusing" SoundCloud - hiding adverts in what appeared to be music tracks - in a way that can be found on search engines.
Adverts for nitazenes can also be found elsewhere online, but searching for the names of various nitazenes on other mainstream social media platforms returned only a handful of posts, or led to safety warnings.
When nitazenes enter a local drug supply, it can quickly prove fatal. Four men died within a fortnight in Oxfordshire in 2021 after taking heroin laced with nitazenes.
Claire Rocha's son Dylan died in 2021 - one of the first UK deaths linked to nitazene-contaminated drugs
The drugs have been linked to at least 101 deaths in the UK between 1 June 2023 and 22 February 2024 - equivalent to nearly three deaths per week- according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Claire Rocha - whose musician son Dylan, 21, was one of the first deaths linked to nitazene-contaminated drugs in the UK - describes the BBC's findings as "shocking."
Dylan, whose band had been due to tour the UK before the Covid pandemic, was found dead at home in Southampton in 2021. Mrs Rocha described him as a "musical genius".
If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can find sources of help and support from BBC Action line
It has never been established how Dylan, who had received treatment for addiction, bought what he thought was heroin. A coroner ruled he would likely have been unaware the drug contained a nitazene.
Dylan used SoundCloud to share his music, but there is no evidence he bought drugs via the site. A toxicologist found his death was caused by a combination of a nitazene, heroin and alcohol.
Mrs Rocha says it was "absolutely crazy" that thousands of adverts were posted on SoundCloud and X.
"How has that been allowed to happen?" she says. "How many people have died as a result of that being advertised there?"
The Met Police shut down an illegal pill factory in west London that produced hundreds of thousands of counterfeit Xanax pills in 2022
Other opioids, including heroin and morphine, are made from poppy plants - and at one time, most heroin imported into the UK came from fields in Afghanistan.
Some experts believe a recent crackdown on production by the Taliban could be pushing criminals towards nitazenes. But that is not the opinion of Charles Yates of the NCA - who says that the agency is monitoring and testing drug supplies. He believes there is "no direct link" between the Taliban's actions and the rising prevalence of synthetic opioids.
Instead, in most cases he believed criminals - whose "sole motivation is greed" - were using nitazenes because they are cheap.
The agency is working with police, Border Force and international partners to ensure that "all lines of enquiry are prioritised and vigorously pursued to stem any supply of nitazenes to and within the UK", he adds.
In 2023, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) charged 11 Chinese companies over the sale of synthetic opioids, including nitazenes.
Following a tip-off from the DEA, the Met Police shut down an illegal pill factory in west London that produced hundreds of thousands of counterfeit Xanax pills and other benzodiazepines, which also contained a powerful nitazene.
It is thought to be the first time police disrupted an organised criminal group distributing nitazenes in the UK.
The BBC has learned police found text messages on the gang's phones after the raid in August 2022 which showed they had at first been reluctant to use nitazenes, but were pushed to use them by their China-based suppliers.
Dealers sent Whatsapp messages to our undercover buyer
In Whatsapp messages to our undercover buyer, many suppliers offered discounts on bulk purchases and some even advised how much to put into pills that would be sold illegally in the UK.
But Caroline Copeland, a senior lecturer in pharmacology and toxicology at King's College London, says the drugs are so strong, it is difficult to measure out a safe dose.
"I don't think there is even a safe dose," she adds.
Mike Trace, a former government drug tsar, says there is already an "overdose crisis" with nearly 5,000 drug deaths in England and Wales each year: "If nitazenes come into this market in a big way, that death rate could spiral and double or treble."
Since 2021, nitazenes have been found 54 times in samples of pills being sold by dealers as anti-anxiety drugs including Xanax and diazepam. The data was compiled by Wedinos, a Welsh government-funded programme which tests anonymous samples from across the UK.
Experts say this increases the risk of overdose, with users unknowingly taking powerful opioids, potentially for the first time and with no tolerance for the drugs.
Last month, 14 varieties of nitazene were made Class-A under the Misuse of Drugs Act, outlawing possession and increasing sentences for supply. The sale and importation of all nitazenes had already been outlawed in the UK under the Psychoactive Substances Act.
In China it is more complicated. Some have been outlawed by name, but new derivatives - which are being offered for sale online - do not appear to have been banned yet.
Suppliers said they would evade customs by hiding the drug in dog food
Nitazenes have emerged as attempts are made to cut the supply of fentanyl, another synthetic opioid, which has driven an overdose crisis in the US.
Authorities believe fentanyl - and chemicals that can be combined to make it - are also made in Chinese labs.
In November 2023, the US and China announced a renewed collaboration to crack down on the trade.
Previous co-operation between the two sides led to a number of breakthroughs including several convictions in China.
SoundCloud has said it and other social media platforms were "being targeted by bad actors" and it has promised to do "everything we can to tackle this worldwide epidemic".
It says it uses both human moderation and software to identify and remove content that promotes drug sales, and "continues to evaluate and invest in best in class technology to aid in this effort".
It has removed nearly 3,000 posts.
X has not responded to requests for comment. It removed hundreds of posts after being contacted by the BBC, but many still remained online four weeks later.
We contacted all 30 suppliers who offered to sell us drugs, to ask why they were providing illegal and dangerous products. Only six responded - all claimed they had never sent the drug to the UK.
The Home Office says there has been an "intensive operational effort to track down [nitazenes] and their suppliers - on the streets, at the borders and online".
It says that the Online Safety Act, which became law last year, makes it clear tech companies "must do more to swiftly remove this type of content… and prevent users from being exposed to it".
It adds that an enhanced "early warning system" which includes testing wastewater for the presence of synthetic opioids, would allow them to detect and respond to the drugs as quickly as possible.
Have you been affected by opioids? Do you have more information about this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68712372 |
What $61bn US aid boost could mean for Ukraine - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | After weeks of Russian advances, there are three areas where Ukraine could now strengthen its defences. | Europe | A $61bn package of military aid for Ukraine has been passed by the US Senate and is headed to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law. So what weapons might Ukraine receive and what difference could they make in trying to stem Russian advances?
The most pressing weaponry needed by Ukraine falls into three categories: air defence systems, mid to long-range missiles and artillery shells. Here is where the US aid could go in these areas.
Repelling the Russian threat from the skies is vital for the protection of cities and critical infrastructure such as energy plants.
Last week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country had been attacked by almost 1,200 Russian missiles, more than 1,500 drones and 8,500 guided bombs this year alone.
Ukraine has a variety of western-supplied systems ranging from shoulder-launched Stinger short range missiles all the way up to the advanced - and extremely expensive - Patriot system. Zelensky said at least seven more Patriots, or their equivalent, were needed.
Russia's cruise and ballistic missiles - including converted S-300 and S-400 surface to air missiles - along with hundreds of Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones - are difficult to counter because of the sheer volumes launched.
A classic tactic to overwhelm air defences is to swamp them with targets, thereby occupying their acquisition and tracking radar systems and depleting missile stocks.
But the war on the ground is vital. Since October, Ukraine has lost nearly 583 square kilometres (225 square miles) of its eastern territory to Russian forces, largely because of a lack of artillery.
High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) have played a crucial role for Ukraine, by delivering guided munitions from a mobile platform.
Arrive at location, set-up, fire and quickly move on before Russian forces can locate and attack the launcher. Expect more HIMARS capability in Ukraine, and perhaps a commitment for more tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.
Significantly, the long-range version of the US Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) has recently arrived in Ukraine.
Older ATACMS systems have been in the country since late last year, but the newer version can double ranges to 300km (186 miles). It takes the fight deeper into annexed Crimea, which Russia uses as a major naval base protected by air assets, and beyond.
And let's not forget bread-and-butter weapons. M777 howitzers need to be fed a continuous diet of 155mm artillery shells.
The United States has sent 2,000,000 such shells to Ukraine since February 2022 and more will likely be sent in this latest package.
The United States has what it calls a "very robust logistics network" to get arms there quickly - within days, it says.
Supplies are likely to have been moved closer to Ukraine, and once they are handed over they officially become the property of Ukraine.
But getting the gear to the frontline - the artillery equipment particularly - could take many days or even weeks, as Russian forces continue their pounding in the east.
Last week, Russia said it would increase the intensity of strikes on logistics centres and storage depots holding Western weapons.
These pre-date this tranche of cash but are notable now because they are close to coming into service.
Ukrainian pilots and crews continue their conversion training to western F-16 jets, currently in Romania. These multi-role aircraft provide a stronger air-to-air and air-to-ground capability, thereby potentially improving Ukrainian air defences.
Denmark, the Netherlands and the US expect to deliver the first of dozens of "Vipers" to Ukraine within months. The jets won't be a game-changer but another significant arrow in the quiver for Kyiv.
Moscow has been dismissive, saying the F-16s wouldn't make much of a difference on the battlefield and would be shot down by Russian forces. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68872783 |
Sri Lanka: Seven killed as motorsports race car hits crowd - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The car ploughed into a crowd at the Fox Hill Supercross event, killing officials and spectators. | Asia | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Seven people have been killed and 21 injured after a race car ploughed into spectators at a motor event in Sri Lanka.
The crash occurred at the Fox Hill Supercross race on Sunday in Diyatalawa, an army base town.
Among the dead were four race officials as well as spectators, including an eight-year-old girl, the army said.
Police have arrested two drivers, though their condition remains unclear.
Authorities said a full police investigation was underway into the crash on the army-owned track. Diyatalawa, in central southern Sri Lanka, is a former garrison town and the military maintains an academy there.
"This accident happened when the car jumped out of the running lane," police spokesman Nihal Talduwa was quoted by BBC Sinhala as saying.
According to witnesses, the crash happened soon after another car had overturned on the track.
Officials tried to slow cars down around the scene by waving yellow lights, but as the cars sped past, one red car veered off course and crashed into spectators on the side of the unguarded track.
On social media, Sri Lankans have criticised the lack of safety barriers on some stretches of the track
Footage widely shared on social media showed the aftermath of the tragedy - screams in the crowd and people rushing to the scene.
Five people were killed at the scene while two later died in hospital. Others remain in a critical condition, officials said.
Elsewhere on social media, Sri Lankans have questioned why there were not greater protections, criticising the lack of safety barriers on some stretches of the track.
The event, run by the Sri Lankan Automobile Sports Association, has operated since 1993 - but this was the first race in five years due to pandemic restrictions and issues resulting from the country's economic crisis.
Prior to the state time, organisers had opened up the event to spectators free of charge and claimed that about 100,000 people were present. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-68869318 |
Newspaper headlines: PM wants end to 'meddling' on Rwanda and Met chief under fire - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | After a weekend of coverage, the Met Police antisemitism accusations remain front page news. | The Papers | Rishi Sunak is under pressure from Tory backbenchers and peers, the Guardian says, to exempt Afghans who served alongside British forces from being deported to Rwanda.
The paper says the concession could ease the passage of the Rwanda bill through Parliament. The Daily Telegraph has seen leaked government documents which, it says, show the Foreign Office tried to scupper the scheme, by raising concerns it could breach human rights laws.
In the Times, the writer and broadcaster, Sir Trevor Phillips, attacks the House of Lords handling of the Rwanda bill, accusing peers of "vexing and self-indulgent behaviour". "They were bound to fail", he writes, "and they knew it." He proposes a plan for reforming the chamber, including drastically reducing its size and introducing a time limit on how long peers can serve. Dominic Lawson, writing in the Daily Mail, predicts that finding an airline to take refugees to Rwanda may make the government's current problems seem insignificant. The Daily Express criticises Labour's stance on Rwanda. In its leader, it says "Repeated obstruction is not constructive policy" and calls for Sir Keir Starmer to outline his alternative.
The i carries strong criticism of the Metropolitan Police's handling of the Gaza protests and the antisemitism row after a campaigner was criticised by an officer for being "openly Jewish". Writing in the paper, Anne McElvoy, says the controversy has had a "corrosive" impact on the leadership of the Met's commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley. She argues that the force is "unclear about what conduct is lawful and where it should intervene."
A crime and justice commission has been launched by the Times, which it says will be a year-long inquiry into the future of the criminal justice system. It carries a YouGov survey suggesting half of respondents don't trust the police to solve crimes, and a third have no faith in their ability to maintain law and order. Just over a third of those polled said they believed the police were doing a good job.
The Financial Times offers a gloomy assessment of the likelihood that new military aid from the US can affect the war in Ukraine. It has spoken to military experts, including a senior Ukrainian official who has said the arms would help "slow down the Russian advance but not stop it." Matthew Savill, a director at the defence think-tank the Royal United Services Institute, said the weapons wouldn't create "immediate parity" with the Russian volume of fire, but it would help close the gap.
The Sun reports claims that Moscow has been behind radar jamming which has affected thousands of British passenger flights. It says journeys to Turkey and Cyprus are among those affected by actions which render the onboard GPS unreliable. The airlines insist they have procedures to mitigate against GPS problems and that flying remains one of the safest forms to travel.
In the Daily Mirror, under the headline "Together for Stephen", Baroness Lawrence talks about the legacy of the murder of her son Stephen, 31 years ago today in south east London. Doreen Lawrence tells the paper that she remains as committed as ever to championing his legacy by encouraging the next generation to develop key skills and overcome barriers to getting on in life.
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Bangor head teacher Neil Foden 'refused to be stopped' - court - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Police found handcuffs in Neil Foden's car boot which matched his DNA and the child's. | Wales | A head teacher accused of sexually abusing five children "refused to be stopped", a court has heard.
Neil Foden, 66, from Old Colwyn, Conwy county, was in charge of Ysgol Friars in Bangor, and strategic head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Penygroes, both in Gwynedd.
At Mold Crown Court a jury heard he abused his position to access children.
The allegations date from January 2019 to September 2023 and include charges of sexual activity with a child.
On Monday John Philpotts, prosecuting, said married Mr Foden grossly abused the trust and responsibility placed in him, by sexually assaulting five girls over four years.
One complainant, Child A, showed an adult an image of her and Mr Foden on her phone and screenshots of conversations referring to oral sex and police were called, the court heard.
The youngster told detectives she was hugged by Mr Foden and this progressed to kissing.
Mr Philpotts said Mr Foden had told the girl that what had happened between them, she must "take it to the grave and not tell anyone".
But they exchanged phone numbers, with Mr Foden saved in her phone as "Nick Jones", and communicated on Whatsapp, with Foden telling the child to delete the messages each day.
Mr Philpotts said on one occasion the girl tried to stop Mr Foden putting his hand in her underwear but he "persisted" and "refused to be stopped", the jury heard.
The alleged sexual activity became more serious with Mr Foden molesting the youngster, it is claimed, and he was almost "caught red-handed" twice.
Another time, the jury was told, he suggested they went on a road trip. The prosecution alleged it was his intention to carry out further abuse.
The court heard concerns about Mr Foden had been raised with the council previously, but there was no formal complaint or investigation.
A second child, Child B, said after Mr Foden pinched their thigh they were left, "shocked and surprised" and another time he put his hands under their clothing.
Child C told police Foden touched her, while Child D alleged Foden breathed on their neck and touched their bottom beneath a skirt.
They had nicknames for each other, the court heard. He was "Mr P", which stood for "Mr Perfect" and his nickname for her was, "ST" which stood for "sex toy".
The court heard Mr Foden sexually assaulted her on a car bonnet.
After Mr Foden's arrest, police found a pair of purple and black lace handcuffs in his car boot which had DNA that matched Mr Foden and the child.
When his phone was seized photos of one of the children wearing underwear and in provocative poses were found.
Mr Philpotts said Mr Foden denied any sexual contact between himself and any children and has never answered questions about any of the allegations.
He denies 13 counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual activity with a child in a position of trust, and one count each of causing or inciting child sexual activity, attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence, sexual communication with a child, possession of indecent photographs of a child and sexual assault of a child. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68873742 |
Trump trial: Key players at the centre of the former president's criminal case - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | They include a judge and prosecutors who have previously tangled with Mr Trump, an all-in defence team and several curious witnesses. | US & Canada | When Donald Trump sits at the defence table in the wood-panelled Manhattan courtroom over the next several weeks, he will be joined by a cast of characters who could feature in a Hollywood blockbuster. Opening statements in the first criminal trial of a former US president were heard on Monday.
There are a slate of intriguing potential witnesses, including an adult film actress, a fixer-turned-star-witness, a loyal money-man convicted of tax fraud and others.
A white-collar defence lawyer who has bet his career on defending Mr Trump is leading the former president's defence team. Meanwhile, Manhattan's first black district attorney has assembled a crack team of Manhattan prosecutors who are very familiar with Mr Trump and his organisation.
And the entire case is overseen by a seasoned New York Supreme Court judge who is well aware of Mr Trump's courtroom troubles and behaviour.
Mr Trump faces 34 charges of falsifying business records to disguise a hush-money payment to a woman with whom he allegedly had an affair. He has pleaded not guilty and denies having the affair. Below are the central players to know in the historic case.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Our New York correspondent sets out what's at stake in Trump's unprecedented trial?
Justice Juan Merchan - the seasoned New York jurist - has previously spent time with Mr Trump in a Manhattan courtroom. He presided over the Trump Organization's tax fraud case that resulted in a hefty fine and jail time for the company's chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg.
That means the judge is well acquainted with Mr Trump's orbit and his courtroom tactics to delay, deny and deflect. That behaviour will likely draw Justice Merchan's ire. While he may be soft-spoken, he has earned the reputation of being a no-nonsense jurist. He has already shut down Mr Trump once during jury selection.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has claimed on social media that "there has virtually never been a more conflicted judge than this one", and he has attacked Justice Merchan's daughter - who is employed by a firm that works with Democrats. Mr Trump has since been barred from speaking about the judge's family.
Alvin Bragg - the Manhattan district attorney - became the first black man to lead the Manhattan District Attorney's office when he was elected in November 2021. He took over the investigation into Mr Trump and announced that his office would bring felony charges against the former president last April.
Mr Bragg has adopted a novel legal theory that will turn a misdemeanour - falsifying business records - into a felony. He has alleged that Mr Trump changed the business records to cover up a second crime - the violation of New York campaign-finance laws. His office alleges that the Trump campaign sought to hide the affair from voters ahead of the 2016 election.
Legal experts have mixed views about whether the gambit will work, but Mr Bragg has pulled together an experienced team of prosecutors who are very familiar with Mr Trump to make the case.
Joshua Steinglass helped lead the prosecution of the Trump Organization, which led to a conviction, and was then added to this team. Mr Steinglass, who will direct the prosecutors' efforts at trial, has previously tried high-profile murder and manslaughter cases and other violent crimes.
The prosecution team also includes Susan Hoffinger, the chief of the office's investigations division who previously worked on the Trump Organization tax case; Christopher Conroy, who has worked on the investigations of Mr Trump the longest; and Rebecca Mangold, a prosecutor who specialises in economic crimes.
Todd Blanche - Trump's top trial lawyer - was a former federal prosecutor, registered Democrat and a New York City resident, but he has tossed that all aside. Mr Blanche left a lucrative position as a partner at a Wall Street law firm, became a Republican and moved to Florida to take on the biggest client of his career - Mr Trump.
Once a colleague of Alvin Bragg, the lawyer prosecuting the former president, Mr Blanche will now be sitting on the other side of the courtroom from him. It will only be for the second time. He has only served as a defence attorney in one other criminal case that went to trial.
Susan Necheles - Trump lawyer - has represented Mr Trump in cases since 2021, but she has a long history of defending troubled politicians, real-estate developers and organised-crime figures - such as Venero Mangano, an underboss of the Genovese crime family with the nickname Benny Eggs. She represented the Trump Organization when it was convicted of criminal tax fraud and given a $1.6 million fine in December 2022.
Gedalia Stern, a partner in Ms Necheles law firm, and Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor, are also on Mr Trump's defence team.
Stormy Daniels - the adult film star - says she met Mr Trump in 2006 at a celebrity golf tournament in Nevada. Ms Daniels - real name Stephanie Clifford - was 27 years old at the time, and a rising star in the adult film industry. She claims that Mr Trump propositioned her, and the two had sex soon after their introduction.
Mr Trump denies the encounter happened, but Ms Daniels alleges that a $130,000 (£105,000) hush-money payment she received from Michael Cohen - a lawyer for the Trump Organization - just before the 2016 election was to keep her silent about the affair.
Since her allegations became public, she has become a frequent target of Mr Trump and his allies, but she has said that she is committed to testifying against the former president.
Michael Cohen - the fixer - started working as Mr Trump's personal lawyer in 2006. He pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance crimes in 2018 over making the hush-money payment to Ms Daniels, but he maintains that he sent the money at Mr Trump's direction.
He alleges that the former president aimed to conceal the scheme and avoid scandal by reimbursing Mr Cohen via a series of payments that were recorded as legal expenses. Mr Trump has called his former confidant a liar, and his legal team has attempted to block Mr Cohen's testimony.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: How Trump and Cohen's friendship soured over the years
At one time, Mr Cohen said he would take a bullet for the former president. But he later became a key witness in investigations of Mr Trump - including Robert Mueller's probe into allegations of the Trump campaign colluding with the Kremlin.
Allen Weisselberg - the convicted money-man - will be a regular feature of the criminal trial, though he is unlikely to testify. The former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, Mr Weisselberg allegedly arranged for Mr Trump to reimburse the hush-money payment and helped cover this up.
Mr Weisselberg is no stranger to the former president's legal troubles. In August 2022, the Trump Organization executive pleaded guilty to tax fraud, the falsification of records and other crimes. The charges were brought during the Manhattan district attorney's investigation of the Trump Organization.
As part of his plea deal, he served 100 days in prison, and he also agreed to testify in the ongoing case against Mr Trump's company. He later testified in the New York civil trial against Mr Trump, but he would have to plead guilty to two charges of lying under oath soon after. He was sentenced to five further months in prison on 10 April.
David Pecker - the tabloid publisher - is former CEO of American Media Inc (AMI), the parent company of the National Enquirer. When he led that tabloid, he pursued a practice known as "catch-and-kill" to support Mr Trump's 2016 presidential run. He did this by buying the rights to stories that cast Mr Trump in a bad light. He would then decline to publish them, which effectively suppressed the damaging information. He was the trial's first witness.
Karen McDougal - the Playboy model - claims to have had an illicit affair with Mr Trump in 2006 and 2007, which the former president also denies. She says she was paid $150,000 by American Media Inc, the parent company of the National Enquirer, for her story. It forced her to keep quiet about the purported tryst.
Dino Sajudin - the former Trump Tower doorman - could also take the stand. Mr Trump's team allegedly paid him hush-money as well, after he tried to sell a story to the National Enquirer about an unsubstantiated rumour that Mr Trump once fathered a child out of wedlock. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68861539 |
Jordan van den Berg: The 'Robin Hood' TikToker taking on Australian landlords - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Jordan van den Berg's vigilante-style approach has won him fans and critics amid a housing crisis. | Australia | Three years ago, lawyer Jordan van den Berg was an obscure TikTok creator who made videos that mocked real estate agents.
But today the 28-year-old is one of the most high-profile activists in Australia.
Posting under the moniker Purple Pingers, Mr van den Berg has been taking on the nation's housing crisis by highlighting shocking renting conditions, poor behaviour from landlords, and what he calls government failures.
It is his vigilante-style approach - which includes helping people find vacant homes to squat in, and exposing bad rentals in a public database - that has won over a legion of fans.
Some have dubbed him the Robin Hood of renters.
But Mr van den Berg's unorthodox methods have also brought him enemies and stirred controversy in Australia, and now abroad too.
It's no question that housing in Australia is in crisis. Experts say almost everything has gone wrong.
Buying a home is astronomically expensive, overwhelming a rental market already in shortage, and there is nowhere near enough public housing to fill the gaps.
The crunch has sent rents to record highs and vacancy rates to record lows, forcing many Australians into insecure, unaffordable, overcrowded or unsafe housing - or homelessness.
Bearing the worst of the crisis are the young and the vulnerable. Mr van den Berg sums up the situation with an expletive.
He adds: "We had old people, who benefitted from… really, really generous housing policy, pull the ladder up behind them, and then leave young people to just figure it out on their own."
Mr van den Berg is now a homeowner himself - he's quick to acknowledge he's from a privileged background - but says he also knows what it's like to be a renter.
"Seeing the way that in Australia vulnerable people were being treated… really pissed me off," he tells the BBC from Melbourne.
And so he began making fun of real estate agents online. Posting to his Purple Pingers accounts - a username referencing ecstasy pills that he chose as a high schooler and now regrets "immensely" - Mr van den Berg offered deadpan impersonations, sarcastic reviews of the kinds of homes available for rent nationally, and even songs.
His TikToks - often intentionally cringeworthy and spoken into a tiny mic clipped to random objects - were a hit. He was soon inundated with messages from people with similar experiences and began telling their stories too.
But there were so many that he couldn't keep up.
"I thought it wasn't right that some white dude on the internet is the one that should be telling everyone's stories… you should be able to tell your own story, no matter who you are, without fear of repercussions."
And thus the "Shit Rentals" database was born. Its more than 3000 reviews from anonymous people turn up images of exposed electrical wiring, disintegrating walls, cracked floors, general squalor, and endless mould - plus the occasional mushroom.
Some of the images uploaded to the database
There are stories about unannounced, illegal visits by landlords, racism from real estate agents, and countless people claiming to have been evicted after asking for essential repairs. Many say their property was immediately relisted, in the same condition, for more money.
"The [landlord] is a scumlord... Every time we asked for a basic repair, his response was that we should move out instead," writes one person from Brunswick, Victoria.
Landlords and real estate agents have access to so much information about renters, but tenants don't get the same level of transparency in return, Mr van den Berg says, reasoning that his database helps even out the scale.
But this month he has set his sights on landlords with vacant homes, arguing they could help ease the strain on the rental market.
Australia's most recent population snapshot revealed about a million houses were sitting empty, many in areas where the housing crisis has forced people to live in tents.
It's hard to gauge how long many have been sitting vacant and the reasons why - but that situation also irked Mr van den Berg: "So I thought I'd make a list."
With the help of his supporters, he's gathering addresses from around the nation and encouraging people to squat in them.
Squatting is legal is Australia, but laws prohibiting breaking and entering or trespass - remaining on private property when instructed to leave - still apply.
"If the government won't do anything about the rich hoarding empty homes, make them," he captioned a video calling for submissions.
He lists some addresses publicly, but due to safety concerns he also gives some to people privately.
And after a big audience response he's now expanded the list globally, compiling vacant houses in places including the UK, US and Switzerland.
"The Australian response has been overwhelmingly: 'Hey, yeah, we should do something about this. This is not necessarily the right way to do it,' which is fair criticism," he says.
"It's generally the wealthy that aren't super jazzed about what I'm doing."
He says he gets called lots of things, but there are also legal and physical threats - especially since he started his vacant homes list.
It's kicked off a national debate in Australia, where he's been accused of encouraging crime - something he rejected on national TV while wearing a t-shirt reading "good people disobey bad laws".
"He should be charged by police for incitement to break and enter," said Sky News Australia host James Macpherson, adding that "homeowners have no ethical responsibility to homeless people".
"What determines whether a property is empty, in his lofty opinion? Because it has an overgrown lawn and no furniture?" Nicola McDougall from Property Investment Professionals of Australia told news.com.au.
"There is a plethora of reasons why a home might be vacant - including it has been sold or leased but the new owners or renters simply haven't moved in yet."
The president of the Australian Landlords Association acknowledged housing could be an emotional issue, but likened squatting to stealing someone's car and taking it for a joy ride.
Another group said vacant properties were "a valid concern" but that squatting posed "significant legal and safety risks for both property owners and potential squatters".
Mr van den Berg's list has also prompted swift backlash in America.
In his mentions online, people have threatened to stake out the homes listed and shoot people on sight, while others have tagged the FBI. At least one user tried to dox him by publishing his address, but outed the location of his parcel locker instead.
"It doesn't seem like there is a lot of empathy in that country," Mr van den Berg says.
So what, then, does he say to criticism that he's tarring people with the same brush, or encouraging vitriol?
He's not concerned: "I'm like: 'Sure, maybe not all real estate agents. But most of them'.
"[And] would you rather be homeless or have a little bit of vitriol? Like, have a little bit of perspective on what we're talking about."
Others say he should focus on achieving policy change.
"If this energy was directed to our MPs and senators, maybe there would be sufficient funding and resources to resolve public housing waitlists," said a spokesperson for the Real Estate Institute of Australia.
Mr van den Berg says he's under no illusion that his approach is not ideal.
"But we've had decades of mismanagement which has led to this situation, and while we're focusing on policy solutions, what do people do in the meantime?" he says.
"If you don't like what I'm saying… what's your policy solution?"
He wants to see greater protections for renters legislated, reforms to lucrative tax incentives for property investors, and a large tax imposed on landlords who keep their properties vacant for long stretches.
He says he has had talks with advocacy bodies and lawmakers, but most keep a distance from him.
"I get it," he says. "I'm just some idiot on the internet."
But with more than 200,000 followers on social media alone, Mr van den Berg says he had no idea his advocacy would blow up like this. He is now juggling a full-time job with the often "heart-breaking" work.
"I'll get people email me at like 2am saying they've just been kicked out of the house… like really, really horrible stories where I genuinely can't do anything about it," he says.
"It's really stressful and kind of sad because I feel like I have an obligation to people."
"[But] one person can do a fair bit through the power of others," he adds. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-68758681 |
Chevron Championship: Nelly Korda matches LPGA record with victory in Texas - BBC Sport | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/BBCSport/ | World number one Nelly Korda wins the Chevron Championship and matches the LPGA record for successive victories. | Golf | Nelly Korda equalled an LPGA record by winning her fifth tournament in a row as she claimed the first women's major of the year at the Chevron Championship.
The American, 25, started the final round one shot behind Ryu Hae-ran.
Her three-under 69 on a gusty day in Texas saw her finish on 13 under to win her second major by two shots.
Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05) are the only other players to have won five consecutive LPGA events.
World number one Korda finished in style too, with a birdie on the last hole, and said: "That felt like the longest back nine of my entire life.
"It was a little bit of a grind on the back nine, but I'm happy to get the win.
"I was definitely starting to feel it on the back nine, just the nerves setting in. It's a major. It's everything that I've always wanted as a little girl, to lift that major trophy.
"As I said, I can finally breathe now and just enjoy the moment because I was definitely really nervous. I feel sick to my stomach."
A late surge from Sweden's Maja Stark helped her finish second on 11 under, while American Lauren Coughlin - who shot the best round of the day with a four-under 68 - ending joint third on 10 under alongside Canada's Brooke Henderson.
Ryu's round of 74 meant she finished fifth.
English trio Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad - who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur earlier this month - all ended the tournament with a share of 23rd place, on one under. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/68871694 |
Met Police apologises to Stephen Lawrence's mother after breaking promise - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | It says the failure to answer questions raised by a BBC investigation is "totally unacceptable". | UK | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: There are still three suspects out there, says Stephen Lawrence's mother
The Met Police has apologised to Stephen Lawrence's mother for breaking a promise to answer questions raised by a BBC investigation into his murder.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence was promised an explanation after the BBC named a major suspect last June.
Multiple police failings to properly investigate him were also identified.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised and told the BBC "on top of the failures over the decades this is totally unacceptable".
Stephen was 18 when he was stabbed to death in a racist attack by a group of young white men on 22 April 1993, in Eltham, south London.
The Met's disastrous handling of the landmark case means only two of his killers have been convicted.
Last year, the BBC publicly identified a sixth suspect, Matthew White, who died in 2021 aged 50.
In her first interview since then, Baroness Lawrence told the BBC that Stephen's murder inquiry should be reopened.
Speaking ahead of the 31st anniversary of her son's death, Baroness Lawrence said that without the BBC investigation, the family would not know what they do now about White.
"He's probably the key one who probably caused Stephen's murder, and they [the Met] did nothing about it," she said.
"I'm not sure what they're hiding behind, why they can't come and tell me exactly what they knew then," she told the BBC.
In a statement to the BBC, Sir Mark said Baroness Lawrence "must have answers to all her questions", adding that he had written to her offering to meet.
A spokesperson for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the way Baroness Lawrence had been treated was "totally unacceptable".
Mr Khan is meeting Sir Mark on Monday where the mayor will be "making clear to the commissioner that he believes the family and wider community need to know that everything possible is being done to bring justice for Stephen", his spokesperson said.
They added that it was "vital" any new lines of inquiry were "properly investigated".
Two men, David Norris and Gary Dobson, were eventually given life sentences for Stephen's murder in 2012. The other three original prime suspects - brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt, and Luke Knight - have not been convicted. All have previously denied any involvement.
Last year, the BBC revealed that independent witnesses had said White had admitted being present during the murder. The investigation also showed that in 1993 White looked like the unidentified lead attacker described by Stephen's friend Duwayne Brooks, who was with him that night and told detectives there were six attackers.
In October 2023, following the BBC story, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, who is in charge of the dormant case, asked Baroness Lawrence to attend a meeting at Scotland Yard.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said restoring trust in the force was one of his priorities
Following the meeting he promised to follow up with a written explanation relating to White, as well as answers to other questions.
On 16 November, Mr Ward wrote saying he should have an update in a week.
In January, following further letters on behalf of Baroness Lawrence, Mr Ward accepted he had failed to provide a response, blaming other commitments.
"I can offer no further consolation other than my professional embarrassment and personal regret," he wrote. There was then no further communication.
Last Thursday, her solicitor Imran Khan KC wrote to Sir Mark on her behalf, to highlight Mr Ward's failure to communicate with her.
The letter stated that Mr Ward had treated Baroness Lawrence with "complete and utter contempt", adding that he had "joined a long line of Metropolitan Police officers who have completely failed her and her family".
New evidence about the murder of Stephen Lawrence, uncovered by BBC investigative reporter, Daniel De Simone.
Addressing Sir Mark personally, the letter stated: "You and your organisation continue to show disrespect for Baroness Lawrence and have now shown that your public pronouncements with regards to your commitment to investigating the murder of Stephen are hollow and meaningless."
The letter stated that a formal complaint would be made about Mr Ward's conduct unless the commissioner personally provided a "satisfactory response" to the original questions.
Sir Mark told the BBC: "We recognise this is a particularly difficult time for the Lawrence family and Duwayne Brooks. I am sorry our failure to respond in a timely fashion has added to this.
"On top of the failures over the decades this is totally unacceptable.
"Restoring trust in the Met is one of my top priorities and that includes how we work with those affected by the failures of the past.
"I apologise to Baroness Lawrence who must have answers to all her questions. I have written to her and offered to meet."
Sir Mark separately faced a call to resign at the weekend from the boss of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, Gideon Falter, over his treatment by the Met during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London.
Brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt and Luke Knight (l-r) have all denied involvement in Stephen's murder
The Met's early failures to deal with Stephen's parents fairly and properly were criticised by the landmark Macpherson Report in 1999. Now, 25 years on, the force is still having to apologise for such failings.
The Met stopped investigating the murder in 2020, stating that all available lines of inquiry had been exhausted.
But the BBC investigation showed not everything possible had been done - something the Met denies - and that some key witnesses had not been seen for years before White's death.
During her interview, in a personal message for Sir Mark, Baroness Lawrence said: "There's still three suspects out there and I'm sure there's witnesses that probably could help them if they're interested.
"If you don't go and look, you're never going to find anything."
Policing minister Chris Philp said he believed the Met could be trusted to handle Stephen's case.
He said the force had been on a "very long journey" since the murder, and it was now a "very different organisation".
The BBC is continuing to investigate the murder and is aware of opportunities to gather evidence, which are also known to the Met.
Matthew White was caught on a police surveillance camera during the first failed investigation of the murder
Baroness Lawrence said her family had always been led to believe there was a wall of silence around Stephen's murder.
"But that shows from your investigation that people do want to talk and people have information to give them [the Met]. But they've chosen not to go and get it," she said.
She added the outstanding suspects were "living their lives, they don't have to worry, because the police have no intention of following up and seeking to investigate them".
Baroness Lawrence does not trust the Met when it says everything possible has been done to bring outstanding suspects to justice.
"I can't believe anything they say," she added.
She said the others responsible for killing Stephen are "definitely getting away with murder".
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If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at SLInvestigation@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68848842 |
Dramatic car chase on M6 motorway ends in arrest - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | null | A black BMW convertible is brought to a stop by a number of police cars, and the driver is arrested. | null | A man has been arrested on suspicion of a number of driving and drug offences after a high-speed chase on the M6 motorway in Cheshire.
Officers tried to stop the vehicle on the A49 near Stretton, Warrington, and gave chase when the driver took off and drove his car into oncoming traffic.
The 34-year-old man from Manchester was arrested on a number of offences, including suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, using a cloned number plate, and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67374645 |
Norway's King Harald to scale back official duties - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The 88-year-old has battled health issues and will make a "permanent reduction" to his public engagements. | Europe | Norway's king plans to scale back his participation in official duties "out of consideration for his age", the country's royal household has said.
Officials said the move would see King Harald, 88, make a "permanent reduction" to his public engagements.
Harald is one of Europe's longest reigning monarchs, serving since 1991.
But he has battled illness in recent years and was admitted to hospital in Malaysia in February after falling sick while on holiday.
He was treated for an infection he contracted while staying on the resort island of Langkawi. He was later fitted with a pacemaker to compensate for a low heartrate.
Harald has not been seen in public since his hospitalisation. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, has carried out the king's duties in his absence.
In a statement on Monday, the royal household said "practical arrangements will also be made in the conduct of his official activity", but offered no further details on what the arrangements would be.
Monday's announcement comes just days after Harald formally resumed his constitutional duties, having taken two months of sick leave after being released from hospital. His official diary listed three separate meetings, including a summit with the head of the country's armed forces.
Last year, the king carried out 431 public engagements, according to Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). They included chairing cabinet 35 times and holding 110 audiences with leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Crown Price Haakon has been filling in for King Harald
Despite his advancing age and ill-health, King Harald has openly ruled out abdicating. In January, he told reporters that he had taken an oath that "lasts for life".
"It's that simple for me," he added. "We're at it until the bitter end."
Despite his health issues, polling suggests that the king remains extremely popular with Norwegians.
A survey for NRK earlier this year showed that 64% of the population did not want him to abdicate in favour of his son, while some 72% of Norwegians remained supportive of the monarchy.
Harald has been known to hold progressive views throughout his time on the throne.
In 2016, he made an impassioned speech in support of LGBT equality and refugees, paying tribute to his fellow citizens from "Afghanistan, Pakistan and Poland, from Sweden, Somalia, and Syria," and saying that Norwegians "are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68874904 |
Claims that smart motorways tech leaves drivers at risk - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Figures obtained by the BBC reveal worries about the reliability of the tech behind smart motorways. | UK | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Smart motorways: How safe are they?
The technology behind England's smart motorway network stops working on a regular basis, the BBC has discovered.
Figures obtained by Panorama have revealed hundreds of incidents when crucial safety equipment was out of action.
A traffic officer who works on the network told the programme he no longer considers it safe.
National Highways - which maintains major routes in England - says "smart motorways are our safest roads".
Smart motorways are stretches of road where technology is used to try to regulate traffic flow and ease congestion.
There are 193 miles of what's called "all-lane-running" motorway - this means the hard shoulder has been permanently removed to provide an extra lane.
The hard shoulder is sometimes open to traffic on another 63 miles of smart motorway and there are a further 140 miles of the network where the hard shoulder has been retained.
Radar and cameras are supposed to spot broken-down vehicles, and warning signs are then supposed to close affected lanes.
However, the removal of the hard shoulder has led to concerns about the safety of drivers who break down. Cars can be left stranded in a stream of fast-flowing traffic, and emergency vehicles may struggle to get through to an incident.
Last year the government announced that it was halting the roll-out of new smart motorways because of cost and safety concerns.
It is spending £900m on technology to make the existing network safer, but there are no plans to put the hard shoulder back.
Figures released following Freedom of Information requests by Panorama show that between June 2022 and February 2024 there were 392 incidents when motorway technology lost power, making it difficult to detect when a vehicle has broken down. These outages sometimes lasted days:
The worst problems were in the latest period covered by the FOI figures. In the six months leading up to February 2024, there were 174 power outages - almost one a day.
The longest outage was at junction 14 on the M4, a stretch of smart motorway that does have a hard shoulder. The sensors and signals were out for 11 days.
Edmund King, president of the AA, says the outages are dangerous, particularly on smart motorways with no hard shoulder.
"If you haven't got that technology, it's not even a basic motorway because you haven't got the hard shoulder," he says. "It means that you're playing Russian roulette with people's lives."
National Highways says reinstating the hard shoulder would increase congestion and that there are well-rehearsed contingency plans to deal with power outages.
The government says new technology will make existing stretches of smart motorway safe. But what happens when the technology doesn't work? Richard Bilton reports.
Power cuts are not the only problem.
National Highways' own figures show that in 2022 there were also 2,331 faults on the radar system which is designed to spot stationary vehicles. The average length of the fault was more than five days.
A traffic officer for National Highways who works on smart motorways, but wishes to stay anonymous, has told Panorama he no longer trusts the radar because he has seen it fail too many times.
"Sometimes it's faulty," he says. "Sometimes they're repairing something and they'll turn it off. I don't always know it's off."
National Highways says the radar detects 89% of stopped vehicles - but that means one in 10 are not spotted.
At least 79 people have been killed on smart motorways since they were introduced in 2010. In the past five years, seven coroners have called for them to be made safer.
National Highways' latest figures suggest that if you break down on a smart motorway without a hard shoulder you are three times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than on one with a hard shoulder.
Claire Mercer has been campaigning for the return of the hard shoulder since her husband Jason died on an all-lane-running stretch of the M1 in 2019.
She says she is regularly emailed by worried insiders at National Highways who want her to warn the public about dangerous faults and outages, a situation she describes as "absolutely ridiculous".
As part of its improvement programme, the government promised in 2020 to build more emergency refuges - safety laybys that motorists can use if they are in trouble.
A motorist stops at an emergency refuge on a smart motorway stretch of the M3 in Surrey
However, although 150 are supposed to be built by next year, only 13 have been completed so far.
National Highways says a further 34 refuges are under construction.
The agency's operational control director Andrew Page-Dove says action was being taken to "close the gap between how drivers feel and what the safety statistics show". As well as more emergency areas, this would include education campaigns, and improving the resilience of technology systems.
"Safety is our highest priority and our motorways are statistically some of the safest in the world," he says. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68848418 |
Israel-Gaza: Baby saved from dead mother's womb after Israeli strike - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Palestinian girl Sabreen is alive following her incredible birth in the wake of an Israeli strike. | Middle East | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Baby born by emergency Caesarean as mother killed in Gaza
Sabreen was dead before she could look into the baby's eyes or hold her.
The young mother had carried her child through seven-and-a-half months of pregnancy. They were days and nights of constant fear, but Sabreen hoped the family's luck would hold until the war ended.
That luck vanished in the roar and fire of an explosion in the hour before midnight on 20 April.
The Israelis dropped a bomb onto the al-Sakani family home in Rafah where Sabreen, along with her husband and the couple's other daughter - three-year-old Malak - were asleep.
Sabreen suffered extensive injuries and her husband and Malak were killed, but the baby was still alive in her mother's womb when rescue workers reached the site.
They rushed Sabreen to hospital, where doctors performed an emergency Caesarean section to deliver the child.
The baby girl has now been placed in an incubator
Sabreen could not be saved but doctors worked to resuscitate the baby, gently tapping her chest to stimulate breathing. Air was pumped into her lungs.
"She was born in severe respiratory distress," said Dr Mohammed Salama, head of the emergency neo-natal unit at Emirati Hospital in Rafah.
But the baby - who weighed just 1.4kg (3.1 lbs) - survived the ordeal of her birth.
The doctor wrote the words "the baby of the martyr Sabreen al-Sakani" on a piece of tape and attached it to her body. She was then placed in an incubator.
"We can say there is some progress in her health condition," Dr Salama said.
"But the situation is still at risk. This respiratory distress syndrome is originally caused by premature birth. This child should have been in the mother's womb at this time, but she was deprived of this right."
The doctor expects her to remain in hospital for up to a month.
"After that we will see about her leaving…here is the biggest tragedy. Even if this child survives, she was born an orphan," Dr Salama said.
Here is the biggest tragedy. Even if this child survives, she was born an orphan
There were no parents left to name the baby. Her dead sister Malak had wanted her to be called Rouh, which means soul or spirit in Arabic. But she has been called Sabreen, in memory of her mother.
Surviving family members gathered at the hospital, caught between the practicalities of creating a new family life for orphaned baby Sabreen and their grief and anger.
The baby's maternal grandmother, Mirvat al-Sakani, spoke of the "injustice and slander" of what had happened to people who "have nothing to do with anything".
"My daughter was pregnant and had a foetus in her body, and her daughter is with her, and my son was also with them," she said.
"My son became body parts and they have not found him yet. They do not recognise him… why are they targeting them? We don't know why, how. We do not know… they only target women and children."
The baby's uncle, Rami al-Sheikh, said her father had worked with him as a barber.
"What's their fault, a whole family wiped from the civil registry and the only survivor is a small baby girl?" he asked.
A whole family wiped from the civil registry and the only survivor is a small baby girl? [...] These are ordinary civilians
Sabreen's paternal grandmother, Ahalam al-Kurdi, promised that she would raise the child. "She is my love, my soul. She is a memory of her father. I will take care of her."
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says that of 34,000 people killed in Gaza since the war began on 7 October, at least two-thirds are women and children.
Israel launched its offensive after about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners - mostly civilians - were killed and 253 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
The Israeli military insists it does not target civilians and has accused Hamas of using the population as a human shield.
The Israeli air strikes on Rafah on the night of 20 April also killed 15 children from the extended al-Aal family.
The father of several of the children, Abed al-Aal, said his identity had been erased as all of his children and his wife were killed.
"Show me one man among them. They are all children and women," he said.
An Israeli military statement sent to the BBC after the strikes said: "At the given times, the IDF struck several military targets of the terrorist organisations in Gaza including military compounds, launch posts and armed terrorists."
There are now an estimated 1.4 million people crowded into Rafah having been told by the Israeli Defence Forces to move south to safety earlier in the war.
But in recent days, speculation has grown that Israeli forces will enter Rafah soon to continue the fight against Hamas.
The US has appealed to Israel to adopt a targeted approach rather than launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah, which might precipitate an even greater humanitarian crisis. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68874070 |
Coventry City 3-3 Man Utd (aet; 2-4 on pens): Man Utd reach FA Cup final despite blowing 3-0 lead - BBC Sport | 2024-04-22 | null | Manchester United scrape into the FA Cup final on penalties despite throwing away a three-goal lead against Championship side Coventry in an epic semi-final at Wembley. | null | Last updated on .From the section FA Cup
Manchester United scraped into the FA Cup final on penalties despite throwing away a three-goal lead against Championship side Coventry in an epic semi-final at Wembley.
In a very modern-day thriller, United came out on top in a penalty shootout they were losing at one stage.
A quite remarkable contest only got that far because Victor Torp's effort in injury time in extra time was ruled out for offside by video assistant referee Peter Bankes.
But after Bradley Collins saved United's first kick, from Casemiro, Andre Onana denied Callum O'Hare, then unsettled Ben Sheaf with some verbal jousting - and the Coventry captain missed - allowing Rasmus Hojlund to win it.
What the watching United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe made of it would be interesting to know. Thirty-four years ago, Mark Robins' goalscoring heroics in the FA Cup kept Sir Alex Ferguson in a job. Who knows what damage Robins' Coventry side have done to Erik ten Hag's chances of keeping his?
United thought they were cruising to a repeat of last season's final with neighbours Manchester City when they led 3-0 thanks to goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.
But in front of Ratcliffe, who had completed the London Marathon earlier in the day, co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer and new technical director Jason Wilcox, United imploded and Coventry took full advantage.
After Ellis Simms and O'Hare reduced the deficit, Haji Wright kept his nerve in stoppage time to score from the spot and send the game into extra time.
For a brief moment, Torp allowed delirious Coventry fans to believe their team were coming back next month to try to emulate the Sky Blue heroes of their 1987 triumph over Tottenham.
It was not to be. But when it was all over, it was the Championship players who were taking the acclaim of their fans as Ten Hag and his players rather sheepishly made their way to the dressing rooms.
• None How did you rate Manchester United's performance? Have your say here
It is only the second time in the competition's history that the same two teams have reached successive finals.
Blackburn Rovers beat Queen's Park at Kennington Oval in 1884 and 1885.
United will hope to prevent City enjoying similar success after a 13-second opener from Ilkay Gundogan paved the way for a Blues victory 12 months ago.
The win keeps alive Ten Hag's hopes of lifting silverware in both his seasons as United manager.
Yet the win just brings more questions for him.
For an hour, United were dominant and in control, with Casemiro excelling in central defence.
Then, not for the first time in recent weeks, they found the self-destruct button and hit it hard.
Even for a team who led deep into stoppage time at Brentford and drew, and led deep into stoppage time at Chelsea and lost, this was a new low.
And it all coincided with Alejandro Garnacho's departure.
The Argentine wideman had to apologise for liking a couple of social media posts in the wake of the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on 13 April, when he had been substituted amid Ten Hag's hints he was not quite fulfilling his role properly.
Garnacho did not appear impressed to be replaced at Wembley either and walked slowly to the touchline, although he did at least acknowledge his manager on the way off.
It can only be wondered what he was thinking about the carnage in front of him.
Simms' first-time effort should have been nothing more than a consolation.
Instead, United lost their shape, made rash decisions and found themselves exposed.
O'Hare's goal required a huge slice of fortune but he was given too much time to shoot.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was scurrying across the United box in a panic when he got his arm in the way of a cross that would have created a problem for his team anyway, but gave them an even bigger one as the contest went into extra time.
This was a day Coventry fans will remember forever, not far behind the epic 1987 final victory.
It was made all the more magical because of the pain the club have experienced in recent times, shunted into groundshares with Northampton and Birmingham amid a row with the club's ownership and their landlords.
That trauma must have been in many minds as the players applauded their noisy and colourful support at the end.
Whilst the United end was virtually empty, thousands of Coventry fans remained and cheered as defender Joel Latibeaudiere gave a TV interview.
Robins is not given to displays of emotion and seemed quite calm at the end.
But inside, he must be a mixture of pride and agony, knowing how close his side had come to being the first Championship team since Cardiff in 2008 to reach the final.
• None Goal! Coventry City 3(2), Manchester United 3(4). Rasmus Højlund (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
• None Penalty missed. Ben Sheaf (Coventry City) right footed shot is high and wide to the left.
• None Goal! Coventry City 3(2), Manchester United 3(3). Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
• None Penalty saved. Callum O'Hare (Coventry City) right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
• None Goal! Coventry City 3(2), Manchester United 3(2). Christian Eriksen (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
• None Goal! Coventry City 3(2), Manchester United 3(1). Victor Torp (Coventry City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
• None Goal! Coventry City 3(1), Manchester United 3(1). Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
• None Goal! Coventry City 3(1), Manchester United 3. Haji Wright (Coventry City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
• None Penalty saved. Casemiro (Manchester United) right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
• None GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Victor Torp (Coventry City) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68860463 |
Nottingham over-30s ravers enjoy 'first night out in 20 years' - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | It was a "fab day" at Nottingham's iconic Rock City with hundreds of partygoers attending Day Fever. | Nottingham | Day Fever came to Nottingham on Saturday
A daytime disco event has been held at Nottingham's famous Rock City as its popularity continues to grow.
Ravers let their hair down for the first time in 20 years at Day Fever - the brainchild of Nottingham actress Vicky McClure and her husband, TV producer and DJ Jonny Owen.
A successful March event at Stealth in Nottingham led to the event moving to a larger venue on Saturday.
The disco, which is exclusive to the over 30s, sold 1,800 tickets.
Donna Kirlew from Sherwood had not stepped foot in Rock City for about 20 years.
"I love the idea of going out in the day time," she said.
"I can get home early, it's my age group, my type of people, my type of fun," the 49-year-old said.
Friends Deborah Perkins, 47, and Alex Phillips, 35, from Ravenshead and Papplewick, respectively, were part of a group of mothers with children at the same school.
"We're all letting our hair down today and I think it will be a fab night - fab day, I mean," Ms Phillips said.
Ms Perkins added she would be "up and ready for football practice" on Sunday morning.
The dance floor was heaving by 17:30 BST
For many, Day Fever offered a chance to relive nights out passed with the music they knew and loved without writing off the rest of their weekend.
For 65-year-old Phil Leech from Pinxton, Day Fever was a chance to "meet new people" at his first night out in 20 years, he said.
He fondly recalled partying at the Black Orchid club near Lenton Industrial Estate before it closed in 1998.
"There's nothing now for our age unless you want to step out late or early in the morning," he said.
Rock City's dancefloor was heaving by 17:30 BST as Ms McClure's mother joined her behind the decks.
Ms McClure and Mr Owen were joined by Ms McClure's mother on stage
Ms McClure said: "The one thing that always happens here is that you capture people just living in the moment and just forgetting their worries."
Nottingham's daytime disco followed the success of other Day Fever events across the country, including in Sheffield, Glasgow and London.
After one event, Mr Owen remembered a woman arrived at the end of night, in her pyjamas to pick up her mother.
"She had fallen asleep in the toilets in the last hour," he said. "[Now] she's on the guest list," Mr Owen said.
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-68865643 |
FTSE 100 stock index closes at new all-time high - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | A weak pound and hopes of easing tensions in the Middle East drive up the UK's top stock index. | Business | The FTSE 100 stock index of the UK's biggest publicly-listed companies has reached a new record closing price.
The fresh all-time high was driven by a weaker pound and easing tensions in the Middle East.
The index closed on Monday at 8,023.87 points to mark the new record, surpassing its previous high of 8,012.53 in February last year.
It was up 1.62% at its close, with retailers M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ocado among the big risers of the day.
Shares have benefitted from a weaker pound because the index on the London Stock Exchange has many firms with big footprints overseas.
A weak pound makes goods they export cheaper for foreign buyers and helps inflate the value of business done elsewhere.
Rachel Winter, wealth manager at Killik & Co, said: "The FTSE contains a large number of big international companies that earn their revenue in dollars and report their profits in sterling.
"The strength of the dollar is due to sticky inflation in the US, which means that US interest rates will remain higher for longer."
The pound was down 0.2% at $1.234 as a result, representing sterling's lowest point against the US currency for around five months.
Axel Rudolph, senior market analyst at IG, said the "de-escalation in the Middle East" also played its part to propel the FTSE 100 to its new record.
The index has been steadily ticking upwards in recent weeks on hopes the Bank of England will cut interest rates as inflation falls steadily back down to the central bank's 2% target rate.
By making borrowing less expensive, lower interest rates discourage saving and can increase borrowing for home purchases and business investments, helping to breathe life back into the economy.
It would be the first cut since March 2020.
Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said: "The Bank of England is now expected to start cutting rates before the US Federal Reserve sharpens its knife and that's led to divergent fortunes for the respective currencies."
He added that the "favourite items on the menu to fill portfolios" included Marks & Spencer, which was the recipient of a positive broker note, alongside Next and Sainsbury's. "All three saw their ratings lifted from 'hold' to 'buy' as part of a review of the broader retail sector," he said. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68877506 |
US-Israel: Netanyahu vows to reject any US sanctions on army units - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Reports say the US is planning to cut military aid to one Israeli unit over alleged rights violations. | Middle East | Formed in 1999, the Netzah Yehuda battalion is a special men-only unit where ultra-Orthodox Jews serve
Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reject any sanctions on the country's military, after reports that the US plans to cut aid to one unit.
"I will fight it with all my strength," the prime minister said on Sunday.
Earlier, the Axios news site said the US would target Israel's Netzah Yehuda battalion over alleged human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.
The BBC understands any move would come under a US ban on aid to foreign units credibly implicated in violations.
When asked last week about reports that US military aid to the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) units could be cut over allegations of human rights abuses in the occupied West Bank, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "I've made determinations; you can expect to see them in the days ahead".
Washington - Israel's main ally - has never suspended aid to an IDF unit before.
The Israeli military said Netzah Yehuda was operating in accordance with international law.
"Following publications about sanctions against the battalion, the IDF is not aware of the issue," the military is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. "The IDF works and will continue to work to investigate any unusual event in a practical manner and according to law."
Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called on the US to withdraw its intention to sanction Netzah Yehuda, saying the world was watching the ties between the US and Israel more closely than ever.
"Any attempt to criticise an entire unit casts a heavy shadow on the actions of the IDF," a statement from Mr Gallant read, adding "this is not the right path for partners and friends".
"If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the IDF, I will fight it," Mr Netanyahu said
On Saturday, Axios cited three US sources with knowledge of the issue as saying that Mr Blinken was expected to announce measures against Netzah Yehuda within days.
It said the move would be over alleged abuses in the West Bank, including one incident in which a Palestinian-American man, 80-year-old Omar Assad, died after being bound and gagged by Israeli soldiers during a search in the West Bank in January 2022.
At the time the US called for a "thorough criminal investigation and full accountability" in the case.
The IDF later said it regretted Mr Assad's death and that the Netzah Yehuda commander would be "reprimanded"over it. It added that two soldiers would barred from serving in senior positions for two years, but would not be prosecuted. It said Mr Assad's death had been caused by a pre-existing medical condition.
Mr Assad's family, many of whom are based in the US, condemned the decision to close the case.
All the alleged violations took place before the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Any decision to bar an IDF unit from US military assistance would be made under the "Leahy Law", sponsored in 1997 by then-Senator Patrick Leahy. It prevents US funding or training being used for foreign military units credibly implicated in gross human rights violations.
Last year, a group of US officials known as the "Israel-Leahy vetting forum" looked into at least a dozen allegations made against Israeli units, including the Netzah Yehuda battalion, a former senior US official told the BBC.
"We believed that in most cases, these were un-remediated - in other words, the perpetrators had not been properly held to account," said Josh Paul, former director of the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs in the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which oversees US arms transfers.
"When we tried to advance these recommendations to the secretary [of state] we were never able to get them through the political level," he added.
Mr Paul resigned from his position in November in protest at what he saw as a lack of accountability over weapons transfers to Israel. Asked whether the recommendations he mentioned had since reached Mr Blinken's desk, he cited the recent media reports suggesting they had.
Formed in 1999, Netzah Yehuda is a special men-only unit where ultra-Orthodox Jews serve.
Earlier this week, the state department imposed sanctions on Israeli far-right activist Ben Zion Gopstein. It said his organisation, Lehava, had "engaged in destabilising violence affecting the West Bank". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68870273 |
Queen Camilla visits Catterick Garrison for Lancers medal ceremony - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Queen Camilla presents five medals to serving and retired Royal Lancers at a ceremony in Yorkshire. | York & North Yorkshire | "We know that it's not been interfered with because if somebody had known who it was, they probably would have over-embellished it to get a sale." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-68858136 |
Israel-Gaza briefings: No let-up for Gazans while world focused on Iran attack - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Fighting continues in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is overshadowed by the wider regional conflict. | Middle East | While the media's glare in the Middle East this past week was diverted to Iran's dramatic missile and drone attack on Israel, there has been no let-up in fighting in Gaza.
Dozens of Palestinians were killed daily - including many children, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. It now says Israel has killed more than 34,000 people in Gaza since the start of the war.
As Israel's forces continue with their efforts to destroy Hamas, they have conducted small-scale, often deadly operations, from the top to the bottom of the territory over the past week.
On Tuesday, in the middle of Gaza, relatives clutching limp and bloodstained bodies of small boys and girls rushed from al-Maghazi refugee camp to al-Aqsa Martyrs' hospital in nearby Deir al-Balah.
Medics at the hospital said that at least 12 people were killed and some 30 injured by shelling in al-Maghazi.
"They were playing in the street. Why were they struck? They weren't in any position close to Israeli forces," one man told the BBC. Another added: "They were just playing. They were in the market with people coming and going normally."
Israel's military has not commented on what happened there, but this week in Gaza the central refugee camps have been its main focus. It said it was "eliminating terrorists and destroying terrorist infrastructure" such as attack tunnels and military compounds used by armed Hamas fighters in "precise" action.
After Israeli forces were reported to have left another camp, Nuseirat, late on Wednesday, residents began trickling back to inspect the damage to their homes.
Much of the Nuseirat camp has been reduced to rubble
"We have no place to stay, 90% of the houses are destroyed," one father told us despairingly as he picked his way through the new piles of rubble.
In the very north of Gaza, Israel's tanks rolled back into Beit Hanoun, which troops had left weeks earlier. Israel said it was targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives based at schools where displaced families were living. Locals talked of men being stripped and detained.
Footage has also emerged of Israeli strikes in parts of Gaza City, in the north, and Rafah, on the border with Egypt, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live in tents after fleeing the fighting elsewhere.
Israeli defence analysts say that the military is carrying out targeted operations against Hamas, in line with a switch to lower-intensity fighting that was agreed with the US.
Earlier this month, Israel withdrew most ground forces from Gaza, leaving just one brigade to secure a line that splits the enclave into two parts - north and south.
While it has since been announced that two reservist brigades are being called up, and some soldiers have been deployed across the border, the prevailing opinion is that a planned ground offensive in Rafah is still some way off.
"I don't think anything is imminent," says Prof Chuck Freilich, a former Israeli deputy national security adviser, now based at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. "I don't think there's the force there for conducting a major operation in Rafah."
Israel has promised to root out remaining Hamas battalions in Rafah - the one Gazan city where it has not yet launched a ground offensive. It believes that some of the remaining 130-plus hostages snatched from southern Israel during the deadly Hamas attacks on 7 October, which also killed more than 1,200 people, are held there.
But Prof Freilich says for "the full-on attack that people were talking about you'd need two things: to move out all the refugees and then to call up some of those reserves".
"Between those, it's at least a couple of weeks. And now there's the [week-long Jewish] Passover holiday."
The US and other allies point out that a large-scale invasion could deepen an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Amid miserable living conditions and the continuous threat to Rafah, many Gazans stuck there long to return home to the north of the territory.
Israeli military warned Palestinians not to return to their homes in north Gaza
But on Monday, Israel's military renewed warnings for them not to make the journey, a day after witnesses said its forces had opened fire on crowds heading along a main coastal road. killing five people.
The IDF did not comment directly on that incident, but an Israeli military spokesman said afterwards that Palestinians should stay in southern Gaza because the north is a "dangerous combat zone".
"We have dreamt of returning home since we left in the early months of the war," Amr Daoudi told us back in Rafah. "But for now we have put it out of our thoughts."
More than six months of fighting have flattened vast tracts of the north. Israel's restrictions on aid have also left some 300,000 who remained there through the war on the brink of famine, according to the United Nations.
International pressure on Israel in the wake of the killing of seven aid workers from US charity World Central Kitchen on 1 April led to a string of announcements on increasing relief to Gaza, notably opening up the Ashdod commercial port and a new northern crossing.
While aid concerns have been overshadowed, in the past week, by fears of a wider regional war, there have been constant updates on developments - Israeli defence officials declaring the arrival of shipments of flour destined for newly reopening bakeries, for example.
Anecdotal evidence, including social media footage of grilled meat being sold in Jabalia camp for the first time in months, has also circulated, suggesting food is becoming more easily available.
Palestinians at a food distribution point in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza
However, aid agencies say that far more needs to be done to reverse critical shortages.
As the UN launched a flash appeal to raise $2.8bn (£2.3bn) in funding, mainly for Gaza, a senior official from its humanitarian office complained of lingering access problems, particularly to reach the north.
"We are dealing with this dance where we do one step forward, two steps backwards; or two steps forward and one step backward," says Andrea de Domenico, who heads the UN humanitarian office for Palestinian territories.
If Israel's response to Iran's recent strikes is now over, drawing a line under the latest round of violence between these two old enemies, the media and foreign players are likely to increase their scrutiny of goings-on in Gaza once again.
Already, we got a hint of this when the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron came to express solidarity with Israel and try to reduce tensions after the Iranian attacks of 13-14 April.
"The real need is to refocus back on Hamas, back on the hostages, back on getting the aid back in, back on getting a pause in the conflict in Gaza," he said, ahead of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
For now, international mediation efforts to secure a new truce have largely stalled.
The main obstacle remains that Israel will discuss a temporary halt to bring home hostages but will not stop fighting until Hamas is eliminated. Hamas says it will not release the hostages without a path to end the war.
For ordinary Gazans struggling just to survive and Israelis desperate to bring home loved ones trapped in captivity, the best hope now could come from a new diplomatic thrust.
Without it there is the threat of a lingering war which carries a huge cost to humanity and constantly risks sparking further destabilising conflict in an already volatile part of the world. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68854896 |
Twiglet back home after dognapping caught on camera - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | null | Video of the dachshund being abducted from her home by a burglar went viral on social media. | null | Twiglet the dachshund has been safely returned home after being stolen by a burglar who broke into her owner's property.
Jo Vindis spoke to the BBC, saying she was elated that her pet had been found.
Security camera footage showed the animal being captured by a man holding a hammer. Police shared the video online and it was widely circulated, which contributed to the dog's return.
Essex Police said inquiries were ongoing and no arrests had been made. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66343709 |
Trump trial: Prosecution say hush money was 'pure election fraud' - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | But the defence says the former president committed no crimes and calls star witness an admitted liar. | US & Canada | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Is Trump part of a 'conspiracy' or 'cloaked in innocence'?
The prosecution in Donald Trump's hush-money trial accused the former president of a criminal conspiracy and cover-up to hide a sex scandal ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
"It was election fraud, pure and simple," a lawyer told the jury during opening statements on Monday at the historic trial in New York.
Setting out the case for the defence, Mr Trump's lawyer said his client had committed no crimes and that it was not illegal to try to influence an election.
"He is cloaked in innocence," he added.
Mr Trump is accused of trying to cover up a $130,000 (£104,500) payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before he won the race for the White House back in 2016.
He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records and also denies having an alleged sexual encounter with Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
At the start of the second week of the criminal trial in Manhattan - the first ever of a former US president - each side set out the case they will present to the jury. The first witness, tabloid publisher David Pecker, also took the stand briefly and will continue his testimony on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the court that Michael Cohen, Mr Trump's former lawyer and confidant, worked with the Trump Organization's chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, to "cook the books" at Mr Trump's direction.
Prosecutors alleged that the scheme to disguise how Cohen was reimbursed for the payment to Ms Daniels involved falsifying three forms of records - invoices, ledger entries and cheques.
Mr Trump said in his business records that those payments were "for legal services pursuant to a retainer agreement" with Mr Cohen, Mr Colangelo told the jury.
"Those were lies," the prosecutor said.
Critically for this case, he said that Mr Trump was motivated to provide the payoff so voters did not learn of the alleged encounter with Ms Daniels.
Prosecutors said that this cover-up should be considered election interference, which constituted a second crime. That elevated the charge of falsifying business records from a lower-level misdemeanour into a more serious felony.
They claimed the infamous Access Hollywood tape, which surfaced weeks before the 2016 election and showed Mr Trump bragging about being able to have sex with anyone because he is famous, had panicked his campaign.
"The defendant and his campaign staff were deeply concerned that it would irreparably damage his standing with female voters in particular," Mr Colangelo told the court.
But when Ms Daniels came forward a day later alleging a sexual encounter with Mr Trump, it compounded the problem created by the tape, Mr Colangelo alleged.
The public disclosure "would have been devastating to his campaign, so at Trump's direction Cohen negotiated a deal", Mr Colangelo told the jurors. The prosecution alleges Mr Pecker - the former boss at American Media Inc, which owns the National Enquirer - and Mr Cohen discussed how to keep it quiet.
The defence's rebuttal was fairly simple in comparison.
Mr Blanche appeared intent on casting prosecutors' star witness - Cohen - as an untrustworthy former employee with an axe to grind against the former president.
"He's a convicted felon and a convicted perjurer - he's an admitted liar," Mr Blanche said of Cohen.
He also zeroed in on Ms Daniels, who he said had earned "hundreds of thousands" of dollars with her claims. The defence lawyer told the jury to discount her as a witness.
He went on to dismiss the examples of allegedly false records as "34 pieces of paper" that did not involve his client.
As for the case prosecutors made for election interference, Mr Blanche denied that his client had done anything illegal even if he had attempted to sway voters.
"There's nothing wrong with trying to influence an election," Mr Blanche said. "It's called democracy."
The trial is expected to last about another six weeks, but legal experts say opening statements are particularly important as an opportunity to shape jurors' views on the case.
"You need to start out strong in a case like this," former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told the BBC.
Mr Rahmani noted that the prosecution's efforts to elevate this to an election interference case may be tough with a jury that includes two lawyers.
"It's clear the records were false business records, but to take that next step to prove they were in furtherance of, or to cover up, a campaign finance contribution, is a more difficult legal argument and they're going to need to do a lot more than that in my opinion.
"This is going to come down to Michael Cohen," he concluded, and whether his testimony backs up what he has said in the past and whether he has documents to prove it. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68877610 |
Rangers 2-0 Heart of Midlothian: Cyriel Dessers' double sets up Scottish Cup final with Celtic - BBC Sport | 2024-04-22 | null | Cyriel Dessers fires Rangers into a first Scottish Cup final against Celtic since 2002, with a goal either side of half-time at Hampden seeing off Hearts. | null | Last updated on .From the section Scottish Cup
Cyriel Dessers fired Rangers into a first Scottish Cup final against Celtic since 2002, with a goal either side of half-time at Hampden seeing off Hearts.
The Nigeria international opened the scoring inside five minutes with a low left-footed shot under Craig Gordon, and his deflected effort made sure of the result late on after his initial shot was saved.
Hearts had their moments in attack, but lacked the necessary quality and composure to breach a Rangers defence that had wobbled in recent weeks.
Philippe Clement's side had won just two of their previous eight games in all competitions, but could yet win a domestic treble with the League Cup already secured.
• None Podcast: All the reaction to Rangers' win
• None Get all the latest Rangers news and analysis
• None Keep up to date with Hearts on the BBC
Clement made four changes to the side that drew at Dens Park in midweek, and Rangers could not have wished for a better start as they looked to end their recent malaise.
Dessers volleyed over Abdallah Sima's cross with his first chance of the game, but the Nigeria international made no mistake with his second sight of goal.
Todd Cantwell found Dessers in the box after James Tavernier beat Kye Rowles to a loose ball, and the maligned striker chopped away from Nathaniel Atkinson onto his left foot before firing under Craig Gordon.
Hearts looked somewhat overawed by the occasion, and struggled to retain possession under relentless pressure from a revived Rangers.
However, Naismith's side grew into the contest as the half went on.
Allan Forrest drew a sharp save from Jack Butland, before the Rangers goalkeeper brilliantly denied Frankie Kent with his legs, unaware the Hearts defender was offside.
Rabbi Matondo then spurned a big chance to double Rangers' lead on the brink of half-time, dallying on the ball and allowing Atkinson to get back and block the shot.
After the break, both sides found themselves in promising attacking positions but couldn't find the all-important final pass as tension grew on the pitch and in the stands.
For Hearts, Kenneth Vargas couldn't pick out the unmarked Forrest after pinching the ball from John Souttar, and Lawrence Shankland headed into the side netting with his clearest sight of goal on the day.
At the other end, Dessers, Fabio Silva and Dujon Sterling all squandered chances, but as Hearts pressed for an equaliser, Rangers struck on the break to seal their final spot.
Cantwell drove into the Hearts box, dancing past several defenders before releasing Dessers to his right.
Gordon could only parry the initial shot back into Dessers' path and the veteran keeper was unable keep out the rebound.
The contrast between the two teams was stark. Rangers took the plaudits of the jubilant support behind the goal, while maroon jerseys slumped to the turf, knowing that their hopes of a fourth Scottish Cup final in six years were slipping away.
Yutaro Oda did almost pull one back late on, but was denied by a sharp Butland save, while Silva missed a glorious chance to make it three, inexplicably falling on the ball with the goal at his mercy.
Dessers scuffed an effort wide as he searched for a Hampden hat-trick, but his double was enough as Rangers continued their imperious record against Hearts.
All season, Dessers has copped criticism from both pundits and Rangers fans alike, with questions raised particularly over his ability in front of goal.
However, he now has 19 goals in all competitions, and he came up with the goods when it mattered on the biggest of stages.
The good and bad of the Nigerian were both on show at Hampden. He picked up wonderful positions, roughed up opposition defenders, while also missing several chances alongside his two goals.
Cantwell also deserves praise for the way he impacted the game. He constantly found pockets of space and set up both the goals.
Naismith said the defeat highlighted Hearts' "immaturity", and he will be deeply frustrated by their profligacy on the day.
They have kept pace with Celtic and Rangers in terms of league points in the second half of this season, but have now lost all five of their meetings with Rangers this season.
It is a record Naismith will be determined to end as soon as possible.
What they said
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "These last six months have been the best six months of Cyriel's career, and we'll keep pushing him on.
"He's honest, he works really hard for the team. He's scoring a lot of goals. Can he make more goals? Yes, but I don't know any striker in the world who scores all their chances.
"We are in a title chase, we are in a cup final, and we are really hungry for more trophies."
Hearts head coach Steven Naismith: "It's really frustrating. Got off to a terrible start. It's not good enough. From that moment to the second goal, we played a lot of good stuff, created a lot of good chances.
"You could tell our immaturity in the final third, the decision making, the three, four, five good situations we were in, we never made the right choice. That's the part that let us down today.
"We can be really frustrated but the bigger picture is we've made big strides. It's decision making, that's the biggest thing that cost us today."
Hearts are away to Kilmarnock in the league on 27 April (15:00), while Rangers go to Paisley in league action on 28 April (12:30).
• None Attempt blocked. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Barrie McKay.
• None Attempt missed. Cyriel Dessers (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Lawrence following a fast break.
• None Attempt saved. Yutaro Oda (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Macaulay Tait.
• None Stephen Kingsley (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
• None Attempt blocked. Fábio Silva (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ross McCausland.
• None Attempt blocked. Cyriel Dessers (Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Borna Barisic with a cross.
• None Macaulay Tait (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Macaulay Tait (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68790408 |
London Marathon breaks one-day fundraising record - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The London Marathon has set a new record for the biggest one-day fundraising event, organisers say. | London | More than 53,000 runners took part in Sunday's Marathon
The London Marathon has broken a world record for the biggest one-day fundraising event, organisers say.
More than £67m was raised as more than 53,000 people took part in the 26.2-mile race (42.2km) through the capital.
Sunday's total surpasses the record of £66.4m, set by the same race in 2019.
Official online fundraising partner Enthuse said: "What an incredible event and a brilliant day with such a huge amount raised for good causes."
Chester Mojay-Sinclare, founder and chief executive of Enthuse, added: "It's such a special day for the sector and we're delighted for all the charities that will benefit from the public's generosity."
More than £40m has been donated via JustGiving with donations via Enthuse surpassing £27m.
Hugh Brasher, event director of the London Marathon said: "That is a wonderful achievement and huge thanks to every single person involved. "
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68876376 |
European astronaut rookies make the grade - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The European Space Agency's latest intake of astronauts complete their basic training. | Science & Environment | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Rosemary Coogan: "The past year has been incredible"
The European Space Agency's latest intake of astronauts have completed their basic training.
The group of five received their graduation certificates at a special ceremony in Cologne in Germany
They must now prepare for a specific flight assignment to the space station or perhaps even to the Moon.
UK interest is in the Northern Irish astrophysicist Dr Rosemary Coogan, who follows in the footsteps of Tim Peake - the UK's first ever Esa astronaut.
The former Army Air Corps major was in the class of 2009.
Dr Coogan described her graduation as the fulfilment of a long-held ambition.
"I personally have always been fascinated in space, and now to find out that as an astronaut, you can go there and you can do this fantastic science and bring that back - it's everything come together as a dream," she said.
Dr Coogan and her colleagues - Sophie Adenot (France), Pablo Álvarez Fernández (Spain), Raphaël Liégeois (Belgium) and Marco Sieber (Switzerland) - were singled out from more than 22,500 applicants as having the "right stuff" to go into space.
The past 12 months have seen them receive medical, robotics and survival training; experience weightlessness in a special plane; and be hurled around in a centrifuge to simulate the forces of a rocket launch.
Monday's ceremony also saw Australian astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg receive her graduation certificate.
The Sydney engineer, who holds dual UK citizenship, joined the Esa astronaut corps in Cologne under a contract between the European and Australian space agencies.
The training continues. One key skill is "space walking", which is taught in a swimming pool
Tradition requires the new class have a nickname given to them by the previous class.
This new group will therefore be known as "The Hoppers", a reference to "hopping" back and forth between different classrooms during their training.
"Some of our new colleagues have been overheard mentioning that they would be interested in hopping around on the Moon," said Germany's Alex Gerst, one of the 2009 astronauts who are known as "The Shenanigans".
Dr Gerst gave the graduates a patch in the shape of the popular "space hopper" toy.
The quintet's space education doesn't stop. They will continue honing essential skills, such as understanding spacecraft systems, learning to "walk in space", and picking up more of the Russian language, which is spoken on the International Space Station (ISS) along with English.
"The space station remains a collaboration," said Libby Jackson, the head of exploration at the UK Space Agency.
"It's a bilingual environment up there and if there are emergencies, you have to understand what is happening."
The significance of Monday's graduation is that the group is now eligible to be picked for a space mission.
Quite when each of them will get to climb aboard a rocket is anyone's guess.
Tim Peake had to wait five years following his graduation for an opportunity to come up. He spent half a year on the ISS in 2015/16.
Nasa is acquiring the technology to go back to the Moon this decade
Europe has rights to one berth on the international laboratory every year or so, and although the orbiting platform is due to be decommissioned in the early 2030s, a number of commercial vehicles are due to replace it - some with strong European backing.
But the US space agency (Nasa) is also committed to going back to the Moon this decade under its Artemis programme, and, with Esa being a key partner in this endeavour, it's not inconceivable that one of the five graduating on Monday could become the first European citizen in history to step on to the lunar surface.
And if not the surface of the Moon, they have a good chance of going to lunar orbit. European industry is providing significant hardware for a lunar space station, which comes with the guarantee that Esa astronauts will get to fly in it.
Speaking to the BBC, Esa's director general Josef Aschbacher said he was not yet in a position to discuss flight opportunities, but that he might possibly be able to make some sort of announcement in May.
Present at the ceremony in Cologne as an onlooker was John McFall, the Briton selected by Esa as a potential para-astronaut. The medical doctor, who has a prosthetic leg, is part of a separate feasibility study to see if space vehicles can accommodate his needs.
If it's deemed they can, Mr McFall could also fly to the space station at some point. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68830452 |
Terry Anderson: US journalist held hostage in Lebanon for years dies at 76 - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Terry Anderson was abducted and detained during Lebanon's civil war in the 1980s when a journalist for AP. | US & Canada | Anderson entering a press conference in Syria after his release in 1991
Terry Anderson, a US journalist held hostage for nearly seven years during Lebanon's civil war, has died aged 76.
Anderson was the chief Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press (AP) when he was captured by Islamist militants in 1985 during what became known as the Lebanon hostage crisis.
He died at his home in Greenwood Lake, New York, following complications from heart surgery, his daughter said.
Sulome Anderson said he had found peace in recent years after the ordeal.
"He never liked to be called a hero, but that's what everyone persisted in calling him," she said.
"Though my father's life was marked by extreme suffering during his time as a hostage in captivity, he found a quiet, comfortable peace in recent years.
"I know he would choose to be remembered not by his very worst experience, but through his humanitarian work with the Vietnam Children's Fund, the Committee to Protect Journalists, homeless veterans and many other incredible causes."
Louis Boccardi, who ran AP during Anderson's captivity, also remembered him as a "hero".
"The word 'hero' gets tossed around a lot but applying it to Terry Anderson just enhances it," Mr Boccardi said.
Anderson, who had seen combat during his service in the US Marines during the Vietnam War, was abducted in Beirut on 16 March, 1985.
He had just finished playing a game of tennis during a day off when gunmen dragged him into a car and sped away.
His sister Peggy Say, who died in 2015, fiercely advocated for the release of her brother and his fellow captives.
The majority of the more than 100 held between 1982 and 1992 were from the US and western Europe, including Church of England envoy Terry Waite who was taken hostage by the group holding Anderson when negotiations broke down on 20 January 1987. Waite was freed in 1991 after 1,763 days.
Anderson passed on news of the outside world to Waite, who had spent years in solitary confinement, by developing a system of tapping on the walls between their cells.
Both men endured being chained, beaten and threatened. Anderson - who spent much of the time blindfolded and was forced to sleep on a thin, dirty mattress on the floor - later recalled that he "almost went insane", and credited his Catholic faith for saving him.
He was eventually released in 1991 as the civil war ended - following 2,454 days in captivity which made him the longest-held Western hostage.
Anderson met his daughter, who was born shortly after his abduction, for the first time when she was six years old.
After his release, Anderson taught journalism at various US colleges including Columbia University in New York before retiring in 2015.
Anderson also struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, AP reported, and through his poor investments, lost millions of dollars that he had won in frozen Iranian assets as a result of his ordeal.
He also wrote a best-selling autobiography, Den of Lions, detailing his time in captivity. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68871753 |
Homeowner pain as major banks lift mortgage rates - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Lenders respond over views the Bank of England may not cut interest rates as quickly as forecast. | Business | Some of the UK's biggest banks are raising mortgage rates as expectations of when the Bank of England will cut interest rates are pushed back.
Barclays, HSBC and NatWest are all increasing some costs on fixed-rate mortgage deals from Tuesday.
Mortgage rates have risen over the past few weeks as views have changed on when the Bank might cut borrowing costs.
The Bank is now not expected to cut its benchmark rate as early or as often as previously thought.
The announcement from Barclays, which is lifting rates for the second time in the space of seven days, will see a 0.1% increase across a range of its mortgage products.
NatWest said it would raise some of its two and five-year "switcher" deals for existing customers by 0.1%.
HSBC added it was increasing some of its rates on Tuesday, but did not give details of the increases.
Building societies are also raising fees. Leeds Building Society said it was increasing the fixed rate on selected products by up to 0.2% for both new and existing customers.
The Co-op said it was putting up the rates on some of its fixed deals by up to 0.41% from Monday but cutting the rate by 0.07% on others.
According to financial information service Moneyfacts, the average two-year fixed mortgage rate is 5.82%, while the average five-year fixed rate is 5.40%.
Broker Justin Moy from EHF Mortgages said a 0.1% increase would not make a big impact on those with small mortgages, but warned homeowners with larger loans - £300,000 or more - would notice a difference.
"With Barclays, they've had two nibbles, 0.2% last Thursday and then 0.1% tomorrow [Tuesday], that's 0.3% overall. For someone borrowing £300,000 that's an increase of £4,500 over five years," he told the BBC.
The rises would cause "loads of aggravation" for borrowers and brokers, Mr Moy said. "It starts a panic off because customers see rates going up," he added.
Lenders are lifting rates as they respond to changing predictions about the future direction of the Bank of England's benchmark rate, which dictates borrowing costs and currently stands at 5.25%.
The fall in the rate of inflation over the past few months had led many analysts to predict the Bank would begin cutting the rate from June.
However, recent data on inflation - which measures the pace at which prices are rising - has shown it is not falling as quickly as expected.
The latest inflation figure showed prices rose by 3.2% in the year to March, which was down from 3.4% the month before but still slightly higher than expected.
Events in the US have also been affecting markets. US inflation has also not fallen as quickly as predicted, pushing back expectations about when the central bank there, the Federal Reserve, will begin cutting rates.
The possibility of a delay to US interest rate cuts has affected markets globally, and is another factor feeding through to higher mortgage costs.
Last week, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, told reporters at the International Monetary Fund Spring Meeting that "what happens in the US has a knock-on impact in the UK".
Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68874847 |
Maldives: The presidential poll with India and China on the ballot - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The Maldives presidential election will also decide who gets the advantage in the strategically located islands. | Asia | China and India are front and centre of the Maldives' colourful election this month
The Maldives, best known for its pristine beaches, coral reefs and diverse marine life, is the last place you would expect a geopolitical rivalry to play out.
The island nation which consists of about 1,200 coral islands and atolls in the middle of the Indian Ocean will see a run-off poll between President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and opposition candidate Mohamed Muizzu on 30 September.
But also on the ballot are India and China.
Both countries are trying to strengthen their presence in the strategically located islands which straddle busy east-west shipping lanes.
Maldives' two presidential contenders, who have been crisscrossing the islands by airplanes and boats to canvass voters, each represent a different Asian power.
Following his surprise win in 2018, Mr Solih from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) strengthened relations with India with which Malé has strong cultural and financial ties. Mr Muizzu from the Progressive Alliance coalition favours better relations with China.
The Maldives has long been under India's sphere of influence. Maintaining its presence there gives Delhi the ability to monitor a key part of the Indian Ocean.
China, with its rapidly expanding naval forces, would want access to such a strategically important location - something India wants to prevent. Beijing is also keen to protect its energy supplies from the Gulf which pass through that route.
Both Delhi and Beijing have given the Maldives hundreds of millions of dollars in the form of loans and grants for infrastructure and development projects.
But this election, it seems that China has the edge.
Mr Solih has received just 39% of the votes polled in the first round of elections which were held earlier this month.
One issue that may have hurt the current president's performance is criticism that his administration has forged close ties with Delhi - called the "India-first" policy - at the expense of China.
"We do not view it as a zero-sum game where good relations with one country are at the cost of relations with the other," he told the BBC in an email interview.
One of the reasons the "India-first" policy has become unpopular is because of the furore over "gifts" Delhi gave the Maldives - two helicopters received in 2010 and 2013 and a small aircraft in 2020.
Delhi said the craft were to be used for search and rescue missions and medical evacuations.
But in 2021, the Maldivian defence force said about 75 Indian military personnel were based in the country to operate and maintain the Indian aircraft.
Under Abdulla Yameen, the Maldives moved closer to China and joined President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative
Soon after, the opposition began an "India out" campaign which demanded Indian security personnel leave the Maldives.
The opposition argued the presence of these military personnel endangered its national security.
It has now become a key election issue but Mr Solih says these fears are exaggerated.
"There are no militarily active overseas personnel stationed in the Maldives. Indian personnel currently present in the country are under the operational command of the Maldives National Defence Force," he told the BBC.
Under Abdulla Yameen, who was president from 2013 to 2018, the Maldives moved closer to China and joined President Xi Jinping's grand Belt and Road Initiative - to build road, rail and sea links between China and the rest of the world.
When India and Western lenders were not willing to offer loans to Yameen's administration due to allegations of human rights violations, he turned to Beijing which offered the money without any conditions.
He is currently serving a 11-year prison term for corruption, barring him from contesting this year's vote. Mr Miuzzu is widely regarded as a proxy for Yameen.
Given Yameen's tense relationship with Delhi, China is an obvious choice for the opposition to seek support.
One of the biggest and most visible Chinese funded projects is a 2.1km (1.3 mile) four-lane bridge that connects the capital Malé with the international airport that is situated on a different island. The $200 million (£164m) bridge was inaugurated in 2018 while Yameen was still president.
This bridge is one of the biggest Chinese-funded projects in the Maldives
Though India has also tried to match Chinese investments by offering loans and grants of more than $2bn over the past few years, Delhi's motives are viewed with suspicion by many in the Maldives. Critics say India indirectly has boots on the ground there.
Another concern is that the Maldives might be affected as tensions between India and China escalate along their Himalayan border,
"There is a much larger sentiment in the Maldives that we should not have any substantive strategic relationship with any country, including India," says Azim Zahir, a Maldives analyst and a lecturer at the University of Western Australia.
With the run-off due in a few days, Mr Solih is facing a tough battle as he has not managed to rope in key smaller parties to narrow the gap with his rival.
Sensing that the governing MDP has been struggling to counter the "India out" narrative, the opposition alliance has stepped up its offensive.
"We are concerned about the erosion of sovereignty as a result of the current government's over-dependence on India," argues Mohamed Hussain Shareef, vice president of the opposition alliance.
He argues that every single project in the country is being carried out through Indian financing and implemented by Indian companies.
But while the "India out" campaign is dominating the campaign, many young Maldivians are worried about rising cost of living, unemployment and climate change.
"We are very concerned about employment opportunities for the youth. Many young people want to migrate even though they are keen to stay back and serve the country," Ms Fathimath Raaia Shareef, a student at the Maldives National University, told the BBC.
But these domestic issues are likely to take a back seat, as the winner of the election could determine which Asian power wins a vital foothold in the battle for dominance in the region. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-66909240 |
Spirit of Discovery: Huge waves filmed by cruise ship passenger - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | null | Passenger Alan Grisedale says the swell knocked his wife over and moved furniture in their cabin. | null | A cruise passenger has filmed huge waves which buffeted the Spirit of Discovery ship in the Bay of Biscay.
Alan Grisedale said the swell knocked his wife over and moved furniture in their cabin.
About 100 people were injured when the boat veered dramatically during a safety manoeuvre on Saturday.
Most of the injuries were described as minor by cruise company Saga, but five people were taken to hospital when the ship docked in Portsmouth on Monday. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-67350933 |
Train strikes announced for May Bank Holiday week - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Train drivers will stage walks-out between 7 and 9 May while overtime bans will disrupt services. | Business | Rail passengers are being warned of disruption during the week of the May Bank Holiday after drivers announced more strikes and an overtime ban.
Staff at 16 train companies will take part in rolling one-day walkouts between 7 and 9 May over pay and working conditions.
An overtime ban will also take place between 6 and 11 May.
Passengers are advised to check before they travel, with the action likely to lead to delays and cancellations.
The Bank Holiday falls on 6 May this year.
Aslef, the train drivers' union, said it is seeking better pay for its members and claimed drivers are being asked to sacrifice working conditions in exchange for a wage increase.
Drivers from several train companies will strike on different days.
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, the body that negotiates on behalf of the rail companies, said: "This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the Aslef leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54m a week just to keep services running.
"We continue to seek a fair agreement with the Aslef leadership which both rewards our people, gives our customers more reliable services and makes sure the railway isn't taking more than its fair share from taxpayers."
Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, said: "It is now a year since we sat in a room with the train companies - and a year since we rejected the risible offer they made and which they admitted, privately, was designed to be rejected."
Little progress has been made in solving the row between Aslef and the rail companies since the union first started striking in July 2022.
The most recent pay deal was rejected almost a year ago in April 2023.
The offer included 4% pay rises for two years in a row, on condition that drivers would accept industry-wide changes to training, and negotiate changes to work patterns at individual operators.
The last series of train strikes took place during the first and second weeks of April.
However, a London Underground drivers' strike scheduled for Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 May was called off. A spokesperson for Aslef said at the time that "key issues" had been "successfully resolved" in the London Underground dispute "without the need for strikes".
The train drivers' dispute is stuck on repeat. And passengers are left in the middle of a standoff with no current end in sight. Each time a new strike is announced, the government insists the offer which Aslef's committee rejected a year ago should be put to members in a vote.
Ministers and the industry group which does the negotiating say any deal has to be fair to be taxpayers, who put billions in subsidies into the railway every year.
Aslef argues those proposals, especially with strings attached to a pay rise, were never going to be acceptable to its members. It thinks a better offer should be put forward.
The government wants to cut costs and the industry argues proposed changes would also increase reliability. But from Aslef's perspective, members are being asked to give up too much by way of terms and conditions, for the pay rise that's on offer.
Train drivers have kept voting for more industrial action. So, the strikes keep coming.
It is difficult to see a resolution coming before the general election. And whoever's in government after that, it's not clear what they would do differently to end the dispute. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68874928 |
Mohamed Muizzu: The Maldives' new president wants India out - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | In an exclusive interview, Dr Mohamed Muizzu tells the BBC he wants all Indian troops removed. | Asia | "We don't want any foreign military boots on Maldivian soil… I promised this to the people of the Maldives and I will live up to my promise from day one."
Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who won the Maldives presidential election last month, is wasting no time in asking India to get its troops out of the country.
The president-elect, who is due to be sworn in later in November, told the BBC in an exclusive interview that he met the Indian ambassador a few days after his victory and "told him very clearly that every single Indian military personnel here should be removed".
The Maldives has long been under India's sphere of influence and Mr Muizzu's demand is likely to trigger diplomatic tensions between Malé and Delhi.
In fact, when Mr Muizzu won the Maldives presidential poll, that was seen as a setback for India - especially as his opponent, the incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih - had drawn his country closer to Delhi since taking over in 2018.
The alliance backing Mr Muizzu portrayed this relationship - strengthened by Mr Solih's India-first policy - as a threat to the Maldives' sovereignty and security.
Mr Muizzu's alliance favours closer ties with China, which has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the Maldives in the form of loans and grants for infrastructure and development projects.
But India, which wants a foothold in the strategically located islands to monitor a key part of the Indian Ocean, has also provided about $2bn in development assistance to the country.
If its troops are forced to leave, it will be a blow for Delhi.
Mr Muizzu's (C) victory was seen as a setback for India
But a furore over "gifts" that Delhi gave the Maldives - two helicopters received in 2010 and 2013 and a small aircraft in 2020 - has given the "India out" campaign a huge boost.
Delhi said the craft were to be used for search and rescue missions and medical evacuations.
But in 2021, the Maldivian defence force said about 75 Indian military personnel were based in the country to operate and maintain the Indian aircrafts. This fuelled suspicion and anger as many felt the reconnaissance aircraft were being used as an excuse to put Indian boots on the ground.
Mr Muizzu also says that the presence of these troops could put the Maldives at risk - especially as tensions between India and China escalate along their Himalayan border.
"Maldives is too small to get entangled with this global power struggle. We will not get entangled into this," he said.
Speaking to the BBC before the presidential poll, the outgoing president Mr Solih said fears about the presence of Indian troops were exaggerated.
"There are no militarily active overseas personnel stationed in the Maldives. Indian personnel currently present in the country are under the operational command of the Maldives National Defence Force," he said.
But it's not just the aircraft. Mr Muizzu said he wanted to review all the agreements the Maldives has signed with India in recent years.
"We don't know what's in there. Even in Parliament, some of the MPs during the debates said that they didn't know what's in there. I am sure we will find it out," he said.
Soon after his victory, observers noted that the Chinese ambassador in Malé was quick to congratulate Mr Muizzu.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also weighed in, saying he attached "great importance to the development of bilateral relations and stands ready to work with President-elect Muizzu to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation".
Mr Muizzu has also spoken highly of Chinese infrastructure projects in the Maldives, saying the investments had transformed Malé city and brought benefits to its residents.
However, he has denied being a "pro-China" candidate as opposed to the "pro-India" Mr Solih.
"I am a pro-Maldives person. For me, Maldives comes first, our independence comes first" he said. "I am not pro or against any country."
Despite this, however, his opposition alliance includes the party of former president Abdulla Yameen who was instrumental in moving the Maldives closer to China.
When India and Western lenders were not willing to offer loans to Yameen's administration due to allegations of human rights violations, Yameen - who is currently serving a 11-year prison sentence for corruption - turned to Beijing who offered him the money without any conditions.
He then joined President Xi's Belt and Road Initiative - which aims to build road, rail and sea links between China and the rest of the world.
Mr Muizzu was seen as a proxy of Yameen - who was barred from contesting the election.
Soon after he won the election Mr Muizzu asked the current administration to move Yameen from a high-security prison to house arrest in the capital Male.
But given Yameen's uneasy and tense relationship with Delhi, it could well be a struggle for Mr Muizzu's new alliance to balance ties with India.
Mr Muizzu sounds keen to emerge out of the shadows of Yameen and is all set to charter a new path both domestically and in the country's foreign affairs.
Given his decisive victory he may not face much resistance internally, at least in the initial stages.
He sounds determined to take the Maldives out of India's orbit but convincing Delhi to withdraw its troops may be his first big challenge. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-67166425 |
Cyriel Dessers: Rangers striker defies doubters to seal Scottish Cup final with Celtic - BBC Sport | 2024-04-22 | null | Cyriel Dessers has been maligned by Rangers fans but his numbers stand up with the best the club have had in last two decades. | null | Cyriel Dessers has spent much of his time as a Rangers player on the back foot.
He's been criticised for the chances he misses rather than the ones he takes, questioned about his lack of of a ruthless side with many in the club's support bemoaning the fact that their board didn't move for Lawrence Shankland in January.
Is Dessers aware of the mood music around him?
You bet he is. How could he not be? Is he showing mental strength in the face of the doubters? Unquestionably. "A beautiful day," he said, later. "It feels special."
Maybe the big man got a bit carried away after that when asked about the league title race. Buoyed by his Hampden goals he said that if Rangers can get their "rhythm" back then "we are the best team in the league." Oh dear.
Normally when you hear that kind from the blue side of the city then bad things normally follow. But he's said it now and needs to back it up.
More days like this would help. The smile on Dessers face at the end of this Scottish Cup semi-final was the smile of a man whose goals had put his team in the final and, perhaps, silenced a few folk.
Not permanently, but for now, until next time. Such is the way of it in Glasgow.
• None Rangers beat Hearts to set up final with Celtic
• None Podcast: All the reaction to Rangers' win
Winston Churchill is not necessarily the first person you think of when you watch Dessers playing football, but a famous quote from the former prime minister could be applied to the Rangers striker.
"A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma," said Churchill of world affairs back in the day.
You could say the same about a striker whose numbers this season for Rangers have been excellent, rising to 18 and then 19 in this match-winning effort, but still he's the butt of much flak, a bit of a fall guy, a figure of frustration.
If you looked at the bare numbers of Dessers' time with Rangers, you could only conclude that this guy is one of the most prolific strikers the club has had in the last 20 seasons.
Taking out their years in the lower leagues - where goals were a whole lot easier to come by - his tally is only bettered by the single-season totals of Alfredo Morelos, Kenny Miller, Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo and Dado Prso over the last two decades.
With six games left to play - five in the league and the cup final against Celtic - he's already scored more goals than Antonio Colak, Kemar Roofe and Jermain Defoe ever did in one season.
Over the past 20 years, he's outscored Daniel Cousins and Jean-Claude Darcheville, Peter Lovenkrands, Shota Arveladze and Michael Mols and many other Rangers strikers in that timeframe.
Nobody is saying that Dessers is the second coming of Ally McCoist, but he only needs one more to move ahead of the best season Nikica Jelavic ever had at Ibrox.
Jelavic only had one full one, but Dessers has matched him so far. His numbers defy some of the evidence of our own eyes.
We saw both sides of Dessers' ability at Hampden, the tidy footwork and calm finish for his first goal, then the clumsiness when getting into space to the left of the Hearts goal only to get the ball caught up in his feet much later on.
That was down the Rangers end and they let him have it. Not fury, but a lot of angst. A plaintive cry of the masses.
That emotion didn't last long, of course. His second was down to Todd Cantwell's excellent run in the first instance and his own alertness in following up his first effort, beaten away by Craig Gordon, by putting away his second.
That was the clincher, but there could have been more. Two goals to his name, you have to wonder why he didn't back himself for a third when he went through with Gordon at his mercy. His manager, Philippe Clement, thought the same.
Selflessly, he squared it to Fabio Silva and had Silva scored a simple tap-in, Dessers would have been praised for his awareness and for putting team success above individual glory.
Silva didn't score, though. In collapsing to the floor, Silva looked like an octopus falling out of a tree. Somewhere out there, Peter van Vossen was celebrating. No longer the holder of the greatest missed sitter award.
Before the end, Dessers had another chance, which he pushed wide of Gordon's right-hand post.
It wasn't straightforward and it wasn't costly, not on Sunday. He had his work done by then, he had his reputation enhanced and his confidence boosted.
The Nigerian is a one-man drama, his attempts on goal leaving you in suspense all the while.
Against Hearts, when it counted, he put it all together and won the praise of a manager who desperately needed this victory.
From the despair of the loss to Ross County and the despond of the draw in Dundee, this was a step in the right direction, a win that will take them back here for a cup final against Celtic.
Clement doesn't often show his emotions but after tough times recently he was a relieved man that Dessers delivered.
• Rangers is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
• None Everything Rangers - go straight to all the best content | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68870713 |
Rishi Sunak says he has confidence in Met Police chief after protest row - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | But the prime minister says Sir Mark Rowley still needs to rebuild the trust of the Jewish community. | UK | Clips have been published showing the exchange between Gideon Falter and Met Police officers
Rishi Sunak said he has confidence in Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley after criticism over how a Jewish man was treated at a pro-Palestinian march.
But the prime minister said Sir Mark still needs to work to rebuild the trust of the Jewish community.
Sir Mark had faced a call to resign after antisemitism campaigner Gideon Falter was called "openly Jewish" by police and threatened with arrest.
The Met has apologised and offered to meet Mr Falter to do so personally.
New footage of the exchange published by Sky News on Sunday shows Mr Falter telling officers he wanted to get to an area on the other side of where pro-Palestinian protesters were marching in London on 13 April.
Police officers do not let him pass and instead offer to escort him via another route, avoiding the protesters, so he will be "completely safe".
During the exchange, an officer claims Mr Falter is being "disingenuous" and was trying to "antagonise" others because he "took it upon himself" to deliberately walk "right into the middle" of the march.
Mr Falter, the head of the Campaign Against Antisemitism who was wearing a kippah, was described by an officer as "openly Jewish".
He later told the BBC he felt he "was being treated like a criminal for being Jewish" and that police were "curtailing the rights of law-abiding Londoners" to walk wherever they like freely.
Home Secretary James Cleverly and Minister for Policing Chris Philp are meeting Met Police commissioner Sir Mark for talks on Monday.
Mr Philp said he was looking for "reassurance that every step possible is going to be taken to make sure all citizens - but including and in particular Jewish citizens - don't suffer any fear or harassment" in London.
He said he and the home secretary would like to hear what Sir Mark would be "doing differently" to ensure this was always the case.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Mr Sunak said: "What happened was clearly wrong and it's right that they've apologised for that.
"Yes, I do have confidence in him but that's on the basis that he works to rebuild the confidence and trust not just of the Jewish community but the wider public, particularly people in London, but more broadly.
"And you regain that trust and that confidence by making it clear that the police are not tolerating behaviour that we would all collectively deem as unacceptable when we see it."
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has also met Sir Mark for a separate discussion.
A spokesperson said it was a "good, frank and constructive discussion", adding that the Commissioner had Mr Khan's "full confidence".
"The Commissioner has assured the Mayor that he will continue to drive forward change to ensure the Met does a better job commanding the confidence of all London's communities and learns the lessons from recent events on how to engage and communicate with them better," he said.
Mr Falter previously told the BBC "it's time for Sir Mark Rowley to go" - a call echoed by former home secretary Suella Braverman, who said it shows "the wholesale failure to combat antisemitism" by the police.
Ms Braverman said the police had taken sides at the protest, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If this march was peaceful, why was a Jewish man not able to cross the street peacefully?"
Rishi Sunak was asked for his opinion on the Met during a news conference on the Rwanda plan on Monday
The Met apologised twice on Friday, and Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist has written to Mr Falter to offer a private meeting to apologise to him personally.
The London Jewish Forum - which includes representatives from the Board of Deputies of British Jews and other Jewish groups - said it met Sir Mark on Monday morning for talks, and that Met officers apologised again.
It said it would meet the police further to discuss the impact of the protests "in terms of disruption and intimidation of the Jewish community", and urged the police and government to reduce the number of protests and move them to less disruptive locations.
Several politicians have criticised the force's handling of the exchange, although stopped short of calling for Sir Mark's resignation.
Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell said the Met's response was "way over the top". Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the incident "clearly wasn't handled properly" but added Sir Mark was "leading important reforms" to the Met "and it's really important that we work with the police".
Former chief superintendent in the Met Police Dal Babu told BBC Breakfast on Monday that the fuller 13-minute clip of the incident showed "a totally different encounter to the one that Mr Falter has reported".
Mr Babu said the officer's "openly Jewish" comment was "not acceptable". But he added: "What you see [Mr Falter] doing is attempting to go against the march, trying to push past the officers, and I think for 13 minutes the officers showed great restraint.
"They offered to take him to a crossing point, they offered to help him and the group he was with the opportunity to cross at a more appropriate place. So the narrative that's been pushed for the past few days is not accurate."
Mr Falter told ITV's Good Morning Britain on Monday that his members often attend pro-Palestinian marches to "force the police to make sure these things are safe for Jewish people" - and he would turn up at the next one.
He said the protests were "so badly policed, that if you are a Jew on the sideline of this thing, they have to threaten you with arrest to get rid of you".
• None PM appalled by way police treated Jew, says No 10 | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68872398 |
Stephen Lawrence: Independent police force to review murder investigation - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | An independent police force will review the case, after Stephen's mother called for it to be reopened. | UK | The Met Police has agreed that an independent police force will review the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation.
It comes after calls by Stephen's mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, for the dormant inquiry to be reopened.
Earlier, the Met apologised to her for breaking a promise to answer questions raised by a BBC investigation.
The Met said it "recognised" Baroness Lawrence's concerns, and an outside force would "review our approach".
How the independent review will work and which force will carry it out are yet to be established but it could lead to the murder investigation being reopened.
Baroness Lawrence used a BBC interview on Monday morning to call on the Met to reopen the murder investigation, saying there was more the force could do to bring all the killers to justice.
Stephen was 18 when he was stabbed to death in a racist attack by a group of young white men on 22 April 1993, in Eltham, south London.
His murder and the subsequent botched investigation was a watershed moment, sparking nationwide debate about institutional racism in policing.
The Met's early failures were criticised by the landmark Macpherson Report in 1999 - which found the Met to be institutionally racist.
The force's disastrous handling of the case means only two of Stephen's killers have been convicted. Gary Dobson and David Norris were two of the original five prime suspects in the case.
In 2020, the Met stopped investigating the murder, saying all viable lines of inquiry had been exhausted.
Last year, the BBC publicly identified a sixth suspect, Matthew White, who died in 2021 aged 50. Multiple police failings to properly investigate him were also revealed by the BBC.
After the BBC named Mr White, the Met promised Baroness Lawrence answers to various questions but did not provide them.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised on Monday and told the BBC that "on top of the failures over the decades, this is totally unacceptable".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: There are still three suspects out there, says Stephen Lawrence's mother
News of the review by an independent police force emerged after what London Mayor Sadiq Khan described as a "frank conversation" with the Met Commissioner on Monday afternoon.
Speaking on Monday evening after their meeting, the mayor said Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley would be "asking a separate police force to look into the assessment the Met police have made" in relation to the case.
Mr Khan said: "I'm hoping that reassures the Lawrence family, Doreen in particular, that under the new leadership in the Met police service, they will redouble their efforts to make sure Doreen and family think that this police service have learned lessons from yesteryear."
A Met spokesperson said: "While we have not identified any additional viable lines of inquiry, recognising the concerns held by Baroness Lawrence and the significance of this investigation we will be asking an outside force to review our approach."
The new force will have to assess a vast amount of evidence. It will look to see if there is any chance of bringing living suspects to justice.
A source close to the mayor's office said the Commissioner agreed the new force will have to command the Lawrence family's confidence. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68877983 |
Vera's Brenda Blethyn opens University of Surrey's crime scene flat - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The actress told University of Surrey students she would have loved to have studied forensics. | Surrey | The star of ITV's Vera has opened a new "crime scene flat" for forensics students at the University of Surrey.
Brenda Blethyn cut police tape at the event, in a return to the town where she studied at the Guildford School of Acting.
Crime drama Vera stars Ms Blethyn as DCI Stanhope, and has been running since 2011.
The university launched its BSC criminology with forensic investigation course in September.
The crime scene flat, set up to look like it has been burgled, aims to give students a chance to apply their learning in a "hands on" situation.
At the event, the TV star praised the students' choice of course.
She said: "In another life, it's something I would have liked to have done.
"I'm inquisitive and I would love that problem-solving element."
Course leader, associate professor Claire Rhodes, said: "Crime scene methods and analysing how you can apply them in a controlled environment is an important part of the course and our new crime scene flat helps us put part of the course into a practical setting.
"Learning the art of forensic science means understanding how the theoretical skills can be applied in 'real-life' settings."
Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-68369935 |
Two men charged with spying for China under Official Secrets Act - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Christopher Berry, 32, and Christopher Cash, 29, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday. | UK | Christopher Cash, a parliamentary researcher, was charged under the Official Secrets Act
A UK parliamentary researcher and another man have been charged with spying for China after allegedly providing information which could be "useful to an enemy".
Christopher Cash, 29, the researcher, and Christopher Berry, 32, were charged under the Official Secrets Act.
They are accused of giving "articles, notes, documents or information" to a foreign state, the Met Police said.
Counter-terrorism police have described the allegations as "very serious".
Mr Berry, from Witney in Oxfordshire, and Mr Cash, of Whitechapel, London, were arrested last March in connection with the investigation.
It was previously reported that one of the men - Mr Cash - was a parliamentary researcher involved with the China Research Group, and who is understood to have had access to several Conservative MPs.
The Sunday Times reported the researcher had access to security minister Tom Tugendhat and foreign affairs committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns, among others.
The offences Mr Cash is alleged to have committed are claimed to have happened between 20 January 2022 and 3 February 2023, while those against Mr Berry are alleged to have happened between 28 December 2021 and 3 February 2023.
Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, said it had been an "extremely complex investigation".
"We've worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service as our investigation has progressed and this has led to the two men being charged today," he said.
"We're aware there has been a degree of public and media interest in this case, but we would ask others to refrain from any further comment or speculation, so that the criminal justice process can now run its course."
The Met said officers previously arrested a man in his 30s at an address in Oxfordshire and a man in his 20s at an address in Edinburgh on 13 March 2023.
Both men were subsequently released on police bail while the investigation continued and a case file was passed to the CPS for consideration in late 2023, police said.
The charge states that "for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state, obtained, collected, recorded, published, or communicated to any other person articles, notes, documents or information, which were calculated to be, might be, or were intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy".
The two men have been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday 26 April.
Nick Price, head of the CPS's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said in a statement: "Criminal proceedings against the defendants are active. No-one should report, comment or share information online which could in any way prejudice their right to a fair trial."
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said it had already "made relevant response on September 10 2023".
The spokesperson said: "I would like to reaffirm that the claim that China is suspected of 'stealing British intelligence' is completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander.
"We firmly oppose it and urge the UK side to stop anti-China political manipulation and stop putting on such self-staged political farce."
Ms Kearns said she would "not be commenting further" on the matter.
"As this matter is now sub judice it is essential that neither I, nor anyone else, say anything that might prejudice a criminal trial relating to a matter of national security," she posted on X.
The term sub judice refers to a case that is currently the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs that one of those charged was a parliamentary pass holder and that the case should not be referred to in the chamber to avoid prejudicing "a criminal trial relating to a matter of national security". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68874822 |
Maldives: Pro-China party led by Muizzu wins by landslide - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Led by president Mohamed Muizzu, the party's win is seen as support for closer ties with Beijing. | Asia | Analysts view the victory of the party led by Mohamed Muizzu (centre) as support for closer ties with China
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's party has won a landslide victory in a parliamentary election, cementing his grip on power.
Provisional results show the People's National Congress (PNC) won 66 seats in the 93-member house.
Analysts view the victory as strong backing for Mr Muizzu's policy to achieve close ties with China.
Mr Muizzu, who is widely seen as pro-China, wants to reduce India's longstanding influence in his country.
Local media have described the PNC's win, which will be ratified in several days' time, as a "super majority". It has achieved the two-thirds in parliament that is required to amend the constitution.
The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has managed to win only 15 seats. Prior to Sunday's vote it had the majority of seats in parliament.
"This is a remarkable achievement for Mr Muizzu," says Azim Zahir, a Maldives analyst and a lecturer at the University of Western Australia.
"From a political institutional view, Mr Muizzu now effectively controls everything. He could theoretically control judiciary too as he has enough numbers in parliament," Mr Zahir says.
Mr Muizzu came to power late last year and his campaign was centred on ending the country's "India first" policy, that was adopted by the previous government. He has yet to embark on an official visit to Delhi.
He has promised to send home all Indian troops based in the Maldives, to reduce Delhi's influence.
Around 85 Indian military personnel were based in the Maldives to maintain and operate two helicopters and an aircraft for rescue and reconnaissance work. The aircraft were donated by Delhi some years ago.
Two batches of Indian military personnel have already left the Maldives and they have been replaced by India's civilian technical staff. The remaining troops are expected to leave the Maldives by 10 May.
His decision to send the Indian troops has strained Male's ties with Delhi and Beijing has appeared keen to exploit that.
Mr Muizzu went on a state visit to Beijing in January and signed several agreements for investments.
In March Male signed a "military assistance" agreement with China for non-lethal weapons for free as well as train the Maldivian security forces. India and the US had previously trained the Maldivian military.
"Now there's a more space to carve out a balanced foreign policy space. But if New Delhi doesn't manage the relations well and refuses to help him, obviously Male will be ever more reliant on Beijing," Mr Zahir says.
The formal ratification of Sunday's election results is expected to take a week.
The Maldivian Election Commission said the voter turnout in Sunday's poll was about 73% but lower than the 82% that voted in 2019.
A senior leader of the MDP was quick to congratulate Mr Muizzu, following the results.
"MDP's MPs will be ready to work with the government for the betterment of our democratic values and to hold it accountable as responsible opposition," Fayyaz Ismail, the chairperson of the party wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-68852720 |
Israel military intelligence chief quits over 7 October - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Maj Gen Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the 7 October attack. | Middle East | Maj Gen Aharon Haliva (L) - seen here in Gaza in December - is the most senior figure to resign over the 7 October attacks
The Israeli military's intelligence chief has resigned, saying he took responsibility for the failures before Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Major General Aharon Haliva would retire once his successor was selected.
He acknowledged in a letter that his intelligence directorate "did not live up to the task we were entrusted with".
He is the first senior figure to step down over the attack, which was the deadliest in Israel's history.
Israeli military and intelligence officials missed or ignored multiple warnings before hundreds of Hamas gunmen breached the Gaza border fence that day and attacked nearby Israeli communities, military bases and a music festival.
About 1,200 Israelis and foreigners - mostly civilians - were killed and 253 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel responded by launching its most intense ever war in Gaza with the aims of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages.
More than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza - most of them children and women - have been killed in the conflict, the territory's Hamas-run health ministry says.
A statement put out by the IDF on Monday said Maj Gen Haliva had "requested to end his position, following his leadership responsibility as the head of the intelligence directorate for the events of 7 October".
In his resignation letter, the general wrote: "I carry that black day with me ever since, day after day, night after night. I will carry the horrible pain of the war with me forever."
He also called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry "that can investigate and find out in a thorough, in-depth, comprehensive and precise manner all the factors and circumstances that led to the difficult events".
"Everything I did during my service in the IDF was for the sake of the people of Israel and the State of Israel," he added.
Maj Gen Haliva's resignation had been anticipated, given that he had stated 10 days after the attack that he bore full responsibility for the intelligence failures of his directorate.
However, his departure is expected to be followed by further resignations among Israel's senior military and intelligence commanders, with other officials having admitted errors and oversights in the run-up to 7 October.
The IDF's chief of staff, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, and the director of the Shin Bet security service, Ronen Bar, have both taken responsibility for failing to protect Israelis but decided to stay on for the war in Gaza.
Monday's news may also add to the pressure on the veteran Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Up to now, Mr Netanyahu has said only that he will answer tough questions about his own role, without acknowledging any responsibility, and has sought to deflect blame onto his security chiefs.
He has said that a full inquiry should wait until the war in Gaza is over.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X (formerly Twitter) that Maj Gen Haliva's decision to resign was "justified and honourable", but added that Mr Netanyahu "should have done the same".
In a video statement on Sunday, the prime minister lamented that the 133 people still held in Gaza would not be around the Seder table with their loved ones for the Jewish festival of Passover.
"Their suffering and the suffering of their families rends our heart and only strengthens our resolve to bring them back," he said.
He claimed that Hamas had "hardened its conditions" for a hostage release deal and threatened to "strike it with additional painful blows" in response.
"In the coming days, we will increase the military and diplomatic pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to free our hostages and achieve our victory," he added.
Mr Netanyahu did not specify the next steps, but he has repeatedly said that Israeli forces intend to launch an operation in the southern city of Rafah.
The US and UN have warned an all-out assault on Rafah, where 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, could have catastrophic consequences. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68873227 |
Japan helicopters crash: Search ongoing for naval crew in the Pacific - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Seven navy men are still missing after two helicopters apparently crashed during night drills. | Asia | Japan's defence officials announced early Sunday that two SH-60k helicopters (not pictured) carrying eight crew had gone missing off the Izu Islands
The Japanese navy is continuing its search for seven crew in the Pacific Ocean after the apparent crash of two helicopters on Saturday night, which killed at least one crewman.
Rescuers have so far recovered the body of one man, as well as black boxes and debris, but are yet to find the others.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mourned the tragedy in parliament on Monday.
"It is of utmost regret that we lost our personnel as they engaged in very tough, late-night training," he said.
It's still unclear what exactly caused the crash, which took place near the Izu Islands, which lie not far from the mainland, about 600km (372 miles) south of Tokyo.
Flight recorders retrieved from both aircraft had not revealed technical problems, Japan's Defence Minister Minoru Kihara said.
"Firstly we do our best to save lives," Mr Kihara said on Sunday, adding the helicopters had been "doing drills to counter submarines at night".
The two helicopters were both carrying four crew during the drills on Saturday night.
Communication with one helicopter was lost at 22:38 local time (14:38 BST) off the island of Torishima, broadcaster NHK reported,
One minute later, an emergency signal was received from this aircraft.
After 25 minutes, the military realised communication with the other aircraft was also lost in the same area.
Authorities launched a major search operation using 10 ships and five aircraft to scour the waters.
"We have a 24-hour operation for the search, which took place all day and all night," a navy officer told AFP news agency.
Along with the recovery of one man's body, crews found the flight recorders near each other as well as debris including parts of rotor blades.
The Mitsubishi SH-60K helicopters - based on the Sikorsky Seahawk - mainly operate from naval destroyers.
As there were no other aircraft nor vessels in nearby waters, the navy said involvement of another country in the incident was unlikely.
Japan has boosted defence spending and deepened cooperation with the US, South Korea and other countries in Asia in response to China's growing assertiveness in the region.
In April 2023 a Japanese army helicopter with 10 people on board crashed off Miyako island in southern Okinawa prefecture.
The UH60 helicopter, known as a Black Hawk, had been surveying the local area at the time it disappeared.
A senior Ground Self Defence Force commander, Lt Gen Yuichi Sakamoto, was among those on the flight. There were no survivors.
The US military also maintains a base on Okinawa, a grouping of islands in the East China Sea about halfway between Taiwan and Japan's mainland. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-68871964 |
Thames Water makes bid to lift bills by up to 44% - BBC News | 2024-04-22 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The troubled water firm pledges to invest more in the environment ahead of a key meeting with Ofwat. | Business | Thames Water is attempting to persuade the regulator to let it raise consumer bills by up to 44% over the next five years by increasing investment.
The heavily indebted water firm aims to spend at least £1.1bn more on environmental measures.
Regulator Ofwat had dismissed the company's original proposal, leading to questions over the firm's future.
Thames's huge debts have led to speculation it could be taken over by the government.
Thames is the UK's largest water company, with 16 million customers in London and the Thames Valley region.
However, it currently has debts of about £15.4bn and it has also come under fierce criticism for water leaks and sewage spillages.
Thames had originally proposed investing £18.7bn between 2025 and 2030 and increasing customer bills by 40%, on top of inflation, over the five-year period.
Ofwat dismissed this plan, prompting shareholders at Thames' parent company, Kemble Water, to withdraw a proposed cash injection and default on debt interest payments.
Thames has now proposed spending an extra £1.1bn on top of its original plans on "projects benefiting the environment", although it did not give details of what these would be.
The new total investment of £19.8bn would still require customer bills to rise by 40%, reaching an annual average bill of £608.30 by 2029-30.
But Thames also said it could potentially increase investment by another £1.9bn, although that would lead to average bills rising by 44% to £627.
Thames is by no means the only water company planning big prices rises over the next few years.
In plans put before Ofwat in October last year, Southern Water proposed a 66% price rise on top of inflation, while Severn Trent put forward a 37% increase.
Mike Keil, interim chief executive at the Consumer Council for Water, said: "On the surface, the proposal for more investment from Thames Water is a positive step for its customers that have endured some of the worst customer service in the sector."
However, he added that only 16% of its customers thought the proposed bill increases in the five-year plan were affordable.
"This announcement appears to offer nothing to ease the fears of those already struggling to pay," he said.
It is thought that a final decision from Ofwat will come at a crucial meeting on 23 May with a "draft determination" of what companies will be allowed to charge from next year issued on 12 June.
Thames Water's operating company has reassured its 16 million customers it has enough money in the bank to continue delivering water and waste services until May of next year.
Thames Water chief executive, Chris Weston, said: "Our business plan focuses on our customers' priorities... we've now updated it to deliver more projects that will benefit the environment.
"We will continue to discuss this with our regulators and stakeholders."
There are worries over pollution levels in the Thames
The company has been under fire for its environmental record, and in recent weeks pollution levels in the River Thames have come under renewed focus.
In last month's Oxford and Cambridge boat race, both crews were given safety advice to avoid swallowing water splashed up from the river.
Last week, television naturalist Steve Backshall described pollution found in the river as "toxic" after Bangor University analysis found high levels of norovirus and E. coli in water taken near the border between Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
The samples were taken downstream from Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Works, although Thames Water said all discharges from the site had been fully compliant with environmental law.
Earlier this year, data from Thames Water, analysed by London's City Hall, showed the number of hours in which sewage was dumped into the River Thames more than quadrupled last year.
Analysts say Thames Water's current debt amounts to about 80% of the value of the business, making it the most heavily indebted of England and Wales' water companies.
A large proportion of its debt was added when Macquarie, an Australian infrastructure bank, owned Thames, with its debts standing above £10bn when the company was sold in 2017.
Macquarie said it invested billions of pounds in upgrading Thames's infrastructure, but critics have argued it took billions out of the company in loans and dividends.
Thames Water says it has not paid dividends to external shareholders since 2017.
However, dividends can also be used to move money around businesses owned by one parent company.
Thames Water has paid over £200m in dividends to other companies within the group in the past five years. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68872563 |
Real Madrid 3-2 Barcelona: Jude Bellingham scores late to seal El Clasico win - BBC Sport | 2024-04-22 | null | Jude Bellingham scores late as Real Madrid beat Barcelona to move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga after an enthralling El Clasico. | null | Last updated on .From the section European Football
Jude Bellingham scored a late winner as Real Madrid beat Barcelona to move 11 points clear at the top of La Liga after an enthralling El Clasico.
Bellingham smashed into the roof of the net as the clock ticked into stoppage time as Real twice came from behind at the Bernabeu.
Andres Christensen scored the opener for Barcelona but a Vinicius Jr penalty had the game level at half-time.
Fermin Lopez made it 2-1 to Barca before Lucas Vazquez equalised again.
The victory puts Real firmly on track to reclaim the title with just six games left to play this season.
It looked set to be a positive night for Barcelona when Christensen rose above Toni Kroos to meet Raphinha's corner after just six minutes.
But those celebrations were short lived as referee Cesar Soto Grado pointed to the penalty spot when Pau Cubarsi fouled Vazquez in the area, handing Vinicius the opportunity to score his 13th La Liga goal of the campaign.
Lamine Yamal thought he had restored Barcelona's lead when he flicked a corner towards goal and goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who was behind the line, clawed it away.
Barcelona were adamant the ball had crossed the line but, as La Liga does not have goalline technology, the video assistant referee decided it that was not the case.
A tense second half came to life in the 69th minute with Lopez turning in from close range after Lunin parried a cross into his path.
However, Carlo Ancelotti's Real drew level for a second time just four minutes later with Vazquez emerging unmarked at the far post to meet Vinicius' cross.
The win extends Real's unbeaten record across all competitions to 28 matches - winning 22 and drawing six - with their last loss at home coming against Villarreal on 8 April 2023.
Bellingham rises to occasion once again
Bellingham is becoming accustomed to delivering on the big stage for Real and few are bigger than a Clasico.
The England midfielder got a first taste of the historic fixture in October when he scored twice to lead his side to a 2-1 win at Estadio Olímpico Lluis Companys, and he has continued to step up in the key moments throughout his debut campaign in Spain.
His last-gasp winner at the Bernabeu means he is the first Real player to score in their first two La Liga El Clasico's since Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2007.
The 103m euros (£88.5m) that Real handed over to Borussia Dortmund to sign Bellingham in the summer is looking like more of a bargain with each week that passes and he certainly does not look out of place with Zinedine Zidane's iconic number five on his back.
With 17 goals in La Liga this term, Bellingham is the second highest scorer in the division - just one behind Girona's Artem Dovbyk - and he continues to dazzle as Real look to end the season with a La Liga and Champions League double.
Barcelona coach Xavi was furious after VAR officials could not prove that Yamal's effort had crossed the line.
"It's a disgrace," said Xavi, complaining that the goalline technology used in other top flights including the Premier League is not available in La Liga.
"If we want to be the best league in the world we have to advance in this sense, you have to put in the technology."
"It's shameful for football, I don't have the words," said the Germany international.
"There's so much money in this world and there's no money for what's most important."
• None Attempt missed. Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
• None Attempt blocked. João Félix (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
• None Goal! Real Madrid 3, Barcelona 2. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez with a cross.
• None Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt blocked. Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jude Bellingham.
• None Luka Modric (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68869328 |
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We update the dataset weekly, on every Sunday. So the dataset always provides the latest BBC News article from the last week.
The current dataset on main branch contains the latest BBC News articles submitted from 2024-04-22 to 2024-04-29.
The data collection is conducted on 2024-04-29.
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