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Eilish McColgan sets new British 10,000m record, beating Paula Radcliffe's 2002 time - BBC Sport

Eilish McColgan sets a new British 10,000m record in California, beating Paula Radcliffe's time from 2002.

Last updated on .From the section Athletics Eilish McColgan set a new British 10,000m record in California as she continued preparations for next month's London Marathon. The 32-year-old Scot ran 30 minutes 00.86 seconds in her first track race of the year, beating Paula Radcliffe's time of 30:01.09 set in Munich in 2002. McColgan has been training at altitude in Colorado and made a late decision to race at the Soundrunning Ten event. "Two years ago I ran a big PB [personal best] here so it's nice to be back with the crowds. I knew I was in really good shape but to have it all come together on the day doesn't always happen." McColgan, who has been dealing with some knee problems in the build-up to her debut marathon on Sunday, 23 April, now holds British records for 5,000m and 10,000m on the track, plus 5km, 10km and the half-marathon in road races. Meanwhile, fellow Briton Emile Cairess, who will also be making his marathon debut in London, has broken the European 10-mile record. The 25-year-old clocked 45:57 at an event in Barrowford, Lancashire, beating Richard Nerurkar's long-standing mark of 46:02 set in 1993. Last year Cairess equalled Mo Farah's UK 10km record before running a half-marathon PB and then finishing second in the European Cross Country Championships in Turin in December behind Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/64853509

Matt Hancock: Leaked messages suggest plan to frighten public - BBC News

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The former health secretary discussed when to reveal the existence of the Kent variant.

UK

Matt Hancock suggested to an aide that they "frighten the pants off everyone" about Covid, messages published by the Sunday Telegraph show. It appears the former health secretary discussed when to reveal the existence of the Kent variant of Covid to ensure people complied with lockdown rules. In another exchange, the head of the Civil Service, Simon Case, suggested the "fear/guilt factor" was vital to the government's messaging. The BBC has not verified the messages. More than 100,000 WhatsApp messages were leaked to the Telegraph by the journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who has been a vocal critic of lockdowns. The former health secretary has repeatedly criticised the leaks, referring to the published messages as a "partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda." In an exchange between Mr Hancock and an aide from 13th December 2020 - five days before the government scrapped plans to relax rules for many over Christmas - the former health secretary discusses when to "deploy" the announcement of the new variant. They are talking about the possibility of the London Mayor Sadiq Khan resisting a possible lockdown for London. The Department of Health adviser suggests: "Rather than doing too much forward signalling, we can roll pitch with the new strain." Mr Hancock says: "We frighten the pants of everyone with the new strain." The adviser responds: "Yep, that's what will get proper behaviour change." The minister then asks: "When do we deploy the new variant." Mr Hancock announced the new variant the following day. In a separate WhatsApp conversation from January 2021, when lockdown measures were in place, Mr Hancock is seen discussing possible changes with Mr Case. Mr Case warns against making small changes to the rules as looking "ridiculous". He talks about "ramping up messaging" adding the "fear/guilt factor" was "vital". This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Other messages from October 2020 appear to show Mr Case suggesting coronavirus guidance should be delivered by "trusted local figures, not nationally distrusted figures like the PM, sadly". Boris Johnson was prime minister at the time. In a statement responding to the leaks, Mr Hancock said: "There is absolutely no public interest case for this huge breach. All the materials for the book have already been made available to the Inquiry, which is the right, and only, place for everything to be considered properly and the right lessons to be learned. "As we have seen, releasing them in this way gives a partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda." Chris Heaton-Harris, the government's Northern Ireland secretary, told BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg the messages give "almost a view into the psyche of Mr Hancock rather than into the actual decision-making". "I think viewers would expect that politicians being human beings would express things in a human way." Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe told the BBC's Stephen Nolan on Radio 5 Live that she had been "just as much against lockdown as Isabel Oakeshott", but found the leaks "profoundly unhelpful". Labour's Jonathan Ashworth - who was shadow health secretary during the pandemic - said there were always "two sides to a story" but many people will be "deeply troubled" by the messages. He called for the public inquiry to "report in some preliminary way by the end of the year", and added: "I also think Rishi Sunak needs to get a grip of this situation and insist that all ministers hand over everything, that no WhatsApps are deleted." In other newly-released leaked messages, Mr Johnson spoke of the need to get "absolutely militant" on social distancing in Covid hotspots, saying there had been a "general collapse" in rule following. In a WhatsApp conversation with Mr Case from July 2020, he wrote: "We need to tell people that if they want to save the economy and protect the NHS then they need to follow the rules. "And we may need to tighten the rules. You can now have six people from different households indoors. Do people really understand that and are they observing it?" he asked. The exchange came one month after the prime minister broke the rules himself. Mr Johnson, his wife Carrie, and the then-chancellor, Rishi Sunak, all received one fine each for attending a birthday party thrown in the ex-PM's honour in June 2020. A spokesman for Mr Johnson said it was not appropriate to comment on these leaks, and added that the public inquiry provided the right process for these issues to be examined. A collection of more than 100,000 messages sent between former Health Secretary Matt Hancock and other ministers and officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic have been obtained by the Telegraph. Here are some of our stories on the leaks:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64848106

UK Weather: Snow and ice warnings extended to more parts of UK - BBC News

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Met Office yellow weather warnings are in force, with disruption to travel and other activities possible.

UK

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Warnings of snow and ice have been extended to many parts of the UK over the coming days. Yellow weather warnings remain in place for parts of north-east Scotland and England until Wednesday morning. The Met Office issued a slew of further yellow warnings on Monday which cover much of the UK during the next five days. Heavy snow could bring "significant disruption" to northern and central parts on Thursday and Friday, it said. Forecasters say a "major change" is under way as Arctic air sweeps in from the north, bringing snow, ice and plunging temperatures for many. A fresh warning of ice and some snow across areas of the Midlands, East, south of England and Wales comes into force between 21:00 GMT tonight and 10:00 on Tuesday. This could lead to "difficult travel conditions" in some parts, the Met Office said. Some roads and railways were likely to be affected in these areas, it said, and people should expect longer journey times. A similar warning covering much of Northern Ireland is also in place overnight. Snow is likely to cause some travel disruption across parts of southern England and Wales throughout Wednesday, according to another warning. Further warnings for heavy snow are in place for Thursday and Friday in much of Scotland, northern England, parts of the Midlands, north Wales and Northern Ireland. Weather conditions may disrupt travel and other day-to-day activities, with more alerts likely to be issued. The first Met Office warning began on Sunday evening for parts of Scotland, covering places including Aberdeen and Dundee, the Highlands, Orkney and Shetland. The warning in place on Monday encompasses more of Scotland and a corridor of north-east England that extends to Newcastle upon Tyne and Yorkshire. For Tuesday, the area grows further to cover Strathclyde, more of Yorkshire and the Humber, and the East Midlands. Frequent snow is expected, with northern Scotland experiencing frequent and often heavy snow showers on Monday afternoon. The Met Office said snow could cause delays on roads in these places, as well as rail and plane cancellations. It also warned of the risk of slips and falls on icy surfaces. There was "slight chance" that rural communities could be cut off, it said, adding that cuts to power and phone services were possible. Tuesday night may prove to be the coldest of the year so far, when the temperatures could fall as low as -15C in some sheltered Scottish glens. Some uncertainty surrounds Wednesday, when a "battleground" is expected to be set up as milder Atlantic air from the south meets colder Arctic air from the north. BBC forecaster John Hutchinson said it would be "a very cold start to March", with many areas likely to see snow at some point. In some areas, this may only but a small amount, with the heaviest snowfall likely to be in northern Scotland over the next few days, he added. On Thursday and Friday, he said snow may become "a bit more widespread in central and northern Britain" and flurries may be "fairly persistent". There could be drifting and some disruption to travel and power, he added. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has extended its level three cold weather alert to all of England, with the warning in place from 01:00 on Monday to midnight on Thursday. This means there is a 90% chance of severe cold weather, icy conditions or heavy snow. The agency said this could have a "serious impact" on the health of those who are vulnerable to cold weather, and urged people to check on relatives. It advised over-65s, or those with pre-existing medical conditions, to heat their homes to at least 18C. How is the cold weather affecting you? 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/uk-64848688

Ukraine war: The Moldovan enclave surrounded by pro-Russian forces - BBC News

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Residents in the tiny Moldovan enclave of Molovata Noua fear the Ukraine war spilling over.

Europe

The ferry that transports people across from Molovata Noua to the rest of Moldova - the only link the enclave has with the rest of the country A short drive from Ukraine's southern border, hundreds of Russian troops guard a vast Soviet-era ammunition depot in Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria. This depot, these soldiers and this pro-Russian separatist region are under increasing global scrutiny. In the past few weeks, accusations have flown between Russia, Ukraine and Moldova over alleged plots to destabilise Moldova, and warnings about the potential for conflict to erupt here again. Moldova's prime minister, Dorin Recean, has said Russian troops should be expelled from the region, amid warnings from President Maia Sandu that Moscow is planning to topple her pro-western government. Russia, meanwhile, has been talking up the threat of a "false flag" attack by Ukrainian forces - and warned that any attack on its troops in Transnistria would be seen as an attack on Russia itself. Many western analysts point out that Transnistria could provide Russia with another entry point into Ukraine, forcing Ukrainian troops away from other areas of fighting. So Transnistria - controlled by pro-Russian separatists since Moldova's civil war in 1992 - is being closely watched globally, but also by those much closer to home. The warnings and threats about fresh conflict here hang heavy over the village of Molovata Noua. This is a tiny Moldovan enclave, jammed up against Transnistrian territory and separated from the rest of Moldova by the River Dneister. If residents of Chisinau feel vulnerable, residents of Molovata Noua feel completely exposed. Many of the older men here fought pro-Russian separatists for this land 30 years ago. They're wondering now if they'll have to fight here again. On Friday, veterans of that conflict gathered in Molovata Noua for an annual pilgrimage across the line of control into Transnistria, to honour those who died. Two dozen men in military fatigues, bright medals on their chests and darkness behind their eyes. Among them, 62-year-old Vlad Untila. Vlad Untila says he's ready should Molovata Noua need to defend itself against Russia "We're lucky that Ukraine is defending us at the moment," he said, "but if it kicks off in Moldova, we're ready to defend this territory again." Their convoy of cars makes its way down the deserted dirt road from Molovata Noua into the breakaway pro-Russian territory - crossing into enemy territory as they did three decades ago. "See how they look at us," Vlad growls, as his car approaches the Russian checkpoint. A gaggle of armed soldiers eye the convoy, as it carries men in Moldovan military fatigues into separatist territory, turning a blind eye to this eye-catching annual ritual. "Look around you," Vlad says, "this is where we fought - it was all a battlefield." Now the narrow dirt road cuts through the silent countryside, flanked by brown fields and broken winter trees. "It's hard because I feel I'm in my own country," his friend Constantin joins in. "It's my own land, and yet I can't walk freely here." A short drive beyond the checkpoint, hidden in brambles by the side of the road, is the first stop on the pilgrimage - a simple blue cross made from metal poles. It marks the spot, 31 years ago, where a local mayor was killed. The veterans gather round with a garland of flowers and a plastic bottle full of wine, to toast their fallen comrades. They follow the trail of pale blue monuments dotted through this territory, repeating the ritual at every stop, honouring their comrades, siblings, and friends. "We were both snipers," Vlad remembers, at the spot his friend Vasea was killed. "They were shooting at us from that hill over there, from a tank. One of the shrapnel fragments hit him in the neck. He fell to the ground and died in my arms." As the veterans pass a local Moldovan school, pupils come out to greet them, led by their headmistress Tatiana Rosca. "There were big battles here in 1992," Tatiana says. "And there are still deep wounds in the souls of the people. We're very afraid: we know what war means and we don't wish it on anyone." One of her pupils says she's ready to take up arms if conflict erupts again, as her father and grandfather did 30 years ago. But loyalties here - as in the rest of Moldova - are complicated by history, geography and economics. Here on the other side of the River Dniester, the pull of Moldovan identity is set against the pull of subsidised Russian gas from Transnistria. The economic gulf with the rest of the country has widened since the start of the war in Ukraine, after Moscow cut gas supplies to Moldova last year. "I'll be honest," the mayor of Molovata Noua, Oleg Gazea, told me. "It's very difficult to convince people that life is better in Moldova when they pay a fraction of the price for gas here." "We can't talk about freedom and a better life, and at the same time tell them to go across the river and pay 30 times more for their bills - they'll tell us: are you crazy? But there's a hidden price [to the cheap gas] - it buys their support." Some people here firmly believe that Moscow is not a military threat, but an economic ally - and that president Maia Sandu is the one provoking a war by moving closer to the West. "Transnistria is really sticking up for us," 59 year old Maria Ursachi tells me. "But Moldova is a disappointment. People are afraid to come over the river to talk to us: they have a border control post there and they check our bags. Chisinau doesn't see us." Arriving back in Molovata Noua, the veterans end their pilgrimage in the village square by laying red carnations at a memorial to the frozen conflict here. In the years since they fought the pro-Russian separatists, their children have grown up alongside Russian soldiers, Russian language and Russian economic support. "We older men will still form the heart of any resistance", Vlad tells me, "even with the involvement of younger men." Memories of the past, that linger in this tiny Moldovan enclave, are being sharpened by growing fears for the future.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64824517

Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United: Reds thrash old rivals in Anfield rout - BBC Sport

Liverpool hit seven goals past old rivals Manchester United in a rout as Mohamed Salah becomes their leading Premier League goalscorer.

Last updated on .From the section Premier League Liverpool delivered the complete performance and Mohamed Salah became the club's record Premier League goalscorer as Manchester United were overwhelmed at a joyous Anfield. United's renaissance under manager Erik ten Hag already has the tangible reward of the Carabao Cup but Liverpool unleashed a brutal reality check on their progress with a severe thrashing. Liverpool took control of what had been a tight game, with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford missing presentable chances, when former Old Trafford target Cody Gakpo applied a smooth finish to Andy Robertson's perfect pass two minutes before the break. The second half was a tale of sheer joy for Liverpool and unrelenting misery for United, starting after 47 minutes when Darwin Nunez's header diverted Harvey Elliott's driven cross past goalkeeper David de Gea. Salah bamboozled Lisandro Martinez to play in Gakpo for another classy finish three minutes later before the Egyptian resumed his long-time role of United tormentor by getting on the scoresheet himself. Salah ended a swift counter-attack by lashing a finish high past De Gea and the rout continued as Nunez flashed another header in from Jordan Henderson's cross. Salah then scrambled in the sixth to become Liverpool's highest Premier League goalscorer with 129, passing Robbie Fowler. He is also Liverpool's highest marksman against Manchester United with 12 - and 10 of those have come in his past five encounters. And in a fitting finish, Roberto Firmino - who has announced he is leaving Anfield at the end of the season - completed a remarkable game by making it 7-0 from close range. This is the biggest win in the history of the fixture, passing Liverpool's 7-1 victory in the 1895-96 Second Division. Liverpool are now an ominous presence in the chase for the Champions League places, standing only three points behind Tottenham with a game in hand. • None How did you rate Liverpool's performance? Have your say here • None What did you make of Manchester United's display? Send us your views here Liverpool have resembled a shadow of their real selves this season. The old guarantees, such as intensity and firepower, have been missing far too often. They all returned here - and how - in the most spectacular manner as Manchester United, who have been undergoing a revival this season, were blown away by a team in full cry. Once Jurgen Klopp's side took control of a tightly contested game just before half-time, they were ruthless. They scored seven, and missed chances to get more. Klopp wanted this to be a pivotal week in the race for the top four as his team look to salvage something from a season that has, to this point, been below par. His players responded. Wolverhampton Wanderers were beaten at Anfield and United, to put it mildly, outclassed. Liverpool won 5-0 at Old Trafford and 4-0 at Anfield in the Premier League last season while United had a 2-1 win at home early in this campaign to get the Ten Hag era going - and this was another remarkable game to add to that catalogue. Gakpo was on United's wanted list before he moved to Liverpool in January and his two cool finishes showed why Ten Hag was a fan. Nunez demonstrated his growing threat with a double while Salah always rises to the occasion against United and punished them once more. There was even the perfect finale of a goal in front of the Kop for Firmino, who announced on Friday he would end a great Liverpool career at the conclusion of this season. Liverpool manager Klopp resisted a fist pump celebration in front of the Kop - but for him, this day could not have gone any better. In seven days, Manchester United have gone from the high of their first trophy since 2017 with the Carabao Cup win against Newcastle United at Wembley to the pain of abject humiliation at Anfield. Bizarrely, United were right in this game for 43 minutes, with Fernandes and Rashford missing arguably the game's two best chances before Gakpo scored and the sky fell in on Ten Hag's team. United have had a heavy programme of fixtures but the manner in which they capitulated must be an embarrassment for manager, players and fans. There can be no excuses. Argentine defender Martinez, normally so reliable and combative, was taken apart, especially when Salah led him a merry dance to set up Gakpo to settle the game with Liverpool's third five minutes after half-time. To lose against Liverpool is a painful business at any time but to be on the receiving end of what was a record defeat in this fixture will send shock waves through Old Trafford. They must have thought it could not get worse than the 5-0 home thrashing last season - but this was and was inflicted in front of an ecstatic Anfield. Manchester United must now lick their wounds and return to Europa League action at home to Real Betis on Thursday - and those wounds will hurt after this beating at the home of their arch-rivals. • None Delay over. They are ready to continue. • None Delay in match because of an injury Diogo Jota (Liverpool). • None Delay over. They are ready to continue. • None Goal! Liverpool 7, Manchester United 0. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohamed Salah with a through ball. • None Offside, Manchester United. Raphaël Varane tries a through ball, but Alejandro Garnacho is caught offside. • None Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page • None Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64775037

US drone crash: A moment fraught with danger - BBC News

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The encounter between a Russian jet and a US drone raises some difficult questions for President Biden.

Europe

Reaper drones are full-size aircraft designed for reconnaissance and surveillance The encounter between Russian jets and a US drone, which resulted in the drone crashing into the Black Sea, appears to be the most significant publicly acknowledged US-Russia confrontation since Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago. As such, it raises a lot of questions and represents a moment fraught with danger. The United States' National Security Council's (NSC) John Kirby says there have been other intercepts "even in recent weeks", but that this one was different. Could it have been an accident? "Based on the actions of the Russian pilots, it's clear that it was unsafe, unprofessional," was the verdict of the Pentagon's Press Secretary, Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder. "I think the actions speak for themselves." Does the behaviour of Russia's pilots - allegedly dumping fuel in the path of the drone and then colliding with it - represent a significant escalation? This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. According to the Pentagon, the whole incident lasted about 30-40 minutes. During that time, Gen Ryder said there was no direct communication between the Russian and American militaries. US officials say they believe the Russian Su-27 jets involved "likely" suffered some damage, indicating that a collision was not deliberate. "I do know that the state department is raising our concerns about the incident directly with the Russian government," he added. What, if anything, does the episode mean for the future of American drone operations over the Black Sea, and for the vital surveillance such operations provide to Ukraine? "If the message is that they want to deter or dissuade us from flying or operating in international airspace over the Black Sea," Mr Kirby told broadcaster VOA, "then that message will fail because that is not going to happen". Not surprisingly, Russia would like to make it as hard as possible for Ukraine's allies to carry out such work. Washington is being tight lipped about what has happened to the drone. After the collision, US remote pilots were forced to bring it down in the Black Sea. Gen Ryder would not say where it landed or whether the Russian navy was trying to recover it. Audio recordings circulating on social media seem to indicate some kind of Russian recovery operation was under way. But this has not been confirmed. Clearly, Washington would not be happy if such sensitive surveillance technology fell into Russian hands. For Joe Biden, determined to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes", this is a delicate moment. It's not just Western weaponry that's helping Ukraine to withstand Russia's invasion. It's also a vast quantity of real-time intelligence on every aspect of Russia's military operations, including the movement of vessels in the Black Sea and the launch of missiles aimed at targets across Ukraine. From defending Ukraine's critical national infrastructure to planning its own offensive operations, Kyiv depends heavily on the steady flow of information. For obvious reasons, US officials won't be drawn into what, if any, additional precautions its surveillance operations will now involve. Washington wants to keep them going, but is anxious to avoid using force, and risk getting drawn into a more direct confrontation with Moscow. • None US drone crashes after encounter with Russian jet

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64959498

Cladding: Michael Gove names firms yet to sign post-Grenfell fire safety contract - BBC News

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The Levelling Up secretary urges developers to pay for repairs to homes with post-Grenfell fire risks.

UK Politics

Michael Gove has named 11 firms who have so far refused to sign a contract to repair homes with safety risks exposed by the Grenfell Tower fire. He said 39 firms had signed the contract, which would see them spending £2bn to pay for repairs to buildings with unsafe cladding and other issues. But, the levelling up secretary told MPs: "Some regrettably have not." He said they had a week to do so or face being banned from building new homes in England. "Those companies will be out of the housebuilding business in England entirely unless and until they change their course. Next week I will publish key features of our new 'responsible actors' scheme," he said in a Commons statement. He said this scheme was a way of "ensuring that only those committed to building safety will be allowed to build in the future". "Those developers that we've invited to sign the remediation contract who have not agreed to live up to their responsibilities will not be eligible to join the responsible actors' scheme. "They will not be able to commence new developments in England or receive building control approval for work that is already under way. "The companies invited to sign the remediation contract who have not yet lived up to their responsibilities are: Abbey Developments, Avant, Ballymore, Dandara, Emerson Group - Jones Homes, Galliard Homes, Inland Homes, Lendlease, London Square, Rydon Homes and Telford Homes." The government has also published a list of the companies that have signed the contract and those who have not so far agreed. Mr Gove claimed this was a "significant intervention in the market" but added: "The magnitude of the crisis that we face and the depth of the suffering for all those affected has clearly justified a radical approach". Mr Gove had given developers until 13 March to sign up to the agreement - but he hoped more would come on board over the next week. His officials were in talks with several of the companies "who are making progress towards signing", he told MPs. The scheme is aimed at helping leaseholders who live in buildings between 11m (36ft) and 18.5m high, who are facing large bills for the removal of dangerous cladding. It means those leaseholders will not have to pay for the cladding's removal. Michael Gove says several firms are close to signing the contract Labour's shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy backed the government action - but said it only covered a "fraction of the problem". "We want to see every developer sign the remediation contract and urgently move to fix the unsafe buildings and free leaseholders who've been trapped for too long." But she said the government's contract only covered 1,100 buildings, when Mr Gove's own department had said there are "between 6,000 and 9,000 unsafe 11-18m buildings alone". She also asked Mr Gove how he planned to help leaseholders in buildings with defects outside of the scope of the contract. Mr Gove replied: "It is the case with buildings under 11m there are some fire safety issues but we have to look at these on a case-by-case basis." Once signed, the contract makes commitments signed by developers in a public pledge last year legally binding. Inland Homes, which previously signed the pledge, has requested an extension due to recent changes to its board of directors, a spokeswoman said. The BBC understands that one of the companies, Avant, is hoping to be able to sign the contract soon. It is understood that Ballymore is finalising remaining details and will sign soon. A spokesman for Telford Homes said it had completed its review of the contract "and expects to sign soon". Meanwhile, Lendlease said it was continuing to work through the detail of the contract and "expect our governance processes will allow us to confirm our position by early April". "As a responsible global developer and investor, we firmly believe companies should only be held accountable when they've acted irresponsibly; and we've been in frequent conversations with the UK government on these issues both through the Home Builders Federation and directly," it added. London Square said it supported the government's response to building safety, saying that it signed the pledge letter last year. It added: "We remain committed to the pledge. We are disappointed to have been included in the list when we had not received a draft contract that was relevant to London Square to reflect the fact that we have no historic fire safety issues. "Our lawyers are working to reach an agreement with the government lawyers and we understand they are close to achieving this. We are happy to sign when agreed." Galliard Homes said it had been remediating its buildings in line with government guidance for "some time". A spokesman said: "We are working through the procedural matters with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) with the intention of signing this contract." A spokesman for Rydon Homes said it believed it fell into the category of a small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) house-builder, and has informed the government but received no response. He added: "When the DLUHC wishes to extend the contractual scheme to all SME developers, Rydon Homes Ltd will engage with that process, with a view to agreeing to enter into a fair and reasonable agreement with the government." Dandara said it expected to sign the contract "imminently", and said it had not been invited to original consultations which had delayed the process. It said it had signed the previous pledge, and proactively engaged with owners and management companies to undertake any enhancements needed in respect of fire safety matters. The remaining companies have been approached for comment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64957057

Gary Glitter: Paedophile former pop star recalled to prison - BBC News

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The singer, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls.

UK

Gary Glitter was one of the biggest music stars of the 1970s Disgraced former pop star Gary Glitter has been recalled to prison after breaching his licence conditions, the Probation Service has said. The singer, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was freed in February after serving half his 16-year jail term for sexually abusing three schoolgirls. His recall comes just over a month since being freed. Upon release, he was subject to licence conditions including having a GPS tag. The pop star, 79, was one of the biggest music stars of the 1970s. He was jailed in 2015 for attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault and one of having sex with a girl under 13. A Probation Service spokesperson said protecting the public was their "number one priority", adding: "That's why we set tough licence conditions and when offenders breach them, we don't hesitate to return them to custody." Gadd had been held at HMP The Verne, a low security category C jail in Portland, Dorset. When he was released he was also subject to close monitoring by the police and probation officers, with the Ministry of Justice saying at the time sex offenders "face some of the strictest licence conditions". Gadd was not added to the sex offenders register for these crimes, because they were committed before the register was introduced. However, he was already ordered to sign the register for life when he returned to the UK after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two young girls in Vietnam in 2006. Gadd had been at the height of his fame when he attacked two girls aged 12 and 13 after inviting them backstage to his dressing room. His youngest victim had been less than 10 years old when he crept into her bed and tried to rape her in 1975. Gadd had denied allegations against him but was found guilty after a trial lasting three weeks. In 2015 at the time of sentencing, Judge McCreath said he could find "no real evidence that" Gadd had atoned for his crimes and described his abuse of a girl under 10 as "appalling". The allegations that led to Gadd's imprisonment came to light when he became the first person to be arrested under Operation Yewtree - the investigation launched by the Met in 2012 in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. Gadd, who performed as Gary Glitter, had three UK number ones including I'm the Leader of the Gang (I am!). His fall from grace began decades later in 1999 after he admitted possessing thousands of images that showed child sex abuse and was jailed for four months. Upon being freed he went abroad and in 2002 was expelled from Cambodia amid sex crime allegations. He was later convicted of sexually abusing two young girls in neighbouring Vietnam in March 2006 and spent two-and-a-half years in jail. On returning to the UK in 2008, he was forced to sign the sex offenders register. In 2012, he was arrested at his London home following an investigation by detectives, before the case that led to his latest conviction came to trial in January 2015.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64946392

Swansea: Man dies after gas explosion in Morriston - BBC News

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Police say the body of a man was recovered from the site of a reported gas explosion.

Wales

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. A man has died after a gas explosion at a house in Swansea. Three others were taken to hospital after the blast in the Morriston area of the city, which shook houses miles away. A major incident was declared and emergency services were called to the junction of Field Close and Clydach Road at about 11:20 GMT. One property was completely flattened with Wales & West Utilities describing the structural damage as "severe". South Wales Police said the body of the previously missing man was found during a search of Clydach Road. The force said his family has been informed and an investigation was under way. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. WATCH: The aftermath of a gas explosion in Swansea was captured by a bystander Morriston Hospital said two adults and a child were brought to A&E after neighbours said they saw a boy being pulled from the rubble. A spokeswoman said: "The child and one of the adults were treated and discharged. "The second adult was admitted with trauma injuries, and is in a stable condition." The National Grid's website said 212 properties were without electricity but that was restored by 18:40 on Monday. Swansea council leader Rob Stewart said about 100 people had been displaced. Debris was strewn across the street The British Red Cross has sent a team of three to help and the council has set up a rest centre at Morriston Memorial Hall. Support is being provided there for about 50 people until they are able to go home. Others have gathered in the Red Lion pub. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. WATCH: BBC reporter near the scene of where a reported gas explosion destroyed a house People living on the street said they heard a loud bang which sounded like a car crash, with roofs and doors being blown off houses. Donn and Donna Fernandez said they and other neighbours rescued a teenage occupant of the house before they were taken to hospital. Mr Fernandez said: "I came out of my house and saw the young teenager who lives next door in the wreckage of the house near the roof. "Me and our neighbours got him out, he's only about 13." Neighbour Pamela Evans said the blast felt like a bomb. "It's like a warzone, it's unbelievable down there," she said. "Windows have been smashed, doors have been blown out." Pamela Evans said the blast felt like a bomb Alan Huxtable, who lives about 150 yards away on Field Close, said he was stunned by what he saw. He said: "The pressure of the blast - you could feel that. The house was shaking. "I just looked out of the window and I couldn't believe it. It took two or three seconds to realise what happened. "I said to my wife, 'the end terrace house is gone, it's disappeared'." There were tiles in his back garden, he said. Fellow resident Marjorie Lewis said: "The roof was all on the floor and there was a boy in the rubble." The boy was pulled from the wreckage and she called police: "They were here in two or three minutes. It sounded horrendous - it shook all the houses." Ms Lewis said about four or five houses had been damaged in the blast. Wales & West Utilities said the cause of the blast was not yet known She said: "I thought it was inside the house. I just took my youngest son and ran. "I went out the house and and saw the damage. It's terrible." Mirain Owen was at school when she heard about what had happened Mirain Owen, who lives about five minutes away from Clydach Road, was in school when she started getting messages on Snapchat about the blast. She said her family had been unable to return home to collect anything. The 17-year-old said: "The roads are closed and we aren't able to get in there by car." Hayley Brown, of Field Close, said: "To see that house, the way that it was, was absolutely heartbreaking. Kakuli Khatun was making tea for her husband when her window smashed Swansea councillor Ceri Evans said he lives less than a mile away and was working from home at the time of the explosion. "The whole house shook. All the windows shook, it was really noticeable. You could hear it and I ran out in the street," he said. Swansea University researcher Ioan Humphreys lives eight miles away in Rhos, Pontardawe, and said: "The house next door to me is having lots of building work done, so initially I thought it was a massive skip being delivered and dropped on their drive - it felt that close." South Wales Police asked people to avoid the area and said Clydach Road was still closed on Monday evening. "A cordon remains in place and people are asked to avoid the area," the force said. "It is necessary to keep the cordon in place due to the ongoing risk to the public and the amount of debris which is blocking access roads." Wales & West Utilities said: "We do not yet know the cause of the explosion and our engineers will continue to support the emergency services as they carry out their work." Welsh Ambulance Service and Mid and West Wales Fire Service also attended. The fire service said crews were still working at the site on Monday evening. Morriston Town AFC football club said it was "devastated" to hear the news and said locals should not hesitate to contact the club and come in to keep warm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64941189

Morton's Rolls bakery workers made redundant - BBC News

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BBC Scotland has learned that 230 staff at the Scottish bakery have been sent redundancy notices.

Scotland business

A total of 230 employees have been made redundant at collapsed Scottish bakery Morton's Rolls, BBC Scotland has learned. Redundancy notices were sent out on Monday by a provisional liquidator from FRP Advisory. The liquidator was appointed last week after the the firm ceased trading. BBC Scotland also understands that talks between potential investors and the liquidator are at an advanced stage. Further details are expected to emerge within the next few days. FRP Advisory and Morton's Rolls have been approached for comment. The Scottish government has said its Pace initiative for handling redundancy situations has contacted the company and the liquidator to offer support to affected employees. Scotland's first minister recently vowed to do "everything possible" to try to save the troubled bakery. For the year to the end of March 2021, the company reported a loss of £262,00 on turnover of more than £11.8m. Morton's Rolls was originally founded by Bob Morton and Jim Clarke in 1965 at their bakery near Drumchapel, in the west of Glasgow. Over the years, Morton's expanded its product range to include savoury products such as pies and bridies, and sweet offerings including apple turnovers and doughnuts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-64950451

French bin strike: Paris holds its nose as waste piles up - BBC News

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Refuse collectors joined the strike a week ago in protest at plans to raise the pension age to 64.

Europe

Half of the districts of Paris have been hit by the refuse collectors' strike The bins are overflowing in large areas of Paris a week into a strike by waste collectors, with thousands of tonnes of rubbish sitting abandoned on the streets of the French capital. "It's dirty, it attracts rats and cockroaches," one Parisian complained on French radio. The workers are striking over the Macron government's proposals to raise the pension age from 62 to 64. Other cities including Nantes, Rennes and Le Havre are also affected. Refuse collectors joined the pension strikes a week ago and the Paris authority says half of the city's districts, which are covered by council workers, have been hit by the action. Three waste treatment sites have been blockaded and a fourth partially closed. On Monday, the Paris authority said 5,600 tonnes of waste had yet to be collected. One commentator on Europe1 radio described the situation as an all-you-can-eat buffet for the six million rats of Paris, double the human population. In the 10 districts covered by private companies the service was running almost normally, Paris council said. Some reports indicated activists were trying to prevent collections from going ahead. And one private company was also seen on Monday night by news channel BFMTV picking up waste in one of the big central districts, the sixth, which is normally covered by council workers. Similar bin collections were going on in two other districts on the western fringe of the city. Leading council official Emmanuel Grégoire said the situation was complicated but the authority was prioritising intervention for public safety, with a focus on clearing food markets, bin bags lying on the ground and ensuring pedestrian safety. "The strike triggers a change in rat behaviour," specialist Romain Lasseur told Le Parisien newspaper. "They'll rummage around in bins, reproduce there, and leave their urine and droppings. We have a worrying health risk for refuse collectors and the general population." Parisians are concerned that the strike will lead to the spread of rat-borne disease The capital's bin workers are due to meet on Wednesday to decide whether to continue their action. Refuse collectors currently retire at the age of 57 because of difficult working conditions and under the reforms they would have to work for two more years. Opponents of the Socialist mayor of Paris have seized on the strike as only adding to an existing crisis. "Anne Hidalgo promised to double the clean-up budget and Parisians clearly see Paris becoming dirtier and dirtier," complained Rachida Dati who runs the seventh district for the right-wing Republicans. France's unions have stepped up action against the government's unpopular retirement reforms which are currently going through parliament. Several operators at French refineries were on strike on Tuesday for a seventh day in a row, but only a small proportion of French petrol stations have had to close. The measures were backed by the upper house or Senate on Saturday and will next go to a joint committee of MPs from both houses on Wednesday to decide on the final text. A final vote could reach the National Assembly and Senate on Thursday. President Emmanuel Macron's party lacks a majority in the lower house so victory on the bill is by no means secure. The government needs 287 votes, and even if it can persuade all its 250 MPs to back the reforms it will still need to find another 37 lawmakers from other parties to back the higher pension age. Many of those extra votes are likely to be Republicans and the government is keen to avoid forcing through the legislation without a vote, which it could do by triggering a 49:3 article of the constitution. • None French plan to raise pension age by two years to 64

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64950503

Eleanor Williams appeals against her false rape conviction - BBC News

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Eleanor Williams lied to police and posted on Facebook she had been trafficked by an Asian gang.

Cumbria

Eleanor Williams is awaiting sentence for eight counts of perverting the course of justice. A woman who falsely claimed she was raped and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang has launched an appeal against her conviction. Eleanor Williams, 22, of Barrow-in-Furness, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice in January. She posted photos on social media of injuries she said were from beatings but had inflicted them on herself. Williams is yet to be sentenced and the Ministry of Justice said the appeal process is in "the early stages". Her Facebook post in May 2020 was shared more than 100,000 times and sparked demonstrations in her home town in Cumbria. The 10-week trial at Preston Crown Court was told the post was the "finale" to her story and she had accused a number of men of rape, going back to 2017. She had told police she was consistently groomed and trafficked by Asian men. On May 19 2020 she was found by officers near her home on Walney Island with injuries which she claimed were inflicted by a gang after she was taken to a house in the town and raped. But the prosecution claimed Williams caused the injuries to herself with a hammer, which was found with her blood on close by. The photos of her injuries went viral on social media The trial heard Williams went online to "effectively find random names" to present as either victims or perpetrators of trafficking. Some of the people she made allegations about were real while others did not exist, the jury heard. She had sent some messages to herself, and in other cases manipulated real people to send messages she then claimed were from abusers. A Snapchat account Williams claimed belonged to an Asian trafficker was found to belong of a young white man from Essex who believed she was his friend. Another Snapchat account of an alleged abuser was created at her mother's address, police found. The court heard she fabricated text messages from her so-called abusers Williams had falsely claimed a local business owner had groomed her from the age of 12 and made her work in brothels in Amsterdam and sold her at an auction there. However the court heard that at the time of her allegations, his bank card was being used in at B&Q in Barrow. During her evidence, Williams denied telling a "pack of lies". Asked about her 2020 Facebook post, she said: "I wanted people to know what was going on in Barrow, still is going on." The jury took three and a half hours to find Williams guilty of eight counts of doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of justice. Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64792802

Budget: Pensions to get boost as tax-free limit to rise - BBC News

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Persuading workers to work longer is part of plans to boost growth, but critics say very few will benefit.

Business

The total amount that workers can accumulate in their pension savings before paying extra tax is expected to be increased in Wednesday's Budget. The final figure has not been confirmed, but people are expected to be able to save up to £1.8m over a lifetime, up from £1.07m currently. The policy aims to stop people - particularly doctors - from reducing hours or retiring early owing to tax. Critics say the move will only benefit a small fraction of the workforce. UK economic growth has flatlined in recent months and the Bank of England expects the UK to enter a recession this year. About a quarter of people of working-age - around 10 million people - do not have jobs. Persuading workers to work for longer is part of UK plans to boost growth, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Wednesday announcement on tax and spending being dubbed the "Back to work Budget". Mr Hunt is also expected to detail other measures to increase the workforce on Wednesday including: Consultancy LCP told the BBC the government's plans to raise pension tax allowances would benefit relatively few workers. The number of people who have already breached the lifetime limit on pensions before paying tax and those who risk breaching it is 1.3 million, less than 4% per cent of the UK's current workforce, it says. The lifetime allowance is the total amount of money you can build up in a workplace defined benefit pension scheme and savings in a defined contribution pension before you face a further tax charge. The tax is levied on the excess over the allowance. The state pension is not included in the calculation. Anyone drawing their pension is still liable to income tax as normal. Beneficiaries from an increase in the allowance will include those who have worked in the public sector for many years. There has been a particular focus on doctors and consultants - some of whom have retired early or reduced hours for pension tax reasons as the NHS has become increasingly stretched. Dean Butler, managing director for customers at insurance firm Standard Life, said middle earners had been increasingly affected by the cap. Any increase in the annual allowance, he said, would be of specific help to those with irregular earnings who were relying on making larger pension contributions later in their careers. In the medical profession, some doctors and consultants have reduced their hours or retired early from the NHS because they were in danger of breaching the tax-free pensions lifetime allowance, and they calculated that continuing to work was counterproductive for their finances. The annual tax-free pension allowance - which is also expected to increase from £40,000 to £60,000 each year - has been subject to much of the same debate. Many industries are struggling to recruit workers, though job vacancies are falling. Earlier this year, Mr Hunt pledged to consider changes to encourage the over-50s who had taken early retirement during or after Covid to return to work, saying he "would look at the conditions necessary to make work worth your while". Not everyone believes that boosting pension allowances is the best policy to meet this goal. "High earners with big pension pots do benefit from inappropriately generous tax treatment of pensions, but there are much better ways of restricting this than these crude limits." said Carl Emmerson, from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a leading independent think tank.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64949083

OpenAI announces ChatGPT successor GPT-4 - BBC News

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The fourth version of the AI chatbot can process both images and text.

Technology

OpenAI has released GPT-4, the latest version of its hugely popular artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT. The new model can respond to images - providing recipe suggestions from photos of ingredients, for example, as well as writing captions and descriptions. It can also process up to 25,000 words, about eight times as many as ChatGPT. Millions of people have used ChatGPT since it launched in November 2022. Popular requests for it include writing songs, poems, marketing copy, computer code, and helping with homework - although teachers say students shouldn't use it. ChatGPT answers questions using natural human-like language, and it can also mimic other writing styles such as songwriters and authors, using the internet as it was in 2021 as its knowledge database. There are concerns that it could one day take over many jobs currently done by humans. OpenAI said it had spent six months on safety features for GPT-4, and had trained it on human feedback. However it warned that it may still be prone to sharing disinformation. GPT-4 will initially be available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, who pay $20 per month for premium access to the service. It's already powering Microsoft's Bing search engine platform. The tech giant has invested $10b into OpenAI. In a live demo it generated an answer to a complicated tax query - although there was no way to verify its answer. GPT-4, like ChatGPT, is a type of generative artificial intelligence. Generative AI uses algorithms and predictive text to create new content based on prompts. GPT-4 has "more advanced reasoning skills" than ChatGPT, OpenAI said. The model can, for example, find available meeting times for three schedules. OpenAI also announced new partnerships with language learning app Duolingo and Be My Eyes, an application for the visually impaired, to create AI Chatbots which can assist their users using natural language. However, like its predecessors, OpenAI has warned that GPT-4 is still not fully reliable and may "hallucinate" - a phenomenon where AI invents facts or makes reasoning errors.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-64959346

Ivan Toney: Man given 'landmark' stadium ban for racially abusing Brentford striker - BBC Sport

A man who racially abused Brentford striker Ivan Toney on social media is banned from every football ground in the United Kingdom for three years.

Last updated on .From the section Brentford Ivan Toney received the abusive message after scoring in Brentford's win over Brighton on 14 October last year A man who racially abused Brentford striker Ivan Toney on social media has been banned from every football ground in the United Kingdom for three years. It is the first banning order issued under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. Antonio Neill, 24, admitted sending an offensive message at Newcastle Magistrates' Court in January. Neill, of Blyth, Northumberland, was also handed a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. As well as all matches in the UK, the banning order prevents Neill from travelling abroad to watch international friendlies, qualification matches and tournaments. New legislation was brought in last year to widen the scope of banning orders for online hate crimes. "Discrimination has absolutely no place in any society, whether out in our communities or online," said Supt Scott Cowie, hate crime lead for Northumbria Police. "I hope this reinforces our commitment to taking action against anybody who commits a hate crime - it will not be tolerated and we will do all we can to put perpetrators before the courts." Brentford manager Thomas Frank said he hopes the ruling shows social media companies that they can do "even more" to prevent abuse. "It's a very strong message," said Frank. "Personally I'm very pleased that racial abuse is getting into court. "I think the sentence is not hard enough, it could be harder - it's a suspended sentence. But I think it's a good step in the right direction to hopefully show the world that there's no room for racial abuse. "Hopefully it's also a reminder to the social media companies that they can do even more. Also the situation with [Southampton's Kyle] Walker-Peters, what he experienced also, it's very sad. It's a constant development area for society. We need to be very aware of that." Antonio Neill pleaded guilty to sending an offensive message and apologised to Ivan Toney at Newcastle Magistrates' Court in January Toney posted a screenshot of a direct message he received on Instagram in a Twitter post in October, with police treating the incident as a hate crime. Neill apologised to Toney in court in January for sending the message, which was described by a judge as "exceptionally offensive" and with "racial overtones". Toney also received racist and abusive messages to his Instagram account after scoring the equaliser against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in January. Brentford described the ban issued to Neill as a "landmark ruling". "Ivan Toney has been subject to sickening racist abuse on a regular basis, and we want to see tough action taken against anyone found guilty of such abuse," a Brentford statement said. "The club firmly believes there is no place for racial abuse in football and we continue to support and implement a zero-tolerance policy towards discriminatory behaviour of any kind." Kick It Out, an organisation fighting discrimination in football, said: "Kick It Out welcomes the sentence handed to Antonio Neill today. This is a landmark decision which we hope will set the standard for similar cases going forward. "As footballers continue to experience racism and discrimination on social media, we hope this can be an important step towards understanding that online behaviour has real-life consequences, both for the abusers and their victims. "We would like to thank Northumbria Police and Brentford FC for their work in this case and for highlighting that online abuse has no place in our society. "It is imperative that social media companies and the government now play their part by stepping up to introduce meaningful reforms and legislation that protects people from online abuse." • None Listen to the latest The Far Post podcast • None Our coverage of Brentford is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment • None Everything Brentford - go straight to all the best content

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64949252

Bali plans tourist motorbike ban over misbehaviour - BBC News

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The local Indonesian governor says some tourists "roam about the island" breaking road laws.

Asia

Bali's governor wants to ban foreign tourists from renting and riding motorbikes The Indonesian island of Bali is planning to ban foreign tourists from using motorbikes after a spate of cases involving people breaking traffic laws. "You [should] not roam about the island using motorbikes, without wearing shirts or clothes, no helmet, and even without a licence," Governor I Wayan Koster said. Under the proposals tourists would use cars provided by travel agents instead. The plan has been divisive as tourism continues to recover from Covid losses. More than 171 foreign nationals have violated traffic orders from late February to early March, according to local police records. Some tourists also use fake licence plates. "If you are a tourist, then act like a tourist," said the governor. Foreign tourists in Bali often prefer renting motorbikes to get around the island, which does not have a well-developed public transport system. The two-wheelers make for a good option for weaving in and out of traffic, as well as travelling through scenic back alleys. The proposed ban will be implemented via a regional law sometime this year, but how it will be enforced is unclear. One Ukrainian tourist - who asked not to be named - said foreigners should be "given the freedom" to ride motorbikes as long as they provide valid licences. "We don't use the services of a travel agent because we want to be independent and like to do things ourselves so we can feel the atmosphere," she told BBC Indonesian. Finnish tourist Kristo, on the other hand, supports the proposed ban. "Many riders behave like they are drunk and do not wear helmets. That is very dangerous," he told Indonesian news website detik. But some operators have raised concerns over its effect on business. Dedek Warjana, who chairs Bali's motorbike rental association, said the proposal was hasty and authorities should act on specific violations instead of imposing a blanket ban. Allowing foreign tourists to only rent cars may exacerbate congestion, he said. A ban could tarnish Indonesia's reputation in the eyes of other countries, said Nyoman Sukma Arida, a lecturer in tourism at Bali's University of Udayana. The growing number of traffic violations also points to weak enforcement of existing rules by the local authorities, he said. He suggested strengthening the vehicle rental system, such as by making sure those who rent have valid driver's licences, requiring security deposits, and taking action on riders who violate rules. After all, not every traveller behaves badly, he said. The governor also announced a plan to revoke visa-on-arrival permits for tourists from Russia and Ukraine because of misconduct. Many people from the two countries have "flocked to Bali" amid the war but are not abiding by local regulations, he said. In the past week, for instance, authorities arrested several Russian citizens for violating their residence permits. Some also misused visitors' visas to set up businesses. Tourism contributed some 60% to Bali's annual GDP before the pandemic. According to the province's statistics bureau, Australia was the largest contributor of foreign tourists to Bali in January 2023 - with more than 91,000 Australians arriving in the province. Russia took the second spot, with about 22,000 of its citizens visiting the province that month. • None Indonesia's new sex laws and what they could mean for tourism

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64947871

Matthew Selby: Risks posed by sister killer were missed - report - BBC News

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Social services underestimated the risk Matthew Selby posed to his sister, a report has found.

Wales

Amanda Selby was killed by her brother while they were on holiday in north Wales with their father Authorities underestimated the risks posed by a man who killed his sister at a holiday park, a report has found. Matthew Selby, 20, choked 15-year-old Amanda Selby to death in north Wales in July 2021. He admitted manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and in March his sentence was increased to life. A Tameside Safeguarding Children Partnership spokesperson said it had taken "learning on board" and "put action plans in place". The Department for Health and Social Care said it was putting more money into mental health services. Selby, of Windermere Crescent, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, was originally jailed for five years in December 2022. The Court of Appeal later ruled that he should serve life with a minimum term of three years and four months. Mold Crown Court was told Selby had autism and mental health conditions that triggered the incident. Amanda was killed while they were at Ty Mawr holiday park in Conwy, on holiday with their father Anthony. A serious case review into Amanda's death commissioned by Tameside's Safeguarding Children Partnership revealed that social services knew about Selby's "escalating violent and aggressive behaviours", but underestimated the risk he posed to his sister. The report said the family was known to various agencies since 2008, 13 years before Amanda was killed. It said Selby was known to be regularly attacking members of his family, with a GP told in 2020 that he was hitting his father "five to six times a day". He stabbed his sister with scissors in 2015, but the review said the risk of physical harm to Amanda did "not appear to have been fully assessed" by health and social care professionals. Matthew Selby was initially sentenced to five years, which was later increased to life in prison The report stated that the family separated in 2017 due to Selby's increasing violence, from which point Amanda lived with her mother while her brother lived with his father. A year later in 2018, Matthew Selby's case was closed by social services. The review raised concerns that the case had ended too soon. It said authorities relied too much on the family reporting improvements and found there was a "complacency among agencies". In addition, the report authors identified a number of "missed opportunities" for further investigation, as well as a "considerable delay in getting help for Matthew with his autism". It said that even after being diagnosed, there appeared to be very little care and support provision available for people of his age. Clare Hughes, criminal justice manager at the National Autistic Society, said the issue was not uncommon. She said: "We can't comment on the individual circumstances of this tragic case. However, we know while the vast majority of the UK's more than 700,000 autistic people are completely law abiding, not getting the right support can all too often lead young people and their families into total crisis." Ms Hughes said waiting times for a diagnosis assessment were "critical" with "more than 125,000 children, young people and adults currently waiting for an assessment". "On top of this, years of social care crisis, lack of mandatory autism teacher training, and huge struggles to get mental health support can all contribute to young people and their families finding it harder and harder to manage," she added. Amanda Selby was killed by her brother at a holiday park A Tameside Safeguarding Children Partnership spokesperson said: "This is an extremely tragic case and our thoughts are with everyone affected. We have met extensively with the family to support them and are aware of their requests for privacy following significant media interest. "The partnership commissioned the review as part of our usual statutory process to identify any learning required and to be open and transparent about the circumstances. Where learning has been identified we have taken this on board and put action plans in place to address. "The review was shared with the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel who considered it a good, focussed and succinct review which clearly set out the relevant learning. It was also shared with the coroner at the inquest, who made no further findings." The Department of Health and Social Care said it was investing £2.5m to improve autism diagnosis and the speed at which people are seen and assessed. It added that it would be increasing investment into mental health services by at least £2.3bn a year by 2023/24 so that an additional two million people could get the support they needed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64941938

Eleanor Williams: CCTV shows false rape claim woman's movements - BBC News

Eleanor Williams is seen buying a hammer she claimed she was beaten with but she inflicted the injuries herself.

CCTV shows the movements of a woman who falsely claimed she was raped and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang. Eleanor Williams sparked protests in her home town of Barrow after posting photos on social media of injuries she said were from beatings. But Preston Crown Court heard she inflicted the wounds herself using a hammer. CCTV shown to the court showed her buying the tool in Tesco. The court was also shown footage of Williams arriving at a hotel in Blackpool. She claimed she had been groomed and forced there but when police made inquiries, they found she had travelled to the seaside town alone and stayed in a hotel. Footage showed her buying a Pot Noodle from a nearby shop and then stayed in her room watching YouTube on her phone. Williams, 22, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and jailed for eight-and-a-half years. Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64957687

World Cup 2026: Fifa switches back to four-team group format - BBC Sport

Fifa switches the format for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada back to four-team groups.

Last updated on .From the section World Cup Fifa has switched the format for the expanded 2026 World Cup back to four-team groups. The competition in the United States, Mexico and Canada was due to feature 16 groups of three because the number of teams is increasing from 32 to 48. But the success of the four-team format at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar caused the governing body to reconsider. The move expands the competition from its projected 80 matches to 104, including a new round-of-32 stage. Fifa said the top two and eight best third-placed teams would progress to the last 32. "The revised format mitigates the risk of collusion and ensures that all the teams play a minimum of three matches, while providing balanced rest time between competing teams," said world football's governing body. The move was approved at Fifa's council meeting in Rwanda. Fifa president Gianni Infantino said in December that the governing body was considering a format change after the group stages in Qatar included some exciting final games. The four-team group format, with the top two going through to the knockout stages, has been used since the men's World Cup expanded to 32 teams in 1998. The new round-of-32 stage means teams will have to play eight matches to win the tournament, compared to seven at the 2022 World Cup. Fifa approved a men's international match calendar from 2025-2030 and said that "based on the new calendar, the Fifa World Cup 2026 final will be played on Sunday, 19 July 2026". It added that the "mandatory" date for which clubs must release players for the tournament will start "on 25 May 2026, following the last official club match on 24 May 2026" and that "exemptions may apply to the final matches of confederation club competitions until 30 May 2026 subject to Fifa approval". The women's international match calendar keeps its six international windows per year and includes the women's Olympic football tournament, which will take place from 25 July to 10 August 2024. Fifa also approved the access list for the 32-team Fifa Club World Cup, which will take place every four years from June 2025. Teams who win their confederation's top tournament in "the four-year period of the seasons ending in 2021 and 2024" will qualify where they have enough places. Europe has 12 places in the new tournament and Chelsea and Real Madrid, who won the Champions League in 2021 and 2022 respectively, have already secured their spots. The other qualifying teams from each continent will be determined "by a club ranking based on the same four-year period". There will be a cap of two clubs per country with the exception being if more than two teams from the same country win their confederation's premier tournament over the qualification period. Fifa also wants to keep a yearly club competition and this will be "between the winner of the Uefa Champions League and the winner of intercontinental play-offs between the other confederations". What about the players? Player organisations and club managers have regularly voiced concerns about the demands on players, and Fifa is to set up a task force to look at player welfare and "principles such as mandatory rest periods". "Our fundamental objective is to have clarity on this topic, and to have meaningful football matches while protecting the wellbeing of the players and recognising that many regions need more competitive football," said Infantino. However, the general secretary of players' union Fifpro Jonas Baer-Hoffmann reiterated that "ongoing research provides new evidence of the excessive demands on elite players". "We are now observing a growing awareness among players about the harmful effects these pressures have on their performance, careers, and personal lives," he added. "They realise that their match calendar is not sustainable, affects their mental and physical health, and leaves them exposed, and without any protection, to an accelerated cycle of poorly coordinated competitions." Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief executive Maheta Molango said: "Fundamentally, the football calendar needs a complete reset. "The expanded World Cup format being announced for 2026 means that, yet again, more games are being forced into an already overcrowded schedule. "It is right that Fifa have listened to players' concerns and announced a working group to address the critical issues surrounding fixture congestion and player welfare. "It is also encouraging to see that key concerns raised with Fifa by the PFA, such as the need for a minimum of 72 hours between games, a mandatory day off each week, and an annual rest period, are being prioritised. "When Gianni Infantino came to Manchester to meet with us last year, these were the changes that our Premier League and Women's Super League members said they wanted to see. "However, it's very difficult to see how that aligns with the constant expansion of the domestic and international calendar. "We know that the current workload players face is having an ongoing impact on their wellbeing, both on and off the pitch. We can't simply push them until they break." • None Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - follow your team and sign up for notifications in the BBC Sport app to make sure you never miss a moment

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64952428

Eleanor Williams sentencing: Men tried to take own lives over rape lies - BBC News

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Eleanor Williams lied to police and posted on Facebook she had been trafficked by an Asian gang.

Cumbria

Eleanor Williams was found guilty of eight counts of perverting the course of justice Three men tried to take their own lives after being falsely accused of rape and trafficking, a court has heard. Eleanor Williams accused the men of attacking her and posted on Facebook in May 2020 that she was the victim of an Asian grooming gang. The 22-year-old of Barrow-in-Furness was found guilty of perverting the course of justice in January. During a sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court, Mohammed Ramzan, said the lies had made his life "hell on earth". Mr Ramzan said two weeks after he was arrested following Williams' claims, he attempted to take his own life. He said: "I still bear the scars to this day." Mr Ramzan said his property had been damaged and his businesses had been "ruined" after he and his family were targeted "in the most horrendous way". "I have had countless death threats made over social media from people all over the world because of what they thought I was involved in," he said. One of the men she falsely accused, Jordan Trengove, spent 73 days in custody In a statement read to the court, Jordan Trengove said the word "rapist" had been spray painted across his house. He said he spent 73 days in prison, sharing a cell with a convicted sex offender, after he was charged as a result of Williams' claims. He said: "Things had calmed down a bit until the Facebook post in 2020. "This made things even worse for me. There were big protests and marches in Barrow. "The lowest point was when I tried to end my life in August 2020." Oliver Gardner said his chance encounter with Williams in Preston led to him being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Mr Gardner, who was accused of rape, said it was a "real shock" when he was contacted by Cumbria Police and told of her claims. He said: "It was just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time." In his statement, he said he tried to end his life before being sectioned. Cameron Bibby, who was the first man accused of rape by Williams in 2017, said he had to remove himself from most social media because of abuse and was scared to pick his son up from nursery because of the way people looked at him. Williams' trial heard that police believed she inflicted the injuries on herself with a hammer He said after Williams posted her account on Facebook, his neighbours displayed "Justice for Ellie" stickers in their windows, which "intimidated" him. The court was shown videos of English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson attending protests at Hollywood Retail Park in Barrow in May 2020. In a statement, Supt Matthew Pearman said there was "unprecedented outcry on social media within the town of Barrow" after Williams posted about her injuries. He said: "Barrow had not seen such public displays of mass anger for over 30 years." Louise Blackwell KC, defending Williams, said she "continues in her allegations against the various people in pretty much the same circumstances". Williams is due to be sentenced on Tuesday. Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64943465

Tube strike: TfL warns passengers of 'little or no service' - BBC News

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Union members are due to walk out on Wednesday in a dispute over job cuts, pensions and conditions.

London

TfL said there would be "little or no" Tube service on Wednesday, and other services would be "busier than usual" Transport for London (TfL) is warning Tube passengers there will be "little or no service" during Wednesday's strike action by RMT and Aslef. Members of both unions are due to walk out in a dispute over job cuts, pensions and conditions. The RMT said cuts were a "political decision". The operator said the Elizabeth Line, Overground, DLR, trams and buses would be "busier than normal". The Department for Transport said funding was the Mayor's decision. TfL has advised passengers travelling on Wednesday to allow more time for their journeys and to check the latest information before they travel. It warned that the closure of Tube stations may mean some services would be unable to stop at all stations or run to their normal destinations. A spokesperson said: "On Thursday 16 March, Tube services will start later than normal following strike action the previous day." TfL also said national rail strike action would also have an impact on transport in the capital on Thursday and into Friday morning, with the Overground, Elizabeth Line and some parts of the Bakerloo and District lines being "disrupted by national rail strike action". The RMT said the deadline for the government and TfL to agree details of pension reforms for staff had been pushed back until Friday. Mick Lynch, the RMT's general secretary, said: "Our members will never accept job losses, attacks on their pensions or changes to working conditions in order to pay for a funding cut which is the government's political decision. "Tube workers provide an essential service to the capital, making sure the city can keep moving and work long hours in demanding roles. "In return they deserve decent pensions, job security and good working conditions, and RMT will fight tooth and nail to make sure that's what they get." In a statement, Aslef said: "Instead of providing the finances that London needs to operate a safe, affordable and efficient public transport system, the UK government is insisting that the gap is filled by huge reductions in staff numbers and cuts to the pensions and working conditions of those who remain. "We want London Underground management to accept that change has to come by agreement not just be imposed. They refuse to do that, leaving us no other option but taking strike action," the statement continued. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and TfL. "This government has committed over £6bn since the start of the pandemic to support London's transport network - how that money is spent is a decision for the Mayor". Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64940312

NYC bike path killer Sayfullo Saipov spared death penalty - BBC News

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Sayfullo Saipov will spend life in prison for the city's deadliest terrorist attack since 9/11.

US & Canada

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. New York truck attack: Who is Sayfullo Saipov? An Islamist extremist who killed eight people when he intentionally drove a truck down a New York City bike path in 2017 has been spared the death penalty. Sayfullo Saipov faced the death penalty for what was the city's deadliest terrorist attack since 9/11. The same jury that convicted him in January was deadlocked over how he should be punished. Saipov will spend life in prison at the supermax facility in Colorado, the most secure prison in the US. A unanimous decision by the jury is required to impose a death penalty. Saipov's life sentence does not allow for parole. Saipov shouted "God is great" in Arabic as he emerged from the truck after the rampage in Manhattan. The Uzbekistan native was shot by police, and asked to hang an Islamic State group flag over his hospital bed. Six people died at the scene of the Halloween attack and two more in hospital. Twelve others were injured. Five of those killed were from a group of nine Argentine friends visiting the city. A 31-year-old woman from Belgium who was visiting the city also died. Two Americans, a 32-year-old financial worker and a 23-year-old software engineer, were killed. "He turned a bike path into his battlefield," said prosecutor Jason Richman. "He was happy about the terrorist attack he unleashed." In court, the jury heard how Saipov had spent a year planning the attack. He chose Halloween because more people were likely to be out. His defence attorney said his client had expected to die and become a martyr. Shortly after the attack, then-President Donald Trump called for Saipov's execution, and reinstated federal executions after a 17-year moratorium in 2020. Under President Joe Biden, federal executions were once again halted. But last autumn the Justice Department said it would seek the death penalty for Saipov.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64945630

Who will replace Nicola Sturgeon as next SNP leader? - BBC News

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Ms Sturgeon refused to back anyone as a successor, insisting there was a wealth of talent within the SNP.

Scotland politics

Nicola Sturgeon is resigning as SNP leader and first minister of Scotland Three candidates have put themselves forward to replace Nicola Sturgeon as first minister of Scotland. Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf are competing to become the next SNP leader. What do we know about them and the contest so far? The finance secretary has had a meteoric rise through the ranks of government. She was dropped into the job following the surprise resignation of Derek Mackay and was left to deliver the 2020 Scottish Budget with just a few hours' notice. Her steady performance since then has belied her relatively young age (32) and short parliamentary career. She was first elected to the seat of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch in 2016, but has been talked about as a future leadership contender for some time. Announcing her campaign, she said the nation and the Yes movement were at "a crossroads" and that she had "the vision, experience and competence to inspire voters". As finance secretary she has pushed for a "reset" of the public sector in the wake of the Covid pandemic, having set out plans which would have seen the workforce cut. Ms Forbes is a member of the Free Church of Scotland, which follows a strict interpretation of the Bible, and has described how she has often had to "tiptoe around" her faith. She has been on maternity leave since last summer, meaning she has not participated in some key debates within the SNP about gender reform and independence strategy. On day one of her campaign, she said she would not have voted for the gender reform bill. Ms Forbes also said she believed that having a child outside of marriage was "wrong" according to her religious beliefs. And she sparked a storm after saying she would not have voted for gay marriage legislation, as a matter of conscience, had she been in parliament at the time. A number of prominent supporters withdrew their endorsements and Deputy First Minister John Swinney questioned whether her stance on gay marriage made her "appropriate" to be SNP leader. In reply, a spokesman for Ms Forbes said people would wonder why Mr Swinney believes a woman holding Christian views should be disqualified from holding high office. Ms Forbes then took to social media in a bid to reset her campaign. She said she had never intended to cause "hurt", and that she would "defend to the hilt the right of everybody in Scotland, particularly minorities, to live and to live without fear or harassment in a pluralistic and tolerant society". And she added: "It is possible to be a person of faith, and to defend others' rights to have no faith or a different faith." The former community safety minister is best known for quitting her government post in protest over gender reform legislation. But the 48-year-old has also gained some prominent supporters in the legal industry thanks to her engagement with them during the Covid pandemic. Ms Regan, who has been MSP for Edinburgh Eastern since 2016, says she would ditch the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. And she has called for an independence convention to "create a new vision of an independent Scotland". She has also thrown her support behind the idea of using a future election as a "de facto referendum", saying that pro-independence parties winning over 50% of the vote would be "a clear instruction that Scotland wishes to be an independent nation". This is a harder position on independence campaigning than either of the other candidates, who favour a more cautious approach, and Ms Regan may be targeting the hearts of party members impatient for action on the constitutional question. The MSP has also called for members who quit the SNP over the gender reform row to be allowed back in to vote in the leadership contest - an idea laughed off as "preposterous" by the deputy first minister. Ms Regan has also indicated support for the North Sea oil and gas industry and pledged to speed up the dualling of the A9 and A96. At the launch of her campaign, Ms Regan said the SNP had "effectively dismantled the Yes campaign". She said: "In recent years, the wider Yes movement has become marginalised in the fight for independence. If elected, I intend to change that." She also said it was a "conflict of interest" for Ms Sturgeon's husband - SNP chief executive Peter Murrell - to be running the contest to select her replacement. The health secretary is part of a newer generation of SNP figures, having become a Glasgow MSP in 2011. He is also the most experienced of the three candidates, having held a number of senior posts in government, including as transport minister, Europe minister and justice secretary. At the launch of his campaign, the 37-year-old said he wanted to "reenergise the campaign for independence". He said he had the experience to take on the job of first minister, but would have a "a different approach" to Nicola Sturgeon. She had faced calls to sack Mr Yousaf over his running of the NHS in Scotland this winter, as waiting times hit record highs and doctors issued safety warnings. But he has pointed to the pay offer made to NHS staff, which he says is likely to avoid strike action for the next financial year. He has pitched himself as a candidate who would continue the work of Ms Sturgeon's administration and maintain the SNP's partnership arrangement with the Greens. He is also the only candidate who has pledged to pursue legal action to defend Holyrood's gender reforms, which were blocked by the UK government. This is seen as a red line in terms of the Greens continuing support for the government. Mr Yousaf says politics has grown too divisive, and that he has "the skills to reach across the divide and bring people together" across Scotland. On independence, he says he wants to talk about policy rather than process, and to "grow our movement from the grassroots upwards". Mr Yousaf, who is Muslim, missed the 2014 equal marriages vote at Holyrood as he was at a meeting, but supported the passage of the bill during its earlier stages in the parliament. One former SNP minister, Alex Neil, told the Herald newspaper on Friday that Mr Yousaf had contrived to "skip" the vote by arranging this meeting 19 days in advance, and that it could have been rescheduled. Mr Yousaf has vigorously denied such suggestions, and said the episode was being used by opponents to undermine his campaign. Prominent supporters: Neil Gray, international development minister; Maree Todd, public health minister; Michael Matheson, net zero, energy and transport secretary; Kevin Stewart, mental wellbeing and social care minister.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-64648987

Turkey earthquake: UK team to assess building damage - BBC News

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They are carrying out detailed assessments of why so many buildings collapsed.

Science & Environment

The team will be trying to understand why some buildings survived but others collapsed Structural and civil engineers from the UK have travelled to Turkey to help to investigate the damage caused by last month's powerful earthquake. They are collecting geological data and carrying out detailed assessments of why so many buildings collapsed. Work with their Turkish colleagues has revealed examples of poor construction, including large pebbles mixed in concrete, which weakens its strength. But the sheer power of the quake also caused some of the devastation. The ground movement was so great in some areas that it exceeded what buildings had been designed to withstand. Turkey is also carrying out its own extensive investigations into the quake. Samples from fallen buildings show that large pebbles have been mixed into concrete The research is being carried out by the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT). The group includes experts from industry as well as leading academics and has carried out assessments of major earthquakes over the last three decades. They will combine their findings with research being carried out by Turkish teams and other structural engineers with the aim of learning lessons from the earthquake and finding ways to improve the construction of buildings to make them more resilient. "It's important to get the full picture rather than just looking at a snapshot of a single asset or a single building," explains Professor Emily So, director of the Cambridge University Centre for Risk in the Built Environment, who is co-leader of the investigation. "The successes of the buildings that are still intact and perform perfectly well are as important as the neighbouring buildings that have collapsed. "And actually having that distribution, having that overview, is really key to what we can learn from this earthquake." Emily So (pictured) is leading the EEFIT investigation with Yasemin Didem Aktas from UCL The Magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck on 6 February in southern Turkey close to the Syrian border and was followed by powerful aftershocks. More than 50,000 people lost their lives in the region as buildings collapsed. In the wake of the devastation, there has been scrutiny of building regulations and construction practices in Turkey. Now the EEFIT team is carrying out technical evaluations of the performance of buildings in the area. Structural engineers from Turkey, who are working with the team, have already found some problems. Samples of concrete taken from a collapsed building in Adiyaman have revealed that it contains 6cm-long stones. They have come from a nearby river and have been used to bulk out the concrete. "That has some serious implications on the strength of the concrete," says Prof So. Steel reinforcements were smooth not ridged, which weakens the concrete And steel bars inside the concrete, which should reinforce it, have been found to be smooth instead of ridged. This means the concrete doesn't cling to them, again weakening the structure. In Turkey, many older buildings collapsed during the quake, but some modern ones also failed. New building codes were brought in after a major earthquake in Iznit in 1999, and Prof So says newer buildings should have fared better. "I think it's really important that we recognise those and actually do the testing, to find out why these new buildings, which would have been built to code, have failed in such a way," she told BBC News. The EEFIT team is also analysing the nature of the quake. Dr Yasemin Didem Aktas, co-leader of the expedition, from UCL in London, said that the earthquake was extremely powerful. "Even the aftershocks were as large in magnitude as a decent-sized earthquake," she said. "In an earthquake, the ground shakes in a horizontal and vertical fashion. Often the vertical component is much lower and negligible compared to the horizontal movement. However, this event recorded very high vertical accelerations as well." Some areas saw a process called liquefaction. It turns the solid ground into a heavy fluid - like very wet sand - a tell-tale sign of this is a building that has toppled over or has sunk. "I think the characteristics of the events also played a very important role in the devastation that we are seeing," Dr Aktas added. Ziggy Lubkowski tells the BBC how buildings can be constructed to withstand earthquakes But buildings can be designed to be earthquake resilient. Ziggy Lubkowski, who leads the seismic team at design and engineering company Arup, which has sent engineers to Turkey for the investigation, said: "What we try and do when we design buildings is to prevent life loss. "The basic design principle is to allow some form of damage within the building. That damage absorbs the energy of the earthquake, and ensures that the building still stays upright, but doesn't collapse." Components such as dampers, which act like shock absorbers as the building sways to and fro, and rubber bearings, which are fitted underneath a building and absorb the energy of a quake, can be added. But all of this costs money. Rebuilding in the area will cost more than $100bn the UN says "Those increases, in terms of the structural cost of the building, may be in the order of 10 to 15%, depending on the nature of the building," Ziggy Lubkowski says. "But actually, if you think about it, the fit-out costs of a building often outweigh the structural costs of a building. So at the end of the day, the additional structural costs are not that much more." The United Nations has estimated that the cost of clearing and rebuilding in the earthquake in Turkey could exceed $100 billion. The EEFIT team says the findings, which will be published in the coming weeks, could help in setting new building codes to stop the devastation caused by this earthquake from happening again, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64920236

As it happened: US drone crashes after incident with Russian fighter jet over Black Sea - BBC News

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The US military says the encounter happened as the drone flew in international airspace over the Black Sea.

Europe

We're now ending our live coverage following the US drone crash after an incident with a Russian fighter jet over the Black Sea. Here is a recap of what we know: • The American military has accused a Russian Su-27 fighter jet of colliding with a US unmanned drone, causing it to crash into the Black Sea • Russia denies that its jet had any contact with drone during the incident • The US says two Russian fighter jets tried to intercept the drone and dumped fuel on it, before one struck the propeller of the MQ-9 drone in international airspace during a "unprofessional act" • The drone, used for aerial surveillance, was involved in routine operations, according to the US • The Russian defence ministry says it scrambled its jets after it detected the drone flying over the black sea, near the Crimean Peninsula, before the drone crashed after a "sharp manoeuvre" • The US has summoned the Russian ambassador over the incident • Anatoly Antonov, Russia's ambassador to the US, said the meeting between him and US officials was "constructive", but that differences remain on how each country views the incident This page has been brought to you by Andre Rhoden-Paul, Nadine Yousif, and Max Matza. It was edited by Alexandra Fouché, Marianna Brady, and Jessica Murphy. You can read our latest story here: • US drone crashes after encounter with Russian jet

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-64958547

Meta lay-offs: Facebook owner to cut 10,000 staff - BBC News

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In addition to the culling of 10,000 jobs, 5,000 vacancies at the company will be left unfilled.

Technology

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced the plans in a memo to staff Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs. It will be the second wave of mass redundancies from the tech giant, which laid off 11,000 employees last November. Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the cuts - part of a "year of efficiency" - would be "tough". In addition to the 10,000 jobs cut, 5,000 vacancies at the firm will be left unfilled, he told staff. In a memo, Mr Zuckerberg told employees he believed the company had suffered "a humbling wake-up call" in 2022 when it experienced a dramatic slowdown in revenue. Meta previously announced that in the three months to December 2022, earnings were down 4% year-on-year - though it still managed to make a profit of more than $23bn over the course of 2022. Mr Zuckerberg cited higher interest rates in the US, global geopolitical instability and increased regulation as some of the factors affecting Meta, and contributing to the slowdown. "I think we should prepare ourselves for the possibility that this new economic reality will continue for many years," he said. The latest job cuts come as companies, including Google and Amazon, have been grappling with how to balance cost-cutting measures with the need to remain competitive. At the start of this year, Amazon announced it planned to close more than 18,000 jobs because of "the uncertain economy" and rapid hiring during the pandemic, while Google's parent company Alphabet made 12,000 cuts. According to layoffs.fyi, which tracks job losses in the tech sector, there have been more than 128,000 job cuts in the tech industry so far in 2023. Mr Zuckerberg said the recruitment team would be the first to be told whether they were affected by the cuts, and would find out on Wednesday. He also outlined when other teams would be informed: "We expect to announce restructurings and lay-offs in our tech groups in late April 2023, and then our business groups in late May 2023," he wrote in the memo to staff on Tuesday. "In a small number of cases, it may take through to the end of the year to complete these changes. "Our timelines for international teams will also look different, and local leaders will follow up with more details." Sadly, we're getting used to hearing about big tech lay-offs, as the giants of the sector continue to tighten their belts. Many like Meta make most of their money from advertising. Now they're faced with a perfect storm: of falling ad revenues from companies with their own bills to pay, and a user base which has less money to spend, making existing ad space less valuable. It's interesting to note that Meta is looking to its recruitment team in the latest round of cuts. I often hear that Silicon Valley firms have a tendency to over-recruit, for two reasons. Firstly, so they have staff ready to handle sudden growth, which can happen (just look at TikTok). And, secondly, to retain those people perceived to be "top tech talent", whom they don't want working for their rivals. Both are luxuries, it seems, that are no longer affordable. Meta has the added risk of Mark Zuckerberg's enormous gamble on the metaverse being The Next Big Thing. If he's right, his firm will regain its crown, but if he's wrong, the $15bn+ dollars he has spent on it so far could disappear in a puff of mixed reality smoke. Mr Zuckerberg said there would be no new hires until the restructuring was complete, adding that he aimed to make the company "flatter" by "removing multiple layers of management". He also dedicated a section of his correspondence to hybrid work. His claims that software engineers who joined Meta in person performed better than those who joined remotely, suggest hybrid working will come under scrutiny during the current "year of efficiency". "Engineers earlier in their career perform better on average when they work in person with teammates at least three days a week," wrote Mr Zuckerberg. "We're focusing on understanding this further, and finding ways to make sure people build the necessary connections to work effectively. "In the meantime, I encourage all of you to find more opportunities to work with your colleagues in person."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-64954124

Surge in gonorrhoea cases recorded across Scotland - BBC News

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Diagnoses of the sexually transmitted infection have jumped by 49% compared to pre-pandemic.

Scotland

The number of cases of gonorrhoea recorded in Scotland has soared since the end of Covid lockdown restrictions. New figures from Public Health Scotland (PHS) show there were 5,641 diagnoses of the sexually transmitted infection last year, a 49% increase on 2019. The end of social distancing restrictions and more people being checked at sexual health clinics is partly to blame for the rise. The majority of those diagnosed with the disease were younger men. Rates of the infection have increased rapidly since May 2021, from three positive diagnoses per 100,000 people to a "historical high" of 17.2 per 100,000 in November 2022. In its report PHS describes the increase as "concerning" and suggests it may "reflect both recovery of testing and diagnosis of infection which was undiagnosed during the Covid pandemic and an increase in incident infection which may be, in part, a consequence of transmission from undiagnosed individuals". The increase is not linked to increasing resistance to antibiotic treatment, said PHS which also warns that dealing with the surge in cases will be "challenging" due to reduced capacity at sexual health clinics across Scotland. The health quango said it may require targeted testing of "higher risk, symptomatic individuals". Gonorrhoea cases dropped in 2020 when the number of people being tested fell dramatically as result of the Covid pandemic. The low numbers of cases in 2021 was partly attributed to social distancing measures in place in that year. In 2022, three NHS Boards (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lothian and Grampian) reported 63% of all gonorrhoea diagnoses. The disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The infection is spread by unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex. Symptoms can include a thick green or yellow discharge from sexual organs, pain when urinating and bleeding between periods. However, vaginal and rectal infections often have no symptoms. An untreated infection can lead to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and can be passed on to a child during pregnancy. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64951927

Periods in sport: Ireland team to wear navy shorts for Six Nations - BBC Sport

The Ireland women's rugby team changes their traditional white shorts to navy for the Six Nations because of concerns over playing during their periods.

The Ireland women's rugby team has chosen to swap their traditional white shorts and make a permanent switch to navy because of period concerns. The move comes as a response to feedback from players about playing in white rugby kit during their period. The new Ireland kit will be seen for the first time at the Women's Six Nations launch in London on Wednesday and throughout the tournament. Ireland will begin their campaign against Wales on Saturday 25 March. Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster in January, Gillian McDarby, the head of Women's Performance at IRFU, said the organisation were in talks about the change with kit supplier Canterbury of New Zeland after consulting the players. They say they will give other rugby players and teams at all levels who have purchased white women's Canterbury shorts the opportunity to claim a free pair in a different colour. Ireland International Enya Breen, said: "The top way to ensure we perform to our best on the field is by removing any unnecessary distractions. Wearing navy shorts instead of white is such a small thing, but for us it's a big step. "Our hope is that it will help women at all levels of rugby feel more comfortable on the field so they can get on with performing at their best in the game that they love."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64950587

Silicon Valley Bank: Global bank stocks slump despite Biden reassurances - BBC News

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US authorities have stepped in to protect customers after the collapse of two American banks.

Business

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Is this the start of a financial crisis? Bank shares in Asia and Europe have slumped, despite reassurances from the US president that America's financial system is safe following the collapse of two US lenders. The falls come after authorities moved to protect customer deposits when the US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank collapsed. Joe Biden promised to do "whatever is needed" to protect the banking system. But investors fear other lenders may still be hit by the fallout. On Tuesday, Japan's Topix Banks share index fell by more than 7%, putting it on course for its worst day in more than three years. Shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, the country's largest lender by assets, were down by 8.1% in mid-day Asian trading. On Monday, Spain's Santander and Germany's Commerzbank saw their share prices dive by more than 10% at one point. A string of smaller US banks suffered even worse losses than European counterparts, despite reassuring customers that they had more than enough liquidity to protect themselves from shocks. The volatility has led to speculation that America's Federal Reserve will now pause its plans to keep raising interest rates, designed to tame inflation. Mr Biden said that people and businesses that had deposited money with Silicon Valley Bank would be able to access all their cash from Monday, after the government stepped in to protect their deposits in full. Many business customers had faced the prospect of not being able to pay staff and suppliers after their funds were frozen. BBC North America Technology correspondent James Clayton spoke to people queuing up all day outside the SVB branch in Menlo Park, California, to access their funds. As the bank was no longer offering wire transfers, they were taking out their money in cashier cheques. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original tweet on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by James Clayton This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Silicon Valley Bank - which specialised in lending to technology companies - was shut down by US regulators who seized its assets on Friday. It was the biggest failure of a US bank since the financial crisis in 2008. It had been trying to raise money to plug a loss from the sale of assets affected by higher interest rates. Word of the troubles led customers to race to withdraw funds, leading to a cash crisis. Authorities on Sunday also took over Signature Bank in New York, which had many clients involved in crypto and was seen as the institution most vulnerable to a similar bank run. Mr Biden promised that covering the deposits would not cost taxpayers anything, and instead be funded by fees regulators charge to banks. As part of efforts to restore confidence, US regulators also unveiled a new way for banks to borrow emergency funds in a crisis. Yet there is concern that the failures, which came after the collapse of another US lender, Silvergate Bank, last week, are a sign of troubles at other firms. Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics said the US authorities had "acted aggressively to prevent a contagion developing". "But contagion has always been more about irrational fear, so we would stress that there is no guarantee this will work," he added. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at the stockbrokers AJ Bell, said: "The first rush of relief has been replaced by niggling concerns that the era of high rates might be more difficult for some banks to stomach than had been previously thought. "In the US, bank stocks slid despite Joe Biden's pledge that 'whatever is needed' will be carried out to prevent more dominos from tumbling." The failure of SVB has re-ignited debates - similar to those seen following the 2008 financial crisis - about how much the government should do to regulate and protect banks. The chair of the US Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, says there will be a thorough and transparent review of the collapse. Mr Biden called for tougher rules and emphasised that investors and bank leaders would not be spared. "They knowingly took a risk... that's how capitalism works," he said. Still, Republican Senator Tim Scott, seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2024, called the rescue "problematic". "Building a culture of government intervention does nothing to stop future institutions from relying on the government to swoop in after taking excessive risks," he said. Once again people are worried about banks. Once again there is intense debate about bailouts. But this isn't 2008. Following the global financial crisis, the focus was on reforming banks considered "too big to fail". Today's problems are centred around medium- and smaller-sized banks. Both of the banks that collapsed - Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank - had the same thing in common: their business models were too concentrated in one sector and they were over exposed to assets whose values came under pressure from rising interest rates. The criticism is that they should have foreseen this and they didn't. US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has gone to great lengths to signal the Fed's intention to raise interest rates. Since most banks are well diversified and have plenty of cash on hand, the assumption is that the risk to the rest of the banking sector is low. That won't stop regulators looking into what went wrong and what rules need to change. And the pressure on small- and medium-sized banks hasn't gone away. What happens to the US economy and the fight against inflation also remains to be seen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64935170

Amir Khan: Armed robbery was scarier than any of my fights - BBC News

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Three men are accused of conspiracy to rob the former world champion boxer at gunpoint.

London

Amir Khan was with his wife when a gun was pointed in his face and his £72,000 watch was taken, a jury heard Former world boxing champion Amir Khan has told a court how looking down the barrel of a gun as he was robbed was scarier than any of his fights. Mr Khan, 36, said he was with his wife when a gun was pointed in his face and his £72,000 watch was taken in Leyton, east London, in April last year. Snaresbrook Crown Court has heard he was forced to hand over his bespoke Franck Muller watch by gunman Dante Campbell, 20. "[I was] really scared," Mr Khan said. "I'm a sportsman, I'm a fighter. I have always been put in the toughest situations when I go into the ring and fight someone, but this was totally different; very, very scary." Ismail Mohamed, 24, from Edmonton; Ahmed Bana, 25, from Tottenham; and Nurul Amin, 25, from Harringay; all north London, all deny conspiracy to rob. Campbell, from Hornsey in north London, has pleaded guilty to the charges, the jury has been told. Mr Khan told the jury that he had been shopping in the Knightsbridge area while his influencer wife was doing a photoshoot, before the couple ate dinner with his friend Omar Khalid on 18 April. He recounted the robbery and told of having a gun pointed at his face, adding that his wife was "screaming and crying". Prosecutor Philip Evans KC said the "carefully planned and executed robbery", which was captured on CCTV and played to jurors, was "over in seconds". Mr Khan admitted telling the media shortly after the robbery he believed "the hit" had been orchestrated by a member of his inner circle but said he had been mistaken. Mr Bana is alleged to have been the driver of the silver Mercedes coupe, which dropped Campbell and another unknown robber at the scene before serving as the getaway vehicle. Mr Amin and Mr Mohamed, along with another man who is not on trial, are said to have acted as "spotters" — dining in the restaurant to keep track of Mr Khan's movements and relay them by phone to Mr Bana. Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64950069

Barmouth murder accused told partner he didn't mean to kill - BBC News

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Jury sees CCTV footage of last moments of woman who died after mistaking couple's house for hotel.

Wales

Margaret Barnes was heard to say "I'm sorry" on the CCTV recording The partner of a man accused of killing a woman who mistook his home for a hotel told him he could have escorted her outside, a court has heard. The prosecution said Margaret Barnes, 71, from Birmingham, was dragged out of the house in Barmouth, Gwynedd, before being kicked and stamped on. David Redfern, 46, who denies murder or manslaughter, told his partner: "I didn't mean to kill her", jurors heard. His partner said: "You could have just escorted her out. It's an old lady." Ms Barnes was also heard apologising to Mr Redfern on CCTV, which was shown to Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday. The trial heard Mr Redfern had been recorded by a camera near to the front door of his home in which he stated there was "nothing wrong with her". "All I have done is eject her from my house," he declared. Mrs Barnes, a retired factory worker from Birmingham, had, after drinking, mistaken the seaside house for a B&B, the prosecution has claimed. Prosecuting KC, Michael Jones, said Mr Redfern, of Marine Parade, who had self-confessed anger issues, had forcibly removed Mrs Barnes from the bedroom and pulled her downstairs by the ankles last July. He said Mr Redfern and his partner, Nicola Learoyd-Lewis, would not have expected to find her sleeping in their bed. Margaret Barnes died at the scene on Marine Parade last July Mr Redfern had phoned the police but "what the defendant did next to Mrs Barnes was out of all proportion". It was "totally unjustified, utterly gratuitous and completely unlawful", said Mr Jones. He said Mr Redfern kicked or stamped on the "defenceless" woman in a "cruel" attack which caused major liver damage. She had also suffered a number of broken ribs. Mrs Barnes, who had been drinking during a social trip to the area, died at the scene, the jury heard. On the CCTV recordings, Mr Redfern declared: "I'm sorry for kicking her in the ribs and dragging her down the stairs." He said he was "angry" after finding Mrs Barnes in his bed and called her a "scumbag". As Mrs Barnes' condition worsened outside the property, the jury heard an ambulance operator instruct those at the scene to perform CPR. Miss Learoyd-Lewis had begged the woman: "Please don't die. Please don't die." But later she said: "It's too late." Mrs Barnes had also been heard to say "I'm sorry" on the CCTV footage. The jury heard Mr Redfern claimed Mrs Barnes had been "angry and aggressive" towards his partner and he had behaved "passively". The prosecution said Mr Redfern would suggest there had been an "accidental trip over Mrs Barnes".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64956260

'Customers freaked': Silicon Valley Bank saga in 80 seconds - BBC News

Has the collapse of two US banks sparked another financial crisis?

Has the collapse of two US banks sparked another financial crisis? The BBC's Samira Hussain in New York explains what happened and why the rest of the world is watching.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64952039

Eleanor Williams: The lasting impact of fake rape claims - BBC News

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Eleanor Williams lied about being a victim of an Asian grooming gang in her home town.

Cumbria

Eleanor Williams was jailed for eight-and-a-half years on Tuesday for perverting the course of justice When Eleanor Williams' Facebook post claiming she was the victim of an Asian rape gang went viral in 2020, it sparked a bitter backlash against Asian-owned businesses in her home town of Barrow, Cumbria. After she was jailed for perverting the course of justice, some of those affected have spoken to the BBC about the lasting impact of her lies. Their names have been changed because they're still concerned for their safety. Sajid has lived for most of his life in Barrow and as a schoolboy 30 years ago had got used to being the only non-white face in his class. The town still has a very small Asian population - just 1.4% of the borough's total - but Sajid is part of an even smaller section of Barrow's Asian community - those who run Indian restaurants. The small, shipbuilding town on the southern tip of Cumbria is home to fewer than 10 of them. Over the years, Sajid's restaurant had become successful and well established amongst Barrow's population, which is 97% white. But in May 2020 things took a dark and menacing twist. One night Sajid got a call from a friend telling him to look at Facebook. There he saw Eleanor Williams' post, which was eventually shared more than 100,000 times. In it she claimed to have been taken to an address in Barrow and raped by numerous Asian men. Included were graphic images of injuries to her face and body she claimed the gang had inflicted on her - in fact, she had done them to herself. Williams posted images of injuries she had inflicted on herself on Facebook Shortly after Sajid began getting phone calls. Many of them were silent, some were entirely sinister. "Some of the threats were so severe, saying 'We're gonna kill you', I had to contact the police," he told the BBC. Initially, Sajid could not understand why the anger and suspicion was being directed at him and his fellow restaurant owners, but then another friend directed him to Snapchat. On the messaging app, a post was circulating which named Indian restaurants in Barrow - it seemed to accuse all of them of being involved in the rape and abuse of Williams. "I had calls saying that they were going to rape my wife in front my children, then kill me, and kill my kids," he said, adding: "I got quite a few calls, saying that we're going to shoot everyone within the shop. "Some of the stuff that was coming out was just horrible. And a lot of racist remarks as well." The windows of his business were smashed three times, people spat at his shop and regularly shouted abuse at the staff or at Sajid in the street. Doug Marshall was "shocked and dismayed by the level of racism" in the aftermath of Williams' lies Cumbria Police said they had to deal with more than 150 extra crimes in the aftermath of Williams' Facebook post - 83 of which were classed as hate crimes. Doug Marshall, the senior investigating officer on the case, describes the fallout from the Facebook post as "a disgusting state of affairs". He said: "People were getting accused who had nothing to do with the case whatsoever. "I was shocked and dismayed by the level of racism, and that people seemed to think they knew more about the case than the investigators and the police." The anger in Barrow felt more concentrated to those it was focused on because of how small and close-knit the shipbuilding town is. Barrow's MP Simon Fell describes the town as "isolated" and, as a consequence, "it's a really strong and tight-knit community". He said: "So when the story like this breaks, everybody's not just got an opinion on it. Everybody knows someone involved in it. "It was like a bomb dropping. It really upset people." During the summer of 2020 people frequently walked into Barrow's takeaways to abuse staff Supt Matt Pearman, responsible for day-to-day policing in Barrow, submitted a statement to Preston Crown Court ahead of Williams' sentencing in which he said the town had "never seen such public displays of mass anger in over 30 years" - tracing all the way back to the Vickers shipyard strike of 1988 which saw clashes at picket lines. Those levying the threats and abuse may have been a minority of Barrow's population, but to Sajid it seemed like the town had turned against him. After the Facebook post went viral Sajid's trade dropped by 95% "overnight". It was a similar story a few streets away at Adil's restaurant. He calculated his business dropped by 75% off the back of William's viral post. He had his windows smashed too after one of a handful of local protests held in the misguided cause of "Justice for Ellie Williams". Indian restaurants were vandalised over several months in a wave of unwarranted reprisals Adil estimated his losses totalled about £30,000. He had to take out a loan and borrow money from family and friends just to survive. Even the customers who still chose to eat in his restaurant harboured suspicions. When restaurants were eventually permitted to reopen after lockdown people would ring and ask if it was safe to bring their children, telling him: "We've seen you're involved with the Ellie Williams case." He overheard diners discussing among themselves whether they thought he had been involved "but they didn't ask me", Adil said. Adil also noticed something less tangible but maybe more profound, "People looked at me in the face differently". He reckoned his business has now recovered to about 80% of where it was before Williams went public with her lies about grooming gangs. "Barrow now is good," he said, adding: "Nice and quiet." Reflecting on the past three years, Sajid said there had always been "an element of racism" in his town, but in the summer of 2020 it was "the racists that were shouting the loudest and causing most upset". He said: "The good part of the community were scared to raise their voice, afraid of the backlash they may receive. "The bad side of the community had taken over the town. "We were tried and found guilty by social media. We were branded guilty before any real evidence had come out." The Big Cases: The Lie That Destroyed A Town will be available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64950299

GaaSyy: Japan YouTuber MP expelled for never going to work - BBC News

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The senator and YouTube blogger has not attended parliament even once since he was elected.

Asia

Yoshikazu Higashitani, known as GaaSyy on YouTube, hasn't attended a day of parliament sessions A celebrity gossip YouTuber turned MP will become Japan's first lawmaker to be kicked out of parliament without ever actually entering it. Yoshikazu Higashitani was expelled on Tuesday by his Senate colleagues for never coming to work. He has not attended a single day of parliament sessions since being elected to office seven months ago. The parliament's discipline committee stripped him of his status because of the continued absence. Voters had elected Mr Higashitani to the upper house last July. He is better known as GaaSyy on YouTube where he is famous for his celebrity gossip videos. Expulsion is the most severe punishment a lawmaker can receive. It has happened only two times since 1950 and this is the first time an MP has been expelled due to continued absence. The chamber is set to formalise the decision later this week. The lawmaker - who has been nicknamed 'No-show MP'- is believed to be living in the United Arab Emirates. He has so far refused to attend parliament because he fears being arrested over fraud allegations, and defamation claims from celebrities, Japanese media reported. He is one of two members elected from the Seijika-joshi-48 opposition party. The single-issue party - formerly known as the NHK Party - only calls for reforms to Japan's public broadcaster. The party regularly changes its name for publicity reasons, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper has reported. Last week, parliament had demanded Mr Higashitani fly to Tokyo to deliver an in-person apology in the chamber for his absence. Lawmakers had said this would be a last chance for redemption. But Mr Higashitani failed to show up at the plenary session. Instead, he announced on his YouTube channel that he was going to Turkey - and that he was planning to donate his salary to the Turkish earthquake relief. His absence angered the Senate - whose members voted for his expulsion this week. His sole other party colleague, Hamada Satoshi, argued that it was illegal to expel Mr Higashitani because of his absence from sessions. However the committee voted unanimously to expel him.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64950117

Ros Atkins on… Gary Lineker and the BBC’s impartiality crisis - BBC News

The BBC’s analysis editor examines the BBC's impartiality guidance, after the corporation struck a deal with Gary Lineker over his controversial tweets.

The BBC’s analysis editor Ros Atkins examines what the BBC has called ‘grey areas’ in its impartiality guidance, after the corporation struck a deal with Gary Lineker over his controversial tweets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64946486

Who is Kate Forbes, defeated SNP leadership candidate? - BBC News

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Ms Forbes was at the centre of a political storm over her religious beliefs at the start of the contest.

Scotland politics

Kate Forbes, who finished second to Humza Yousaf in the SNP leadership race, has announced that she is leaving the Scottish government. Scotland's finance secretary was on maternity leave after the birth of her daughter when Nicola Sturgeon suddenly announced that she was quitting as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister. Within a couple of days of confirming she would be standing in the contest to succeed her, Ms Forbes found herself at the centre of a political storm. Her views on issues such as gay marriage, abortion, trans rights and having children outside of marriage were savaged by Deputy First Minister John Swinney, who had been standing in for the deeply religious Ms Forbes since last July. Ms Sturgeon herself also made thinly-veiled barbs at the woman she had appointed finance secretary at the age of 29, just hours before she had to deliver a budget speech. Scotland is a progressive country, Ms Sturgeon stated, and the views of the next first minister therefore matter. Ms Forbes saw several supporters desert her campaign in response to the furore, which was ignited when she told journalists that she would not have voted for gay marriage had she been an MSP at the time. She subsequently told Sky News that she believed that having children outside of marriage is "wrong" according to her faith as a member of the evangelical Free Church of Scotland, while stressing that: "In a free society you can do what you want." Ms Forbes has never hidden her religious beliefs, leaving pundits wondering why they had appeared to come as a shock to some of her supporters. The Free Church, of which she is a devout follower, has strongly opposed gay marriage since it was legalised in Scotland in 2014. Ms Forbes and her husband Ali celebrated the birth of daughter Naomi last year In 2018, Ms Forbes spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast for Scotland a day after a Westminster debate on abortion, when she called on politicians to "recognise that the way we treat the most vulnerable - whether the unborn or the terminally ill - is a measure of true progress". She was among the 15 SNP politicians who wrote an open letter to Ms Sturgeon the following year asking for a delay to gender recognition reforms that would allow people in Scotland to self-identify their sex. The final vote on the proposals was held when Ms Forbes was on maternity leave, but when she launched her leadership campaign she made clear that she still had significant concerns about self-identification and would not have been able to vote for the legislation in its current form. Several senior figures within the Scottish government reacted with fury to her comments, with Mr Swinney saying he profoundly disagreed with her views despite also having deep Christian faith. Humza Yousaf warned that independence could only be won if the SNP sticks to "progressive values" and avoids a "lurch to the right". This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The bubbling tensions boiled over in a televised STV debate, when Ms Forbes launched an attack on Mr Yousaf in which she slated his performance as a government minister. Ms Forbes told Mr Yousaf: "You were transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister we've got record high waiting times. "What makes you think you can do a better job as first minister?" Ms Forbes presumably did little to endear herself to the SNP hierarchy watching at home - although Ms Sturgeon says she didn't tune in for the debate - when she declared that it was time for a new generation to lead the party and that "more of the same is not a manifesto - it is an acceptance of mediocrity". The remark could be read as a dig at Mr Yousaf, who to some extent pitched himself as the "continuity candidate", and the record of Ms Sturgeon herself. She later doubled down by saying she would potentially have space for Mr Yousaf in her cabinet if she won the contest - but not as health secretary. Ms Forbes was born in Dingwall in the Highlands, but was partly raised in India as her parents travelled there twice as missionaries, the first time when she was four years old. Her parents are reported to have been members of the more liberal Church of Scotland, with Ms Forbes claiming that she had chosen to join the Free Church after returning from India as it was "just down the road". Ms Forbes (centre) had two spells in India during her childhood She went to a Gaelic school while in Scotland and became a fluent speaker of the language as a child. When she returned to India at the age of 10, she studied at Woodstock School - an international residential school in the foothills of the Himalayas. She went on to complete degrees at Cambridge University and Edinburgh University and became a chartered accountant for Barclays in London. She worked as an assistant to the SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Dave Thompson, for two years before being selected to replace him when he stood down. On the backbenches, the then 26-year-old campaigned to ban plastic straws and delivered a speech in the Holyrood chamber entirely in Gaelic. In 2018 she entered government as public finance minister working alongside Derek Mackay, who she would go on to succeed as finance secretary when he was forced to stand down just hours before delivering his budget speech after it emerged he had sent inappropriate text messages to a 16-year-old schoolboy. Ms Forbes became Scotland's first female finance secretary and was widely praised for delivering the budget speech with just a few hours' notice, having only received the call from Ms Sturgeon at 7am that morning. She has said the SNP needs to win over No voters by using the Scottish Parliament's existing powers to show that Scotland can flourish if it is to secure independence. Ms Forbes had only a few hours to prepare for a budget speech after being appointed to the finance brief Ms Forbes told the Guardian: "We keep holding ourselves as hostages to fortune by setting a timetable rather than by focusing on what is really going to shift the dial. "So day one, I would start the campaign for independence. But I would do that through gentle persuasion, making the economic case and earning people's trust back. The more successful and effective we are at that, the shorter the timetable becomes." She has said she would not raise income tax for higher earners and would instead focus on growing the economy and expanding the tax base by cutting red tape for businesses, improving transport infrastructure and having a "cautious" transition away from North Sea oil and gas. Ms Forbes has also described the government's bottle return scheme as well-intentioned but "badly executed". During a Channel 4 debate, presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy told Ms Forbes that her views on taxation and economic growth sounded "a bit like Liz Truss". The three candidates were Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes Little of this would be popular with the Scottish Greens, whose power-sharing deal with the SNP would have been very unlikely to survive under Ms Forbes - particularly because of her views on social issues. The SNP's social justice secretary, Shona Robison, said she would have to think long and hard about whether she would serve in government under Ms Forbes, while the party's deputy leader at Westminster, Mhairi Black, warned of a possible split if the finance secretary had won the leadership. Several of her colleagues were said to have been furious over her attack on Mr Yousaf's record, which they believe will be quoted repeatedly by opposition parties as they seek to attack the SNP's record in government. The Scottish Conservatives have already said they want to use Ms Forbes' remarks in their next party political broadcast.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-64886840

UK job vacancies fall for eighth time in a row - BBC News

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The number of jobs on offer drops as the chancellor prepares to set out plans to get people back to work.

Business

Job vacancies in the UK have fallen for the eighth time in a row as companies blamed economic pressures for holding back on hiring new staff. The official figures come a day ahead of Wednesday's Budget when the chancellor is expected to set out plans to encourage people back into work. The number of jobs on offer between December and February fell by 51,000 compared with the three months before. Despite the drop, the number of job vacancies remains high at 1.1 million. There are also 328,000 more vacancies compared to the pre-pandemic period of between January and March 2020. The rate of economic inactivity - people aged between 16 to 64 who are not in work and not seeking a job - dipped to 21.3% between November and January. This was driven by younger people aged between 16 to 24 either getting jobs or looking for work. However, there are still nine million economically inactive Britons who are not part of the workforce either because they are students, have retired or are suffering from long-term illness. On Wednesday, it is anticipated that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will detail how the government intends to entice people back into work. One measure expected to be announced is a boost to the amount that people can save for their pensions before it is taxed. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell said this move was "an incredibly welcome start", but added: "It does little to address labour issues at the lower end of end of the scale." James Reed, chairman of recruitment firm Reed, said that while there was a fall in new jobs "it's not cause to panic". He told the BBC's Today programme: "Actually there are over 300,000 more vacancies than there were this time pre-pandemic, three years ago, so the labour market is pretty buoyant still which is surprising many people." Robin Clevett, a self-employed carpenter and joiner who manages up to 10 subcontractors on construction projects, said that he was having to turn down work because there are not enough skilled workers available. Carpenter Robin Clevett is inundated with work but skilled people are hard to find "Business is really buoyant at the moment," he told the BBC. "Everyone needs trades - they need people to do insulation work, they need people to do new builds, refurbish old builds, replace cladding. There's so much work but there's not enough labour to go around so that's what has driven this massive demand and adverts everywhere for all kinds of trades." He added: "I personally won't take on work now knowing I'm not going to find the staff. So I'm turning down opportunities." On the eve of the chancellor's so-called "back to work" Budget, the official numbers show that is already beginning to happen. Employment has risen again, but this time driven by part-time and the self-employed. While vacancies have fallen they still remain very high. Wages are growing in cash terms versus last year but by still well below the inflation rate. On a month-to-month basis though, there is some evidence that pay growth is starting to stall. With unemployment still very low by international standards, and employment high, the jobs market remains a bright spot in the figures. This has underpinned a consumer more resilient than might be expected to the massive energy price shock. With the global financial system exhibiting some fragility after bank collapses in the US, the Bank of England could decide to hold off on further rate rises next week. Meanwhile, pay growth appeared to be stalling, according to the data from Office for National Statistics. The average weekly salary in the UK, excluding bonuses, in January stood at £589, up by £1 on a month before. Throughout 2022, the average salary rose by nearly £3 a month. That was not enough to keep up with the cost of living. The average salary fell by 2.4% in the three months to January compared to the same period last year after taking account rising prices, or inflation. While the rate of inflation is falling, it remains high at 10.1%. Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: "Although the inflation rate has come down a little, it's still outstripping earnings growth, meaning real pay continues to fall." The ONS also detailed that there were 220,000 working days lost to strike action in January. However, this was far lower than 822,000 recorded in December when widespread industrial action hit areas such as postal deliveries and train services.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64939336

Windsor Framework: Questions over deal await DUP leader on US trip - BBC News

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Stormont politicians are making their way to the US for a week of St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Northern Ireland

Stormont parties are travelling to the US this week for St Patrick's Day festivities When travelling to the United States for a short stay, you have two choices. Do what former Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis used to do and keep your body clock on Belfast time. Manage through early morning gym sessions, and early to bed in the evening. Jet lag, he said, was never a problem. Or do what the rest of us do: reset our body clock to Washington time and battle through the jet lag. But be it in Belfast or Washington this week for the St Patrick's Day festivities, we are all working to DUP time whether we like it or not. Waiting for the party to deliver its verdict on the Windsor Framework, and then waiting on what that judgements means, for a return of Stormont. Are we likely to see a reset in power sharing in time for the Good Friday Agreement 25th anniversary next month? That is the question which will loom large over the many political gatherings in Washington this week. The man with the answer will be here, but don't expect him to give much away. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson announced the party had set up an eight-member panel to gauge opinion on the new deal Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has set a consultation process in motion led by former party leader Peter Robinson to canvass opinion on the Windsor Framework. That will allow him to dodge the big question during his US trip. Time and space are being afforded to the party to make the right call. However, according to some DUP sources, we may end up with two calls: the party rejecting the Windsor Framework because it falls short of some of its well-flagged seven tests; but the party agreeing to return to Stormont at some point after listening to the many views it plans to canvass. That would involve breaking the link between the revised protocol arrangements and the party's return to the institutions. Some in the party might argue they were never formally linked at the outset as the seven tests were set seven months before the DUP collapsed the executive. That scenario of rejecting the deal but resetting Stormont was supported in the weekend Lucid Talk poll. It showed support among unionist voters for the DUP to say no to the new framework, but growing support for the party to return to Stormont. Though they won't admit it, polls have played a part in DUP decision making in the past. There is another big question which will also loom large in Washington this week and it is a question which will likely be answered come Friday. Is President Biden going to visit Northern Ireland next month to join in the Good Friday Agreement anniversary celebrations? The answer is likely to be yes, with 19 April being suggested as a possible date. US officials have already been spotted in Northern Ireland preparing for the trip. The formal invitation from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also a big indicator. If he does come, President Biden is likely to travel north during a wider visit to the Republic of Ireland and his ancestral roots in Mayo. Expect confirmation later this week when he meets Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar in the White House. A possible date for US President Joe Biden's visit is 19 April It was rumoured President Biden was hoping to address assembly members at a sitting session in Stormont - but only if it had been fully restored. That seems unlikely as Sir Jeffrey has made it clear he is not working to that timeline. That could leave us with the spectacle once more of marking a Good Friday Agreement milestone with the institutions it created in lockdown. It didn't dampen the celebrations for the 20th anniversary and is unlikely to do so again, especially if the DUP jury is still out. It's going to be a hectic run-in, beginning this week in Washington, and all our body clocks may need to be reset when it's over. Declan Harvey and Tara Mills explore the text of the Good Friday Agreement - the deal which heralded the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. They look at what the Agreement actually said and hear from some of the people who helped get the deal across the line. Click here to listen to the full box set on BBC Sounds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64937089

Curtice: All to play for in SNP leadership contest - BBC News

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Prof Sir John Curtice on what the polls tell us about the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.

Scotland politics

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. ‘A very interesting debate’ - Meet the SNP members choosing Scotland’s next leader Since Nicola Sturgeon announced on 16 February that she was to stand down as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister, there have been numerous polls of how voters in Scotland would vote if they had a say in who should take over. These have suggested that Kate Forbes is most popular among the Scottish public as a whole. On average, four polls conducted over the last week or so have found that 30% would prefer Kate Forbes, 20% Humza Yousaf, and 10% Ash Regan. That said, as many as 40% have either said that they don't know or that they do not have a preference for any of the candidates. However, the battle to become Scotland's next first minister will not be decided by voters as a whole. Rather, it will be determined by the choice made by members of the SNP, who, according to one recent estimate, now number just under 80,000 people. Their views may not necessarily reflect the views of Scots in general. Indeed, the polls have shown that, even among those who would currently or have recently voted SNP, the picture is rather different, with Mr Yousaf seemingly neck and neck with Ms Forbes. Meanwhile, the one poll to date of SNP members themselves has painted a different picture again. According to Savanta, 31% were minded to vote for Humza Yousaf, 25% for Kate Forbes, and 11% for Ash Regan. However, the sample was relatively small (just over 500 people), the poll was conducted a fortnight ago long before any of the televised debates, while at that stage nearly one in three (32%) did not know how they would vote. It looks as though there is plenty to play for; that perhaps SNP members may be somewhat more inclined than SNP voters to back Mr Yousaf rather than Ms Forbes; but that maybe everything could turn on the unknown second preferences of Ms Regan's supporters. But what otherwise do we know about members of the SNP? The most recent detailed information comes from an academic survey of the membership conducted just after the last UK general election by Prof Tim Bale of Queen Mary University and Prof Paul Webb of Sussex University. Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf have been taking part in a series of party hustings and televised debates This suggests that, as is true of most political parties, SNP members are older and more male than either the general public or SNP supporters. Men represent 58% of the SNP membership, compared with half of SNP supporters and a little less than half of the adult population. As many as 71% of SNP members are over 50. In contrast only around a half of all Scots fall into that age bracket, while, according to the Scottish Social Attitudes survey, the proportion of SNP supporters who do so is just 40%. This might be thought to be Ms Forbes' advantage, as older voters are less likely to back the Gender Recognition Bill that has been the subject of much recent controversy, and are somewhat more likely to share her doubts about gay marriage. However, the views of older members of the SNP may not be the same as those of voters in general. Indeed, an earlier academic survey by Prof James Mitchell of Edinburgh University and colleagues found that only 14% agreed that same sex couples should not be allowed to adopt children. Meanwhile, the Queen Mary/Sussex University study found that SNP members were more liberal on social issues, both as compared with Scots in general and SNP supporters in particular. For example, only 24% agree that "censorship of films and magazines is necessary to uphold moral standards", compared with (according to the Scottish Social Attitudes survey), 47% of SNP supporters and 50% of the general public. SNP members are also markedly left wing. As many as 89% agree that "the government should redistribute income from the better off to the less well off", but only 59% of SNP supporters and 55% of all Scots take that view. It is therefore, perhaps, not surprising that all of the candidates have been keen to indicate their support for greater economic equality, albeit with different ideas about how to achieve it. Still, perhaps for SNP members what will matter most of all is which of the candidates they think is most likely to deliver independence. And their views on that are, so far at least, largely unknown. Sir John Curtice is Professor of Politics, Strathclyde University, and Senior Research Fellow, ScotCen Social Research and 'The UK in a Changing Europe'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-64940798

Budget summary: Key points from Jeremy Hunt’s 2023 Budget - BBC News

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Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is announcing new economic measures - here's what you need to know.

UK Politics

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled the contents of his first Budget in the House of Commons. It had a focus on prompting those who have left their jobs to return to the workforce, and boosting business investment. Here is a summary of the main announcements. • None Free childcare plan: 'Why do we have to wait?'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64789405

Cough medicines containing pholcodine withdrawn over safety fears - BBC News

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Products containing pholcodine to be recalled over the risk of a very rare, but serious allergic reaction.

Health

Certain cough medicines sold behind the counter at pharmacies are being withdrawn over safety concerns. Health experts say there is a very rare chance that some people could experience an allergic reaction linked to an ingredient called pholcodine. People should check the packaging of any cough tablets or syrups they have at home to see if pholcodine is listed among the ingredients. If it is, talk to your pharmacist about taking a different medicine. Products containing pholcodine do not need a prescription, but cannot be bought without consultation with the pharmacist as they are kept behind the counter. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency described removing the products from sale as a precautionary measure. Pholcodine has been used as a cough suppressant since the 1950s, but evidence now suggests there is a very small risk or chance - less than one in 10,000 - that some users may have a bad allergic reaction if they later go for surgery and need a general anaesthetic which involves the use of a muscle relaxant or "neuromuscular blocking agent". Europe's medicines regulator has already made the same recommendations to recall cough products containing pholcodine. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, from the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, said it was a "big operation" to remove the products from pharmacy shelves, but stressed alternative cough and cold medicines were available. "Pharmacies across the UK take patient safety very seriously and will be assisting with the recall of these products. "Patients with coughs and colds should contact their local pharmacy for the best advice about the range of alternative products available," she said. Prof Claire Anderson, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: "The risk to patients who have used pholcodine is very small. If you are due to have surgery, please speak to your pharmacist or medical team for advice. "A cough usually clears up within 3-4 weeks. You can treat it with other cough medicines or hot lemon and honey" - although not for babies under the age of one, she cautioned "Rest up, if possible - and you can try paracetamol or ibuprofen, if suitable, to treat any pain. "If your cough persists for longer, seek advice from a healthcare professional," said Prof Anderson. Dr Alison Cave from the MHRA said: "Safety is our top priority, and we keep the safety of medicines under continual review. "Following a thorough scientific safety review of all the available evidence on pholcodine, together with advice from the independent Commission on Human Medicines, it has been recommended, as a precautionary measure, that these products should no longer be used." The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64951267

Norfolk deer herd crossing road holds up coastguard patrol - BBC News

A coastguard patrol team pulls over to let a few deer cross the road - and they keep on coming.

A coastguard patrol team that pulled over to let a few deer cross was taken by surprise when the animals just kept coming in what turned out to be a very large herd. Nearly a hundred deer took more than 30 seconds to cross the road on the outskirts of Sea Palling on the North Norfolk coast. The crossing was filmed by HM Coastguard Bacton and has had more than 2.8 million views on its Facebook page.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-64939626

Oscars 2023: An Irish Goodbye wins best short film Oscar - BBC News

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An Irish Goodbye wins the Academy Award for best short film on actor James Martin's 31st brithday.

Northern Ireland

Actor James Martin (centre) was joined by Tom Berkeley, Ross White and Seamus O'Hara to accept the award Actor James Martin was serenaded by the audience at the Academy Awards on his 31st birthday as the film he starred in picked up an Oscar. Northern Ireland film An Irish Goodbye won best live action short film at Sunday night's ceremony. Martin, who has Down's syndrome, said he planned to bring the award home to his drama group in Belfast. The film's directors Tom Berkeley and Ross White described the win as the best night of their lives. They took to Twitter to thank their supporters in Northern Ireland after a whirlwind 24 hours. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original tweet on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by An Irish Goodbye This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. End of twitter post by An Irish Goodbye Martin is the first person with Down's syndrome to win an Academy Award. "It doesn't matter if you have Down's syndrome, as long as you're doing what you do," he told the BBC after collecting his Oscar. "I do what I can to be funny." His fellow winners used their acceptance speech to sing him Happy Birthday, with help from the star-studded crowd at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Martin said he planned to take his Oscar statuette to his drama club in Belvoir in Belfast. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. 'Holding this Oscar is just fantastic' A Irish Goodbye was shot on location in Londonderry, Templepatrick and Saintfield. Directed and written by White and Berkeley, it tells the story of two estranged brothers who come together after their mother's death. The black comedy, set on a rural farm, stars Martin as Lorcan, alongside fellow Northern Ireland actor Seamus O'Hara, who plays his older brother Turlough. White, who is from Belfast, described winning the Oscar as completely overwhelming. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original tweet on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 2 by NowThis This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "We're just so proud to be representing Northern Ireland," he told BBC News. "To be on that stage in front of all of our cinematic heroes - it was a special moment." Actor Paddy Jenkins, who plays Fr O'Shea in the film, told BBC Radio Foyle's Mark Patterson Show that "you don't get many Mondays like this". "Last night I have to say, was pretty special, it really was," he said. The actor - well known to a Northern Ireland audience through his role in BBC comedy Give My Head Peace - wasn't in Los Angeles due to prior work commitments. "I was there (at the Oscars) in spirit. I got to the Baftas, but this is another level." Celebrations are being held on both sides of the Atlantic as actor Paddy Jenkins raises a glass for An Irish Goodbye Other nominations in Sunday's ceremony in the best live action short film category, were Ivalu, Le Pupille, Night Ride and the Red Suitcase. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, which has a Belfast link, was successful in the best animated feature category. The body of the puppet which featured in the animation was constructed by a 3D printing firm in east Belfast. The big winner of the night was Everything Everywhere All At Once, which won seven awards. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Ivan Martin says there were tears of joy when he watched his son collect an Oscar There was a record number of nominations for Irish talent, with 14 prizes up for grabs. Martin McDonagh's tragicomedy, The Banshees of Inisherin was nominated in nine categories but did not take home any statuettes. Colin Farrell lost out in the best actor category, while his co-stars Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan were unsuccessful in the best supporting actor category. Irish actor Paul Mescal also missed out, as did An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl). Kerry Condon was also nominated for best supporting actress for her role, but that award went to Jamie Lee Curtis. Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, The Banshees of Inisherin tells the story of two friends who fall out after one decides to abruptly end their relationship. An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) was the first Irish language film to be nominated for best international feature film, a category formerly named best foreign language film. Colm Bairéad's An Cailín Ciúin has already received critical acclaim and surpassed box office records Directed and written by Colm Bairéad, the film is adapted from Claire Keegan's 2010 book Foster. Paul Mescal, who rose to fame with the BBC drama Normal People, was also in the running for a best actor prize for his role in Aftersun. Brendan Fraser was victorious in that category for his role in The Whale. Irish President Michael D Higgins said it was a remarkable year for the Irish film industry. He said the success was "a testament to the hard work of so many people over recent decades". An Irish Goodbye is available to watch on BBC iPlayer .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64903140

Dick Fosbury: The athlete who developed the 'Fosbury Flop' dies aged 76 - BBC Sport

Dick Fosbury - the man who revolutionised the high jump in athletics - has died at the age of 76.

Last updated on .From the section Athletics Dick Fosbury - the man who revolutionised the high jump in athletics - has died at the age of 76. The American leapt backwards over the bar to win gold at the 1968 Mexico Olympics in a technique which became known as the 'Fosbury Flop' and is used by high jumpers today. At the Games Fosbury set a then record of 2.24 metres using his method. Writing on Instagram, Fosbury's agent Ray Schulte said his client had died on Sunday. "It is with a very heavy heart I have to release the news that long-time friend and client Dick Fosbury passed away peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning after a short bout with a recurrence of lymphoma," wrote Schulte. "Dick will be greatly missed by friends and fans from around the world. A true legend, and friend of all." Fosbury began experimenting with the 'flop' at school and, encouraged by his coaches, he had all-but perfected it by the time he was in higher education. In the Olympic high jump final of 1968, the 6ft 5in athlete cleared 2.24m on his third attempt to win the gold. "He changed an entire event forever with a technique that looked crazy at the time but the result made it the standard," said American four-time Olympic champion and BBC pundit Michael Johnson. Fosbury is survived by his wife Robin Tomasi, son Erich and stepdaughters Stephanie Thomas-Phipps and Kristin Thompson. "Our sport lost a true legend and innovator with the passing of Dick Fosbury," said the USA Track and Field (USATF). "He invented the 'Fosbury Flop', was a gold medallist at the 1968 Games, and remained an advocate for athletes his entire life. Fosbury's legacy will live on for generations to come." USATF chief executive Max Siegel said he was "deeply saddened" by Fosbury's passing and called him a "true legend and pioneer in the world of track and field". He added: "We will always be grateful for his contributions to the sport and his impact on generations of athletes who followed in his footsteps. "Dick will be deeply missed but his legacy will live on as an inspiration to all." • None High jump legend Fosbury on the pressures of Olympic fame • None Find out how the new owner is transforming the company • None Are eco laundry products better for the environment? Greg Foot investigates how such claims come out in the wash...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/64945985

Aukus pact delivers France some hard truths - BBC News

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The BBC's Hugh Schofield assesses the harsh realities for France after Australia's US-UK deal.

Europe

When they have picked themselves up from their humiliation, the French will need to gather their sangfroid and confront some cruel verities. Number one: there is no sentiment in geostrategy. The French must see there is no point in wailing about having been shoddily treated. They were. But who ever heard of a nation short-changing its defence priorities out of not wanting to give offence? The fact is that the Australians calculated they had underestimated the Chinese threat and so needed to boost their level of deterrence. They acted with steely disregard for French concerns but, when it comes to the crunch, that is what nations do. It is almost the definition of a nation: a group of people who have come together to defend their own interests. Their own, not others'. Of course, sometimes nations decide their interests are best served by joining alliances. That's what the US did in suppressing its isolationist instincts in the last century. But the second painful truth exposed by the Aukus affair is that the US no longer has any great interest in the outdated behemoth that is Nato. Nor does it harbour any particular loyalty to those who have stood by its side. Gaullists in France - and President Emmanuel Macron is one of them - dream of their country as a fully independent power, exercising its force for good thanks to a global presence and nuclear-backed military strength. In practice, and not without considerable reserve, France has bound itself to the US-led alliance because that seemed both moral and expedient. But now the questions echo around Paris: Why did we bother? What was in it for us? "This blow came completely out of the blue," says Renaud Girard, senior foreign affairs analyst at Le Figaro newspaper. "Macron made so much effort to help the Anglo-Saxons. With the Americans in Afghanistan; with the British on military co-operation; with the Australians in the Indo-Pacific. Look, he kept saying, we're following you - we are genuine allies. "And he made the effort not just with Biden - but with Trump too! All that, and then this. No reward at all. Treated like dogs." The French will now be re-evaluating their role in Nato. Their military participation in the organisation was suspended by De Gaulle in 1966 and only restored by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009. There is no talk, yet, of a second withdrawal. But remember, Emmanuel Macron is the man who described Nato two years ago as "brain-dead". He will not have changed his mind. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Australia’s ‘risky bet’ to side with US over China But the third harsh truth is that there is no obvious other way for France to fulfil its global ambitions. The lesson of the last week is that France by itself is too small to make much of a dent in strategic affairs. Every four years the Chinese build as many ships as there are in the entire French fleet. When it came to the crunch, the Australians preferred to be close to a superpower, not a minipower. The conventional way out of the conundrum has been for the French to say their military future lies in Europe. The EU - with its vast population and technological resources - would be the springboard for France's global mission. But 30 years has given nothing beyond a few joint brigades, a bit of procurement planning and minor contingents from Estonia and the Czech Republic in Mali. For Renaud Girard, the idea of the EU as a military force is a "complete joke". Accept realities. Try to form ad hoc alliances (like Macron was indeed trying to do in the Indo-Pacific). Keep pushing the Germans to get over their 20th Century complexes and act like the power they really are. And keep open a doorway to the British. It may not be the easiest of suggestions at the moment. Relations between Paris and London are at their worst level for many years. The French find it hard to conceal their contempt for Boris Johnson, and many in London appear to feel the same way back. In the short term, it is quite possible that France will seek to punish the UK for its role in the Aukus affair, says Girard, possibly by scaling back the secret nuclear co-operation that forms part of the 2010 Lancaster Accords. There could be fall-out in other areas too, like the control of cross-Channel migrants. But the UK's is Europe's only other serious army. The two countries have similar histories and world experiences. Their soldiers respect each other. In the long term, Franco-British defence co-operation is too logical to ignore. That may be the last of Macron's painful truths.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58614229

Aukus deal: US, UK and Australia agree on nuclear submarine project - BBC News

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The US, UK and Australia say new nuclear-powered submarines will help ensure stability in the Pacific.

Australia

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The US, UK and Australia have unveiled details of their plan to create a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, aimed at countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Under the Aukus pact Australia is to get its first nuclear-powered subs - at least three - from the US. The allies will also work to create a new fleet using cutting-edge tech, including UK-made Rolls-Royce reactors. Its foreign ministry on Tuesday accused the three nations of "walking further and further down the path of error and danger". China's UN mission had earlier also accused the Western allies of setting back nuclear non-proliferation efforts. But US President Joe Biden said the deal was aimed at bolstering peace in the region and stressed the submarines would be "nuclear-powered, not nuclear-armed". Speaking alongside the UK and Australian prime ministers - Rishi Sunak and Anthony Albanese - in San Diego, California, Mr Biden said the deal would not jeopardise Australia's commitment to being a nuclear-free country. For Australia, it is a major upgrade to the US ally's military capabilities. The country becomes just the second after the UK to receive Washington's elite nuclear propulsion technology. The submarines will be able to operate further and faster than the country's existing diesel-engine fleet and Australia will also be able to carry out long-range strikes against enemies for the first time. Under the deal, Australian navy sailors will be sent to US and UK submarine bases from this year to learn how to use the nuclear-powered submarines. From 2027, the US and UK will also base a small number of nuclear submarines in Perth, Western Australia, before Canberra will buy three US-model Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s - with options to purchase two more. After that, the plan is to design and build an entirely new nuclear-powered submarine for the UK and Australian navies - a model that is being called SSN-AUKUS. This attack craft will be built in Britain and Australia to a British design, but use technology from all three countries. The US, Australia and UK will jointly build a new class of submarines President Biden said all three countries were committed to ensuring the Indo-Pacific region would remain free and open. "Forging this new partnership, we're showing again how democracies can deliver our own security and prosperity... not just for us but for the entire world," he said. He also pledged of $4.6bn (£3.7bn) to expanding the US' submarine construction capacity and improving maintenance of its current nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines. Australia's PM said the plan - which will cost Canberra up to A$368bn (£201bn) over 30 years - marked the "biggest single investment in Australia's defence capability in all of its history". Anthony Albanese said building the submarines in Australian shipyards would also create thousands of local jobs. The UK PM also said thousands of jobs would be created in Derby and Barrow-in-Furness, where some of the construction would take place. Mr Sunak said that in the 18 months since the Aukus alliance was unveiled, the challenges to global stability had only grown. "Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, China's growing assertiveness, the destabilising behaviour of Iran and North Korea - all threaten to create a world codefined by danger, disorder and division," Mr Sunak said. As part of his visit to the US, Mr Sunak has also pledged to increase defence spending by nearly £5bn ($6bn) over the next two years to counter threats from hostile states. The Aukus security alliance - announced in September 2021 - has repeatedly drawn criticism from China. Beijing's foreign ministry last week reiterated its position that the pact risked creating an arms race. But the three Western countries say the security deal is aimed at shoring up stability in the Indo-Pacific. While all three leaders have stressed how the deal will strengthen their co-operation, it hasn't been without its political fallout. In 2021, Australia scrapped a multi-million dollar diesel-powered submarine agreement with France in favour of the trilateral agreement - causing a political rift with Paris. Australia also faces a delicate diplomatic situation with China - its largest trading partner. Analysts say the question will be whether it can continue to strengthen its military ties with US, while fostering commercial ties with Beijing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-64945819

Swansea: Morriston gas explosion destroys homes - BBC News

Pictures from the scene appear to show a number of terraced houses damaged.

A number of terraced houses have been badly damaged after a gas explosion. Emergency services are responding to the incident on the junction of Field Close and Clydach Road in Morriston. South Wales Police has asked people to avoid the area.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64939658

Strikes Update: How Wednesday 15 March's strikes affect you - BBC News

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What you need to know about the teachers' strike in England and other planned industrial action.

Business

When Chancellor Jeremy Hunt stands up in parliament to deliver his Budget at lunchtime on Wednesday, he might well hear a crowd of protesters heading in his direction. Making their way down Whitehall are likely to be thousands of teachers and other public sector workers all calling for pay rises. Just over the river from the House of Commons, junior doctors will be standing on picket lines. Teachers are striking on Wednesday and Thursday in England - their action in Wales was called off following a revised offer from the Welsh government. University staff are walking out on those days too. Wednesday also sees industrial action by London Underground drivers and the biggest strike by civil servants so far with as many as 150,000 taking part. It is not likely to affect the delivery of the Budget though as it doesn't involve some of the higher paid mandarins at the Treasury. But pick up the phone to an HMRC call centre and it might take them a while to answer. In all, over 400,000 public sector employees are taking action. Quite the backdrop for the chancellor's big day. Wednesday sees the beginning of a two-day strike by teachers in England who are members of the National Education Union (NEU). Teachers have been on strike several times since February, in an ongoing dispute over pay and funding. It is expected to affect all schools in England and includes NEU teachers in sixth-form colleges. No disruption is expected in Wales, where industrial action has been called off following government talks. During previous strikes on 28 February and 2 March, more than half of schools closed or restricted attendance. The Department for Education advises parents to send their children to school unless school leaders have informed you otherwise. You can read more here about why teachers are striking. Wednesday will be the final full day of strike action this week by junior doctors in England, who are walking out over pay and and conditions. During Monday and Tuesday, NHS managers reported that A&E units were busy as senior staff covered for striking doctors. Junior doctors make up about 45% of the medical workforce, and two-thirds of them are members of the British Medical Association and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association unions which are organising the strike. They are planning on continuing walking out of emergency as well as planned care. Consultants and other senior doctors are being drafted in to provide cover. Planned appointments have been postponed, although how many is as yet unclear. Industrial action by nurses over the winter caused some trusts to cancel 20% of routine treatments. It is likely the impact of the junior doctor strike will be greater, according to the BBC's health correspondent, Nick Triggle. You can read more here about why junior doctors are taking strike action. Up to 150,000 civil servants, working across more than 100 government departments and agencies, will be on strike. Members of the Public and Commercial Services and Prospect unions are taking action in a dispute with the government over pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms. The union said its members from 123 government departments would take part in the industrial action, which includes staff at the Department for Transport, the Department for Health and Social Care and the Home Office. The PCS union represents thousands of people who work in government departments as well as those at organisations such as Ofsted, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Border Force. You can read more here about why civil servants are striking. Transport for London (TfL) is warning Tube passengers there will be "little or no service" during Wednesday's strike action by RMT and Aslef members. Members of both unions are due to walk out in a dispute over job cuts, pensions and conditions. TfL said the Elizabeth Line, Overground, DLR, trams and buses would be "busier than normal". It has advised passengers travelling on Wednesday to allow more time for their journeys and to check the latest information before they travel. TfL also warned that the closure of Tube stations might mean some services would be unable to stop at all stations or run to their normal destinations. Tube services on Thursday 16 March are expected to start later than normal. You can read more here about why some TfL staff are striking. BBC local radio, regional television and digital services in England are being disrupted today because of strike action. The 24-hour action from 11:00 this morning by members of the National Union of Journalists is over plans to merge some local radio programmes. The 13.30, 18.30 and late regional programmes across England are not expected to be broadcast. • University staff who are members of the University and College Union and Unison are on strike • Union members at 150 universities have been taking part in industrial action Read more: Will my lecture be cancelled? There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date There are currently no national strikes planned for this date • More than 1,000 Passport Office workers are on strike in a dispute about jobs, pay and conditions • Members of the Public and Commercial Services union have warned of delays to applications and the delivery of passports in the run-up to summer • More than 1,000 Passport Office workers are on strike in a dispute about jobs, pay and conditions • Members of the Public and Commercial Services union have warned of delays to applications and the delivery of passports in the run-up to summer • More than 1,000 Passport Office workers are on strike in a dispute about jobs, pay and conditions • Members of the Public and Commercial Services union have warned of delays to applications and the delivery of passports in the run-up to summer • More than 1,000 Passport Office workers are on strike in a dispute about jobs, pay and conditions • Members of the Public and Commercial Services union have warned of delays to applications and the delivery of passports in the run-up to summer • More than 1,000 Passport Office workers are on strike in a dispute about jobs, pay and conditions • Members of the Public and Commercial Services union have warned of delays to applications and the delivery of passports in the run-up to summer • More than 1,000 Passport Office workers are on strike in a dispute about jobs, pay and conditions • Members of the Public and Commercial Services union have warned of delays to applications and the delivery of passports in the run-up to summer There are currently no national strikes planned for this date How are you affected by the strikes? Are you taking part in strike action? You can 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/business-64951613

SNP candidates predict independence in five years - BBC News

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Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes were speaking as they faced each other in a BBC Scotland TV debate.

Scotland politics

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan believe it is possible to achieve independence for Scotland within five years All three SNP leadership candidates have predicted that Scotland can be an independent country within five years if they win the contest. Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes were speaking as they faced each other in a BBC Scotland TV debate. Mr Yousaf said he believed the country "can and will be" independent by 2028 in response to a question from an audience member. Ms Regan and Ms Forbes both said they believed the same. The leadership contest was sparked by Nicola Sturgeon's surprise announcement that she was quitting as both SNP leader and Scotland's first minister after eight years in the roles. Recent polls have put support for independence at broadly the same level as it was when Ms Sturgeon succeeded Alex Salmond after the referendum in 2014, which saw Scottish voters reject independence by 55% to 45%. That is despite the turbulence in UK politics in recent years that saw the country leave the EU despite Scotland voting overwhelmingly in favour of remaining and Boris Johnson's often chaotic time as prime minister. The Supreme Court has also ruled that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to hold a referendum without the agreement of the UK government - which has repeatedly made clear that it has no intention of granting formal consent through a Section 30 order. Mr Yousaf, the health secretary who is the bookies favourite to win the contest and is widely viewed as being Ms Sturgeon's preferred candidate, told the Debate Night Special that he believed he could build sustained majority support for independence that would see those political obstacles disappear. He added: "I would want to be the one who delivers independence, but to do that you've got to stop talking about process and talk about policy. "We have got to inspire people with a vision for independence. We have to make sure that we're not obsessing about Section 30s and de facto referendums because people just don't get inspired by that." Who are the SNP candidates? Ms Forbes, the finance secretary who is currently seen as being Mr Yousaf's closest challenger for the leadership, said she believed the dial could be shifted in favour of independence by building a case on the issues that people were concerned about. Using the example of the cost of living crisis, she said: "People can't afford next month's energy bill in a country that is rich in energy in terms of oil and gas and in terms of our renewables. It doesn't stack up because the decisions are being made far, far away from those that are most affected. "I think we should be using all democratic opportunities to campaign for and make the case for independence but in a way that is respectful of the reasons why people may not be persuaded". Meanwhile, Ms Regan outlined her plans for what she calls a Voter Empowerment Mechanism that "just uses the ballot box to allow the people of Scotland to say when they are ready to be independent". She added: "You can use each and every election. So you could start with the next election and then the Scottish election after that. And it's there in the background and then the people of Scotland decide when they're ready to become independent." Ms Regan quit as the country's community safety minister over the government's controversial gender recognition plans, and is seen as being the outsider in the contest. She clashed with Mr Yousaf - who is the only one of the three to say he would launch a legal challenge to the UK government's block on legislation - over the case of trans rapist Isla Bryson, who was initially sent to a women's prison. When asked by Ms Regan why he had not listened to concerns about cases such as Bryson's ahead of the reforms being passed, and whether he regarded Bryson as a man or as woman, Mr Yousaf said: "Isla Bryson should not be in a woman's prison. "Isla Bryson is a rapist who's completely at it, I don't think they're a genuine trans woman, I think they're trying to play the system." The three candidates are seeking to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister The candidates also faced questions on topics including NHS waiting lists - with one audience member saying her husband has chronic health problems and is facing a six-year waiting list - as well as the state of Scotland's education system and the government's controversial Deposit Return Scheme. Ms Regan and Ms Forbes have both said they would pause the scheme, which has faced criticism over its implementation, while Mr Yousaf has pledged to create an exemption for small businesses such as craft brewers. Ms Regan said: "We can't be putting too many burdens on small businesses. We need to look again at this, we need to involve small business, to come and talk to us about where it needs changed, get it right and then implement it." Ms Forbes also said small businesses needed a "bit of breathing space". Mr Yousaf said he would not "slag off" Lorna Slater, the Scottish Green minister responsible for bringing in the initiative which is designed to boost the recycling of single-use drinks containers by adding 20p to the price which is then refunded when the consumer returns it. He said small firms should be excluded from it for its first year but added: "I can't see any point in pausing the scheme when the big boys, the Coca Colas, the Pepsis of this world, they are already taking part in about 40 DRS schemes across the world. We can't let them off the hook". There was less trashing of one another in this debate and some consensus between the candidates on what the SNP in government has got wrong. None of them are happy with the current plans for a deposit return scheme and all three promised to change it in the face of strong criticism from some businesses. Kate Forbes objected to the proposed ban on alcohol advertising and described long waits in the NHS as "unacceptable". Humza Yousaf - the current health secretary - found himself apologising for one patient's experience and offered a "hands up" over failures to deliver new ferries on time and on budget. Ash Regan, who resigned from the Scottish government over gender reform, also called for a review of the SNP's power sharing deal with the Greens. The trouble with all this criticism is that all three candidates have served for years in the Scottish government and although Ash Regan has now quit and Kate Forbes has been on maternity leave, they all bear some collective responsibility for its performance. For me, one of the stand out moments in this debate was when an audience member called them out on that, arguing that it was "ridiculous" that they had not done more before now to challenge mistakes. Voting in the SNP leadership election, which is using the single transferable vote system, opened on Monday with the winner to be announced on 27 March. The SNP has refused to confirm exactly how many party members will be able to take part in the vote, with its Westminster leader Stephen Flynn telling BBC Scotland earlier on Tuesday that he had "no idea" and that "I think the last time I heard it was about 100,000." The SNP said its membership had reached 125,000 by 2019, but the Electoral Commission put the figure at 104,000 two years later. The Mail on Sunday has reported that Southampton-based polling firm Mi-Voice, which is overseeing the leadership vote, has been given the names of just 78,000 members by the SNP. If this is correct, it would suggest that the party may have lost nearly 50,000 members over the past four years. The newspaper also reported that Mi-Voice expected about 54,000 members to actually submit a vote. Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice has said Mr Yousaf currently appears to be the most popular of the three candidates among the SNP members who will be picking the new leader, with Ms Forbes second and Ms Regan third. But Ms Forbes seems to be more popular than her rivals with both SNP voters and the public as a whole, Sir John said. He added that it "looks as though there is plenty to play for" and that "maybe everything could turn on the unknown second preferences of Ms Regan's supporters". Whoever wins the SNP leadership contest will face a Scottish Parliament vote on 28 March to confirm them as the new first minister, before being sworn into office the following day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-64956321

China reopening borders to foreign tourists for first time since Covid erupted - BBC News

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The move marks a major easing of travel curbs in place since the start of the Covid pandemic.

China

China is hoping to revive tourism and the economy by lifting border restrictions. China is to resume issuing visas to foreign tourists for the first time since the Covid pandemic broke out three years ago. The major easing of restrictions comes after Beijing declared victory over the virus and retreated from a zero-Covid strategy that has hurt its economy. From 15 March, foreign offices can process applications for Chinese visas. Visa-free entry will also resume in Hainan Island and Shanghai for cruise ships. Tour groups from Hong Kong and Macau will also regain their visa-free privilege. In addition, valid visas issued before China closed to the world on 28 March 2020 will be honoured again. The removal of the last cross-border restrictions imposed to tackle Covid marks a major step towards the resumption of normal life in post-pandemic China. Tens of millions of international visitors came to China each year prior to the pandemic, and its tourism industry has been hard hit by strict anti-Covid measures. But the country can expect a significant increase in international arrivals, after it reopens its borders, analysts say. Chinese citizens will also be allowed to travel on tour groups to 60 countries, up from 20 previously. China said its gross domestic product grew just 3% in 2022, the worst in nearly half a century. For the current year, Beijing has set a 5% target with new Premier Li Qiang saying that the world's second largest economy is stabilising and picking up again. The zero-Covid policy that was lifted in December sparked rare protests against China's leader, Xi Jinping. Are you planning to travel to China? 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/world-asia-china-64948594

Swansea: Man named as Morriston explosion victim - BBC News

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A man who died after a suspected gas explosion at a house in Swansea is named as Brian Davies, 68.

Wales

A major incident was declared following the explosion at 11:20 GMT on Monday A man who died after a suspected gas explosion at a house in Swansea has been named as Brian Davies. The body of the 68-year-old was found in the rubble during a search following the blast on Clydach Road in the Morriston area of the city. Emergency services were called to the scene at about 11:20 GMT on Monday and a major incident was declared. Mr Davies was described as "friendly and very well liked" and known by many residents in the area. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Anthony Bennett's son was hurt in the blast Three others, including a 14-year-old boy were taken to hospital with injuries, but two have since been discharged. Most householders have since been allowed to return to their homes, but access to 12 properties has been restricted as the repair and recovery operation continues, according to Swansea Council. Det Insp Carl Price, of South Wales Police, said: "Our thoughts remain with Brian's family and friends, at what is a very difficult time for them, and those who have been injured following the explosion. "Our inquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the incident, and these inquiries are being carried out in partnership with relevant agencies including the Health and Safety Executive. "The patience and understanding of local residents on Clydach Road, and the wider community in Morriston, is very much appreciated while this work remains ongoing." Sioned Williams, Member of the Senedd (MS) for the South Wales West region, said residents had told her Mr Davies was "friendly and very well liked". "He apparently used to sit outside on the step and talk to people in the street. A lot of people knew him and liked him," she said. The damage was extensive and about 100 people were unable to return to their homes until Tuesday One property was completely flattened with Wales & West Utilities describing the structural damage as "severe". Its Chief Operating Officer Rob Long said the cause of the explosion was not yet known. He added Wales & West Utilities remained at the scene on Tuesday to make sure the area was safe, as well as carrying out checks to rule out damage to the network. He said: "We would like to reassure local residents that every safety precaution is being taken. As part of this, we are joined by other utilities in turning off gas and power to the immediate surrounding properties - however, there will be no impact on gas supplies to the wider area." The National Grid's website said 212 properties were without electricity in the aftermath of the explosion, but power was restored by 18:40 on Monday. Swansea council leader Rob Stewart said about 100 people had initially been displaced. The British Red Cross sent a team to help and the council set up a rest centre at Morriston Memorial Hall. The community has rallied around to help those affected, with Morriston Town Football Club taking donations of clothes and providing hot drinks. Speaking at the site on Tuesday morning, councillor Ceri Evans said the thoughts and prayers of the community were with the family of the man who died. "I am sure there will be a full and robust investigation and the council will support it but the community will want answers," he said. Resident Pam Evans said it was "very worrying" that people had not been able to return to their homes. She added that there was "ongoing trauma" for residents still unable to access their properties to get clothes, medication and other belongings. "People are very distressed and we have vulnerable members of the community here also, so it's a difficult situation," she said. Brian Davies has been named as the man who died following the explosion Anthony Bennett's son Ethan was the child pulled from the rubble, along with his mother Claire, who remains in hospital with six broken ribs. He said: "[Ethan] just remembers the explosion going and him being thrown up against the ceiling. "Then next thing he knew he was coming round, he seemed to be outside or in the open air. "But apparently part of the roof was under him and half was on top of him and the guy who lived a couple of doors down, he ran across to check on Claire and then he ran up and dragged Ethan out and he carried Ethan off the roof to get him out. "They are so lucky to come out of it." Ethan and his mother were two of three people taken to hospital after the explosion, with a second adult - a postman - since being discharged.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64950915

King Charles makes first appearance on special stamps - BBC News

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The first new stamps bearing the King's head likely to be seen by the public are revealed by Royal Mail.

UK

Back to the fuchsia: The King's silhouette will appear for the first time The first special stamps bearing the head of King Charles are being released by the Royal Mail, with his silhouette appearing on a set showing popular garden flowers. These are likely to be the first stamps showing the King's profile that will be widely seen by the public. This replaces a design showing the Queen's head used continuously on commemorative stamps since 1968. Last month saw the final issue of a new set of stamps with the Queen's head. David Gold, of Royal Mail, said using pictures of flowers for this landmark set of stamps reflected the fact that the King was a "passionate gardener". The Royal Mail had previously revealed the design for new regular first and second class stamps showing King Charles. The stamps use pictures of popular back garden flowers But those new stamps will not begin to appear regularly on letters until stocks run out of existing stamps showing the late Queen's head. It is not expected that the new King Charles versions of ordinary first and class stamps will start to be seen until next month. That means that the first visible change in stamps for the new reign will be these 10 flower stamps, showing back garden favourites such as rose, dahlia, sunflower and fuchsia. These flower stamps can be ordered from Tuesday, and will go on general release next week. This ends the use of the late Queen's head for commemorative stamps. It had appeared on stamps marking hundreds of events and themes, from Concorde to Christmas and Doctor Who to Thomas the Tank Engine. The long-term planning for such special stamps meant that the Royal Mail had continued with plans in the pipeline made before the Queen's death last September. But the last planned set, marking the centenary of the Flying Scotsman, was revealed in February. The silhouette of Charles will now appear on all such special issues.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64940530

Manchester City 7-0 RB Leipzig (8-1 agg): Erling Haaland scores five as City cruise into quarter-finals - BBC Sport

Erling Haaland scores five as Manchester City thrash RB Leipzig to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Last updated on .From the section European Football Erling Haaland rewrote the record books by scoring an incredible five times as Manchester City swept RB Leipzig aside to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Haaland becomes the fastest and youngest player to reach 30 goals in Europe's elite club competition. He is also the youngest player to score five times in a single Champions League game, joining Argentina great Lionel Messi and Brazil forward Luiz Adriano as the only players to do so. The 22-year-old is now on 39 goals for the season in all competitions, the first City player to reach that figure in a single campaign. His five hat-tricks are three more than any other player in the big five leagues. On any normal day, Ilkay Gundogan's precise low shot into the bottom corner would have merited praise. On this historic night, which matched City's 7-0 triumph over Schalke in 2019, it was nothing more than a footnote. On this evidence, no-one, not even Real Madrid, will want to be paired with Pep Guardiola's side in Friday's last-eight draw. Legendary former club captain Vincent Kompany can only hope his old club have got this calibre of performance out of their system when he brings his Burnley side to Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup on Saturday. • None Man City news and fan views in one place Leipzig coach Marco Rose was Haaland's boss at Dortmund last season. Little wonder he reacted with incredulity on the eve of the game when it was pointed out to him that some feel City are a lesser team with the Norwegian in it. "It could get really, really, really good for him with Pep and Man City," was Rose's response. He would have preferred his words not to be proved quite so perceptive, quite so soon. Leipzig were given a very early warning about the difficulties that lay ahead when Nathan Ake dropped a long pass over their defence and in the space of half a dozen strides Haaland had sprinted clear of their defence and bore down on goal. Goalkeeper Janis Blaswich managed to deny Haaland the opener - but it was to be his last success of the night in that personal duel. Rose may argue City should not have been awarded the penalty that gave Haaland the chance to open the scoring. True, Benjamin Henrichs was very close to Rodri - but once VAR intervened it was also obvious the defender had his arms out when the City man headed the ball against his hand. Haaland kept his cool, buried the penalty and, as the visiting bench were still grumbling at the unfairness of it all, made it 2-0 when he reacted quickest after De Bruyne's thunderous shot came back off the crossbar and headed into an empty net. And when Amadou Haidara's clearance off the line, after Blaswich had turned away Ruben Dias' header, bounced straight into the advancing Haaland to give him his hat-trick in first-half stoppage time, Leipzig might have been tempted to concede. But there was more punishment to come for the hapless visitors. Gundogan's well-taken strike was followed by Haaland's fourth, which came when Blaswich saved a Manuel Akanji effort and again it fell just right for the Norwegian. When he turned home a fifth for the first time in his career, Haaland had effectively scored five times in 35 minutes. Hs dad Alfie, watching from an executive box high in the stadium, was on his feet leading the applause. Probably wisely, Guardiola decided there was not much point in Haaland staying on the pitch. He left to a standing ovation from a crowd both appreciative and incredulous at what they had just seen. City eased off with the job emphatically done before De Bruyne scored with virtually the last kick as Leipzig were condemned to their heaviest European defeat. • None Goal! Manchester City 7, RB Leipzig 0. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez. • None Delay over. They are ready to continue. • None Delay in match because of an injury David Raum (RB Leipzig). • None Attempt saved. Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bernardo Silva with a cross. • None Attempt blocked. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. • None Attempt missed. André Silva (RB Leipzig) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Willi Orbán with a headed pass. • None Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page • None Find out how the new owner is transforming the company • None Are eco laundry products better for the environment? Greg Foot investigates how such claims come out in the wash...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64943666

Boris Johnson to give evidence to Partygate inquiry next week - BBC News

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A committee of MPs is investigating whether the former PM misled Parliament over the scandal.

UK Politics

Boris Johnson will give public evidence about whether he misled MPs over Partygate on 22 March, the Privileges Committee has confirmed. The former prime minister will be questioned by the cross-party committee from 14:00 GMT in a televised session. In an initial report published earlier this month it said Mr Johnson may have misled Parliament multiple times. But Mr Johnson has rejected this and said he believes the process will "vindicate" him. Reports of gatherings in government buildings during Covid lockdowns first emerged in late 2021. On several occasions, Mr Johnson, who was then prime minister, told the Commons the rules had been followed. He later admitted his original statements had since proved incorrect. However, he has insisted he believed them to be true at the time and has denied deliberately misleading Parliament. An investigation by senior civil servant Sue Gray found widespread rule-breaking had taken place and a police inquiry led to 83 people, including Mr Johnson himself, being fined for attending events. The Privileges Committee's initial report said it had seen evidence that "strongly suggests" Covid rule breaches would have been "obvious" to Mr Johnson. It has already received written submissions from witnesses, as well as being provided with WhatsApp messages, documents and photos of gatherings. Boris Johnson celebrates his birthday - for which he received a fine - in a photo released by the committee The committee, which is chaired by Labour's Harriet Harman, is made up of four Conservative MPs, two Labour MPs and one SNP MP. If Mr Johnson is found to have misled Parliament, the committee will recommend how he should be punished, with the House of Commons voting on this. Potential punishments range from ordering him to apologise to suspension from the Commons. If he is suspended for more than 10 days, this could trigger a by-election in his constituency.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64954751

Wild swan conservation success gives cause for hope - BBC News

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Numbers of migratory swans are on the rise, giving hope that declines in nature can be reversed.

Science & Environment

The large white swan is a winter visitor to the UK Numbers of whooper swans are predicted to double in the UK by 2030, thanks to efforts to protect the wetlands where they spend the winter. The wild bird, known for its trumpet-like call, flies in from Iceland to overwinter across the country. Scientists say the swan is benefitting from special protection in nature reserves. And this offers hope that setting aside 30% of the planet for nature can help reverse decades of biodiversity loss. "The big message is that nature reserves can operate as very good protectors of wildlife," Prof Stuart Bearhop of the University of Exeter told BBC News. "If we could get 30% of the world protected - and protected in the right way - we are going absolutely in the right direction." Whooper swans are tagged, making it possible to monitor their movement and survival rates The researchers - led by the universities of Exeter and Helsinki - analysed 30 years of data on more than 10,000 wild swans. They found survival rates were significantly higher at nature reserves and population growth was so strong that it boosted numbers elsewhere. The study found that nature reserves in low-lying coastal areas were key to the survival of whooper swans. Whooper swans can be seen between October and March in Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and parts of East Anglia. Three nature reserves at Welney in Norfolk, Martin Mere in Lancashire and Caerlaverock in southwest Scotland give special protection to wild swans. "Our findings provide strong evidence that nature reserves are hugely beneficial for whooper swans, and could dramatically increase their numbers in the UK," said study researcher, Dr ‪Andrea Soriano-Redondo. Providing the highest possible protection for the swan was key - such as fencing out foxes and other predators, avoiding farming methods that disturb the land and sighting the reserves away from hazards such as power lines. Humanity relies on healthy global ecosystems for clean air and water, as well as food. But species of plants and animals are disappearing at a rate unprecedented in human history. In December nearly 200 countries signed up to a plan to protect 30% of lands and seas for nature by 2030 in an attempt to halt and reverse biodiversity decline. Highly-protected areas that allow nature to recover are at the heart of this global effort. The research is published in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64944172

Over 1,500 police accused of violence against women and girls - BBC News

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Of the resolved cases, only 13 officers were sacked, National Police Chiefs' Council data shows.

UK

More than 1,500 police officers were accused of violence against women and girls in a six-month period, figures for England and Wales suggest. But of the resolved cases, only 13 were sacked, according to data from the National Police Chiefs' Council. Reported offences ranged from sexual attacks to complaints of excessive force by officers during arrest. Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, NPCC lead on violence against women and girls, called the data "disturbing". Speaking to BBC Breakfast, she said a large proportion of the investigations had yet to be completed, but added it did show "we cannot be complacent". "We need really robust investigations to take forward and dismiss anyone who we think is working in our organisation who shouldn't be and has been found guilty of allegations that are relating to violence against women and girls," she said. The report follows the cases of: During the six months to March 2022, members of the public made 524 complaints relating to violence against 867 officers. Of these, 290 cases have been resolved, with nine in 10 ending in no further action. During the same period, 672 police officers and other staff were reported by colleagues. So far, 167 cases have been dealt with - and, of these, seven in 10 ended in no further action. The report said the true figures were likely to be far higher because of under-reporting by police staff, and inaccuracies and inconsistencies in data collection across forces. The figures - for all police forces in England and Wales including the British Transport Police - equate to 0.7% of the total police workforce employed in March 2022, the NPCC said. One woman who did report her case was Alice, not her real name, who was married to a West Yorkshire Police firearms officer. She said the force failed to fully investigate her allegations of domestic violence and the whole experience had destroyed her trust in the police. "I think it's scary, the fact that he's had little control of himself and then been able to go to work and get a loaded gun out and be walking the streets," she told BBC News. Alice said her former husband claimed her word would never be believed against his - a police officer. She described West Yorkshire Police's response as an "intentional overlooking of his behaviour". "I have cited to them extreme controlling and coercive behaviour and no investigation was opened," she told BBC News. "The reality is, in my case, that it's not taken seriously and it feels as though they cover up for one another. "It's quite unbelievable that the people that are meant to protect you are the ones that are helping the person who's abused you, and poses a threat to you. "It's just an exhausting and frightening place to be in." After speaking to Alice, the BBC contacted West Yorkshire Police. An officer has been suspended and the matter referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct. "While we cannot comment further on this specific matter, we encourage anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse to contact us," said a spokesperson for the force. "Allegations are taken seriously, including allegations involving West Yorkshire Police officers and staff, and will always be fully investigated." The NPCC also looked at violence against women and girls generally during the six months to March 2022. These figures show 447,431 recorded domestic abuse crimes and, overall, at least 507,827 crimes of violence against women and girls. Similar to other crimes, only 6% of these resulted in charges, and domestic abuse survivors have told BBC News that support from police too often falls short. Your device may not support this visualisation In Barnsley, a survivor support group, Resolute, helps women who have suffered domestic abuse. Its founder, Deborah Jones, told BBC News: "Domestic abuse is destroying women and children's lives on a daily basis." The BBC spoke to women at a Resolute meeting. All were anonymous for their own safety. One young woman said she had been covered in bruises on the chest and neck after her abuser tried to strangle her in the street. A member of the public called the police, but support from officers was "very minimal", she said. "They didn't even take me back home." An older woman complained of lack of compassion: "They make you feel like it's your fault for going with this person in the first place." A shortage of trained officers is a big problem, according to another who said the first police officer she spoke to admitted she had not been trained in dealing with domestic violence, but in firearms. The woman said it was "just horrendous". In another case, even contacting the investigating officer was a struggle. "I found out in October who the officer was. I didn't get any more contact from her until January. She didn't respond to any of my messages." A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said the force was "continuously working" to improve its response to domestic abuse, listening to the views of victims and delivering specialist training to staff in direct contact with victims and perpetrators. "Often victims live in fear behind closed doors and may find it difficult to come forward, which is why we're committed to bringing those responsible to justice and supporting those affected," said the statement. Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth says police forces need to rebuild trust Responding to the overall figures on police investigations, Ms Blyth said forces should focus investigations "consistently on the behaviour of suspects" and improve the treatment of victims. "We will only rebuild trust when the public and our staff see results and feel the impact of our actions," she added. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, you can call the freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247. A directory of other women's support services is also available on the End Violence Against Women website. Have you been affected by the issues 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/uk-64915126

Cheltenham Festival 2023: Preview as Constitution Hill seeks Champion Hurdle win - BBC Sport

The four-day Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday with Nicky Henderson's Constitution Hill hot favourite to win the Champion Hurdle.

Last updated on .From the section Horse Racing Coverage: Commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, with feature races on BBC Radio 5 Live. Racecards, live text, results & reports on the BBC Sport website & app About 280,000 spectators are expected at the meeting where the unbeaten Constitution Hill tops the opening-day bill in the Champion Hurdle. Last year's winner Honeysuckle goes instead this time in the Mares' Hurdle in what might be her swansong. Runners face disqualification if jockeys seriously breach contentious new rules on use of the whip. Much of the talk in the build-up has centred on how riders will adapt to the regulations in the heat of top-level competition. There is also unpredictability around the weather with a mixed forecast raising the prospect of soft going and throwing the form book with drier conditions into doubt. On the opening day the focus will be on Nicky Henderson's exciting Constitution Hill, who has won his five previous races by a total of 77 lengths, including last year's opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The cheering sound of the crowd as the first contest gets under way has become so iconic that course owners, the Jockey Club, have turned it into a techno dance track called 'Roar Remix' featuring DJ Cuddles. It is the first of 28 races at a meeting which is worth an estimated £274m to the local economy, according to a report by the University of Gloucestershire. The meeting concludes on Friday where Gold Cup runners will include the winners of the Irish Gold Cup, King George VI Chase and Grand National in Galopin Des Champs, Bravemansgame and Noble Yeats. Very, very good. The six-year-old has been breathtaking in his five previous runs under jockey Nico de Boinville. Likely to go off the hottest favourite of the week, bookmaker William Hill has even changed the branding on its Cheltenham shops to Constitution Hill. Irish Champion Hurdle winner State Man and stablemate Vauban are next in the betting for the Festival's leading trainer Willie Mullins. Constitution Hill is one of few English-trained favourites in a week which has been dominated by the Irish in recent years. Trainer Henderson, seeking a record-extending ninth win in the Champion Hurdle, is trying to keep a lid on the expectation. "Constitution Hill is doing freakish things, but he's only had five runs in his life and you have to remember it is very early days in his career," he said. • None How will you get on in our Cheltenham quiz? What are the new whip rules? • None Explainer: All you need to know about the new whip rules Rules introduced last month reduce the number of times the whip is permitted by one, to seven in jumps races and six in flat races. Jockeys face suspension for going above that limit and their horse disqualified if they go four or more over the threshold. Bans are doubled if the offence takes place in Class 1 and 2 races. Some riders have struggled to adapt and believe policing of the changes has been draconian, while Irish jockeys who also compete in Britain have a different set of rules in their homeland. Potential offences are now referred to the Whip Review Committee, rather than dealt with by racecourse stewards on the day. The committee also looks at other matters including the force used, whether it was used from above shoulder height, and the time given for a horse to respond. All bets by punters will stand on the day, with any breaches - and potential disqualifications - not dealt with until the following week. Rachael Blackmore has been clocking up the landmarks, becoming the first woman to ride the Gold Cup winner when triumphant on A Plus Tard 12 months ago. A year earlier, she was the first female to be the week's leading rider before going on to claim another historic triumph on Minella Times in the Grand National. Blackmore is set to be aboard A Plus Tard again in Friday's Gold Cup, while trainer Henry de Bromhead will also saddle 2021 winner Minella Indo. It will be a poignant week for De Bromhead with Thursday's mares' novices hurdle named in honour of his 13-year-old son Jack, who died in a riding accident last year. De Bromhead and Blackmore will hope Honeysuckle, who has won 16 of her 18 races, can claim her third Festival triumph on Tuesday. One jockey who did not expect to be competing again at Cheltenham is 43-year-old Davy Russell, who retired in December but has returned to the saddle to help trainer Gordon Elliott after Jack Kennedy suffered a broken leg. Champion Chase, Wednesday: Last year's winner Energumene runs in the blue-and-white colours of owner Tony Bloom, chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion, while Editeur Du Gite carries the red, white and blue favoured by the Crystal Palace-supporting Preston family. The 2022 Arkle Chase victor Edwardstone is another leading contender. Ryanair Chase, Thursday: Favourite Shishkin was diagnosed with a rare bone condition after he was pulled up in last year's Champion Chase, when a 10-race unbeaten run came to an end, but he bounced back to form with victory at Ascot last month for Henderson. Stayers' Hurdle, Thursday: Flooring Porter and his boisterous band of supporters are seeking a hat-trick after victories in 2021 and 2022. The 2019 winner Paisley Park, who runs for blind owner Andrew Gemmell, looks to regain his title after twice finishing third in the race. Gold Cup, Friday: Along with last year's first two, the third-placed Protektorat is also expected to line up. Ahoy Senor would be the first Scottish-trained winner, while John 'Shark Hanlon' seeks victory with £800 bargain buy Hewick. "It'd be a great story to win it, wouldn't it?" he said. • None Find out how the new owner is transforming the company • None Are eco laundry products better for the environment? Greg Foot investigates how such claims come out in the wash...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/64875351

Australia floods: Baby kangaroo rescued from crocodile-infested waters - BBC News

A baby kangaroo was spotted swimming near two large crocodiles by a pilot who notified police.

Police in Australia have rescued a baby kangaroo from crocodile infested floodwaters over the weekend in Burketown. The kangaroo joey was spotted swimming near two large crocodiles by a helicopter pilot, who alerted Queensland Police. Heavy rains caused record-breaking flood in the region, with local authorities saying residents had to be airlifted out to safety.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-64952199

I've never seen the NHS this bad - junior doctor - BBC News

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Birmingham doctor Shivam Sharma says he is worried for the future of the healthcare system.

Birmingham & Black Country

Dr Shivam Sharma said many junior doctors had struggled to pay rent and make ends meet A junior doctor said NHS workers who had taken strike action for a pay rise had struggled with "enormous" workplace pressures and financial difficulties. Dr Shivam Sharma, from Birmingham, said he was worried for the future of the healthcare system after seeing an increase in patient waiting times. It comes as thousands of junior doctors across England took to picket lines for three days of industrial action. More than 36,000 NHS workers are striking from Monday until Thursday. Members of British Medical Association (BMA) in England has asked for a pay rise of 35% however the government said the union's demands were "completely unaffordable". The BMA called it "pay restoration" and claimed staff had seen pay cuts of 26% since 2008. About 100 people, junior doctors, union members and students, stood outside the doors of Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth hospital on Monday Dr Sharma, who is in his fourth year working as a doctor after graduating from the University of Birmingham, is a member of BMA Junior Doctor committee. Currently working on a geriatric ward, he said he had seen many patients tended to in the corridors of the hospital. "I think it's really becoming more and more tough, I've never seen it this bad," he said, adding the doctors work on average about 48 hours a week but sometimes as many as 72. He was worried for the future of the healthcare system, he said, adding the average waiting time for patients to be seen was now 12 hours. More pay and better working conditions would allow doctors to retain a work-life balance and would allow them to deliver the care they wanted to deliver, he said, adding taking industrial action was a "last resort" for doctors. The term junior doctor covers a huge variety of roles, from those just graduating from university, to others with years of front-line experience. The BMA's campaign focuses on the £14 per hour starting salary, although that quickly rises for anyone entering the profession. There are five core pay points in the junior doctor contract. By the end of training they will be earning around £28 an hour in basic salary - although this can take 10 years to get to. Junior doctors, including those fresh out of university, also receive an additional 30% more in extra payments, on average, for things like working unsociable hours. Health Secretary Steve Barclay said he valued the hard work of junior doctors and that he wanted unions to "come to the negotiating table" to enter formal talks. One doctor said the last few years have been full of burnout Outside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham Naomi Collier, a junior doctor with four years' experience, said she was moving to Australia on Wednesday. Doctors like her are choosing to work elsewhere for better pay, and ultimately, a better work-life balance, she said. "I've always wanted to visit Australia, but because we have a structured training programme in the NHS, I'm at a point where it's the only natural break I can really see, before going on to train for eight years to become a consultant. "I think I would be speaking for quite a few people if I say the last few years have been full of burnout." An NHS spokesperson said patients should not be put off from seeking emergency care during strike action. Patients have also been told to continue to attend appointments unless advised otherwise. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-64938278

Gary Lineker row goes to heart of BBC reputation - Ofcom boss - BBC News

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The regulator's boss says it is right the BBC is reviewing its social media guidelines after the row.

UK

The BBC impartiality row with Gary Lineker goes "straight to the heart" of the broadcaster's wider reputation, Ofcom's chief executive has said. Dame Melanie Dawes told MPs it "hasn't been a great weekend" for BBC Sport fans after coverage was pulled off air. She told a committee she hoped the BBC could move beyond this episode. Lineker will return to Match of the Day after he was taken off air over a tweet criticising the government's new asylum policy. BBC director general Tim Davie said an independent review of social media guidelines would be carried out and he denied accusations that the BBC had backed down. Speaking to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, Dame Melanie said: "Clearly an episode like this goes straight to the heart of that wider reputation beyond their news and current affairs coverage." She told MPs it was right the BBC was reviewing its social media guidelines, adding: "There is ambiguity in there, I think that was probably designed to give a degree of flexibility… but it didn't achieve what they wanted." She said there needed to be "very strict rules" for news presenters, but said it was a "slightly different question" when it comes to other contributors, including freelancers and actors. "I think they need to be weighing freedom of expression alongside the wider reputation they have for impartiality," she said. "It is for the BBC board to safeguard the reputation of the BBC, including for impartiality, and to weigh all that in the balance." She added that she didn't think it would be "straightforward" and that Ofcom, which is the BBC's regulator, has no role in setting internal guidelines but can offer advice. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. WATCH: The weekend of BBC football show chaos... in 90 seconds The row began last week when, in a tweet, Lineker said the government's new Illegal Migration Bill was an "immeasurably cruel policy" and said the language used around it was "not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s". His words were criticised by Conservative ministers, including the home secretary. Lineker was told on Friday to step back from presenting Match of the Day until an agreement was reached, triggering an unprecedented wave of walkouts from fellow pundits and commentators in solidarity. On Monday it was announced Lineker will return to present Match of the Day. The BBC said it would carry out an independent review of its social media guidelines - and in the meantime Lineker would abide by the current guidelines. The BBC faced criticism from a range of sides over the row, with some Tory MPs questioning whether the licence fee model should come to an end. But senior Conservative Michael Gove defended the BBC and said he was a "big fan" of the licence fee. "I wish the BBC well, I respect its independence," he added. Asking an urgent question on the row in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Labour's shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said the events of the past week "exposed how susceptible the BBC leadership is to government pressure". "This week's sorry saga has raised serious questions about the government's role in upholding BBC impartiality," she said. "They've got their fingerprints all over it." She added that Lineker being taken off air for tweeting something "the government doesn't like" sounds like "Putin's Russia" - a comparison culture minister Julia Lopez described as "disgraceful". Ms Lopez told the Commons the government had "consistently made clear" the matter was for the BBC to resolve internally, adding that at "no time have ministers sought to influence BBC decisions". In the wake of the row, Lineker contacted Twitter owner Elon Musk after a threatening message was sent to his eldest son, George, who had tweeted in support of his father. The Match of the Day presenter has also changed his Twitter profile image, now showing Lineker next to a quote from George Orwell which is engraved on the wall of the BBC's New Broadcasting House.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64953421

Police and CPS in rape case blame game - report - BBC News

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An urgent shift in the way rape cases are investigated and prosecuted is needed, say watchdogs.

UK

Police and the Crown Prosecution Service are involved in a blame game over a drop in rape prosecutions, a watchdogs' report has said. CPS figures for 2019-20 show 1,439 suspects were convicted of rape or lesser offences in England and Wales, the lowest level since records began. This is down from 1,925 the previous year despite a rise in reports of rape. The review by the police and CPS watchdogs calls for an urgent shift in the way rape cases are investigated. In particular, it identified "finger pointing" and a "deep division" between agencies over dismal conviction rates. "At a national level, there is a lot of activity to improve the response to rape," the report said. "But beneath the surface of these joint structures, we were told of continuing underlying tensions between the police and the CPS, and a desire on both sides to blame the other for low charge and conviction rates." The report by the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate said that until this blame culture was eradicated a real shift in attitudes seemed unachievable. In response to the review, the CPS and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) have announced that they will be strengthening their collaboration, operating more closely from the outset of cases. Wendy Williams, from the Inspectorate of Constabulary, welcomed the commitment from the top but said more needed to be done on the ground to break what she described as this vicious cycle. Sue Hemming, CPS director of legal services, said the service accepted that far too few victims were currently seeing their cases reach court and insisted they were "working hard" to turn this around. "We agree closer collaboration and communication with police from the outset of a rape complaint is essential to driving up the number of strong prosecutions and that a blame culture serves no one," she said. Katie Russell, of Rape Crisis England and Wales, said: "We could not agree more that both police and the Crown Prosecution Service must begin to take responsibility for their own roles in the catastrophic failure of criminal justice for victims and survivors of sexual offences if we stand a chance of successfully tackling this unacceptable and urgent situation." Temporary Chief Constable Sarah Crew, who is the NPCC lead for rape, said the new agreement to work more closely with the CPS in the early days of the investigation should mean stronger cases and faster charging decisions. This should reduce the chance of a victim withdrawing their support, she added. The report follows the government's rape review, published last month, in which it apologised for "failing" rape victims and set out plans for a "system and culture change".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57856719

John Caldwell : Tenth arrest over Omagh police shooting - BBC News

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A 45-year-old man is arrested in connection with the attempted murder of John Caldwell.

Northern Ireland

Det Ch Insp John Caldwell has been involved in a number of major investigations A tenth man has been arrested in connection with the shooting of Det Ch Insp John Caldwell. The man, aged 45, was detained in Belfast under the Terrorism Act on Tuesday evening. Det Ch Insp John Caldwell suffered life-changing injuries in the attack in Omagh last month. Investigators said their main line of enquiry into the attempted murder was dissident republican group the New IRA. Eight other men, aged 72, 57, 47, 45, 43, 33, 38 and 22, arrested in connection with the attempted murder have since been released. A 25-year-old man, detained over a claim of responsibility made for the shooting was also released following questioning. Last week, the independent charity Crimestoppers announced a new reward for information about the attack. It had previously offered £20,000 but said anonymous donors had helped to increase that to £150,000. Det Ch Supt Eamonn Corrigan said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was "working relentlessly to bring those responsible to justice". Det Ch Insp Caldwell, 48, was left critically ill after he was shot while putting footballs into his car after coaching young people at football. The shooting, which occurred in front of school children, has been widely condemned by political figures across Northern Ireland. He is one of the best-known detectives in the PSNI, often fronting press conferences on major inquiries during his 26-year career. Mr Caldwell had coached a Beragh Swifts training session at Youth Sport Omagh when the gunmen approached and shot him at about 20:00 GMT on 22 February.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64959728

Theresa May says asylum plan won't solve illegal migration issue - BBC News

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The former PM says modern slavery victims will be "collateral damage" under new government proposals.

UK Politics

Theresa May was among those to raise concerns about the bill in the Commons Government plans to tackle small boat crossings will not solve the issue of illegal migration, former Prime Minister Theresa May has warned. Under the proposals, modern slavery victims would be "collateral damage" and denied support, she told MPs. Several other Tories also called for changes to the Illegal Migration Bill. However it passed its first Commons hurdle, with the home secretary saying it was "a humane attempt" to break the incentive for people-smuggling gangs. Suella Braverman said the number of people crossing the Channel had "overwhelmed our asylum system" and "our capacity to help people is not unlimited". The new legislation, announced last week, aims to stop migrants making the dangerous journey to the UK in small boats - which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made one of his five key priorities. Under the plans, anyone found to have entered the country illegally would be removed from the UK within 28 days, and also be blocked from returning or claiming British citizenship in future. They would either be returned to their home country, or another "safe third country" like Rwanda. The bill passed its second reading in the Commons by 312 votes to 250, with the majority of Tory MPs voting for the plans. No Conservatives voted against, although Mrs May and former ministers Chris Skidmore and Caroline Nokes, who have been publicly critical of the bill, were among those who did not register a vote, according to the Parliament website. Critics say the proposals break international law and they are likely to face opposition in the House of Lords, as well as legal challenges in the courts. During a debate on the bill in the Commons, Mrs May told MPs that "whenever you close a route, the migrants and the people smugglers find another way, and anybody who thinks that this bill will deal with the issue of illegal migration once and for all is wrong". She raised several concerns about the proposed legislation, including that anyone fleeing persecution who came to the UK via an illegal route would face a "blanket dismissal". "By definition, someone fleeing for their life will more often than not be unable to access a legal route," she said. Mrs May also highlighted the potential impact of the bill on victims of modern slavery, saying "as it currently stands we are shutting the door on victims while being trafficked into slavery here in the UK". "If they come here illegally they will not be supported to escape their slavery," she added. The former home secretary said No 10 had offered to discuss her concerns about the bill and she hoped "we can find some resolution". Hundreds of people gathered in Parliament Square to protest against the bill as it was debated in the Commons Another senior Conservative MP, Sir Robert Buckland, said he had "great concern" about a clause of the bill which could allow children to be detained. The former justice secretary also warned that the "tone" used by some members of his party was "not appropriate" and "we have to do better". While he said he would vote for the bill, Tory MP Simon Hoare said he wanted to see changes in relation to women who are trafficked and children. Other Tories, including Mr Skidmore, said they could not support the bill. The former minister wrote on Twitter: "I am not prepared to break international law or the human rights conventions that the UK has had a proud history of playing a leading role in establishing." And Ms Nokes, the Conservative chairwoman of the Commons women and equalities committee, said she had "absolute horror" at the prospect of the bill. "I am deeply troubled at the prospect of a policy which seeks to criminalise children, pregnant women, families and remove them to Rwanda," the former immigration minister told Times Radio. However, other Conservative MPs were supportive of the government's approach. Former minister Sir John Hayes said people wanted "tough action" on illegal immigration. "Of course Britain should provide a safe haven for people in need, in genuine need," he said. "But it is a deceit to pretend the asylum system is not being gamed and the British people taken for a ride." Marco Longhi, who represents Dudley North, said the bill would act as a deterrent for people undertaking "very perilous journeys". Labour voted against the bill, describing it as "a con that makes the chaos worse". Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said "it won't stop the criminal gangs or dangerous crossings" but "it will rip up our long-standing commitment to international law", as well as "lock up children" and "remove support and safe refuges from women who have been trafficked". The SNP also opposed the bill, saying there was no proof it would work and it would "create an underclass of people stuck in immigration limbo indefinitely". Defending the plans, Ms Braverman said unaccompanied children would only be removed from the UK under limited circumstances, such as for the purposes of family reunion. "Otherwise, they will be provided with the necessary support in the UK until they reach 18," she told MPs. Responding to concerns about families and pregnant women, she said "we must not create incentives for the smugglers to focus on people with particular characteristics by signposting exemptions for removal". Closing the debate, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said the government was "committed to tackling the heinous crime of modern slavery and supporting victims". "It's for that reason that we want to prevent abuse [of the system]," he added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64943444

Can the next SNP leader unite the party? - BBC News

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The candidates aspire to be unifying figures, but the leadership contest has seen bitter infighting.

Scotland politics

The three candidates to replace Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and first minister have at least one thing in common - they each aspire to be unifying figures. When Kate Forbes entered the contest she highlighted her desire to "unite the party and the Yes movement". Ash Regan said she would "bring back unity" and would "take the SNP forward together". Humza Yousaf offered to "reach across the divisions… and bring people together". Worthy aspirations for anyone seeking to takeover the leadership of an increasingly fractious party. How any of the three candidates would actually deliver the promised unity is much harder to see, especially at the end of a week of sometimes bitter infighting. Kate Forbes fractured her own campaign support by making clear that while she has no plans to unpick the law enabling gay marriage, she would not have voted for it. Five senior politicians who were either in her camp or heading that way have since deserted her. They include ministers Tom Arthur, Clare Haughey and Richard Lochhead, backbench MSP Gillian Martin and MP Drew Hendry. Kate Forbes has tried to reset her leadership campaign There was then a spat between the Forbes campaign and the deputy first minister, John Swinney, who questioned the suitability of someone with Kate Forbes' views for the highest office. She has since tried to reset her campaign by committing to protect the rights of everyone to live and love without fear or harassment, describing herself as "heartsore" at the hurt some of her comments have caused. Ms Forbes has also said that she would be "loath" to challenge the UK government's section 35 order blocking the gender recognition reform bill becoming law. That has antagonised the SNP's power-sharing partners in the Scottish Greens who issued a statement insisting that the UK's intervention "must be challenged robustly". It is hard to imagine the SNP/Green arrangement continuing in its current form if Ms Forbes becomes first minister. Her strong emphasis on economic growth could place further strain on relations. The power-sharing deal is probably even less likely to survive if Ash Regan wins the contest. She has committed to dropping the gender recognition reform bill, over which she resigned from the Scottish government as community safety minister. She has also prioritised the dualling of the A9 and the A96 and promised to stand up for oil workers rather than support an accelerated path to net zero carbon emissions if that threatens North Sea jobs. By contrast, Humza Yousaf has declared himself a "wholehearted" supporter of the SNP/Green tie-up which gives the Scottish government a stable majority in parliament. Like Nicola Sturgeon he is committed to going to court to defend Holyrood's gender reforms - one reason he is seen as something of a continuity candidate. Legal action would no doubt be welcomed by Greens and SNP supporters of the legislation, but does little to reassure those in the SNP who opposed it, that their concerns have been heard. While Humza Yousaf is a socially-liberal politician compared to the socially-conservative Kate Forbes, it is a matter of record that he did not take part in the final Holyrood vote on gay marriage. Humza Yousaf says he is "not wedded" to the idea of using a general election as a de-facto referendum. His explanation is that he had an important meeting with a Pakistani diplomat about the case of a Scot facing the death penalty. However, the minister responsible for the same sex marriage legislation, Alex Neil - who is a Forbes supporter - tells a different story. He claims Mr Yousaf timed the appointment to avoid the vote because he was under pressure from some in the Muslim community not to back reform. Perhaps the biggest threat to Mr Yousaf's campaign is his record in government. As health secretary he is in charge of the NHS at a time of enormous strain. This week's report from the finance watchdog, Audit Scotland, suggested Mr Yousaf's recovery plan after the pandemic was not on track and that NHS waiting had got worse since it was published. At Holyrood question time, Nicola Sturgeon highlighted record spending on the NHS and that Mr Yousaf has managed to avert strike action in the service. But that did not stop opposition leaders renewing calls for his resignation. Independence is likely to emerge as an even bigger dividing line in this contest. This is where Humza Yousaf breaks with the current first minister. He has said he is "not wedded" to the idea of using a general election as a substitute referendum. My understanding is that he is very unlikely to back that approach. Instead, his emphasis is on building sustained majority support for independence to persuade the UK government to agree to indyref2. Kate Forbes has also talked of the need to build "unstoppable" levels of support for independence. She told the BBC the strategy needed a "reset" and that it was not as simple as targeting a majority at an election. Before Brexit, the SNP took a similar approach - that another referendum should happen if and when independence appeared to be the settled will of the Scottish public. Meanwhile, Ash Regan has doubled down on the election route to Scottish statehood, arguing that achieving more than 50% of the vote should trigger negotiations on Scotland's withdrawal from the UK. She is also proposing to bring together all independence-minded organisations under the umbrella of an independence convention. The end of the Nicola Sturgeon era is approaching Her position on this and some other key policies is very similar to the platform of the Alba party, led by Alex Salmond. There will be much to discuss in the three-way leadership debates being organised by the SNP and by broadcasters. Whoever emerges as the winner when voting ends on Monday 27 March, this is the end of an era in the SNP and Scottish politics. The end of the Sturgeon era, certainly. The end of the Salmond/Sturgeon era too - the pair having taken control of their party and then the Scottish government together. That was nearly two decades ago and this is the first time since 2004 there has been a contest to decide who takes over the party and what direction it should take. The three candidates represent a generational shift away from those who have built and run the SNP for more than 30 years. Alex Salmond's gone. Nicola Sturgeon's going. John Swinney's stepping back too. Ian Blackford has already done so. As has Mike Russell, who now has the honorary post of party president. All three potential leaders have only established themselves in elected politics since the SNP took power at Holyrood. Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf were still at school when the Scottish Parliament first opened in 1999. Interestingly, those two candidates were once named by Nicola Sturgeon as potential successors - not that succession planning has been an obvious feature during her time in charge. The next SNP leader and first minister will either be the second woman to hold these offices or the first to do so from a black or Asian minority ethnic background. They will face huge challenges in rebuilding the NHS, managing the public finances in a cost of living crisis, and trying to break the deadlock over independence. Trying to unify their party in the process could be one of the biggest challenges of all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-64758718

US shares rebound after Silicon Valley Bank turmoil - BBC News

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Markets climbed off the back of new inflation data, easing concerns about the impact of interest rate rises.

Business

We're going to close this live page shortly but before then, here's a look at what's happened in the world of US banking today: US stock markets... opened higher at the start of trading on Tuesday, after consumer prices in the US grew in line with expectations Inflation figures... released today showed consumer prices in the US rose 6% over the 12 months to February - the slowest annual increase since September 2021 Shares in US banks... have recovered some of the steep losses they suffered following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) - the second biggest bank failure in US history The International Monetary Fund... says the US bank's collapse does not appear to be causing a global shock - at least for now An investigation... is reportedly under way into what went wrong at SVB. Officials at the US Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission are looking at moves by executives to sell shares in the weeks ahead of the failure, as well as potential fraud, US media reports say Meanwhile at Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp... 10,000 jobs have been axed as part of a second round of major job cuts in six months

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/business-64940883

Tiny data centre used to heat public swimming pool - BBC News

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The heat generated by the small box of powerful computers is enough to heat the pool about 60% of the time.

Technology

Mark Bjornsgaard says his scheme can save public swimming pools thousands of pounds The heat generated by a washing-machine-sized data centre is being used to heat a Devon public swimming pool. The computers inside the white box are surrounded by oil to capture the heat - enough to heat the pool to about 30C 60% of the time, saving Exmouth Leisure Centre thousands of pounds. The data centre is provided to the council-run centre free of charge. Start-up Deep Green charges clients to use its computing power for artificial intelligence and machine learning. Founder Mark Bjornsgaard said the company would also refund the leisure centre's electricity costs for running the "digital boiler" - and seven other England pools had signed up to the scheme. The concept, developed over five years, is relatively straight forward - the hot oil is pumped into a heat exchanger to warm the water in the pool. Sean Day, who runs the leisure centre, said he had been expecting its energy bills to rise by £100,000 this year. "The partnership has really helped us reduce the costs of what has been astronomical over the last 12 months - our energy prices and gas prices have gone through the roof," he said. "Looking at different ways of how we can save money as an organisation has been awesome." Swim England chief executive Jane Nickerson said it was good to see pools "embracing innovative solutions". Last summer, BBC News revealed 65 swimming pools had closed since 2019, with rising energy costs cited as a significant reason. Cambridge University professor of engineering and the environment Dr Julian Allwood said: "If it's a sensible idea and it saves the leisure centre some money, then why not?" adding data centres on the whole used less energy than previously reported. But large ones can require billions of gallons of water and millions of pounds to keep cool. Some are even built under water - or in caves or very cold parts of the world. And in Danish and Swedish cities, huge data centres power thousands of homes. "Data centres have got a huge problem with heat," Mr Bjornsgaard said. "A lot of the money that it costs to run a data centre is taken up in getting rid of the heat. "And so what we've done is taken a very small bit of a data centre to where the heat is useful and required."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-64939558

Tram runs on Edinburgh's Leith Walk for first time in 67 years - BBC News

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It travelled at walking pace along the Edinburgh street as part of testing for a new route.

Edinburgh, Fife & East Scotland

The test tram was photographed on Leith Walk, near Stead's Place. A tram has travelled along Edinburgh's Leith Walk for the first time in more than six decades. Trials began on Monday night, with the vehicle travelling at walking pace along the new route, as part of the first stage of testing. Testing will continue overnight throughout the week, with some bus diversions in place as a result. The new route, which extends Edinburgh's existing tram network to Newhaven, is set to open in the spring. It the first time a tram has run along Leith Walk since November 1956. Councillor Scott Arthur, transport and environment convener for the City of Edinburgh Council said: "This is a huge milestone for Trams to Newhaven as we see the first trams on Leith Walk in my lifetime." He said the route was set to be transformative for the area, as well as the city as a whole. "We're fast approaching the start of passenger services this spring, and that the project is set to be delivered on time and within budget, despite the challenges of recent years, is testament to the hard work of all those involved," he added. The trams travelled at a walking pace during the trial On the first night of testing, a tram travelled slowly along small sections of the route, beginning at Picardy Place. This will continue through the week, taking place during the night to minimise traffic disruption. Information on bus diversions is available on the Lothian Buses website. Once the first stage is completed, the frequency and speed of tram testing will increase, and trams will start running to a timetable. The managing director of Edinburgh Trams, Lea Harrison, described the trial as a "proud moment" for all involved. Leith Walk has a long history as a key area on the city's tramways. Horse-drawn trams first travelled on the street in 1871, as part of Edinburgh's first tram route. This route saw trams travel three-and-a-half miles from Haymarket to Bernard Street. Cable trams were introduced shortly after. In 1905, the newly created Leith Corporation Tramways brought in a rival electric tram service. Leith Walk's position on the boundary between Edinburgh and Leith meant that passengers travelling along the street would have to disembark at the boundary line, to swap between the Edinburgh service, and Leith Service. The final tram of this era travelled on Leith Walk on 16 November 1956 as the city made a move towards bus travel. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-64951633

Moody's warns of more pain for US banks as downgrades sector - BBC News

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The ratings giant warns of a 'rapid deterioration in the operating environment' for US banks.

Business

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Is this the start of a financial crisis? Ratings giant Moody's has warned of more pain ahead for the US banking system after a run on deposits led to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Moody's cut its outlook for the sector to "negative" from stable, warning of "a rapid deterioration in the operating environment". The downgrade came as banking shares in the US and Europe rebounded following earlier losses. But Moody's said some other banks faced risks of customer withdrawals. It said rising interest rates also pose a challenge, exposing banks that bought assets such as government bonds when interest rates were low, to potential losses. "Banks with substantial unrealized securities losses and with non-retail and uninsured US depositors may still be more sensitive to depositor competition or ultimate flight," Moody's said in the report. "We expect pressures to persist and be exacerbated by ongoing monetary policy tightening, with interest rates likely to remain higher for longer until inflation returns to within the Fed's target range." Authorities have acted quickly to try to contain fallout after the shock collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the 16th largest in the US. The firm, a key lender to technology firms, failed last week after a rush of customer withdrawals, sparked by the bank's disclosure that it needed to raise money and had been forced to sell a portfolio of assets, mostly government bonds, at a loss. US regulators took over the bank and said they would guarantee deposits beyond the $250,000 level typically insured by the government. They took similar steps at smaller Signature Bank. Officials from the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission are now investigating the collapse, US media reported. Reports have suggested that some customers of smaller US banks have been trying to put their money into bigger institutions. However, ratings agency S&P Global said it hadn't seen evidence of runs on banks other than at those that had collapsed. It said emergency measures brought in by the Federal Reserve should lower the risk of bank customers losing confidence. However, it added that "conditions remain fluid" and "some banks are showing greater signs of stress than others", including First Republic bank. Analysts expect the turmoil in the financial system sparked by the failures to lead the Fed to slow or pause its rate rises when it meets next week. That view gained traction on Tuesday after the latest inflation report showed prices in the US up 6% in the 12 months to February, in line with expectations, helping to boost shares. As trading began on Tuesday, San Francisco-based First Republic Bank - which had seen its share price tank by 62% on Monday - jumped more than 50%, one of a number of firms whose shares were staging a recovery. It ultimately closed roughly 30% higher. The three main stock indexes also climbed, with the Dow up 1%, the S&P 500 climbing 1.7% and the Nasdaq ending the day more than 2% higher. In the UK, bank shares - which saw sharp falls on Monday - were all mostly higher by Tuesday afternoon. The FTSE 100 ended up roughly 1.2%. The European Stoxx banking index also opened lower on Tuesday but then recovered to end nearly 3% higher. But shares in HSBC, which rescued SVB's UK business for £1, closed down 1%, and there were steep losses overnight in Japan, where major lenders such as the country's largest bank MUFG, saw their share prices tumble by more than 8%. An index of Japanese banking stocks, known as the Topix Banks Index, plunged by 7.4%, despite reassurances from the Bank of Japan (BoJ). "Japanese financial institutions' direct exposure to Silicon Valley Bank is small, and thus the impact is likely limited," said a BoJ official.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64949786

SNP leadership: The battle raging for the party's soul - BBC News

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The leadership contest has opened up a heated debate about economics, independence and social issues.

Scotland politics

BBC Scotland is set to host the latest debate between the three candidates to lead the SNP. Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf will answer audience questions in Edinburgh, in a race which has exposed old divisions. It was an occasion of real political drama, a moment when it seemed the Scottish National Party might tear itself apart. "Those of us who put Scotland and the party above narrow personal or political obsessions cannot and will not tolerate behaviour which is divisive and harmful," thundered the SNP leader in a fiery speech. Immediately, a group of rebel SNP members strode out of the hall in protest; raucous jeers, cheers and applause ringing in their ears. This is not a description of the latest leadership hustings but of the SNP's 1982 conference in Ayr. The leader was Gordon Wilson; the rebels subsequently expelled from the party included a young Alex Salmond; and their demand was for the SNP to embrace a vision of Scotland as a socialist republic. Now, four decades later, old fissures are opening up again, with heated debate about the party's direction of travel on economics, independence and social issues. All this is unfolding in a very different political landscape. Having run Scotland's devolved government since 2007, the SNP of today is vastly bigger, slicker, and more successful than it was when it had only two MPs in the early '80s. The group of rebel SNP members strode out of the party's 1982 conference in Ayr A new generation of nationalist politicians - Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf - are not only competing for the party crown, but also to become the sixth first minister of Scotland since powers over health, education and other domestic issues were devolved from London to Edinburgh in 1999. Neither Ms Forbes nor Mr Yousaf were born at the time of the Ayr affair. Ms Regan was at primary school. For much of their adult lives, their party has been known for its extraordinary public unity and iron political discipline, first under Mr Salmond and then, following Scotland's rejection of independence in the 2014 referendum, under Nicola Sturgeon. But trouble was brewing well before Ms Sturgeon announced her shock resignation last month, triggering the leadership contest. Her ministry had been under pressure on economics from both left and right; on independence from frustrated members of both the SNP and Mr Salmond's breakaway Alba Party; and on gender reform from critics led by the Harry Potter author JK Rowling. The SNP has been known for its public unity and political discipline First, the economics. Since bringing the Scottish Green Party into government two years ago to support her minority administration, the first minister had been accused of indulging an anti-growth agenda. This was allegedly exemplified by her rejection of new drilling for oil and gas, the imposition on business of an unpopular bottle recycling scheme, and plans to curb alcohol advertising. Despite raising taxes on the richest Scots, the SNP leader was also accused by the left of cosying up to capitalists. Jonathon Shafi, the author of a pro-independence newsletter called Independence Captured, argues that the SNP has been "captured by corporate lobbyists". He accuses the Scottish government of embracing neoliberal economic policies which prioritise capital over labour by, for example, flogging off national green energy resources on the cheap, and forming an alliance with the Conservatives to create freeports, which he derides as "tax havens". Ms Sturgeon rejects such criticism but economic issues have been a key part of the campaign so far. A special edition of the Debate Night programme will air at 20:00 on BBC One Scotland. The candidates will face questions from an audience of voters from across the political spectrum in Edinburgh. The debate, hosted Stephen Jardine, will also be streamed live on the BBC News website and on BBC iPlayer. Kate Forbes, currently on maternity leave from her role as finance secretary, is often described as the most business-friendly contender, although she stresses that she champions growth for a purpose: to secure independence and end poverty. Ms Forbes has described the bottle return scheme as having the potential to cause "economic carnage". She argues that after Covid, Brexit, and energy price hikes, firms should be given "a bit of breathing space". Mr Yousaf and Ms Regan have also expressed reservations about the scheme, and all three candidates have raised concerns about the potential impact of a proposed advertising ban on Scotland's £5.5bn whisky industry. If either Ms Forbes or Ms Regan is victorious, the power-sharing deal with the Greens would appear to be in jeopardy while Mr Yousaf is generally seen as the continuity candidate, a position which has opened him up to the kind of attacks rarely seen since the intra-party warfare of the 1980s. When Ms Forbes used a debate televised by STV to trash Mr Yousaf's record as transport minister, justice secretary and health secretary, it felt like a lid had blown off a simmering pot. "More of the same is not a manifesto," said Ms Forbes, "it's an acceptance of mediocrity." In the next debate, hosted by Channel 4 News, Mr Yousaf hit back, accusing his rival of being the Conservatives' favoured candidate. The Scottish Tories, he claimed, were "rooting for you to win". Labour senses an opportunity here, both for Sir Keir Starmer's attempts to win the keys to 10 Downing Street in London and for Anas Sarwar's ambition to one day move into the first minister's official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh. In Monday's Sky News debate all three candidates said that in the event of a hung parliament at Westminster they would, in theory, prop up a minority Labour government in return for the formal transfer to Holyrood of the power to hold a second referendum on independence, a deal which Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted he would not strike under any circumstances. And in an attempt to win back voters Labour have lost to the SNP, the party's sole MP in Scotland, Ian Murray, who represents Edinburgh South, has resurrected the old "Tartan Tory" label which was often applied to the SNP under Gordon Wilson. Sir Keir Starmer with Anas Sarwar on a visit to Glasgow last week He has accused Ms Forbes of right-wing economics, even though her plan to grow the economy to invest in public services has distinct echoes of New Labour. What, though, of the national question? Here too there is division and discord, as well as potential opportunity. "As Albert Camus said: 'Freedom is nothing but a chance to do better'," said Steve Norris, convener of the SNP's Kirkcudbright and District branch in the south west of Scotland. He regards this leadership election as probably the most important in the party's history. He is impressed with Ms Forbes, describing her as "honest, straight, true and brimful of integrity". Mr Norris is also complimentary about Ms Regan, saying: "She's got her own ideas about how we achieve our march towards independence and that has attracted a lot of members...to her side." Steve Norris is convener of the SNP's Kirkcudbright and District branch Crucially, those ideas do not involve holding another referendum on leaving the UK. Instead Ms Regan would treat all future Westminster and Holyrood elections as referendums in all but name. If at any point pro-independence parties polled more than 50% of the vote, Ms Regan says this would constitute a mandate to open negotiations with London. "The ballot box is the gold standard of democracy," she says - insisting that if the UK government at first refused to enter talks, international outrage would force it to climb down, a claim rejected by both Labour and the Tories. In the meantime, the MSP for Edinburgh Eastern says that as first minister she would focus on running the Scottish government, with work on preparing for secession devolved to an Independence Convention and an Independence Commission. At a hustings in Fife, Ms Regan suggested that voters could be alerted to the moment "we've solved" all of the problems standing in the way of independence by means of a public installation in Glasgow or Edinburgh to be known as a Readiness Thermometer. The current temperature of the thermometer is unclear, although by Ms Regan's own logic it is presumably not yet hot enough for independence. Ash Regan resigned as community safety minister over the gender reforms Ms Forbes' approach to the issue is at once fast and slow. Fast because she has pledged to, somehow, obtain the power from Westminster to hold a referendum within three months of winning a majority at the next Westminster election. Slow because she says independence will only be secured by winning over undecided voters through a strategy of patient competence. "We maximise that support through good governance; a growing, thriving economy; a mission to eradicate poverty; and demonstrating that Scotland's better days are ahead with independence," says the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch. Mr Yousaf's message is not dissimilar. "Don't get bogged down in process," he argues. Focus on making the case for independence, and the path will become clear. He has distanced himself from the controversial policy, which appears to have contributed to Ms Sturgeon's downfall, of turning the next general election into a de facto referendum on independence, stating over and over that he's "not wedded to it". Humza Yousaf has been portrayed as the continuity candidate The MSP for Glasgow Pollok is dismissive of the notion that Westminster would agree to begin independence negotiations in the event of pro-independence parties winning more than 50% of the vote in a general election. "When we need to get them on a phone call they don't even bloody come on the phone, right, let alone telling them to come up the road and demanding that they take part in negotiations," he said. Mr Yousaf has a similarly blunt assessment of Westminster on the other big issue which has split the SNP - gender. "There's a fundamental principle here about our democracy which is under attack," he told me on the day of his campaign launch. To recap, briefly: in December, after a lengthy and fractious process, the Scottish Parliament approved legislation which would have lowered from 18 to 16 the age at which someone could change the sex on their birth certificate, as well as removing medical and administrative hurdles to doing so. Ms Regan had resigned on principle as community safety minister rather than vote for the law, which she opposed. Kate Forbes said she would have voted against gay marriage Then, arguing that the Scottish bill contravened Britain's Equality Act by making it harder to exclude people born biologically male from women-only spaces, the UK government took the unprecedented step of blocking it from receiving royal assent. Ms Forbes - who told me that she too would have voted against the law, had she not been on maternity leave at the time - said she was "loath" to challenge Rishi Sunak's government on the matter in court, instead suggesting that the conflict could be solved by Holyrood amending the legislation. Ms Regan is not convinced that is possible. She proposes dropping the bill and sending the issue of gender to a citizens' assembly for consideration. Mr Yousaf diverges dramatically from the other two candidates on this point though, insisting it is vital to take the case to court. "There's a fundamental principle here about our democracy which is under attack," he told me. This argument is rejected by the UK government, which insists it is acting entirely properly within the structures of the Scotland Act which established devolution. This is not the only social issue roiling the campaign. Ms Forbes, a member of the Calvinist Free Church of Scotland, has attracted strong criticism for saying she would have voted against gay marriage had she been a politician at the time it became law in 2014. Her stance has also attracted some praise. "I actually really commend her for her honesty," says Alec Ross, an SNP member who owns an agricultural business in Stranraer. Mr Yousaf, who is a Muslim, has denied that he dodged the final vote on the subject in 2014 for religious reasons. Despite Kate Forbes insisting that she would defend the hard-won rights of any minority, including gay people, a slew of SNP parliamentarians deserted her campaign, leaving Mr Yousaf heavily favoured by the party establishment, including the key figure of Deputy First Minister John Swinney. This has led supporters of the two women in the race to cry foul, claiming that the hierarchy is doing all it can to stitch up the contest for Mr Yousaf. They point to the case of South of Scotland MSP Emma Harper, who broke the rules by using her party email address to campaign for the health secretary. Màiri McAllan, the environment, biodiversity and land reform minister who is often tipped as a future SNP leader herself, and who is backing Mr Yousaf, denies any foul play, pointing out that Ms Harper's email privileges were suspended as a result. "I think the fact that the parliamentary group has largely supported Humza is much more about his record and what his vision is for the party and for Scotland than anything to do with any conspiracies," she told me. To distinguish the party from Labour and the Conservatives, she adds: "It's more important than ever that the SNP is that centre-left, socially democratic progressive party." Forty-one years after the stushie in Ayr the battle continues to rage for the SNP's cultural, political, and economic soul.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-64939777

Eleanor Williams: The grooming gang lies that sparked outrage - BBC News

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Eleanor Williams said she was the victim of a grooming gang and many in her home town believed her.

Cumbria

Eleanor Williams was found guilty of perverting the course of justice Eleanor Williams said she was the victim of a grooming gang and had been raped multiple times, sparking outrage and protests in her home town. But as she is convicted of multiple counts of perverting the course of justice for inventing the whole story, the BBC looks at the impact her lies had. The horrific story Eleanor Williams told on social media quickly went viral. The then 19-year-old claimed she had been passed around for sex "for years" across the North of England by an Asian gang who drugged her, beat her, blackmailed her and threatened her with weapons. It captivated her home town of Barrow, Cumbria, heaped pressure on the police, led to abuse for local journalists and excited the far right. Now, a jury has decided her tales of being trafficked abroad and the photos of her injuries were all lies. The bruises that hundreds of thousands saw in her Facebook photos were real, but they were caused by Williams' own hand after she attacked herself with a hammer. Months before she posted her lies, she had been relating an even more elaborate story to the police, claiming a string of innocent men were rapists, sex traffickers and armed murderers. One man, she said, had trafficked her to Amsterdam, forced her to work in a brothel and sold her in a slave auction. But his phone and bank records showed he had been shopping in B&Q in Barrow at the time. Another, she said, was an Asian drug dealer who had threatened to kill her and dump her in the sea unless she had sex with multiple men. The court heard she inflicted these injuries on herself He was actually a young white Tesco worker from Essex who she had been speaking to on a dating site. She claimed she was forced to have sex with multiple men in one night in Blackpool, but CCTV footage proved she had been shopping and spent the night alone in her hotel room. Some of the men she accused were arrested - one was charged and spent 10 weeks on remand in prison - all said their lives had been ruined by her baseless allegations. Now, nearly three years after her claims were made public, a jury has convicted Williams, 22, of eight counts of perverting the course of justice. If you've been affected by issues in this report there is help and advice at BBC Action Line. This was an unusual case. In Cumbria in 2020-21, there were 46 reported offences of perverting the course of justice. In comparison, there were 1,177 reports of rape, sexual assault and trafficking. In March 2020, Barrow, on the southern tip of Cumbria, was trying to make sense of the life under the first Coronavirus lockdown. Largely confined indoors, many people were focused on social media. Williams' posts horrified those who saw them - and made many people angry. Her trial heard from numerous witnesses who recounted how "everyone" in Barrow knew her story. She said her abuse was being perpetrated by "evil yet clever men" who were "mostly Pakistani". But Williams went further - she wrote: "I am not the only girl in Barrow who has gone through this or is going through this." Her lies aroused interest from the far right. There were protests where people met up for socially-distanced rallies on retail parks where they would sit in their cars and beep their horns in unison. Some took things further and staged protests outside Barrow's police station and the offices of the local paper, The Mail, claiming not enough was being done about the town's supposed grooming problem. Far right bloggers promoted the protests and, in some cases, attended them, though not necessarily at the invitation of the organisers. The best known was Stephen Yaxley Lennon, better known by his pseudonym Tommy Robinson. Williams' family wrote on Facebook that they did "not want him involved", but he spoke to some of those she accused and in a video report at the time he said he had discovered "conflicting accounts" that he "didn't expect". Mohammed Ramzan said his life had been ruined Mohammed Ramzan, a well-known Barrow businessman, was one of those Williams accused. He described how in the months after her viral Facebook posts, their town was "a step away from anarchy". He was arrested in 2019 after Williams told police he was one of her principal abusers who had sexually abused her since she was 12 or 13. As the rumours spread, windows at his home were smashed, his businesses premises and his ice cream vans were attacked and he was frequently verbally abused in the street. As tensions rose, Mr Ramzan himself received a community order for non-violent harassment of some of Williams' family. He says it was due to online comments where he was defending himself. Jordan Trengove said his name was tarnished by Williams' false accusations against him Jordan Trengove was another of Williams' victims, but unlike the others he was charged on the basis of her allegations and spent 10 weeks on remand in prison, before being cleared. He described spending time in a cell with "an actual paedophile" who admitted to his crime. "Once something's said in Barrow, because it's such a small town, that's it, it's stuck with you for the rest of your life," he said. In April 2020, after a month of fever-pitch protests, Cumbria Police announced that Williams had been charged with perverting the course of justice. The following month, the force revealed that, after a year-long investigation, claims of a grooming gang operating in Barrow had "not been corroborated". It seemed to run completely contrary to the vivid and detailed story that Williams had told on Facebook. She listed how her abusers had broken her ribs, broken bones in her face, split her ear, cut her throat, attempted to cut off her breasts, carved words into her skin, branded her, used her as an ashtray, dislocated her elbow and "beaten me black". She said they had given her drugs to the point she was "nearly addicted to heroin" and had "stripped me naked, beaten me and dumped me in the middle of nowhere". More than 1,100 people donated to an online appeal to "get justice" for Williams The police announcements appeared to strengthen the resolve of Williams' supporters in Barrow and further afield. Hashtags dedicated to her trended, supportive videos appeared online, posters popped up in windows across Barrow and money was raised. One online fundraising campaign to "Get Justice for Ellie" raised more than £22,000. The protests continued, including one outside Preston Crown Court when she appeared to enter a not guilty plea. By the time her trial eventually began in October (having been delayed since 2021) those she had accused had waited more than three years since their arrests. Williams had also spent more than a year in prison after she breached her bail conditions. Williams claimed she had been trafficked to Amsterdam As the case opened, the questions about how all of Williams' claims, seemingly supported by photos, could have been made-up were addressed from the start. Prosecution counsel Jonathan Sandiford KC described the defendant as "a serial liar". Her defence was that most of her allegations were true, except some which she had been forced to fabricate by her abusers. She had used two phones to text herself messages from her "abusers", and she had changed the names of her Snapchat contacts to make it appear she was conversing with people traffickers. Mostly she had relied on the good nature of police officers and people in Barrow who took her distressing claims at face value. Many of her allegations were disproved easily with evidence from CCTV, bank records, phone records and social media searches. The jury learned she had admitted in a police interview that she lied about being trafficked to Ibiza and raped when the officers pointed out they could simply check flight records to corroborate her story. Possibly the most shocking for those in her home town was the revelation that she was responsible for the painful injuries they had seen on her Facebook posts. Detectives had recovered a hammer stained with her blood, identical to one she had bought days earlier, and a pathologist concluded her injuries were consistent with self-inflicted blows. The question of her motivation was one that eluded the trial - a transcript from one police interview showed an officer asking her whether she simply liked getting the force's attention. But speculation over the inspiration for her stories has been rife - in court Mr Sandiford pointed out the similarities between some of her claims and the plots of the Liam Neeson film Taken and the BBC drama Three Girls. Mr Ramzan suggested his accuser had lifted part of the plot for her story from the Hollywood thriller Gone Girl. "It's so many movies put together and you've just thrown my name in the mix and for what reason? It just baffles me. It's horrendous," he said. For Mr Ramzan, Mr Trengove and the string of other innocent men Williams accused, it is the end of a nightmarish chapter of their lives. After three years of being haunted by a dark and entirely fictitious past, Mr Ramzan told me he is looking to the future. "I'm getting my life back now," he said. Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64150026

SNP leader candidates make final TV debate pitches - BBC News

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The three vying to become SNP leader and Scotland's next first minister faced questions from a live studio audience.

Scotland

This has, broadly, been a debate focused on policy rather than personality - something summed up when Humza Yousaf said he was "not going to sit here and slag off colleagues in government". He did clash with Kate Forbes over her approach to business, but that was teed up by the audience more than the candidates themselves. When given the chance, the trio have not sought to land punches on each other. The cross-examination portion of the debate was notably less fiery than in previous events. That may be in part because yellow-on-yellow attacks are greeted with glee by opposition parties, but it is also a mark of how the candidates have developed their approach. Rather than seeking to savage Humza Yousaf in the cross-examination section, this time Kate Forbes asked policy-laden questions which promoted her own strengths on economic issues. Ash Regan brought up gender reform - again, something she sees as a strength of her own campaign. Humza Yousaf was actually ticked off by Stephen Jardine for talking about his own policies at length when he was meant to be questioning Kate Forbes. This may be because of the fear that mud thrown now could still be stuck when future elections roll around. But it may also be because this race uses a single transferable vote system – and in a tight contest, second-preference votes could turn out to be crucial. It may be more profitable to make friends than to try to knock out opponents entirely.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-64939906

Eleanor Williams jailed over false rape claims - BBC News

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The judge said Eleanor Williams' claims she was trafficked by an Asian gang were "complete fiction".

Cumbria

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Williams claimed traffickers attacked her with a hammer, but CCTV footage showed her buying the tool herself A woman who falsely claimed she was raped by multiple men and trafficked by an Asian grooming gang has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years. Eleanor Williams sparked protests in her Cumbrian home town of Barrow after posting photos on social media of injuries she said were from beatings. But Preston Crown Court heard she inflicted the wounds herself using a hammer. Williams, 22, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice. A two-day sentencing hearing was told three men Williams falsely accused over a three-year period tried to take their own lives after being targeted and suffering "hell on earth". One of them - Jordan Trengove - spent 73 days in prison, sharing a cell with a convicted sex offender after he was charged as a result of Williams' claims. They had been on a night out in March 2019 when she was taken home after becoming intoxicated. Williams later alleged Mr Trengove had raped her that night, and then on two more occasions, claiming he attacked her and threatened her with a knife. The court heard he had the word "rapist" spray painted across his house. Eleanor Williams' trial was told she inflicted injuries on herself with the hammer Barrow businessman Mohammed Ramzan, who Williams claimed to have worked for, was accused of grooming her from the age of 12 and putting her to work in brothels in Amsterdam. He said he had received "countless death threats" on social media. Williams had given police an account of being taken to Blackpool by Mr Ramzan where she said she was taken to different addresses and forced to have sex with several men. When police made inquiries, they found she had travelled to the seaside town alone and stayed in a hotel, where she bought a Pot Noodle from a nearby shop and then stayed in her room watching YouTube. Meanwhile, Oliver Gardner said a chance encounter with Williams in Preston one night led to him being accused of being a rapist who had trafficked her and sold her to two Asian men. As a result of the accusations he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Honorary Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham said Williams had experienced difficulties since childhood and had a history of self-harm. However, he said her allegations were of the utmost severity and it was troubling there had been "no significant sign of remorse" and "no explanation why the defendant would commit these offences". Describing her claims as "complete fiction", he said: "Unless and until the defendant chooses to say why she has told these lies we will not know." The judge added: "She's gone to extraordinary lengths to create false accusations including causing herself significant injury." The claims had created a "state of heightened tension" in Barrow for about four months, he said, with police describing the turbulence as being like nothing seen in the town for decades. Social media threats were made against the local force, the court heard, with a caravan of demonstrators travelling in vehicles from Barrow to Ulverston and back after Williams posted the pictures on Facebook in May 2020. Protests were held outside the police station and on a retail park. Videos of an appearance in the town by English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson were shown in court. Judge Altham said: "Police were under pressure from those who believed they were complicit in a cover-up on one hand and those who felt unsafe at the hands of vigilantes on the other." Before Judge Altham began his sentencing remarks, the defence read a letter from Williams in which she said she knew she had "done wrong over some of this" and was "sorry" but added she did not accept she was guilty. She said she was "devastated" by the "trouble caused" by her Facebook post and added "if I knew what consequences would come from the status I would never have wrote it". She said "anything that happened in the community was not instigated by me and my family did not want Tommy Robinson in town". Mohammed Ramzan (second right) told the court his family had been targeted "in the most horrendous way" Mr Trengove told reporters he did not think the sentence was long enough and that he planned to take action against the police. Meanwhile, Mr Ramzan said he felt "no sense of triumph, only sadness", adding: "I'm not sure how the family and I are going to recover from this. Mud sticks and I fear it may take some time." Williams was found guilty in January of eight counts of doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of justice. She had earlier pleaded guilty to one further count. However, last month she announced she had launched an appeal against her conviction. Supt Matthew Pearman, of Cumbria Police, said Williams' allegations "could not have been taken any more seriously when she initially came forward" as a "large-scale investigation" was started. "This has been a lengthy, complex and ultimately tragic case, as well as a dark period for Barrow," he said. "I hope that the full story, now it is in the public domain, will demonstrate that the police take allegations of sexual and physical abuse extremely seriously and will investigate thoroughly. "I urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual or physical abuse to report it today. You will be listened to and supported." Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64950862

US drone crashes after encounter with Russian jet - BBC News

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The US says the two aircraft collided over the Black Sea, but Russia says there was no contact.

Europe

Reaper drones are full-size aircraft designed for reconnaissance and surveillance A Russian fighter jet has collided with a US drone, causing the unmanned US aircraft to crash into the Black Sea, the American military says. The incident highlights the increasing risk of direct confrontation between Russia and the US over the Ukraine war. The US says the drone was on a routine mission in international airspace when two Russian jets tried to intercept it. Russia said the drone crashed after a "sharp manoeuvre", and denied that the two aircraft made direct contact. The Russian defence ministry also said the MQ-9 Reaper drone was flying with its transponders turned off. Transponders are communications devices that allow the aircraft to be tracked. The incident happened at about 07:03 Central European Time (06:03 GMT) on Tuesday, according to the US military. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. "Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9," the statement said. Several times before the collision the Su-27 fighter jets dumped fuel on the drone in a "reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner", it said. The US summoned the Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, to protest against the move. Following the meeting, Russian state media quoted Antonov as saying that Moscow saw the drone incident as "a provocation". Tensions have risen over the Black Sea ever since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the US and the UK have stepped up reconnaissance and surveillance flights, though always operating in international airspace. The key question is whether Tuesday's encounter was an attempt by Russia to disrupt the US drone and its work, or whether it was a deliberate attempt to bring it down. According to the US, there has been a "pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots" interacting with allied aircraft in the region. So this could simply have been a mistake by a Russian pilot who got too close as they "buzzed" the drone. But if this was a deliberate attack on a US aircraft by a Russian warplane, then that would amount to a huge provocation and a substantial escalation. In that case, the attack would be seen as an attempt by the Kremlin to test the response of the United States. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Western allies have worked hard to stop the war in Ukraine escalating into a direct confrontation with Russia. But this incident over the Black Sea is just that. The US will now have to evaluate its response. As US military commanders warned in their statement, this was a dangerous act that "could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64957792

Juno Awards 2023: Avril Lavigne confronts topless protester onstage while The Weeknd wins big - BBC News

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The protester interrupted the opening of the Juno Awards, Canada's equivalent of the Brits.

Entertainment & Arts

Avril Lavigne confronted a topless environmental protester onstage at the Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Brits. As the singer introduced a performance at the start of Monday's ceremony, a woman ran onto the stage behind her. A message on her back read "save the green belt", apparently in reference to a controversial housing development plan by the Ontario government. Lavigne tried to finish her speech before confronting the woman. "Get the [expletive] off," she said and swatted at her breast, reported Canada's CBC News. The woman was then escorted off stage by a security guard. The pop-rocker alluded to the intruder in her later acceptance speech. "Now, nobody try anything this time. I'll [mess a woman] up," joked Lavigne, while collecting the TikTok Juno fan choice award. Avril Lavigne had to deal with a topless environmental protester while onstage at Monday's Juno Awards The ceremony's host, Shang-Chi actor Simu Liu praised Lavigne, who is from Ontario, for "handling that topless lady like a champion". In November, the Ontario government issued new regulations to remove 7,400 acres of protected Greenbelt land and open it up for housing, with 50,000 new homes set to be built by 2025. The move, which has been criticised by environmental groups, is under investigation by the province's auditor general and integrity commissioner. The Weeknd's hits include I Can't Feel My Face, Starboy and Blinding Lights Elsewhere on the night, Toronto singer The Weeknd became the Juno's second most-honoured artist of all time. The star won album of the year for Dawn FM - a concept record set in purgatory - earning him his 22nd Juno award, overtaking Celine Dion and Bryan Adams. Only country-pop singer Anne Murray has more, with 24. The musician, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, did not attend the event, and his absence reportedly prompted jeers from the crowd at the Rogers Place venue in Edmonton, Alberta. Meanwhile, rock band Nickelback, whose lead singer Chad Kroeger used to be married to Lavigne, were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the event. Nickelback performing onstage after being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame "Twenty seven years, blood sweat and tears, started off 300 kilometres southeast of here in a little town called Hanna," said Kroeger, referencing the band's hometown. "We had no idea what we were doing and most of the time still don't," he added. "But everything we did wound up leading us to this moment right here. But we didn't make it here without a lot of help." They then closed the show by performing their hits Rockstar, How You Remind Me and Animals.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64949073

Free childcare expanded to try to help parents back to work - BBC News

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Once a child is nine-months-old parents in England will be able to access up to 30-hours of free childcare.

UK Politics

Free childcare for working parents in England will be expanded to cover all children under five by September 2025, as the chancellor looks to get more parents back to work. The move could allow 60,000 more parents of young children to enter the workforce, according to the government's independent forecaster. Some 1.3 million people in the UK were unemployed in December 2022. The new help for parents will be introduced in stages. The plans are part of a government drive to boost economic growth. Childcare in the UK is among the most expensive in the world and the government has been under pressure, including from some of its own MPs, to provide more help for parents. The rising cost of childcare has been widely seen as a deterrent for some parents to go back to work or work full time. The extension of free childcare has been lobbied for by business group the CBI, which calculates that while it will cost several billion pounds, it could raise up to £10bn in further revenue by increasing the number of parents able to work. However, Paul Johnson, director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), doubted it would make "a big difference". "The childcare package is expected to only get a few tens of thousands more mothers, mostly, back into work," he told the BBC. "We know a lot of people don't even take up what they're entitled to among the three and four-year-olds." While the chancellor has increased the amount of free childcare available for pre-school children, nurseries have been calling for more money to pay for those children who already get government-funded provision. Jeremy Hunt said he would increase that funding "by £204m from this September rising to £288m next year. This is an average of a 30% increase in the two-year-old rate this year". We got in touch with the Treasury to ask for more details and they told us that the amount paid for two-year-olds is going up from £6 to £8 an hour, which is what the chancellor was referring to. But funding for three and four-year-olds is going up from £5.29 to £5.50 an hour, which is only about 4%. The IFS estimated this afternoon that the extra £288m is about a 7.5% increase in the current budget. The government will also introduce changes to the staff-to-child ratios - moving from one carer for every four children to 1:5 to align with Scotland. Supporters of the idea say it could help cut costs for parents. However, the Early Years Alliance, which represents around 14,000 childcare providers in England, said relaxing ratios was a "shameful decision" which risked compromising safety and quality of care, as well as putting more pressure on the workforce during "a severe staffing crisis". The organisation's chief executive, Neil Leitch, also raised concerns about whether there would be enough childcare places to meet increased demand. "At a time when settings are closing at record levels and early educators are leaving the sector in their droves, unless the proper infrastructure is put in place by the time the extended offers are rolled out, many parents of younger children expecting funded places to be readily available to them are likely to be left sorely disappointed," he said. How will you be affected by the issues 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/uk-politics-64959611

Clinton, Bush and Obama: US president visits that brought NI to a standstill - BBC News

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Look back on the previous visits of US presidents as Joe Biden confirms his visit later this year.

Northern Ireland

US President Joe Biden has said he intends to visit Northern Ireland after being invited to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden said he wants to visit both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. More details of the visit are expected to be revealed in the coming days, but the arrival of a US president has traditionally been a massive occasion in Northern Ireland. From Bill Clinton to George Bush and Barack Obama, we take a look at the visits of presidents past. Bill Clinton made history by becoming the first sitting US President to visit Northern Ireland when he and First Lady Hillary Clinton touched down at Belfast International Airport on 30 November 1995. Mr Clinton visited Northern Ireland to voice his support for an end to the Troubles and to encourage a peace agreement. During the trip, the president visited a number of areas in Belfast and also visited Londonderry, Armagh and Omagh. After arriving in Belfast, the Clinton family toured Mackies factory on the Springfield Road, where they were introduced by two local primary schoolchildren, David Sterrit and Catherine Hamill. Mr Clinton also visited the Shankill Road and the Falls Road, where he shook hands with Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams. After the handshake, Mr Clinton visited an Enterprise Park in east Belfast while Mrs Clinton met a group of women on the Ormeau Road. The Clintons then made a trip by helicopter to Londonderry, where the president spoke in front of a packed crowd at Guildhall Square - a moment that years later featured prominently in the second season of hit comedy Derry Girls. The evening was rounded off when Bill and Hillary Clinton switched on the Christmas lights outside Belfast City Hall. Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair and his wife Cherie attended the site of the Omagh bombing in September 1998 Mr Clinton would return to Northern Ireland again on 3 September 1998, five months after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and just a month after the Omagh bombing. A Real IRA bomb killed 29 people in the County Tyrone town on 15 August 1998, the biggest single atrocity of the Troubles. Whilst there, Mr Clinton gave an address he gave his sympathies to the bereaved families and called for a new peace to be built following the agreement. The president also met with Prime Minister Tony Blair and addressed the Northern Ireland Assembly. He also visited Armagh for a special Gathering for Peace on the Mall, where thousands turned out to hear them speak. He shared the stage at that time with Mr Blair, former Northern Ireland Secretary, the late Mo Mowlam, and Northern Ireland's newly-appointed first and deputy first ministers, David Trimble and Seamus Mallon. Mr Clinton addressed people in a key note speech at the Odyssey Arena on 13 December 2000 during his third visit Nearing the end of his time as President, Bill Clinton once more returned to Northern Ireland as part of his farewell tour. This was at a time when the peace process is struggling and sectarian murder had returned to the streets. During the visit, Mr Clinton held talks in which he urged all sides not to give up trying to overcome the deadlock on decommissioning and demilitarisation. He also delivered a keynote speech at the Odyssey in Belfast, in which he encouraged the implementation and progression of the Good Friday Agreement. Bill Clinton given a jersey by the Belfast Giants hockey team Mr Clinton's visit to Belfast culminated with a celebration outside City Hall. The president switched on the city's festive lights in front of a huge Christmas tree donated to Belfast by the city of Nashville, Tennessee. Thousands of people crammed into the city streets and cheered as the president wished them a peaceful Christmas. Georg Bush met with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and then prime minister Tony Blair at Hillsborough Castle US President George Bush visited Northern Ireland in April 2003 to hold talks over the political process in the country and the war in Iraq. The visit began with a summit in Hillsborough Castle with then Prime Minster Tony Blair to discuss gains on the battlefield and plans for the leadership post-conflict in Iraq. At the time the IRA leadership was under intense pressure to fully disarm and disband. Northern Ireland's devolved institutions had been suspended since 14 October 2002 following a row over allegations of IRA activity, including alleged spying within the Northern Ireland Office. President Bush, Mr Blair and the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern met with Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and Mark Durkan of the SDLP - the leaders of the pro-Agreement parties who had remained in talks aimed at resurrecting the Northern Ireland Assembly. George W Bush was welcomed at Stormont Castle by Peter Robinson and by Martin McGuinness On 16 June 2008, Mr Bush made a one-day stop in Northern Ireland during his European farewell trip as his presidency came to an end. The president was welcomed at Stormont Castle by then first and deputy first ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness. He was later joined by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Taoiseach Brian Cowen. Speaking after meeting with Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness, the president said the progress made in Northern Ireland over the past 10 years was unimaginable. He discussed investment issues and the devolution of policing and justice. He then made visits to Lough View Integrated Primary School in Castlereagh - taking some time to hit the basketball court - and a community project in the city centre. Several hundred people demonstrated in Belfast city centre against his visit, with some climbing onto the roof of the City Hall with an Iraqi flag erected. The protest at Belfast City Hall was organised by the Belfast Anti-War Movement representing trade unions and student and women's groups. U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a keynote address at the Waterfront Hall ahead of the G8 Summit on June 17, 2013 US President Barack Obama arrived in Northern Ireland on 17 June 2013 to attended the G8 summit, which was being held County Fermanagh. Following his arrival, the president spoke to an audience at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. During this he said the road to a lasting peace in Northern Ireland was "as urgent now as it has ever been". Protesters near the site of G8 summit in County Fermanagh Thousands of police officers are involved in security during the G8 event and Mr Obama's visit in Belfast, with disruptions to transport, roads and schools. Anti-hunger activists wore giant heads of the G8 leaders, including Mr Obama, to call for them to eliminate the causes of hunger. They sailed near the G8 media centre in Enniskillen. The president also visited Enniskillen Integrated Primary School, where he joined UK Prime Minister David Cameron

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64949360

Rishi Sunak: China represents challenge to world order - BBC News

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The PM says the UK will increase defence spending because "the world has become more volatile".

UK Politics

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. China "represents a challenge to the world order", the PM says. China "represents a challenge to the world order" which the UK must take seriously, Rishi Sunak has said. The prime minister told the BBC he was increasing funding for the armed forces because "the world has become more volatile" and "threats to our security have increased". Defence spending will rise by nearly £5bn over the next two years. But No 10 has given no timeframe for a longer term ambition to boost spending to 2.5% of national income. Mr Sunak was speaking in California, where he held talks with his US and Australian counterparts to agree details of a UK-US pact to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. The agreement, known as the Aukus pact, was signed in 2021 as part of a joint effort to counter Chinese military power in the Indo-Pacific region. Mr Sunak said in a press conference to mark the pact that the Aukus partnership would deliver "one of the most advanced" submarines "the world has ever known", creating thousands of jobs in British shipyards. The new SSN-Aukus submarines will also be used by the UK, and will be in operation for the Royal Navy by the late 2030s under the plan. The boats will replace the UK's seven Astute-class subs. The UK's submarines will mainly be built by BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and Rolls-Royce, with the US sharing sensitive technology for the project. Australia's boats will be built in South Australia, using some components manufactured in the UK, and will be in service in the early 2040s. Mr Sunak said: "The Aukus partnership, and the submarines we are building in British shipyards, are a tangible demonstration of our commitment to global security. "This partnership was founded on the bedrock of our shared values and resolute focus on upholding stability in the Indo-Pacific and beyond." Earlier, in an interview with the BBC's Chris Mason, Mr Sunak said: "China is a country with fundamentally different values to ours and it represents a challenge to the world order. "And that's why it's right that we are alert to that and take steps to protect ourselves… stand up for our values and protect our interests." He said the government took the "challenge" posed by China seriously, adding that the UK had taken action including blocking Chinese investment in sensitive sectors like semiconductors. Pressed on whether the ambition to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income was meaningless without a timeframe, the prime minister said the government should be judged "on our actions". As chancellor, Mr Sunak said he had overseen the largest uplift in defence spending since the end of the Cold War and the government had increased spending every year since then. "We're one of the largest spenders on defence anywhere in the world, the largest in Europe, and that will continue to remain the case," he added. However, Labour pointed out that defence spending had not hit 2.5% of GDP since it left government in 2010. The UK currently aims to spend 2% of GDP on defence each year, latest figures show. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy described the ambition as "another hollow promise", with "no plan and no timetable". Some Tory MPs have also expressed concern about the level of investment in the armed forces. Tobias Ellwood, who is chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said the UK was on a "peacetime budget" as the world was "sliding towards a new Cold War". While Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has publicly welcomed the extra £5bn announced by the prime minister, he had been hoping for considerably more. There had been reports - denied by Mr Wallace - that he had threatened to resign if he did not get a commitment to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. Mr Wallace told the Commons he was "not interested" in resigning, although he added that he was worried about the increased threats facing the UK and long-term investment was needed. Hulking floating airports, aircraft carriers, dominate the shoreline on the Pacific Coast of the United States, where there is a gathering of what's known as the Aukus pact: Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, keeping a collectively nervous eye on an increasingly muscular China. Privately, the government is stark in its assessments. Western democracies are comparatively and collectively weaker economically as China grows; Beijing can use every instrument of the state as a tool of foreign policy in a way that's impossible in an open democracy. All the data make us more concerned, not less, as one senior figure put it. The review of foreign and defence policy, which has just been published, says the UK is committed to "swift and robust action" to counter any threat to UK national interests from China. Mr Sunak was also asked whether Chinese-owned social media app TikTok should be banned on all government phones. It comes after the Sunday Times reported experts at GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre had identified risks to sensitive information from the app and could issue advice to ministers and civil servants. The prime minister refused to comment directly but said "we take the security of devices seriously and we look also at what our allies are doing". The US government and the European Commission have already taken steps to ban TikTok on the phones of staff members. The government has set out its plans for foreign and defence policy in an new version of the so-called Integrated Review. The update was ordered by then-Prime Minister Liz Truss in September last year to take account of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The review identified Russia as "the most pressing national security and foreign policy priority in the short-to-medium term". But it also describes China under Communist Party rule as an "epoch-defining and systemic challenge... across almost every aspect of national life and government policy". It says the government will engage "constructively" with Beijing on shared priorities but where the Chinese government's actions threaten the UK's interests "we will take swift and robust action to protect them". Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who is among the Tory MPs calling for the government to take a tougher line on China, said he was "confused" about what the government's position was. "Does that now mean that China is a threat or an epoch-defining challenge or a challenging government epoch or none of that?" he asked in the Commons. Mr Lammy said the updated review was "overdue" but welcome. "The initiative to improve understanding of China in government is vital, particularly given the Foreign Office has only been training 14 people a year to speak fluent Mandarin," he added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64943445

Lucy Letby: Doctor asked for nurse to be taken off shift - court - BBC News

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A doctor raised concerns about nurse Lucy Letby's presence and the deaths of babies, her trial hears.

Liverpool

Dr Stephen Brearey says he escalated concerns to senior management about nurse Lucy Letby A doctor asked for nurse Lucy Letby to be taken off shift after raising repeated concerns about her presence and the deaths of babies - but was told "no", a court has heard. The nurse denies murdering seven babies and the attempted murder of 10 others at Countess of Chester Hospital. Dr Stephen Brearey told Manchester Crown Court he "didn't want nurse Letby to come back to work" until concerns had been "investigated properly". Dr Brearey, who was head of the hospital's neonatal unit, asked for Ms Letby to be stood down after the deaths of two baby boys, who were part of a set of triplets, in June 2016. The court has previously heard that the first boy, referred to as Child O, was in good condition and stable up until the afternoon of 23 June when he suffered a "remarkable deterioration" and died. His brother, Child P, died just over 24 hours later after also being attacked by Ms Letby, it is alleged. The prosecution claims Ms Letby murdered the boys by injecting air into their bloodstreams. Dr Brearey told the court that the death of the brothers was "distressing for those involved and deeply so with me". He said: "All three triplets were born in such good condition, they were following a healthy path to growing and developing and hopefully going home." Dr Brearey told jurors that Child O's collapse had come "out of the blue" and observed that in the hours before his death there had been an "unusual" rash on his chest. He said this was something he had not "seen before or since". Lucy Letby is accused of carrying out the attacks at Countess of Chester Hospital Following Child P's death on 24 June, there was a debrief for the medical team on the neonatal unit. "Ms Letby was present in that debrief. I asked her how she was feeling and I can remember suggesting to her she needed the weekend off to recover," the doctor said. "She didn't seem overly upset to me in the debrief and told me at the time she was on shift next day, which was a Saturday." The doctor said he had been "concerned" about Ms Letby going back on shift because he had "already expressed concerns to senior management over the association between nurse Letby and the deaths we'd seen on the unit". Dr Brearey said he had called Karen Rees, the duty executive senior nurse, to report his concerns, explaining that he "didn't want nurse Letby to come back to work the following day or until all this was investigated properly". Dr Brearey said Ms Rees had "said no", telling him "there was no evidence" for his claims. He told the court he had asked Ms Rees if she was "happy to take responsibility for the decision, in view of the fact myself and consultant colleagues wouldn't be happy with nurse Letby going to work the following day". Ms Rees responded "yes", the medic said. Dr Brearey told the court that "further conversations" had taken place the following week and the decision had been taken to remove Ms Letby from frontline nursing duties - placing her in a clerical role instead. Ben Myers KC, defending, noted that Dr Brearey had first "identified" Ms Letby as someone of interest as early as June 2015 after the death of the first three babies in the case. Dr Brearey had noted, with colleagues, that Ms Letby was present when those three children died in 2015. Mr Myers put it to the doctor that he was guilty of "confirmation bias" towards Ms Letby and had failed to look at "suboptimal care" given to the children in this case. Mr Myers put it to Dr Brearey that if there had been a basis for his suspicions he would have gone to the police. Dr Brearey said he and his colleagues had been trying to "escalate appropriately" and had needed "executive support" to decide the "correct plan of action going forward". The doctor added: "It's not something anyone wanted to consider, that a member of staff is harming babies. "The senior nursing staff on the unit didn't believe this could be true." He said with every "unusual" episode of baby collapse between June 2015 and June 2016 there had been "increasing suspicion" about Ms Letby, which led him to eventually escalate his concerns and request she be taken off shift. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-64953681

Phyllida Barlow: Renowned British sculptor dies aged 78 - BBC News

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The Newcastle-born artist had a long career teaching art before her breakthrough.

England

Phyllida Barlow, pictured in her studio in 2018, had a long career teaching art before gaining international recognition with her sculptures The Newcastle-born artist, known for her large installations, had a long career teaching art before she got her major breakthrough. Barlow often developed her colossal sculptural projects using everyday DIY materials such as plywood, cardboard, plaster, cement, fabric and paint. The artist's gallery, Hauser & Wirth, described her as a "guiding light and inspiration to so many". She is survived by her husband Fabian Peake and their five children, the gallery said. Born in 1944, her family moved to Richmond in London after the Second World War, with the bomb damage and the rebuilding of the capital said to be life-long sources of inspiration for her art. Her body of work, which also includes drawing, installation and writing, has been presented in solo exhibitions around the world. Barlow enrolled at the Chelsea School of Art in London in 1960 and initially studied painting before switching to sculpture. She later transferred to the Slade School of Art, where she experimented with materials such as plaster, resin, fibreglass and wood. Barlow later taught at several art colleges before returning to Slade in 1988, where she spent 20 years as a professor. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Phyllida Barlow will represent the UK at the Venice Biennale. Hauser & Wirth said a London solo show led to her being invited to exhibit at the Serpentine Gallery in 2010, bringing her work to a wide international audience. At the age of 65, Barlow entered a period of global recognition, the gallery said, with her work the subject of numerous high profile solo exhibitions across Europe and the US. Barlow, who was accepted as a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 2011, was awarded a CBE for her services to the arts in 2015 and a damehood in 2021. In 2017 she was selected to represent Britain at the Venice International Art Biennale, recognised as the most important contemporary art festival in the world. This huge 2020 'untitled undercover ii' piece was made from steel, timber, plywood, fabric, paint, foam, polystyrene, plaster and cement Frances Morris, Director Tate Modern, said: "Barlow's practice implicitly acknowledges that in a world saturated with objects, the role of sculpture and the job of the sculptor might be less about making things than generating a particular type of experience of the work, and of the world in which it temporarily resides." Former BBC arts editor Will Gompertz previously described her work as "using the destroyed and the discarded, the fragile and the overlooked, to make works that are often displayed in the marbled halls of the art establishment". Iwan Wirth, president of Hauser & Wirth, said Barlow was a "cherished friend as well as a visionary artist". "Her generosity of spirit extended through her art, her writings, and her many years of teaching and mentorship," he said. "A truly thoughtful and companionable human being, Phyllida was a guiding light and inspiration to so many." The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-64946354

Baroness Masham, Paralympian and longest-serving female peer, dies aged 87 - BBC News

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Baroness Masham competed at three Paralympic games and campaigned for disability rights.

UK Politics

Baroness Masham, a Paralympian and the longest-serving female member of the House of Lords ever, has died aged 87. Lady Masham won medals in swimming and table tennis at the 1960, 1964 and 1968 games and was created a life peer in 1970. She spent much of her career campaigning for disability rights. The Spinal Injuries Association, which she founded in 1974, said it was "devastated to have lost our greatest champion". She died peacefully in hospital in Northallerton, Yorkshire, on Sunday, it said. Lady Masham, born Susan Sinclair, became a wheelchair user after suffering an injury to her spinal cord in a riding accident in 1958. Two years later, she won a gold medal in the 25m breaststroke at the Paralympic games in Rome, and in 1964 won another in the women's doubles table tennis in Tokyo. She won a further six silver medals and two bronze across both sports in the three games at which she competed. In 1976, she was the subject of an episode of This Is Your Life. She sat as a crossbencher and spent a total of 53 years in the House of Lords, more than any other female peer in history. She set up the Spinal Injuries Association to address a lack of specialist care or advice available to newly injured people and served as its president until her death. The association described Lady Masham as "the reason we have been able to champion, fight, serve and support thousands of spinal cord injured people ever since". "Our condolences go to her family at this sad time," it said. Lady Masham also sat on a number of all party parliamentary groups (APPGs), including those on global tuberculosis, HIV and Aids, and malaria. The APPG on global tuberculosis said she had been "one of parliament's most vociferous champions for disability rights and has worked tirelessly to advocate on behalf of people around the world living with TB and HIV". "Baroness Masham's remarkable life serves as a testament of her compassion and dedication. She will be greatly missed by all," it said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64947909

Gary Lineker to return to Match of the Day as BBC's Tim Davie denies climbdown - BBC News

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Director general Tim Davie says the BBC will carry out an independent review into its social media rules.

UK

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Gary Lineker will return to present Match of the Day after he was taken off air amid an impartiality row following his criticism of the government's new asylum policy. BBC director general Tim Davie said an independent review of BBC social media guidelines would be carried out - and denied the BBC had backed down. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said "it was right" the matter had been resolved. But on Monday the BBC continued to face criticism from a range of sides. Lineker said he supported the review and looked forward to getting back on air, describing the last few days as "surreal" and thanking people for their "incredible support". But Tory backbench MP Philip Davies told the Mail Online the BBC's decision was a "pathetic capitulation" to Lineker and the "start of the end for the licence fee", while ex-cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg also warned the "licence fee has passed its sell-by date". Labour's shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell, meanwhile, said the return of Lineker was welcome, but "much bigger questions remain about the impartiality and independence of the BBC from government pressures". Former BBC director-general Greg Dyke compared the row to "like a 5-0" win for Lineker and said he thought there was a public perception the government had bullied the broadcaster into removing the TV star, which was "very bad news" for the BBC. Ex-BBC News executive Sir Craig Oliver, who went on to be a Downing Street communications chief under then-Prime Minister David Cameron, described the situation as "a total mess" and said it was the "wrong choice" to have asked Lineker to step back in the first place. "The reality is the BBC today has announced it will have a review of its social media guidelines," he told the BBC. "In fact, it needs a review of how it handles crisis like these." Sir Michael Lyons, a former BBC chairman under Labour, told BBC Newsnight: "It simply isn't possible for the BBC to be a champion of dissent in Russia and Hong Kong, and at the same time not leave space for dissent in this country." He added there was "a big question about consistency in the way rules are applied" saying some BBC stars have been allowed to say things about the Labour Party, referring to a tweet by Lord Alan Sugar advising people not to vote for Jeremy Corbyn. Former controller of BBC editorial policy Richard Ayre said rewriting guidelines was not straightforward and was "going to be a nightmare". "Whatever emerges will be unsatisfactory to a significant number of people. It's inevitable." Earlier, Davie insisted the decision to pull Lineker off air was about buying some time until the two sides could come to an agreement over his political tweets - and said that was exactly what had happened. He said he took "proportionate action", adding: "We believe we did the right thing. I think I did the right thing." When challenged by BBC media correspondent David Sillito on whether it was a climbdown by the BBC, he said: "I don't think so. "I've always said, we needed to take proportionate action. For some people, by the way, we've taken too severe action... others think we're being too lenient." In a separate statement on Monday, Davie apologised, saying: "Everyone recognises this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences. I apologise for this." This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. WATCH: The weekend of BBC football show chaos... in 90 seconds The row began last week when, in a tweet, Lineker said the government's new Illegal Migration Bill was an "immeasurably cruel policy" and said the language used around it was "not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s". His words were criticised by Conservative ministers, including the home secretary. Lineker was told on Friday to step back from presenting Match of the Day until an agreement was reached. It triggered an unprecedented wave of walkouts from fellow pundits and commentators in solidarity with Lineker, which disrupted weekend football coverage across the BBC. Sports presenter Mark Chapman - who did not present BBC Radio 5 Live's Saturday Coverage or Match of the Day 2 on Sunday on TV - returned to football radio show The Monday Night Club and apologised for the lack of service over the weekend. He said it had been "miserable and difficult" for the staff involved and it was "disgusting and unfair" that the staff who did work on the weekend received abuse. He added: "It is ironic in a row over impartiality we have all been seen to be taking sides, and I feel there are lessons to be learned by all involved." BBC Scotland also had full coverage of Monday evening's Scottish cup tie between Falkirk and Ayr United after its programming was also limited over the weekend. After his return to BBC TV was announced, Lineker tweeted: "However difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn't compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. "It's heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you. We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people." The government's Illegal Migration Bill passed its first hurdle in the Commons by 312 votes to 250 on Monday night, with the majority of Tory MPs voting for the plans. Lineker has hosted Match of the Day since 1999 and is the BBC's highest paid star, having earned about £1.35m in 2020-21. He is employed by the BBC on a freelance basis. BBC employees are expected to remain impartial on political matters and must follow strict social media guidelines, but there is significant debate about how they should apply to staff outside of news. Lineker said he backed the independent social media review which Davie said will have a "particular focus" on how the guidelines apply to freelancers outside news and current affairs. "Shortly, the BBC will announce who will conduct that review," Davie said. "Between now and when the review reports Gary will abide by the editorial guidelines, that's where we are." Lineker is expected to return to host Match of the Day's live coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley on Saturday evening. He is then set to front Sunday's live coverage of Grimsby Town at Brighton & Hove Albion on BBC One. The row over Lineker's tweets also renewed questions over BBC chairman Richard Sharp. A review into Mr Sharp's appointment as BBC chairman is investigating whether he failed to properly disclose details of his involvement in the facilitation of an £800,000 loan guarantee for the then-prime minister Boris Johnson. He has denied any involvement in the arrangement of a loan for Mr Johnson. Asked about Mr Sharp, Mr Sunak told the BBC: "He was appointed before I was prime minister through an independent process. And that process is also now being reviewed independently. It's right that we let that review complete." Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey tweeted: "The BBC has made the right decision on Gary Lineker - now it's time for Rishi Sunak to do the right thing and sack Richard Sharp. The BBC needs a proper independent chair not a Johnson acolyte." This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64936917

Olivia Pratt-Korbel murder-accused was 'high-level' drug dealer - BBC News

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Thomas Cashman tells a jury he was making between £3,000 and £5,000 a week selling cannabis.

Liverpool

The man accused of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel was a "high-level cannabis dealer", he has told a court. Thomas Cashman is accused of killing the nine-year-old and injuring her mother after chasing Joseph Nee into their house in Liverpool on 22 August. He has started giving evidence at the trial at Manchester Crown Court. The 34-year-old told the jury he was making between £3,000 and £5,000 a week selling 5kg - 10kg (11 - 22lb) of cannabis. He said: "I would buy cars, bikes, save some, go on holidays and just spend it on stuff that I enjoyed basically." He said he left school at the age of 13 or 14 and by the time he was about 16 and working at a fair in Wales he was smoking cannabis every day. Mr Cashman, who has two children with "childhood sweetheart" Kaylee Sweeney, said he started selling cannabis when he was about 18 on a "small scale". He said: "I was basically smoking my profit." But by 2021, when he and the family moved to a home in Grenadier Drive, Liverpool, he was selling at a "high level", he told the court. He said: "I only ever sold it in my area where I've been brought up, so everyone I sold it to was everyone I knew." Olivia was shot when a man burst into her house and opened fire John Cooper KC, defending, said: "You became a cannabis dealer, didn't you?" Mr Cooper then asked: "Were you a high-level cannabis dealer?" To which the defendant answered: "Yes." He said his "catchment area" was around the Finch Lane area of Dovecot in Liverpool and he would often get the drugs dropped at his sister's house in Mab Lane. From there he said he would take them to whoever had asked for them, or to his friend's house, which he said was used as a "stash house". But there were issues with him using his sister's house, he told the court. He said: "My sister's boyfriend is an ex-police officer. "He didn't like it and he got on [at] my sister over it and they were having arguments between each other about me always being there." He said on the day of the shooting his sister had told him to stop having people round to the house because of the arguments. The defendant told the jury he knew Mr Nee, who he is alleged to have targeted in the shooting, and never had any problems with him or his brothers. He claimed the day before Olivia was shot he was at the Nee family home to look at his brother's new Audi A6 car. Asked about the suggestion he was "scoping things out" the day before the shooting, he said: "That is untrue, I wasn't." Thomas Cashman told the jury he was making between £3,000 and £5,000 a week selling cannabis He denied making any "confession" after the shooting to a key prosecution witness, a woman Mr Cashman was said to be having a "fling" with. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims Mr Cashman came to her house after the shooting where he changed his clothing and she overheard him say he had "done Joey". Mr Cashman said he dealt drugs to the woman's boyfriend, who owed him £25,000, and said she threatened to tell his partner they were having a relationship because he refused to go to Marbella to start a new life with her. Earlier the court heard the intended target of the shooting that killed Olivia was a convicted drug dealer with "enemies". The jury was told the shooting was not the first Mr Nee had been involved in with David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, saying he and members of his immediate family "had their enemies". He said Mr Nee was shot at by someone in March 2018, though the prosecution did not suggest Mr Cashman was responsible for or involved in the incident. The jury was also told Mr Nee had convictions for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, possession with intent to supply controlled drugs, possession of controlled drugs, burglary and theft, aggravated vehicle taking, theft of or from vehicles, associated motoring offences and a public order offence. Mr Cashman denies the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Mr Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-65025221

Bath: Car wedged against historic hotel lifted away - BBC News

The vehicle is manoeuvred out of the gap between the pavement and the hotel.

A car which became wedged against the basement windows of a historic hotel has been lifted away. Avon Fire and Rescue Service was called to the Francis Hotel in Queen Square, Bath, at about 04:45 GMT on Sunday after a Kia Picanto fell down into a gap between the pavement and building. A rescue crew freed one of the occupants, while the second managed to get out on their own.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-65033865

Johnson's questionable comments on Partygate scandal - BBC News

The former PM is to face questions from parliament's Privileges Committee on Wednesday.

The Commons Privileges Committee will quiz former prime minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday. They'll ask if when he made these comments, he inadvertently, recklessly or intentionally misled Parliament. Mr Johnson accepts that some of his statements about lockdown parties at Downing Street turned out to be incorrect, but insists that he did not mislead MPs on purpose.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65030319

Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk: Promoter Frank Warren says fight is off - BBC Sport

Tyson Fury's heavyweight fight with Oleksandr Usyk is off and Fury's promoter Frank Warren "does not think" it will happen in the near future.

Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk: Promoter Frank Warren says fight is off Last updated on .From the section Boxing Tyson Fury is undefeated and holds the WBC heavyweight title Promoter Frank Warren says Tyson Fury's heavyweight fight with Oleksandr Usyk is off - and he "does not think" it will happen in the near future. Talks over a bout at Wembley Stadium on 29 April have broken down, despite a late bid to salvage the situation. Usyk had agreed a 70/30 purse split in Fury's favour with terms for a rematch the only outstanding issue. But Warren said the fight is now a "dead duck" and suggested Usyk had looked "for a way to get out". "They said the fight must take place before 29 April and if it goes later they want different splits," Warren said. "The reason they did that was they didn't think Tyson would be ready for the 29th and suddenly Tyson was ready for it. "He has been in training camp for two and a half weeks, got trainers in from America and they looked for a way to get out." Fury currently holds the WBC heavyweight belt while Ukraine's Usyk, who beat Britain's Anthony Joshua for a second time last year, has the others in the division. Warren said Fury had agreed to the principle of a rematch but terms around the deal, and whether it would again be for all of the belts, had not been finalised. He said Usyk's camp have also been "turned" by potential earnings by fighting in Saudi Arabia later this year by which time Usyk would have to fight other mandatory challengers. "There is an established rota of who Usyk has to defend against," Warren said. "That's why after the 29th it goes away." Both parties have until 1 April to agree a deal after the WBA said it would wait until that date before ordering Usyk to fight mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois. A breakthrough in talks, followed by another obstacle When Fury, 34, beat Derek Chisora in December to retain his WBC title, he said agreeing a deal with Usyk and his team for an undisputed fight would be easy - but that has not proven to be the case. After months of back and forth, Fury publicly declared 12 days ago he would not accept anything less than a 70/30 purse split in his favour. Usyk surprised everyone by accepting that offer, despite holding three of the four world titles, and subsequently informed governing body the WBA that terms had been reached. • None Are Prince Naseem Hamed's sons coming for his crown? • None Is Ricky Gorman the next Tyson Fury? However, Fury then said he would not sign any deal that included a rematch clause - leading to a conference call on Sunday morning between all parties. Warren said "six or seven" outstanding issues were ironed out and he had managed to convince Fury to accept a rematch. The WBC champion agreed and the call ended with Team Fury optimistically preparing an official statement to announce the fight. Warren teased on Twitter on Sunday that news was imminent, but the two sides again clashed over the proposed terms of a rematch. According to Warren, Fury was against an immediate rematch in part as he did not want to be tied into two fights against Usyk as he was with Deontay Wilder, which meant he could not fight British rival Anthony Joshua. The purse splits for a proposed rematch appear, however, to be the key unresolved issue to unlocking Fury v Usyk. 'Why are we even talking about rematches?' Usyk, the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and Ring magazine champion, would like a proposed rematch to happen in November or December, but there are fears among Team Fury that the four belts would have fractured by then. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman contacted the Fury camp on Wednesday to say the governing body could not guarantee its support for an immediate rematch. Usyk, 36, wants a rematch clause like the one Joshua activated when they fought in 2021. The Briton was given the chance to immediately regain the titles and Usyk would want the same opportunity if he was beaten by Fury. But if the Ukrainian overcame Fury in their first fight, he would also expect an improved purse split in a rematch. There has not been an undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999 when Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield - and never been one in the four-belt era. • None Enter the world of the social media personality’s multi-level marketing scheme and webcam business • None The rise and fall of the jeweller-turned-criminal: Listen to Gangster: The Story of John Palmer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/65037833

Ukraine war: UK defends sending depleted uranium shells after Putin warning - BBC News

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The UK says the depleted uranium shells, which it is sending to Ukraine, are "standard".

Europe

The UK is sending 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Kyiv to aid Ukrainians in the fight against Russia President Vladimir Putin has said Russia would be "forced to react" if the UK sent shells made with depleted uranium to Ukraine. He accused the West of deploying weapons with a "nuclear component". The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed it would provide Kyiv the armour-piercing rounds alongside Challenger 2 tanks but insisted they had a low radiation risk. Depleted uranium "is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons", the MoD said. "The British Army has used depleted uranium in its armour piercing shells for decades," the statement added. "Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to disinform. Independent research by scientists from groups such as the Royal Society has assessed that any impact to personal health and the environment from the use of depleted uranium munitions is likely to be low." Former British Army tank commander - and chemical weapons expert - Col Hamish de Breton-Gordon, said Mr Putin's comments were "classic disinformation". He said depleted uranium rounds used by Challenger 2 tanks contained only trace elements of depleted uranium. He added it was "laughable" to suggest depleted uranium rounds were in any way linked to nuclear weapons, which uses enriched uranium. Depleted uranium is what is left over after natural uranium has been enriched, either for weapons-making or for reactor fuel. It is mildly radioactive in its solid form. But it is a very heavy substance, 1.7 times denser than lead, and it is used to harden rounds so that they can penetrate armour and steel. When a weapon made with a depleted uranium tip or core strikes a solid object, like the side of a tank, it goes straight through it and then erupts in a burning cloud of vapour. The vapour settles as dust, which is poisonous and also weakly radioactive. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said sending depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine would mean the UK was "ready to violate international humanitarian law as in 1999 in Yugoslavia". "There is no doubt this will end badly for London," Mr Lavrov added. On Tuesday evening, a spokesman for the Pentagon said the US would not be sending any munitions with depleted uranium to Ukraine. Shells with depleted uranium were used in Iraq and the Balkans, where some claim it was linked to birth defects. A 2022 UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report said depleted uranium was an environmental concern in Ukraine. "Depleted uranium and toxic substances in common explosives can cause skin irritation, kidney failure and increase the risks of cancer," it said. "The chemical toxicity of depleted uranium is considered a more significant issue than the possible impacts of its radioactivity," it added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65032671

Man Utd takeover: Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Sheikh Jassim to submit new bids as deadline extended amid confusion - BBC Sport

Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim are set to submit new bids to buy Manchester United after the deadline was extended.

Man Utd takeover: Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Sheikh Jassim to submit new bids as deadline extended amid confusion Last updated on .From the section Man Utd Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim are set to submit new bids to buy Manchester United after a deadline was extended at their request amid confusion on Wednesday night. Bidders were told they had until 21:00 GMT to submit second, revised bids. BBC Sport has been told several other proposed investors made their submissions by that time. It is unclear when the new deadline will be. Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim are the only publicly declared bidders. It is understood US investment company Elliott has made an offer to purchase a minority stake, irrespective of who ends up owning the club. Initially on Wednesday evening there had been strong indications from sources close to the pair that they had submitted fresh bids. But it then emerged over the past 48 hours first the Qatari team and then Ineos had submitted requests to Raine - the investment bank conducting the sale - for more time to make their second offers, which was granted. The situation is described as "live and fast moving" by someone close to the talks but sources insist that both Sheikh Jassim and Ineos are committed to making second bids. However, the twist in the sale process will only reinforce concerns among some fans that American owners the Glazer family may decide not to sell the club. Ineos wants to buy the combined Glazer shareholding of about 69%, but the Qataris are targeting 100% of the club. Both sides met with United officials earlier in March. • None Listen to the latest The Devils' Advocate podcast BBC Sport has learned that United officials met eight different potential investors over a 10-day period of high-level meetings recently, including Ratcliffe and representatives of Sheikh Jassim. The size of their initial bids has not been disclosed - with reports both are in the region of £4.5bn - but they were clearly far below the £5-6bn valuation that the Glazers have established. Whether they - or any other prospective bidders - are able to submit an offer that persuades the Glazers to sell is the next key question. If not, and with United's fortunes improving significantly in recent months under manager Erik ten Hag, the Americans may well yet decide to retain the club and perhaps instead look to sell a minority stake to the likes of US hedge fund Elliott Investment Management. The Glazer family said in November they were considering selling United. Announcing its initial bid Sheikh Jassim's Qatari consortium said the offer "plans to return the club to its former glories". Described as a life-long Manchester United fan, Sheikh Jassim is chairman of Qatari bank QIB and the son of a former prime minister of Qatar. The Ineos group, owned by 70-year-old British billionaire Ratcliffe, has a history of investment in sport and owns French Ligue 1 club Nice and Swiss club Lausanne. Its sporting portfolio also includes high-profile sailing team Ineos Britannia - led by Sir Ben Ainslie - and a five-year partnership with Formula 1 team Mercedes, while it took over the British-based Team Sky in cycling in 2019. At the time of the first bid it was understood its proposal would emphasise Manchester-born Ratcliffe would be "a British custodian for the club" and would aim to "put the Manchester back into Manchester United". • None Our coverage of Manchester United is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment • None Everything United - go straight to all the best content

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65043304

Friend who inspired Shamima Begum to join IS mocks her as non-believer - BBC News

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Ex-schoolmate Sharmeena Begum, no relation, quit the UK two months before Shamima and friends followed.

UK

Sharmeena Begum, who fled from the UK to Syria two months before Shamima Begum Shamima Begum's best friend, who she says inspired her to join IS, has been tracked down by the BBC having escaped from a detention camp in Syria. Sharmeena Begum, no relation, dismissed her former friend, who wants to return to the UK, for "living off benefits" and mocked her as a non-believer. The BBC also found Sharmeena was fundraising online for members of the IS terror group, which is illegal. A top Syrian commander fears money like this is helping IS to regroup. Posing as an Islamic State (IS) sympathiser, a journalist from the Shamima Begum Story podcast contacted Sharmeena online after she escaped from Syria's Camp Hol prison for women who were with IS, and their children. Sharmeena is still in Syria, in hiding and using a different identity. She was a schoolmate of Shamima Begum, in Bethnal Green, east London, when, in December 2014, Sharmeena suddenly went missing. She had run away to join the self-styled Islamic State terror group in Syria. Two months later Shamima and two other friends followed their ex-schoolmate to the so-called caliphate that had been set up by IS. Shamima went on to marry an IS fighter and have three children, all of whom died. After the collapse of IS in 2019 she was found living in a camp in Syria, and stripped of her British citizenship. Shamima maintains it was Sharmeena who convinced her to join IS and follow in her footsteps. The BBC tracked Sharmeena Begum down having been given a tip-off about a social media account she was using. During our exchanges with her, Sharmeena claimed her one-time friend was "just another individual, living off the benefits" who did not contribute at all. She says Shamima only came to Syria because "she just followed her friends into what became the biggest misery of her life". Despite speculation that Shamima Begum had worked in Hisba - the IS religious police - and made suicide belts, Sharmeena says such theories were "such an insult". She says Shamima did not leave her house unless her husband was away because he would not allow her out. Shamima Begum, 15 when she joined the self-styled Islamic State, followed her friend Sharmeena In her exchanges with the BBC, she mocked Shamima as a failure and a non-believer, saying she had ruined the image of the women who had joined IS. A former IS member has told the BBC Sharmeena is fanatical even by the standards of IS. When asked if she regretted joining IS, Sharmeena skirted over the question, saying only she didn't want to come back to Britain and go to jail. It's difficult to know how seriously to take Sharmeena's description of her former schoolfriend's activities, given Shamima's legal attempts to return to the UK. For her part, Shamima said her one-time friend played a big role in convincing her to travel to Syria in the first place. "Sharmeena was, you know, talking to us face-to-face about, you know, coming to ISIS. "I was being manipulated into thinking this was the right thing to do and I was being manipulated with lies about where I would be going and what I would be doing. "I mean, in my opinion, even though Sharmeena probably is still radical. I will say she was also a victim of ISIS." Shamima herself has previously accepted she joined a terror group when she fled Britain and she understands the public anger towards her. While living in hiding, Sharmeena Begum has been fundraising with the proceeds getting into the hands of IS. She has been posting stories on social media and messaging platforms, about conditions in detention camps, and appealing for Bitcoin. She has cultivated followers around the world as she asks people to send her cash for the women held in the camps. It's not clear how much she has raised in total, but one account revealed 29 transactions with deposits totalling $3,000 (£2,450). She is also using other accounts and other cryptocurrencies. When asked why she was raising money for a terror group, Sharmeena claimed she was "simply feeding and clothing women and children who are poor". The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces which guards detainees at Camp Hol, said IS is regrouping and is smuggling money into the camps, which can be used to buy weapons, and plan escapes and attacks. "If we... look at the camps, there are little children who are a few years old and are being raised on the ideology of how to kill," said Gen Newroz Ahmed. She says her people are among those being targeted and killed. The camp is home to more than 65,000 people and 57 nationalities, and guards there say they have found grenades, guns and explosive belts that have been smuggled in. They say 50 people have been murdered there in a six-month period. In January, the United States and Turkey announced joint action to disrupt the transfer of money to the Islamic State group. The Shamima Begum Story podcast is available on BBC Sounds and a feature length documentary of the same name, is on BBC iPlayer (UK only).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65031943

Man set alight near Birmingham mosque has life-changing injuries - BBC News

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Mohammed Rayaz remains in hospital where he has undergone a skin-graft after being attacked on Monday.

Birmingham & Black Country

Mohammed Rayaz was set alight as he walked home from a mosque A man set alight as he left a mosque on Monday has suffered life-changing injuries, his family said. Mohammed Rayaz, in his 70s, was sprayed with a substance before his jacket was set on fire. Detectives, supported by counter-terror police, are questioning a man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the attack in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Mr Rayaz remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital following a skin graft operation. MP Shabana Mahmood, who has spoken to him on a video call, said he was "touched at the outpouring of love and support". "His hands are bandaged up and he's obviously had some very deep, serious injuries to his face, and he couldn't see anything, but he was able to talk," she said. MP Shabana Mahmood said police had responded swiftly to community information The attack happened just after 19:00 GMT on Shenstone Road, near the Dudley Road mosque Mr Rayaz had left. The member for Birmingham Ladywood organised a community walkabout on Wednesday with police to reassure Muslim communities on the eve of Ramadan. "The arrest would not have been made so early were it not for the community," she said. "It's a special time for people of the Muslim faith, and of course as anybody would expect there is going to be a sense of apprehension as worshippers go to mosque." StreetWatch member Shahbon Hussain helped organise the community response to the incident Local solicitor Shahbon Hussain, who is a StreetWatch member, said it would take a while for residents to feel safe as Ramadan got under way. "I think we need to take preventative action inside the mosques, just to make sure something like this doesn't happen, and try to work closely with the police and Birmingham City Council," he said. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Counter terror police help investigation as man set alight near Birmingham mosque Nearby resident Mohammed Abbasim said he was shocked to find someone he knew had been targeted. "This gentleman, who is a victim, our family knows him - we know who it is," he told BBC Radio WM. Mr Abbasim said he had been sent a video on WhatsApp at about 19:30 GMT and had walked out on to the road where he had seen police tape. Mr Rayaz was set alight just after he left this mosque in Dudley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. The incident had made him feel "concerned" for his own family, friends and neighbours, he said. "It's shocking to see that someone that you know has been targeted in this way." He said the incident was concerning. "I could sense that there were things locally over the past few years, where certain communities had kind of started dividing more," he said. "When things like this happen, it's an opportunity for the local people to come together rather than divide further," he added. West Midlands Police were "actively" working with the Met to see if there are links to an attack in Ealing Neighbours previously told how they helped to put flames out and carry the victim to his home after the attack, where he was treated by paramedics. He was taken to hospital with serious burns to his face and on Tuesday remained in a stable condition. His son said his father was "very badly burned" and added the family was praying for his recovery. The suspect had been arrested in Dudley Road, where the mosque is, on Tuesday, after being identified by officers who had been carrying out inquiries. Scorch marks are on the pavement in Edgbaston where the attack happened The West Midlands and Metropolitan police forces are looking into whether there is a link to a similar attack that took place in Ealing, west London last month. Ch Supt Richard North, commander at the West Midlands force, said: "We are aware of the incident that happened in London. "Our investigation continues with support from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands, who have access to specialist capabilities to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. "We are actively working with the Metropolitan Police to see if those two incidents are connected, that's a major part of our inquiry," he added. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-65036283

Ofsted and Ruth Perry: The dam has burst on strength of feeling - BBC News

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Head teacher Ruth Perry's death has led to a seismic shift in perception of the schools' regulator.

Family & Education

A small, red-brick primary school in Reading is an unlikely starting place for a seismic shift. But the death of Caversham Primary School's head teacher, Ruth Perry, feels like one of those rare moments when something fundamental has altered in public perception. Ms Perry took her own life in January, weeks after an Ofsted inspection. The Ofsted report, published after her death, downgraded her school's rating from Outstanding to Inadequate - going from the top to the bottom of the scale. It's as though a dam has burst, with her family blaming her death on the pressure of the inspection and head teachers and teachers coming forward to talk about their own experiences of the Ofsted process. For some, the prospect of another inspection leads them to leave teaching altogether. Others describe the mental and physical toll of knowing your career is on the line. There has always been background grumbling in schools about inspection, which has been a feature of our school system for more than 100 years. In recent years though, there has been a more negative edge to conversations I have had in schools. Even a passing mention of Ofsted has led to spontaneous booing at a couple of professional gatherings of head teachers and teachers. It's fair to describe the system as having high accountability and high stakes. A damning Ofsted report can have a domino effect in which the head teacher loses their job and teaching posts remain vacant, as few want to work in a school that has been labelled as failing. That, in turn, makes improvement harder. This is at the heart of the question of whether Ofsted inspections improves schools or simply points out where they are struggling. Some argue the external scrutiny is vital to hold schools to account and maintain standards. England's schools have improved their ranking in some international league tables in recent years, but there is no way of being sure how Ofsted has contributed to that. Other things that might have boosted performance include the introduction of phonics to help primary school children learn to read, and making GCSEs more academically demanding. Head teachers of schools in deprived and challenged communities complain vociferously about Ofsted, which some feel is weighted against them. A report published in 2022 found schools that were stuck in a cycle of repeatedly weak Ofsted performances tended to have higher numbers of disadvantaged pupils. The former chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw, is among Ofsted supporters who say the one-word rating system helps to give clear guidance to parents as they try to choose the best school for their child. But the events around Ms Perry's death have intensified the debate about whether one rating can fully describe a school. For more than a decade, schools graded Outstanding became exempt from inspection. But since 2020, re-inspections have led to hundreds of previously Outstanding schools being downgraded. Ms Perry's school in Reading, which hadn't been inspected for 13 years, is one of only five out of 359 schools to be moved to the bottom grade since September. Conservative backbenchers have questioned in Parliament whether all these judgements are fair. Ms Perry's school was rated as inadequate overall, despite providing a good education and a welcoming and vibrant community for children. The inadequate rating was driven by failings in training, record-keeping and checks on staff. Perhaps it's no surprise that in some of these inspections of previously Outstanding schools, one focus has been what measures are in place to keep children safe: Ofsted has been facing pressure to do more about preventing sexual assault in schools, and in October, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse found the regulator "did not do enough" to identify serious child weaknesses in some educational settings. Ruth Perry was the head teacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading So where does this debate leave parents who simply want to know what to take from an Ofsted grade, as one part of deciding where to send their children to school? One recent piece of research shows how difficult it is to be sure. The academics looked at 10 years of Ofsted inspections of secondary schools and how that related to GCSE results five years later. Once they had taken account of children's backgrounds, and how well they had done already at school, there was "no detectable difference" between Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate. Whether or not the huge reaction to Ruth Perry's death influences how Ofsted operates, change is certainly on the way for the regulator - chief inspector Amanda Spielman, is standing down at the end of the year. And while the government strongly supports the current system, the Labour Party has recently said it wants to move from a single-grade system to a report card system for each school, which would replace grades with more detailed information about school performance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-65028962

'I thought I was dead': Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old speaks out - BBC News

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Abigail Zwerner tells NBC she will never forget the look on the boy's face as he pointed the gun.

US & Canada

A US teacher shot by a six-year-old student has said she will never forget the look on the boy's face when he pointed the gun at her. Abigail Zwerner is speaking publicly for the first time after being shot by a primary school student on 6 January. The 25-year-old teacher detailed the horrific day at Richneck Elementary School in the city of Newport News, Virginia. "I thought I had died," she told NBC's Today show this week. In the interview that aired on Tuesday, journalist Savannah Guthrie asked Ms Zwerner what she remembers about the day. "The morning it felt like just a regular school day, but I started hearing things and things started happening that made my fear grow," Ms Zwerner said. Police have said the child brought the gun in his backpack to the school. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Police updates on school shooting with six year old Ms Zwerner plans to sue the school district after she was shot through her hand and upper chest following what police described as an "altercation" with the first-grader. An intent-to-sue notice sent by the teacher's lawyer alleges that school leaders had been warned multiple times that the student had a firearm, and that the school failed to adequately respond. Ms Zwerner said she clearly recalls seeing the gun being pointed at her. "I remember the look on his face. I remember feeling something. It was a pretty scary day." Ms Guthrie asked Ms Zwerner about her left hand, which appeared on camera wrapped in medical gauze. "The initial gunshot went through my left hand and ruptured the middle bone as well as the index finger and the thumb. The gunshot then went into my chest up here where it actually still remains," she said, while pointing just above her heart. "So, I have a scar up here, and I still have some bullet fragments up here." Ms Zwerner said doctors at the hospital told her the gunshot wound "could've been fatal" but since the bullet went through her hand it "most likely saved my life". In the initial moments after she was shot, Ms Zwerner said her first thoughts were about the safety of her students. She ushered them out of the classroom despite her wounds before she was sent to the hospital in an ambulance. Earlier this month Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn said that his office would not seek charges against the boy. He said the "prospect that a six-year-old can stand trial is problematic" because the child is too young to understand the legal system, he told NBC News. The family of the young boy, who have also not been charged, has said he suffered from an "acute disability" and rarely attended school without one of his parents being present. However, the day of the shooting he had attended school alone. The firearm was legally purchased and belonged to the child's mother, police have said. In the wake of the incident, the school's superintendent was fired and the assistant principal resigned. Richneck Elementary School has since installed full-time security and metal detectors. In the NBC interview, Ms Zwerner said she sometimes has nightmares about the shooting, and can struggle to get out of bed some days due to the difficult recovery. "I'm not sure when the shock will ever go away… I think about it daily."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64981972

Partygate: MPs share evidence ahead of Boris Johnson TV grilling - BBC News

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The ex-prime minister is fighting accusations he misled Parliament over lockdown parties in No 10.

UK Politics

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Johnson's comments in the Commons on Partygate scandal A bundle of evidence including photos and statements has been released by the MPs investigating Boris Johnson over Partygate, ahead of a hearing crucial to his political future. Included is evidence from the UK's top civil servant saying he did not give the former PM assurances about whether Covid rules were followed in No 10. Mr Johnson has admitted he did mislead MPs over Partygate but not on purpose. He says Wednesday's televised hearing will vindicate him. The former PM, who was ousted from office last year after a string of scandals, faces being a potential suspension if MPs decide he deliberately misled them. The seven-member Commons privileges committee is investigating whether what Mr Johnson told Parliament stopped it from properly holding him to account. At 14.00 GMT on Wednesday, the committee will get its chance to question Mr Johnson live on TV, in a hearing that could last several hours. He is expected to be flanked by members of his taxpayer-funded legal team, with whom he will be able to confer during the session. However, he will have to answer questions himself, and will take an oath on the King James Bible before the hearing begins. The committee is expected to focus on statements Mr Johnson made about Downing Street gatherings on 1 December and 8 December 2021, and subsequently. Before the hearing, the committee has published what it calls a "core bundle" of evidence that is expected to be referred to during the hearing. A written submission from Simon Case, the most senior civil servant in the UK, is part of the 110-page bundle of documents published on the committee's website. It is a Q&A form, dated 6 February 2023, which asks Mr Case whether he gave Mr Johnson any assurance that "Covid rules were followed at all times in No 10 and specifically in relation to gatherings covered in the Sue Gray report". In his response, Mr Case answered: "No." But evidence submitted by Conservative MP Sarah Dines appears to contradict Mr Case's answer. In her written submission, Ms Dines said she recalled a meeting with Mr Johnson in the cabinet room, during which the former PM was advised Covid rules were followed "at all times". Ms Dines said she was "sure" civil servants were present and she was "90% sure one of them was Simon Case". Evidence from other Number 10 officials, as well as emails, messages and details of Mr Johnson's diary have been published, alongside extracts of official advice for the public at the time of the pandemic. In written evidence Martin Reynolds, the former principal private secretary to the then prime minister, questioned Mr Johnson's plan to say Covid guidance had been followed at all times in Downing Street. He said he queried a line proposed for Mr Johnson to say at Prime Minister's Questions on 8 December. Mr Reynolds said: "He did not welcome the interruption but told me that he had received reassurances that the comms event was within the rules. "I accepted this but questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidance had been followed at all times, given the nature of the working environment in No 10." The committee also published exchanges about a drinks party in Downing Street's garden in May 2020. In written evidence, Lee Cain, who was then the No 10 communications director, said he raised concerns that the garden party would be a "communications risk". He said he and Mr Reynolds then discussed whether to go ahead with the event. Mr Cain said Mr Reynolds said he would speak to the prime minister but "he was sure it was okay". Mr Cain said Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson's chief adviser at the time, agreed the gathering "should not take place" and said he would "raise the issue with Martin and the prime minister". Mr Cain said Mr Cummings later confirmed that he had "informed the PM", but they had argued about other issues and "he was clearly very frustrated". Another submission from a No 10 official said Mr Johnson often "saw and joined gatherings" in Downing Street. "He had the opportunity to shut them down, but joined in, made speeches, had a drink with staff," the official wrote. "He could see what was happening and allowed the culture to continue." This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Johnson's comments in the Commons on Partygate scandal All the evidence amassed by the committee, including written statements from 23 witnesses, official diaries, and emails between officials, has already been handed over to Mr Johnson's legal team. His lawyers have given the committee 46 WhatsApp messages between the former prime minister and five unnamed people. Media stories about staff parties in Downing Street when Covid rules banned socialising indoors began to emerge in late 2021, later becoming known as the Partygate scandal. On a number of occasions, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that Covid rules and guidance had been followed in Downing Street. But an inquiry by senior official Sue Gray later found rule-breaking had taken place at multiple events, and police issued fines to 83 people, including Mr Johnson himself, for breaching Covid laws. The committee, chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman, but with a Conservative majority, said earlier this month that breaches of pandemic guidance would have been "obvious" to him at the time. But that was rejected by Mr Johnson on Tuesday, in a 52-page document setting out his defence ahead of the TV hearing. He said he did not "intentionally or recklessly" mislead MPs and his assurances to MPs that lockdown rules had been followed were made in "good faith".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65033842

Partygate: I misled MPs but not intentionally, says Boris Johnson - BBC News

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The ex-PM says his Partygate denials were made in good faith, ahead of a grilling from MPs on Wednesday.

UK Politics

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Johnson's comments in the Commons on Partygate scandal Boris Johnson has accepted he misled Parliament over Covid rule-breaking parties in Downing Street, but denied he did it on purpose. The former prime minister has published a 52-page defence of his actions ahead of a grilling by MPs on Wednesday. In it, he says his assurances to MPs that lockdown rules had been followed were made in "good faith". Mr Johnson faces being suspended or even expelled from Parliament, if MPs decide he deliberately misled them. A group representing families of Covid victims said his claim to have acted in good faith was "sickening", and it was "obvious" he deliberately misled MPs. Since April last year, the Commons Privileges Committee has been investigating whether Mr Johnson initially misled Parliament over what he knew about parties in No 10 during lockdown. After media stories about what would become known as the Partygate scandal emerged in late 2021, Mr Johnson denied to MPs that Covid rules banning socialising indoors had been broken. But an inquiry by senior official Sue Gray later found rule-breaking had taken place across multiple events, and police issued fines to 83 people, including Mr Johnson himself, for breaching Covid laws. The committee, chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman, but with a Tory majority, has previously said Mr Johnson may have misled Parliament on multiple occasions, and evidence suggests rule breaches would have been "obvious" to him at the time. In his defence document, prepared by his taxpayer-funded legal team, headed by top barrister Lord Pannick KC, Mr Johnson says he had not "intentionally or recklessly" misled MPs, and would "never have dreamed of doing so". He said he believed at the time that events he attended in No 10, including to bid farewell to departing staff, abided by restrictions because they were "essential for work purposes". He added that it "remains unclear to me" why he was fined for attending a gathering in No 10 for his birthday in June 2020. Mr Johnson said he relied on officials to advise him about other events in the building he did not attend, and they did not tell him rules were broken. He said that he had "corrected the record" in May 2022, on the day Ms Gray's report was published. On that day, he told MPs it was "not the case" that rules had always been followed. "I believed - and I still believe - that this was the earliest opportunity at which I could make the necessary correction," he added. "It was not fair or appropriate to give a half-baked account, before the facts had been fully and properly established." Boris Johnson was fined for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room in 2020 The committee is expected to publish its verdict on Mr Johnson by the summer. It has assembled evidence including written statements from 23 witnesses, official diaries, emails between officials, and WhatsApp messages handed over by the former prime minister's legal team. It will publish a "core bundle" of documents on Wednesday morning, ahead of Mr Johnson's hearing later in the day. In his defence document, Mr Johnson claimed the committee had not found evidence he intentionally misled MPs. He said the "only exception" were assertions made by his former top aide Dominic Cummings, whom he said was "discredited" and was motivated by personal animosity. Mr Cummings hit back on Twitter, saying a drinks party in the No 10 garden attended by Mr Johnson had been deemed to have broken the rules by police, with officials fined for attending. The committee has published photos of Boris Johnson attending events - including this one in January 2021 In an interim report published earlier this month, the committee said Mr Johnson's statements to MPs, as well as his performance at Covid press conferences, show that he understood what the rules were. In a statement on Tuesday, the committee said Mr Johnson's written submission contained "no new documentary evidence". In his document, Mr Johnson attacked the conduct of the inquiry, accusing the committee of being "highly partisan" and going against precedents set by previous similar inquiries. The committee has decided that whether he intended to mislead MPs is not relevant to what it has been charged with investigating: whether it was stopped from doing its job by his statements to MPs. But if they find that it was, then his intentions will be considered when deciding any punishment they recommend. A finding that he deliberately misled MPs is likely to attract the strongest sanction. Another option is they conclude he misled Parliament "recklessly". In his submission, the former prime minister hit out at this reasoning, saying the idea of misleading MPs recklessly was an "entirely novel concept". The full House of Commons will have to approve the committee's final recommendations, as well as any sanctions. Conservative MPs will be given a free vote, meaning they will not be told how to vote by party managers. The possible punishments range from ordering him to apologise to suspending him from the Commons. If he is suspended for more than 10 days, this could trigger a by-election in his constituency - although suspensions of this length have been rare in the past.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65012965

Dick Van Dyke crashes his car into a gate in Malibu - BBC News

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The film and television icon is said to have sustained minor injuries but avoided going to hospital.

US & Canada

Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke reportedly lost control of his car and crashed into a gate on Wednesday morning, TMZ first reported. The 97-year-old is said to have lost control of the wheel of his Lexus over wet streets in Malibu, California, recently drenched by rain. Bruised and bloodied, the Mary Poppins star appears to have only suffered "minor injuries", police said. He was treated at the scene by medics and then brought home by a friend. Police officers have said drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be involved in the accident. However, it has been reported that police submitted documents to the Department of Motor Vehicles for him to retake his driving test, due to his near-centenarian status. Van Dyke's Hollywood career spans over seven decades between film, television and theatre. His accolades include Golden Globe, Tony and Grammy awards. Although the peak of his career climaxed in the 1960s - when he starred in Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - last month Van Dyke appeared on TV screens yet again as the oldest contestant ever to perform on Fox's singing contest, The Masked Singer. This is not the actor's first close call. In 2013, he was rescued from a burning car on the California freeway. He did not sustain any serious injuries. He later humorously tweeted a picture of the burned-out car with the caption: "Used Jag for sale REAL CHEAP!!" In 2010, in an interview with Craig Ferguson, the then-84-year-old recalled an incident where he drifted out to sea after he fell asleep atop his surfboard. In an incident that could have been a scene cut from Mary Poppins: Beach Vacation, he said a group of friendly porpoises helped push his board closer to shore.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65038802

'Reckless' Gwyneth Paltrow caused Utah ski crash, lawyer says - BBC News

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The Oscar winner denies claims she caused serious injuries to a man on the slopes in Utah.

Entertainment & Arts

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Gwyneth Paltrow was "distracted" when she crashed into a retired eye doctor on a ski slope, inflicting brain damage and breaking his ribs, a court heard. A lawyer for Terry Sanderson told the jury in Utah that the Hollywood actress's "reckless" actions had caused the collision on a slope in 2016. Ms Paltrow has countersued. Her lawyer said the crash was Mr Sanderson's fault and his claims are "utter BS". The 50-year-old Oscar winner's counterclaim seeks $1 in damages, plus legal fees. The actress-turned-lifestyle-influencer sat impassively in court during opening statements on the first day of the trial in a Park City court on Tuesday. The incident occurred in February 2016 on the beginners' slope at the Deer Valley resort where Ms Paltrow was skiing with her family. She and her children are expected to testify. "She knew that skiing that way, blindly skiing down a mountain while looking up and to the side, was reckless; she knew that continuing to ski that way... she would crash into somebody below her." Mr Buhler said Ms Paltrow crashed into his client and then quickly skied away, leaving him prone and unconscious without calling for help or checking to make sure he was OK. "Before this crash Terry was a charming, outgoing, gregarious person," Mr Sanderson's lawyer said. "He was living a full life, travelling the world - doing everything possible to enjoy his life and guard his health. But after the crash, he's no longer charming." He told the jury his client had just begun descending the slope when a pair of skis suddenly appeared between her legs and a man collided into her back. Terry Sanderson accuses Ms Paltrow of being distracted while skiing Ms Paltrow's lawyer argued that Mr Sanderson, who suffers from vision and hearing loss as a result of a previous stroke, may not have seen the actress before he collided with her. Mr Owens said his client initially suspected she was being assaulted and was so shaken by the incident she chose not to ski for the rest of the day. "She may have sworn at him. It rattled her and it physically hurt her," he said. The case appears to hinge on which skier - Ms Paltrow or Mr Sanderson - was uphill at the time of the accident. According to Deer Valley safety policies, skiers "ahead or downhill of you have the right of way. You must avoid them." Craig Ramon, who is a friend of Mr Sanderson, was the first witness to take the stand in the case. At times Ms Paltrow attempted to hide from the cameras in court He testified that he heard a scream and turned his head to see Ms Paltrow crash into Mr Sanderson. But on cross-examination, Ms Paltrow's lawyers noted that Mr Ramon is colour-blind, arguing he could not have distinguished which skier caused the crash from his or her clothing alone. Ms Paltrow's lawyers allege that GoPro footage and a social media post that corroborate her version of events have "disappeared". The original claim, filed in 2019, said: "This case involves a hit-and-run ski crash at Deer Valley, Utah, where defendant Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit the back of Terry Sanderson, another skier, who was downhill, knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries." The proceedings are scheduled to last for eight days.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65027945

Sturgeon issues apology over forced adoption - BBC News

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Thousands of unmarried women in Scotland were forced to give their children up in the last century.

Scotland

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Nicola Sturgeon has issued a "sincere, heartfelt and unreserved" apology to people affected by the practice of forced adoption. Thousands of unmarried women in Scotland were forced to give up their babies for adoption in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The first minister told Holyrood it was time to "acknowledge the terrible wrongs that have been done". She said: "What happened to these women is almost impossible to comprehend." It is estimated 60,000 women in Scotland had babies adopted simply because they were unmarried. Many women were coerced into handing over their babies and some were denied access to housing and social benefits which may have allowed them to have kept them. Some children forcibly removed from their parents as a result of forced adoption were abused, Ms Sturgeon told MSPs. She added: "It is important to say very clearly that many of them went to loving homes - acknowledging these injustices should never be seen as a rejection of the deep bonds that people share with adopted families. "Nothing can ever invalidate the love that these families have for one another. But it is also clear that many of those affected - far too many - had a very, very different experience. "We know some will always have lacked a sense of belonging, some may have suffered mistreatment or abuse." Addressing MSPs in the Holyrood chamber as victims and campaigners watched on from the public gallery, Ms Sturgeon said forced adoption was "a level of injustice which is hard now for us to comprehend". She said it was caused by a society that treated women as "second class citizens". Marion McMillan, seated in the centre, was in Holyrood to hear the apology along with fellow campaigners and MSPs Marion McMillan, from Paisley, was 17-years-old when she had her son taken from her after she gave birth in a Christian mother and baby home. Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland, she said: "I was just a wee lassie and I left this country called Scotland, to go to this country England I only knew in the geography books. "We were absolutely thrown to the wolves - you couldn't even go to the church. You were stuck in the darkest of providences. "Not only did your family reject you, the whole of society rejected you. You couldn't tell anyone you had this baby." Ms McMillan, now in her seventies, said the formal apology will bring a "great measure of healing" to thousands of mothers and adoptees. The first minister made the apology in the Scottish Parliament Fiona Aitken, director of the Adoption UK Scotland charity, said: "We wholeheartedly support the apology for those who had their children removed and are particularly pleased to see this extend to the individuals who were adopted through this practice, whose lifelong needs have gone unacknowledged and unsupported. "Adoption UK now calls on other UK governments to follow Scotland's lead in issuing a formal apology to all those who have been affected by forced adoptions, and to meet the needs of all adopted individuals who would benefit from support." The apology in Scotland follows others around the world. In 2013, Australia issued the world's first government formal apology for forced adoption, taking responsibility for the practice. Then in 2021 the Irish government apologised to former residents of mother and baby homes in Ireland for the way they were treated over several decades. The Scottish government has committed funding of about £145,000 to provide specialist support and counselling for those affected by forced adoption and research is also under way to identify how existing support services can be improved. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher, said: "Although a national apology cannot right the wrongs of the past, I hope that it will be the start of a healing process for those suffering lifelong trauma. "My only regret is that some campaigners have sadly died before this apology was made." Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie, said: "These appalling cruelties are perhaps among the most heinous of injustices that our society has inflicted on women and their children."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65043159

Ex-spy says MI5 did not want Real IRA leader arrested - BBC News

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US trucker David Rupert infiltrated the innermost circles of the group behind the 1998 Omagh bomb attack.

Northern Ireland

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. David Rupert said the Real IRA's leader Michael McKevitt wanted an American on its army council. A US trucker who spied on a dissident Irish republican group says the security service MI5 did not want its leader arrested. David Rupert infiltrated the Real IRA, the group behind the 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity, for the FBI and MI5. His undercover evidence was used in 2003 to prosecute Michael McKevitt, the leader of the Real IRA, for directing terrorism. Mr Rupert told BBC Spotlight that MI5 wanted to keep gathering intelligence. The programme put this to MI5 but they did not respond. The recent shooting of a top police officer in Northern Ireland shows the threat from dissident republicans has not gone away. Dissident republicans have not signed up to the peace process and remain committed to using violence to try to bring about a united Ireland. Mr Rupert, who ran a trucking company in Chicago, first visited Ireland in 1992. His ongoing trips and friendship with Joe O'Neill, a hard-line Irish republican who ran a pub in Bundoran, County Donegal, coincided with a critical point in Northern Ireland's peace process. When an FBI agent arrived at his Chicago office in the summer of 1994, Rupert at first thought he had come to talk about the trucking business, but the agent raised the subject of Ireland and O'Neill. "I wouldn't have done anything really illegal but the grey area was my specialty. So we went back and forth. "'Would you come to work for us?' he asked. I said, 'No man, I don't need to get on the bad side of a foreign terrorist organisation'." The first IRA ceasefire of 1994 meant someone like Rupert would be a valuable asset to the FBI. With US President Bill Clinton heavily invested in the peace process, the White House needed to know from their own spies on the ground if breakaway republicans, like Joe O'Neill who was aligned to a group known as the Continuity IRA, would fill the vacuum. The FBI agent returned to Rupert's office with a new proposition - the FBI would pay for his trips to Ireland in return for information. The flights-for-information agreement worked out and eventually led to the US trucker and his wife Maureen moving to Ireland to run a pub in County Leitrim, financed by the FBI. "The value was it allowed me to become ingrained in the IRA population and to become accepted," said Rupert. Watch Spotlight - I Spy on iPlayer or on BBC One Northern Ireland on Tuesday 21 March at 22.40 GMT. By early 1997, the couple was no longer running the pub but the FBI's investment in the trucker turned spy had paid off. He had become trusted by O'Neill's Continuity IRA group, and he had also positioned himself as the bagman for their US fundraising effort, regularly delivering thousands of dollars from Chicago to O'Neill's group in Ireland. In the wake of a second IRA ceasefire in 1997, the danger posed by dissident republicans was even higher. The FBI already had a US spy embedded within the Continuity IRA. MI5 then made their move and by the summer of 1997, Rupert was working for the FBI and MI5. "We used an encryption system when I sent an email it went to both handlers," he said. That year, a dangerous split within the republican movement would radically change Rupert's spy operations against dissident republicans opposed to the peace process. The Real IRA was formed in 1997 by Michael McKevitt, who left the Provisional IRA in fury over the direction of the peace process. David Rupert gave his first television interview to BBC NI Spotlight reporter Jennifer O'Leary McKevitt, the man who had been in charge of the Provisional IRA's arsenal for decades, saw peace talks as a sell-out and was determined to continue the war against the British. In 1999, McKevitt not only brought Rupert into his secret army to help him fund his terror, he spoke in detail during what was only their second meeting about his plans to bomb Britain. "Their first hit is going to be directed specifically at something like troops or London centre financial district," Rupert wrote as part of an email to his MI5 handler. "To make a big enough splash to overshadow anything that could have happened at Omagh." The 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins, which the Real IRA claimed responsibility for. Rupert's infiltration of the Real IRA put him in a different league of danger - McKevitt lived by a militant Irish republican code that demanded spies be executed. Yet, despite the risks Rupert maintained his facade and was appointed to the top table of the Real IRA, its army council. The development prompted elation from his MI5 handler, said Rupert. "MI5 were wonderful to work with," he said. "I would call them on my way to a meeting with McKevitt and they would tell me that he's probably going to ask you this or that and when he does, here's what we want you to tell him, and they were pretty accurate." However, Rupert's spy masters seemingly had different priorities. The FBI is primarily an evidence-gathering organisation, versus MI5 whose focus is on intelligence gathering. "MI5 wanted to keep it going forever," said Rupert. "The FBI won. I mean they won the argument. It was more important to MI5 to have a thumb on the pulse than it is to go arrest a couple of people and prosecute them." In early 2001, in a top-secret meeting in Dublin, Rupert made a detailed statement to Irish police who were building a case to prosecute McKevitt, who lived in the Irish Republic. His day of reckoning came on 29 March 2001, when police knocked on his door. Rupert went on to face the Real IRA leader in a Dublin court and in August 2003, McKevitt was sentenced to 20 years in prison for directing the activities of the Real IRA. "I was just doing a job," said Rupert. "And doing a job that I viewed as doing for good to stop them from killing people."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65013703

Bill Gates: AI is most important tech advance in decades - BBC News

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The former Microsoft boss says AI is the second revolutionary technology he's seen in his lifetime.

Technology

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is the most important technological advance in decades. In a blog post on Tuesday, he called it as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. "It will change the way people work, learn, travel, get health care, and communicate with each other," he said. He was writing about the technology used by tools such as chatbot ChatGPT. Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is an AI chatbot which is programmed to answer questions online using natural, human-like language. The team behind it in January 2023 received a multibillion dollar investment from Microsoft - where Mr Gates still serves as an advisor. But it is not the only AI-powered chatbot available, with Google recently introducing rival Bard. I was one of the first people to get access to Bard and my colleagues and I are trying to put it through its paces. So far it's given me a philosophical answer to the meaning of life. It gave a competent potted history of Russia-China relations to a colleague covering the meeting between President Putin and Xi Jinping - unlike ChatGPT, Bard can access current affairs. A programme editor asked it for a good running order for her news show. Start with the biggest story of the day, Bard suggested, and end with a musician or comedian. It also did a decent if generic job of a poem about trees and blossom. I haven't yet started trying to get it to be rude to me, or about others. I'll report back on that… You can read more about it here. Mr Gates said he had been meeting with OpenAI - the team behind the artificial intelligence that powers chatbot ChatGPT - since 2016. In his blog, Mr Gates said he challenged the OpenAI team in 2022 to train an AI that can pass an Advanced Placement (AP) Biology exam - roughly equivalent to an A-level exam - with the strict rule that the AI could not be specifically trained to answer Biology questions. A few months later they revealed the results - a near perfect score, he said, missing only one mark out of 50. After the exam, Mr Gates said he asked the AI to write a response to a father with a sick child. "It wrote a thoughtful answer that was probably better than most of us in the room would have given," he said. "I knew I had just seen the most important advance in technology since the graphical user interface (GUI)." A GUI is a visual display - allowing a person to interact with images and icons, rather than a display that shows only text and requires typed commands. Its development led to the Windows and Mac OS operating systems in the 1980s, and remains a key part of computing. And Mr Gates says he believes AI tech will lead to similar advancements. Mr Gates, who co-chairs the charitable Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, called on governments to work with industry to "limit the risks" of AI, but said the technology could be used to save lives. "AI-driven improvements will be especially important for poor countries, where the vast majority of under-5 deaths happen," he wrote. "Many people in those countries never get to see a doctor, and AIs will help the health workers they do see be more productive." Some examples of this he gave include completing repetitive tasks such as insurance claims, paperwork, and note-taking. But in order for this to happen, Mr Gates called on a targeted approach to AI technology in the future. "Market forces won't naturally produce AI products and service that help the poorest," he said. "The opposite is more likely. "With reliable funding and the right policies, governments and philanthropy can ensure that AIs are used to reduce inequity. "Just as the world needs its brightest people focused on its biggest problems, we will need to focus the world's best AIs on its biggest problems."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-65032848

Counter-terror police help investigation as man set alight near Birmingham mosque - BBC News

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The attack in Birmingham which left a man seriously injured could be linked to one in west London.

Birmingham & Black Country

Ch Supt Richard North said they are "using all resources available to us" to investigate the attack Counter-terror police are involved in an investigation into a man being set alight as he walked home from a mosque. A man has been held on suspicion of attempted murder after the attack in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Monday. The West Midlands and Metropolitan forces are looking into whether there is a link to a similar attack in Ealing, west London last month. The Birmingham victim, in his 70s, was approached, sprayed with a substance and had his jacket set on fire. Neighbours told the BBC they helped to put the flames out and carry the victim to his home where he was treated by paramedics. His son said his father was "very badly burned" and they were praying for his recovery. He was taken to hospital with burns to his face which are serious but not thought to be life-threatening. Police said he remained in a stable condition. Tayyab Riaz, the victim's nephew, said everyone was "very upset" at the "shocking news". "For 35 years he's been going to that mosque to pray and there's never been a problem," he said. "Suddenly this happens. His hair, beard and eyebrows are badly burnt. We're praying he's OK." A video of an attack shared on social media which shows a man being set alight is under investigation by police. Downing Street described the incident as a "concerning case". This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Residents filmed the moment police arrived in the street The suspect was arrested in Dudley Road, the street where the Birmingham mosque is, on Tuesday after being identified by officers carrying out inquiries. The attack happened just after 19:00 GMT in nearby Shenstone Road. Members of the mosque told Channel 4 news they had spotted a man in the congregation on Monday who stood out because "he wasn't praying and was sitting in the wrong direction". Sahir Aziz Adam said he approached him and said the traditional Arabic greeting to him - "as-salamu alaykum", which means peace be upon you, but the man didn't respond, which set alarm bells ringing. He left the building and Mr Adam said he called the police. In Ealing, an 82-year-old man was set on fire as he left the West London Islamic Centre on Singapore Road, at about 20:00 on 27 February. Ch Supt Richard North, commander at Birmingham police, said: "We are aware of the incident that happened in London. "We are actively working with the Metropolitan Police to see if those two incidents are connected. That's a major part of our inquiry. "I have had meetings today with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and they are engaged in the inquiry. We are working very much closely together." He said officers had been "working through the night to establish what happened and who is responsible". "We are taking this matter extremely seriously and are using all resources available to us," he said. "We are keeping an open mind to the motive of the attacker and we won't speculate further at this stage." He added: "Our investigation continues with support from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands who have access to specialist capabilities to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident." Monsur Alam said the attack was "very scary" Officers are aware of a video posted on social media "showing a man being set alight, and we're examining it as part of our investigations", the force said. Father of four Monsur Alam, aged 60, has lived in the road where the attack happened for the past five years. "I heard screaming and my daughter was screaming as well," he said. "My wife ran outside with a bucket of water and a man poured over him (the victim)." "It was very scary," he added. Mohammed Abbasim, from Dudley Road Mosque, said: "It's shocking to see that someone that you know has been targeted in this way." "When things like this happen, it's an opportunity for the local people to come together rather than divide further," he said. Scorch marks are on the pavement in Edgbaston where the attack happened Residents said a lot of doorbell footage in the area had been handed in to police. Extra officers will be in the area to speak to the community and provide reassurance. In a joint statement, the city council's leader Ian Ward, cabinet member for community safety John Cotton and ward councillors Sharon Thompson and Marcus Bernasconi called it a "horrific attack". They also said they would be talking with community groups and local mosques "to offer support to the wider community". "We would urge the community to work with the police and to avoid any speculation at this stage," they added. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk • None Image issued after man set on fire outside mosque The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-65030005

The Trump arrest saga in 70 seconds - BBC News

How will it play out now that the former president has been indicted? Our correspondent explains.

Donald Trump will be charged with a crime over an alleged hush money payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels. The former US President posted about his arrest and kicked off a political and legal firestorm. The BBC's New York Correspondent Nada Tawfik explains what may happen now that the unprecedented has happened - a former president being arrested in a criminal case.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65018198