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entertainment | The Big Eurovision Party: Rylan to bring in 2023 with song contest stars | What do you get when you put 15 Eurovision winners on one stage? A great big party, that's what.
Six months before Liverpool hosts the song contest on behalf of Ukraine, about 15,000 fans travelled to Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome to see acts from competitions gone by perform.
As part of its New Year's Eve line-up, BBC One is showing Het Grote Songfestivalfeest - renamed The Big Eurovision Party for UK viewers and hosted by Rylan.
Granted, some songs have stood the test of time more than others, but Loreen's 2012 hit Euphoria had the crowd bouncing 10 years later.
"It was needed then, and it's needed now," she tells BBC News backstage at the concert.
"Euphoria has some sort of deepness to it that touches people on a real level," she says. "Some songs just connect."
39-year-old is often credited with changing the direction of Eurovision after her success, and she's hoping to represent Sweden again in 2023.
Eurovision-related events outside of May, when the contest is held, was something Israel's winner Netta had no idea about when she competed four years ago.
"There wasn't any career before that. I was singing in bars and just trying to make a living in a very modest way, trying to sing back-up, singing covers at weddings," she tells BBC News.
"I went from anonymity to stardom, and everything changed for a girl who'd calculate the amount of money - 'What do I buy, milk or beer?' - to people from Amsterdam calling me saying, 'We want to fly you here, how many people do you need?'."
She admits, though, it's "a challenge" to get fans to appreciate her non-Eurovision material, but says she's working in America with music producers to try to change that.
Other performers agree that it can be strangely tricky, after performing in front of 160 million viewers, to get people around the world to listen to future releases.
But in recent years, acts like Måneskin, Rosa Linn and Duncan Laurence have all managed to have huge success in the US, largely down to TikTok.
"To me it was always a dream to be known as a musician on a global scale," Dutch singer Laurence explains. "The biggest moment was when we hit the one billion streams on all platforms, and I got this award on stage in Rotterdam at Eurovision that I brought to The Netherlands."
"You have to explain it's not X Factor, it's not The Voice, it's way bigger. Once it's in their head, they're like: 'I want to watch this'."
28-year-old says American audiences see him as a new singer-songwriter, who are largely unaware of the world's largest live music event, but he's proud to be part of the three acts "finally" getting Eurovision songs to chart in America.
As well as Loreen, Netta and Laurence, the Netherlands gig allowed fans to see two winning Ukrainian acts, including this year's Kalush Orchestra.
rowd roared every time an act shouted "Slava Ukraini" (glory to Ukraine).
Jamala, who won in 2016 for her song about the 1944 deportation of Crimean Tatars, was dressed in the country's flag of yellow and blue for her performance.
"I know there are many people here tonight with light in their heart," she said on stage.
"Please share it with my country and stand with Ukraine."
Standing with Eurovision fans is something Ireland's Johnny Logan will always do, telling the crowd: "Thank you for my life".
"The people out there that love Eurovision opened up the whole world to me," the 68-year-old tells BBC News.
"These days I sell out everywhere I work. A lot of people have to ask the question, 'If he's still around, why?' - and I can still deliver.
"When you stand up in the middle of this, I'm very humbled when I step back from the microphone and let the crowd take over the chorus".
Like Loreen, Logan is a Eurovision legend - and not just with fans, with fellow winners too.
Alexander Rybak, 2009's winner for Norway, interrupts our interview to say goodbye to Logan.
"I just had to hug," he says. "Johnny Logan is not just my favourite Eurovision singer, but my favourite heart-warming singer. He has heart.
"A lot of artists use music to promote their talent but Johnny uses his talent to promote music."
Planning for next year's competition in Liverpool is already under way, but it'll be a while yet before it's known which act will be representing the United Kingdom.
Sam Ryder, after his success in 2022, has already ruled himself out. He became one of the UK's best ambassadors for the competition in Turin, constantly talking about the love and togetherness it brings.
Loreen ends the night by agreeing with the Space Man singer, telling the BBC: "It has opened up my career and I've met so many wonderful people.
"I have been able to do what I love the most, and it's thanks to Eurovision." | /news/entertainment-arts-63677509 |
technology | Gamers face price rise on PS5 but not Switch | Gamers looking to buy a new console face a price rise if they want a Sony PlayStation 5, but not if they choose a Nintendo Switch.
PS5s will cost an extra £30 in the UK, with EU consoles going up by €50 (£42) and Canadian consoles by CAD $20 (£13).
Sony is increasing its console prices because of inflation, it says, but Nintendo says that despite rising costs, its prices will stay the same.
Meanwhile, PC gamers may soon be able to save money on their hardware.
Jensen Huang, chief executive of tech company Nvidia, said the company had overproduced graphics cards, which have been in short supply in recent years.
"Our strategy is to sell in well below the current sell-through levels in the marketplace to give the channel an opportunity to correct," he said, according to the Verge.
uld mean the price of high-end graphics cards, including the RTX 3000 series, and gaming laptops falling.
Despite the increase in cost of the PS5 in many jurisdictions, there will be no price rises in the US.
Piers Harding-Rolls, industry analyst at gaming research firm Ampere Analysis, told the BBC the lack of a price increase in the US was a result of the strength of the dollar.
"Sony is a global entity which is operating I guess more consistently in lots of global markets, so they are impacted by currency exchanges and the strength of the dollar," he said.
"And that's why you're seeing price increases in some markets, but not in others - you've got this nuanced approach which is trying to reflect the impact on the costs of goods in relation to those specific markets."
Jim Ryan, Sony Interactive Entertainment president and chief executive said in a blog post: "The global economic environment is a challenge that many of you around the world are no doubt experiencing.
"We're seeing high global inflation rates, as well as adverse currency trends, impacting consumers and creating pressure on many industries."
But Mr Harding-Rolls said he did not expect the price increase to put off gaming enthusiasts.
"I think pent-up demand for PS5, even though the availability is not good, means that this price increase won't have a huge impact at all," he said.
"I don't see it changing Sony's outlooks or their sales. I think they're going to sell all the products that they can get into market."
He added the move could potentially hand an advantage to Microsoft, which makes the Xbox console, "because it has the cheaper console in the market coupled with Game Pass".
BBC has approached Microsoft for comment.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa told financial newspaper Nikkei: "In order to offer unique entertainment to a wide range of customers, we want to avoid pricing people out.
"Our competition is the variety of entertainment in the world, and we always think about pricing in terms of the value of the fun we offer." | /news/technology-62659688 |
health | US brings back free at-home Covid tests as part of winter plan | US households are once again able to order free at-home Covid-19 tests, as the government attempts to limit the spread of the virus this winter.
White House said up to four rapid tests could be ordered from the government website CovidTests.gov.
It announced that the test programme, which was paused in September, would be restarted on Thursday with deliveries beginning the week of 19 December.
mes as Covid infections rise ahead of the winter holidays.
Biden administration began sending free at-home tests in January, but stopped in September after more than 600 million tests were distributed because Congress did not approve the extra funding needed for the programme to continue.
But the government is now using funding left over from the American Rescue Plan, the Covid relief bill that was passed last year, to pay for the tests, a US official told the BBC's US partner CBS.
"We feel confident that we are going to have enough tests to get through this round, four per household, in the coming weeks," a senior administration official told reporters on Wednesday,
It is part of a broader White House plan to prepare for Covid this winter, when some Americans are at an increased risk of catching the virus as they gather indoors for the holidays.
White House said it hoped to encourage Americans to take at-home tests when they are symptomatic, before and after travelling for the holidays and when visiting vulnerable individuals.
Covid cases, hospital visits and deaths have all begun to rise in recent weeks.
Some cities are calling on Americans to wear masks again in indoor spaces to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, while White House officials have urged Americans to get the latest Covid and flu jabs.
Only 13.5% of those aged five and older in the US have received the updated coronavirus shot targeting the omicron variant, according to the CDC.
Highly contagious omicron subvariants - which are now the dominant coronavirus strains in the US - are contributing to the uptick in cases.
Watch how China’s zero Covid strategy is exhausting its people. | /news/world-us-canada-63990173 |
business | Sri Lanka energy minister warns petrol stocks about to run dry | Sri Lanka's energy minister has issued a stark warning over the country's fuel stocks as it faces its worst economic crisis in more than 70 years.
On Sunday, Kanchana Wijesekera said the nation only had enough petrol left for less than a day under regular demand.
He also said its next petrol shipment was not due for more than two weeks.
Last week, Sri Lanka suspended sales of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles as it struggles to pay for imports like fuel, food and medicines.
Mr Wijesekera told reporters that the country had 12,774 tonnes of diesel and 4,061 tonnes of petrol left in its reserves.
"The next petrol shipment is expected between the 22nd and 23rd [of July]," he added.
A shipment of diesel is expected to arrive at the weekend, however Mr Wijesekera warned that the country does not have enough money to pay for planned fuel and crude oil imports.
He said Sri Lanka's central bank could only supply $125m for fuel purchases, far less than the $587m needed for its scheduled shipments.
Mr Wijesekera added that the country owed $800m to seven suppliers for purchases it made earlier this year.
Last week Sri Lanka banned sales of fuel for private vehicles for two week.
Experts believe it is the first country to take the drastic step of halting sales of petrol to ordinary people since the 1970s oil crisis, when fuel was rationed in the US and Europe.
f 22 million people is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948 as it lacks enough foreign currency to pay for imports of essential goods.
Acute shortages of fuel, food and medicines have helped to push up the cost of living to record highs in the country, where many people rely on motor vehicles for their livelihoods. It's also sparked violent street protests.
government blames the Covid pandemic, which affected Sri Lanka's tourist trade - one of its biggest foreign currency earners. However, many experts say economic mismanagement is to blame.
In May the country failed to make a payment on its foreign debt for the first time in its history.
Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC South Asia correspondent in Colombo
reets of this usually bustling capital are much quieter now and Colombo has the feel of a city under lockdown. With fuel in short supply people have been urged to stay home where possible.
But outside fuel stations is where you will find long queues. Members of the military guard the pumps, patrolling the forecourts - here petrol has become more precious than gold.
Van driver Aziz has been in line for two days: "We are suffering, we've no lunch no breakfast, we've just had water as we wait."
ruggle for fuel is also accompanied by a struggle for food. With food inflation at 80% for the month of June, many Sri Lankans are skipping meals. Charity Unicef says more than two-thirds of the country has cut down on food since the start of the year.
Its spokesperson in Sri Lanka told the BBC that if outside help doesn't arrive soon to this island nation, there could be a humanitarian crisis in the coming months.
BBC India business correspondent Archana Shulka says that while Sri Lanka has not completely ground to a halt yet, it is precariously close to seizing up.
Export-driven industries, such as textile and clothing, have been helped to keep going by the government as the economy needs to earn significant amounts of foreign currency.
However, the fuel supplies needed to power machinery in these industries and to transport goods are also drying up now, our correspondent says.
IT industry, which is still developing in the country, has also been heavily affected as firms face power cuts and internet outages.
All of this has prompted concerns of a so-called "brain drain", with fears that large numbers of young professionals could leave the country.
Last Thursday, an International Monetary Fund team concluded a fresh round of talks with Sri Lanka over a $3bn (£2.5bn) bailout deal.
While no agreement has been reached yet, the team said in a statement that it had made "significant progress on defining a macroeconomic and structural policy package".
It added that it had "witnessed some of the hardships currently faced by the Sri Lankan people, especially the poor and vulnerable who are affected disproportionately by the crisis".
-strapped country has also sent officials to the major energy producers Russia and Qatar in an attempt to secure cheap oil supplies.
South Asia Correspondent Rajini Vaidyanathan meets one family struggling to get fuel in Sri Lanka | /news/business-62032542 |
technology | Fibrus: Belfast broadband firm wins major GB contract | Belfast-based broadband company Fibrus has won its first major contract in Great Britain.
£108m scheme will upgrade broadband for more than 60,000 hard-to-reach homes and businesses across Cumbria in north-west England.
It is part of the UK government's Project Gigabit, which aims to improve broadband across the UK.
Fibrus is delivering a similar scheme in Northern Ireland known as Project Stratum.
roject, which is worth more than £200m, is largely funded by money which flowed from the Democratic Unionist Party's confidence and supply deal with the Conservative Party in 2017.
Project Gigabit is mostly focused on encouraging commercial investment with the government subsiding roll-out to mainly rural areas where the private sector would not otherwise connect.
Fibrus chief executive Dominic Kearns said the Project Gigabit contract was a significant development for the company.
"Winning this contract to connect Cumbria extends the Fibrus investment plan to 700,000 homes and £700m and sets us on the road to being central to national digital infrastructure." | /news/uk-northern-ireland-63818934 |
health | China plans 'crackdown' after Covid protests | China's top security agency has called for a crackdown on "hostile forces" after rare protests against Covid rules in Chinese cities at the weekend.
Police officers have flooded now-empty protest sites, with some protesters saying police have contacted them to seek information on their whereabouts.
Meanwhile the country's health officials say lockdowns should be "imposed and eased quickly".
China has recorded record numbers of new cases in recent days.
It is the only major economy with a zero-Covid policy, with local authorities clamping down on even small outbreaks with mass testing, quarantines and snap lockdowns.
Over the weekend, thousands in China took to the streets demanding an end to the strict measures - with some even making rare calls for President Xi Jinping to stand down.
But a heavy police presence in China's major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, seems to have curbed further protests on Monday and Tuesday.
ruling Communist Party's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which oversees domestic law enforcement across China, said it was "necessary to crack down on infiltration and sabotage activities by hostile forces in accordance with the law".
ment, reported by Chinese news agency Xinhua, did not mention the recent demonstrations, which began after a fire in a high-rise block in Urumqi, western China, killed 10 people on Thursday.
Many Chinese believe Covid restrictions in the city contributed to the deaths, although the authorities deny this.
Police officers were seen on Tuesday patrolling in large numbers in parts of Beijing and Shanghai where demonstrations were held at the weekend.
re were also reports of around 150 officers showing up at a busy shopping area in the southern city of Shenzhen after rumours of a planned protest there circulated on social media.
Also on Tuesday, Chinese health officials said the authorities would work to reduce "inconvenience" caused by the Covid pandemic.
Mi Feng, spokesperson of China's National Health Commission (NHC), told reporters that lockdowns should be "imposed and eased quickly" and that "excessive control measures should be continuously rectified".
Health officials earlier called for more targeted Covid measures - saying complaints over tough curbs were a result of the "arbitrary" local roll-outs, rather than national guidelines.
In southern Guangdong province, authorities announced changes to local Covid policy on Tuesday evening, allowing some close contacts of Covid cases to quarantine at home rather than in state facilities.
Elsewhere, the UK has summoned the Chinese ambassador for a meeting after a BBC journalist, Ed Lawrence, was beaten and briefly detained while covering anti-government lockdown protests on Sunday. | /news/world-asia-china-63796135 |
sports | Ukrainian refugee supported by Bristol wrestling coach | A wrestling coach who has sponsored a Ukrainian refugee later discovered his father is a "legend" in the sport.
Saeed Esmaeli, from Bristol, gave Ernest, 13, a pair of wrestling shoes as a welcome gift when he arrived.
He then found out his 72-year-old dad is a veteran wrestler and coached in Vladimir Klitschko's boxing company.
"I was really surprised. What a legend we've accidentally welcomed," said Mr Esmaeli, who left Iran when he was 11.
"As a child of war myself I know how hard it is to leave home and fit into another culture.
"I will do my best to give them a sense of belonging."
Ernest and his family arrived on 1 April while his father came shortly afterwards on 1 May as he wanted to stay and fight in Ukraine, but was told he was too old.
ger had been wrestling for three years in Ukraine so his cousin, who arranged their visas, contacted Mr Esmaeli to see if he could attend some of the sessions he teaches in Horfield in Bristol.
Mr Esmaeli then found out a week later Ernest's dad, Vitaliy, was a veteran power lifting champion and a life long wrestler, and had coached a lot of boxing greats in Ukraine as well.
He said: "I didn't know about Ernest's dad, it was just a coincidence and I told him to just come along to a session.
"I realised the situation they were facing and welcomed them to the club.
"I've been through these problems myself trying to adapt to a new culture. I was a total outsider and it took me years to blend in, so I can see the type of challenges Ernest will face," he added.
Ernest's cousin Natasha, who he has been living with in Bristol, said she was "immensely grateful" Ernest had been welcomed and given a friendship group via Mr Esmaeli.
"This is the first thing that Ernest was able to establish for himself in this country and it's a string that connects him to his past and life in Ukraine," she said.
"Instantly he's got friends in his wrestling team."
Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-bristol-61370523 |
business | Russia in debt default as payment deadline passes | Russia is believed to have defaulted on its debt for the first time since 1998 after missing a key deadline.
Russia has the money to make a $100m payment, which was due on Sunday, but sanctions made it impossible to get the sum to international creditors.
untry had been determined to avoid the default, which is a major blow to the nation's prestige.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, said "statements of a default were absolutely unjustified".
He added that an intermediary bank had withheld the money and that the reserves were blocked "unlawfully".
White House said that Russia had defaulted on paying yields on its international bonds, crediting sanctions for effectively cutting Russia off from the global financial system.
Russia's finance minister called the situation "a farce" and said the situation is not expected to have short-term impact.
use Russia does not need to raise money internationally as it is reaping revenue from high-priced commodities such as oil, according to Chris Weafer, chief executive at Moscow-based consultancy Macro Advisory.
But he said it would create a "legacy" problem if the situation with Ukraine and international sanctions improves.
"This is the sort of action that will hang over the economy and make recovery much more difficult when we get to that stage," he said.
$100m interest payment was due on 27 May. Russia says the money was sent to Euroclear, a bank which would then distribute the payment to investors.
But that payment has been stuck there, according to Bloomberg News, and creditors have not received it.
Meanwhile, some Taiwanese holders of Russian bonds denominated in euros have not received interest payments, according to the Reuters news agency, which cited two sources.
money had not arrived within 30 days of the due date, that is, Sunday evening, and so is considered a default.
Euroclear would not say if the payment had been blocked, but said it adhered to all sanctions, introduced following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia disputed that it had defaulted on the debt. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it had made the payments due in May, and the fact that it was blocked by Euroclear because of sanctions was "not our problem."
Russia finance minister Anton Siluanov admitted foreign investors would "not be able to receive" the payments, according to the RIA Novosti news wire.
Because Russia wants to pay and has plenty of money to do it, he denied that this amounts to a genuine default, which usually occur when governments refuse to pay, or their economies are so weak that they cannot find the money.
"Everyone in the know understands that this is not a default at all. This whole situation looks like a farce."
Defaulting nations usually find it impossible to borrow any more money, but Russia is already in effect barred from borrowing in Western markets by sanctions.
Also, Russia is reportedly earning about $1bn a day from fossil fuel exports, and its finance minister Anton Siluanov said in April the country had no plans to borrow more.
fault will trigger repayments on a large chunk of Russia's debt, according to Mr Weafer.
About $40bn of Russia's debts are denominated in dollars or euros, with around half held outside the country.
"Some parts of that debt will now become automatically due because there will be early repayment clauses in all debt instruments so if you default on one it usually triggers the immediate demand for payment on the other debts, so Russia could certainly face immediate debt repayment of about $20bn at this stage," he told the BBC's Today programme.
Russia's last debt default of any kind was in 1998 as the country was rocked by the rouble crisis during the chaotic end of Boris Yeltsin's regime. At the time Moscow failed to keep up payments on its domestic bonds and defaulted on some overseas debt.
Russia has seemed on an inevitable path to default since sanctions were first imposed by the US and European Union following the invasion of Ukraine.
restricted the country's access to the international banking networks which would process payments from Russia to investors around the world.
Russian government has said it wants to make all of its payments on time, and up until now it had succeeded.
Default seemed inevitable when the US Treasury decided not to renew the special exemption in sanctions rules allowing investors to receive interest payments from Russia, which expired on 25 May.
Kremlin now appears to have accepted this inevitability too, decreeing on 23 June stating that all future debt payments would be made in roubles through a Russian bank, the National Settlements Depository, even when contracts state they should be in dollars or other international currencies.
Meanwhile, Mr Weafer, who is based in Moscow, said that life was more or less operating as normal despite sanctions and Western companies withdrawing from Russia.
"If you're in Moscow right now frankly, if you weren't reading the newspapers, you'd see there's been a price increase but otherwise life is as it was before February 24.
"In March and April there was a lot of concern that products would disappear, that factories would not be able to get components or materials to continue operating and we could be looking therefore at a severe drop in employment or a rise in unemployment by the summer [or] early autumn. That situation has improved," he added.
"We've seen alternative import routes opening via Kazakhstan and Turkey, the government has promoted what they call a parallel import scheme so effectively a lot of products that were blocked in March and April are now starting to reappear, albeit at a higher price." | /news/business-61929926 |
business | Network Rail starts consultation over job reforms | Network Rail has started a legal consultation with unions on maintenance reforms it says are needed to modernise the rail industry, one of the issues at the centre of the current strikes.
Around 1,900 fewer jobs would be needed under the proposed reforms.
mpany said the plans will also save money that is "necessary for the future of our railway".
But the RMT union, which has staged strikes over pay and reform proposals, criticised the move.
reforms have been a key part of the ongoing dispute with the RMT, and this step represents an attempt to push through the changes whether or not the union agrees.
But negotiations can continue through the consultation process.
Changes to how Network Rail maintenance teams work would see multi-functional teams sent to fix faults on on tracks instead of multiple specialist teams.
A "raft of labour and life-saving technology" would also be rolled out.
Network Rail's chief executive Andrew Haines said he hadn't given up on finding a negotiated way forward, but added "we can't continue to circle the same ground day after day, week after week and not move forward".
"It is vital that we progress our modernisation plans to help put our railway on a sustainable financial footing for the future," he said.
"The way people live and work has changed since the pandemic. On the railway, that means significantly fewer commuters and significantly less income."
Network Rail said around 1,900 fewer jobs would be needed under the reforms - cutting the maintenance workforce from about 10,000 to about 8,000.
However, it insists most roles could be shed through voluntary redundancy, retraining and redeployment, instead of compulsory redundancies.
"These reforms are too important, especially given we started these conversations 18 months ago," said Mr Haines.
usands of rail workers from Network Rail and train companies have walked out in recent weeks due to the row over reforms as well as wages.
On Wednesday, a strike meant about 20% of train journeys went ahead.
RMT members will go on strike again, with the same impact on services on 18 and 20 August.
On Saturday, about 5,500 train drivers at seven rail companies who are members of the Aslef union will strike, which coincides with the Commonwealth Games and is the first day of the English Football League season.
Network Rail said its most-recent offer of an 8% pay rise over two years, with "heavily discounted travel, a cash bonus and a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies" had met many of RMT's demands.
"The alternative is to ask either taxpayers or passengers to fund a pay increase, and that is neither fair nor realistic," the company said.
It is understood that Network Rail was on two occasions close to reaching a deal, but union bosses then had a "shift in tone".
Mick Lynch, general secretary of RMT, hit back at Network Rail's latest move, saying an offer made was "entirely conditional on mass redundancies and changes to conditions and working practices".
"Rather than deceiving the staff about what they are actually proposing, the company now needs to get back round the table with RMT and work to resolve the issues in the dispute including their proposals for change and the union's demands for job security and a decent pay rise," he said.
ransport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "While we still encourage RMT to join talks and find a solution to this dispute that is fair for all, it's clear now that no deal was ever going to be good enough for the RMT, and they have left Network Rail no choice but to go ahead with these essential modernisations with or without their support."
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If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. | /news/business-62339053 |
business | Cost of living: Inflation hits NI consumer confidence | Consumer confidence in Northern Ireland fell sharply in the first quarter of 2022 as inflation hit household finances, a Danske Bank survey has suggested.
urvey was carried out in the second half of March with 1,003 people.
More than 40% of people expected their financial position to worsen over the next year.
Only 18% believe their finances will be in a better position in 12 months.
In comparison a survey conducted in the final quarter of 2021 found at that time only 26% of people expected their financial position to deteriorate in the year ahead.
In terms of spending, 38% of respondents said they expected to spend less on expensive items over the next year, compared with 26% who anticipated spending more.
However, there is a broad expectation that the jobs market recovery will be sustained.
When asked about job security, 13% of people expected to become more secure in their jobs, while 61% expected no change in job security and only 8% thought their job security would worsen.
Danske Bank chief economist Conor Lambe said: "In Northern Ireland and the wider UK, consumer spending accounts for a considerable proportion of economic activity and is therefore an important driver of economic growth.
"Inflation has already increased sharply and is likely to rise even higher in the months ahead, exerting a further squeeze on consumer spending."
UK main rate of inflation, the Consumer Price Index, stood at 7% in March but is expected to rise higher when the April statistics are released this week.
Last week, two of Northern Ireland's biggest food companies warned consumers to expect further price rises this year.
Food production inputs like fuel, fertiliser and animal feed have experienced rapid inflation over the last year.
Dale Farm chief executive Nick Whelan said only about half of that inflation had been passed to consumers.
was echoed by Justin Coleman, director at Moy Park, which is one of Europe's biggest chicken producers.
"I don't think the full force of food inflation has hit retail shelves yet," he said. | /news/uk-northern-ireland-61468186 |
health | New nurses in NI discuss their future amid health service pressures | group of nurses in Northern Ireland are ready to begin their careers after graduating from Queen's University Belfast.
graduate as the health service faces mounting pressure and nurses in Northern Ireland, England and Wales walk out on Thursday in a dispute over pay.
wly-qualified nurses told BBC News NI how they felt about starting their career in the health service. | /news/uk-northern-ireland-63978605 |
entertainment | Pulp, The 1975 and Sam Fender to headline TRNSMT 2023 | Britpop legends Pulp will be among the headliners at next year's TRNSMT music festival at Glasgow Green.
's organisers have announced the first acts who will perform at the festival between 7 and 9 July.
r headliners will be Sam Fender and The 1975, while the bill will also include George Ezra, One Direction's Niall Horan, Aitch, Becky Hill.
RNSMT returned to its summer slot this year after two years of disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.
About 50,000 people attended each day to see acts including Paolo Nutini, Lewis Capaldi and The Strokes.
Pulp's appearance at TRNSMT will be one of three UK festival appearances for the re-united band, who will be playing live for the first time in 10 years.
George Ezra, One Direction's Niall Horan, the Beautiful South's Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot will also perform on Friday 7 July.
Sam Fender will return to the festival for his fourth consecutive year.
He will perform on the Saturday, alongside Aitch, one of the fastest growing UK rap artists; Kasabian; and Dublin band Inhaler.
1975 will close the festival on the Sunday, when the line-up will also include Royal Blood and singer Becky Hill.
Kooks will also be performing following their 15th anniversary tour for their debut album Inside In/Inside Out.
-ups for the King Tut's Stage, Boogie Bar and River Stage are still to be announced, and more acts will also be added to the main stage line-up.
Presale tickets for the festival will go on sale on 3 November, with the general sale starting the following day. | /news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-63425844 |
business | Manx government admits living wage calculation incorrect since 2017 | An error in how the Isle of Man Living Wage was historically calculated means the figure has been overestimated since 2017, the treasury minister has said.
mix-up meant the figure had been overstated by between 80p and £1.24 each year since its introduction.
Alex Allinson said corrected figures set the voluntary wage rate at £11.05 an hour this year, an 18p rise on 2021.
Dr Allinson said the "regrettable" mistake was found during a detailed review of the calculations used.
A mistake involving the cost of having a child in the family was made when the wage was initially calculated in 2017 as £8.61.
It was replicated in each subsequent years' figures, which many Manx employers adopted to ensure their workers could afford a decent standard of living.
ry of the error delayed the publication of the 2022 report by three months while the methodology was corrected before being externally validated by Loughborough University, which will continue to check future calculations.
Dr Allinson said he hoped people would have confidence that "as soon as we spotted this inaccuracy, we have dealt with it".
Steps had been taken to ensure future calculations were correct, he added.
Dr Allinson said businesses who felt "damaged" after overpaying staff should contact the Cabinet Office, which would deal with them on a case-by-case basis.
Living Wage figure was calculated before inflationary pressures started to build, and plans to alter it in the short-term have been ruled out, he said.
government wanted to maintain confidence that it was a "statistical, not a political" calculation, and other measures were being used to address rises in the cost of living, he added.
Last year Tynwald voted to see the minimum wage, currently set at £9.50 an hour, increase to meet the Living Wage by 2026.
Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk | /news/world-europe-isle-of-man-62510116 |
entertainment | Sam Ryder busks Space Man in surprise Norwich gig | Eurovision star Sam Ryder has surprised city centre shoppers with an impromptu gig.
ger, from Maldon in Essex, teased fans he would be in Norwich with an Instagram post around lunchtime asking them where he should sing.
He performed his hit song Space Man to a delighted crowd outside St Peter Mancroft church.
Ryder came second behind Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. | /news/uk-england-norfolk-63841712 |
sports | Matty Smith: St Helens appoint former half-back as women's head coach | Former England half-back Matty Smith has returned to St Helens to take over as women's team head coach, with Derek Hardman switching to reserve team boss.
35-year-old played 49 games for his hometown Saints, and also played for rivals Wigan, Salford, Catalans and Widnes on a permanent basis.
Hardman makes way having won Super League and Challenge Cup honours as Saints women's boss.
He will still work with Smith along with ex-England boss Craig Richards.
Ian Talbot will retain his role as first-team assistant coach.
"It's a great honour to be given the opportunity to come back to the club and coach such a talented group of women," Smith said. "I'm really looking forward to getting started and building up to what I know will be a successful 2023 season.
"The chance to come back to the club was one I couldn't turn down. I hope with all the knowledge I have gained during my career I can use it to push the team to the next level." | /sport/rugby-league/63880509 |
health | Forest of Dean GP surgeries enter into partnership | A rural doctors surgery has entered into a partnership with another practice to help secure its future.
Drybrook Surgery in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire will become a branch surgery of Mitcheldean surgery.
NHS say Drybrook has been under pressure recently and that this would secure its future.
ges will take effect on 2 December, and current patients will continue to remain on the surgery's books.
Drybrook Surgery say that patients can be reassured that a "full range of primary care services" would still to be provided.
urgery added that patients would be able to access services in the same way as they do now and would remain on the practice's patient list, so would not need to take any action.
Both practices say Drybrook will be able to offer high-quality care to patients and meet growing demand thanks to the new arrangement.
GP Lead at Drybrook Surgery, Dr Manu K Agrawal, said that despite the "excellent" work of Drybrook's practice team, the surgery has been experiencing significant pressures and management had been looking at options to secure its future.
"We firmly believe that this is a great opportunity to offer high quality care to our patients well into the future," he added.
GP Partner at Mitcheldean Surgery, Dr Paul Weiss said the expansion will bring other benefits to its patients, including a wider range of skills and expertise, an increased number of services and a greater choice of appointments and clinics.
Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-gloucestershire-63807812 |
entertainment | David Tennant jealous of incoming Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa | Former Doctor Who star David Tennant says he's "a little bit jealous" of the incoming Doctor Ncuti Gatwa "starting on this exciting journey."
"Ncuti is brilliant," adds Tennant, who played the Doctor between 2005-2010. "He's a lovely, lovely man and he's full of beans and he's really talented. I mean he's like scary-talented.
"So I'm thrilled for every Doctor Who fan for what's to come and I include myself in that number."
In May the BBC announced that Tennant himself would be reprising the role as part of the show's 60th anniversary celebrations next year. Details are shrouded in secrecy but we know that he will be reunited with Catherine Tate, who played his companion Donna Noble.
And Tennant now tells the BBC how the reunion came about. "It all slightly happened a little bit by accident," he reveals. And, strange as it may sound, Covid played a huge role.
He, Tate and Russell T Davies, who was in charge of the hit sci-fi series between 2005 and 2009, got involved in Doctor Who: Lockdown! a worldwide series of online "watch-alongs" of previous episodes designed to pass the time during the pandemic, "when everyone was locked in their house".
"That's where this all started", explains Tennant.
"At a certain time and day everyone would press play on a certain episode and some of the people who had been involved in those episodes were tweeting along.
"I don't tweet but my wife helped me," he laughs.
rogramme, which is almost 60 years old, was being filmed in central Bristol
Afterwards the three of them "were just having a text exchange and Catherine said, 'wouldn't it be fun to do it again?'"
He adds: "Russell said, 'We could do a one off, maybe they'd let us'."
"We said, 'yeah that would be a laugh,' and then it all went quiet."
But last year Davies announced he was back as Doctor Who's showrunner. And Tennant and Tate received a surprising offer.
"Suddenly Russell let us know that he was taking over the show again and he would be back fully in charge and would we come and play a little bit for him?" says Tennant.
"So I don't know if we gave him the idea to take Doctor Who back but certainly we thought if he's doing it, we can't let these young people have all the fun."
Before we see him back on screen in Doctor Who though, Tennant is returning to the stage, for the first time in five years.
Next month he will star in CP Taylor's play Good, about a decent, respectable German professor, with a Jewish best friend, who becomes a high-ranking Nazi.
"When you look back at the historical events like what happened in Germany in the 1930s, yes there were some monsters but mostly it was a nation full of people that were as complex and different and broadly decent as most of us are," says Tennant. "So what happened?"
was first performed in 1981, and in a revival at the Royal Exchange in Manchester in 2011, the Guardian's Lyn Gardner highlighted "the fatal lack of dramatic tension in a play in which quite a nice man slips under with no struggle at all".
But Tennant says Good will ask the audience hard questions because "it sort of plonks you in the middle of this awful context and it makes you wonder how you would cope yourself".
"One likes to think one is the true, virtuous crusading type of person. One fears one is the one that lets things slide past. [For instance] we are staring down the barrel of a terrible climate emergency, what am I really doing about that?"
And staging the work, the award-winning director Dominic Cooke says he has been struck by how timeless the themes of the play are.
"What this play does is it allows you to identify with this very sort of decent, funny, charming person and watch him make compromises," he says. "We all want to think that we are going to be the person that will stand up and say no when something terrible happens.
"But the truth is that very few of us actually do."
Good is on at London's Harold Pinter Theatre from 5 October to 24 December. | /news/entertainment-arts-63073710 |
sports | MLB: New York Yankees' Aaron Judge breaks American League home run record | Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees has set a new American League record with his 62nd home run of the season.
utfielder, 30, passed the 61-year-old single-season mark set by another Yankee, Roger Maris, in the first inning away to the Texas Rangers.
Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants has the overall MLB record of 73, set in 2001 in the National League.
"It's a big relief," said Judge, who claimed the record with one regular season game remaining.
"Everybody can finally sit down in their seats now and watch the ball game.
"It's been a fun ride so far. Getting the chance to do this with my team-mates and with the constant support from my family, it's been a great honour."
Judge drew level with Maris last week against the Toronto Blue Jays before playing five fruitless games, including two against the Rangers.
But he made no mistake this time as he led off the hitting, going clear of Maris with the third pitch faced from Jesus Tinoco.
"Congratulations to Aaron Judge and his family on Aaron's historic home run number 62," tweeted Maris' son, Roger Maris Jr.external-link
"It has definitely been a baseball season to remember. You are all class and someone who should be revered."
record-breaking ball was claimed by a fan in the stands and has been valued at about $2m (£1.75m).
"I don't know where the ball's at, so we'll see what happens with that," said Judge.
"It would have been great to get it back but that's a souvenir for a fan. They made a great catch out there and they've got every right to it."
Judge was a first-round draft pick by the Yankees in 2013 and made his MLB debut in 2016, hitting 52 home runs in his first full season.
In July he became the second-fastest player to reach 200 career home runs and he now has 219 from 727 games. | /sport/baseball/63103884 |
technology | London homicides driven by drugs and social media, study finds | Drugs, missed mental health sessions and social media usage are factors driving homicides, a study has found.
London Violence Reduction Unit's (VRU) report analysed police data to better understand the causes of murder and manslaughter.
Last year, there was a record number of teenage killings in the capital, despite a national Covid-19 lockdown.
Each homicide costs the police and criminal justice system an estimated £800,000, the report claims.
London's homicide rate means it would have an annual cost of about £120m.
Established by the London mayor's office, the VRU study by the behavioural insights team aimed to find a framework for experts, including the police, to deliver early and targeted interventions.
Following an analysis of 50 homicides, it found:
will now use the framework to analyse another 300 cases with a view to it potentially being used more routinely in the capital.
Met Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has previously said he wanted to bring the number of homicides in London down to below 100 a year, from 130.
report from the Mayor's Violence Reduction Unit suggests police are only one part of the solution.
re are recommendations for other agencies and policy makers too, including monitoring when someone stops engaging with mental health support and providing better guidance for young people who are being targeted on social media.
report also highlights the gaps in the data recorded on homicides and makes recommendations for the police on how that can be improved.
Gang violence, for example, is an area where researchers say there's not enough specific information about how drugs or social media are involved, or the relationships or nature of the conflict.
Researchers say the clues are often there, but improving the data will make it easier to spot patterns and see where current provision and policy need to be improved.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "If we are to continue reducing violence in London, it's crucial that we identify more opportunities to intervene early because I firmly believe that violence is preventable, not inevitable."
Lib Peck, director of VRU, said: "The foundation of the VRU's approach to tackling violence is to build an evidence base for what works and what doesn't."
Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-london-63621808 |
entertainment | Bob Dylan apologises for machine-printed 'signatures' | Bob Dylan has issued a rare public statement to apologise for using a machine to duplicate his signature on books and artworks since 2019.
r said he regretted making an "error of judgment" in allowing the works to be sold as hand-signed.
He said he had started using an autopen after developing vertigo in 2019.
ue came to light when fans who bought $600, limited-edition copies of Dylan's book The Philosophy of Modern Song compared photos of his signature.
ublisher, Simon & Schuster, initially refused requests for refunds, assuring buyers that the signatures were legitimate and validated by a "letter of authenticity".
After continued pressure, they admitted the books contained a "penned replica" of the star's autograph, and offered full refunds to everyone who had bought one of the 900 "hand-signed" editions.
row also raised questions over Dylan's artworks, prints of which can sell for up to $15,000 (£12,400).
In a statement released on Friday, the singer-songwriter admitted that some of those had also been signed by machine.
"I've hand-signed each and every art print over the years, and there's never been a problem," he wrote.
"However, in 2019 I had a bad case of vertigo and it continued into the pandemic years. It takes a crew of five working in close quarters with me to help enable these signing sessions, and we could not find a safe and workable way to complete what I needed to do while the virus was raging.
"So, during the pandemic, it was impossible to sign anything and the vertigo didn't help. With contractual deadlines looming, the idea of using an auto-pen was suggested to me, along with the assurance that this kind of thing is done 'all the time' in the art and literary worlds.
"Using a machine was an error in judgment and I want to rectify it immediately. I'm working with Simon & Schuster and my gallery partners to do just that."
Castle Fine Art, a UK art retailer that sells prints of Dylan's paintings, said they had been "entirely unaware of the use of autopen".
Only two collections, both released in 2022, were affected, it said in a statement. "All other editions were individually hand signed by Bob Dylan himself."
Buyers who own a machine-signed print will be offered a full refund. However, they will be asked to "exchange the current certificate of authenticity for one reflecting the autopen signature".
utopen was first patented in the USA in 1803, and allowed a machine to replicate a person's signature as they wrote. US president Thomas Jefferson was an early proponent of the system, purchasing two: One for the White House and another for his house in Monticello.
modern version does not require the signatory to be present - instead storing a digital version of their handwriting, which a robot arm can reproduce.
President Obama was the first person to use one to sign a bill into law; and the device is commonplace in the art and literature world.
Van Morrison was recently accused of using autopen to sign CDs, although his management issued a statement denying it.
Sinead O'Connor admitted to signing her memoir with the device, saying: "I was not in a position to hand write my name 10,000 times, which is how many I was asked to sign.
"My son was unwell as was I".
In both these instances, the disputed items were selling for about £30, limiting the potential for uproar - although many retailers withdrew the autographed copies of O'Connor's book from sale.
Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | /news/entertainment-arts-63779904 |
sports | Get Inspired: How to get into disability sport | At whatever level you wish to take part, sport and physical activity can be an enjoyable lifestyle choice.
Physical activity has a number of health benefits including helping to maintain a healthy weight, lowering high blood pressure and boosting the immune system, as well as boosting self-confidence and preventing depression,
In the past, it may have been difficult to find a local sports club that could cater for individual needs, but nowadays nearly all sports have options or variations for disabled people and many clubs can accommodate people regardless of physical limitations.
Activity Allianceexternal-link can direct you to numerous participation opportunities and programmes including information on different sports in your local area. For other areas of the UK, visit Disability Sport Walesexternal-link, Disability Sports NIexternal-link, or Scottish Disability Sport.external-link
Check out our Activity Guide pages which cover over 70 sports, most with a dedicated disability section.
Useful links
Any kind of physical movement is beneficial to your health, so don't think you have to be a great athlete to get involved.
If you're not quite ready to join a club, working out at home is a good starting point. If you're keen to get active but the prospect of entering the world of sport seems daunting, don't worry as there are plenty of great resources out there to help you get started.
BBC's Make Your Move has a wide range of challenges to help you get active - take a look and find the ones which are right for you.
With their connection to County Sport Partnerships around the country, the Activity Allianceexternal-link can point you to sports and activities in your area. Just click on your region and get started. The Parasport club finderexternal-link can also help to find a club near you.
In the past you may have been limited to certain sports such a wheelchair basketball or racing.
If you used to enjoy sport or haven't been active for a while, you might be pleasantly surprised at the variety and popularity of sports now available in addition to the number of clubs that now offer specific options for disabled people.
Don't know where to start? look through the Get Inspired activity guide list that has a range of different activities and their variations to point you in the right direction.
If you have your heart set on joining a gym, there are now more than 400 IFI Inclusive Fitnessexternal-link gyms around the country that provide accessible physical activity to disabled people. The specially designed equipmentexternal-link allows both disabled and non-disabled people to benefit from a full-body, cardiovascular and resistance-based workout.
If it's your dream to compete at the highest level then Para Sportexternal-link is the destination for you.
r Pathway to the Paralympicsexternal-link scheme includes initiatives and events which are designed to help you develop your skills and get the best out of disability sport.
If you're not sure which sport to focus on, use the site to find a sportexternal-link, however if you have your heart set on a certain discipline, then go straight to finding a clubexternal-link in your local area.
You will be trained by professional coaches to really ramp up your fitness and technique to help you reach your full potential.
Regardless of your level of fitness or ability, joining a sports club is a great way to build your confidence, meet likeminded people and create a new social circle with people you can share your experiences with.
re are even some sports such as basketball and dance that integrate able-bodied and disabled athletes which is a fantastic way to broaden your social circle even further.
Visit the Activity Alliance for information on inclusive fitnessexternal-link and the health and social benefits of sport.external-link
If you're low in confidence or your disability inhabits your ability to attend a sports session alone, then take a friend, family member or carer with you and they will often get to play for free!
1. Share your storyexternal-link and inspire others
2. Find your local opportunities in Englandexternal-link, Walesexternal-link, Scotlandexternal-link and Northern Ireland.external-link
3. See the Activity Alliance Being Active guideexternal-link for some more information on where to start.
5. Catch up on the Goz & Ross physical challenge series. The friends tried out different activities to find one that they can do together including wheelchair rugby, skiing, sailing, cycling, tennis and dance.
Are you inspired to try a new sport? Or maybe you are a keen enthusiast already? Get in touch and tell us your experience of the game by tweeting us on @bbcgetinspired,external-link visiting us on Facebookexternal-link or email us on getinspired@bbc.co.uk.
See our full list of activity guides for more inspiration & to choose which disability sport is right for you. | /sport/get-inspired/23196217 |
entertainment | Henry Cavill: British actor will not return as Superman | Actor Henry Cavill has been dropped as Superman by the new bosses of DC Studios, less than two months after he announced his return to the role.
"I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it's sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman," Cavill said.
"After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn't the easiest, but that's life."
He said there were no hard feelings.
"The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that," he continued, in his Instagram post.
"James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes."
Gunn and Safran took over DC Studios in late October, just after Cavill made a surprise appearance as the Man of Steel during the credits of the Dwayne Johnson film Black Adam.
British actor then posted a video telling fans: "I wanted to make it official, that I am back as Superman." The Black Adam cameo was "just a very small taste of things to come", he added.
Cavill played the legendary role in the 2013 Man Of Steel film, as well as in 2016's Batman v Superman alongside Ben Affleck, and in Justice League the following year.
Following the announcement, some fans have been speculating that the actor is now available to take on the role of James Bond - should the casting director come calling.
Cavill, 39, also announced his departure from Netflix's The Witcher in late October. He will be replaced by Liam Hemsworth.
On Wednesday, Gunn wrote on Twitter: "Peter and I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn't be more over-the-moon about; we'll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year.
"Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman's life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill."
He added: "But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we're big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future." | /news/entertainment-arts-63983600 |
politics | The Supreme Court judgement is clear but not what Nicola Sturgeon wanted | Clarity was what Nicola Sturgeon asked for and clarity is what she now has from the UK Supreme Court.
judges have made clear that the law does not allow Holyrood to legislate for an independence referendum without Westminster's agreement.
means there will not be an indyref2 on 19 October 2023, as the Scottish government had planned.
SNP ministers will accept the judgement and respect the law. A wildcat ballot in the Catalan-style is not an option.
A legal referendum can only happen if the first minister somehow persuades the prime minister to abandon his opposition.
re's little prospect of that happening in the short term, so the renewed campaign for independence just became a longer haul.
It will immediately incorporate this court defeat into its narrative and seek to use it to build support.
At rallies across Scotland, independence supporters will protest that Scottish democracy is being denied.
Some will argue the nature of the Anglo-Scottish union has changed from one based on consent to one based on law.
Others will ask: if a Holyrood majority for indyref2 is not accepted as a mandate by Westminster then what is the democratic route to independence?
reply from supporters of the union will be that the democracy of the 2014 referendum should be allowed to stand for at least a generation.
will argue that tackling the cost of living crisis should be taking up all the available bandwidth in politics right now.
UK PM Rishi Sunak may want to demonstrate his commitment to devolution through an early visit to Scotland and perhaps a joint announcement with the Scottish government on freeports.
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer is likely to adopt plans for a UK-wide redistribution of power along the lines proposed by the former prime minister Gordon Brown, who is due to publish a blueprint soon.
g question is what will Nicola Sturgeon do next?
Plan A - that Westminster would accept a Holyrood majority for indyref2 as a mandate has failed.
Plan B - that the courts might allow a referendum without Westminster consent has failed.
r stated Plan C - to take the independence argument into the next UK general election and treat it like a referendum.
Ms Sturgeon has previously said she would seek to win more than 50% of the vote in the election and if successful would claim that as a mandate for independence.
She recommitted to that plan in the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling but left some of the details to a special SNP conference to be held in the New Year.
It would be a huge gamble.
In its best ever election result in 2015, the SNP fell just short of 50%.
xtremely high bar in an election where any number of other issues could be at play.
Clearing it is unlikely to get easier if Labour continue to be seen as serious challengers to the Conservatives in the battle for Number 10 and an alternative route to political change.
re is also no guarantee that record-breaking electoral success for the SNP (and its allies) would be accepted by whomever forms the next UK government as a basis for independence negotiations.
Even some on Nicola Sturgeon's side privately hope she will back off this all-or-nothing approach.
Because if this Plan C fails, it would be time for a new independence strategy and presumably new leadership of the SNP.
Nicola Sturgeon refuses to be drawn on what would happen in these circumstances, except to say: "if we can't win, we don't deserve to be independent". | /news/uk-scotland-63729280 |
sports | UFC London: Inside Paddy Pimblett's remarkable weight transformation | Before Paddy Pimblett starts this interview, he finishes off a ham and coleslaw wrap.
Sweating after a training session at his gym, the 27-year-old Briton describes every calorie which enters his body.
"It's 27g of protein, 31g of carbs, half a gram of fat and 309 calories," Pimblett tells BBC Sport.
It's a first-hand example of the meticulous planning which goes into his diet and weight cut before each fight.
But it hasn't always been this way for Pimblett, who fights American Jordan Leavitt at UFC London on Saturday.
Pimblett admits to losing weight unhealthily in the past - referring to an old video where he vomited in the cage following a win - and points to those experiences as being key to the transformation in his training and eating habits.
"I was a stupid idiot when I was younger. I didn't mature until I was 24, 25," says Pimblett.
"I used to tell everyone to shut up and say I knew best - my coaches, my mum, my dad, my fiancee, my mates.
"That week [when he vomited] I had to lose 12kg (26lb) from Monday to Friday. I think I started my cut [before the weigh-in day] at 74.2kg (164lb) so I had 8.4kg (19lb) to lose to make weight overnight. And I did it. Very unhealthily, very unprofessionally, but I did it.
"Now I do it very healthily, like a professional. I have a nutritionist who is responsible for my body changing over the last couple of years.
"I used to be a fighter but now I'm an athlete as well, so that's all down to him, and my food prep team, my pro chef. Without them my life would be so much harder."
UFC has taken steps in recent years to make weight cuts safer - by banning IV drips, which forces fighters to hydrate in a healthier way, and building the Performance Institute, which provides guidance for its athletes from professional health experts.
UFC fighters are recommended to lose no more than 8% of their body weight during fight week, according to their senior vice-president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitskyexternal-link. On fight night a fighter is recommended to stay within 10% of their weight class.
wo weeks ago Pimblett weighed 173lb, meaning he needed to lose 18lb to make the UFC lightweight limit of 156lb.
He now normally cuts up to 16lb during fight week, leaving no more than 10lb to be shed the night before weigh-ins.
Pimblett says because of his professional approach to cutting weight, the process has become "easier and safer" as he has got older.
After making his professional debut 10 years ago, Pimblett - nicknamed 'the Baddy' - built up a record of 16 wins and three defeats fighting in the UK and Ireland before being signed by the UFC in 2021.
During his short spell in the promotion, Liverpudlian Pimblett has turned into one of the most popular fighters on the roster.
Pimblett's exciting striking and jiu-jitsu helped him record two first-round victories in two bouts, but it is his vibrant personality and drive to achieve success 'his way' which has captured the hearts of MMA fans.
One aspect of Pimblett's lifestyle which has attracted attention is the unrestricted diet he follows when he is not training for a fight.
wo days after his last win over Rodrigo Vargas in London in March, Pimblett consumed almost 11,000 calories - nearly 5,000 of which were from chocolate.
"What don't I like to eat?" he asks, rhetorically.
"Pizza, pasta, Chinese, Thai food. I love burgers. I love a Nandos and salt and pepper chicken are my favourite scrans. I just love food.
"But chocolate's one of my big ones. And desserts. I love desserts."
ries: 10,670 + sauces
Pimblett's diet means his weight fluctuates much more than the majority of MMA fighters.
Only two months ago he weighed as much as 205lb - the limit for UFC light-heavyweights, three divisions above lightweight.
Pimblett was training in the US when he got on the scales.
"I took my boxers off and got on and I was 205," he says. "And that's when it hit me: 'Paddy, you're fat here, son. You need to sort this out.'
"And then you get on the diet. But with me there's no in between. Anything I do, whether it's partying, gambling, training, eating, it's go hard or go home. I've always had that sort of mentality; I can't help it."
Pimblett's lifestyle has attracted criticism from some parts of the MMA world, with former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw saying: "That's like a recipe for destroying your body.
"If you keep that same work ethic that he has now, he'll never be a champion. You can't have that down time like that. You can't get that fat."
Pimblett says he will prove his doubters wrong.
"People have doubted me for years. At the minute, I'm not in the rankings, I'm fighting once every four months or something, so I can have a good blowout if I want," he says.
"People fat shame me. It's my life and I'll do whatever I want.
"I'm going to be UFC champion and I'm going to prove all these stereotypes wrong."
Pimblett says victory over 27-year-old American Leavitt on Saturday will take him a step closer to achieving his goal.
"I'm going to be one of the biggest sports stars in the world," says Pimblett.
"Never mind MMA, I'm going to be like your [Floyd] Mayweathers, LeBrons [James], Tiger Woods, your [Conor] McGregors.
"I've visualised it; I've seen all this coming. I'm going to knock this crab out on the 23 July and then it is going to shoot up another level of stardom." | /sport/mixed-martial-arts/62135535 |
politics | Covid public inquiry promises to cover key Welsh issues | UK Covid public inquiry will do all it can to ensure all issues the people of Wales want covered are investigated, its chair has said.
Baroness Hallett made the pledge as it was revealed the inquiry will hold public hearings in Wales next autumn.
She said she understood the "strength of feelings" on calls for a separate Wales inquiry but that she was "completely neutral on the question".
Baroness Hallett was speaking at a preliminary hearing in London.
Opening the session, to discuss the section of the inquiry that will consider how to investigate Welsh decision-making during the pandemic, she said: "I know there have been calls for a separate Welsh inquiry, and I understand the strength of feeling that there is around both Wales and Northern Ireland asking for separate inquiries.
"It's not a decision for me, and I'm completely neutral on the question, but what I will promise you is that if a Wales inquiry is set up I will work with them and co-operate to the best of my ability to ensure that between us we cover all of the issues that the people of Wales would wish to see covered.
"If there isn't a separate inquiry established then I will do my very best to ensure that we again cover all the issues the people in Wales wish to see covered."
Baroness Hallett said that, from a consultation exercise visit to Cardiff she had made, "I know the strength of feeling there are on a number of different issues because I heard them directly from members of bereaved families".
Counsel for the inquiry Tom Poole KC added that the "people of Wales are entitled to have the Welsh government's key decision-making in response to the pandemic fully scrutinised, and their experiences and their voices properly heard and represented".
"Only in this way," he said, "can proper and effective recommendations be drawn up to better protect Wales in the future, from pandemics and other comparable civil emergencies."
Speaking on behalf of the Welsh government, Christian J Howells promised the inquiry "the fullest possible co-operation in investigating the response to the unprecedented challenges faced by the people of Wales, their communities, their businesses and their public services as a result of the pandemic".
Mr Howells said the inquiry was "the best means by which the interconnected decision-making between the UK government and devolved governments can be properly explored".
"In particular, this inquiry can look at how distinct decisions were made by each of the four nations for their respective countries either on a four nations basis or separately.
"We have been consistent in our determination that our actions and those of our public sector partners in Wales are fully and properly scrutinised as part of this inquiry.
"The people of Wales deserve no less, particularly those who have lost loved ones but also everyone else whose lives were affected by this devastating pandemic."
Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru group, which has campaigned for a separate inquiry into the Welsh government's handling of the pandemic, has been recognised as a "core-participant" in the UK investigation, alongside the Welsh government and other key agencies involved in key pandemic decisions and their consequences. | /news/uk-wales-politics-63472762 |
politics | Dave Bishop: Man behind Bus Pass Elvis political party dies | A Nottingham political character, best known as Bus Pass Elvis, has died at the age of 78.
Dave Bishop, who also went by the name Lord Biro, first stood in the 1997 general election in Tatton, Cheshire, against the scandal-hit Neil Hamilton.
He stood for a number of parties, including Lord Biro Versus the Scallywag Tories, the Bus Pass Elvis Party and Militant Elvis Anti-HS2.
Friends and politicians have paid tribute to Mr Bishop.
gans of Mr Bishop - who stood in both local and national elections - included Ban Builders Bums, Bono for Pope and Make Clifton Great Again.
His profile grew in 2014, when he beat the Liberal Democrats in a Nottingham City Council by-election.
Friend and election partner Ian Pickering said: "He was a member of the awkward squad.
"He said 'somebody has got to have a go at them'.
"But he loved it. He told me he didn't have holidays, instead he paid £500 to stand in an election."
Despite his slightly outrageous image, Mr Pickering said his friend took his position seriously.
"He was very considered," Mr Pickering said. "He was interviewed by BBC political reporter Chris Mason and he gave reasoned, clear answers.
"He was not 'in your face' and I think people appreciated that."
Mr Bishop had been diagnosed with a brain tumour last month.
Mr Pickering said: "I asked him if it had been a life well-lived. He said yes.
"Can't really ask for more than that."
Nadia Whittome, who represents Nottingham East for Labour, tweeted: "I'm very sorry to hear of Dave's passing.
"Many people in Nottingham have fond memories of him and will miss him greatly."
Labour MP for Nottingham South Lilian Greenwood added: "Always a pleasure to bump into Dave out on the campaign trail or around town.
"Elections won't be the same without him."
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | /news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-63839826 |
entertainment | Golden Globes 2023: The nominations in full | minations for the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards have been announced.
film and TV shows of the past year will be honoured at a US ceremony in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles on January 10 next year.
Best motion picture - drama
Best motion picture - musical or comedy
Best actress in a motion picture - drama
Best actor in a motion picture - drama
Best actress in a motion picture - musical or comedy
Best actor in a motion picture - musical or comedy
Best supporting actress in any motion picture
Best supporting actor in any motion picture
Best director - motion picture
Best screenplay - motion picture
Best motion picture - animated
Best motion picture - non-English language
Best original score - motion picture
Best original song - motion picture
Best TV series - drama
Best actress in a drama series
Best actor in a drama series
Best TV series - musical or comedy
Best actress in a TV series - musical or comedy
Best actor in a TV series - musical or comedy
Best limited series or TV movie
Best actress in a limited series or TV movie
Best actor in a limited series or TV movie
Best supporting actress in a series, limited series or TV movie
Best supporting actor in a series, limited series or TV movie
Best supporting actress in a musical, comedy or drama TV series
Best supporting actor in a musical, comedy or drama TV series
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | /news/entertainment-arts-63940721 |
technology | What is behind the big tech companies' job cuts? | first sign of job cuts at Amazon came from LinkedIn posts from laid-off employees.
, Amazon's devices boss, Dave Limp, announced: "It pains me... We will lose talented Amazonians from the devices & services org".
Across the tech industry, at firms like Twitter, Meta, Coinbase and Snap, workers have announced they are "seeking new opportunities".
Worldwide, more than 120,000 jobs have been lost, according to the Layoffs.fyi website, which tracks tech job cuts.
Different firms cut employees for different reasons but there are common themes.
As our lives moved online during the pandemic, the tech giants' businesses boomed, and executives believed the good times - for them - would continue to roll.
Meta, for example, took on more than 15,000 people in the first nine months of this year.
Now executives announcing cuts have said they miscalculated.
"I made the decision to significantly increase our investments," chief executive Mark Zuckerberg told Meta employees, as he laid off 13% of them.
"Unfortunately, this did not play out the way I expected."
Online adverts are the chief source of income for many tech firms, but for the advertising business, dark clouds have been gathering. Firms have faced growing opposition to intrusive advertising practices. For example, Apple made it harder to track people's online activity and sell that data to advertisers.
And as the economy ran into trouble, many firms slashed their online advertising budgets.
In the financial technology sector, rising interest rates have also hit companies.
"It's been a really a disappointing quarter of earnings for many of the big tech companies," said technology analyst Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight. "No-one's immune."
Even Apple has signalled caution, with chief executive Tim Cook saying the firm was "still hiring", but only on a "deliberate basis."
Amazon attributed its job cuts to an "unusual and uncertain macroeconomic environment" forcing it to prioritize on what mattered most to customers.
"As part of our annual operating planning review process, we always look at each of our businesses and what we believe we should change," spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said.
"As we've gone through this, given the current macro-economic environment (as well as several years of rapid hiring), some teams are making adjustments, which in some cases means certain roles are no longer necessary. We don't take these decisions lightly, and we are working to support any employees who may be affected."
Investors have also piled on the pressure to cut costs, accusing firms of being bloated and slow to respond to signs of slowdown.
In an open letter to Alphabet, parent company of Google and YouTube, activist investor Sir Christopher Hohn urged the firm to slash jobs and pay.
Alphabet had to be more disciplined about costs, he wrote, and cut losses from projects like its self-driving car company, Waymo.
Elon Musk is certainly of the view that there is room to cut costs at his latest investment, Twitter, which has struggled to either turn a profit or attract new users.
Added to that, many commentators argue Mr Musk paid over the odds for the firm, and the pressure is on to make his investment worthwhile.
He laid off half the firm's employees; and for those who remain an "extreme" work ethic is promised.
According to US media reports on Tuesday, Mr Musk told staff they needed to commit to a "hardcore" culture of "long hours at high intensity" or leave.
Industry watcher Scott Kessler also says there is less tolerance for big spending on high-tech gambles like virtual reality or driverless cars that may not pay off in the short term.
Investors also see the high wages and cushy perks some enjoy in the industry as unsustainable.
"Some companies have had to face harsh realities," he said.
Mike Morini, from WorkForce Software, which provides digital management tools said it appeared to be a turning point.
"The tech industry is exiting a period of growth at all costs," he said.
But while the big tech firms may be buffeted by economic headwinds, they are not broken.
Amazon's proposed 10,000 job cuts in corporate and technology roles - its biggest such reduction to date - represents only 3% of its office staff.
And the lay-offs may also be the start of new businesses as talented staff, dumped by the big firms, join or create start-ups.
As veteran Silicon Valley watcher Mike Malone recently told the BBC: "I won't write the Valley off yet. I still have a lot of hope." | /news/technology-63635821 |
health | Gloucester Dementia Choir helps unlock memories and words | A new choir for people with dementia aims to "utilise the power of music" to ease depression and anxiety amongst those suffering from the condition.
Gloucester Dementia Choir was launched on Saturday with a special Christmas session offering a safe environment for socialising, singing and celebrating music.
Jacqueline Fitall has dementia and said the first session was "lovely".
"I do forget things sometimes- but I absolutely love singing," she said.
"There are some really nice people here, and I have really enjoyed myself- it has been a nice experience," she added.
r was set up by the Gloucestershire Academy of Music which said it was building on the work it already performs in care homes across the county.
Jenny Harrison and Becky Chevis, from Gloucestershire, said they decided to launch the choir after they found a gap in music resources for those with dementia.
"Music evokes a lot of emotions, and it allows those living with the condition to reminisce," said Ms Harrison.
"When you play a song that they used to listen to forty years ago, they come to life, remember those words and find their voices to sing those words.
"Music is a really powerful tool for people with dementia and we want to utilise that."
r is not only encouraging individuals with dementia to get involved, but also their families and carers too.
From 13 January the choir will begin offering sessions every two weeks.
Ms Chevis said she found the first session "moving".
"There was someone who sang a solo on the spot today - it nearly made me cry," she said.
"There is some amazing research about music and dementia- we know it can help ease depression and anxiety amongst those living with the condition.
"The first session has really proven that music can make people happy and provided that lovely feeling of being together with each other.
"It has been an absolute success and we look forward to the new year."
Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-gloucestershire-64012259 |
business | Hundreds of jobs go as Aberdeen paper mill goes into administration | A historic Aberdeen paper mill has gone into administration with the loss of more than 300 jobs.
Stoneywood paper mill has operated for more than 250 years.
In 2019, the business was sold to a new parent company, securing the jobs at the mill.
Administrators have now been appointed at the Arjowiggins Group mills at Stoneywood, as well as Chartham, Kent, with 368 of the group's 463 UK-based employees made redundant immediately.
A total of 301 out of 372 members of staff have been made redundant in Aberdeen.
Ninety five members of staff have been retained by the administrators to assist them with the operation of limited activity across the two sites while they explore any possibility of a sale of the sites and assets.
Blair Nimmo, chief executive of Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: "Arjowiggins has a long and proud history dating back more than 260 years, so this is immensely troubling news for UK and Scottish manufacturing.
"Unfortunately, and following on from the severe challenges posed by the pandemic, the significant economic headwinds which have been impacting industrial manufacturing businesses up and down the country, including skyrocketing energy costs and spiralling input prices, have proved to be overwhelming for the group.
"The management team has asked that we pass on their sincere thanks to all employees, customers and suppliers, plus Scottish Enterprise, for their strong support during these very difficult times, and they would like to express their deep regret that there was unfortunately no other option available for this historic group."
Shauna Wright, of the Unite union, said: "We are saddened to hear the news about Stoneywood Mill - particularly on the anniversary of its opening 252 years ago.
"This comes as a huge blow to our members who stood by the mill through the last administration and welcomed the management buyout, which gave them so much hope for the future.
"That hope has been shattered."
Scottish Conservative north-east MSP Douglas Lumsden described the news as "absolutely devastating", and said he would be lodging an urgent question in parliament calling for Scottish government help.
"Stoneywood Mill has been a very successful business in our city for more than 250 years and everything must be done to safeguard jobs and protect its future," he said.
Richard Thomson, the SNP MP for Gordon, said together with Jackie Dunbar, the MSP for Aberdeen Donside, he would seek to hold an urgent meeting with the administrators to see what else could be done for those who had lost their jobs, and "to discuss the options for preserving papermaking on the site with the aim of retaining as many jobs as possible."
urchase of the paper mill in September 2019 for an undisclosed sum was made by subsidiaries of a new venture, Creative Paper Holdings Ltd.
was supported with £7m of funding from Scottish Enterprise. | /news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-63001007 |
entertainment | Colchester United 'transformed into Wembley' for Indian movie | A film director has praised the "energy" of more than 100 extras who starred in an Indian movie scene shot at a League Two football stadium.
rowd were at Colchester Utd's ground on Thursday night.
will be digitally altered to make the Jobserve Community Stadium look like a bigger venue "such as Old Trafford or Wembley".
film is a "Tollywood" production which is the name coined for Teluga language movies.
"The extras gave so much energy, cheering, which is not easy to do at five in the morning," said Julien Mery, the director of Film Suffolk, which shot the scenes on behalf of the Indian producers, BVSN Prasad and Yogesh Sudhakara.
"It's been a pleasure working with all these fantastic people from Colchester and with the Colchester students doing their film degrees.
"We're looking forward to more of this happening - the beginning, potentially, of more Indian productions coming to East Anglia.
"This particular company is keen to move their productions out of London, as it's easier for filming."
Film Suffolk recruited about 25 local actors and footballers to shoot an England team "clearly thrashing" Germany.
Mr Mery said the scene followed a "main character in the crowd who has got to escape some goons".
Varun Tej plays an Indian diplomat who is "fighting to uncover an environmental scandal".
film, which has the working title of The Agency, has been shot in other locations in East Anglia, London and Kent.
Students at University Centre Colchester collaborated on the filming and led on the casting.
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-essex-63347255 |
business | PCS union boss: 'We can continue strikes for months' | Mark Serwotka, the boss of the PCS union, says Border Force strikes could continue over the next few months as he calls for the government to enter talks. | /news/business-64076806 |
business | Leaky Gucci and Adidas 'sun umbrella' sparks China outcry | A parasol set to be sold in China by top western brands Gucci and Adidas for 11,100 yuan (£1,329) is causing an outcry for not keeping out the rain.
Criticism of the item the firms call a "sun umbrella" has gone viral on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
It comes as Gucci's website says it is "not waterproof and is meant for sun protection or decorative use".
rasol is part of a joint collection that is being promoted online ahead of its release next month.
A hashtag on Weibo which translates to "the collaboration umbrella being sold for 11,100 yuan is not waterproof," has so far had more than 140 million views.
One user called the parasol "a very big but useless fashion statement".
"As long as I'm poor, they won't be able to trick me into paying for this," another user said.
Others understood why the product may still be appealing.
"Those who are willing to pay use luxury goods to show what they are worth," a user wrote. "They don't care about practicality."
rasol is set to be released on 7 June as part of a new collection by luxury brand Gucci and sportswear giant Adidas.
Gucci and Adidas did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment.
However, a Gucci spokesperson told Beijing-based magazine Caijing that the product was "not recommended for use as an everyday umbrella".
"good collector's value and is suitable for use as a daily accessory".
China is a key market for leading luxury brands.
Last year, sales of luxury goods rose by 36% in the world's second largest economy, according to consultancy Bain & Company.
Bain also predicted that China will become the biggest luxury goods market within the next three years.
Celebrity stylist Lisa Farrall shares top tips on textured hair | /news/business-61503469 |
technology | Festive drone shows set to light up Telford sky | Hundreds of drones are going to be used to create a festive show in Telford accompanied by a specially written soundtrack.
free event will be held on 21 December in Telford Town Park but people will need to book a ticket, the borough council says.
wo showings are planned, with one at 17:00 GMT and the second at 21:00 GMT.
will see 400 drones create images relating to local landmarks and events, the authority adds.
Each display is due to last 15 minutes and the soundtrack has been written by Telford-born Trademark Blud.
uncil says Telford residents will be given priority for tickets via its Facebook page until 15 December when general bookings open.
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-shropshire-63862414 |
sports | Zinedine Zidane: Face of multi-cultural France and star of Les Bleus' 1998 World Cup triumph | Back then they called him Yaz, the 10-year-old boy from the concrete high rises of northern Marseille who watched France fizzle and burn at the 1982 World Cup, and whose humble desires were for a leather football and a bicycle rather than Ballons d'Or and immortality.
rt our World Cup icons series, BBC Sport tells how Zinedine Zidane led a multi-cultural France team to 1998 glory.
We know him as Zinedine Zidane, Zizou, the man who finally delivered Les Bleus' World Cup dream in the summer of 1998 to a euphoric nation unified by their football team's success.
It was not always like that for Zidane. A second-generation Algerian immigrant, he got his first taste of football on the tough council estate of La Castellane, where unemployment was high and opportunities were low, and only joined his first club in the same year his national team suffered a crushing semi-final penalty shootout defeat by Germany in Seville.
It was not always like that for France, either. A country troubled by racial tension it was divided over the question of immigration, with far-right politicians such as Jean-Marie le Pen stoking the argument by claiming a team made up of players of New Caledonian, Spanish, Caribbean, Senegalese, Ghanian, Armenian, Portuguese and Argentine heritage did not represent the nation.
But as more than a million joyous fans gathered on the Champs-Élysées to celebrate their newly-crowned heroes' success in 1998, it was the son of a north African warehouseman's face that was beamed on to the Arc de Triomphe.
"Merci, Zizou," it read. "Zidane president!"
kid called Yaz, the one who honed his craft on the dusty streets of a Marseille housing project, had scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final at the Stade de France, casting himself forever as the nation's darling - their footballing beau idéal.
"Even if you dream about it, think about it, want to do it - you tell yourself it is not possible," said Zidane. "And that is why I said afterwards that in my life nothing is going to be impossible anymore."
Having failed to qualify for the previous two World Cups, the pressure on the French squad in the build-up to 1998 was immense. Aime Jacquet took charge of the national side in January 1994, after their failure to reach the USA tournament, and handed Zidane his debut that August.
rodigious 22-year-old Bordeaux star came off the bench to score twice in a 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic and Jacquet noticed something special - an internal vision and drive.
"Zidane was out of the ordinary, exceptional," said Jacquet. "But he didn't have his influence yet, he hadn't yet got his personal aura.
"He played football to enjoy himself, he had exceptional skills. Though he wasn't much of a team player, when he came into the French squad he joined other talents who took him on to a national level."
Zidane was Jacquet's playmaker by Euro 1996 - taking the mantle from Eric Cantona following the Manchester United player's nine-month ban for karate kicking a fan - as France reached the semi-finals in England.
But as Les Bleus flailed and floundered between tournaments the press began to turn on the national team boss and, as a World Cup on home soil lurched into the foreground, sports newspaper L'Equipe was leading the calls for him to go.
media labelled Jacquet "ill-prepared" and "Paleolithic", and such was the relentless nature of the negative coverage even some players became apprehensive.
But Jacquet was resilient, and training camps in the Alps helped foster 'le collectif' philosophy of solidarity, team-work and generosity, with a leading role for one man: Zidane.
"I have known Zidane since we were kids, we played together coming through, and I realised quite quickly when I was part of his team that it is great for him to be the key player, he is going to control the game," former France defender Lilian Thuram told BBC Sport.
"We realised Zidane was the player who was going to make the difference. We all had roles to play but he was the one that would really take us to another level - if we were going to win this World Cup it was for the rest of us to do our jobs to allow Zidane to shine."
Zizou was the slightly balding poster boy, a relatively late bloomer - or rather a talent that remained unboxed until he was signed by Cannes as a teenager and given a platform on which to flourish.
By France '98 he had arrived at Juventus via Bordeaux, established himself as one of Europe's most electrifying midfielders - technically sublime - and went into the tournament on the back of successive Scudettos and as a Champions League runner-up.
"What he can do with his feet, some people can't even do with their hands," said Thierry Henry in the BBC documentary France: Black, White and Blue. "He was just magical. Sometimes when he plays with the ball, it seems like he's dancing."
Fittingly, France kicked off their tournament on a Friday night in Marseille at the Stade Velodrome, where Zidane's childhood idols Jean-Pierre Papin and Enzo Francescoli had strutted their stuff - the latter whom he named his eldest son after - and across the city from his childhood neighbourhood where he daydreamed of playing in World Cups.
Zidane, blue number 10 shirt untucked and hanging loose over his baggy white shorts, curled a corner on to the head of friend and former Bordeaux team-mate Christophe Dugarry to put France 1-0 up against South Africa - the pair having gone separate ways after a dual move to Blackburn Rovers failed to materialise - and the hosts went on to win 3-0.
It settled some nerves, the French team got back in the changing room feeling stronger and were in a buoyant mood, singing and dancing after getting their campaign up and running.
Six days later came Saudi Arabia at the Stade de France in Paris, with Zidane again at his creative best. With the visitors already down to 10 men, he flicked a delightfully deft pass down the line to another former Bordeaux team-mate Bixente Lizarazu, and the left-back teed up Henry for France's opener before half-time.
Jacquet had pleaded with his side beforehand to "stay serene, don't get sent off" and they looked to be coasting when David Trezeguet nodded in a second, but with 19 minutes remaining Zidane's fragile temperament shattered as he stood on Saudi midfielder Fuad Amin during a fairly innocuous challenge.
used, a collective intake of breath, before Mexican referee Arturo Brizio Carter flashed a red card that was greeted by whistles and jeers from the home crowd.
Following then Fifa president Sepp Blatter's instruction for officials to "get tough" it was one of five red cards that day, with three players also sent off in Denmark's draw with South Africa.
But it was also a reminder that if you peeled away the balletic beauty of Zidane with an Adidas Tricolore match ball at his feet, there was the tough kid from a Marseille estate and a raw layer of rage ready to bubble up and sting the opponent who provoked it.
Beneath the cool, composed on-field persona, Zidane was sensitive about his family and heritage. He'd even punched an opposition player for mocking his ghetto roots at Cannes and spent those early days learning to battle his temperament.
g off was one of 14 red cards in his career, the last of which remains the most infamous of all - Zidane's final act as a footballer was a headbutt to Italy defender Marco Materazzi in France's World Cup final defeat by Italy in 2006.
mage of his humbled figure trudging past world football's glittering prize at Berlin's Olympiastadion will be forever etched in his legacy.
In Paris, Zidane stared at the official who waved his arms and encouraged the midfielder to leave. The Frenchman bowed his head and walked towards the touchline, bottom lip pulled tightly over the top one, straight past Jacquet who did not even glance at his star charge.
26-year-old took his shirt off, threw it across the changing room floor behind him and stood for a moment, then sat solemnly with his head in one hand, alone and cut off from the noise outside as Henry and Lizarazu completed a 4-0 rout.
"When I got back to the dressing room, I felt terrible because I had let my team-mates down and I was going to miss games," said Zidane. "I didn't feel good about it all."
uram did not blame his companion: "There is no need for the player to talk or the other players around him, these are things that happen and everyone turned to how do we overcome it - how do we win without Zidane?"
Outside the camp, it was a carrot for Le Pen and his supporters. Inside, Jacquet was worried. France had lost their star man for two games.
first of those was the final group fixture which, having already qualified, the hosts won 2-1. But the next pitted France against Paraguay in an edgy last-16 tussle, which an anxious and tetchy Zidane watched from the sidelines. Eventually, his side scraped through thanks to Laurent Blanc's Golden Goal in extra time.
If Paraguay had posed a problem, how would France fare against an Italy side boasting the likes of Paolo Maldini and Fabio Cannavaro in defence, and Christian Vieri and Zidane's Juventus team-mate Alessandro del Piero up top?
Zizou was back. His stealth-like movement saw him evade the frugal Azzurri backline twice in the opening minutes, pulling a shot wide after a cushioned touch, but a game of few chances finished goalless after extra time.
Head to toe in France's white second strip - just like that fateful night eight years later against the same opponent - he finally beat Gianluca Pagliuca from the spot as the game went to penalties, sending the Italian stopper the wrong way with a confident strike. He raised his arms to the crowd.
Lizarazu's poor penalty was saved, but Fabien Barthez immediately denied Demetrio Albertini before Luigi di Biagio rattled the decisive effort against the crossbar.
France had equalled Michel Platini, Alain Giresse and co from 1982 in reaching the semi-finals and there was a carnival atmosphere building in the country. Hundreds of fans were greeting the team bus as it passed through towns and villages, and the players began to notice that the diverse French population was cheering them on in unison.
"Africans, Algerians, Arabs, Moroccans were all at their window with French flags, they were mixing with French people and everyone was singing together and everybody had their faces painted in blue, white and red," defender Marcel Desailly told the BBC documentary that followed France at the tournament.
rty would continue as right-back Thuram emerged an unlikely hero in a 2-1 semi-final victory over Croatia to take France into their first World Cup final. President Jacques Chirac, dressed in a French football shirt, entered the dressing room after the win, shaking Zidane's hand and kissing Barthez's head, as the whole country became immersed in the footballing frenzy.
France versus Brazil was the final everyone wanted, including former Uefa president Platini who years later said "we did a bit of trickery" to avoid the teams being on the same side of the draw, and the players got a taste of the nation's anticipation as they made their way to the stadium.
"What surprised me was the people in the street," said Zidane. "Black, white, brown. I was in the bus, right at the back, I turned around and looked behind and there must have been more than 500 motorbikes following us. It was incredible, really incredible."
While Zidane may have been his nation's poster boy the Selecao had their own global superstar in Ronaldo, who had already scored four goals during the tournament.
Come matchday, however, rumours reached the French dressing room that the Inter Milan striker was unwell so would not feature.
"We were all convinced it was a ploy by the Brazilians to make us believe that Ronaldo wouldn't be able to play," explained Thuram. "We thought 'no way, Ronaldo is playing the match, they are just making this up to try and fool us'."
Ronaldo, it later emerged, had suffered from a convulsion earlier in the day. He woke up unaware of what happened, and after several tests and plenty of debate was given the green light to start for Mario Zagallo's side.
"In games like this, small margins can make a difference - who knows, if Ronaldo had been at 100% of his abilities and feeling well, maybe Brazil would have won?" added Thuram.
21-year-old was nowhere near his best that evening in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis - and neither were Brazil. But Zidane was, producing his greatest display of the tournament when it mattered - the man who later that year would be crowned the world's best player and Ballon d'Or winner.
France's iconic blue jerseys danced between the resplendent yellow of Brazil. For the neutrals it was footballing nirvana. For the fans whose faces were painted with the Tricolore, it was ecstasy.
rangy, supple frame of Zidane glided around the Stade de France, Predator Accelerators barely clipping the turf as he almost teed up Stephane Guivarc'h. And then, after 27 minutes, boom! The 6ft 1in playmaker rose above Leonardo to meet Emmanuel Petit's in-swinging corner from the left and headed beyond goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel to send the stadium delirious.
"This was something we had worked on beforehand," said Thuram. "Jacquet coached us that Brazil were very weak at defending corners and we will have a really good chance to score if we get the delivery right."
Zidane jumped on to the advertising hoardings with his arms aloft before anchoring down on the other side and punching the air like he'd just won a gruelling rally across town at Roland Garros.
Nineteen minutes later, in first-half stoppage time, it was Brazil's combative captain Dunga sent sprawling to the ground by Zizou's ferocious strength and desire to reach Youri Djorkaeff's corner whipped in from the right.
Again the Frenchman got his head to the ball, sending a whistling effort through the legs of Roberto Carlos at the front post and into the net to double the hosts' lead. This time he walked away kissing his France shirt.
"To have Zinedine Zidane in our side performing so well was obviously incredibly important for us," captain Didier Deschamps told Fifa. "He was a decisive player. Big players always make the difference in big matches."
Jacquet called for calm in the changing room at the interval and Zidane lay on the floor, shirt off, with his legs hanging over the bench. But two yellow cards after the restart for Desailly threatened to derail France's bid for glory.
Memories of 1982 loomed until Petit's 93rd-minute goal popped the cork on the country's celebrations and the players could embrace, dance, cry and soak up the adulation.
uram remembers the party in the dressing room continuing on the bus back to the team hotel, though he had to leave early to give son Marcus his bottle the next morning. Zidane's face lit up the Arc de Triomphe and more than a million people gathered on the Champs-Élysées, waving flags, sitting on top of moving cars and hanging off lampposts singing I Will Survive in a colossal outpouring of emotion.
wo days later, Zizou and the squad were guests at the French presidential residence for a Bastille Day garden party, receiving Legion of Honor ribbons.
m were nicknamed 'Black, Blanc, Beur' (black, white, North African) by some and the 'Rainbow Team' by others for their diverse make-up. And, for a moment at least, their success united a country that was conflicted over issues of immigration and discrimination.
"That victory in 1998 helped to give people greater courage and that desire to speak out about equality and injustice, and to demand greater equality," said Thuram, who has written several books and created his own foundation to educate against racism.
"1998 was also the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the French colonies, so this was an important, symbolic moment in ways that might not have been perceived at the time."
President Chirac's popularity soared and prime minister Lionel Jospin called it "the best image of our unity and diversity", though some felt it was hypocritical and opportunistic of politicians to exploit the World Cup triumph. It also did not make France's issues disappear, with Le Pen's National Front party coming second in the presidential election four years later.
Now, Thuram says the importance of France's victory was legitimising questions around who could represent the country and highlighting issues around diversity.
"If you look at the composition of the French team and all of the diversity that was there, that all of these players from these different backgrounds could represent France and go on and win, that was a very powerful message to send out to society," he said.
"It made you look at other areas of society where ethnic minorities were underrepresented and to think about whether they too could benefit from that diversity.
"It really cemented the fact there could be a questioning of dominant models of French identity and thinking about it in different ways, and that has been the most important legacy that you can hark back to 1998 - to think about a more inclusive France and to transfer that to other areas of society.
"This is important because there are always people who are looking to close the door on these debates or to turn back the clock on things that have changed."
Shy, modest, humble, proud of his family roots in the Kabylie region of Algeria and not one to court controversy away from the field, Zidane has rarely expressed his own political views. As his brother Nordine professed, there are "too many sharks" who "want to use him for political ends".
Zidane was a social phenomenon, his role in France's World Cup win and what that meant for the country both in cultural liberation and sporting triumph became known as L'effet Zidane - the Zidane effect.
He transcended sport, race and religion, artists painted the playmaker's face on huge street murals and he was voted above Michael Jordan as the world's greatest athlete at the time.
"What you notice about Zidane is a greater confidence and assurance on the pitch, a confidence in his ability to play a key role within the team. That was something that got stronger and stronger as his career developed," said Thuram.
"He has this strong personality, leadership qualities, self confidence in his choices and his intelligence in the game - he wouldn't have been able to be a top player if he didn't have those."
Zidane may have helped change France, but at heart he remained the boy from the Marseille projects who kept old friends and family close and admired his father Smail, who missed the World Cup final to look after his grandson Luca.
''My papa always taught me one special thing: be respectful, give respect in life," Zidane told the New York Times following France's victory.
"That was the biggest word in his vocabulary. He said, 'You'll see, if you're respectful and if you're good and if you work, you'll get there'. In fact, he wasn't wrong.
"I think when you're young, at a certain point you've just got to shut up. Be straight, you're there to learn - you don't let anybody walk all over you, but you take it easy and wait.
"I didn't want to open my mouth as a kid. What I wanted was to succeed.'' | /sport/football/63060351 |
business | EasyJet holiday bookings up despite cost-of-living crisis | People are protecting their spending on holidays despite the cost-of-living crisis, the boss of EasyJet has said.
Johan Lundgren told the BBC the airline had seen strong demand for flights over half term, Christmas and New Year despite the "pressure" on households.
However, he said demand outside peak periods remained below usual levels.
It came as the low-cost carrier reported a sharp bounceback in sales and narrowed its losses for the year to 30 September.
mpany said it had faced "multiple headwinds" in the period, including Covid restrictions and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which drove up fuel prices.
However, Mr Lundgren told the BBC's Today programme that there was "a great deal of pent-up demand" this summer despite the uncertainty surrounding the state of the economy.
"At the same time we see there is a strong demand in the peak periods," he said, adding that budget airlines tended to do well in downturns because "people gravitate towards value".
According to a survey of 2,000 people conducted by EasyJet, 64% plan to fly abroad in 2023, while 70% said that they would prioritise a holiday over other expenditure in their yearly budget.
Many said they would cut back on other discretionary spending, such as eating out or buying new clothes, to ensure they could travel abroad.
However, Mr Lungren said the airline needed to do more to "stimulate" demand outside peak periods and there were "big cost increases coming towards the industry".
Inflation - the rate at which prices rise - is running at a 41-year high in the UK, as energy and food prices have soared.
EasyJet said that, like all airlines, it faced cost pressures including higher fuel costs, a stronger US dollar and demands for higher wages.
Mr Lundgren declined to say how much ticket prices for next summer could rise by.
Rival budget carrier Ryanair has said its prices are rising, with boss Michael O'Leary warning that the era of the €10 ticket is over.
rline's average fare would rise from around €40 (£33.75) last year to roughly €50 over the next five years, he told the BBC in August.
According to a recent BBC survey of more than 4,000 adults, 85% are worried about the rising cost of living, up from 69% in a similar poll in January.
As a result, nine in 10 people are trying to save money by delaying putting the heating on. | /news/business-63791613 |
health | A&E waiting times: 'Distressing' 10-hour wait outside for dementia patient | families of two women who waited outside NI hospitals in ambulances all night before being admitted have spoken about the distress it caused.
Colleen O'Neill's grandmother Mary, who has dementia, waited more than 10 hours outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.
racey McCausland's mother Patricia was outside Antrim Area Hospital with a fractured kneecap for eight hours.
It comes as attempts are being made to prevent older people being kept in ambulances for long periods of time.
Health trusts in Northern Ireland have been advised to create areas within their emergency departments for older people who are brought by ambulance.
On Monday, a 77-year-old woman died on a trolley waiting to be admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
BBC News NI understands these newly created areas are not hospital wards as there are none available.
Instead, the areas could be a corridor which is cordoned off especially for older patients.
Since Friday, there have been reports of many elderly frail patients having to be kept in ambulances or on trolleys in corridors as there is no room for them within the emergency area.
Colleen O'Neill's grandmother Mary is 80 and has dementia.
She was taken into hospital on Tuesday with a suspected stroke after seeing the on-call doctor.
"She was taken in at 1.30 to Causeway where she was left in the back of an ambulance until 11.40 - for more than 10 hours," she told Good Morning Ulster.
She said her grandmother was "very agitated and confused".
"They sent her home after doing nothing medically for her," she added.
Colleen O'Neill said her family dreads hospital visits after 10-hour wait
Ms O'Neill said she was angry with those in positions of power in Northern Ireland.
"The staff are doing everything they can to keep this country going but it's a disaster," she said.
"Thankfully we have a good homecare plan set in place and the care workers are fantastic.
"They are outstanding and do anything possible for my grandmother and she is comfortable but we dread her going into hospital."
After her eight-hour wait outside in an ambulance, Tracey McCausland's mother Patricia was admitted to hospital on Thursday morning.
When she was "eventually" allowed in to see her on Friday afternoon, she had not had her underwear changed, been washed or had her teeth cleaned.
Ms McCausland said the situation was "in no way a reflection on the staff".
"They are incredibly in a horrific situation and they are at their limit," she told Good Morning Ulster.
"She was transferred to Musgrave on Monday evening which was the first night's sleep she had since it happened."
re is now the issue of where she will go for rehab, her daughter told the programme.
Dr Gareth Hampton, the clinical director of emergency medicine at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, said his hospital was overwhelmed and "every cubicle was filled and every corridor filled".
"In the last 24 hours, we have had more patients arriving.
"We have 28 adult assessment cubical assessments in Craigavon and with the 138 patients in the department it is way beyond what we have capacity for."
He said he and his staff loved their job and it was upsetting for them.
"You many have one cubicle and dozens of patients we need to be in it - how do you pick? Do you pick the poor lady with the broken hip in the ambulance outside?
"Do you pick the person in the waiting room with chest pain who is scared and could have a heart attack?
"Some of our patients have had a heart attack in waiting room."
He said that it is not uncommon for a patient to wait 12 hours to be seen.
"That is way beyond the standard of care we set ourselves. It is distressing for patients and staff," he added
"There has been a slow escalation of what has been happening - we have been predicting this is going to come and winter will be difficult."
He said the situation was "deeply frustrating".
"It chips away at you over time. My staff want to have some hope and optimism."
'Demoralised'
uation in Northern Ireland's hospitals is "just not tolerable", according to Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill.
After a meeting the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), she said nursing staff were feeling "undervalued, exhausted and demoralised".
She added: "They need some hope that we can work with all the parties so that we can prioritise a budget for health, some hope that we can put proper strategies in place."
Earlier DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told the BBC's Today programme that his party had "argued for some time that reform of the health service is needed".
"We want to see a solution on the protocol, and let's not forget that the protocol itself impacts on every aspect of life in Northern Ireland including in the delivery of healthcare," he said.
"Cross-community consensus is the basis of power-sharing, but unfortunately the protocol has broken that."
Last week there was a so-called emergency summit held last Wednesday.
It was led by a group of health officials known as the Strategic Planning and Performance Group who were formerly part of the health and social care board which has now closed.
In a letter seen by the BBC from the group's lead, civil servant Sharon Gallagher, to GPs, hospitals and health trust chief executives, Ms Gallagher said that a number of "additional interventions emerged strongly which if implemented quick;y could yield further gains".
wo initiatives were discussed as part of the summit which health officials believe could have a significant impact in the care of elderly patients.
were cohorting patients who arrive by ambulance in emergency departments to release ambulance crews and transferring patients with a decision to admit to wards in advance of a bed being made available, as opposed to waiting in the emergency department for that bed.
Ms Gallagher said that she "recognised the challenge this presents but it needs to be seen in the context of balancing the risks across the entire system that was discussed at the summit".
ummit also discussed the need to prevent care home residents being transferred to an acute hospital environment "when that is not the best place to meet their needs".
ring group said that there are "many examples of good practice which seeks to prevent the unnecessary conveyancing of frail elderly patients".
Health trusts and primary care practitioners were asked to "expedite discussions" to ensure a more proactive approach to care is introduced across all geographical areas as soon as possible. | /news/uk-northern-ireland-63647374 |
business | Germany takes control of stakes in Rosneft oil refineries | German government has taken temporary control of two subsidiaries of the Russian energy giant Rosneft.
move by the government puts it in charge of Rosneft's stakes in three refineries in the country.
udes a key facility in the northeast of the country which supplies around 90% of Berlin's fuel, and in which Rosneft held a majority stake.
Germany's economy ministry said the move was necessary to counteract an impending threat to energy security.
In a similar move in April, Germany took control of subsidiaries of Russian gas giant Gazprom.
On Friday, the German government handed control of the PCK Schwedt refinery in Brandenburg to the national energy regulator, along with stakes in two other refineries in the south of the country.
my ministry said the move was necessary because critical service providers and customers were no longer willing to work with Rosneft, putting the continued operation of the refineries under threat.
Schwedt refinery is Germany's fourth-largest and is the main supplier of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel for Berlin and the surrounding area. Rosneft has a 54% stake in the facility.
refinery has received all its crude from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline since it was built in the 1960s. Parts of western Poland are also supplied by Schwedt.
It's less than a year since Rosneft agreed to buy out Shell's holding in PCK, a move that would have given it more than 90% ownership of the vital Schwedt refinery.
was scuppered by the Ukraine war. Now the German government has control - a symbol of the vast changes imposed on Europe's energy sector by the conflict.
In happier times, the refinery would take in vast quantities of crude brought from central Russia through the Druzbha pipeline, and pump out refined products for Berlin and Brandenburg.
But with Germany having pledged to boycott Russian oil, even though the pipeline itself is not covered by the EU's forthcoming embargo, new sources of supply will have to be found.
With Rosneft in charge that was seen as an impossible task. There were concerns in Berlin that the Russian firm would simply suspend operations at the plant, rather than use non-Russian oil.
w been removed - although it's not yet clear where alternative supplies will come from.
Rosneft Deutschland, which accounts for about 12% of German oil processing capacity, will fall under the trusteeship of the Federal Network Agency regulator, which said the original owner no longer had authority to issue instructions. The regulator was also handed control of Rosneft subsidiary RN Refining and Marketing.
"With the trusteeship, the threat to the security of energy supply is countered and an essential foundation stone is set for the preservation and future of the Schwedt site," Germany's economy ministry said.
It claimed critical suppliers such as insurance companies, IT providers and banks were no longer willing to work with Rosneft, either with the subsidiaries themselves or through the refineries.
Federal Network Agency has also taken control of Rosneft Deutschland's shares in the MiRo refinery in Karlsruhe and Bayernoil refinery in Vohburg. Rosneft owns 28% and 24% stakes respectively.
Germany needs to stop Russian oil imports by the end of the year under European sanctions imposed over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
ministry said Friday's move included a package to ensure the Schwedt refinery could receive oil from alternative routes.
It is unclear who could step in to replace Rosneft as operator of the refinery. Shell, which owns a 37.5% stake in Schwedt, has wanted to withdraw for some time.
Germany said this week it would step up lending to energy firms at risk of being crushed by soaring gas prices after Russia cut supplies to Europe in retaliation for Western sanctions.
German utility Uniper said on Wednesday that the government might take a controlling stake, saying an earlier state rescue package worth €19bn euros was no longer enough.
government has also put SEFE, formerly known as Gazprom Germania, under trusteeship after Russian energy giant Gazprom ditched it in April. | /news/business-62924071 |
entertainment | Nativity: Peruzzi artwork acquired by National Museums NI | An "exceptionally rare" 16th Century depiction of the nativity acquired by National Museums NI will go on public display in Northern Ireland next year.
Painted by Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi around 1515, The Nativity is one of the artist's last remaining works.
It will go on display at the Ulster Museum in 2023.
Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson described its acquisition as a "Christmas gift to the nation".
Last year the painting was made subject to a temporary export bar in a bid to keep it in the UK.
"For many, being part of a nativity play is one of the first ways that we learn the story of Christmas," Lord Parkinson said.
"That is why I am delighted that, this Christmas Eve, we can announce that this incredible painting of that famous event has been saved for the nation thanks to the export bar system."
Born in 1481 near Siena, Peruzzi was one of the leading artistic figures in Rome during the High Renaissance, working alongside Raphael and Bramante.
A painter, draughtsman and architect, the majority of his artworks were in fresco and have been lost to history.
Senior curator of art at National Museums NI Anne Stewart said she was delighted to have acquired "this remarkable painting".
"Currently, there are no High Renaissance paintings in any public collection in Northern Ireland, so this is truly a Christmas gift to our audiences," she added.
National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Stormont's Department for Communities and the Esme Mitchell Trust have supported National Museums NI in its fundraising to acquire The Nativity.
g has been valued at £277,990 and is currently undergoing conservation work in London. | /news/uk-northern-ireland-64078282 |
sports | World Rowing Championships: GB win four golds on penultimate day | Great Britain won four golds medals and seven in total on the penultimate day of the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.
men's and women's four, lightweight women's double sculls and PR3 mixed coxed four boats all claimed top place in their races.
re was also a silver for the men's quadruple sculls in the last race of the day.
men's pair and women's quadruple sculls each won bronze medals.
PR3 mixed coxed four of Ollie Stanhope, Ed Fuller, Frankie Allen and Giedre Rakauskaite, with Morgan Baynham-Williams as cox, put on a dominant performance to win and finish 18.60 seconds ahead of second-placed Germany.
ghtweight women's double sculls boat of Imogen Grant and Emily Craig then added a second gold by taking a convincing win ahead of the United States and Ireland.
women's four of Rebecca Shorten, Sam Redgrave, Rowan McKellar and Heidi Long comfortably secured victory in their race before the men's four of Will Stewart, Samuel Nunn, Freddie Davidson and David Ambler added the British team's fourth gold of the day.
men's quadruple sculls of Harry Leask, George Bourne, Matthew Haywood and Thomas Barras were involved in a close race but were beaten to gold by Poland.
A late charge from the men's pair of Tom George and Oliver Wynne-Griffith earned them a bronze, while the women's quadruple sculls of Jessica Leden, Lola Anderson, Georgina Brayshaw and Lucy Glover also finished third. | /sport/rowing/63021883 |
politics | Delay to free school meal extension 'shameful', EIS union says | rollout of free school meals to all primary pupils has been branded "shameful" by the country's biggest teaching union.
general secretary of the EIS union, Andrea Bradley, said it "runs contrary" to efforts to tackle child poverty.
She also accused the Scottish government of attempting to "obscure" the move in its recent budget.
Ministers said Scotland had the "most generous universal provision" of free school lunches in the UK.
Scottish government had previously promised to introduce free school meals for all primary school pupils by August 2022.
So far this has only been delivered for youngsters in P1 to P5.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in September that the government would "start work with local authorities to extend universal provision to all pupils in primary 6 and 7".
But the EIS said details in the Scottish budget showed that the universal rollout of free school meals for P6 and P7 will now be delayed until 2024.
Ms Bradley said: "Delaying the rollout of free school meals to all primary school children was a shameful decision, which runs contrary to the Scottish government's stated commitment to tackling child poverty."
She added: "This is now the second time that the rollout of this hugely important policy has been delayed, with serious consequences for thousands of children and families across Scotland.
"It is also extremely disappointing how this change in policy came to light - not announced in parliament, but obscured within the detail of the budget document itself.
"In a country where more than one child in four lives in poverty, and with the cost-of-living crisis pushing ever more families into financial difficulty, it is more important than ever that universal free school meals should be a priority."
union chief said that while a "watered-down, means-tested policy" on free school meals is being introduced for youngsters in the final two years of primary school, many children could still miss out amid a cost of living crisis.
She continued: "Universal free meals remain the best way to ensure that all young people have access to a healthy and nutritious meal at school, without any stigma being attached."
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said Scotland leads the way in the UK on free school meals.
"All pupils in Primaries 1 to 5, children in funded early learning and childcare, and eligible pupils in Primary 6 through to S6 benefit from free meals in Scotland - the most generous universal provision of anywhere in the UK," she said.
"We will go further. Our additional investment announced in the 2023-24 Budget will continue to fund the expansion of free school meals for all Primary 6 and 7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment, helping children most in need first.
"This will be the next step in fulfilling our commitment to universal provision in primary schools."
Ms Somerville added: "A number of local authorities have indicated that they face challenges in planning for the substantial expansion of free school meals. It is right that we work in partnership with local government to deliver our shared commitment." | /news/uk-scotland-64095765 |
business | Sports Direct owner Frasers Group scraps home working | Office staff at Mike Ashley's Frasers Group will no longer work from home on Fridays after a memo said some were "not treating Friday as a working day".
memo from the retail group's chief operating officer, David Al-Mudallal, seen by The Sun, said there were "too many examples" of people not being contactable when they needed to be.
So-called "Frasers Fridays" was started as a flexible working policy in 2020.
A spokeswoman said the firm believed people worked better in an office.
keswoman told the BBC "collaboration" was "key to how we deliver value".
"We believe that we are all at our best when we work together in an office environment," she added.
Mr Al-Mudallal was reported to have told staff that some of their social media profiles were "demonstrating that they're not treating Friday as a working day".
He added that Fridays had become an "unproductive day of the week".
Frasers Group, which includes brands such as House of Fraser and Evans Cycles, is owned by Sports Direct founder and retail billionaire Mike Ashley.
Mr Ashley handed over the day-to-day running of his retail empire to his future son-in law, Michael Murray, in May.
It is understood bosses at Frasers Group had been measuring the productivity of staff on Fridays since the start of the flexible working scheme and decided to pull people back into the office.
Flexible and hybrid working patterns - where some people get to work some days at home and others in offices - have become more common since coronavirus pandemic restrictions were lifted.
However, companies differ in their opinion of new working practices. In April this year, Airbnb decided to let its employees work from anywhere for as long as they like, but last year the boss of Goldman Sachs rejected remote working as a "new normal" and labelled it an "aberration" instead.
Working from home for part of the week has become the norm for some employees, a survey of managers has suggested.
Chartered Institute of Management found in February that more than 80% of firms had adopted hybrid working - most since the pandemic.
ute said firms should embrace hybrid work as "best practice".
In April, Ben Willmott, head of public policy at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said hybrid working let firms widen the net when recruiting to try to tackle skills shortages, and it can improve productivity and work/life balance.
However, he added that there were also potential downsides to hybrid working, including the possibility of "a two-tier workforce", with a split between those who have lots of flexibility and those who cannot work from home.
UK government said in September 2021 that would like to give workers the right to request flexible working when they start new jobs from day one, and is reviewing more than 1,600 responses to a consultation that closed in December last year. | /news/business-62175875 |
politics | Cost of Living: Asylum seekers left without basics to live on - charity | Harriet Protheroe-Soltani said the allowance provided by the UK government should be supplemented
Rising prices have driven some asylum seekers to destitution, a charity has warned.
Welsh Refugee Council (WRC) has called for asylum seekers to be allowed to work in order to increase their income.
It said it was having to support more people with its hardship fund, as well as clothes and food donations.
Home Office said it provided accommodation and a weekly allowance to support asylum seekers.
People seeking asylum are given somewhere to live, and a weekly allowance of £45 to cover food, essential items and travel.
In Wales, refugees are given free travel on public transport.
WRC provides help for asylum seekers in accessing support, including guidance on applying for asylum, and finding legal representation, as well as more practical help in building their lives in Wales, after escaping conflict zones, such as Ukraine, or human rights abuses in north Africa.
Harriet Protheroe-Soltani, from the WRC, said the allowance provided by the UK government should be supplemented, by allowing asylum seekers to work as they wait to discover the outcome of their claim.
"Asylum seekers aren't allowed to work in the UK, so that is a very limited pool of money that they've got to survive off, and they can't really expand that pool of money," she said.
"From that £45, asylum seekers are expected to spend money on things like transport, food, essential toiletries, all of the day to say costs.
"We've people from our play project who come in, they are mothers, and they can't afford to get their children uniforms," she said.
Ms Protheroe-Soltani added it was very difficult, with people falling into destitution and not surviving.
Frezgi Meles, fled war in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, and came to Cardiff.
"There is a genocide in Tigray, a lot of people are killed, women are raped, a lot of infrastructure is getting destroyed," he said.
"We cannot live in our country because of the dictators."
Fighting in the region led to the destruction of homes, school and hospitals.
Human Rights Watch has estimated more than two million people in Tigray have been forced to leave their homes.
Now living in Cardiff, the 38-year-old volunteers for the Red Cross and the Welsh Refugee Council and said he has found it difficult to afford the basics on his £45 allowance, and said he would rather work.
"It would be good if we could get work permits, so that we could get jobs."
Ms Protheroe-Soltani said asylum seekers were in a "no man's land between having this really small amount of money, and not being able to work".
She added a lot of asylum seekers would "love to work".
"Remember the HGV drivers crisis? There were many of our clients that would've been willing and able to go and fill that shortage, but they're unable to, so they're in a really difficult position," she said.
Home Office said: "The Nationality and Borders Act will fix the broken asylum system, by processing application more quickly, and focusing on those genuinely fleeing persecution.
"For asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute, we provide accommodation, and a weekly allowance for food, clothing, transport and sundries.
"The Home Office ensures all spending is carefully scrutinised to make sure that every pound of taxpayers' money is spent in the most effective way, and we review the allowance rate annually." | /news/uk-wales-64068912 |
entertainment | Love Actually director Richard Curtis uncomfortable with movie's lack of diversity | Love Actually director Richard Curtis has said he feels "a bit stupid" about parts of his 2003 Christmas rom-com, including its lack of diversity.
Curtis admitted elements of the movie are now "bound to feel out of date".
British filmmaker added that many people's ongoing love for his film was "really touching", however.
Curtis made the remarks on The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later, a one-hour special broadcast on US TV channel ABC.
He appeared on the programme alongside stars Hugh Grant, Dame Emma Thompson and Bill Nighy, as well as Laura Linney and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.
Asked by anchor Diane Sawyer if there were any elements of the film that "made you wince", Curtis replied: "There are things that you would change, but thank God society is changing.
"My film is bound in some moments to feel out of date," he said. "The lack of diversity makes me feel uncomfortable and a bit stupid.
"There is such extraordinary love that goes on every minute in so many ways [in life generally], all the way around the world, and makes me wish my film was better.
"It makes me wish I'd made a documentary just to kind of observe it."
He later added how films, when done well, can "act as a reminder of how lovely things can be and how there are all sorts of things which we might pass by, which are in fact the best moments in our lives".
r-studded Love Actually pulls together a string of separate but inter-linked romantic tales into one festive feast, which many viewers continue to devour to this day, while others find it sickly and in parts problematic and sexist.
x office smash hit received two Golden Globe awards as well as rather mixed reviews from critics.
At the time, Variety's Todd McCarthy called it "a roundly entertaining romantic comedy" and a "doggedly cheery confection", while Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times labelled it as "a belly-flop into the sea of romantic comedy".
In a retrospective review, BBC Culture's Nicholas Barber noted how "there's actually no love in Love Actually", suggesting "Lust Actually" might have been a better title.
During the aforementioned ABC show, some of its stars praised Curtis, with Dame Emma describing the Comic Relief co-creator as a man with a "golden heart".
"He's truly a good person [and] in our business that's something that [is] to be treasured."
Grant added that the Love Actually script is "a bit psychotic", or in other words: "Richard on steroids".
"But the thing is with him, what you have to remember is when he writes about love, he means it," said Grant. "And that is quite rare.
"I did drunkenly watch a bit of Love Actually a few months ago with my wife, and she was the one who said, 'Oh look, it's all about pain, it's all about suffering'."
Love Actually cast reunites for Comic Relief
Nighy, who won a Bafta for best actor in a supporting role for his contribution in the film, said it was "wonderful to be a part of".
"It's amazing the way it's entered the language," he said.
"I have people coming up to me saying it got me through my chemotherapy, or it got me through my divorce, or I watch it whenever I'm alone. And people do it."
Elsewhere on the programme, Nighy's co-star Grant, who portrayed a fictional UK prime minister in Love Actually, said his famous Downing Street dance is "the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid".
In the scene he is seen gyrating around the offices of Number 10 Girls Aloud's version of The Pointer Sisters' 1983 track Jump, before being caught by his personal secretary.
Down the years, many people have recreated the dance online, such as former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
Boxer Joseph Parker recreates Love Actually dance routine at home
"I think I saw it in the script and thought 'I'll hate doing that'," recalled Grant. "No Englishman can dance when they're sober at 8am in the morning," he joked.
"And to this day, you know, there's many people, and I agree with them, and we think it's the most excruciating scene ever committed to celluloid.
"But then some people like it."
Director Curtis said the actor - who he also cast in Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill - had been "grumpy" about performing the routine, but went through with it due to "contractual obligation". | /news/entertainment-arts-63805817 |
business | Persil advert banned for misleading green claims | Unilever's advert for one of its laundry detergents, Persil, has been banned for being misleading about its environmental benefits.
rt said Persil was "kinder to our planet", and featured children picking up litter on a beach.
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the advert's claim was unsubstantiated.
Unilever, which owns brands including Hellmann's and Dove, said it is "disappointed" with the result.
It follows a crackdown by the ASA on "greenwashing" - claims made by firms branding products as eco-friendly, green or sustainable.
In the banned television advert, beaches are shown full of litter and then children are shown picking up the rubbish.
A voiceover said: "For real change we all need to roll up our sleeves and get dirty".
xt on the screen stating that the product "removes stains at 30C" is shown, with the Persil bottle, which the advert states is made with 50% recycled plastic.
"Tough on stains and kinder to our planet," the voiceover adds.
A viewer complained to the watchdog that Persil's claims of being "kinder" to the planet were unsubstantiated.
regulator upheld the complaint and said that the claims could only be justified if the product provides an environmental benefit over other similar products.
"Although we acknowledged Persil were undertaking actions to reduce the environmental impact of their products, we had not seen evidence or analysis to demonstrate the overall environmental impact of the featured liquid detergents over their full-life cycles, compared with Persil's own previous products or other products, in support of the claim 'kinder to our planet'", the ASA said.
Unilever countered that the advert showed how its liquid detergent was "kinder" to the planet because it saved energy by cleaning in fast washes and at lower temperatures. It also said it was "kinder" because the product used recycled plastic.
A spokesperson for Unilever told the BBC that is was "disappointed" with the ASA's result.
"We are committed to making on-going improvements to all our products to make them more sustainable and will continue to look at how we can share this with our shoppers", Unilever said.
ASA banned the advert because it concluded that the basis of the claim "kinder to our planet" had not been made clear.
regulator also said the ad featured "various strands of messaging" about Persil's wider environmental initiatives including encouraging people to "personally take action to care for the environment", and showing children collecting plastic litter.
"In the context of the entire ad with several messages relating to environmental issues, we considered the meaning and basis of the claim "kinder to our planet" was unclear," the ASA said.
"Additionally, in the absence of evidence demonstrating that the full-life cycle of the product had a lesser environmental impact compared to a previous formulation, we concluded the ad was likely to mislead," a spokesperson from the ASA added. | /news/business-62726666 |
business | Stuck Brits scramble to get home after axed flights | usands of people have been stranded abroad after flights were cancelled, but while some wait around others are taking matters into their own hands.
Joel Pennington was due to take a three-hour flight to Manchester from Germany. Since his flight was axed, he has spent 25 hours trying to get home.
He flew from Germany to Norway and onto London, where he is waiting to get to Manchester, paying out £700 extra.
He is one of many taking drastic action to get home from their trips abroad.
Airlines have cancelled hundreds of flights over the past week due to staff shortages, with many changes made at short notice over the bank holiday weekend.
While some families never reached their destination or arrived late, others have found their return flights are not operating.
More than 100 flights to and from the UK were cancelled on Monday, according to the data analytics firm Cirium, and dozens more were scrapped on Tuesday.
EasyJet, which is the biggest operator at London Gatwick, has been badly affected by disruption over the past week. The airline initially did not say how many flights it had cancelled on Tuesday, but has now confirmed that 60 have been cancelled to and from the UK in total.
Wizz Air has also been affected, while British Airways cancelled a large number of services in advance.
Joel was due to fly home with Lufthansa, which arranged his alternative route.
23-year-old from the Lake District said he was now resting in London at a friend's house as he was "too exhausted" to make the final leg of his journey.
"I've just given up and am staying in London for the night. I can't continue travelling right now," he said.
Mr Pennington says the experience has affected his mental health, and the stress of the journey home has overshadowed the good time he had on holiday.
He is not the only one.
Harshal Shah is stuck in Crete after his flight to take his family and two other families home was cancelled on Monday.
Rather than wait for a later EasyJet flight, the group has spent almost £3,000 to fly with Jet2 to Birmingham on Wednesday instead, where they will then get taxis to their homes in London.
Harshal, who spent a week in Crete with his family and friends for their first holiday since before the coronavirus pandemic, said his return flight had been cancelled four hours before it was due to depart on Monday.
He said the next available EasyJet flight was not until Thursday, so he decided to make alternative plans.
Harshal told the BBC he had to pay out £6,000 in total for the new flights, accommodation and food for two further nights and said he had received "no response at all" from EasyJet.
"The communication in terms of everything is shocking," he added. "Honestly, EasyJet, they should not be EasyJet at all - it's not easy at all."
Alex Settle, a police officer from Hull, and her hen party of 14 were told their flight from Portugal to Manchester had been cancelled by EasyJet when they arrived at the airport.
EasyJet re-booked them on a Wednesday flight back to UK - but the group were worried about further delays so booked a Jet2 flight for Tuesday instead.
Each of them is having to pay £366 for the new flight and an extra night's stay.
"It's been really stressful, with lots of tears," said Alex. "This has really tainted the whole trip.
group are due to arrive at Luton Airport in the early hours of Thursday, and are now having to plan how to get back to Hull.
Airlines have been being blamed for taking more bookings than they can manage following staff cuts during the height of the pandemic when travel ground to a halt.
But industry leaders have said the government could have done more to support the sector.
r has also called for immigration rules on hiring overseas workers to be relaxed to plug staff shortages, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ruled out such a move.
Before Covid, airports and airlines across Britain employed around 140,000 people, but since then thousands of jobs have been cut, including around 30,000 for UK airlines alone.
EasyJet said it was "very sorry and fully understand the disruption this will have caused for our customers".
"We are providing options to rebook or receive a refund as well as hotel accommodation and meals where required, along with information on how to arrange this quickly online or via the app.
"Our customer service hours and hotel accommodation sourcing have been extended to support impacted customers and help get them to their destination as soon as possible."
Additional reporting by Sherie Ryder and Osob Elmi, UGC team | /news/business-61717223 |
technology | Apple reveals iPhone 14 Pro and Watch Ultra | Apple has unveiled the iPhone 14, with emergency satellite connectivity and car crash detection technology, at a launch event in the US.
mpany revealed four versions of the new handset at its Cupertino headquarters, with an audience attending in person for the first time since the pandemic.
It also showed off a new extreme sports wearable - the Watch Ultra.
focused on next generation iPhone, Watch and AirPod products.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was on stage at the Steve Jobs theatre inside the tech giant's California campus - but the presentation itself was entirely pre-recorded.
Apple reveals iPhone 14 Pro and Watch Ultra
Apple Watch Series 8 has a number of new features, including car crash detection, temperature sensors for tracking ovulation cycles and a new low-power mode option.
People have been cautious about menstrual trackers since changes were made to abortion legislation in the US and there are concerns that data about periods could be used by law enforcement. Apple says the data on its devices will be encrypted and only accessible via a passcode or biometrics.
"We are taking our commitment to women's health even further," said Jeff Williams, chief operating officer at Apple.
Apple said a new automatic retrospective ovulation notification could help those who are trying to conceive.
If activated, the new watch can monitor body temperate every five seconds overnight, and detect tiny changes which can signal ovulation.
Another new feature is car crash detection. Using sensors, the watch will be able to identify a severe crash and will automatically connect its wearer with emergency services, provide their exact location and notify emergency contacts.
Series 8 now also features a low power mode, a feature borrowed from the iPhone, that promises up to 36 hours of battery life on a full charge.
Apple Watch Series 8 is priced from $399 in the US, £419 in the UK.
Swim-proof, dust-proof and crack-resistant - Apple has announced its rival to the likes of Garmin, Polar and other rugged watchmakers.
Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek from Born to Run appeared in the presentation for the new watch, which focused on a larger face design for extreme sports use.
All Ultra watches have up to 36 hours battery life on a single charge and an extended battery life of 60 hours, with Apple promising enough power for its customers to complete an ultra-triathlon which includes swimming, cycling and running.
Apple Watch Ultra is priced from $799 in the US, £849 in the UK.
mpany is releasing the iPhone 14 in two sizes, the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus.
w handsets are capable of sending an emergency call for help via satellite. The phone will display the whereabouts of passing satellites overhead and demonstrate how to point the device at them correctly.
It can take from 15 seconds to a few minutes to send a basic message.
"The investment to add satellite capability should not be underestimated," said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.
"It will likely have taken Apple years to put all the pieces of the puzzle in place, including a commercial agreement with satellite provider Globalstar, and the creation of the infrastructure needed to pass messages to the emergency services."
Paolo Pescatore said he believed the innovation was good news for consumers "in hard-to-reach areas".
"It is encouraging to see providers starting to get serious about using satellite - ultimately reliable and robust connectivity is still highly sought-after among all users," he said.
giant announced a new 12-megapixel camera, capable of taking photos of fast-moving subjects, and the company claims a 49% improvement in low-light capturing.
front camera also included auto-focus for the first time, to help sharpen selfies.
According to Apple, iPhone users took more than three trillion photos in the last 12 months.
Phone 14 is priced from $799 (US), £849 (UK).
ggest change in iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max design is the top of the screen which is now a pill shaped cut-out.
A feature called the Dynamic Island has replaced the black notch, which many iPhone users complain about - and it can change shape depending on what notifications there are.
r big change is that the handset can always remain on.
When the phone is not in use, the screen dims and the refresh rate is lowered.
mes in a deep purple colour alongside black, silver and gold.
Phone 14 Pro is priced at $999 (US), £1099 (UK).
AirPods Pro are easier to find than their predecessors. Each pair comes with a new system for finding individual lost earphones, which play a chime when dropped outside of the case.
Additionally, the case itself gets its own speaker, which will play a louder sound when prompted by the Find My app.
w AirPods Pro are priced at $249 (US), £249 (UK).
Being here in person, among an enthusiastic crowd of Apple fans, certainly made for a more interesting launch than recent years. But nothing was announced today that is going to revolutionise the tech industry.
Much of Apple's new tech seems ideal if you find yourself in some kind of peril on a regular basis. The new iPhone 14 will be able to send texts by satellite when off the grid. The Ultra Watch design is chunky with extra-long battery life - the company says this is perfect for multi-day remote trips. Apple also announced a new crash detection system on new watches and phones, which will alert the emergency services when it detects an impact. The strategy here is pretty clear. Apple is continuing to pitch its hardware as a health and safety aid. Not surprisingly, Tim Cook describes the products as "essential".
But in reality these are interesting but fairly niche updates - features that users will hope they will never have to use. | /news/technology-62827774 |
entertainment | Taylor Swift breaks Arctic Monkeys chart-topping streak | r Swift has denied Arctic Monkeys their seventh straight chart-topping album, after her own new LP raced to number one on Friday.
Her 10th album, Midnights, became the fastest-selling record of 2022, with 204,000 equivalent sales in week one.
Sheffield rock band finished in second place with more than 100,000 chart sales in seven days for The Car.
would have been enough sales to reach number one in a normal week where there was no competition from Swift.
US singer more than doubled her previous best opening week album sales, which she achieved in 2014 for her album 1989.
Anti-Hero, the breakout hit from the 32-year-old's latest album, also topped this week's singles chart.
Suitably named Swift has now surpassed Harry Styles' third album Harry's House to record the UK's fastest-selling record of 2022 so far.
Perhaps even more notably, Swift has overtaken Madonna by setting a new chart record for the quickest succession of nine UK number one albums by a female artist.
She managed it in 10 years flat, while it took the Madonna 21 years to achieve the same feat. However, the Queen of Pop is still ahead of Swift on the overall league table for most number one albums.
Midnights is Swift's first original studio album in two years, and sees her return to a more mainstream sound following the acoustic tone of her previous two albums.
It was devoured by fans, breaking the record for the most-streamed album on Spotify in one day.
um was also met with rave reviews from critics, although some said its subdued tone meant it lacked potential hit singles.
w record retains some of the folksy charm of sister albums Folklore and Evermore, both released in 2020 during the pandemic. But it also sees her re-engage her pop sensibilities, with lyrics that explore more personal subject matters.
Some songs offer fans further insight into the star's normally low-key relationship with her boyfriend, English actor Joe Alwyn.
ght bump in the road during a glorious run this week came when her team re-edited a music video days after its release, following a backlash over one of the scenes.
In the original video for Anti-Hero - which this week knocked Sam Smith off top spot - the singer steps onto a scale that reads "FAT", as her alter ego shakes her head, seemingly in disappointment.
Recent Reading and Leeds headliners Arctic Monkeys will be disappointed not to have added to their collection of six number one albums, with the follow-up to their divisive Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, which marked a move towards a more expansive, cinematic sound.
Also released last Friday, The Car is tighter and more immediate than its predecessor but it spins in the same sonic universe, with beautifully crafted orchestral, soulful and at-times funky tracks like There'd Better Be a Mirror Ball and Body Paint.
"I made a big deal about the piano on the last record," singer Alex Turner recently told BBC music correspondent Mark Savage. "But when I look at it now, the shift in sound between that record and the one before [AM] is more to do with the fact that my writing process [changed] around that time".
"So the piano had a part in it, but being able to record myself and write to those recordings is perhaps what got us into this mess," he added.
Remarkably, all of this week's top five albums are new entries, meaning that, despite it being a particularly crowded field, there were still strong showings from Loyle Carner, Simple Minds and Kylie Minogue. | /news/entertainment-arts-63423816 |
politics | Rishi Sunak: How the US shaped Britain's new leader | UK's new prime minister points to his time in the US studying and working as a defining part of his life. So what are Rishi Sunak's American connections?
42-year-old has made the California chapter of his biography a key part of his public persona.
He frequently cites his time there in his 20s and early 30s to burnish his credentials as a business-savvy leader.
"I have lived and worked in California and I actually think it's one of the reasons that I would be good at this job," he told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg last month while running for the Conservative leadership.
"Because what I will bring to this job is a way of thinking that is different. When we think about growth and in a modern economy, how do you drive growth - you drive it through innovation. Because of my experience I know how to build that type of economy."
Here's a closer look at this period which had such an impact on him.
Mr Sunak started his years in America at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business as a Fulbright Scholar, heading to Silicon Valley in 2004 as the internet boom was under way.
rogramme, which admits roughly 400 students per year, has a reputation as the most exclusive business degree in the country.
Among the classes Mr Sunak took was "The Paths to Power", intended to help students understand power and how to wield it effectively.
He did not earn any particular academic distinctions and his professor in that class was unable to recollect him - understandably, given he taught 100 students a year.
But a more life-changing landmark in those early US years occurred when he met his wife, Akshata Murty, daughter of the founder of Indian tech firm Infosys.
Classmates at the time have told biographer Michael Ashcroft that they were a "power couple" on campus.
Derrick Bolton, who was assistant dean of admissions from 2001-2016 and remains friendly with the couple, said Mr Sunak entered the programme "very self-assured".
"He knew from a young age that he wanted to make an impact on as many people as possible."
Earlier this summer the couple invited Mr Bolton to Downing Street for tea, where they lived in Mr Sunak's capacity as chancellor. They showed their visitor exhibits on former chancellors and served biscuits marking the Queen's Jubilee.
Mr Bolton, who attended their New York wedding celebration in 2009, said he was surprised they made the time.
"Despite the lofty titles and significant responsibility, they are the same two lovely people they were as students - open and kind and humble and remarkably self-effacing," he said. "They're very low-key, very chill."
After graduating, Mr Sunak took a lucrative job at the London-based hedge fund, TCI Fund Management.
Mr Sunak focused on the US, participating in the firm's bitter 2008 fight with the leaders of America's CSX freight railroad.
Lawyer Marc Weingarten, who worked closely with Mr Sunak at this point, said he stood out as a "sponge for information".
"He was all over it," he said. "They [Mr Sunak and his boss] had studied the industry and CSX in depth for months and their mastery of the industry and CSX was astonishing."
In 2009, in the wake of the financial crisis, top leaders at TCI left to start their own firm Theleme and took Mr Sunak with them.
He became part of a team of two based in Santa Monica, a beach-side city just outside Los Angeles, and famous as the home of celebrities such as David Beckham and Christian Bale.
He invested in companies such as Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and started to put down ties to the area, joining the board of local Boys & Girls Club, a charity which runs after-school programmes and other activities for needy children.
Aaron Young, who led the organisation at the time, said he was surprised to see Mr Sunak become prime minister but that his ambition was always evident.
"I think he always had aspirations," Mr Young said.
Mr Sunak ultimately left the US, won a seat in the UK Parliament in 2015 and started his rapid ascent in British politics. But his California years have remained a frequent touchstone.
He has said he tried to introduce a "start-up" mentality while leading the Treasury Department, and credited Stanford for pushing him to shed "incremental" ways of thinking.
rs in the US also informed his decision to back Brexit, he told the BBC in 2019.
"The pace of change is just accelerating around the world - that was my experience being in California," he said. "My general broad view was given the pace of change... being independent and having the flexibility and nimbleness to react would be of enormous value to us."
More on Rishi Sunak and his family
Mr Sunak and his wife continue to maintain a flat in Santa Monica, which they regularly visit. But his ties to the US have at times caused an outcry.
r, it emerged he had retained his Green Card, giving him the right to live and work in the US as a permanent resident. He returned it in October last year, ahead of his first American trip as a government minister.
ure occurred around the time it was revealed his wife held non-domiciled status, meaning she did not have to pay tax on earnings from outside the UK.
roversies have been used to raise questions about Mr Sunak's commitment to the country, despite his being born and raised in the UK, said Victoria Honeyman, professor of British politics at the University of Leeds.
"There are legitimate questions - if you are chancellor of the exchequer, should your wife have non-dom status? Should you own a green card? The problem is that it gets tied up with a lot of issues that are not necessarily valid," she said, adding: "I'm not sure a white politician would have to make those kinds of justifications to the same degree."
But such controversies are low-level compared to the economic and political crisis he now faces as prime minister, said Rod Dacombe, director of the Centre for British Politics and Government at King's College London.
"The thing that's going to make or break him isn't the kind of story that he presents or his ties to America.
"It's going to be how he deals with the almost impossible economic situation that he's going to face," he said. "Is it going to be fixed in time for the next election? Probably not." | /news/world-us-canada-63402491 |
technology | Sure to acquire Airtel-Vodafone in Channel Islands | Bharti Global Limited and Sure have reached an agreement for Sure to acquire 100% of Airtel-Vodafone in the Channel Islands.
mpany said customers would benefit from faster speeds, wider coverage, and better value for money.
merger will result in up to £48m being invested in a new, innovative mobile network which will include 5G services, according to Sure.
merger is subject to regulatory approval.
Alistair Beak, Sure's CEO, welcomed the merger as good news for customers and the Channel Islands.
Mr Beak said: "This merger will result in significant investment being made in the Channel Islands' digital infrastructure at a time when demand for connectivity has never been greater."
Sid Ahlawat, CEO at Airtel-Vodafone, said: "This merger will benefit consumers, enterprises, employees and the telecom infrastructure as a whole.
"The Airtel-Vodafone team is looking forward to joining the Sure family."
Follow BBC Jersey on Twitter and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. | /news/world-europe-guernsey-63124750 |
entertainment | Strictly Come Dancing: Villagers celebrate Hamza Yassin's victory | Residents of a Scottish village have said seeing their friend Hamza Yassin win Strictly Come Dancing was "like winning the World Cup".
meraman and TV presenter was crowned champion with dance partner Jowita Przystal on the BBC One show.
Sudan-born wildlife photographer has lived in Kilchoan, on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, for 11 years.
Locals who gathered in the community hall to watch the Strictly final have expressed their delight at his victory.
Among those cheering on Hamza were siblings Sine, Caitlin and Innes Ferguson.
"It was like an eruption in the hall," said Sine, 29, reflecting on the moment the final results were announced.
"It was unreal. It was like winning the World Cup, I think, for Ardnamurchan."
Hamza had never had a dance lesson before taking part in the show, but villagers believe his talent was honed at ceilidhs.
Innes, 21, who has known Hamza since he was in primary school, said his athletic ability was evident.
"I always knew he had the underpinning fitness because he's been lifting people around here, doing the famous lift," he told BBC Scotland.
"[He's been] up the hills and he's been a rugby player as well throughout his youth so he's got the fitness."
Innes added: "We knew he was fit but didn't know he had the twinkle toes that he was showing.
"I hope he's going to perform a bit better at all the ceilidhs from now on."
Caitlin, 28, is a graphic designer who also sells Gaelic-themed clothing. She has seen orders sky-rocket after Hamza wore her Ardnamurchan jumper on Strictly.
"It was mum's bright idea to post him one. I didn't know anything about it.
"And then I saw him on the TV with it and I thought wow that's so cool.
"I was so surprised when orders just started coming in. I sold out twice and now I'm taking pre-orders so it's been quite crazy."
Hamza has worked on The One Show as one of their wildlife cameraman, leading him to land his own CBeebies show and Let's Go For A Walk companion book.
He also appears on Countryfile and ITV's This Morning, and has filmed and presented Channel 4 shows Scotland: My Life in the Wild and Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness.
After weeks away while filming Strictly, locals are looking forward to have the newly crowned dancing star back at home.
"We're hoping he comes back soon because he cuts all the logs," said Sine. "That'll be handy for the winter."
She added: "We're excited to see him home again. We're so proud of him." | /news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-64018735 |
entertainment | 'It feels like you can give your worries to the water' | A group of men have come together to form a choir by a canal as part of an initiative to improve wellbeing.
Under the Bridge project, which was organised by charity Bluetonic and community organisation Nottingham C.A.N, involved participants open water swimming, paddleboarding and singing together.
Many of those who took part had never met before.
"I think being around water definitely helps with mental health because, for me, it's almost like it's transient," participant Ashley Kirk said.
"It's almost like you can give your worries to the water and it travels away."
Video journalist: Alex Thorp
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | /news/uk-england-derbyshire-62649594 |
health | Noble's Hospital under 'extreme pressure', Manx Care says | People have been urged only to attend the Isle of Man's main hospital if absolutely necessary.
Manx Care said Noble's Hospital was "operating under extreme pressure" due to the number of patients admitted.
A spokesman said X-ray services were being provided at the Minor Injuries and Illnesses Unit in Ramsey until Friday to help ease the situation.
Ramsey Cottage Hospital was also able to treat a number of other "complex" conditions, he added.
People have also been urged to consider contacting the Manx Emergency Doctor Service or visit a community pharmacy for more minor ailments.
General manager for medicine, urgent care and the ambulance service Mark Cox said there was "very limited capacity within our hospitals to accommodate" the number of people who had been admitted to Noble's.
framework put in place to cope with the current demand included signposting patients to other services, he added.
uation was being "closely managed to ensure patient safety is maintained", he said.
f urgent or emergency care would still be treated at Noble's Hospital, Mr Cox added.
Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk | /news/world-europe-isle-of-man-64110666 |
health | Ipswich stroke patient forced to take bus faces housing issue | A stroke patient forced to take a bus to hospital because no ambulances were available might no longer be able to live at home, according to his wife.
Lauren Matthews said her husband Gavin was currently unable to walk and their flat was no longer fit for purpose.
East of England Ambulance Service apologised after Mr Matthews was twice denied emergency transport due to service pressures.
He is being assessed to determine what his needs are.
rognosis for Mr Matthews, who remains at Ipswich Hospital, is uncertain, but he has lost the use of his right arm and leg, said his wife.
Mrs Matthews told BBC Radio Suffolk: "They can't say how soon he's going to walk again or even if he will walk again. At the minute it is not looking like he will.
"He's not going to be allowed home until I've moved into a wheelchair accessible property.
"It has just destroyed his life."
Mr Matthews, 45, from Ipswich, fell ill on the afternoon of 16 November and an ambulance was sent, but the couple then received a call say the vehicle had to be diverted.
He and his wife then had to take two buses to get to the hospital on the other side of town because they could not afford the £15 taxi fare.
Mrs Matthews said an A&E doctor saw him and then cleared him to return home after a couple of hours, but the symptoms became worse later that evening.
Once again, an ambulance was cancelled after being initially dispatched, and the couple had to rely on family members to drive Mr Matthews to hospital for the second time.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "When demand on the service is extremely high, we must prioritise those with immediate life-threatening conditions and advise some lower category calls to make their own way to hospital, once reviewed by a clinician."
uple's flat has steps going down to the entrance and there are also steps inside the property with narrow doorways.
r housing provider Sanctuary said it had limited properties available in the area with less than 10 which would be suitable, all of which have tenants.
A spokesman said: "We were very sorry to hear the news about Mr Matthews and have already been in contact to discuss what additional support we can provide at this difficult time.
"Given the couple's urgent and specific needs, we have offered advice on how to use the local authority's Gateway to Homechoice letting system, as this will provide them with a wider pool of potential properties from all the housing providers in the area."
A spokeswoman for Ipswich Borough Council said: "Our housing support service works with Ipswich Hospital discharge team if a patient is not able to return home.
"Once an Occupational Therapist has carried out an access assessment, this informs any rehabilitation needs, temporary adaptions of current housing or the need for alternative housing with a referral and support from our housing options team."
Mrs Matthews is now fundraising to try and buy her husband an electric wheelchair.
"He's actually unable to just use crutches or even wheel himself in a wheelchair, so the idea of getting him in an electric wheelchair is to try and give him a little bit of independence back," she said.
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-suffolk-63793937 |
politics | Earl of Shrewsbury faces suspension from Lords over lobbying claims | A hereditary peer is facing suspension from the House of Lords for breaking lobbying rules.
Earl of Shrewsbury was found by the Lords Conduct Committee to have approached ministers on behalf of a company marketing Covid-19 sanitiser products, which he worked for.
mmittee recommended he should be suspended for nine months, which is subject to a vote by the upper house.
Lord Shrewsbury has said he did not realise his actions broke the rules.
Earl of Shrewsbury is one of the few remaining hereditary peers in the Lords and was affiliated with the Conservatives until October but now sits as a non-party crossbench peer.
He was paid £57,000 by healthcare company SpectrumX for his work as a consultant over a period of 19 months between 2020 and 2022.
In 2020, at the height of the Covid pandemic, the firm was seeking regulatory approval for products including hand sanitisers and a walk-in disinfectant tunnel.
r approached ministers, including then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock to promote the company's tunnel in return for a £3,000 monthly retainer, the committee's report found.
He referred himself to the commissioner following allegations about his conduct in relation to the company in the Sunday Times.
Lord Shrewsbury has argued his work for SpectrumX was "openly commercial dealing", that he declared his interest as an adviser to the company and never sought to "influence policy".
mmittee accepted that he did not act with "deliberate dishonesty" and did not realise his actions broke the rules.
However, it found "clear" breaches of the Lords' code of conduct by seeking "to profit from membership of the House" and providing parliamentary advice or exercising parliamentary influence in return for payment.
Separately, Baroness Goudie was also found to have breached the code "by agreeing to provide parliamentary advice in return for payment" and for breaking rules on the use of the House's facilities.
mmittee has recommended she is suspended from the Lords for six months and Labour has also suspended her from the parliamentary party.
reaches relate to her work for ecoLegacy in 2016 and 2017.
She was paid €20,000 (£17,454) over a 10-month period as an adviser for the company. the Lords committee said in its report.
As part of her role, she advised the company on who to approach about their work and offered to book a room on the estate to hold meetings, although ultimately no room was reserved and Baroness Goudie did not directly approach parliamentarians on the company's behalf.
She also commissioned research by the Lords Library on behalf of the company, in breach of the code.
r has acknowledged she had an interest in the company during the period and has apologised for failing to register that interest until April 2017.
However, the committee said she refused to accept her conduct had breached any other aspect of the code.
In response to the report, Baroness Goudie said: "Six-and-a-half years after the alleged events, I was accused by a former colleague of 'paid advocacy' and a late declaration of my interests.
"I totally refute the first allegation on which the commissioner made no finding and sincerely apologise for my late declaration in 2016, before which time I had used the Lords Library on one occasion to check facts relevant to my interests."
upper chamber is due to vote on whether to approve the recommendations next month. | /news/uk-politics-63998059 |
sports | Rhys McClenaghan wins gold at World Gymnastics Championships | Rhys McClenaghan became Ireland's first gymnastics world champion as he won pommel horse gold in Liverpool.
McClenaghan, 23, adds to his gold from the Commonwealth Games and European Championships in 2018, and his World bronze from the following year.
Newtownards gymnast scored 15.300 in his final routine, with 6.400 for difficulty and 8.900 for execution.
Ahmad Abu Al Soud was second for Jordan while Armenia's Harutyun Merdinyan claimed bronze.
"It sounds great, it sounds so good," McClenaghan said when asked about how it felt to be called world champion.
"It's all been worthwhile. This sport I've dedicated my life to, it's been worthwhile for this day right here and this moment.
"So much work has went in by myself, by Luke [Carson, McClenaghan's coach] - it's been a long time coming in my eyes.
"I can't believe the day has finally come."
McClenaghan is already the most decorated Irish gymnast of all time despite being only being 23.
He won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland and became the first Irish gymnast to win European gold later that year in Stuttgart.
In 2019 he secured Ireland's first-ever medal at the World Championships when he claimed bronze and was awarded a BEM in the New Year's Honours for services to the sport.
He finished seventh at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and was second at the 2022 Commonwealths in Birmingham despite a disrupted build-up.
Less than two months prior to the start of the Games, McClenaghan's very involvement appeared over when the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) ruled that he and team-mates Eamon Montgomery and Ewan McAteer could not perform for NI as they compete for Ireland in international competition.
It was a decision roundly met with disdain and while the FIG did eventually submit and grant the trio special dispensation, it was not before a protracted stand-off.
McClenaghan added his main emotion is relief after his latest medal.
"I'm not even thinking about ten years' time. I'm not even thinking about tomorrow," he said.
"I am just thinking about this moment right here, the moment I became world champion.
"It's so weird saying it. It is just a dream come true.
"I'm so happy this competition is over now. It has been such a long year. It has been non-stop competitions and I have lived such a dedicated lifestyle in the lead-up to this moment.
"Now I can relax a bit. I have such relief going through my body and mind right now." | /sport/gymnastics/63527382 |
sports | Matthew Coward-Holley: British trap shooter wins gold at European Championships | Great Britain's Matthew Coward-Holley claimed another gold medal as he won the men's trap event at the European Shooting Championships in Croatia.
world champion, 26, continued his fine form by winning a close-fought final with a score of 47ex 50.
Czech Republic's Jiri Liptak won silver in Osijek while Italy's Mauro De Filippis claimed bronze.
"It feels so surreal," said Coward-Holley. "It's been a phenomenal end to a fantastic trip."
Coward-Holley became Britain's first trap world champion in July 2019 and is the current world number three.
Chelmsford shooter, who was selected for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in January, has now won three gold medals in less than three weeks.
He won a mixed pairs World Cup gold with Kirsty Hegarty, who will also be representing GB at July's Olympics, and a Green Cup gold - both in Italy last month.
"It took me a little while to get going but once I was up and running it was all good," added Coward-Holley.
"I've been lucky enough to be training abroad since April. It's been really great preparation and it's clearly paying off." | /sport/shooting/57336884 |
politics | PMQs: Scottish people terrified of energy bill cost - SNP | SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said people were "genuinely terrified" of energy bill costs.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak said the government was providing "every household" with around £900 of support.
Sunak promises end to asylum seeker backlog | /news/uk-politics-63972508 |
sports | Levi Davis: Missing rugby star's family frustrated by search | Levi's mum has shared the last video message from him sent just hours before he disappeared
mum of a British rugby player who disappeared in Barcelona says the weeks since have been "an emotional whirlwind".
Levi Davis has been missing in Spain for over a month, and mum Julie says the investigation has been "very slow".
24-year-old Worthing Raiders winger travelled by boat from Ibiza, where he visited a friend, on 29 October.
He was last seen on CCTV leaving the Old Irish Pub in the centre of Barcelona at about 22:00.
rugby union player has not been seen or heard from since.
Julie, from Solihull in the West Midlands, last had contact with her son a few hours before he went missing.
He sent her a video taken on board his boat from Ibiza, showing the view from the deck and telling her: "It's beautiful here".
Since the end of October there have been a few possible sightings of Levi - but none have been confirmed as him.
, almost two weeks ago, his passport was discovered at Barcelona's port area.
Spanish police have confirmed this to the BBC, but say they can't comment on the investigation any further at this stage.
Julie wants more detail.
"Since the last thing we heard about the passport, there's been no more information," she says.
few weeks have been "the scariest time" of her life and "an emotional whirlwind".
She travelled to Barcelona with her son Nathan a few weeks ago to search for Levi herself, and is planning to go back again soon.
Rachel Stonehouse, BBC Newsbeat reporter in Barcelona
Irish Pub where Levi was last seen is on La Rambla - a touristy part of the city.
It's quiet when I go in at lunch time, but the staff tell me it gets busy on an evening - they're showing a lot of World Cup games at the moment.
rmaid who served him isn't working, but other staff tell me Levi ordered a pint and watched sport on the TV before leaving.
I ask lots of people on the street if they've heard about Levi - many of them have, but they don't know more than he's missing.
Just a short distance from the bar - maybe a five to 10-minute walk - is the port.
It's busy, with a constant stream of ferries coming and going.
where Levi arrived into the city, and where his passport was discovered a couple of weeks ago.
But since then the trail has gone cold.
Julie says Levi was very open about his mental health, and in the last few months he'd been dealing with a knee injury.
She thinks he needed some time to himself - as "the accumulation of all the struggles and the injury" had taken a toll mentally.
According to his friend Tom Varndell, Levi had been trying to "deal with things a bit more on his own" in recent months.
"Rather than going out there and trying to seek help - or ask people for support," the former England rugby player adds.
When Levi's passport was found, Tom says his hopes were dashed a little bit.
But both Julie and Tom still believe there will be good news in the future.
And Julie has this message for Levi: "We're all missing you, all the family care for you so much. We just want you home, son.
"Please come home and we can sort out whatever is going on, together."
Levi previously played for Bath Rugby, which shared the appeal over his disappearance a month ago.
He's also known for his TV appearances in ITV's Celebrity X Factor in 2019 and E4's Celebs Go Dating in 2020.
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | /news/newsbeat-63793572 |
politics | Boris Johnson did the right thing, says Scottish Tory MP | Boris Johnson ended his bid to return as prime minister in the national interest, a Scottish Conservative MP has said.
Since the ex-PM announced on Sunday that he would not put his name forward, Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt remain in the running to replace Liz Truss.
MP Andrew Bowie told BBC Scotland Mr Johnson had done the "right thing".
Nicola Sturgeon said she was relieved that the "ridiculous notion" of his return was "knocked on the head".
race for the party's new leader was set in motion after Liz Truss was forced to stand down after 45 days in office - the shortest premiership of any UK prime minister.
Ms Truss's policy programme spooked the financial markets and her successor will be tasked with establishing stability.
Candidates with 100 or more supporters will proceed in the process, which states a winner should be announced on Friday. However, if only one candidate reaches the threshold they could become leader on Monday.
Mr Sunak is the firm favourite to replace Ms Truss as PM and could do so by as early as Monday afternoon if Ms Mordaunt fails to meet the benchmark.
According to BBC figures, which are being updated here, former chancellor Mr Sunak has 193 Conservative MPs who have publicly given him their backing, while Ms Mordaunt has 26.
question remains as to whether Ms Mordaunt can get 100 MPs to back her before nominations close at 14:00 BST.
Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme Mr Bowie, Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, said Mr Johnson - who only stood down as prime minister seven weeks ago - stepping out of the leadership race was the "right thing to do".
"I think what Boris did yesterday was definitely in the national interest," he said. "The last thing we need is another prolonged battle for the heart and soul of the Conservative party.
"We need to get this done quickly and get it over with as soon as possible in the national interest so we can get the economy on a firm footing and move the whole country forward.
"A general election, even for a snap general election, by law necessitates six weeks of campaigning. That is six weeks when parliament isn't sitting and six weeks where government isn't getting down to business."
Mr Bowie, who is backing Rishi Sunak, added: "Looking at the numbers it was clear that had he entered the race he would have been beaten in the MP's ballot."
Boris Johnson's final months in office were dogged by accusations he broke ministerial rules by not telling the truth about parties in Downing Street during the Covid lockdown.
He remains under investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Committee, which could lead to him being suspended from Parliament, or being kicked out as an MP.
On Sunday, Scottish Conservatives chairman Craig Hoy told BBC Scotland his colleagues were "very frustrated" by the UK party's leadership turmoil and wanted to focus on holding the SNP to account over independence.
first minister said people were tired of the "Tory soap opera psychodrama".
"It is appalling given the difficulties people across the country are living through right now," Ms Sturgeon said.
She added: "I think everybody will breathe a sigh of relief that the ridiculous notion of Johnson coming back as prime minister has been knocked on the head."
But Ms Sturgeon said what the next prime minster does would be more important than their personality.
"What is of profound concern to everybody, particularly to me right now, is that the Tories are about to unleash another wave of austerity on all of us. It is going to be a horror show," the first minister said.
"Scottish public services, cannot withstand, in my view, another round of Tory austerity.
"We need an alternative to that and if Rishi Sunak becomes prime minister today or later in the week, as I suspect he will, what we know is that next Monday his chancellor is going to stand up in the House of Commons and unveil a round of cuts that the Scottish government and public services are going to be powerless to withstand."
Former Conservative MEP Lord Ian Duncan said he did not think there should be a general election, despite the last one in 2019 seeming "like a lifetime ago", or a return to the Conservative party members deciding on their next leader.
"Right now we do need a period of stability and once we've got that stability then it is time for an election," he said. "But at that point, I wonder if Ian Blackford will be shouting in exactly the same way because at that point there may well be a restoration in the fortunes of the Tory party."
But he agreed that Mr Johnson was right not to attempt to become prime minister again.
"Boris may well have been a vote winner but once you've shot yourself in both feet it's very hard to run a race," Lord Duncan said.
"Right now we need to have a period where common sense applies to the economy and it will be judged not wholly by the people but actually by the markets themselves. The markets will determine whether the common sense is working or not." | /news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-63371577 |
technology | How drones are replacing people in sewer surveys | Drones are going underground to survey the sewers in Scotland.
gy is being used to increase access and to avoid hazards to workers when surveying pipelines.
Scottish Water hopes that developments in scanning can also help assess longer-term structural issues.
mpany said more accurate inspections would cut the cost of repairs and maintenance and reduce the risk of flooding and pollution.
Footage: Scottish Water | /news/uk-scotland-63053663 |
entertainment | Channel 4 criticised for Jimmy Carr show involving Hitler painting | A new Channel 4 show in which a studio audience will decide whether comedian Jimmy Carr should destroy a painting by Adolf Hitler has been criticised.
ught works by Hitler and other "problematic" artists to be used in Jimmy Carr Destroys Art.
Channel 4 said the series would be "a thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the limits of free expression in art".
But the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust called it "deeply inappropriate" and said Carr was an "inflammatory" host.
Earlier this year, the comedian was heavily criticised for performing a routine about the Holocaust in his latest Netflix stand-up special.
Channel 4 show, to be screened later this month, is also expected to feature artworks by Rolf Harris, the former entertainer who was found guilty of the sexual assault of underage girls, and sexual abuser Eric Gill.
Channel 4's director of programming Ian Katz told the Guardian that Carr would host a televised debate about what to do with the pieces in question.
"There are advocates for each piece of art," he said. "So you've got an advocate for Hitler. There'll be someone arguing not for Hitler, but for the fact that his moral character should not decide whether or not a piece of art exists or not."
But Holocaust Memorial Day Trust chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman said: "There is nothing entertaining or laughable about Hitler or the murder of six million Jews, and the persecution of millions more."
w was making the Nazi leader "a topic of light entertainment", she said, adding: "This is deeply inappropriate, and at a time of increasing Holocaust distortion, dangerously trivialising.
"The question of how far art can be linked to its creators is an important one, but this programme is simply a stunt for shock value, and cannot excuse the trivialisation of the horrors of Nazism."
Ms Marks-Woldman added: "Choosing Jimmy Carr to front this episode is deliberately provocative and inflammatory given his history."
A Channel 4 spokesman said: "Jimmy Carr Destroys Art is a thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the limits of free expression in art, and whether work by morally despicable artists still deserves to be seen.
"It speaks directly to the current debate around cancel culture and is in a long tradition of Channel 4 programming."
Carr did not publicly comment on the backlash he faced over his Holocaust routine earlier this year. | /news/entertainment-arts-63240336 |
technology | India gambles on building a leading drone industry | Newly qualified drone pilot Uddesh Pratim Nath is excited about the opportunities his new skills have opened up for him.
"Being certified has opened new avenues for me. I have been working with different industries like survey mapping, asset inspection, agriculture and many others," he says.
Drones come in all shapes and sizes. The smaller ones typically have three of four rotors and can carry something small like a camera. The biggest, usually used by the military, look more like aeroplanes and can carry substantial payloads.
Mr Nath, 23, had been designing drones, but decided that being certified to fly them would bring more job satisfaction and financial rewards.
A five-day course was enough to get him started, and he's now flight-testing drones that will be used for mapping.
Next he wants to master flying heavier and more complicated models.
Mr Nath is reaping the benefits of a big push by the Indian government into the drone industry.
In February this year India banned the import of drones, except for those needed by the military or for research and development.
government wants to develop a home-grown industry that can design and assemble drones and make the components that go into their manufacture.
"Drones can be significant creators of employment and economic growth due to their versatility, and ease of use, especially in India's remote areas," says Amber Dubey, former joint secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
"Given its traditional strengths in innovation, information technology, frugal engineering and its huge domestic demand, India has the potential of becoming a global drone hub by 2030," he tells the BBC.
Over the next three years Mr Dubey sees as much as 50bn rupees (£550m; $630m) invested in the sector.
Neel Mehta is the co-founder of Asteria Aerospace, which has been building drones for 10 years. He welcomes the government's efforts to boost the sector.
It has allowed his company to expand beyond building drones for the defence sector and move into new areas.
"Drone companies now have a clear growth roadmap, large order books and promising future trajectory. In India, we now have drones being used in real-world, impactful large-scale applications, while being economically viable," says Mr Mehta.
Currently drones do all sorts of jobs in India. Police use them for monitoring the traffic and border security forces use them to search for smugglers and traffickers.
re also increasingly common in the farming sector, where they are used to monitor the health of crops and spray them with fertiliser and pesticides.
However, despite the excitement and investment around India's drone industry, even those in the sector advise caution.
"India has set a goal of being a hub of drones by 2030, but I think we should be cautious because we at present don't not have an ecosystem and technology initiatives in place," says Rajiv Kumar Narang, from the Drone Federation of India.
He says the industry needs a robust regulator that can oversee safety and help develop an air traffic control system for drones.
will be particularly important as the aircraft become larger, says Mr Narang.
"Initiatives have to come from the government. A single entity or a nodal ministry has to take this forward if we want to reach a goal of being the hub by 2030," he says.
India also lacks the network of firms needed to make all the components that go into making a drone.
At the moment many parts, including batteries, motors and flight controllers are imported. But the government is confident an incentive scheme will help boost domestic firms.
"The components industry will take two to three years to build, since it traditionally works on low margin and high volumes," says Mr Dubey.
Despite those reservations, firms are confident there will be demand for drones and people to fly them.
Chirag Shara is the chief executive of Drone Destination, which has trained more than 800 pilots and instructors since the rules on drone use were first relaxed in August 2021.
He estimates that India will need up to 500,000 certified pilots over the next five years.
"With 5G around the corner, the drone technology will have the platform to unleash its full potential, especially for long-range, high-endurance operations," he says.
More technology of business:
Some companies are already using autonomous drones that use artificial intelligence (AI) to get to their destinations. Could that eliminate the need for drone pilots in the future?
It's not something that concerns newly certified pilot Uddesh Nath.
"Drones will always require a pilot or someone remotely controlling and monitoring them. Different drones require different handling and AI is not yet that advanced.
"Even if it learns to control itself, we cannot teach the drone to react in every situation," he says. | /news/business-62966802 |
technology | Twitter misleading the public, whistleblower says | witter's former head of security, Peiter Zatko, has told US lawmakers the firm is "misleading the public" about how secure the platform really is.
He claimed Twitter was "a decade behind" security standards, that users' data is not sufficiently protected and that too many staff have access to it.
Mr Zatko was giving evidence following an 84-page long whistleblowing complaint he made about security practices inside the social network.
He was fired by the firm in January.
He also said "one-time fines" imposed by regulators over breaches of rules on data protection "didn't bother Twitter at all".
In his damning testimony, Mr Zatko described an organisation prioritising revenue generation above everything else.
At the start of the hearing he grew tearful about his role as a whistleblower, saying it was not a decision he had taken lightly.
"I'm risking my career and reputation... if something good comes out of it five or ten years down the line, it will be worth it," he said later on.
He also said he still thought Twitter offered a good service but laughed when asked whether he would buy it - a wry nod to the saga of Elon Musk's deal.
"Depends on the price," he said.
During his questioning, Mr Zatko said that employees had expressed concerns to him that Twitter was carrying advertising from "organisations which may or may not be associated with the Chinese government", a potential national security risk.
When he raised concerns with Twitter executives he was told it would be "problematic" to lose that revenue stream, he said.
He also said he was troubled by Twitter's attitude to other national security issues he had raised. He said "half the company" were engineers and they all had access to users' personal information.
It is believed around 4,000 employees had access to this data. He said he was worried that rogue employees had the power to take information without leaving a trace.
He added that there was a danger that employees could "dox" users, where private information is posted online, though he had not seen this happen.
He said Twitter does not log the activity of employees who access private data - which surprised him.
He also said that Twitter's security systems made it difficult to monitor potential espionage. In a previous statement Mr Zatko said that an Indian agent had been employed by the company .
"The company did not in fact disclose to users that it was believed by the executive team that the Indian government had succeeded in placing agents on the company payroll," Mr Zatko said last month.
He has previously supported Elon Musk's claim that the platform has more spam and fake accounts than it has admitted - though he didn't elaborate on this.
His testimony focussed on national security issues - and is not officially connected with Mr Musk's attempt to pull out of his deal to buy Twitter for $44bn - that case is due to begin in October.
Even so, the flurry of accusations from a former senior employee will not help Twitter's case.
Mr Zatko was personally hired by Twitter's co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey, after a high-profile attack of the platform's celebrity accounts.
whistleblower said that peoples' personal information was put at risk. Information held about users includes:
uld enable an individual to be targeted in the real world, he said.
Mr Zatko has previously worked for the US government and Google, and is well-regarded in the information security community.
His lawyer John Tye described him as "a pretty remarkable guy".
Senator Chuck Grassley from the US Judiciary Committee said in his opening remarks that Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal had declined to attend the hearing.
Mr Agrawal's last activity on his own Twitter account was a re-tweet of the firm's chairman Bret Taylor in response to Elon Musk on 4 August.
witter has said that Peiter Zatko lost his job because of ineffective leadership and poor performance, and that his allegations are both inaccurate and inconsistent. | /news/technology-62889754 |
politics | MSPs propose more than 150 changes to gender bill | More than 150 changes have been proposed to the new bill that would make it easier to legally change gender in Scotland.
MSPs had until midday on Wednesday to submit amendments to the Gender Recognition Reform bill.
gislation has already been approved in principle despite the biggest rebellion by SNP members since the party took power.
roposed changes will now go before Holyrood's equalities committee.
It is expected to vote on them over the next two weeks.
Scottish government has argued that the current process for changing gender is too difficult and invasive.
w bill would remove the requirement for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or medical reports.
It would also reduce the period in which applicants need to have lived in their acquired gender to three months.
One of the most controversial proposals is to lower the minimum age that someone can apply from 18 to 16.
Anyone wanting to change their legal gender will still need to swear an oath about remaining this way for life - with it being a criminal offence to make a false declaration or application - and there would be a three-month "reflection period" before a certificate was issued.
Most Conservatives are opposed to the legislation but Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat MSPs backed the reform bill at stage one.
It was also supported by most SNP members but Ash Regan resigned as a minister and was one of seven SNP members to vote against. A further two abstained.
ggest rebellion by SNP MSPs since the party took power in 2007.
Scottish government's Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison has responded by proposing new powers to block fraudulent applications and those from people who appear to lack sufficient understanding.
Others proposing amendments include SNP backbencher Christine Grahame who wants 16 and 17-year-old applicants to be required to live in their acquired gender for six months, rather than three.
She also wants under-18s to demonstrate that they have sought appropriate advice.
It is thought the Scottish government is sympathetic to Ms Grahame's proposals and has been in discussion with MSPs from across parties about other changes.
Greens' Maggie Chapman wants to get rid of all time-related conditions, whereas Conservative amendments seek to retain the current two-year qualification period.
ry MSPs also want to keep the requirement for a medical diagnosis and for any applicant to be at least 18 years old.
Labour MSPs want the law to make clear that it does not water down existing rights under the UK Equalities Act.
Labour MSP Michael Marra is also proposing that applications should be countersigned by a professional person.
final number of proposed amendments was 155. | /news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-63572905 |
sports | Vote: British MMA fighter of the year - PFL champion Brendan Loughnane, UFC's Leon Edwards and Paddy Pimblett in contention | This has been a remarkable year of success for British MMA fighters.
After waiting six years for another world champion in a major organisation, we got two in quick succession in Leon Edwards (UFC) and Brendan Loughnane (Professional Fighters League).
We've seen the likes of Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann capture the imagination and attention of wider sports audiences and watched prospects like Muhammad Mokaev and Cory McKenna flourish on the biggest stage.
Cage Warriors is awash with British champions including Northern Ireland's Paul Hughes and England's George Hardwick.
And let's not forget KSW heavyweight champion Phil De Fries who successfully defended his title in the Polish MMA promotion for the sixth and seventh time this year.
re are almost too many great fighters to mention. But we want you to pick your fighter of the year, if you can.
Good luck!
Brendan Loughnane (PFL) - Manchester
Four fights, four wins and one TKO finish. Claimed PFL featherweight championship and $1m (£840,000) prize money by stopping Bubba Jenkins. First British PFL champion.
Leon Edwards (UFC) - Birmingham
One fight, one win and one head-kick KO finish. Claimed UFC welterweight title with last-round knockout of Kamaru Usman. Second British UFC champion.
Paddy Pimblett (UFC) - Liverpool
ree fights, three wins and two submission finishes. Two performance of the night $50,000 (£41,000) bonuses.
Phil De Fries (KSW) - Sunderland
wo fights, two wins and two finishes. Climbed to seven successful defences of KSW heavyweight title.
Molly McCann (UFC) - Liverpool
ree fights, two wins and two spinning back elbow finishes. Two performance of the night $50,000 (£41,000) bonuses.
George Hardwick (Cage Warriors) - Middlesbrough
ree fights, three wins and three TKO finishes. Claimed Cage Warriors lightweight title. Defended it once.
Can't see this selector? Visit this page.
Pictures via Getty Images, Cage Warriors and Bellator MMA. | /sport/mixed-martial-arts/64055459 |
health | Charity money stolen from Dunfermline woman with incurable cancer | A woman who has incurable cancer says up to £4,000 was stolen from her charity fundraiser in Fife.
Claire Winter, 44, said hosting the event on Saturday had "given her fire" after finding out she would be on chemotherapy for the rest of her life.
However she was distraught to find a collection bucket of cash "filled with notes" had gone missing from the Crossgates Royal British Legion club.
Police Scotland said they were investigating the theft.
"I was absolutely distraught and my husband was physically sick," she said. "We'd done all that work for nothing."
Claire was first diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2019 three months after meeting her now husband Craig, 46.
Although loved ones including her two children were "shell-shocked", she said they assumed the illness would be treated and effectively cured.
following year she learned the cancer had developed to stage four after doctors removing her appendix noticed lesions on her spine and pelvis.
Claire now receives a host of maintenance treatments including oral chemotherapy to keep her alive -although doctors are unable to say for how long.
"It's just heavy and hard," she said. "The quality of life is nothing to what it was before.
"You have good days and bad days. The mental side of it is even harder because every day you wake up knowing this is the deal you've been dealt and you need to make every day count."
As part of making the most of her time, Claire decided to raise money for the charity CoppaFeel, after being inspired by its founder's autobiography.
She estimates between 150 and 200 friends and family turned up to support her "Not Dead Yet" event, which included a raffle and tombola.
Her father donated a bottle of whisky signed by the band Nazareth, which fetched £300, while Craig - a former professional footballer - raffled gloves signed by Hearts keeper Craig Gordon.
was stored in large pink collection buckets - but not all were brought home on Saturday night.
Claire said she noticed one was missing on Sunday morning and phoned the club.
Although she cannot be sure exactly how much was in the container, she said there had been at least £1,500 of large donations on top of many more smaller donations through the evening.
She said: "The club was locked from the party and we knew we were going to get in - I messaged one of volunteers for British Legion who said no-one would be in until Monday.
"I assumed it would just be sitting there or a member staff had put it away safe but we couldn't find the pink bucket or the money.
"The whole thing was taken - someone walked out with it and somebody must have seen something."
Agnes Guthrie, who is the club's treasurer, said staff had not found any buckets on Saturday night.
She added: "It's so upsetting that this money has disappeared. Our staff are happy to speak to police about it if they contact us."
Police in Fife said they were investigating the theft of a four-figure sum and have urged anyone with information to contact the non-emergency line.
Sgt John Nicol said: "We're appealing for anyone with information on this theft, or if you believe you saw anyone acting in a suspicious manner in the Main Street area, to please come forward."
In the meantime, Claire added that she will continue fundraising for CoppaFeel through her JustGiving page in the hope of raising awareness.
rity encourages people to receive regular checks in the hopes of catching breast cancer early.
Reflecting on the theft, Claire added: "That was six months of my life, it was hard, hard work.
"Everybody has a conscience and theirs will not be serving them well. It's absolutely disgusting." | /news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-63741628 |
sports | Skateboarding Hull sisters acting as role models for others | ree young sisters from Hull are aiming to inspire other girls with their skateboarding skills.
Lena, Maysa and Ameya took up the sport after seeing British Olympian Sky Brown's "flicks and tricks" during the pandemic.
girls now post their skateboarding exploits along with raps they create on social media. | /news/uk-england-humber-62140323 |
entertainment | Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Adele dominate Grammy Award nominations | Beyoncé and Adele are the stars to beat at the 2023 Grammy Awards, and will go head-to-head for all the major prizes.
Both artists have been nominated for album of the year - Adele for her sumptuous fourth album 30, and Beyoncé for her dancefloor opus Renaissance.
Adele's single Easy On Me and Beyoncé's Break My Soul are each up for song and record of the year.
British stars Harry Styles and Coldplay are also in the running for best album, alongside Swedish pop icons Abba.
quartet have received their first ever album of the year nomination for last year's Voyage - which saw them emerge from a 39-year hibernation.
minations were announced on Tuesday, and Beyoncé leads the pack with nine overall - including nods in the dance and R&B categories.
She is now tied with her husband Jay-Z as the most-nominated artist in Grammy history, with a total of 88, overtaking Sir Paul McCartney and Quincy Jones.
However, the star has not won a prize in any of the three biggest categories (album, record and song of the year) since Single Ladies was named song of the year in 2010.
But if she collects four (or more) awards next February, she will beat conductor Sir George Solti's all-time record of 31 Grammys.
Kendrick Lamar is this year's second biggest nominee, with eight nods for his fourth album Mr Morale and the Big Steppers - a pensive rumination on the state of the world and his own moral failings - and the freestyle The Heart Part 5.
Adele and country star Brandi Carli are tied in third place, with seven nominations each.
r Swift has received multiple nominations for her epic re-recording of 2012's All Too Well, but her latest album, Midnights, was released too late for inclusion in the 2023 field.
And Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny has made history by landing the first ever album of the year nomination for a Spanish language album.
His record, Un Verano Sin Ti (A Summer Without You), dominated the US Billboard charts this summer, racking up 13 weeks at number one.
British artists have had a particularly strong year. Along with Adele, Harry Styles has nominations for album of the year (Harry's House) as well as record and song of the year (As It Was).
Ozzy Osbourne picks up several nominations in the rock categories for his solo record Patient Number 9; while the Isle Of Wight duo Wet Leg get a nod for best new act.
Drake and The Weeknd, who would have been likely frontrunners in the main categories, withdrew their latest albums from consideration. Both artists have long maintained, with some justification, that the Grammys sideline black artists to genre-based categories.
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, whose side project Silk Sonic also declined to submit their album. Rather than criticise the voters, however, Mars said it "would be crazy to ask for anything more" after winning song and record of the year for Leave The Door Open at this year's ceremony.
Last month, the rapper Nicki Minaj protested that her hit song Super Freaky Girl had been moved from rap to the pop categories during the shortlisting process. In the end, it failed to pick up any nominations.
Other snubs included Elton John, whose hit collaboration with Dua Lipa, Cold Heart, was expected to pick up a nomination for best pop duo/group performance; and Ed Sheeran, whose fifth album = was completely overlooked.
But the Grammys can be strangely cautious of mainstream success. At this year's ceremony, for example, Jon Batiste won album of the year for the handsome soul record We Are, beating big sellers like Olivia Rodrigo's Sour and Lil Nas X's Montero.
His victory reinforced the perception that Grammy voters care more about tradition and musical chops than innovation and commercial performance - something many former nominees have grumbled about.
However, that could change this year, after almost 2,000 new members joined the voting organisation, 44% of whom come "from traditionally underrepresented communities," according to the Recording Academy. "And almost 50% are under the age of 40," noted chief executive, Harvey Mason Jr.
minees were announced in a livestream from the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles by former winners including Olivia Rodrigo, Cyndi Lauper and John Legend.
Here's a rundown of the major categories, and who might stand to win at the ceremony on 5 February, 2023.
re is the repeat of 2017's best album race, in which Adele's 25 controversially beat Beyoncé's Lemonade.
On stage, Adele said: "I can't possibly accept this award. I'm very humbled and very grateful and gracious but my life is Beyoncé." In the end, she held on to the trophy - but when it arrived in the mail it was broken in two. That's symbolism.
So who will take top honours this time? Beyoncé's Renaissance is undoubtedly the better album - a bold blast of dancefloor catharsis, which champions the black and queer roots of house music. But Grammy voters often play it safe, choosing "traditional" songcraft over innovation.
my's membership has been revamped since the upset of 2017, potentially tipping the balance in Beyoncé's favour. But Adele has won all 13 Grammys she's been nominated for since 2012.
r Swift's sixth song of the year nomination - meaning she now ties with Sir Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie as the category's most-nominated writer. The recognition comes for All To Well, a break-up ballad that originally appeared on her 2012 album Red, but was re-recorded with extra verses (and extra juicy details) last year.
However, Swift has never won best song - and her competition this year is especially tough.
Adele's comeback Easy On Me is the presumed frontrunner: A big blustery ballad, it sold more in the US than her previous song of the year winner, Hello, and spent 10 weeks at number one.
Harry Styles can beat that, though. As It Was, a pop song whose nimble melody disguises lyrics about loneliness and doubt, enjoyed 15 weeks atop the US charts earlier this year.
While the song of the year award recognises music and lyrics, record of the year looks at the finished product - the actual sound recording.
However, there's significant crossover between the categories, with Adele, Beyoncé, Lizzo and Styles all picking up duplicate nominations.
Once again, Adele leads the pack, but Lizzo's outrageously charismatic About Damn Time could be a contender.
Meanwhile, Swedish pop legends Abba gained a surprise nomination for Don't Shut Me Down, taken from their comeback album Voyage.
umptuously-recorded vocals alone could be enough to earn them a Grammy award - which would be the band's first.
Most years provide a breakout star whose victory in the best new artist category seems nailed on. Last year it was Olivia Rodrigo. This year, it's an entirely open field.
Predicted nominations for rapper Jack Harlow and singer-songwriter Gayle failed to materialise, despite nominations in other categories.
As a result, the smart money is on Atlanta rapper Latto, thanks to her breakout hit Big Energy, for which she bagged a guest appearance from music legend Mariah Carey.
Meanwhile, former Eurovision winners Maneskin have made huge inroads in the US, and British indie duo Wet Leg are building a sizeable audience for quirky hits like Chaise Longue and Ur Mum.
re's also a big opportunity for Brazilian star Anitta - who has had a breakthrough year in the States, after releasing her fifth album, Versions Of Me, in April.
While her decade-long career might seem grounds for disqualification, the criteria for best new artist are fairly relaxed.
Artists are eligible if they have broken into public consciousness over the past 12 months, even if they've received prior Grammy nominations.
Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | /news/entertainment-arts-63636591 |
technology | Damaged cable leaves Shetland cut off from mainland | Communications to Shetland have been severely disrupted after a subsea cable was damaged.
Police have declared a major incident after the south subsea cable between the islands and the mainland was cut.
force said some landlines and mobiles were not usable and that officers were patrolling to try to reassure residents.
Repairs to another cable connecting Shetland and Faroe are ongoing after it was damaged last week.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was an emergency situation for the island.
Scottish government's resilience committee had met and was working with partner agencies to ensure support was provided, she added.
She said the assumption was the damage was accidental, adding: "There is nothing to suggest otherwise, but work is continuing to assess exactly what the cause of the problem has been."
MP for Orkney and Shetlands Alastair Carmichael told the BBC he had raised the issue with the UK government, but understood it could be days before communications were restored.
He said the priority was fixing the issue but that resilience would also need to be looked at in future.
Homes and businesses are affected across the isles, which are 130 miles (210 km) from the Scottish mainland and have a population of about 23,000.
BBC has heard reports that many shops are unable to take card payments.
Meanwhile Highlands and Islands Airports told the BBC that Sumburgh Airport was "operating as normal", but would advise passengers to contact Loganair for further updates.
Serco NorthLink Ferries confirmed they did not anticipate the problem would have any impact on sailings.
A BT Group spokesperson said: "Due to a break in a third-party subsea cable connecting Shetland with the Scottish mainland, some phone, broadband and mobile services are affected.
"Engineers are working to divert services via other routes as soon as possible and we'll provide further updates. Our external subsea provider is also looking to restore their link quickly.
"Anyone who needs to call 999 should try their landline or their mobile, even if they don't have signal from their own mobile provider. We're sorry for any inconvenience."
Emergency services have had to implement temporary back-up arrangements.
Police Scotland said it was working with partners including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and HM Coastguard to bring additional emergency support to the island.
force said an emergency hub had been set up in the Tesco car park in South Road, Lerwick.
Ch Insp Jane Mackenzie told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that police officers would be more visible on the island in the meantime.
She said: "We're still trying to work to establish the full extent of the problem - we know there are some telephone lines working, 999 lines are believed to be working and some mobile networks are still working.
"So anyone calling 999 should be able to do so from a mobile phone. What we would ask is if you have an emergency you should first try a landline or mobile to call 999.
"If that doesn't work, you should flag down an emergency service vehicle that isn't using their blue light or attend either a police station, hospital, fire or ambulance station to report the emergency."
Ch Insp Mackenzie urged the public not to use phone lines for non-urgent calls and to check on elderly or vulnerable people more frequently as assistance alarms may not be operating effectively.
was damaged between Faroe and Shetland last week will be repaired on Saturday, according to Faroese Telecom's head of infrastructure Páll Vesturbú.
He said: "The damage is affecting most of telecom services to Shetland. There are some services still working but we will try to establish more services during the day if that's possible.
"We expect it will be fishing vessels that damaged the cable but it is very rare that we have two problems at the same time."
MP Alistair Carmichael added that the damage had caused "catastrophic impact".
He said: "Communication is critical to modern life, to business, to the emergency services and education - just about every aspect of modern life.
"It's like somebody has flipped a switch and taken us back 20 or 30 years. You live in an island community, you know sometimes these things happen and that's why we have to learn the lessons from this."
Modern submarine cables use fibre optic technology and are typically as wide as a garden hose, according to telecoms market research firm TeleGeography.
It explains lasers on one end fire at extremely rapid rates down thin glass fibres to receptors at the other end of the cable.
glass fibres are wrapped in layers of plastic - and sometimes steel wire - for protection.
Cables lie on the ocean floor, while nearer to the shore they are buried under the seabed for additional protection.
firm said "considerable care" is taken to make sure cables avoid fault zones, fishing zones, anchoring areas and other dangers.
Ian Brown, a partner with Lerwick-based internet provider Shetland Broadband, said he became aware of a problem just after 00:00 on Thursday when his home broadband went off.
He said the north cable was broken on 15 October in a clean break, but the southern one was not a clean break because there are around 100 fibres in the cable - and not all had been broken.
Shetland Broadband is still operational because the fibres it uses were not damaged.
Mr Brown said the impact ranged from minor inconvenience for islanders to disruption to businesses and local NHS services that rely on their online connection.
He said Shetland Broadband was working with the NHS to try and resolve its issues.
In another example, he said a delivery of 2,000 parcels to the islands encountered problems as they could not be scanned.
Mr Brown said: "We don't know if the cable was hooked up by a ship or lifted and caught by the currents. It is a very rare event, a bit like storm damage." | /news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-63326102 |
entertainment | Fi Glover and Jane Garvey to leave BBC for Times Radio | Broadcasters Fi Glover and Jane Garvey are leaving the BBC to host a new programme and podcast for Times Radio.
r have jointly presented the popular Fortunately podcast for the corporation since 2017.
Fortunately will continue on the BBC until the end of the year, but the pair will launch a new podcast plus a live weekday afternoon show on Times Radio.
Garvey said she was "delighted" to be joining the station after "a brilliant time working for the BBC".
uo are the latest in a lengthy line of BBC stars jumping to the commercial sector, following the likes of Vanessa Feltz, Simon Mayo, Emily Maitlis and Andrew Marr.
Garvey and Glover will co-present a programme from 1500-1700, Monday to Thursday, covering the day's news as well as their reflections on the day.
w will launch on 10 October. Times Radio added that details of their new podcast would be announced in due course.
In a statement, Garvey said: "I've had a brilliant time working for the BBC. Now I'm delighted to be joining the award-winning team at Times Radio. We can't wait to get started on a live mix of illuminating conversation, topical interviews and occasional carping."
Glover added: "It's been an amazing 29 years with the BBC. But I am so looking forward to bringing Times Radio listeners some extraordinary stories from some extraordinary people with Jane."
Nearly 250 episodes of Fortunately with Fi and Jane have been released since the weekly podcast launched.
Intended as a look behind the scenes of broadcasting, the format sees the pair interview a variety of guests and discuss topics sent in by listeners.
It was the third most downloaded podcast on BBC Sounds in 2021, behind Newscast and You're Dead to Me.
Garvey and Glover's chemistry and self-deprecating humour have been applauded by listeners, and the pair have been praised for their open discussions of sometimes taboo subjects.
Garvey has had a long career with the BBC and was the first voice heard on Radio 5 Live when the station launched in 1994.
She later presented Radio 4's Woman's Hour for 13 years, alternating with Dame Jenni Murray, until both departed in 2020.
Glover started her BBC career in local radio and also went on to present a variety of programmes on 5 Live. She also fronted several shows for Radio 4, including The Listening Project and Two Rooms.
Speaking to the Times as the newspaper announced its sister radio station's latest recruits, Glover said: "We're not leaving Fortunately in a massive strop, but we have talked about ourselves as much as we want to, and we found the offer of a return to solid journalism appealing.
"I listen to way more stuff outside the BBC than I ever thought would be possible to find, so [Times Radio] feels like a familiar world to my ears, if not to my head."
Garvey said the BBC was currently losing "more experienced" staff. "There's never been a time where people haven't been gloomy about the BBC, though," she said.
"I've moaned and groaned about my employer for 34 years, but I've also had some astonishing opportunities." | /news/entertainment-arts-62631499 |
politics | Laura Kuenssberg: Putin set UK on search for new friends | If you're reading this in a cold house in the UK with a woolly hat on your head, if you've winced at the cost of filling up the car, if you've taken in Ukrainian refugees, then your life has been changed by Vladimir Putin's decision to wage war against an independent country.
As one diplomat puts it, in 2022 "foreign policy has come home to roost".
But beyond supporting Ukraine against Russia's aggression, what makes up Rishi Sunak's foreign policy? That's something to ask Foreign Secretary James Cleverly when he is on our show this Sunday.
While Mr Sunak has a ghastly set of problems to attend to at home, part of being an effective prime minister is wielding influence abroad.
But, as one senior former minister laments, there's been little sign of a grand vision, with "demoralisation left, right and centre" instead.
Like any leader, there are some things they have no choice but to do. When it comes to foreign policy, for Mr Sunak, there is the UK's commitment to Ukraine.
Unlike Boris Johnson, he's hardly likely to have Ukrainian streets named after him. But his commitment is as solid as a rock, the right thing to do and politically a no-brainer.
Despite the impact on our fuel bills, there's no sign of the public expecting anything but full-throated support for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
And when it comes to the issue of people arriving in the UK in small boats, efforts are being put into repairing the relationship with France's President Emmanuel Macron.
was "essentially broken with Boris", according to one Whitehall source, and a better relationship with Paris could bring a resolution to that problem.
re's also been a visible effort by the government to move towards a solution on the Northern Ireland protocol - the trickiest hangover from the Brexit deal minted by Mr Johnson.
Long gone is the tough talk and sabre rattling, with one EU ambassador saying Mr Sunak's government has "completely changed the mood".
rmination is to play nice, for now, but resolving the long-standing dispute over implementing extra rules for Northern Ireland, which kept closer ties with the EU than the rest of the UK, needs more than a friendly conversation, it needs one or both sides to budge.
One former diplomat warns there will be a "showdown moment" ahead of next year's 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement which brought peace to Northern Ireland.
Mr Sunak faces the same dilemma as the other post-Brexit prime ministers. He could compromise and get an agreement but risk a giant row with his party - or refuse to budge and trigger a massive fight with our biggest trading partner.
Watch: Rishi Sunak meets President Zelensky in Kyiv for the first time as prime minister
f government policy is different, but as one ambassador tells me: "The big question is do we see any willingness to make a deal?"
re's been unavoidable pressure too on the prime minister to turn up the heat on China - not least because of the noisy demands from his backbenches - as President Xi Jinping's increasingly hard-line tactics have become more obvious.
Mr Sunak stepped along a careful line in his white tie and tails speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet. "Not as soft and squishy" as David Cameron was on China, one former diplomat said, "but not quite as hawkish as Liz Truss".
Governments can't ignore China if they want to solve issues like climate change, but they cannot also cut themselves off from an evolving mega power.
It is hard so far to see how Mr Sunak's government will manage these unavoidable problems differently.
Yet this week we may see the foreign secretary fill in some of the blanks in Mr Sunak's foreign policy.
On Monday, Mr Cleverly will make his pitch to focus on new friends - "future partnerships" around the world - essentially building better relationships with countries who are neither the global bad guys nor Britain's traditional allies.
Mr Cleverly will argue for closer ties with countries like Indonesia, South Africa and Brazil whose influence is growing.
gthen the UK's list of global friends - it's described as the "really smart and obvious thing to do".
But one senior Conservative MP worries the government's foreign policy will be "devoid of any meaningful depth but heavy on flirtation with cameras", adding that it's time to spell out its objectives and "show some grit when it comes to threats from autocratic states".
Mr Sunak said foreign policy would go through an "evolutionary leap". But when you look down the list of challenges it's hard to see, so far, anything that matches that grand language.
It's not Theresa May's "Global Britain", David Cameron's "golden era" with China or Tony Blair's "ethical foreign policy" - much maligned though they all came to be.
And on the world stage, as one former senior official says, Mr Sunak "is the junior guy at the table" and world leaders are not sure after years of the Tories knocking lumps out of each other whether he has control or they should be working out what Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer would do instead.
Mr Sunak is a pragmatist prime minister - not a foreign philosopher. His backers would argue that's exactly what's required right now.
But he is boxed in by an unhappy party which disagrees with itself on policy towards China or the EU.
And his detractors claim his political personality is dwarfed by the scale of the challenge.
"The more he talks, the less he says," a Labour source tells me.
"Both at home and abroad he is in danger of being the Incredible Shrinking Prime Minister - the man who got smaller in office."
world stage can provide huge opportunities for prime ministers, but Mr Sunak's chance of turning things round for his struggling party starts with confronting problems at home. | /news/uk-63929487 |
entertainment | Somerset woman dedicates her first book to children she fostered | A foster carer has dedicated her first book to all the children who came to her "without warm jumpers".
Emma Lloyd, 52, who has fostered for more than eight years, said reading to the children would help them settle at night and "forget unhappy memories".
uthor, from Wellington, wrote the book after her own son thought the stories she made up should be shared.
Little Red Dragon is about a dragon who encounters friendship and kindness as he looks for his missing jumper.
Ms Lloyd said she was inspired to start fostering by friends and has since taken in babies, siblings and teenagers.
"They can arrive late at night, maybe without pyjamas or shoes for the next day, and often without warm coats or jumpers," Ms Lloyd said.
"It's a scary time for these children and sometimes they display that through their behaviour. But it is an incredibly rewarding role.
"Seeing them a few months later, twirling around in their new party dress or proudly heading off to school - these are all little pictures I keep in my mind of children building their self-esteem and confidence," she said.
Ms Lloyd was telling The Little Red Dragon to her eight-year-old daughter when her son, 17, walked in and told her she should "write it down so other children could hear it".
"For traumatised children especially, reading can allow them to lose themselves in another world and forget unhappy memories, or feelings of sadness or anger, just for a moment," she explained.
Ms Lloyd said rather than reading a book, she would dim the lights and tell her own story, which would comfort children, while not being stimulated by pictures, and help them get to sleep.
On having the book published, Ms Lloyd said one of the "nicest moments" was when she received a video of a child she had fostered, with her new adoptive parents reading the book.
"That was lovely to see, because it was children like her that inspired me to publish it," she said.
Somerset County Council lead member for children and families, Tessa Munt, said the county urgently needed more foster homes and it was "wonderful" to see Ms Lloyd raising awareness of the importance of fostering.
Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-somerset-63584007 |
technology | Elton John quits Twitter blaming change in misinformation policy | Watch: Sir Elton John receives award after performing at White House
Sir Elton John has become the latest celebrity to leave Twitter since its acquisition by Tesla boss Elon Musk.
ger, a headline act for next year's Glastonbury Festival, blamed the platform's "change in policy" around misinformation without elaborating.
witter stopped taking action against accounts spreading misleading information about Covid-19 last month.
In response to Sir Elton's announcement, Mr Musk said he hoped the star would be back.
In what could be his last ever tweet, the Rocket Man singer wrote: "All my life I've tried to use music to bring people together. Yet it saddens me to see how misinformation is now being used to divide our world.
"I've decided to no longer use Twitter, given their recent change in policy which will allow misinformation to flourish unchecked."
witter's controversial CEO, who began referring to himself as the company's Chief Twit after buying it, replied to the post saying: "I love your music. Hope you come back. Is there any misinformation in particular that you're concerned about?"
Since Mr Musk completed his $44bn (£38.1bn) Twitter takeover in October, there has been controversy over the Covid policy roll-back, as well as other moves such as reinstating some previously suspended accounts and charging users for their "blue tick".
A slew of famous faces have, in the aftermath, signed out of Twitter for good, citing its new leader as their main reason for leaving.
Actors Jim Carrey and Whoopi Goldberg, supermodel Gigi Hadid and White Stripes musician Jack White are among those to have quit the social media website.
In Ms Hadid's announcement, she referred to Twitter under Mr Musk as a "cesspool of hate and bigotry".
According to Twitter's website, it stopped taking action against tweets breaching its former coronavirus rules on Wednesday 23 November.
It had previously reported suspending more than 11,000 accounts for misinformation about the virus as of September this year.
Under its Covid-specific policy, Twitter operated a "five-strike system" for accounts posting "demonstrably false or misleading" content that might "lead to significant risk of harm" - such as exposure to Covid or damage to public health systems.
No action would be taken against accounts tweeting disinformation once. But repeat offenders could be suspended for a matter of hours, days or even indefinitely, if they received five strikes against their account. | /news/uk-63925416 |
sports | World Triathlon Championship Series: Bermuda's Flora Duffy wins to boost hopes of fourth title | Bermuda's Olympic champion Flora Duffy boosted her hopes of claiming a record fourth World Triathlon Championship Series title after winning the penultimate race on home soil.
Duffy finished ahead of American Taylor Knibb and Great Britain's Beth Potter.
She now has three golds and a bronze, just behind the three golds and a silver won by Britain's overall leader Georgia Taylor-Brown this season.
In the men's race, Briton and reigning world champion Alex Yee came fifth.
France's Vincent Luis secured his first World Triathlon Championship Series podium of the season, crossing the line ahead of Spanish duo Antonio Serrat Seoane and Roberto Sanchez Mantecon.
r-Brown missed the Bermuda race to focus on the season-ending Championship Finals which take place in Abu Dhabi between 23 and 26 November, and which will be a straight shootout between the Briton and Duffy for the title. | /sport/triathlon/63537234 |
entertainment | Ringo Starr cancels North American tour after catching Covid | Sir Ringo Starr has cancelled several upcoming shows on his North American tour after catching Covid-19.
former Beatle, who is 82, had been playing a string of dates in the US and Canada with his All-Starr band before falling ill this weekend.
After cancelling two shows at the last minute, "it has been confirmed today that Ringo has Covid and the tour will be on hold", his spokesperson said.
rummer is "recovering at home" and hopes to resume shows soon, they added.
ur dates planned for this week in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia have all been cancelled. A decision has yet to be taken on upcoming shows in the US and Mexico.
"We will keep fans updated with any further news or changes," his spokesperson told the BBC.
Last year, Sir Ringo confessed that he had rarely ventured outside in the early days of the pandemic, to avoid catching Covid-19.
"Since last March, I've left the house six times," he told USA Today last year. "You've got to help protect yourself if you can".
Despite receiving two doses of the vaccine, he told the publication he was cautious about touring in 2021, saying: "I don't think it'll be safe. And that's it. Living in the now."
ur finally resumed in Canada this May, with Starr having played more than 25 shows since.
musician rose to fame in the 1960s as the Beatles' laconic, easy-going drummer. He sang lead vocals on tracks like With A Little Help From My Friends and Yellow Submarine, and launched a successful solo career after the Beatles split in 1970.
He formed his All-Starr band, where "everybody on stage is a star in their own right" in 1989. The ever-changing line-up has included rock legends such as Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Todd Rundgren and Sheila E.
Sir Ringo received his knighthood in 2018, and was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame as a solo artist in 2015.
Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | /news/entertainment-arts-63121692 |
sports | Senegalese athletes angered by World Cup bonuses | The decision by President Macky Sall to pay Senegal's football squad its World Cup bonus despite the team not hitting its target has caused anger for some in the West African nation.
African champions had been tasked with reaching the quarter-finals but bowed out in the second round after a 3-0 defeat by England.
"We will fully pay the qualification bonuses for the quarter-finals for the whole official delegation," Sall announced two days later.
World Cup bonuses - which come out of the pool of nearly $23m (£19m) unlocked by the Senegalese government to cover the World Cup costs - will differ depending on the involvement of the 26 players in the entire campaign, including qualifying.
However, some former players and other Senegalese sportsmen have questioned the move.
"If you win you must be rewarded, but if you lose you must learn from it," former Teranga Lions forward Diomansy Kamara told local newspaper Stades.
Despite its generous nature, Sall's decision was even less favourably received by athletes from other sports who traditionally have to fight to fund their own participation in competitions.
Hamadel Ndiaye is a Senegalese triathlon champion trying to reach the world series and qualify for the Olympics but despite working as a cameraman in London to help with costs, he has often been unable to afford flights that would have enabled him to compete.
He admits to feeling put out when learning that supporters would have free passage to watch the Teranga Lions in Qatar.
"Firstly, I was disturbed when I heard the story about the nice amount of money unlocked to bring fans to Qatar," the former swimmer, 26, told BBC Sport Africa.
"In both 2019 and 2021, I wanted to participate in a race but the flight ticket to Dakar was $850 (£705) and I needed to pay another $120 (£100) for my bicycle as extra luggage but I couldn't afford this.
"Sometimes we have to wait until the last minute to know if we can participate or not."
Ndiaye's viewpoint is backed by up athlete Sangone Kandji, who represents Senegal in the triple jump and says such situations are happening far too often, preventing athletes from "acclimatising" at event venues and thus affecting results.
"This year, at the Islamic Solidarity Games, we arrived late in Konya and one of the athletes landed the day before his race. Those things need to be reviewed so that we can help the athlete to recover (from their trips)."
After her triple jump title at June's African Athletics Championships in Mauritius, Kandji adds she was rewarded with a "modest sum".
Olympian Ndeye Binta Ndiongue is a Senegalese fencer also fighting to earn a living, and who was only paid last year for results-related bonuses dating back over a decade to 2008.
"This year, I won the bronze medal at the African championship and the bonuses are yet to come my way," she told BBC Sport Africa.
"(The funds for football) bring frustration even if I understand that it brings sponsors and excitement to the whole country."
According to Ndiongue, a Senegalese gold medal holder in fencing is awarded roughly $650 (£539)after a continental title, a sum likely to be dwarfed by that received by the footballers.
In addition to frustration over the bonuses awarded to the Teranga Lions, these other athletes are also constantly troubled by the attention lavished on football in comparison to other sports.
"Football is the priority and everybody knows it - all the African federations suffer from this," insists Diongue.
Last December, Guy Marius Sagna, one of the opposition leaders, backed the various athletes when the sports minister's budget was voted on at Senegal's National Assembly.
"This is a long, ongoing debate - is he the sports minister or the football minister?" Sagna poignantly asked.
"Sports like karate or taekwondo brought world medals. Football has never brought world medals, but the way football is taken care of has no comparison whatsoever with karate or taekwondo."
"If I am not wrong, the budget of the Senegalese Athletics Federation is around $50,000 (£41,000). For the football Lions, the budget for one single friendly game is between $485,000-$810,000 (£398,000-£672,000)," Sagna added.
In response, Sports Minister Yakhouba Diattara promised "there is no sport we will not support".
"I think the solution is to have a meeting every year between the Olympic National Committee, the government and the different federations to arbitrate," he continued.
"The sports that we believe have a chance of winning medals will receive funds. The others will have to wait."
As she continues a life where funds are in short supply, Diongue focuses on her own training plan while teaching fencing to children in the French town of Asnieres-sur-Seine.
"My coach accepts me for free because he understands I can't pay 2,000-4,000 euros (£1,763-£3,526,$2,125-4,250) a year," she explained. "Before the 2020 Olympics, I had three jobs but ended up with burnout and almost gave up.
"Thankfully, I had my family, friends and coaches to help me and I also received donations - I managed to get 3,000 euros (£2,650, $3,200) in total."
When she finally received her bonuses after her participation in her first Olympics, it was mainly to cover her debts.
As Senegalese authorities prepare to host the 2026 Youth Olympics, the first Olympic event in Africa, new infrastructure is being built or renovated in and around the capital Dakar.
During the last Games in Tokyo, nine athletes represented Senegal, but the nation's only Olympic medal remains the silver won by 400m hurdler Amadou Dia Ba in Seoul in 1988.
Once again, what could appear a solid investment for the future continues to cause angst among some of the athletes hoping to shine for Senegal in future senior Olympics.
"There were a lot of investments made with the stadium or Dakar Arena, yet these are not used most of the time during the year," Hamadel Ndiaye points out.
"The equipment in the gym there is barely used and I think it's a shame because it would be easy to gather a national team and organise training camps." | /sport/africa/63994617 |
health | Warning Somerset GP agency spend is 'not sustainable' | f an organisation that provides GP services has warned a chronic reliance on expensive agency staff is "not sustainable".
Symphony Healthcare Services (SHS) had to spend £3m on locum GPs in the past financial year across Somerset.
Medical director Dr Berge Balian warned "difficult decisions will have to be made" without improved funding.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said there are 2,300 more GPs since 2019.
But the Royal College of GPs does not recognise that figure, and said GP numbers had fallen by 713 fully qualified full-time equivalent positions since 2019.
Commons Health Select Committee has itself said general practice is in crisis.
Dr Balian added: "I think most people would recognise it is currently in crisis."
When SHS started in 2016, it took over three GP surgeries that could not attract enough partners to run them as a private business.
Since then it has employed more and more salaried GPs to work in 16 surgeries across 20 locations in Somerset and Devon, with all rated good or outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.
But over the years it has had to rely more heavily on expensive agency GPs that cost up to £1,000 a shift.
And because SHS is owned by Yeovil hospital, this has contributed to a £12m spend on agency staff last year.
Dr Balian is a GP at Crewkerne Health Centre and said many doctors are retiring early because their job has become too stressful.
"In the last three years the number of consultations general practice has done in the country has increased by two million while the number of GPs has dropped by 1,800 roughly.
"You can see why it ends up being a significant pressure on those GPs who are responsible for managing that contract and caring for patients under that contract."
Dr Balian also said there is a financial incentive for GPs to move away from being partners to work as locum doctors because they can earn more than £1,000 a day and also benefit from being in the NHS pension scheme.
SHS spent £3m on GP locums in the year 2021-22 and Dr Balian said expanding further, with a bigger agency staff bill, is not sustainable.
He said: "If you look at general practice, demand is increasing, its capacity is reducing, its funding in real terms is also reducing.
"The only solution to that is either increasing the amount of funding into GPs, or you say actually, nationally we will make a decision that GPs that used to provide this amount of service can only provide this amount of service and that bit needs to be done elsewhere."
Since it started SHS has set up a new model for family medicine which relies heavily on health coaches, physios and pharmacists to relieve pressure.
Mary Guppy is one of a growing number of "health coaches" employed by SHS to support vulnerable patients living in their home.
One of her regulars, Ivan Down, 81, is at risk of having to leave his home in Crewkerne to be admitted to hospital because he has dementia, and diabetes.
Mrs Guppy says an important part of her role is to look after carers, such as Ivan's 71-year-old wife Patricia.
Mrs Guppy said: "Without Pat, we'd have to find some more care for Ivan, but thanks to her hard work and liaising with the health coaches we can go back to the GPs if there are any health concerns so we can keep him safe in his own environment and keep him well."
A spokesman for the DHSC said: "Supporting and growing the workforce is one of the Health and Social Care Secretary's priorities and there are over 2,300 more doctors in general practice compared to 2019, while a record 4,000 trainees have accepted a GP training place this year.
"We have taken action to promote NHS staff banks, which are managed by trusts and allow healthcare professionals to take up temporary shifts.
"This reduces the requirement for agency staff, and as a consequence agency spend has dropped by a third since 2016."
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health | Dr Heather Steen: From girl's death to dishonesty ruling | In 1996 nine-year-old Claire Roberts died, with her parents told her death was caused by a viral infection.
But years later Claire's death was examined by a major public inquiry and serious questions were asked of Dr Heather Steen - a consultant paediatrician involved in her care.
Among other allegations, Dr Steen was accused of a "cover-up".
After a General Medical Council (GMC) investigation, a fitness to practice hearing run by the Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service (MPTS) found the majority of allegations against Dr Steen had been proven.
MPTS has handed down the most serious sanction - removal from the medical register.
BBC News NI examines the events leading up to the tribunal's findings.
Nine-year-old Claire Roberts dies at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC).
Belfast schoolgirl has a history of epilepsy and moderate learning difficulties.
wo days before her death, Claire became ill with symptoms including vomiting and drowsiness - it was believed she was suffering from a stomach bug.
After seeing her GP, she was referred to the RBHSC's accident and emergency department on 21 October.
Hospital doctors prescribed intravenous fluids. However, Claire was given a fatal overdose of fluids and medication.
ght, blood tests showed a low level of sodium in her bloodstream suggesting that she had hyponatraemia.
Over the next few hours, Claire's sodium level continued to drop and on 23 October she suffered a sudden respiratory arrest.
A scan showed severe swelling of her brain. She died later that day.
Claire's parents, Alan and Jennifer Roberts, are told that their daughter died from a viral infection.
A television documentary, Insight: When Hospitals Kill, about the deaths of three children in Northern Ireland hospitals is broadcast by UTV.
rate incidents, but the programme alleges all three deaths - those of Lucy Crawford, Raychel Ferguson and Adam Strain - were a result of mistakes by staff as they administered intravenous fluids.
Dr Steen is not accused of any wrongdoing related to the deaths of Lucy, Raychel or Adam.
Claire's parents see the documentary and notice similarities with their daughter's case, leading them to contact the Children's Hospital.
As a result, Claire's death is reconsidered and referred to the coroner.
Following the programme, an inquiry is launched into the deaths of Lucy, Raychel or Adam - it becomes known as the Hyponatraemia Inquiry.
quiry is the longest running public inquiry in the UK.
Hyponatraemia is a shortage of sodium in the blood that can be fatal.
At the first inquest into Claire's death in May 2006, two doctors tell the coroner that her case should be referred to the inquiry
By 2008, the inquiry is extended to examine the cases of Claire and Conor Mitchell, who died while receiving hospital care.
quiry hears that Claire was given 300% more medication than the quantity prescribed for her.
Dr Steen, a senior doctor on duty the morning after Claire was admitted to the RBHSC, tells the inquiry she cannot recall examining her.
ultant paediatrician says she has "little memory" of events for health reasons and "can't defend my notes or those of others".
Claire's parents accuse some senior healthcare staff of a cover-up over their daughter's death in 1996.
family's solicitor tells the inquiry that when an investigation into Claire's death finally got under way 10 years later, "it looked as though a hand was steering the evidence from behind the scenes".
Dr Steen denies claims of a cover-up over the death, but admits there were numerous deficiencies in Claire's care, including mistakes in the dosage of medication.
She tells the inquiry staffing levels were dangerously low at the time and that, in hindsight, Claire's death should have been reported to the coroner.
A former chief executive of Belfast Health Trust, William McKee, admits to the inquiry that his organisation failed Claire in her treatment and the communication with her family before and after her death.
Belfast Trust ultimately publicly admits liability for Claire's death and a lawyer for the trust offers a "sincere apology for shortcomings in the management of Claire's treatment".
quiry finds the death of Claire - as well as three other children - was avoidable.
Chairman Mr Justice O'Hara is scathing of how the families were treated in the aftermath of the deaths and also the evidence given to the inquiry by medical professionals.
He finds there "was a cover up" in Claire's death, which was not referred to the coroner immediately "to avoid scrutiny".
Northern Ireland's attorney general directs the coroner to open a fresh inquest into the death of Claire.
In a statement, her father says between 2004 and 2006 false and misleading information was supplied to the coroner.
"As a result (of that), the coronial system was undermined and we, as grieving parents, were failed and misled," he says.
Mr Roberts says it is now up to the coroner for a second time to examine why his daughter died.
quest finds Claire's death was caused by the treatment that she received in hospital.
roner, Joe McCrisken, says he considers, on balance, that an "overdose" of fluids contributed to her death.
Speaking outside court, Claire's family thank the coroner for reaching his verdict.
Her father says it is "reaffirming what we have known for 15 years".
Belfast Trust says it will "carefully consider the coroner's conclusions and recommendations".
An MPTS fitness to practice tribunal begins, inquiring into allegations that between October 1996 and May 2006, Dr Steen knowingly and dishonestly carried out several actions to conceal the true circumstances of Claire's death.
GMC refers a doctor to the MPTS if allegations against the doctor suggest such a serious failure of the doctor to meet its standards that, if proven, their fitness to practise would be impaired
Within minutes of the tribunal starting, Dr Steen's lawyers apply to the MPTS for her to be voluntarily removed from the medical register, which would end the tribunal within days, but the application is rejected.
At the tribunal, Dr Steen admits failing to tell Claire's parents that her death should have been reported to the coroner.
She denies allegations that she acted dishonestly and engaged in a cover up.
ribunal later hears Dr Steen is "having difficulties following and absorbing" the discussion and goes into private session to check on her.
GMC tells the tribunal there was evidence of "simple dishonesty" and that Dr Steen's conduct "fell below that which was expected".
A lawyer for the GMC says Claire's father was "continuously misled" and it has been a "struggle for answers".
Claire's father tells the hearing that following his daughter's death, Dr Steen told him and his wife there would be a "hospital-only post mortem and there would be no need for an inquest".
A lawyer acting for Dr Steen says his client has "no real recollection or clear recollection of this conversation".
He adds that it wouldn't be her "usual practice" to tell parents this.
General Medical Council lawyers argue Dr Steen's actions at the time were "dishonest" and to "avoid scrutiny".
As proceedings reach the halfway stage, Dr Steen is expected to give evidence but instead her legal team submits a second bid for voluntary erasure.
rejected.
GMC lawyer Tom Forster KC says that is "undoubtedly the position that Dr Steen has been a good doctor throughout her career" and references testimonial letters written about her
However, he adds he is "very unhappy to say that I'm afraid on this particular occasion the weight of the evidence is that Dr Steen abandoned her duties as a doctor".
wyer tells the inquiry "she abandoned them in 1996, motivated to cover up failings in care when it all happened on her watch and then controlled things thereafter".
In his closing submissions, a lawyer acting for Dr Steen, Kevin McCartney, says she has been "painted as an almost Machiavellian character who has sought to influence documents, sought to influence other doctors".
"There was reference to the closing of ranks of doctors and my submission is that really you should approach such general characterisation with some care, to look first of all to see whether the evidence actually supports the type of propositions that were being put forward this morning."
ribunal finds the majority of allegations against Dr Steen to have been proven.
In a majority of the allegations, the tribunal did not uphold the application of no case to answer.
Some allegations were not proved.
Examples of the allegations which were proved, included:
She is then found unfit to practise by the tribunal and is given the most serious of sanctions - being removed from the medical register. | /news/uk-northern-ireland-63554819 |
health | South East Coast Ambulance Service issues New Year's Eve plea | An ambulance service that covers four counties has called for support from the public ahead of New Year's Eve.
South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) urged people to only call 999 for genuine emergencies.
NHS services in the South East continue to face sustained pressure, with Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust, Medway Maritime Hospital and Secamb all declaring critical incidents this month.
Demand is expected to remain high across the New Year period.
Secamb is responsible for covering Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, Surrey, and North East Hampshire.
Last year, the trust said it answered about 1,000 999 calls in the seven hours from 20.00 GMT on 31 December.
rating New Year's Eve are urged to plan their evenings, including how they get home, ensuring they look out for others, and, if drinking alcohol, remembering the impact excessive drinking can have on health and emergency services.
Emma Williams, Secamb executive director for operations, said: "We have faced significant pressure on our services for many weeks but we know that New Year's Eve can bring additional challenges."
Ms Williams wants people to celebrate "sensibly" and says she understands how the decisions of individuals can impact an "already stretched ambulance service".
"I would like to thank all our staff and volunteers for their hard work and professionalism at this busy time and urge the public to show their support by using NHS services wisely," she added.
ublic is asked to help Secamb manage pressure by reserving 999 for genuine emergencies and making use of alternatives such as the 111 service, when incidents are not so serious.
Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Kent and Medway, Dr Kate Langford, urged people to be "very, very selective" when using emergency services amid an "incredibly challenging" period due to flu and Covid.
She said using 999 or an emergency department for something not life threatening could be "delaying the care of someone who does have a life threatening condition".
"Anything people can do to avoid using those routes unless it really is an emergency is greatly appreciated," she added.
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business | Hobbycraft to open three new stores as profits rise | An arts and crafts retail chain is to create three more stores after a rise in profits for the past year.
New Hobbycraft sites will be in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire; Southend in Essex; and Bromborough on Merseyside and will create 40 new retail jobs.
It said its adjusted pre-tax profit for the year to February 2022 was £15m, up from £13.8 million the previous year.
mpany said it was "incredibly well placed", but the 2023 financial year would be "challenging".
Dominic Jordan, Hobbycraft's chief executive, said "multiple new initiatives" were planned including a new website, workshop channel, further new stores and a subscription model.
"However, we are conscious that the year ahead will be very challenging, particularly given the significant inflationary pressures on our customers and we are starting to see this impact on market demand in the early part of full-year 2023," he said.
He added that there had been a significant increase in freight costs.
firm, founded in 1995 and now with more than 100 stores across the UK, revealed total revenue rose 14.8% from £176.9m in 2021 to £203.1m in 2022.
mpany had had to close for seven weeks in 2021 during Covid restrictions as it was not classed as an essential retailer.
It saw e-commerce sales grow 58.2% from the point stores reopened in April 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2020.
Seven new stores and 100 new jobs were created over in the year to February 2022, including openings in Leicester, Rochester in Kent, and Boucher Crescent in Northern Ireland.
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-61949684 |
technology | Helping others with one-handed life hacks | Chiara Beer used to hide her disabled right arm behind her back, afraid of receiving negative comments. But a brave decision one day inspired her to share her experience with the world and use it to help others too.
Chiara suffered a stroke aged two, leading to her developing dyslexia, the muscle disorder dystonia, and hemiplegia - a condition that causes weakness down her right side.
She would hide her disabled arm, afraid of receiving negative and hateful comments.
"It's OK to be different. My struggle was always that I looked different, which was quite a hard thing to deal with," she says.
But a photo - one she hadn't intended to upload at first because it showed her arm - started a journey towards her becoming a YouTuber and Instagram Reeler.
"I really liked the picture and couldn't redo it [to hide the arm]. So I thought 'let's post it'," Chiara tells BBC Newsbeat.
"Then I didn't get any nasty comments - I was getting questions."
Curious viewers asked Chiara a lot about how she performs certain tasks one-handed, such as putting on make-up and doing her hair.
Pretty soon, she was receiving encouragement to create more videos, and ended up posting about activities including drawing and cooking.
And, after seeing the success of those videos, she was more than happy to share her tips.
"Because ultimately, that's my goal: to live as independently as I can for myself," she says.
Now the 27-year-old makes videos for the charity Different Strokes, demonstrating life hacks for people who, like her, can only use one hand.
She's covered a range of topics from hair and fashion to make-up and jewellery.
"I really wanted to help people who are struggling with stroke or hemiplegia to find a way to do things," she says.
According to the charity, one in four strokes happen in younger people.
But Chiara says there wasn't much information available when she was a child.
She says she's received messages, both from parents who have children with hemiplegia and people who've had strokes later in life, saying her videos have helped.
"People have said: 'you've made me believe that my child can be independent, you've helped me think that my child will be OK'."
Looking back, Chiara says she's "really proud" of how far she's come.
"Had someone said to me, at 14, you're going to talk about your disability so openly, I would have been like: 'No, that's not happening'," she says.
But she has a message for her younger self and those in a similar position:
"Confidence comes with time, be more happy with yourself and more confident."
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | /news/newsbeat-63122254 |
health | New Zealand places child in anti-vax blood case in custody | A New Zealand court has ordered a child at the centre of a case over blood transfusions from donors vaccinated against Covid-19 be taken into temporary custody by health officials.
four-month-old boy is in a hospital in Auckland awaiting urgent treatment to correct a heart disorder.
His parents had blocked the operation and sought a court ruling that he receive blood from unvaccinated donors.
But the High Court ruled the operation was in the child's "best interest".
Justice Ian Gault ordered that the boy - identified as Baby W in court documents - be placed under the guardianship of the court "from the date of the order until completion of his surgery and post-operative recovery".
He dismissed the parents' request for unvaccinated blood and agreed with health authorities that the boy's "survival [was] actually dependent on the application being granted".
But he emphasised that the parents remained the boy's primary guardians and said doctors must keep them informed at all times about his treatment and condition.
Justice Gault also rejected a request from the parents' lawyer, Sue Grey, that a tailored donor service with blood from exclusively unvaccinated donors be established.
Ms Grey said the long-term effects of the vaccine were "untested" and accused doctors of refusing to provide an alternate donor service for ideological reasons.
But lawyers for the state blood service said the establishment of any direct donor service would have been a "slippery slope" and would "damage an excellent blood service".
Citing evidence from New Zealand's chief medical officer, Justice Gault ruled that there was "no scientific evidence there is any Covid-19 vaccine-related risk from blood donated" by vaccinated donors.
me a vector for anti-vaccine activists in New Zealand with demonstrators - many of whom carried placards - gathering outside the court before the ruling was delivered on Wednesday.
It also emerged during the case that during a meeting with doctors at the Starship hospital in Auckland, the parents had been accompanied by a "support person" who hijacked the conference.
rson presented a host of unfounded conspiracy theories, and went on to claim that children were dying from transfusions at the hospital.
Addressing the demonstrators outside the court house following the ruling, former TV host and leading anti-vaccine campaigner Liz Gunn said the decision was "wrong on every level".
Whatu Ora (Health NZ) acknowledged that the case was a "difficult situation for all involved" but emphasised that its priority was "the health and wellbeing" of all children in its care.
Dr Philip Joseph, a constitutional law lecturer at New Zealand's University of Canterbury, told the BBC that the court's ruling was "inevitable given the circumstances".
"Even parents' rights of freedom of belief must give way to the right to life (a right guaranteed under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990)," Dr Joseph said.
"There are many precedents where Jehovah's Witness parents have been compelled to allow their children to receive blood transfusions in life threatening situations," he added.
"There is no material difference between these precedents and the court's ruling in the present case." | /news/world-asia-63884694 |
health | Ballymena: GP surgery closures will have 'devastating effect' | A GP has warned the closure of two surgeries in Ballymena could have a "devastating effect" on neighbouring practices.
urgeries have indicated that they intend to resign affecting around 7,000 patients.
Dr Susan Sproule, a GP in Ballymena, said taking on the extra patients "dilutes the service" provided.
Department of Health (DoH) said both practices were offering services as normal.
wo surgeries are among six based in the same health centre in Ballymena.
Dr Sproule, who runs another practice based in the centre, said her practice had not received any extra resources to deal with the potential extra patients.
She said: "When we take on extra patients we're not just talking about GP time, we're talking about other members of the primary care team.
"If we don't have that extra resource it's very hard to provide a safe service."
Department of Health confirmed one of the practices, Ballymena Family Practice, had found no one interested in taking over the running of the surgery.
It means the practice's 3,204 patients will be assigned to 18 neighbouring surgeries when it closes its doors on 1 January 2023.
rtment said additional funding would be provided to each practice for every additional patient they take on.
Dr Sproule warned the added pressure on her practice has left her considering if she might also be forced to hand back the contract for her own practice.
"We have to be truthful not only to our profession but to our patients and I think at some point patient safety has to come into this," she said.
"It is fundamental and if we can't provide a safe service we will have no other choice but to possibly hand our own contracts back."
Across Northern Ireland, the number of GP practices has fallen by just under 9% in eight years according to Department of Health Figures.
Despite the decrease in practices, the number of GPs, excluding locums, has gone up by 20% to 1,419 since 2014.
Belfast - Flax Medical Centre, Belfast, County Antrim
Northern - Ballymena Family Practice, Ballymena, County Antrim
South Eastern - Priory Surgery, Holywood, County Down.
Western, Maple Healthcare Practice, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh.
raditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister is an assembly member for North Antrim, he said patients at the practices are facing an "unbearable situation that cannot be allowed to happen".
"We need to recruit professionals from elsewhere but we also need to discourage professionals leaving the province to go elsewhere," he added. | /news/uk-northern-ireland-63754330 |
entertainment | Children in Need: Charity a lifeline for disabled girl | Ruby has an extremely rare genetic condition which has impacted her life in every possible way.
14-year-old from Hereford can't walk or talk and requires 24-hour care.
rity Marches Family Network has been a lifeline to Ruby and her family. It provides play days and trips for more than 200 young people with disabilities.
roject is the only one of its kind in the county and would not be able to continue without funding from Children in Need.
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, there is help and support available via BBC Action Line.
Produced by Louise Brierley. Filmed by Paul Hutchins. Edited by Matt Jinks. | /news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-63626725 |
technology | Ukraine War: UK reveals £6m package for cyber defence | A UK programme has been secretly helping Ukraine defend against Russian cyber attacks, it can now be revealed.
Details of the £6m package had not been made public before to protect operational security, officials say.
Ukraine saw unprecedented attacks from a range of Russian intelligence services, according to those involved in the programme.
But Ukrainian defences - supported by its allies - helped it withstand many of the attempts to take down systems.
Russia has repeatedly dismissed claims it has carried out cyber attacks.
rgeting of Ukraine in cyber-space was believed to represent the most extensive compromise of a single government seen in history, those involved in defending Ukraine say.
Russian attacks came in waves, accelerating in the second half of last year as Moscow prepared for its invasion, security sources say.
xt wave saw it seeking to disrupt government ministries around January and February and then moving to a new, more opportunistic phase in recent months, according to the sources.
UK had long worked with Ukraine on cyber defence but shifted to providing direct help after the invasion, it has emerged.
focused on working with industry partners to provide specialist forensic capabilities to detect and investigate attacks as well as offering hardware and other systems to bolster defences.
"We brought some of our expertise to bear on helping them defend from what has been a daily onslaught of cyber attacks from Russia since the start of the invasion," said Leo Docherty, Europe minister at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Support is provided through the FCDO, with officials saying it has led the way amongst allies in providing specialist expertise.
US military's Cyber Command also recently revealed to the BBC the way in which it helped hunt Russians inside Ukrainian systems, although their team had withdrawn by the time of the February invasion.
Sources close to the UK programme, which includes extensive private sector support, say they saw waves of attacks, sometimes using innovative techniques.
uded targeting satellite communications to get inside sensitive networks and using networks of human agents on the ground to gain access to key systems - infected USB devices were found which apparently were inserted into computers.
In some cases, there were attempts to knock ministries and infrastructure offline. But Russia did not initially appear to try and destroy telecommunications and energy sector networks, most likely because they were hoping to utilise them for their own purposes and "live off the land", according to one person involved.
Back in 2015, hackers linked to Russia were able to turn off a power station in the country for hours and after an initial delay, electricity systems have been increasingly targeted this year.
"We've seen on a daily basis now the terrible images of the way that the electrical grid in Ukraine has been battered by ballistic strikes and drone strikes from the Russians - they face the same threat and same challenge in the cyber domain," Mr Docherty told the BBC.
In the early months of the war, the teams supported by the UK are also said to have seen specific Russian targeting of databases looking for personal identifiable information at the village, district and city level, which may have been Russian intelligence services seeking to identify and locate officials.
full range of hacking groups from all three of Russia's intelligence agencies have been spotted with military intelligence, the GRU, the most active, sources say.
most advanced capabilities appear to have been kept back for targeting senior Ukrainian officials. One of the most stealthy groups, codenamed Turla and linked to Russia's FSB security service, was also seen in two locations thanks to mistakes it made. Meanwhile, Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, has been continuing to spy on the US and European governments.
New Russian teams were also seen being mobilised along with greater innovation in the way malicious software was developed and deployed, those involved claim. There are signs though that the conflict has temporarily disrupted the Russian criminal world with splits between groups over the war, those involved in observing the dark web say.
ffective defences, led by the Ukrainians and supported by allies, cyberspace remains heavily contested as Russia continues to seek new ways of carrying out its ambitions.
"The UK's support to Ukraine is not limited to military aid - we are drawing on Britain's world-leading expertise to support Ukraine's cyber defences," Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said. "Together, we will ensure that the Kremlin is defeated in every sphere: on land, in the air and in cyber space."
"The threat remains real and the UK's support package is undoubtedly bolstering Ukraine's defences further," said Lindy Cameron, chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, an arm of the intelligence agency GCHQ. | /news/uk-63465237 |
politics | Child abuse survivors lose faith in redress payment scheme | Some child abuse survivors say they have lost faith in the Scottish government's redress scheme.
gued by delays, failures and broken promises.
mpensation scheme was set up last December to provide one-off payments for people abused as children in care.
Scottish government says more than £8m has already been paid to survivors of historical abuse and more case workers have been recruited to improve the delivery of the scheme.
Rosie (not her real name) is a working mum who was sexually and emotionally abused by foster carers in East Lothian.
She applied for the Redress Scheme but she thought there would be more support for applicants.
"I thought it was quite difficult," she said. "I read a small amount in my records and it took me three months to heal from what I'd read."
Rosie employed a lawyer because the bureaucracy was too difficult for her to deal with emotionally.
She said the scheme should be quick and compassionate but she found it a "long and difficult" process.
She added: "It's not acceptable for survivors to have to keep reliving their trauma because a public body can't get their skates on and fix things."
Scotland's Redress Scheme was set up to recognise and acknowledge survivors of historical abuse in care.
It compensates people abused before 1 December 2004 who were under the age of 18 at the time.
As of 30 October, 277 applications have been passed to Redress Scotland for consideration and of those 178 have had a payment.
In total £8.57m has been paid to abuse survivors.
Simon Collins is solicitor for the In Care Abuse Survivors (INCAS) group.
He urged survivors not to turn their backs on the scheme.
He said: "I'm aware there are delays that have been entirely unacceptable over the period, some survivors have waited 10, 11 months."
But Mr Collins said he has recently begun to see an increased number of payments.
He added: "That's very positive because you get the acknowledgement to the survivors, the payment of the redress which, because of the involvement of the government scheme, goes 100 per cent to the survivors, there's no deduction from the fees.
"That positive outcome should be borne in mind."
Kim Leslie is a partner at Digby Brown Solicitors who have also represented some applicants for the scheme.
She said people are getting put off by delays, a lack of communication and an overly complicated process.
"A survivor has a short window of tolerance for let down," she added. "There is a big difference between what was promised and what is being delivered.
"So my advice would be to get round the table now and try and implement immediate improvements to make this meet the needs of survivors."
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the Scottish government had increased staff numbers working on Redress Scotland due to the "very high number of applications".
He said: "We're taking care to work our way through those applications in an empathetic manner, to support individuals and get them the answers that they deserve.
"This will be painful process for survivors because it requires them to revisit, to some extent, the horrors of the abuse that they have suffered."
me was launched after the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021 received Royal Assent in April last year.
Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, set up in 2015, is currently examining the abuse of children in care in Scotland.
A restriction order issued by the chair of the inquiry prevents applicants from using their inquiry statement as part of their application - it operates independently of the government.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: "Scotland's Redress Scheme is designed to be swifter and less adversarial than civil court action, and the number of applications received to date is in line with projections.
"More than £8 million has already been paid out to survivors in less than one year of the scheme being in operation, with 8% of applicants having requested a review out of 189 payment offers.
"As each application is unique to an individual's experience it is not possible to determine an average timescale however priority is given to applicants with a terminal illness and those over 68 years of age."
Scottish government said that following feedback from survivors the operating model for the Redress Scheme has been improved and that additional case workers have been recruited.
It said practical and emotional support was available to applicants at each stage of the process. | /news/uk-scotland-63648390 |
health | Newly qualified nurse 'scared for her future' in profession | A recently qualified nurse says she is unsure if she will continue in her job, just 18 months into her career.
Bethany Tulloch, from Northumberland, is a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) member who feels "betrayed and let down" by the government.
22-year-old, who is taking part in the national strike, fears for the future of nursing without change.
RCN wants a 19% pay increase for its members, but the UK government says their demands are unaffordable.
government said this year's pay increase reflected the independent NHS Pay Review Body's recommendations.
"I'm scared for my future and where the nursing profession is going to be in 10 to 20 years time," Bethany told the BBC.
"If things don't change I don't see myself continuing as a nurse and that's really sad.
"We are trained medical practitioners. We do a lot of hours before we even get into a hospital, we do a lot of training and I don't think our pay reflects that at all."
rting salary for a nurse in England is just over £27,000 a year, but Bethany has had to give up her apartment in recent months.
"I moved out because I couldn't afford to live there anymore," she said.
"I've moved back in with my parents."
Bethany was one of tens of thousands of nurses took industrial action across England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Thursday, and will be back on strike again on Tuesday.
"I did it for my patients, I did it for me," she said.
However, just a few hours after leaving the picket line she was back at Cramlington's Emergency Care Hospital because she claimed it was "severely undermanned".
She said although she was proud of her job, the workload was "emotionally and physically" draining because she was often caring for dozens of patients by herself.
In September, research by the Nuffield Trust think tank for the BBC revealed nurses were leaving the profession nearly as fast as they were being recruited, with nearly one in 10 posts vacant.
"It's often up to 30 patients with different medical conditions who need a high level of care to one single nurse," said Bethany. "That's what the staffing shortages have caused."
RCN has said that if there is no move to reopen pay talks, then new strike dates will be announced before Christmas with a series of walkouts likely in January.
Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | /news/uk-england-tyne-64027246 |
sports | Tokyo Olympics: Molly Seidel of the USA takes bronze in only third marathon | When a star-struck Molly Seidel lined up at the Olympics for what was only her third marathon, her goal was to leave her rivals wondering 'who is this girl?'
rtainly know now after she took a surprise bronze medal.
27-year-old American had only made her debut in the event at the US trials last year, having switched from shorter distances, but ran two hours 27 minutes 46 seconds to finish 26 seconds behind Kenyan winner Peres Jepchirchir on Saturday.
"I was really trying to keep an open mind. I had the same goal that I had going into the US trials of just stick my nose in it, don't be afraid if you're up in the front," Seidel said.
field for the race, which took place in sweltering conditions in Japan's northern city of Sapporo, had featured heavyweights such as Kenyan world record holder Brigid Kosgei and world champion Ruth Chepngetich.
"I was a little bit star struck - I look up to these guys a lot," said Seidel. "A lot of it is just trying to stay calm and not try to think like, 'oh my gosh, you're running with the fastest women in the world'. It's just trying to focus on your race.
"I think my goal today was just go in and have all of these experienced marathoners be like, 'who the hell is this girl?'"
Seidel, who finished sixth in last year's delayed London Marathon, is the third American woman to get an Olympic medal in the event after Joan Benoit's 1984 gold and Deena Kastor's bronze in 2004. | /sport/olympics/58127357 |
health | Broomfield, Basildon and Southend hospitals 'must improve' maternity | Regulators have told a major hospital trust to improve staffing following an inspection of maternity units.
Care Quality Commission rated the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, and its three hospitals, as "requires improvement".
report said there were not enough staff at Basildon to keep babies safe.
rust hailed the "positive findings" in the report and said it has recruited more staff since the inspection.
"While [staffing] is a national problem affecting many hospitals, leaders must develop ways of minimising the risk to patients this causes," said CQC head of hospital inspection Zoe Robinson.
Basildon's maternity unit was rated "inadequate" in 2020 and it was ordered to urgently improve after failings were found in six serious cases.
unit however, along with the rest of the trust, was rated "requires improvement" in December 2021.
CQC, because of remaining concerns, inspected maternity at Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals during August and September this year.
It also visited diagnostic imaging at Southend.
It said it spoke with 104 staff, 12 patients and relatives and reviewed 29 sets of care records.
rust is one of the largest in England, serving a population of more than 1.2 million, with about 1,800 inpatient beds and 15,000 staff.
Across the trust, inspectors found:
•Not all staff completed mandatory training
•Maternity services did not have enough staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep women safe
•The trust did not always share learning from incidents
•Women using the trust's maternity services were not always triaged within target times
report however commended the trust for collaboration, its complaints procedure, feedback system and "effective governance".
CQC said the Basildon maternity unit did "not have enough nursing and midwifery staff to keep women and babies safe".
Data showed that whole-time equivalent midwife vacancies almost doubled to 48 between the 2021 inspection and 31 August this year.
report however noted the unit had two dedicated midwives for triaging, and that 100% of women were triaged within 30 minutes of arrival during five of the first seven months in 2022.
recruited 18 newly qualified midwives, four international midwives and - following the inspection - a further "four experienced midwives".
unit delivers up to 350 babies each month.
Acting trust chief executive Hannah Coffey said there were now 52 newly qualified midwives across the three hospitals.
"There are some very positive findings in this report," said Ms Coffey.
"We are seeing a sustained improvement which ensures we can always provide women with one-to-one care in labour."
She added: "We are an improving organisation with a dedicated workforce committed to providing the very best care."
CQC also gave the trust a rating of "good" when it came to being effective and caring.
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | /news/uk-england-essex-64076931 |
sports | Roger Federer's top 10 moments - how you voted | Roger Federer has called time on a career that spanned 24 years and saw him become one of the greatest players of all time.
Swiss won 20 Grand Slam singles titles and 103 ATP Tour titles, as well as attracting legions of fans around the world.
BBC Sport looked back at 10 iconic moments in his career - then asked readers to choose their favourite.
wo stood apart from the rest - the classic 2008 Wimbledon final against Rafael Nadal came top with 38% of the vote, just ahead of his 2017 Australian Open win over the Spaniard, which was selected by 36%.
Pete Sampras was the top dog at Wimbledon. In 2001 he was the four-time defending champion, world number one and heavy favourite for the title.
, in the fourth round, he came up against a pony-tailed 19-year-old who was starting to move up the rankings himself.
Federer, the boys' champion at Wimbledon in 1998, came through 7-6 (9-7) 5-7 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 in three hours and 41 minutes to end Sampras' Wimbledon dominance.
It would be the first of many stunning results on Centre Court for the Swiss great.
It was fitting that Federer won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon, which he has often described as his favourite tournament.
Having failed to go beyond the quarter-finals in his previous outings at a major, Federer dropped just one set on his way to the final, where he beat Australia's Mark Philippoussis 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-6 (7-3).
An emotional Federer dedicated his win to former coach Peter Carter, who died in a car accident the previous year.
"Peter was one of the most important people in my career," he said. "I hope he saw it from somewhere."
ry was the start of a period of dominance, with the Swiss winning 11 of his majors between 2004 and 2007.
Federer may have lost but the final between him and Rafael Nadal in 2008 is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches of all time.
Federer was bidding for a sixth consecutive singles title but Nadal had thrashed him in the French Open final a few months previously and held an 11-6 winning record over the Swiss.
Played out over seven hours because of rain delays, Federer lost the first two sets, saved two championship points in the fourth and forced a fifth before Nadal claimed a stunning victory in near darkness.
It ended Federer's unbeaten run of 65 matches on grass and was arguably the peak of an enthralling rivalry that lasted until Federer's retirement.
Federer arrived at the Beijing Olympics just a month after his loss to Nadal at Wimbledon and on the verge of losing his world number one ranking to the Spaniard after 236 weeks at the top.
Having lost in the quarter-finals in the singles, he and Stan Wawrinka teamed up for the men's doubles and claimed a big victory over the Bryan brothers of United States in the semi-finals.
Sweden's Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson 6-3 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 to give Switzerland their first Olympic tennis medal since 1988.
It would be the only Olympic gold of Federer's career.
By 2009, the only thing that eluded Federer was the French Open title. He had reached the final in Paris for the past three years but had lost each one to Nadal.
Federer had claimed just his second victory over Nadal on clay in the build-up to Roland Garros but Nadal was once again the heavy favourite to lift the trophy.
However, Nadal's shock defeat by Robin Soderling in the fourth round put things in motion for Federer.
Federer seized his opportunity, ultimately beating Soderling 6-1 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 in the final to become the sixth man to win all four Grand Slam singles titles.
Federer avenged his heart-breaking loss to Nadal the previous year by winning Wimbledon in 2009 - but the final was just as draining.
Federer beat Andy Roddick 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 16-14 across four hours and 17 minutes, with the fifth set alone lasting 95 minutes.
It was Federer's sixth Wimbledon title and his 15th major trophy, taking him beyond Sampras' all-time record as the American watched on from the Royal Box.
ry also sent Federer back to the top of the world rankings.
Federer arrived at his favourite tournament having not won a Grand Slam title since January 2010, and having gone out in the quarter-finals in his last two appearances at SW19.
He came through a five-set match in the third round before ousting defending champion and top seed Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
Waiting in the final was Andy Murray, bidding to become the first British man since 1936 to win a major singles trophy.
But Federer spoilt the home party with a 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 win, tying Sampras' Open era record of seven Wimbledon men's singles titles and regaining the world number one ranking in the process.
Murray would have his revenge a few weeks later on the same court as he beat Federer to win Olympic gold.
Federer had helped Switzerland reach their first Davis Cup final in 22 years but was struggling with a back injury, leading him to withdraw from the ATP World Tour final just a few weeks before the showpiece event in Lille.
Against France, Federer lost his first singles rubber to Gael Monfils, leaving the tie level at 1-1.
He and Wawrinka teamed up for the doubles and won and Federer was chosen to play Richard Gasquet, knowing that victory would secure the trophy for Switzerland.
Federer beat Gasquet in straight sets, sparking jubilant scenes and leading an emotional Federer to dedicate the trophy to "the boys".
Federer arrived in Australia having spent six months out with a knee injury and with many saying he would not win a major title again.
It was not easy for Federer - he beat two top-10 players in Kei Nishikori and Tomas Berdych and ousted Wawrinka in five sets on his way to the final, where long-time rival Nadal awaited.
In another epic that almost inevitably went to five sets, Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 to claim an 18th Grand Slam title and his first for five years.
It was the first time Federer, now 35, had beaten Nadal at a major since the 2007 Wimbledon final.
Federer became just the second man after Jimmy Connors to win 100 ATP titles with his victory at the Dubai Tennis Championships in March 2019.
He beat Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas - who had ended his Australian Open title defence a few months earlier - 6-4 6-4 to lift the trophy.
ry came 6,600 days after his first career title in Milan, which he lifted at the age of 19.
Federer would go on to win three more trophies, with his final title coming at the Swiss Indoors in 2019.
If you are viewing this page on the BBC News app please click here to vote. | /sport/tennis/62947999 |
sports | Marcus Rashford was dropped after oversleeping and missing Manchester United meeting | Marcus Rashford has said he was dropped from Manchester United's starting XI against Wolves because he missed a team meeting after oversleeping.
Manager Erik ten Hag praised the 25-year-old after he came on to score the winner in the second half at Molineux.
But the Dutchman said breaches of internal discipline at Old Trafford have to be punished if his team are to be successful this season.
"Everyone has to match the standards and rules," said Ten Hag.
"[If they don't] there has to be consequences.
"That is what I expect on the pitch, otherwise you can't be successful. When you miss rules outside the pitch, it can go onto the pitch. He gave the right answer."
Rashford revealed the nature of his disciplinary breach in a post-match TV interview.
He said he was "disappointed" to be dropped, but added: "I understand the decision and obviously I am happy we managed to win the game. I think we can draw a line under it and move on."
It is not the first disciplinary issue Ten Hag has had to confront this season.
He blocked Alejandro Garnacho, who replaced Rashford in the starting line-up at Wolves, from playing during United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia when he was late for team meetings.
Most famously, he axed Cristiano Ronaldo when he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham in October, triggering the chain of events that ended on Friday when the Portuguese forward signed a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.
"Don't talk about the past. Let's talk about the future," Ten Hag said on Saturday when asked about Ronaldo's move.
Rashford has now scored 11 goals for United in all competitions this season. He has scored in three successive games for the first time since November 2019.
"I think I am in a good place," the England star told BT Sport.
"It's difficult to come back from the World Cup. Emotion-wise everyone is at different levels but it has been important for us to stick together and help each other through a difficult moment for the lads that didn't win the World Cup."
Rashford's efforts have helped United record five wins in a row for the first time since April 2021 and edge into the top four.
"We make a good step today," said Ten Hag. "It is the first time we are in top four, but it means nothing.
"We have to win every game if we want to try and win something. That is our aim. It depends on hard work from everyone." | /sport/football/64135191 |
sports | Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Watching Andy Murray from prison was joyful | Listen: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe tells Andy Murray of the joy his Wimbledon victory gave her in prison
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been in solitary confinement for months, separated from her husband and young daughter, when her Iranian jailers provided a rare glimmer of joy.
In July 2016, after months without books or newspapers, she was granted access to a TV with two channels - one showing Iranian soaps, the other Wimbledon tennis matches.
"They had no idea what they had given me," she said.
From the notorious Evin prison, she watched as Andy Murray secured his second Wimbledon title on Centre Court - more than 3,000 miles from her prison cell, but just a little over an hour on the Tube from her home in north London.
More than six years later - and nine months after she was released - the 45-year-old met Murray and shared the personal significance of that match, as part of her guest edit of Radio 4's Today programme.
"I was always a big fan of you, but also there I was in solitary confinement watching the match that you actually won in the end," she told Murray. "I can't tell you how joyful it was and I was ecstatic just to see you win."
She had vowed to email Murray on her release and hoped to find tickets to watch the following year's final, she recalled.
"That never happened because I was in prison for such a long time," she said.
Later, after having been moved out of solitary confinement, Nazanin taught other inmates Murray's name and the story of his tournament victory.
"It felt like a connection, it felt like escape," she said. "I was close to home all of a sudden."
Murray, who was visibly moved, said it was "by far the strangest, most incredible story that I've been told about someone watching me".
Listening to her experience of that day had been "quite emotional" and put issues in his own life - like back and knee pain - into context, he said.
"We all have our own problems, but after listening to you and speaking to you I'll certainly make sure I'm a lot more grateful for everything that I've got," he said.
Nazanin, a British-Iranian national, had been detained in 2016 as she was about to fly home from a visit to Iran with her two-year-old daughter.
Iranian authorities alleged she was plotting to topple the government in Tehran. She has always denied the accusations and insisted she had taken her daughter to visit family.
She was released in March, following a sustained campaign by her British husband Richard Ratcliffe.
Murray, who asked Nazanin several questions about her experience, said he would "feel very angry" if he was in her position.
"I would be interested to hear how you feel about it all. You seem absolutely fine now, but I'm thinking if I was in that situation or someone that I knew was in that situation, that I would feel very angry about that," he said.
Nazanin replied: "At times I do feel very angry, but I guess there was a point that I decided I should put the anger away and to not carry it with me, because otherwise it will eat me up for the rest of my life."
Asked by Murray about life in prison, Nazanin said she would "take refuge in the library" reading books on philosophy and history, and spent much of her time cooking and doing craftwork alongside fellow inmates.
"When I came out, there were times that I felt like I really missed my friends and missed prison," she said.
"It's a very odd thing to say. I don't know whether people actually can say that you miss prison, but I sometimes think that I miss the environment and my friendships in prison."
Listen to the full interview on Best of Today on BBC Sounds | /news/uk-64074678 |
technology | Technoblade: Minecraft YouTuber dies from cancer aged 23 | Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade has died aged 23, his family have confirmed in an emotional farewell video posted on his behalf.
, entitled "so long nerds" and posted to his 10 million followers, showed his father calling him "the most amazing kid anyone could ever ask for".
US internet personality rose to fame livestreaming and posting clips of himself playing the sandbox video game.
Last year, Technoblade revealed to fans he had been diagnosed with cancer.
farewell message, written hours before his death and read by his father, began: "Hello everyone, Technoblade here. If you're watching this. I am dead."
He went on to reveal that his real name was in fact Alex, reminiscing about the time he had pranked viewers into believing his name was Dave.
"Thank you all for supporting my content over the years," he continued. "If I had another hundred lives, I think I would choose to be Technoblade again every single time as those were the happiest years of my life."
r, who won Minecraft tournaments and legions of fans talking about his life in a humorous way while playing the game, explained in a fundraising video posted in February that he had undergone chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a limb salvage operation after developing a painful tumour in his right arm.
He died from sarcoma, which is a rare bone and soft tissue cancer.
He disclosed his cancer diagnosis in August 2021, explaining that he initially thought the pain he was feeling was from a repetitive stress injury due to excessive gaming. After his arm became swollen he went to hospital and was subsequently diagnosed with cancer.
Little is known about Technoblade, who kept his true identity concealed until the end. But his online avatar was a picture of a crowned pig.
He has 10.8 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, where he bio reads: "I play video games too much. I might not be the best, but I do have hot elbows."
Following the news of his death, fans, fellow gamers and YouTubers paid tribute online.
"I'll never forget the day I met Technoblade," recalled J Schlatt. "I left work early to play in a Minecraft tournament with him. I barely knew how to play... and the dude still carried us to win the entire event.
"Rest in peace, big guy. You'll always be a legend."
YouTuber Captain Puffy aka Cara tweeted: "Rest in peace Technoblade, He always treated me with pure kindness and never excluded me from anything. He couldn't of been a kinder person!"
She added: "Thank you for everything you've done for this community, it will never be the same without you."
mmy Innit said: "Technoblade is a legend. From being a massive fan, to one of his actual friends, I can't describe how thankful I am to have been in his life. I just know he's strategizing in heaven on how to beat God..."
"I've been rewatching Technoblade's for the past hour," added Ludwig Ahgren. "He was so witty and so humble even in the toughest of times. I'll always look up to him."
Quackity expressed gratitude online too, posting: "I had the opportunity to express to Technoblade how much admiration and respect I had for him, not only for the massive impact he had on all of us, but also for keeping his incredible humour even in the darkest moments. I will miss him so much."
"May he rest in peace,"added eSports gamer Jake Lucky.
's father thanked fans in the farewell video, noting: "You meant a lot to him."
He explained that a portion of proceeds from online orders for his late son's merchandise would now go to charity.
with a written statement from his family, which read: "We, the family of Technoblade, wanted all of you to know just how much he adored and respected his fans and colleagues.
"From Technoblade's earliest online days, he was always strategizing ways to delight and reward his audience - giving away online prizes, encouraging good sportsmanship, and most of all sharing his Minecraft adventures for entertainment and laughs.
"Even after his eventual successes he somehow managed to keep his good-natured humility, competing with an endearing balance between confidence and self-deprecating wit."
Minecraft allows players to create their own experience in an imaginative virtual landscape, by digging holes to collect blocks.
Recent updates of the game have been used to help children explore and develop their career skills and knowledge, and to find solutions to real world problems such as flooding.
Nevison described Technoblade as being "effortlessly funny" and "endlessly talented". "Gone too soon," he said.
Bad Boy Halo also paid tribute, adding: "Words can't express how much you will be missed. The lives you've touched and the impact you've had on them will last forever."
Slimecicle said Technoblade's "personality and sense of humour were a true inspiration to me and countless others."
"Thank you for everything you gave to a world that took you too soon, you will always be a legend." | /news/entertainment-arts-62006852 |
business | Russia unveils 'tasty' McDonald's substitute | Watch: The BBC's Steve Rosenberg had a taste of Russia's McDonald's replacement
It's a Russian revamp of an American icon.
Fast food giant McDonald's pulled out of Russia in protest at the invasion of Ukraine and sold its restaurants here - more than 800 - to Russian businessman Alexander Govor.
first rebranded restaurants are reopening in Moscow.
re's a new name: "Vkusno i Tochka", which translates as "Tasty and that's it".
Gone are the Golden Arches, replaced by a stylised letter M, made out of two French fries, and a dot (or, perhaps, a burger?)
Gone are the Big Mac and McFlurry.
But the new owners hope customers won't notice too many differences. They held a press conference in the flagship restaurant on Pushkin Square, where the very first Moscow McDonald's opened 32 years ago.
"Our goal is that our guests do not notice a difference either in quality or ambience," said Oleg Paroyev, CEO of Vkusno i Tochka.
utlet sported a slogan reading: "The name changes, love stays."
But one male protester disrupted the event, saying "bring back Big Mac!"
w company says the burgers' composition has not changed and the McDonald's equipment remains.
Back in 1990 I was in the massive queue: it took me three hours to get in and be served. I remember the excitement. The arrival of McDonald's was a symbol of Soviet Russia embracing Western ideas, Western culture, Western food.
What's happening here today is a symbol, too: of how Russia and the West are moving apart. And the crowd was a lot smaller.
We're not just talking burgers. Many global brands and multinational companies have suspended business in Russia or sold up and pulled out completely, in protest at the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
Mr Govor, a Siberian oil magnate, aims to reopen about a quarter of the 850 rebranded McDonald's restaurants by the end of the month.
Last month McDonald's announced that it would leave Russia because of the "humanitarian crisis" and "unpredictable operating environment" caused by the war.
Russia and Ukraine accounted for about 9% of McDonald's global sales last year.
Starbucks, Coca Cola, Levi's and Apple are among the international brands that have left Russia or suspended sales here since the 24 February invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is now under wide-ranging international sanctions, which are disrupting its supply chains and increasing unemployment. | /news/world-europe-61774475 |
entertainment | Former EastEnders star Rakhee Thakrar returns to old school | Actress Rakhee Thakrar returned to her old school in Leicester to tell hundreds of pupils how persistence and determination helped her build her acting career.
former EastEnders star explained how few opportunities there had been for her to get into the industry when she was at Soar Valley College.
But she urged them continue "chipping away and working hard".
Her return to Rushey Mead was part of the BBC's Share Your Story Tour.
Share Your Story forms part of the BBC's Centenary celebrations.
Ms Thakrar started off in youth theatre in the city before gradually finding more work around the Midlands.
She said: "The thing I found most difficult is believing there was a path forward.
"I came from quite humble beginnings and I grew up on a council estate.
"I owe a lot to different people who believed in me along the way to be sure."
She added: "When I was 18 I applied to university to do textile design because I thought there's no chance I'll be able to do this [acting].
"Then I took a year out and then just took a shot on the advice of the leader of the youth theatre.
"That worked out and I got my first job on a radio show called Silver Street on the BBC Asian Network and that became my university because I had these amazing actors I was learning from."
As well as working on Eastenders, she has since gone on to star in the Netflix comedy-drama Sex Education.
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | /news/uk-england-leicestershire-63433108 |
sports | Scottish Curling to review selection policy after Team Mouat call for change | Scottish Curling is to revise its selection policy for major events after Olympic silver medallists Team Mouat were not selected for next month's men's World Championship.
Bruce Mouat's rink urged "robust and transparent change" after their successful appeal was overturned.
Ross Paterson's rink, who won the Scottish Championship, had their place confirmed after a counter appeal.
m Mouat took silver at the Worlds last year in Canada.
But Team Mouat were not present at the Scottish Championships last month as it clashed with their return from the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Bruce Crawford, Scottish Curling chief executive, said a "fair and balanced" selection process was carried out by the seven-person panel - three of whom have votes - but accepted improvements could be made.
urrent selection criteria includes results and performance at the 2022 Scottish Championships, international tournaments, previous performance at major events and readiness to make the play-offs.
"We acknowledge there can be improvements to ensure there is greater clarity for future policies," Crawford told BBC Scotland.
"So we will engage with athletes, coaches and members to ensure that the next selection policy is better than the current one.
"We'll be making representations to the World Curling Federation to see whether the World Championships that follow the Olympics can be slightly later in the year. That would help alleviate some of this pressure.
"We'll identify whether it is a better priority for the teams that go to the Winter Olympics to have that as their focus for that season, and for other teams to be given the opportunity to prove themselves on the world stage in a year when it is not an Olympic qualification year."
On Team Mouat's criticism, Crawford added: "I'm quite happy that they can make that statement. I'm not entirely in agreement with all of the things they've stated, but I think that many of those things will be cleared up in our review.
"We are blessed with three very good teams who are all roughly top 30 in the world rankings, with two in the top 10. So we're in a really strong position as a sport on the men's side.
"And we've got Olympic gold medallists on the women's side, and a different team on the women's side that is going to the World Championships." | /sport/winter-sports/60766925 |
sports | Tokyo Olympics: German pentathlon coach thrown out for punching horse | A German coach has been thrown out of the Olympics for appearing to punch a horse who was refusing to jump or trot during the modern pentathlon.
Coach Kim Raisner was heard on German TV urging tearful athlete Annika Schleu to "really hit" the horse while she struggled to control Saint Boy during the showjumping round of Friday's women's event.
Schleu had been leading the event before the equestrian, where athletes are given just 20 minutes to bond with a horse they have never ridden.
Modern pentathlon's governing body, the UIPM, said it had reviewed video footage that appeared to show Raisner - who competed at the 2004 Olympics in modern pentathlon - striking the horse with her fist.
"Her actions were deemed to be in violation of the UIPM competition rules, which are applied to all recognised modern pentathlon competitions including the Olympic Games," the governing body said in a statement.
"The UIPM Executive Board [EB] has given a black card to the Germany team coach Kim Raisner, disqualifying her from the remainder of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
"The EB decision was made today at the Tokyo Stadium before the resumption of the men's modern pentathlon competition."
Saint Boy is not among the horses due to be ridden during Saturday's men's modern pentathlon competition.
rse cleared just four fences before crashing into the fifth and then repeatedly refused to jump, eliminating Schleu with zero points as it had done earlier to another competitor, Gulnaz Gubaydullina. | /sport/olympics/58127366 |
politics | Rishi Sunak: No 91,000 target for civil service job cuts | Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has scrapped a target of 91,000 civil service job cuts and ordered departments to find efficiency savings instead.
Downing Street said reductions in staff were needed but the government would not be putting a specific number on it.
91,000 target was introduced when Boris Johnson was prime minister.
ft in policy comes as Mr Sunak's government seeks to shore up the UK's finances to fill a gap worth an estimated £50bn.
reasury has warned of spending cuts and tax rises ahead of a financial statement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on 17 November.
ment was delayed by two weeks after Mr Sunak replaced Liz Truss as prime minister, following a period of economic turmoil, exacerbated by her tax-cutting mini-budget in September.
rget of reducing the Civil Service by around a fifth predates both Ms Truss and Mr Sunak.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has now quit government and returned to the backbenches, was working towards the target when he was a Cabinet Office minister under Mr Johnson.
Jacob Rees-Mogg: "During an issue with the cost of living... you need to have control of budgets"
At the time, Secretary Simon Case sent a letter to civil servants, telling them the aim was to return to 2016 staffing levels within three years.
re were 384,000 civil servants employed in 2016 - the lowest number since World War Two - but as the UK prepared to leave the EU, numbers steadily rose until they reached 475,000 at the end of last year.
But on Tuesday, Mr Sunak's official spokesman said reductions in civil servant numbers would be up to individual departments, and no targets would be set.
In a tweet, the Trades Union Congress wrote: "Big win for civil servant trade unions."
Writing to civil servants, Mr Sunak said: "Together, we must make sure every taxpayer pound goes as far as it possibly can.
"I do not believe that top-down targets for Civil Service headcount reductions are the right way to do that.
"Instead, the chancellor and I will be asking every government department to look for the most effective ways to secure value and maximise efficiency within budgets so that we can use taxpayers' money sustainably in the long term."
Cabinet Office said government departments "have been asked to look for the most effective ways to maximise efficiency within their budgets".
A spokesperson said: "It is the role of a responsible government to identify how to deliver the best outcomes for the public as efficiently as possible."
kesperson also confirmed the Fast Stream programme to recruit civil servants would resume next month after a pause. | /news/uk-politics-63477209 |
politics | Just Stop Oil: Greens co-leader Carla Denyer criticises some of activists' tactics | Carla Denyer says not all of Just Stop Oil's protests are "well-targeted"
-leader of the Green Party has criticised the tactics of some Just Stop Oil protests, saying some of the group's action are not "well-targeted".
Carla Denyer told the BBC she supported the environmental group's right to protest but "the balance of disruption" caused by some of its methods "might not be what I would choose".
Its protests have included blocking motorways and throwing soup at artwork.
group wants the government to stop granting new oil and gas licences.
In its 2019 manifesto, the Green Party of England and Wales said it wanted to stop burning fossil fuels as soon as possible, and pledged to prepare for the rapid decommissioning of North Sea oil rigs and the phasing out of the UK's remaining coal plants.
Asked whether she was cheering on Just Stop Oil activists or if she was frustrated by their protests, Ms Denyer told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast: "I definitely support their right to protest. I think that's a key difference between the Green Party and the other political parties that I think that their right to protest is essential, and has an important role.
"However, that doesn't mean I agree with every protest that takes place."
She added: "I think some of them are quite well-targeted and make their point well. I think others perhaps have not really targeted at the right people or, you know, the balance of disruption might not be what I would choose."
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the government is "moving ahead with legislation" to give police the powers to stop what he has described as "this type of extreme protesting".
government says the new Public Order Bill will crack down on disruptive demonstrations carried out by environmental groups such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has previously described Just Stop Oil protesters as "arrogant" and "wrong" and said his party would introduce strict sentences for those who block roads.
However, Labour has argued the government's bill undermines the freedom to protest.
On Friday, Just Stop Oil said the group would halt its protests on the M25 for the "foreseeable future" to allow the government "to do the right thing".
Earlier this week activists climbed on overhead gantries in multiple locations of the M25, causing the motorway to be closed and leading to multiple arrests.
In her interview with the BBC, Ms Denyer also said she hoped to be part of a coalition government with other left-wing and centre-left parties after the next general election, which is due to take place in just over two years time.
"Based on where polling is at the moment, it doesn't look likely that we're going to have another Conservative government," she said.
"A lot's going to change probably between now and the next general election. But I would be very happy to work with other left-wing and centre-left parties to form a coalition government."
She added: "It's absolutely possible that we could have Greens in government after the next election."
Asked what her dream government job would be, the former wind turbine engineer said: "Well, I think given my background in the energy sector, I would love to be energy minister."
Nick Robinson's interview with Carla Denyer will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 17:30 GMT on Saturday 12 November, and is also available on BBC Sounds and the Political Thinking website. | /news/uk-politics-63598138 |