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Slovakia is launching a legal challenge to mandatory quotas that were passed in a majority vote on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Hungary's prime minister has proposed a radical budgetary revamp to raise funds. The summit will focus on tightening EU borders and aiding neighbours of Syria, from where many migrants come. The talks were continuing well into the night, having started just after 19:00 Brussels time (17:00 GMT). Draft proposals seen by the BBC, that are being discussed at the summit, include: European Council President Donald Tusk called for "a concrete plan" to secure the EU's external borders, "in place of the arguments and the chaos we have witnessed in the past weeks". As she arrived at the summit, Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite said it was "not a lack of European unity, but a lack of European wisdom" that had led to this point. On arriving, British Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK would be giving another £100m ($152m) to help Syrian refugees, including £40m towards the World Food Programme. "We need to do more to stabilise the countries and the regions from which these people are coming," he said. The UK has opted against taking part in the relocation scheme and has its own plan to resettle migrants directly from Syrian refugee camps. The scale of the problem was highlighted again on Wednesday when Croatia revealed that 44,000 migrants - including 8,750 on Tuesday - had arrived there since Hungary completed a fence along its border with Serbia last week. Analysis: Chris Morris, BBC Europe correspondent As thousands of people continue to arrive on European shores, EU leaders are trying to focus on longer term solutions, to try to stem the flow. The EU can't ignore the divisions and disagreements that have emerged in the last few weeks between member states that have different ideas about how this crisis should be confronted. One EU official said there was a need to clean up the bad blood around the table. Progress may be made this evening, but it will take years of political engagement to make a significant difference. And there will be more bumps in the road. Relocation deal explained Hungary proposes its own deal Why central Europe says 'No' One young Syrian's story On Tuesday, in a rare move for an issue involving national sovereignty, EU interior ministers approved the resettlement scheme by majority vote rather than unanimous approval. The deal will see thousands of migrants moved from Italy and Greece to other EU countries. A proposal to take 54,000 migrants from Hungary was dropped. The plan's opponents have lashed out. However, Czech PM Bohuslav Sobotka said on Wednesday it would not launch a court challenge, adding: "Europe must not fall apart on the migration crisis." Romania said it could manage its allocation but President Klaus Iohannis insisted mandatory quotas were not the answer. The UN has warned that the relocation alone would not be enough to stabilise the situation. Close to 480,000 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea this year, and are now reaching European shores at a rate of nearly 6,000 a day. Austrian police told the BBC at least 7,000 people arrived from Hungary on Wednesday. Source: European Commission How is migrant crisis dividing EU? EU migration: Crisis in graphics A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.
Splits within the EU on the relocation of 120,000 migrants have been further exposed as leaders hold an emergency meeting in Brussels.
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Scientists say the new species is a member of the group that gave rise to crocodiles and dinosaurs. The reptile lived at a time when the Earth was recovering from a mass extinction that wiped out most animals. The discovery may shed light on how the group of animals evolved and spread. About 252 million years ago, a mass extinction devastated life on land and in the oceans. Some 90% of species disappeared. At the time, the Earth was very different from today, with continents grouped into the supercontinent, Pangaea. Researchers led by Eudald Mujal of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, examined fossilised footprints from about 247 to 248 million years ago found in the Pyrenees mountains in Catalonia. They found most tracks were made by the ancestors of crocodiles and dinosaurs, a group known as archosauromorphs. Most footprints were small, about half a metre in length, although a few were longer than three metres. Among them was a new footprint that is thought to be a new species of reptile, Prorotodactylus mesaxonichnus. The makers of the footprints could belong to the Euparkeria, a group of dinosaur relatives known from the same time period in Poland, Russia, China and South Africa. Co-researcher Josep Fortuny of the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont said the footprints suggest the animals, measuring around half a metre, used all four limbs to walk and often also left marks with their tails. "Some footprints point to the possibility of bipedal locomotion in specific moments with the aim of moving faster," he said. The researchers think archosauromorphs dominated the river beds of the ancient Pyrenees. The group may have been key to the recovery of ecosystems after the extinction, going on to spread across the supercontinent. "These tracks represent the first evidence of the vertebrate recovery of the End-Permian extinction," Eudald Mujal told BBC News. He said the search was underway for fossilised bones of the animals that made the tracks. The research is published in the journal, PLOS ONE. Follow Helen on Twitter.
The footprints of a mysterious reptile that lived about 250 million years ago have been identified in fossils from the Pyrenees mountains.
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Volkswagen (VW) shares plunged more than 18% on Monday after US regulators found that some of its cars could manipulate official emissions tests. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that software in several diesel cars could deceive regulators. Volkswagen was ordered to recall half a million cars in the US on Friday. In addition to paying for the recall, VW faces fines that could add up to billions of dollars. There may also be criminal charges for VW executives. The White House in Washington also reportedly said it was "quite concerned" about VW's conduct. Volkswagen's chief executive apologised after the scandal emerged. "I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public," Martin Winterkorn said. He has launched an investigation into the software that allowed VW cars to emit less during tests than they would while driving normally. The EPA found the "defeat device" in diesel cars including the Audi A3 and the VW Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat models. VW has stopped selling the relevant diesel models in the US, where diesel cars account for about a quarter of sales. The EPA said that the fine for each vehicle that did not comply with federal clean air rules would be up to $37,500 (£24,000). With 482,000 cars sold since 2008 involved in the allegations, it means the fines could reach $18bn. That would be a considerable amount, even for the company that recently overtook Toyota to be the world's top-selling vehicle maker in the first six months of the year. Its stock market value is about €66bn ($75bn; £48bn). Analysis: Richard Westcott, Transport Correspondent There's one question people keep asking me at the moment. Is this the car industry's version of Libor, the scandal that rocked the financial world? It's way too early to say just yet. But the pressure is now on the car industry to prove that cheating the pollution figures isn't a widespread problem stretching across both sides of the Atlantic. The German government is investigating whether other companies are massaging their emissions data. The American regulator is widening its probe to other carmakers. If they dig up more examples, the implications could be huge. Fines running into billions. A complete loss of credibility. And worst of all, the possibility that people have become ill or even died early because of higher emissions. Americans don't tend to buy diesels. They represent just 3% of their car market. But half of all new cars sold in Europe are a diesel. Diesel cars: Is it time to switch to a cleaner fuel? VW has ordered an external investigation, although it has not revealed who will be conducting it. "We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law," Mr Winterkorn said. €14bn Wiped off VWs market cap $18bn Potential fines 482,000 Diesel cars recalled 1 Biggest selling global carmaker The scandal comes five months after former chairman Ferdinand Piech left Volkswagen following disagreements with Mr Winterkorn. "This disaster is beyond all expectations," Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of the Centre of Automotive Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen, said. The VW board is due to meet on Friday to decide whether to renew the chief executive's contract until 2018, and some analysts speculated Mr Winterkorn may be on his way out. "No question that this is a big problem for Volkswagen and could lead to [the chief executive] losing his job," said Prof Christian Stadler from Warwick Business School. He compared the scandal to Toyota recalling nine million cars between 2009-11. "To some extent, the cheating by Volkswagen seems more blatant, but the numbers are lower and there are no fatalities involved. "This suggests that in the heat of the moment, the long-term effect on Volkswagen may be overstated. Sure, it will hurt, but maybe not quite as bad as we expect right now." VW had been promoting its diesel cars in the US as being better for the environment. The US law firm Hagens Berman is launching a class-action suit against VW on behalf of people who bought the relevant cars. The models cited by the law firm are the diesel versions in the US of: "While Volkswagen tells consumers that its diesel cars meet California emissions standards, vehicle owners are duped into paying for vehicles that do not meet this standard and unknowingly pay more for quality they never receive," Hagens Berman alleged.
Volkswagen boss Martin Winterkorn will "support" the German transport ministry's investigation into the carmaker's emissions scandal.
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Competitors aged 14 to 19 are hiking distances of up to 55 miles (89 km) visiting 10 nominated tors over two days. The 56th event started at 07:00 BST, with 2,400 teenagers - many from school and youth groups from across the South West - taking part. The first teams are expected to cross the finish line on Sunday morning. Source: BBC/Ten Tors The teenagers left Okehampton Camp, where Dartmoor National Park head ranger Rob Steemson said it was an "enormous challenge". The event is organised by the Army and assisted by the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Dartmoor Rescue Group. Each team has a GPS tracker, so safety teams can find out where each group of teenagers is. The tracker also has an emergency button if help is needed.
Thousands of teenagers are trekking across Dartmoor in the famous Ten Tors challenge.
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He was speaking in an emergency debate at the European Parliament in the wake of last week's EU referendum. The UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the union after 43 years of membership. Mr Smith used his speech in Brussels to urge the EU to respect the will of Scotland after its electors voted by 62% to 38% to remain in the EU. He won applause form the chamber when he said he was "proudly Scottish and proudly European". Mr Smith went on to say: "I want my country to be internationalist, cooperative, ecological, fair, European. "And the people of Scotland, along with the people of Northern Ireland and the people of London, and lots and lots of people in Wales and England also, voted to remain within our family of nations. "I demand that that status and that esprit European be respected. "But colleagues, there are a lot of things to be negotiated. We will need cool heads and warm hearts. But please, remember this: Scotland, did not let you down. "Please, I beg you, chers collègues, do not let Scotland down now." After his short address he received a standing ovation. The leader of UKIP and pro-Leave backer Nigel Farage did not join in the applause. MEP Mr Farage had earlier spoken to his fellow EU parliament colleagues. He told them that "the little people" had rejected "big politics" in order "to get their country back". Mr Farage believed the UK now offered "a beacon of hope" across Europe for other countries that wanted to leave the EU. He said: "When I came here 17 years ago and said I wanted to lead a campaign to get Britain to leave the European Union, you all laughed at me. Well, I have to say, you're not laughing now are you?"
SNP MEP Alyn Smith received a standing ovation from his European colleagues after he begged them not to "let Scotland down".
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It became one of the UK's first post-war settlements in 1947 following the previous year's New Towns Act. It is credited as having the first modern high-rise residential tower block, The Lawn, which opened in 1951. Designed for 60,000 by English architect, Frederick Gibberd, the town also included the first all-pedestrian shopping precinct. In April 1964, councillor Reginald Ward, chairman of the Harlow Urban District Council, showed off Harlow to visiting Italian prime minister Aldo Moro, from the roof gallery of the Town Hall. Today, Harlow is a thriving town with a population of 85,500, which includes residents from a wide range of countries. A mural featuring Harlow citizens, including its MP Conservative Robert Halfon, was created by Polish artist Jola Kudela for the book festival this month. The artwork, called "We're all the same boat", was created after a Polish man was killed in the town. The artist Ms Kudela said: "The message is just relax guys and let's live together peacefully and quietly." A large number of events are being planned to celebrate the town's 70th birthday and more information is available on the Harlow 70 council website.
Harlow is celebrating the 70th anniversary of being designated a new town.
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The National Crime Agency (NCA) has released the names of the most wanted, whose crimes range from rape to child abuse and drug trafficking. The list was published in Madrid as part of Operation Captura. It includes ex-soldier Shane Walford who was jailed in 2010 for the manslaughter of an off-duty fireman while on leave from the army. Walford, a former boxer, killed father-of-two Paul Gibbons with a single punch inside a bar in Coventry. He was jailed for four-and-a-half years but recalled to prison in August 2013 after breaking the terms of his licence. He has numerous distinctive tattoos including a black panther on his left arm and boxing gloves on his abdomen. Also on the list is Mohammed Jahangir Alam, 32, who was sentenced to 14 years in his absence in March 2010 for rape and sexual assault. Bangladeshi Alam arrived in the UK on a temporary visa in October 2007 and moved to Cheltenham the following year, where he sexually abused his victim, the NCA said. His last known address was in the E3 area of London. A third fugitive, 52-year-old Carlo Dawson, from Croydon, south London, is wanted on suspicion of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl and making indecent photographs of a child. He has a two-inch scar on his right palm. Hank Cole, the NCA's head of international operations, said: "Spain is not a safe haven for British fugitives. The NCA and its partners will continue to pursue these individuals relentlessly and return them to the UK to face justice. "The exceptional level of collaboration and intelligence-sharing with the Spanish authorities has been vital to these arrests. However, we still need the support of the public." Police are also hunting: Since the launch of Captura in 2006, 65 out of 76 named suspects have been caught. This is the ninth appeal of its kind. One of the latest to be found in Tenerife was "drugs lord" Stephen Blundell, 36, from Merseyside, who fled the UK before being sentenced for a £1 million heroin plot, the NCA said.
A convicted killer is among 10 of Britain's most wanted fugitives believed to be on the run in Spain.
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The builder said it would construct 139 homes at Duddingston Park South, Duddingston, and 165 at Newcraighall Village. Barratt Homes will also build a total of 102 affordable homes between the two developments. Newcraighall Village and Duddingston Park South are both set to launch later this year. Anne Ross, sales director at Barratt Homes for the East of Scotland, said: "2014 has been buoyant year for new homes sales and we are pleased to be launching these two new developments in the Edinburgh area, to allow us to keep up with demand. "With a wide selection of modern homes on offer and in sought-after locations, we hope these developments will be extremely popular."
Barratt Homes has confirmed it is pressing ahead with plans to build 400 new homes in the east of Scotland.
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Tens of thousands of pilgrims joined him for the Way of the Cross ceremony, recalling Jesus' crucifixion. Among the cross bearers were Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and Nigerians who had escaped Boko Haram persecution. The service came a day after almost 150 people were killed in an al-Shabab attack on a Kenyan university. "We still see today our persecuted brothers, decapitated and crucified for their faith in you [Jesus], before our eyes and often with our complicit silence," Pope Francis said, presiding over the ceremony at the Colosseum. Earlier, he condemned the attack in Kenya, where Christians were singled out and shot, as an act of "senseless brutality". In another Good Friday ceremony, Pope Francis listened as the Vatican's official preacher Raniero Cantalamessa denounced the "disturbing indifference of world institutions in the face of all this killing of Christians". He too mentioned the Kenya attack, as well as the beheading of 22 Egyptian Coptic Christians by Islamic State (IS) militants in Libya in February. Pope Francis has spoken out against the persecution of Christians before, saying that the world would be justified using military force to combat the "unjust aggression" by IS.
Pope Francis has condemned the "complicit silence" about the killing of Christians during a Good Friday service in Rome.
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Welsh Language Minister Alun Davies has written to the corporation seeking assurances over the future of factual and drama production in Wales. BBC Studios has announced plans to cut about 300 staff across the UK. Its director Mark Linsey said the proposals will help "provide even greater value to licence fee payers". BBC Studios is a recent created division of the BBC which encompasses its in-house TV programme making in genres such as drama, factual and entertainment. Mr Davies, who has responsibility for the Welsh Government's broadcasting policy, said: "I was extremely concerned to learn of this announcement and its implications for the BBC in Wales, especially the loss of 27 jobs." The minister said he supported the Bectu union as it seeks assurances the redundancies will be achieved through voluntary means. In a letter to BBC Director General Lord Hall, Mr Davies said: "Throughout the BBC Charter Review process, the Welsh Government has expressed concern about the BBC Studios proposal. "We are not persuaded that a significant scaling back of BBC in-house production - which may well be the outcome of an entirely market driven approach to commissioning within the BBC - would be beneficial overall." Mark Linsey, director of BBC Studios, said: "A strong, creative and competitive BBC Studios is crucial to maintaining the BBC's role as one of the world's great programme makers and ensuring that in-house production at the BBC has a secure future. "With the removal of an in-house guarantee, we need to be able to develop programmes and projects for a variety of broadcasters, and compete effectively for the finest talent. "The changes announced [on Thursday] will help us to reshape in response to a new landscape and provide even greater value to licence fee payers."
The Welsh Government has said it was "extremely concerned" over news of 27 job cuts in Wales by the BBC's production arm, BBC Studios.
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Levy completed a nine-under first round of 62 earlier on Friday and moved to 17 under, before bad light halted him on the last hole of his second round. He was six clear of German Martin Kaymer, England's Ross Fisher and Swede Robert Karlsson, all on 11 under with several holes to play. Kaymer's form will be a timely boost before the Ryder Cup. European team-mate, Belgian Thomas Pieters, was further down the field on three under after 16 holes of his second round. Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, who trailed Levy by a shot after the opening round, begins his round two at Bad Griesbach on Saturday. We've launched a new BBC Sport newsletter, bringing all the best stories, features and video right to your inbox. You can sign up here.
Frenchman Alexander Levy extended his lead to six shots on day two of the fog-delayed European Open in Germany.
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Edmund backed up two wins in qualifying with a 6-3 6-2 victory over world number 73 Garcia-Lopez in Beijing. The 21-year-old from Yorkshire, ranked 54th, goes on to face another Spaniard, Roberto Bautista Agut, who beat John Millman 6-4 3-6 6-3. Fellow Britons Andy Murray and Johanna Konta are in action on Tuesday. Second seed Murray will play Italian Andreas Seppi in his opening match, while Konta takes on Hungary's Timea Babos as the British number one looks to maintain her hopes of a place at the season-ending WTA Finals. American Madison keys, currently three places ahead of Konta in the eighth and final qualifying position, beat Kristina Mladenovic of France 7-5 6-4 on Monday. There was an upset as China's unseeded Shuai Peng beat American sixth seed Venus Williams 7-5 6-1.
Britain's Kyle Edmund is through to the second round of the China Open following a straight-sets win over Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
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In an article published on Friday, MacKenzie compared Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, who has a grandfather born in Nigeria, to a "gorilla". He said men with similar "pay packets" in Liverpool were "drug dealers". Merseyside Police are investigating whether his comments constitute a "racial hate crime". The Sun apologised "for the offence caused" and added that it was "unaware of Barkley's heritage". In a statement of his own, MacKenzie reiterated the latter sentiment, adding that it was "beyond parody" to describe the column as "racist". In the article, which has since been taken off the newspaper's website, former editor MacKenzie said: Alongside the article, the Sun published adjoining pictures of Barkley and a gorilla on their website with the caption "Could Everton's Ross Barkley represent the missing link between man and beast?" The picture was later removed. Barkley, 23, was punched in a Liverpool bar last weekend in what his lawyer described as an "unprovoked attack". Police confirmed they were investigating the "full circumstances". Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said he had reported the article to the police for a "racial slur". Speaking to BBC Sport, Anderson said: "Not only is it racist in a sense that he is of mixed-race descent, equally it's a racial stereotype of Liverpool. It is racist and prehistoric." Anderson later tweeted to say he had given a statement to Merseyside Police and reported the article to the Independent Press Standards Organisation. And in a further tweet, he said that "ignorance simply cannot be used as a defence" and that apology is "simply not enough". Furthermore, he criticised Everton for their failure to respond by banning Sun journalists from Goodison Park, calling it "a smack in the face to our city". And he asked fans attending Saturday's Premier League meeting with Burnley to turn their backs on the pitch at 15:06 BST in protest. MacKenzie was editor of the Sun when it published a front-page article headlined 'Hillsborough: The Truth' in the aftermath of the 1989 disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's football stadium. The article claimed Liverpool fans were to blame for the tragedy, in which 96 people died. MacKenzie apologised in 2012. Last year's landmark Hillsborough inquests recorded that the 96 fans were unlawfully killed and that Liverpool supporters at the FA Cup semi-final had played no role in causing the tragedy. This Saturday, 15 April, marks the 28th anniversary of the disaster. Burnley midfielder Joey Barton, who was an Everton youth player, tweeted: "Those comments about Ross Barkley, a young working-class lad, are disgusting. Then add in the fact he is mixed race! It becomes outrageous." Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore tweeted: "Implied racism at its finest." Football's equality and inclusion organisation Kick It Out said they had received complaints about the "insulting and offensive" comments. "We will be contacting Everton and the PFA about their responses in providing support to Ross and his family," they said. BBC Sport has contacted Everton and Barkley's representatives for comment.
Columnist Kelvin MacKenzie has been suspended by the Sun after he expressed "wrong" and "unfunny" views about the people of Liverpool.
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The event at the University of Wolverhampton Sports Complex in Walsall will feature a number of Rio 2016 Paralympic medallists. It will be the first opportunity for judoka to pick up world ranking points in the Tokyo 2020 cycle. Great Britain last hosted the Europeans in 2011 in Crawley. Judo for blind and visually-impaired athletes is similar to the sighted sport, but fighters start the bouts gripped up. The competition will be followed by a three-day training camp giving athletes the opportunity to train alongside some of Britain's best sighted judoka at the British Judo Centre of Excellence. "It's brilliant that we'll have the chance to fight in front of a home crowd at a major international event this year," said Hull fighter Chris Skelley, who came fifth in the -100kg category at the Rio Paralympics. Fighting in Rio last year we all saw how important home support was for the Brazilian players and I think it will make a big difference to us. "It's a really important stepping stone on the road to Tokyo."
Britain will host the 2017 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) European Judo Championships from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 August.
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Media playback is not supported on this device The Olympic silver medallist accused the organisation of "ageism" and having "zero regard" for her welfare. She is the latest high-profile cyclist to come forward after Jess Varnish, Nicole Cooke and Emma Pooley criticised the World Class programme. Houvenaghel told the BBC she felt "vindicated" by a leaked draft report detailing British Cycling's failures. The report said British Cycling "sanitised" its own investigation into claims former technical director Shane Sutton used sexist language towards Varnish, who went public last April about her treatment. British Cycling subsequently admitted it did not pay "sufficient care and attention" to the wellbeing of staff and athletes at the expense of winning medals, an approach Houvenaghel attested to in her BBC interview. Both Sutton and predecessor Sir Dave Brailsford have now left British Cycling. Houvenaghel, 42, spoke to BBC Sport during its State of Sport week, which on Thursday examines the issue of athlete welfare versus a win-at-all-costs culture. A government-commissioned review, headed by 11-time Paralympic champion Baroness Grey-Thompson, into safety and wellbeing in British sport, is due to be published imminently. It is expected to recommend significant reforms designed to improve the way athletes are treated by governing bodies. Houvenaghel claimed: British Cycling said it "has acknowledged and takes very seriously previous cultural and governance failings in the World Class Programme". It said it has accepted the draft report's findings and already put into a place a 39-point action plan to "systematically address the cultural and behavioural shortcomings". The statement added: "Our new chair Jonathan Browning has apologised for instances where we have fallen short in our commitment to athlete welfare and has offered to meet with anyone who can help improve British Cycling." Who else has spoken out? Houvenaghel won silver in the individual pursuit at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and gold in the World Championship team pursuit in 2008, 2009 and 2011. She retired in 2014, aged 39, after withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a back injury. Houvenaghel was critical of both Sutton and her team-mates in the aftermath of the London 2012 Olympics, where she was left out of all three team pursuit races as Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell-Shand won gold in a world record time. Speaking to BBC Sport this week, the Northern Irish rider said that experience was "very traumatic" and she felt "torment" at having "no explanation" for her last-minute omission. At the time, Brailsford, then performance director, defended the selection saying they had to "take the personal element out of it, and look at the data and be professional". He added: "I think when a team steps up and makes six world records on the trot and a gold medal, then I don't think you can argue with that." British Cycling reiterated that point on Thursday, adding it was "proud to support Wendy in what was a wonderfully successful cycling career" and she was "part of a pioneering generation of riders who set new standards of excellence", but was dropped in London 2012 "based on her performance". Other elite cyclists, including King and Roswell-Shand have praised the leadership at British Cycling. Asked whether she was simply not good enough for the 2012 team, Houvenaghel replied: "It was definitely not about performance. I don't think the fastest team on the day were permitted to race. "There are certain chosen riders on the team who will not have experienced the culture of fear and will not have been on the receiving end of that - the bullying, the harassment, being frozen out of opportunities. "It was horrid - it was not the training environment I expected. There was no choice. If you rocked the boat, you were out. There was no alternative. "Medals at any cost, that's how it was whenever I was there, certainly in 2012." Houvenaghel said she also witnessed the sexism that has been highlighted by other female riders, and also claims she was discriminated against because of her age. "I can certainly relate to the bullying," she said. "For me personally, I felt it was more ageism - being a little bit older than my team-mates, it didn't seem to be something that the staff necessarily wanted for our team in 2012. "They didn't care about what happened to me afterwards. I never heard another thing from them. "After six years of constantly medalling at World Cups, World Championships, nationals, both on the track and on the road, they discarded me in a very undignified way from the team, which I don't feel was right." Fourteen-time Paralympic gold medallist Dame Sarah Storey told BBC Sport that elite level sport in Britain is "cut-throat" but there are "no excuses for crossing that line" into bullying. Asked about the balance between winning and athlete welfare, the 39-year-old replied: "It's a really difficult question because you have to be a human being, you have to allow for people to make mistakes. But the currency is race wins, the currency is gold medals. "It's not an excuse but you have to have a thick skin in sport, you have to be able to take the rough with the smooth because of the racing that you go through. "But there are no excuses for crossing that line, and if those lines have been crossed they will be found out and they'll be dealt with."
A "medal at any cost" approach created a "culture of fear" at British Cycling, says former rider Wendy Houvenaghel.
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The Night Wolves had planned to enter next week as part of a ride across Europe to commemorate the 70th anniversary of World War Two. Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz had called the plan a "provocation". The Night Wolves' vice-president, Felix Chernyakhovsky, has insisted the bikers still intend to make the trip. "Everything remains the same. We're starting tomorrow as planned," he told Interfax news agency. The Night Wolves are subject to US sanctions for alleged active involvement in Crimea and for helping to recruit separatist fighters for Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine. Russia's foreign ministry said it was "outraged" at Poland's decision. The Night Wolves' planned road trip through Poland stirred such controversy because of the group's close association with Vladimir Putin and its support of Moscow's annexation of Crimea and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. They are viewed in Poland as the "Kremlin's Hells Angels". The day after news of the trip appeared earlier this month many Polish newspapers illustrated the story with a photograph showing a sunglass-wearing, helmetless Russian president riding an enormous three-wheeled Harley-Davidson Lehman Trike with the club in Crimea in 2010. A Facebook page entitled "No to the Russian bandits' ride through Poland" quickly garnered support from more than 10,000 people. The page's co-host Jarek Podworski, a biker from Krakow, told me the Night Wolves were not motorcycle enthusiasts but criminals, some of whom had taken part in the fighting in eastern Ukraine. Besides, he added, Poles remembered the Soviet occupation of Poland. Warsaw has been a strong critic of Moscow's actions in Ukraine. The Polish foreign ministry said three other Russian biker groups would be allowed into the country. But it said it was notified of the group's plans only on Monday, and without details of the route or number of participants. The ministry added that it had informed the Russian embassy in Warsaw that the lack of information meant "it could not ensure proper security for the participants". However, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement: "It is clear that the decision that was taken has a political motive." The Night Wolves intend to cross several countries, following a path taken by the Red Army in World War Two, with the aim of arriving in Berlin in time for 9 May Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. The 6,000km (3,720 mile) road trip would take them through Russia, Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, before reaching Germany.
The Polish foreign ministry has banned a biker gang linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin from entering the country.
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His government has lasted just more than a year, with limited support from the main opposition party, Fianna Fáil. Brexit and Northern Ireland's political stalemate are among the challenges waiting for the new taoiseach. The leadership contest will begin on Thursday, with the new leader to be announced on 2 June after an electoral college of the parliamentary party. County councillors and party members will also have their say. While the field may widen before 2 June, the early favourites for the post are Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar and Housing Minister Simon Coveney. Born in Dublin, the 38-year-old is the son of a Mumbai-born doctor and a mother from County Waterford. He was privately educated and studied medicine at Trinity College in Dublin, qualifying as a GP before entering politics. He was elected to parliament in 2007 as a representative for Dublin West and held the tourism and health portfolios before taking on his current post last year. In an RTÉ interview in 2015, he revealed that he is gay, explaining that he wanted to be clear on the matter ahead of the Irish referendum on same-sex marriage. "I just kind of want to be honest with people," he said. "I don't want anyone to think that I have a hidden agenda." Mr Varadkar has courted controversy by announcing that people convicted of welfare fraud will be "named and shamed" on a government website. In a recent speech reported by the Irish Independent, he outlined his attitude to Brexit, saying there should be "no economic border at all between north and south". The son of the former Fine Gael politician Hugh Coveney, the Cork-born 44-year-old has followed his father's footsteps to a seat in the Dáil (Irish parliament). As a teenager, he was expelled from the exclusive Clongowes Wood boarding school for drinking and bunking off to attend a beach party. In a candid interview with RTÉ, he said he had suffered from a stutter, and lived in the shadow of his more promising brother, who is now a successful businessman. He went on to study management at the Royal Agricultural College in Gloucestershire, England, before his election as the youngest member of the Dáil in 1998. He was appointed as agriculture minister in 2011 and responsibility for defence was added to his portfolio three years later. He has made no secret of his desire to lead his party - when RTÉ asked the question about his intentions, he said: "I am very ambitious, so the straight answer is yes, some day. "But I am personally very loyal to Enda and he knows that."
As Irish PM Enda Kenny quits as Fine Gael leader, eyes are focusing on who might succeed him.
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Core earnings fell 41% to $1.59bn (£1.03bn), with pre-tax profits down to $708m from $1.9bn a year earlier. Like many other energy companies, BG's results have been affected by the fall in oil prices from a year ago. BG said it was still happy with Shell's £47bn offer for the firm, despite a recent recovery in oil prices. "There is no change to our view on the offer," said BG chief executive Helge Lund. BG agreed to be bought by Royal Dutch Shell last month. Mr Lund said the deal was expected to be completed by early-2016. BG more than doubled production from its Brazil and Australia operations in the first quarter. However, the impact of the lower oil price from a year earlier was seen in a 21% fall in revenues to $3.99bn.
UK oil and gas exploration firm BG Group, which is set to be taken over by Royal Dutch Shell, has reported a big drop in first-quarter earnings.
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Fellow seamer Oliver Hannon-Dalby, 28, and batsman Matthew Lamb, 20, have both signed one-year extensions, to the end of the 2018 season. Thornton, 24, made his first-team debut for the Bears in the One-Day Cup win over Northamptonshire on 27 April. A week later, he signed a three-month deal - his first professional contract. Thornton, who is currently sidelined through injury, helped Berkswell to win the Birmingham League title last summer, having been a Bears second XI regular for the last two seasons. Since being drafted into the Bears side for his debut, he has played three more One-Day games, finishing on the winning side in two of them. He also took 4-34 against Somerset on his first-class debut at Taunton - the first of two Championship appearances so far. Lamb, who turns 21 next week made his first-class debut at Taunton last season, and scored 51 in the first innings of last week's one-wicket defeat by champions Middlesex at Edgbaston, having been brought in for his first appearance of the season to replace injured captain Ian Bell. Hannon-Dalby, who joined Warwickshire from his native Yorkshire in 2013, has made just two Championship appearances in 2017, having been dropped following the Bears' poor start to the season. But he played in five of this season's One-Day Cup games, having been part of the side that won the trophy against Surrey at Lord's last September. He was also in the team when the Birmingham Bears won the T20 Blast in 2014 - and has so far taken five wickets in two wins out of two in this season's group games.
Warwickshire fast bowler Grant Thornton has signed an extended contract with the Bears until the end of the season as a reward for his promising form.
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Steven Tolley, 48, from Tiverton was one of three men injured while working on the northbound carriageway of the A361 at Gornhay Cross, Tiverton. He was airlifted to Derriford Hospital after the collision on 29 January but died on Monday. The driver, 43, from Saltash, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and bailed until 20 May. Another worker in his 40s was airlifted to hospital for treatment for "serious injuries" and a third was described as "walking wounded". Both are now recovering at home. All three were employed by the South West Highways team which said it had informed its staff of the "sad loss" and was in touch with Mr Tolley's family. It added that there would be an internal investigation into the incident "as a matter of course". The police and the Health and Safety Executive are also investigating the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police.
A road worker who was critically injured in a collision involving a van in mid Devon has died.
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Turia Pitt received burns to 65% of her body and was told she would never compete again after the 2011 ultra-marathon in Western Australia. After 200 operations, she completed the 226km (140 mile) Hawaii event on Sunday She has been hailed on social media as an "amazing role model". Find out how to get into triathlon in our special guide. Ms Pitt completed a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42km run in a time of 14:37:30. The mining engineer, author and motivational speaker completed the event using custom-made gear and brake levers on her bike to accommodate the severe injuries to her hands. She also wore special race clothing to deal with the extreme heat and humidity. "Because of my burns, I can't regulate my own body temperature so I've had to make some adjustments, or use standard tri gear in different ways," she revealed last month. "I'm going to need things like cooling sleeves and white suits so I don't overheat." After her encounter with the bushfire Ms Pitt spent 864 days in hospital and underwent many operations to treat her injuries. She made her comeback in the Ironman Australia triathlon in May. "Competing in Ironman has ultimately showed me that I literally can do anything I put my mind to," she said on her blog. Ms Pitt was widely praised on social media as an inspiration. "Such a great example of what can be done through hard work belief in one's self and good a support system," one person wrote on her Facebook page. "You continue to amaze and inspire," said another.
An Australian runner who suffered life-threatening burns when she was trapped by a bushfire during a race has completed the Hawaii Ironman, seen as the world's toughest triathlon.
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Paw Patrol's Skye and Marshall did not appear at a Christmas lights switch on in Londonderry on Thursday night. Derry City and Strabane District Council has since apologised. Broadcaster Nickelodeon said they had not "organised or authorised" the use of the characters at the event. Nickleodeon's Paul Hamilton said there are no official PAW Patrol appearances anywhere in the UK or Ireland at present. The character's appearance had featured prominently on pre-event promotion. Derry City and Strabane District Council marketing officer Jacqueline Whoriskey said every effort was made to secure Skye and Marshall, and that the council was " sorry to disappoint people". She added: "We were contacted very late in the day by the official licensee in America to say that the company we were using did not have the appropriate licences. "We tried our best to resolve it in time - unfortunately it didn't work out - and are really, really disappointed". Strabane's Christmas lights will be switched on on Saturday but Skye and Marshall will not be there. They had been due to share top billing with Santa Claus. Despite the PAW Patrol no show, thousands gathered in Londonderry's Guildhall Square and Waterloo Street for Thursday night's switch on.
Characters based on a Nickelodeon cartoon were dropped from a Northern Ireland council's Christmas celebrations - after it emerged they were unauthorised.
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The 29-year-old's body was discovered at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Eastfield Road on Saturday at about 19:25. Emergency services were called but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Inquiries are currently ongoing, however the death is not being treated as suspicious." A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.
A man has been found dead in the swimming pool of a hotel near Edinburgh Airport.
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Police say 540,000 people rallied in Barcelona, the capital of the region in north-east Spain, while the rest gathered in four other Catalan towns. But numbers were down sharply compared with last year's event, when 1.4 million rallied in Barcelona alone. Spain has consistently blocked attempts to hold a referendum on secession. Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont had urged support for "converting Catalonia into an independent state". Divisions have also emerged between the separatist movement's main political grouping in the Catalan parliament, the Together for Yes coalition, and its radical leftwing ally, the CUP. Mr Puigdemont, who took power in January, faces a confidence vote on 28 September. He advocates a negotiated withdrawal from Spain. When Catalan nationalists held an unofficial referendum on independence in November 2014, 80% of those who voted backed independence. Sunday is the "Diada", Catalonia's national day. It commemorates the moment in 1714 when Barcelona fell to troops loyal to Spain's King Philip V during the War of the Spanish Succession. "We have to move towards the final outcome," 58-year-old office clerk Xavier Borras, who planned to attend the rally in Barcelona with a friend, told AFP news agency. "We can't wait any longer." Spain's leading parties, deadlocked in their efforts to form a new government after two inconclusive general elections since December, have shown little sympathy for Catalan grievances. The region of 7.5 million people makes up 16% of Spain's population and accounts for almost 19% of national GDP.
Some 800,000 people have turned out in Barcelona and other towns in Catalonia on a day of rallies by nationalists wishing to break with Spain.
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Her 15-year battle for justice finally bore fruit last week, when the Bombay high court confirmed the life sentences of 11 men found guilty of rape and murder. The court also convicted five policemen and two doctors, who were earlier cleared by the trial court, of destroying evidence. The landmark ruling, Bilkis Bano told the BBC in Delhi on Sunday, had finally given her hope of peace. "I always had full faith in the judiciary and I'm grateful to the Bombay high court for the order. It's a very good judgement and I'm very happy with it," she told me. "I think the state government and the police were all complicit in the crime, because the accused were given full freedom to rape and pillage," she said. "I feel vindicated that the court has convicted the police and the doctors too. I feel I've received justice." Bilkis Bano's fight for justice has been long and nightmarish but, she says, giving up was never an option. It has been well documented that some police and state officials tried to intimidate her, evidence was destroyed and the dead were buried without post-mortems. The doctors who examined her said she hadn't been raped, and she received death threats. Despite the gravity of the crime and the fact she identified her attackers, the first arrests in the case were only made in 2004 after India's Supreme Court handed over the case to federal investigators, the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Supreme Court also accepted her plea that the courts in Gujarat could not deliver her justice and transferred her case to a court in Mumbai. The battle has been hugely disruptive for her family. In the past 15 years, she and her husband Yakub Rasool have moved home 10 times, moving in and out of Gujarat with their five children. "We still can't go home because we're afraid. Police and the state administration have always helped our attackers. When we are in Gujarat, we still cover our faces, we never give out our address," Mr Rasool said. The attack on Bilkis Bano and her family was one of the most horrific crimes during the riots, which began when a fire on a passenger train in Godhra town killed 60 Hindu pilgrims. Blaming Muslims for starting the fire, Hindu mobs went on a rampage, attacking Muslim neighbourhoods and destroying their property. For three days the rioters had free rein, as the state administration and the police looked the other way. More than 1,000 people died, most of them Muslims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was then Gujarat chief minister, was criticised for not doing enough to prevent the carnage. He has always denied any wrongdoing and has not apologised for the riots. A Supreme Court panel also refused to prosecute him in 2013, citing insufficient evidence. But he's never been able to shake off the criticism completely, with many holding him responsible for the killings on his watch. Over the years, the courts have convicted dozens of people for their involvement in the riots. In 2012 an ex-minister and aide to Mr Modi was jailed for 28 years. But many other people are still waiting for justice. Fifteen years later, Bilkis Bano still fights back tears as she recounts the horror of those days. She was visiting her parents, who lived in a village called Randhikpur, not far from Godhra. She was 19 and the mother of a three-year-old daughter, and she was pregnant with her second child. "It was the morning after the train fire. I was in the kitchen, making lunch, when my aunt and her children came running. They said their homes were being set on fire and we had to leave immediately," she said. "We left with just the clothes we were wearing, we didn't even have the time to put on our slippers." Within minutes, all the Muslim homes in the neighbourhood had emptied. The 50-odd families that lived there had gone, looking for safety. Bilkis Bano was in a group of 17 people that included her three-year-old daughter, her mother, a pregnant cousin, her younger siblings, nieces and nephews, and two adult men. "We first went to the village council head, a Hindu, seeking his protection. But when the mobs began threatening to kill him too if he gave shelter to Muslims, we were forced to leave." For the next few days, the group travelled from village to village, seeking shelter in a mosque, or subsisting on the kindness of Hindu neighbours. But then their time ran out. On the morning of 3 March, as they set out to go to a nearby village where they believed they would be safer, a group of men travelling in two jeeps stopped them. "They attacked us with swords and sticks. One of them snatched my daughter from my lap and threw her on the ground, bashing her head into a rock." Bilkis Bano had cuts on her hands and legs. Her attackers were her neighbours in the village, 12 men she had seen almost daily while growing up. They tore off her clothes and several of them raped her. She begged them for mercy and told them she was five months' pregnant, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Her cousin, who had delivered a baby girl two days earlier while they were on the run, was raped and murdered. Her newborn was killed too. Bilkis Bano survived because she lost consciousness and her attackers left, believing she was dead. Two boys - seven and four - were the only other survivors of the massacre. When she came to, she covered her body with a blood-soaked petticoat, climbed a nearby hill and hid in a cave for a day. "The next day I was very thirsty so I came down to a nearby tribal village to find some water. The villagers were initially suspicious of me and came out with sticks, but then they helped me. They gave me a blouse and a scarf to cover my body." She spotted a police jeep and they took her to the police station, where she narrated her ordeal. "I'm illiterate so I asked the policemen to read out the complaint once they had written it down, but they refused to do that. They just took my thumb impression and wrote whatever they wanted. I knew all my attackers and I'd named them. But the police did not write down any names," she said. The next day, she was sent to a camp in Godhra set up for those displaced by the riots. That's where her husband was reunited with her 15 days later and where they lived for the next few months. Her unborn child survived the rape and she later gave birth to a daughter. The past 15 years have been "very difficult", but the couple say the high court order has brought them some closure. In the past few days, comparisons have been drawn between Bilkis Bano's case and that of the 2012 gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a bus in the Indian capital, Delhi. A day after the Bilkis Bano judgement, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences of the four men accused of the crime. Many have since asked whether Bilkis Bano's case did not merit the death penalty for her attackers. Prosecutors had demanded capital punishment for three of the men. Bilkis Bano, however, says she does not believe in revenge. "Both the crimes were equally horrible, but I don't believe in taking anyone's life. I don't want the death penalty for them," she said. "I want them to spend their entire lives in jail. I hope they will one day realise the enormity of their crime, how they killed small children and raped women. "I'm not interested in revenge. I just want them to understand what they've done."
Bilkis Bano was gang-raped and saw 14 members of her family being murdered by a Hindu mob during the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
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Jim McCafferty, 71, appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with eight counts of touching a boy under the age of 16. The crimes are alleged to have happened in Belfast between 2012 and 2015. Mr McCafferty, who previously lived in Glasgow and worked at Celtic more than 20 years ago, was arrested last December. He was also a kit man for other Scottish clubs, including Falkirk and Hibernian, before moving to Northern Ireland about seven years ago. Mr McCafferty, who now has an address at Raby Street in south Belfast, has been on remand at Maghaberry Prison amid fears for his safety. He was escorted into the dock on a walking frame for the hearing at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Dressed in a white T-shirt and and grey tracksuit bottoms, the pensioner spoke to confirm he understood the allegations against him. The judge ordered his trial to be held at Belfast Crown Court on a date to be fixed. No application for bail was made and he is expected to remain in custody until the proceedings get underway.
A former Celtic Football Club youth coach and kit man is to stand trial for alleged child sex offences.
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The Leinster back-row returns after fracturing three vertebrae in his back in the 18-11 win over France. He replaces Jordi Murphy. Johnny Sexton has recovered from a hamstring injury while Jared Payne and Sean O'Brien are fit after concussion. Grand Slam-chasing Ireland top the table, two points clear of Wales. The Millennium Stadium encounter will be a special occasion for skipper Paul O'Connell, with the Munster lock set to play his 100th Test match for Ireland. Media playback is not supported on this device Ireland have named the same team which defeated France in Dublin last month. France lock Pascal Pape was banned for 10 weeks for kneeing the Lions forward Heaslip in the back during that match. After suffering the injury, Heaslip looked in danger of missing the remainder of the Six Nations but the number eight insists that he always remained optimistic of making a quick return to action. "I don't personally listen to outside sources, I listen to our trusted medical team and they gave me some very good guidance," said the Leinster star. "We mapped out a really good, clear plan, in terms of ticking the boxes in recovery and I have ticked them along the way and now I'm good to go." Sexton was still rated doubtful on Monday and the availability of the Racing Metro fly-half is a major fillip as they prepare to face Wales. The 29-year-old picked up his injury in the closing stages of Ireland's 10-point win over England earlier this month. Ulster centre Payne and Leinster flanker O'Brien were concussed in the same game. Tommy O'Donnell makes way for Murphy's place on the Irish replacements bench. Joe Schmidt's side can take a giant stride towards a first Grand Slam in six years with victory over Wales. Ireland are also on course for back-to-back Six Nations titles for the first time since 1949 as they aim to set a new Irish record of 11 straight Test wins. Rob Kearney (Leinster); Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Jared Payne (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Simon Zebo (Munster); Johnny Sexton (Racing Metro), Conor Murray (Munster); Jack McGrath (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Paul O'Connell (Munster, capt), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: Sean Cronin (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Martin Moore (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Felix Jones (Munster).
Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip is back from injury to face Wales in the only change for the Six Nations game in Cardiff on Saturday.
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Didn't MPs vote against bombing Syria a couple of years ago? In the last few days haven't the prime minister and the chancellor made clear they would only take military action in Syria if there was a consensus here in the UK? In any case, isn't it entirely unusual, almost unheard of in modern times, for British military action to take the life of a British citizen? The answer to all three of those questions is yes. But just a couple of weeks ago, an unmanned British Reaper drone did drop a missile on a group of so-called IS fighters in Syria that killed two British citizens. One, the target, Reyaad Khan, was according to David Cameron involved in plotting a barbaric attack on British soil. In the PM's view and, he says, the view of the government's most senior lawyer - the attorney general - that made the attack entirely proper and legal. "There was a terrorist directing murder on our streets and no other means to stop him," the PM said. Although we've been told repeatedly British drones have been flying over Syria to carry out surveillance, in the small print the government always retained the right to act in extremis without specific permission from MPs. For Number 10, that action is distinct from its decision on whether to take military action and have RAF pilots join US forces flying bombing missions over Syria. The prime minister still wants to persuade MPs to back that plan this autumn, although a vote is unlikely until after the party conference season wraps up. But this strike does add a sense of urgency to those making the arguments for intervention - a reminder that so-called IS plan and plot in Syria, that the direct threat to the UK is real and getting more serious. But there are calls tonight from opposition politicians for more information and reassurance on the particular circumstances around this attack, accusations already that the strike is evidence of British "mission creep". As the operation appears to have been led by intelligence the truth is we may never know what really happened, what the precise circumstances were. But the fact that we know a British plane has dropped a British bomb in Syria, on British citizens may mean, earlier than expected, the battle lines in this debate are drawn.
You might be surprised by this afternoon's news that British bombing killed British nationals in Syria in the last few weeks.
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He collided with a black Vauxhall Insignia on the junction of Wian Street and London Road in Holyhead shortly before 12:30 BST on 3 June. The man, who was local to the area, was taken to a hospital in Stoke but has died from his injuries. North Wales Police are investigating the incident and want to speak to witnesses of the collision.
A 92-year-old man has died in hospital after being hit by a car on Anglesey last week, police have confirmed.
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Chechen Muslim clerics met on 3 April, two days after the paper's revelations, and said the report had insulted their faith and the dignity of Chechen men. "Retribution will catch up with the true instigators, wherever and whoever they are," their resolution said. Novaya Gazeta says it amounts to a call for "reprisals against journalists". "We urge the Russian authorities to do everything possible to prevent actions aimed at inciting hatred and enmity towards journalists, who are doing their professional duty," the paper said. On 1 April it reported that more than 100 people had been detained in Chechnya on suspicion of being homosexual, and that at least three had been killed. The Russian LGBT Network, in touch with victims in Chechnya, told the BBC that the report was true. Homophobia is rife in the mainly Muslim North Caucasus republic. Authoritarian leader Ramzan Kadyrov is fiercely loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin. A spokeswoman for the LGBT Network said detainees were tortured with electric shocks and beatings at a prison near Argun, 20km (13 miles) from the city of Grozny. "All the people arrested are homosexual men or perceived as being gay," said Natalia Poplevskaya. Ramzan Kadyrov has denied the allegations, calling them "lies". His spokesman Alvi Karimov said there were no gay people in Chechnya. The Chechens' spiritual leader, Mufti Salah-haji Mezhiev, confirmed that "retribution" was part of the resolution adopted at the special Muslim meeting in Grozny on 3 April. "There will be retribution!" he told the Russian news website RBC. "Allah will punish those who slandered the whole Chechen nation and Chechen Republic's clerics." Novaya Gazeta's 1 April report said the detainees included some influential Muslim clerics close to Mr Kadyrov, and two well-known Chechen TV presenters. In an open letter to the mufti, the paper's chief editor Dmitry Muratov said his journalists would continue investigating human rights abuses in Chechnya. "We did not insult - nor had we the slightest intention to insult - the Chechen people," he wrote, urging dialogue. Chechens have been linked to two murders of Novaya Gazeta reporters who investigated crimes in Chechnya - Anna Politkovskaya and Natalia Estemirova. But much remains unclear about those contract killings, and that of Boris Nemtsov, an opposition politician who was shot dead in Moscow in 2015 and also exposed corruption and organised crime in Chechnya. The LGBT Network says it is helping people to flee the persecution in Chechnya and accuses the Russian authorities of ignoring the abuses. If Russia fails to prosecute anyone, it says it will file a case at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The Russian daily Novaya Gazeta says it is alarmed by a Chechen Muslim call for "retribution" after the paper reported violence against gay men in Chechnya.
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Keates made over 150 league appearances for Wrexham and captained the club to an FA Trophy win in 2013. The 38-year-old, along with Joey Jones and Andy Davies, had been in temporary charge of the National League club after Gary Mills was sacked on 13 October. "Dean is a man with an excellent pedigree in football," the club said. "He is someone who knows all about Wrexham AFC and the fans expectations and someone who has a real passion for the club. "We believe has the knowledge, the drive and the determination to bring lasting success to the Club as we build for a successful future." His first game in charge as permanent manager will be the home National League game against Barrow on Tuesday. Keates, who started his career with hometown club Walsall, also played for Hull City, Kidderminster Harriers, Lincoln City, Peterborough United and Wycombe Wanderers. He joined Wrexham in the summer of 2010 and after five seasons at the Racecourse left in 2015 before a spell with Rhyl in the Welsh Premier League and more recently played at Rushall.
Wrexham have appointed former midfielder Dean Keates as their new manager on an 18-month contract.
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Brad McKay crouched to volley in Greg Tansey's deep free-kick early in the match. And Tansey converted a penalty after Massimo Donati had fouled Ross Draper. Accies were upset Ali Crawford was not awarded a second-half spot-kick for a challenge by goalkeeper Ryan Esson but netted late on through Danny Redmond. The gap between Caley Thistle and Motherwell also stands at four points, with Well behind Hamilton on goal difference after losing to Ross County. The first-half performance was exactly what Inverness manager Richie Foran has been searching for and came with their backs planted firmly against the wall. They were terrific. Adversity sometimes brings out the best in people, although nerves did seem to take effect after half-time. Foran has said for some time his side just needed one win to get going. They have it and look capable of more as the pressure turns, at least temporarily, to sides above. Tansey, who has agreed a pre-contract to join Aberdeen, was at the heart of the Saturday lunchtime victory. It was his delivery that found McKay ghosting in and the defender's finish was perfect. Another Tansey delivery was rewarded when Donati wrestled Draper to the ground. Tansey took the responsibility and delivered under pressure. In truth, Inverness could have been out of sight by the break. Billy Mckay should have done better from close range twice and Alex Fisher somehow screwed a header wide from a few yards after Remi Matthews had parried Tansey's drive. And, in the second period, Scott Boden could have sealed the win when clean through but dinked over. Martin Canning's side improved significantly after the break as Crawford and Redmond were sent on in place of Donati and Rakish Bingham. And Crawford thought he had earned a lifeline. As Gary Warren tried to shepherd the ball out, Esson came flying out and inexplicably took the substitute down. Referee Andrew Dallas did not point to the spot, leaving Hamilton players in disbelief. It was a huge escape for the home side. Having offered little earlier in the match, other than a great chance for Darian MacKinnon which he prodded wide, the second-half response was firm. Dougie Imrie, Crawford and Greg Docherty all came close but ultimately they did not threaten enough and gave themselves too much to do after leaving themselves repeatedly exposed in defence. Redmond's late finish was little consolation, although the goal may yet have an important part to play in the final make-up of goal difference with so few points separating the sides. Match ends, Inverness CT 2, Hamilton Academical 1. Second Half ends, Inverness CT 2, Hamilton Academical 1. Goal! Inverness CT 2, Hamilton Academical 1. Daniel Redmond (Hamilton Academical) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Dougie Imrie. Substitution, Inverness CT. Billy King replaces Jake Mulraney. Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Kevin McNaughton. Substitution, Inverness CT. Kevin McNaughton replaces Brad McKay. Attempt saved. Scott McMann (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Jake Mulraney (Inverness CT) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Dougie Imrie (Hamilton Academical). Foul by Greg Tansey (Inverness CT). Giannis Skondras (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick on the left wing. Attempt blocked. Henri Anier (Inverness CT) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Eamonn Brophy replaces Greg Docherty. Attempt missed. Scott Boden (Inverness CT) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Ross Draper (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Darian MacKinnon (Hamilton Academical). Attempt missed. Greg Docherty (Hamilton Academical) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Hand ball by Billy McKay (Inverness CT). Scott Boden (Inverness CT) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Scott Boden (Inverness CT). Greg Docherty (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Attempt missed. Henri Anier (Inverness CT) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Attempt saved. Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Foul by Jake Mulraney (Inverness CT). Dougie Imrie (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Alejandro D'Acol. Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Scott McMann. Scott Boden (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Georgios Sarris (Hamilton Academical). Substitution, Inverness CT. Scott Boden replaces Alex Fisher. Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Brad McKay. Ross Draper (Inverness CT) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Dougie Imrie (Hamilton Academical). Greg Tansey (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical). Billy McKay (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Darian MacKinnon (Hamilton Academical). Delay in match Billy McKay (Inverness CT) because of an injury. Billy McKay (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Premiership bottom side Inverness Caledonian Thistle moved to within four points of opponents Hamilton Academical with three games to play.
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The NHS spent £8.84m on private ambulances in the capital last year compared to £795,000 in 2011, according to Freedom of Information data. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) conceded it was losing staff due to "pressure on the organisation". But LAS denied claims it had employed private staff previously sacked by the NHS. Heidi Alexander, Labour MP for Lewisham East, claimed London ambulances were taking "on average two minutes longer than three years ago" to respond to the most serious call-outs. Labour said its research discovered private ambulance usage by ambulance trusts across the country grew by 82% between financial years 2011/12 and 2013/14, from £37m to £67.5m last year. Private ambulance spending In Yorkshire and the North East more than quadrupled to hit £3.56m and £2.9m respectively, said Labour, although other ambulance services maintained low spending during the two years, while one trust reduced its reliance on private vehicles. Shadow health minister Jamie Reed raised concerns over the figures and the "increasing use" of private ambulances during health questions in the House of Commons. But his comments were branded "absolute nonsense" by public health minister Jane Ellison, who said that previous Labour government "occasionally deployed private ambulances too". Brendan Kemp, regional organiser for the GMB union, questioned the hiring practices of ambulance trusts and their ability to keep staff. "Who's checking the qualifications of the staff that man these vehicles?" he said on BBC London 94.9. "Often staff that have been dismissed by London Ambulance Service for something, often they'll reappear working for a private contractor." But Jason Killens, director of operations for the LAS, said every private contractor "is checked by us before we use them". "Staff that leave the LAS for reasons of clinical safety would not be redeployed on those private contracts with us," he told BBC London 94.9. Mr Killens said increasing demand each year "is adding pressure in the organisation" and conceded that "some staff leave" as a result, with about 500 vacancies currently unfilled. He added: "There is a small number that leave us and go and work in the private sector, but the vast majority of people that leave the ambulance service in London go to work elsewhere in the NHS."
Spending on private ambulances in London grew by 1,000% between 2011 and 2013, the Labour party has claimed.
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Haigh, who had been set to become chief executive following Cellino's takeover, had been on the board since GFH took over at Elland Road in December 2012. He attempted to take charge of the club through his Sport Capital consortium but the deal collapsed in January. As is well known by those in or close to the club, my unstinting support of Leeds United throughout my time at the club has extended to loaning the club money to ensure that tax, players and staff were paid and to underpin its continuing viability - loans which to this day remain in the club Leeds are currently 16th in the table after five straight defeats. Haigh said in a statement: "Owing to various statements made by and on behalf of the new majority owners of Leeds United FC, I am left with no alternative than to resign as managing director of the club. "This is a matter of particular regret to me since I was the person who first introduced Eleonora Sport (Cellino's company) to the club's owners. I also gave them my full and constant support in the Football League's lengthy approval process. "I am not yet, due to confidentiality obligations, in a position fully to respond to various statements which have been made about me over recent months. As soon as I am I will address the various issues - obviously a great deal has happened these past two years. "As is well known by those in or close to the club, my unstinting support of Leeds United throughout my time at the club has extended to loaning the club money to ensure that tax, players and staff were paid and to underpin its continuing viability - loans which to this day remain in the club." His departure comes on the day that West Yorkshire Police confirmed they were "investigating allegations of funds being misappropriated for the purchase of technical equipment". There is no suggestion that the two events are linked. Head of crime for Leeds, Det Supt Pat Twiggs said the investigation, which is believed to involve payment for unauthorised hidden cameras, had started after a report was made by the Championship club on Wednesday. He added: "Enquiries are at an early stage and we are not in a position to give any further information about the nature of the allegation."
Leeds United managing director David Haigh has resigned from the Championship club's board the day after Massimo Cellino completed his takeover.
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Migaloo is known for his distinctive colouring and for many years was the only documented all-white humpback whale in the world. He has been sighted off the coast of New South Wales state, including the resort town of Byron Bay. Migaloo's journey up Australia's east coast has attracted large numbers of whale enthusiasts. The 14m-long mammal was spotted with a companion during his venture north but now appears to be travelling solo. A Twitter account run by the White Whale Research Centre provides real-time updates of the whale's whereabouts.
A famous white humpback whale has been spotted on his annual migration to Australia's north.
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Moslemuddin Sarkar, 52, arrived back in Dhaka on Tuesday, a day after being freed from a Pakistani jail with the help of the Red Cross. His family lost contact after Mr Sarkar left for India in search of work in 1989. Years later, he ended up in Pakistan, where he was arrested. He says he was beaten and tortured in his subsequent 15 years in prison. "I requested that embassy officials send me back to Bangladesh but no one listened to me," he told the BBC. "I suffered a lot in the prison and was crying for help. But no-one came to my rescue. Still I don't understand why I was kept in jail for such a long time. At last, I am back with my family and I feel great." There were emotional scenes when Mr Sarkar was welcomed by relatives at Dhaka airport, the BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan reports from Bangladesh. A younger brother, Julhas Uddin, told the AFP news agency that Mr Sarkar's mother "passed out as he hugged her" after returning to his home village. "It was a heartbreaking scene. He could not control his tears for hours," Julhas Uddin said. A dockworker at the port of Chittagong, Mr Sarkar says he illegally crossed the border to India in 1989 in search of better opportunities, without telling his family. "We searched for him for years and finally gave up hope believing he might have drowned in the sea. But our mother always believed that her son would return home one day," Julhas Uddin said. In 1997, he was caught trying to enter Pakistan without valid travel documents, spending the next 15 years in prisons in Lahore and Karachi. He told the BBC he was completely cut off from the world during that time. "I went to Pakistan believing that I would get a better job there. But they caught me at the border," he told AFP. "I wrote dozens of letters to my village address, but did not have any clue that they were never posted. At one stage I lost all hope of returning home." His fate reportedly came to light when Pakistan sent a list of long-serving Bangladeshi prisoners to consular officials, who informed Mr Sarkar's family. They in turn appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross, who facilitated his release.
A Bangladeshi man who went missing for 23 years has been reunited with his family, who had given him up for dead.
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Royal Mail predicts that on what it calls Take-back Tuesday there will be a rise of more than 50% in returns against December's daily average. Clothing and footwear are the most likely items to be returned. People are also expected to flock to shops at lunchtime to give back gifts, but may face issues getting a refund. Catherine Shuttleworth, from consumer analysts Savvy Marketing, told the BBC: "The problem for many people will be that without a gift receipt they will not be able to get a return at the retail price at which an item was originally purchased. "Prices have been slashed in the Boxing Day and January sales, and there is also likely to be very mixed stock available if shoppers are wanting to return and replace an item, as it is unlikely a product will be available on the shelf." It is not only shoppers who could have problems - there are also issues for the companies themselves. "It poses challenges for retailers in terms of additional staffing for returns and ensuring that returns policies are adhered to," Ms Shuttleworth said. "This year, returns are complicated by the high level of discounting before Christmas when many gifts were purchased - so retailers have the challenge of managing their [profit] margin on returns. "You can also expect to see long queues in retailers at exchange points, which are never a desirable position for the retailer or shopper." Find out more about your rights Most online clothes shoppers send something back Royal Mail's figures for the expected surge in returns is based on the number of parcels handled by its Tracked Returns service, which is used by more than 1,000 e-retailers. A Royal Mail survey of 1,517 UK online shoppers, looking at the number of items sent back, discovered that 30% of them returned women's clothes, 17% men's clothes, 16% footwear and 7% children's clothes. And in a separate survey of 1,505 online shoppers in the UK, 38% said that a free returns policy was likely to make them do more shopping in this way. The highest volume of returns through Royal Mail in the last financial year took place in January 2016.
Post offices and shops are expected to be very busy on Tuesday, as people going back to work after the holidays try to return unwanted presents.
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The addition of Permian, who was successful in the Dante Stakes at York, and last week's Goodwood winner Khalidi, means the total purse for the Classic on 3 June will be £1.625m. The John Gosden-trained Cracksman is the favourite. Cracksman beat Permian in the Derby Trial in April. Meanwhile, trainer John Jenkins has defended his owner's decision to run 1,000-1 outsider Diore Lia, where she will be ridden by apprentice Gina Mangan. Diore Lia has made just two competitive appearances to date, beating only one rival on her Epsom debut late last month before finishing down the field at Lingfield. Owner-breeder Richard Aylward is keen to let his filly take her chance to generate publicity and funds for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. "If I didn't run her, someone else would. The owner is keen to run her and has set up a charity. He's there for the big day," said Jenkins. "I had a runner in the Derby a long time ago. That was an outsider as well and it didn't finish last. "Has there ever been a 1,000-1 winner of the Derby?"
The 2017 Derby at Epsom will be the richest race ever staged in Britain after two horses were added as late entries at a cost of £85,000 each.
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After 25 years, the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen closed its doors in Eyemouth in 2012. Now the former granary building is being turned into an arts centre, run by a community interest company. Once the ground floor alterations are complete, it is hoped the venue - the brainchild of artist Paula Tod, and her husband Ian - will open in June. The first theatre performance - A Cinema in South Georgia - will tell the story of Eyemouth's whaling pioneers in the South Atlantic. The Hippodrome will also contain a cafe selling local whole foods and was last week granted an alcohol licence. All of the programme details should soon be available on a website and Facebook.
A former fishermen's mission in the Scottish Borders is being converted into an arts and performance centre.
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And in 2015 and 2016, her Todai robot outperformed 80% of high-school pupils and was in the top 1% for maths. But Prof Arai, a mathematician at the National Institute of Informatics, is not happy about how well it is doing. At the Ted (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conference, in a session called Our Robotic Overlords, she said the results were "alarming". "You might think I was delighted, but I was alarmed," she said. "This robot, which could not read or understand, was able to outperform thousands of high-school children." This led Prof Arai to investigate the reading and writing skills of high-school students, in conjunction with Japan's ministry of education. "Most of the students pack in knowledge without understanding, and that is just memorising," she said. "AIs can do that better, so we need a new type of education." Stuart Russell, a professor of computer science at Berkeley, University of California, told the session machines would soon be reading and understanding very well. "And very soon afterwards, they will have read everything that has ever been written," he said. Humans needed to start devising rules for how robots related to them, he told the Ted audience, and proposed three basic principles: But Prof Russell acknowledged there might be teething troubles. "If a robot's job is to feed hungry kids and it sees the family cat but doesn't see that the sentimental value of the pet is greater than its nutritional value, that could single-handedly destroy the market for home robots," he said. The idea of altruistic robots is one that Tom Gruber, the man who designed Apple's voice assistant Siri, believes in. And while some experts, including tech tycoon Elon Musk and Prof Stephen Hawking, worry machines will overtake and destroy mankind, he maintains an optimistic vision of "humanistic" AI. "The purpose of AI is to empower and augment us," he told the Ted audience. "Imagine if AI remembered every person you ever met or could retrieve everything you had ever read or seen. "Not only would it make us better at remembering people at social occasions - but for those with dementia or Alzheimer's, it would mean the difference between a life of isolation and one of dignity."
Prof Noriko Arai has spent years training a robot to pass prestigious University of Tokyo's entrance exams.
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Fujimori said in a letter he intended to share thoughts and memories, happy and sad, while serving a 25-year prison sentence for human rights violations. The social media accounts would be managed by a group of supporters. The 75-year-old governed Peru for a decade before being impeached and fleeing the country in 2000. Peru's Justice minister, Daniel Figallo, reacted angrily to Fujimori's announcement. "People who commit violations and have their liberty taken from them have their rights limited. Otherwise, we turn prisons into hotels," he told reporters. Mr Figallo reportedly asked the prison director to limit Fujimori's access to social media. The former leader still has supporters in Peru and vowed to reveal his thoughts online. "In this way, I'll be able to share my thoughts, memories and illusions, sorrows and joys," his letter read. Peru's President Ollanta Humala recently rejected Fujimori's request for a pardon on humanitarian grounds. Earlier this week, the authorities rejected a bid by Fujimori's lawyer to have him transferred to house arrest. After being stripped of his powers by the country's Congress in 2000, the leader sought exile in Japan. He eventually returned to Chile, where he was arrested in 2005. After losing a lengthy legal battle, he was extradited to Peru in 2007 and convicted of human rights violations after a 15-month trial. He was accused of authorising death-squad killings in two incidents known as La Cantuta and Barrios Altos, and the kidnapping of a journalist and a businessman. Mr Fujimori repeatedly denied the charges, saying they were politically motivated.
The former president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, has said he will publish excerpts from his memoirs on the social media websites Twitter and Facebook.
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The pair, aged 24 and 25, were arrested in a raid in the western suburb of Fairfield on Tuesday. Details of the alleged plot are not known, but police say a hunting knife, an Islamic State (IS) flag and a video describing an attack were seized. Australia, which has joined the coalition fighting IS in Iraq, raised its domestic terror alert last year. The move was a response to growing concern over the impact of militant conflicts in Iraq and Syria. Sydney is also on alert after a siege at a cafe in the city in December which left two hostages and the gunman dead. Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the latest arrests were a sign that the IS "death cult" was "reaching out all around the world, including here in Australia, and regrettably there are people in this country who are susceptible to these incitements to extremism and even terrorism". New South Wales Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said police believe the men arrested on Tuesday were preparing to carry out an attack that day. The video found in the raided home "depicted a man talking about carrying out an attack", said DC Burn, adding that the arrests were "indicative of the threat" the security agencies now have to deal with. No details have been given of the alleged plot, but she said the threat was "consistent with the messaging coming out of IS". The pair, named in court documents as Omar Al-Kutobi and Mohammad Kiad, were not previously known by police and counter-terrorism officers were only aware of them when they received information on Tuesday, forcing them to act immediately, she said. They have been charged with undertaking acts in preparation or planning for a terrorist act. They chose not to appear at an initial hearing on Wednesday, where bail was formally refused. New South Wales Premier Mike Baird urged vigilance and said the alleged plot was "beyond disturbing". "Certainly something catastrophic was avoided yesterday and for that we should be very thankful," he said. Last September, Australia conducted its biggest counter-terrorism raid in Sydney, in response to intercepted intelligence about an alleged plots. About a dozen people have been arrested overall, including one man accused of plotting to behead members of the public in Sydney and Brisbane. Many of those targeted in the raids are alleged to be linked to or supportive of IS, or are accused of helping people travel overseas to fight with extremists. In October, Australia joined the US-led military action against IS in Iraq, with Mr Abbott saying IS was a "death cult" that must be stopped. But critics say this has increased the risk of attacks on Australian soil. The Australian government believes at least 60 Australians are fighting with terror groups in the Middle East and at least 100 are actively supporting them from home. December's siege at the Sydney cafe was carried out by a man known to have extremist Islamist views, who made hostages hold up a black Islamist flag. But investigators do not believe he had links to IS or other militant groups.
Police in the Australian city of Sydney have charged two men with planning to carry out an imminent attack.
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That report was never written, but the murdered opposition politician's colleagues, led by his close associate Ilya Yashin, have since worked to finish it. Most of the Russian-language report, entitled Putin. War, is based on facts that have already appeared in Russian and foreign media since Crimea was annexed in March 2014 and conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine. But its authors say putting the facts together and describing the human and economic cost of the conflict makes a very compelling case for accusing President Vladimir Putin of waging war in Ukraine for his own ends. Russia has consistently denied accusations that it has sent regular troops and armour to help rebels in eastern Ukraine, arguing that any Russians serving there are "volunteers". But Mr Yashin, who presented the report, said Russian soldiers and equipment were decisive to securing all major victories claimed by the pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk. "All the separatists' key successes were secured by Russian army units," he said. "The soldiers directly admit they were directed on to Ukraine territory, admit that they were brought there to take part in a war operation. There is no doubt they did not end up there by accident." The dossier presents evidence of volunteer soldiers who admit that it was Russian generals, not separatists, who directed the main battles in eastern Ukraine. A Russian army veteran, described as helping to enlist volunteers, says they are not doing it for nothing: salaries can reach $2,000-3,000 (£1,250-1,900) a month. Russian spending on the conflict is calculated at 53bn roubles (£665m; $1bn): Boris Nemtsov began work on the report early this year, after hearing that the relatives of dead Russian soldiers had not been given promised compensation. But those relatives never went public and, after his assassination, have become even more scared. Names and numbers of military units are documented, along with photos of weaponry, although activists point out these are harder to verify without knowing where they were taken. How many Russians are fighting in Ukraine? BBC team attacked while investigating soldiers' deaths Russian families look for soldier sons Mr Yashin said the opposition would seek donations to extend the initial print run of only 2,000 copies. But publishing and distributing this kind of dossier is hard work. Many publishers were afraid to work with this material, he said. And above all, the question remains: How many people are keen to learn the facts which for months have been available on the internet and the few liberal media that remain in Russia? There are plenty of Russians aware of their country's involvement in eastern Ukraine, who nevertheless find it acceptable, because they believe Moscow is supporting those who wish to be independent of the government in Kiev. But the opposition does not see it as support. It accuses President Putin of masterminding and directing the war to boost his failing popularity. In this, they admit he was successful. And it is entirely possible their report may well see the same fate as earlier works published by the late Boris Nemtsov. Critics of Mr Putin praised Mr Nemtsov's reports on corruption in the president's entourage and on the true cost of the 2014 Sochi Olympics. But they failed to galvanise protests against him.
When Boris Nemtsov was shot dead on a bridge a short distance from the Kremlin, it soon emerged that he had been preparing a report aiming to expose Russia's military involvement in eastern Ukraine.
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The Hemel Hempstead-born 37-year-old succeeds fellow Briton Ian Poulter, who hosted the 2015 event at Woburn. This year's tournament was the first since 2008 and was won by Sheffield's Matthew Fitzpatrick. The Grove has only ever held a European Tour event once before in its history - when Tiger Woods won a World Golf Championship tournament in 2006. "We knew the British Masters would get great crowds," said Donald. "The British people love coming out and supporting their events and supporting the British players. It was a fun and successful week. "Woburn was a tremendous venue and Ian did a brilliant job as the ambassador. It's my turn next and I will be looking forward to coming back and hopefully having even more success and bringing even more people to this amazing tournament."
Luke Donald will host the 2016 British Masters at The Grove in his home county of Hertfordshire.
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It replicates the repeating lattice of sodium and chloride ions found in a crystal of salt (NaCl). Standing more than 3m tall, the model was built by Dr Robert Krickl from nearly 40,000 balls and 10km of sticks. The world record attempt will be adjudicated by the Guinness Book of Records on 23 November. It will be on public display until 30 November, and has already been commemorated on an Austrian postage stamp. "I want to show - to visualise - how our world looks when it's magnified about a billion times," Dr Krickl, a crystallographer turned science communicator, told Science in Action on the BBC World Service. Because of the regular pattern it is built up from, which causes hundreds of the "ions" to form precise lines from multiple angles, the huge model has a rather dazzling appearance. It also has particular significance this week, Dr Krickl said. "This week it's the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for discovering what I show with this model: the arrangement of atoms in crystals." The British father-and-son team of William and Lawrence Bragg won the physics Nobel in 1915 for originating the technique that is now known as X-ray crystallography. "This discovery really had a major impact on science and our understanding of the world," Dr Krickl said. "It led to the determination of the structure of DNA, of viruses, of proteins - and on the other hand, of materials used in our daily lives, for technology to build faster, better lighter machines." To mark this anniversary, on Thursday he welcomed representatives from the British Council and the British Embassy to view the nearly completed structure.
The world's biggest crystal structure model - a 3D chemical illustration made from little balls and sticks - is being assembled in Vienna's city hall.
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Devon and Cornwall Police were called to the statue of General Buller in Exeter at 23:40 BST on Saturday. The 18-year-old, from the Exeter area, was climbing on the 15ft (4.5m) statue - a well known landmark which depicts General Redvers Buller on horseback, mounted on a large granite plinth - when he fell. He suffered serious neck and back injuries and died in hospital. More on statue fall and other Devon stories
A man has died after falling from a city centre statue late at night.
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The 29-year-old spent the majority of last season on loan with Wolves, making 19 appearances in all competitions. He previously played 211 league games for the Molineux side between 2008 and 2015 before moving to Craven Cottage. "Richard was our number one target throughout the summer and I'm delighted he has signed," boss Chris Wilder told the club website. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
Sheffield United have signed Fulham defender Richard Stearman for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.
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The Accounts Commission said there was a risk services could not be maintained without improvements in the way the council was run. But the report recognised that the council delivered good services at the moment. The authority needs to save £22.3m - 10% of its budget - by 2017/18. On top of that, council reserves are low and are projected to fall further, the report said. The Accounts Commission is the public spending watchdog for local government in Scotland. In its report, the commission said the council urgently needed "clearer priorities" in its transformation programme to ensure key projects were completed and savings made. The report recognised the council's "commitment to improvement", but added that it was concerned about the pace of those improvements. Deficiencies highlighted by the commission included financial control and management of resources. The chairman of the commission, Douglas Sinclair, said: "There is a gap between the council's ambition and seeing evidence of that on the ground. This is what East Dunbartonshire needs to address if it is to continue to deliver good quality services in the future."
A public spending watchdog has published "serious concerns" over the financial control of East Dunbartonshire Council.
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Ian Domingo, from Dumfries, had been in London for a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the campaign in which his grandfather was killed. His suitbag, containing badges commemorating service, was taken from the Virgin service from Euston. Elaine Higgins, from Barrow-in-Furness, had picked up his bag by accident. She had attended the same remembrance ceremony and had travelled back in the same carriage as Mr Domingo but had unwittingly taken the wrong suitbag and simply put it back in her wardrobe. Mr Domingo contacted British Transport Police (BTP) to report it missing and an appeal was launched to track down the missing bag. Ms Higgins was tipped off by friends about the missing suit and badges adding she was left "dumbstruck" upon looking in her wardrobe. Her 18-year-old son Aled Jones was killed in Bosnia in 1996 and she had been attending the remembrance ceremony as part of her involvement with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA ) Bereaved Families Support Group. She said: "I immediately felt for Mr Domingo as I had been wearing Aled's medals at the ceremony but took them off my suit - I knew what it would have felt like. "I was dumbstruck for a moment when I unzipped the bag and then went to tell my husband we had Mr Domingo's suit. "I was mortified for him, especially as I knew it had the medals on. "We'd just picked it up and put it straight in the wardrobe, not even thinking to check the contents." She added that she felt obliged to meet Mr Domingo in person to "apologise" adding "we can laugh about it now they're reunited but it must have been awful for him thinking he might not see it, or the badges, again". The pair both praised the work of BTP and the lengths investigating officer PC Gez Cooper went to to have the suit returned. Mr Domingo said: "I knew straight away from speaking to PC Cooper that he would leave no stone unturned trying to find my suit. I really can't thank him enough. "He went to so much trouble for me." PC Cooper added: "It's all in day's work - as a BTP officer the railway is our community and we care about the people who use it." The Gallipoli campaign was an allied operation which aimed to force the Ottoman empire out of the war. More than 131,000 allied and Turkish troops died in the battle, including 11,400 Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) and 25,000 British soldiers.
Pin badges have been returned to a fallen Gallipoli soldier's grandson whose luggage was mistakenly taken from a train.
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Holland and Jenkins' compatriot Stanford pre-qualified for the team in 2015, leaving one more place to fill. The likelihood is whoever finishes first out of Jenkins, 31, and Jody Stimpson in the World Triathlon race on Australia's Gold Coast will be picked. "I would love to qualify for another Olympics and go to Rio," said Jenkins. The two-time former World Champion finished third behind Stimpson in the opening round in Abu Dhabi on 5 March. "I was happy to come away with a third in Abu Dhabi," Jenkins told BBC Wales Sport. "I'd had a chest infection and came off antibiotics on the Monday and raced on the Saturday." The GB team will be announced before the Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds, 11-12 June. British Triathlon say the quality of the performance in Gold Coast will be taken into consideration as well as the finishing positions. The Welsh athlete would need to finish ahead of Stimpson and show Olympic medal-winning potential. Jenkins won the world title in 2008 and 2011, and represented Team GB at two Olympic games. Media playback is not supported on this device "I've been to Beijing and London," she said. "Qualifying means a lot, but it's not going to kill me if I don't go, I'm a lot more balanced coming in to this Olympic cycle. "I have a massive desire to go, but have balance in my life so if I don't go I have other things I want to concentrate on." Jenkins has been in Australia for three weeks preparing for this weekend's race. "I think my fitness has come on really well since I've been here," she added. "I've had a really decent, consistent block of training and got some more harder running done on the road, which I haven't really done up until this point. I'm feeling strong in all disciplines." It makes a change for Jenkins who has been plagued with injuries in recent seasons. "I'm not going to lie, there's been a few times when it's nearly been it and I've thought I just can't do this any more . . . there's been tears," said Jenkins. "But there's always something that keeps me going. I don't know what it is - but there is something that keeps you going." See Helen Jenkins' interview on Sport Wales, BBC Two Wales, 19:30 BST on Friday, 8 April.
Welsh athlete Helen Jenkins is determined to join Non Stanford and Vicky Holland in the GB triathlon team at the Rio Olympics.
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The council's cabinet had recommended changing Brecon High School to an English-medium school from 1 September. But 32 members of full council opposed the plans, with eight in favour. The vote was taken as an indication of the full council's views but it was not a final decision. That rests with the cabinet which meets on 14 March. A council report said low pupil numbers and the "need to ensure robust linguistic progression and appropriate curriculum choice for Welsh-medium pupils" were the reasons for the recommendation. The council plans to centralise Welsh-medium education for mid and south Powys in Builth Wells High School, which is a 40 mile round trip. A consultation has been carried out on the plans, with staff, parents and pupils raising a number of concerns. Among them were pupils missing out on extra-curricular activities, such as after school clubs and music lessons, due to having to travel to Builth Wells for Welsh-medium education.
A majority of councillors voted in favour of retaining a Welsh-medium stream at a Powys school on Tuesday.
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The crash, which happened at the Rising Sun in North Bradley near Trowbridge at about 06:00 GMT, left a huge hole in the front of the building. Wiltshire Police said the driver was taken to Bath's Royal United Hospital for treatment to his injuries, which are not thought to be serious. Nobody was inside at the time of the crash, officers said. The building has been deemed to be structurally safe. The road next to the pub was closed for several hours but has since reopened.
A lorry driver has smashed through the front wall of a pub in Wiltshire.
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Derby City Council wanted to shut Moorways Pool from April in a bid to save about £350,000 a year. The Labour-led authority, which needs to save £79m over the next three years, said it had found the savings by making cuts in other areas. Campaigners who gathered more than 4,000 signatures on a petition said they were delighted at the news. Ranjit Banwait, leader of the authority, said the council had committed to keep it open for a year. He said the council had identified savings "in back-office areas" and a restructuring of management jobs, which had been "untouched" since 2010. However, he stressed if the authority failed to get a "fair deal" from central government in the future, the pool would still have to close. Campaigners had accepted the pool, which is 33m in length, was in need of repair. There are plans for a new 50m pool to be built by 2018 to replace it. However, closing it would have left only one other public pool in the city - the Queen's Leisure Centre, they said. Doug Whitlam, of the Derbyshire Amateur Swimming Association, said: "One of the main things for me would have been the loss of teaching. "Twelve hundred young people use this facility every week and that would be lost forever."
A Derby swimming pool threatened with closure is to remain open for another year, council bosses have confirmed.
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Reports in France suggest the Borussia Monchengladbach winger will stand by his decision at the 2015 Nations Cup to take a break from internationals. The 27-year-old made the announcement after a quarter-final loss to Ghana. "The time has come for me to reconsider my international career in order to focus on my club," he said. Guinea coach Luis Fernandez, who only took charge of the Syli Nationale in April, has named Traore in a 23-man squad for the 6 September fixture. But veteran defender Kamil Zayatte, who has been overlooked by Fernandez, has admitted that his playing days are truly over after the latest omission. "No, it's fine. All is well," Zayatte told French radio station RFI. "It is the choice of the coach and I respect him. It's time for me now to move on. Good luck Syli ". Trabzonspor's Kevin Constante and Spain-based Alhassane Bangoura are also in the squad. But there is no room for Bouna Sarr, who turned down the chance to play for Guinea at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and against Swaziland in June. Tiny Swaziland stunned Guinea 2-1 in a horror debut for former France World Cup star Fernandez as qualification for the Nations Cup in Gabon began in June. Diminutive attacker Tony Tsabedze scored both goals in the Group L clash, hosted in Morocco because Guinea are banned from staging international matches following the Ebola outbreak in the country.
Ibrahima Traore looks set to reject a call-up to the Guinea squad for September's 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zimbabwe.
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Eric Monkman and Bobby Seagull - the breakout stars of the last series of the BBC Two quiz show - are getting behind the microphone. The pair will present Monkman and Seagull's Polymathic Adventure on BBC Radio 4 on 21 August. The duo became friends during filming, despite being captains of rival teams. Monkman and Seagull each went viral in their own right, with the former proving so popular he sparked what was termed "Monkmania" among viewers. The Cambridge economics student attracted a loyal following for his animated - and very meme-able - facial expressions. The 29-year-old's blue jumper, impressive intellect and tendency to answer questions with an upward inflection cemented his place in the hearts of quiz show fans. He and Seagull became friends off screen and even travelled to interviews together during the series as their popularity soared. So what will their new radio show actually be about? Good question. The pair are set to explore whether being highly intelligent is actually a useful quality. They will discuss whether it's possible to be a useful polymath (a person of wide knowledge or learning) with guests including Stephen Fry. If this goes well, we're keeping our fingers crossed it's just the start of their media careers. Surely introducing Justin Bieber songs on Radio 1 would be the next logical step? Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
If watching University Challenge makes your head hurt, you might want to take an aspirin before listening to a new show Radio 4 are planning.
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If, and when, their big day comes, it could be an expensive business covering the cost of hotels, caterers, photographers and florists, not to mention clothes, rings and a honeymoon. Campaigners estimate that the average Australian wedding has a price tag of around 35,000 Australian dollars ($27,000; £18,000). "The world's expert body on the economic impact of marriage equality, the Williams Institute at UCLA, says the most conservative estimate for the [potential] wedding spend of Australian same-sex couples is A$161m," says Rodney Croome, the national director of Australian Marriage Equality. "It could be as high as A$600m. "On top of this, Australia's failure to achieve marriage equality is a competitive disadvantage when it comes to attracting those skilled migrants and investors for whom non-discriminatory laws are important." This week the campaign for reform in Australia received some high-profile support from Alan Joyce, the openly gay, Irish-born chief executive of the airline Qantas. He told the Sydney Morning Herald: "I've had people coming up to me in the business community and saying that their son, their daughter is finding it tough (being gay), even in this day and age. "Talking about how important it is for a business leader ... to express our views on things. It is a role model thing." The Flying Kangaroo has a long tradition of equality for its staff. Tim Harcourt, an economist at the University of New South Wales Business School, says Australia's national airline has been a beacon of progressive thinking. "When I worked at Qantas they were always ahead of the game in providing benefits for same-sex partners, whether it be travel or superannuation or so on," he tells the BBC. "It has worked out pretty well on the basis that having a happy and egalitarian workforce is good for productivity." Other corporate heavyweights are joining the campaign for same sex marriage in Australia. Telecom giant Telstra Qantas and PricewaterhouseCoopers have signed an open letter urging the conservative government to consider the economic benefits of reform. They have been joined by the nation's biggest banks, ANZ, the Commonwealth and Westpac, along with retailer David Jones. The letter states: "Not only is marriage equality the only truly fair option, but it's also a sound economic option given that a happy workforce is a productive one. "To remain competitive, and to attract top talent from around the world, organisations - and nations - must create a fair and respectful environment for all." Alex Greenwich, an openly gay member of the New South Wales parliament and a former businessman, who ran a recruitment agency before entering politics, believes that employees who are happy and respected at work are more productive. "There have been so many studies done on the importance of diversity within the workplace and the importance of accepting and treating your staff well in the workplace. "It's kind of a no-brainer," says Mr Greenwich, who believes it is time for Australia to shed its reputation for sexual intolerance. "We know that gay and lesbian people are out and open in very senior levels in a number of corporates across the world, and a lot of them are now saying why do we want to go to a country where we'll be treated as a second-class citizen?" The importance of the so-called 'pink dollar' is felt around in the world where reform has been embraced. But this has done little to soften those opposed to change, who argue that any alterations to Australia's marriage laws would be a backward step. "I think it is disappointing when we have big business trying to influence governments, and for big business to use their clout in this way is intimidating," says Wendy Francis, the Queensland director for the Australian Christian Lobby. "What is good for the economy is stable families and that is what we are really wanting to protect in Australia." Bills to allow gay Australians to marry have been rejected by parliamentarians in the past, and there is currently no legislative timetable for further debate in Canberra. The conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott has deep-seated religious objections, although opinion polls have suggested a majority of voters would be in favour of marriage equality. While there is resistance at a federal level, laws now exist in New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, and Victoria, as well as the Australian Capital Territory that legally recognise same-sex unions. Two years ago, New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalise same-sex marriages, and the architects of change believe it has had a transformative effect. "All gay and lesbian people that I encounter are holding their heads just a wee bit higher because they know that the law no longer distinguishes between them and our heterosexual counterparts in this area at least," says Kevin Hague, a Green Party MP, who worked on marriage equality campaign. "I know that popular wedding destinations like Queenstown and Rotorua have had a real boom time with same-sex couples from Australia coming over the get married here."
In Australia, at least 18,000 same-sex couples are waiting for the law to change to allow them to get married, according to the University of Queensland.
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Robson added a further 56 to his overnight score to reach 231, as Middlesex moved from 317-4 to 452 all out, backed by John Simpson's 52. Warwickshire captain Ian Bell was one of two early visiting wickets to fall. But Jonathan Trott and Varun Chopra saw the Bears to 146-4 by the early close. Chopra made 57, while former England batsman Trott, who batted in old-style helmet which no longer complies with England & Wales Cricket Board regulations, was still there on 62 when play was called off for the day following a break for bad light late in the final session. England's Steven Finn got two wickets on his first competitive appearance since England's third Test against South Africa in January after the calf injury which kept him out of the World T20. He struck with his first ball when he got one to rear and take the shoulder of opener Ian Westwood's bat before removing Sam Hain cheaply. Bell was one of two victims for Tim Murtagh, bowled after only getting half forward to a delivery that may have stayed a touch low. In the morning session, Robson's highest first-class score surpassed his previous best, an unbeaten 215, also against Warwickshire, at Edgbaston in 2013. It was also the highest-ever individual score by a Middlesex batsman against Warwickshire, overtaking a mark set by Bill Edrich, who scored 225 at Edgbaston in 1947. Middlesex bowler Steven Finn told BBC London 94.9: "I probably couldn't have found a better ball first up. I didn't feel I deserved to go at four an over. But that happens when you are on the attack. "I'm where I want to be. I felt in good rhythm. This is a nice starting block. There's no magic answer apart from bowling and getting rhythm that way. "I'm the sort of bowler who likes bowling a lot. If I was only bowling 15 overs in a day in the game, I'd be bowling my overs in the nets." Warwickshire batsman Varun Chopra told BBC WM 95.6: "At the start of the day we could have been looking at 500-550, and batting after tea. To bowl them out by lunch was a good effort. "I felt good. Jonathan Trott looked in fine order too, as he did last week. If he is in a good space, then we are a strong batting line-up. "The ball that got me stayed a little, and Belly too. Finn bowled well. That was a horrible delivery for Ian Westwood to get first up, pace and bounce. He had to play at it."
Sam Robson completed a career-best double century at Lord's to maintain Middlesex's superiority in their opening County Championship game of the season against Warwickshire.
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The hosts dominated the match but could not find a way past the Tigers goalkeeper, who brilliantly kept out Zlatan Ibrahimovic's long-range strike and Paul Pogba's driving effort in the first half. Media playback is not supported on this device In between, Harry Maguire should have done better with a header which he put wide of goal. Ibrahimovic hooked an effort wide in the second half and Jakupovic made his best save to prevent Juan Mata from scoring at the back post, as well as keeping out Paul Pogba's curler. The visitors could have won it with five minutes to go, but on-loan Lazar Markovic's clipped shot came back off the post and Abel Hernandez struck tamely at David de Gea. The point keeps United in sixth place, but allowed Hull to move off the bottom of the table. The rules are different for me - Mourinho Relive the entertaining draw from Old Trafford Jakupovic made a total of six saves, punching the air in delight with each effort he kept out and taking the acclaim of the jubilant away supporters at full-time. Hull have shipped 47 goals this season - only Swansea (52) have conceded more in the division - and this was just their second clean sheet in 23 league games. Asked by BBC Sport if it was his best game in a Hull shirt, Jakupovic replied: "I try to be my best for the team all the time but today I caught a good day. "The striker celebrates when he scored, and I celebrated to myself with some saves." United striker Ibrahimovic was not impressed by the Hull player's performance. The Swede said: "I did not see any chances where it was difficult for the goalkeeper. It was not a good save from Mata, it was a bad finish. Some saves he made for the cameras." United had seen all the top four sides drop points in this round of fixtures as they chase a Champions League spot, but failed to capitalise even though they had 66% possession in the match. Despite extending their run to 14 games unbeaten in the top-flight, they have drawn their last three games and are four points adrift of Liverpool in fourth place. United only had themselves to blame in a wasteful performance. Marcus Rashford, who completed a full 90 minutes for the first time since November, highlighted his team's sloppiness by losing possession 21 times - more than any other player on the pitch. Wayne Rooney was brought off the bench at half time, but failed to change the game, having become the club's leading all-time goal scorer in the previous league match at Stoke. Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "We didn't score. You don't score, it is not possible to win. "Their goalkeeper was good. "We needed to score, we needed more time to play. If you played 35-40 minutes in both halves, it is a lot. I think Hull City tried to see where they could go, the way they could behave and tried to see what the referee would allow them to do. "They had the feedback and were comfortable to do what they did. I am not critical of that. They are fighting against relegation and every point is gold. Asked by BBC commentator Martin Fisher what upset him about referee Mike Jones' performance: "If you do not know football, you should not have a microphone in your hand." Before this game, Hull had lost nine straight away games, with their last point on their travels coming at Burnley in early September. But under new boss Marco Silva they have shown enough improvement to suggest they can preserve their top-flight status. The Portuguese has led Hull to a win and a draw in his first three games - with a defeat coming against leaders Chelsea - and lie four points away from safety. Having beaten United in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final last week, Hull may even feel disappointed by not taking all three points with Markovic coming agonisingly close to clinching the winner late on. However, striker Oumar Niasse was lucky not to be given a red card after making late challenges on Michael Carrick and Daley Blind, having earlier received a yellow card. Media playback is not supported on this device Hull boss Marco Silva: "It is a very good result for us against a very good team. We played like a team with great attitude, spirit and character. What we showed tonight again, I am happy. "Sometimes you have to suffer in moments but we have to play as a team. United travel to champions Leicester City on Sunday (kick-off 16:00 GMT), while Hull host title challengers Liverpool on Saturday (15:00 GMT). Match ends, Manchester United 0, Hull City 0. Second Half ends, Manchester United 0, Hull City 0. Attempt blocked. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Daley Blind with a headed pass. Attempt saved. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Daley Blind with a headed pass. Attempt saved. Marcos Rojo (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Paul Pogba with a headed pass. Juan Mata (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Sam Clucas (Hull City). Foul by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United). Eldin Jakupovic (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match Andrea Ranocchia (Hull City) because of an injury. Attempt saved. Abel Hernández (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tom Huddlestone. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Omar Elabdellaoui (Hull City). David Meyler (Hull City) is shown the yellow card. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by David Meyler (Hull City). Foul by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United). Harry Maguire (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Antonio Valencia (Manchester United). Sam Clucas (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Lazar Markovic (Hull City) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Tom Huddlestone. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match Sam Clucas (Hull City) because of an injury. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card. Foul by Ander Herrera (Manchester United). Sam Clucas (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt blocked. Ander Herrera (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Antonio Valencia. Offside, Manchester United. Daley Blind tries a through ball, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is caught offside. Lazar Markovic (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Hand ball by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United). Sam Clucas (Hull City) is shown the yellow card. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Tom Huddlestone (Hull City). Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Lazar Markovic (Hull City). Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Tom Huddlestone. Attempt blocked. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Juan Mata. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Tom Huddlestone (Hull City).
Eldin Jakupovic made a string of fine saves as Hull frustrated Manchester United by claiming a goalless draw in the Premier League at Old Trafford.
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Comley, 20, has played twice for the R's first-team and signed a two-year deal at Loftus Road in May, having been with the club since the age of nine. His full debut came as a substitute in last season's 5-1 Premier League defeat by Leicester City. "We like what we've seen from Brandon and we think we can work with him," Carlisle boss Keith Curle said. The Islington-born midfielder, who featured in a trial match for Carlisle against Barrow, will return to his parent club on 20 February.
Carlisle United have signed midfielder Brandon Comley from from Queens Park Rangers on a one-month youth loan.
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There is no doubt what this election is about for the Conservatives. Theresa May has repeated "strong and stable" and it does not seem as though she will stop any time soon. The prime minister is determined to make this election about Brexit and how a vote for the Tories means a vote for her to have a "strong hand" at the negotiating table with the EU. An added dimension to this election is the potential for the Conservatives to make significant gains in Wales. Recent polling data from the Wales Governance Centre suggests the Conservatives may be on course to become the largest party in Wales, a huge electoral breakthrough which would see the Labour Party losing its position as the dominant party in Wales, which it has held since 1922. The significance of this was not lost on the Conservatives. Almost immediately after the first piece of polling data suggested a Tory breakthrough, Theresa May held an event in Bridgend, a constituency high up in the party's targets in Wales. As noted by Prof Laura McAllister, losing Bridgend would be a symbolic blow for Welsh Labour as it is the assembly seat of First Minister Carwyn Jones. In order for the Conservatives to win seats like Bridgend, the party is determined to push the narrative of May vs Corbyn. The opinion polls do not reflect favourably on Labour's leader in Wales and Mrs May will be repeating mantras about "strong and stable" leadership and Mr Corbyn's potential "coalition of chaos". The repetition of these phrases is likely to draw groans every time they are used, but Mrs May is determined to hammer home the point that the choice is between her and Mr Corbyn on 8 June. This is being done to the extent that Welsh Conservative election posters focus on Theresa May and do not focus much on "Welsh" Conservatives. As well as attacking Mr Corbyn, this election is also being campaigned on Brexit. The mantra of "strong and stable leadership" in Brexit negotiations will appeal to those who want to see a tough stance towards the EU and it has already seen votes haemorrhaging from UKIP to the Conservatives. The Welsh Political Barometer survey for 5-7 May asked the question: "Which political party do you think would best handle Britain's exit from the EU?". The Conservatives were by far the most-trusted party in this regard. They will want to highlight this throughout the campaign. However, the Tories in Wales will have to battle against a Welsh Labour Party that has proved resilient in the face of difficult circumstances. Labour performed better than expected in the recent local elections and it will argue this was down to the "Welsh Labour" brand. It remains to be seen whether Welsh Labour's tactic to focus on Welsh issues and to try and shift the narrative away from May vs Corbyn will be effective, but the Conservatives need to be mindful of this. The party has been accused recently of imposing candidates on local parties, upsetting some local members. If Labour try to make this election about local issues, it may spell danger for the Tories: Labour will accuse Tory HQ of taking local voters for granted by imposing candidates with no links to the local area. Responding to the Conservative candidate selection in their constituency, a Labour candidate complained that "Tory candidate chosen by Theresa May & CCHQ means a puppet MP supporting the PM's hard Brexit no matter the cost to jobs, business and environment". They argued the election is a choice between "unrestrained Tory government or independent-minded local MPs". Theresa May and the Conservatives need to be careful that Welsh Labour are not able to change the narrative. Elections are never easy to predict and there is still time for opinion polls to shift and previous projections be deemed obsolete. But as we approach 8 June, there is the potential for this election to cause a huge change in the political map of Wales - a map turning from red to blue.
Nye Davies of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre profiles the Welsh Conservative campaign
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Bempton Cliffs at Flamborough Head has the UK's largest mainland seabird colony, according to the RSPB. It said the new facilities would bring more visitors and improve their access to the thousands of nesting birds. Keith Clarkson, site manager, said: "It's absolutely fantastic. It's been 10 years in the making." The centre, which attracts about 76,000 people a year, has been closed since September for redevelopment. It now has a bigger reception, a sheltered place for education and space for community groups and family activities. The footpaths have been made more accessible and extra spaces provided in the car park. Its reopening coincides with the BBC's Springwatch programme, which is based at the nature reserve for its Easter show. Springwatch will be on BBC Two at 21:00 BST.
A visitor centre at an internationally important nature reserve in East Yorkshire has reopened after a £1.3m upgrade.
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The military hero who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815 stayed at the Kent castle regularly from 1829 until 1852. Copying a watercolour made shortly after his death, English Heritage has recreated the carpet and wallpaper in the room when he died aged 83. A pair of his original Wellington boots and his death mask are also on show. The bed and armchair he used are also on display as part of the new exhibition at the castle, which opens on Friday. Displays in other rooms explore the career of Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley and his "celebrity" status and state funeral, where more than 1.5m people lined the route. Wellington's body lay in state at Walmer for two months while preparations for his funeral at St Paul's Cathedral were taking place. "In 1852, the eyes of the world fell upon Walmer Castle as one of the most important figures of that century died within a small and modest room there," said senior curator Rowena Willard-Wright . Walmer Castle, near Deal, was completed in 1540 as one of a chain of coastal artillery forts. From 1708 it became the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, a position occupied by Sir Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother as well as the Duke of Wellington. The Lord Warden is now a ceremonial post but the holder was originally in charge of five port towns on England's south east coast.
The bedroom where the Duke of Wellington died at Walmer Castle has been recreated to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
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The most important ground floor rooms in the stately home are to be restored, while the upper floors are to be used for exhibitions and events. The principal rooms are to be recreated as they were in the 18th Century. The 8th Earl of Onslow, whose family rebuilt the house in the 1720s, has said it should remain a ruin. The Palladian mansion near Guildford was bequeathed to the NT in 1956 by the Onslow family. About 95% of the Grade I-listed house, which featured in the 2008 film The Duchess starring Keira Knightley, was damaged. The trust said it was confident a number of principal rooms on the ground floor, including the Marble Hall, Speakers' Parlour and Saloon, could be restored. A spokesman said: "The fact that so many features survived and items from the rooms are being recovered from the ashes made the case for restoration compelling. "The enduring significance of the architect Leoni's original designs means it will go back instead to look at the 18th Century decorative schemes and layout of the house." The trust said the upper floors were "less architecturally significant" and had already been altered since the house was first built. Helen Ghosh, director general of the National Trust, said: "The fire at Clandon was shocking, but gives us the opportunity not only to show our respect for the heritage of the past, but also to create new heritage for the future. "The loss of so many of the contents of the house means that we cannot return it to how it looked the day before the fire. "However, we now know more about the original layout and recognise that the enduring significance of the house is its architecture." The trust said it had looked at a number of options for the house to ensure Clandon Park remained open and accessible to the public. A spokesman said the cost of the work was expected to be met largely through the trust's insurance policy, although it would also be asking supporters for donations. Source: National Trust
Parts of Clandon Park House, which was reduced to a shell by a fire in April, are to be restored to their "original glory", the National Trust (NT) says.
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Walker, who has 27 caps and spent eight seasons at Spurs has signed a five-year deal with City. The deal, which comes to £50m including £5m of add-ons, could make him the most expensive English player ever. "I am thrilled to be signing for City and can't wait to get started," said Walker. "Pep Guardiola is one of the most respected managers in the world." Walker, who joined Spurs from Sheffield United in 2009 and made 183 Premier League appearances, added: "I feel he can help me take my game to a new level." The 27-year-old, who will wear the number two shirt, is expected to travel with City on Monday for their tour of the USA. City boss Guardiola released three full-backs at the end of last season, including both right-sided players - Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna. He missed out on the signing of free agent Dani Alves, with the Brazilian joining Paris St-Germain on Wednesday. Walker, selected in the 2016-17 Premier League team of the year, is City's third signing of the summer, after the arrivals of midfielder Bernardo Silva and goalkeeper Ederson Moraes. Walker made 31 league starts under Mauricio Pochettino last season as Tottenham recorded their highest top-flight finish since the 1962-63 season. The right-back recorded five assists for the Premier League runners-up, the joint-most for a defender in the division alongside Bournemouth's Adam Smith and Spurs team-mate Kieran Trippier, who made six of his 12 appearances from the bench. Walker also ranked highly among chances created by defenders and his 75 dribbles attempted was only less than Cherries full-back Smith (87) and Watford's Jose Holebas (88). Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker on Twitter: Kyle Walker becomes the world's most expensive defender at £50m plus. Imagine how much he would cost if he could cross the ball. Former Spurs midfielder and Match of the Day pundit Jermaine Jenas‏ on Twitter: I think it's great business for City. I am surprised Spurs are selling to a direct competitor. He's been a huge part of why Spurs have had one of, or the best defence in the league for two years. This content will not work on your device, please check Javascript and cookies are enabled or update your browser This content will not work on your device, please check Javascript and cookies are enabled or update your browser Premier League clubs' spending has already surpassed £500m since the end of last season, with Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez calling this summer's transfer window "a little bit crazy". "Every Premier League club now has more money and are willing to spend that on players," said Chris Stenson, a senior consultant from Deloitte's sports business group. "It is the wealthiest league in the world and increasing its value makes it more attractive to sponsors and commercial partners. "So far we estimate Premier League clubs have spent about £500m in the transfer window, compared with £340m at the equivalent stage last year." Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
Manchester City have completed the signing of Tottenham and England right-back Kyle Walker for an initial £45m.
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The 10-year-old Irish-bred horse collapsed after narrowly beating Thistlecrack to win the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham's Festival Trials Day. He was treated by veterinary staff before being pronounced dead. The British Horseracing Authority confirmed the horse suffered from a "severe pulmonary haemorrhage". Tony Welsh, acting chief veterinary officer for the BHA, said: "Episodes such as this are rare, and can occur in horses which have no underlying health issues, and amongst all disciplines of sport horses. "In spite of the rarity of these incidents, as a sport we are determined to do more to understand what causes these symptoms, and whether more can be done to prevent it." In Saturday's race, King George winner Thistlecrack caught Many Clouds close to the finish but the Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding, ridden by Leighton Aspell, fought back to win. Many Clouds had shown symptoms of post-race ataxia in the past, which had seen him over-heat and "wobble" on his feet, but the horse had never collapsed before, and had shown no symptoms of post-race ataxia on Saturday. Many Clouds had previously won the Gold Cup trial in 2015 and the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2014. Trainer Oliver Sherwood described him as the "horse of a lifetime". BBC horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght The crucial words here are "no significant underlying health issues". On more than one occasion, notably after his Grand National success, Many Clouds received treatment for a tendency to 'overheat', but he soon recovered, and his welfare was closely monitored by the authorities as a result. With that fact in mind, questions have been raised as to whether that condition was linked to his death, but this report concludes he was the victim of a haemorrhage rarely seen on the racetrack.
A post mortem examination revealed Many Clouds died from bleeding on the lung but that the 2015 Grand National winner had no underlying health problems.
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The 23-year-old mutually cancelled his deal at the Shrimps earlier this month but can train at the Championship side ahead of the move. "Agreeing the pre-contract deal now, I get the opportunity to bed myself in before I can play again," he said. "I think this will be a really good challenge for me." Morecambe boss Jim Bentley had spoken about selling a player to raise funds for the Lancashire side who paid their players late at the start of November. Despite cancelling Barkhuizen's contract at the Lancashire club, they retained his rights so Preston had to pay the compensation package. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.
Preston North End have signed forward Tom Barkhuizen from League Two side Morecambe for a compensation fee with the deal to go through on 1 January.
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Bell travelled around the Middle East in the early 1890s and is credited with drawing up the borders of modern Iraq. Her Grade II* listed childhood home, Red Barns, in Redcar, has since been a pub and hotel and is now empty. Redcar Labour MP Anna Turley is seeking help to save the building and use it as a museum, learning centre and tourist attraction. "Red Barns has huge significance to the local area and it is tragic that such a beautiful building with so much history has deteriorated into such a poor state," she said. The current owners have planning permission to convert the building into flats, but are "sympathetic to the building's relevance to the community", she said. The manager of Bell's photographic archive at Newcastle University, Dr Mark Jackson, said it was "desperately sad" her home had fallen into disrepair. The house was designed by renowned Arts and Crafts movement architect, Philip Webb, and the interiors were by designer and artist William Morris "so it's an architecturally important building", he added. Bell left a "fantastic record" of buildings and communities long since destroyed, including 50 photographs of Palmyra in 1900, much of which has been destroyed by so-called Islamic State, Dr Jackson said. In 2015 Nicole Kidman starred in a film about Bell's life, Queen of the Desert.
A campaign has been launched to save the childhood home of the explorer, writer and archaeologist Gertrude Bell.
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One of their own was coming home to be given the freedom of the burgh after achieving what was something akin to the moon landing of its time. Captain James Anderson, by then Sir James Anderson, was in command of the ship which laid a telegraph cable under the Atlantic. On 14 December 1866, his fellow Doonhamers put on a banquet worthy of such a significant achievement. The menu for the 200 invited guests at the Assembly Rooms was of a quality - and scale - reserved for only the most special occasions. "The dinner was plentiful, rich and well diversified," reported the Dumfries and Galloway Standard. "The bill of fare including four kinds of soup, as many varieties of fish, a haunch of venison, roasts of beef, braised beef, mutton roast and boiled, pigeon pies, venison pasties, rabbit curries, chicken curries, cutlets, blackgame, grouse, pheasants, woodcocks and many other articles. "A second course followed of puddings, souffles, mince pies, tarts, creams, jellies, blancmanges, trifles and other pastry. "The wines supplied were champagne, hock, port and sherry." It crowned an incredible journey for a boy born in south west Scotland with a passion for the sea. Dumfries and Galloway Council archivist Graham Roberts explained: "He was born in 1824, he was the son of a bookseller who had a shop on the High Street near the top of the vennel, John Anderson. "He was the fourth son - so he wasn't going to go into the family business. "He had a brief apprenticeship as a printer - he got totally fed up and said he wanted to go to sea." A passion - and aptitude - for being out on the water had been with him since his time as a schoolboy in the town. "It was when he was at the Academy that he entered the Dumfries regatta but he didn't have a boat," explained Mr Roberts. "All he had was a tin tub - which became known as Anderson's canister - and he still won the race." His family, somewhat reluctantly, eventually allowed him to join T&J Brocklebank in Whitehaven where his career went from strength to strength. His abilities as a navigator and a leader were quickly recognised. "He shot through the ranks and became a master of a ship in his early 20s and by the 1840s or 1850s he was basically head hunted," said Mr Roberts. "You didn't go from sail to steam but he did and the steam ships were the biggest." Before he reached 40, he was put in charge of the biggest of them all. "In 1862 or 1863 he was head hunted to be captain of the Great Eastern where they were trying to lay the Transatlantic Cable," said Mr Roberts. "The Great Eastern was five times bigger than any ship there had ever been before that. "It remained the biggest ship until the series of ships which included the Titanic. "When you were captaining that ship it wasn't just a small step up navigationally - it was very hard to manoeuvre it." And yet Anderson seemed to have the skills required. "A lot of people who knew him remarked on his calmness," said Mr Roberts. Bill Burns, who runs the History of the Atlantic Cable and Undersea Communications website, said Anderson was a remarkable individual involved in one of the biggest logistical operations of the day. "After the partial success of the Atlantic cable in 1858, which proved the feasibility of the project, the 1865 and 1866 expeditions were without doubt the most significant events in the industry's history up until that time and for many years to come," he said. "The Atlantic cable route, as it remains today with multiple fibre optic lines, was the most important in the world for trade, finance, and government." Mr Burns said the successful completion of the project - which cost the equivalent of $100m in today's money - was the responsibility of Samuel Canning, the engineer in charge of the expedition. However, he said that Anderson, as the captain, had "many additional responsibilities" to ensure the success of the operation, including directing the complex manoeuvring of the ship required when laying and recovering cables at great depth. "Add to that the fact that Anderson was at the helm of the Great Eastern (the largest ship ever built at that time and for many years after), which had already survived many disasters and had bankrupted its owners, and you can understand that he was no ordinary captain," he said. His first attempt to lay the cable would test his abilities to the full. "In 1865, everything that could go wrong did go wrong - they actually feared sabotage at the time," said Mr Roberts. "They were very worried there was some saboteur on board from some rival firm." That mission ended in failure, with the cable lost, but the story had gripped the nation. "Because they were laying the cable they could still keep in communication with the mainland and the reports were constantly in the papers," said Mr Roberts. "When they came back instead of being treated as losers they were treated as heroes." It prompted a big effort for a renewed attempt in 1866. "It was world news - it was the first time that a really long cable was being laid under sea," said Mr Roberts. "This was far, far bigger than anything before and they had so many challenges. "Everybody knew that if they could do that then the whole world would be linked up. "We had the railway age in the 1840s - this was the big thing, it was really the story of the 1860s in technical terms." The tale of the journey from Valentia Island, one of Ireland's most westerly points, to Heart's Content, Newfoundland generated huge interest. Not only was the 1866 attempt successful, they were also able to pick up the lost cable from the previous year and complete two telegraph links under the ocean. Anderson's part in the mission, the brainchild of American businessman Cyrus Field, brought him both recognition and proved to have a profitable side. He was seen as the ideal person to be a director of a large number of telegraph companies, including the firm that would eventually become Cable and Wireless. He was honoured by Queen Victoria but recognition in his hometown still meant a lot to him. "I should like to let you know, if I only could, how deeply I feel this your kindness," he said. "I know very well that as long as my life lasts, I shall remember it, and shall do nothing to forfeit the kindness and praise which you have now bestowed upon me." Although he lived in London by this time, he still had a soft spot for south west Scotland making regular trips back home. "He built the house at Kirkconnel Lea near Glencaple in 1872, that was his fun place," said Mr Roberts. "He also came back to give talks." His death, in May 1893, was the subject of a large obituary in the local papers and his body was brought back to Dumfries for burial in St Mary's churchyard. "In his death, Dumfries has to mourn the loss of a distinguished and devoted son," wrote the Dumfries and Galloway Standard. "His life-story, moreover, is an instructive illustration of the possibilities that wait on persevering, self-reliant, and intelligently directed effort." Not bad for a boy who once had to work overtime to save up the money needed to buy a metal "tub" to race in a regatta. A special display about Sir James Anderson is going up in the archives and local studies section of the Ewart Library in Dumfries starting on Thursday 15 December.
The people of Dumfries were in a mood to celebrate 150 years ago.
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South Wales Police said David Ellis, 40, his lodger, has been arrested in Ireland. Officers are liaising with Garda officers in connection with his extradition back to the UK. Retired telecoms engineer Mr Warburton, 59, has not been seen since 31 July. Police launched an appeal for information after he went missing; they said his M-reg Peugeot 205 had been spotted in north Wales before returning to Swansea. The car was found abandoned at Birkenhead port some days later. Police said Mr Ellis, who had been Mr Warburton's lodger in Sketty, had stepped off a ferry in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 6 August. That discovery prompted a fresh appeal for information and led to Welsh officers being sent across the Irish Sea. South Wales Police said Mr Warburton's family had been informed of the latest development in the investigation and continued to be assisted by family liaison officers. Mr Warburton's body has not been found; detectives have previously said they are treating the incident as murder.
Police investigating the murder of missing Swansea man Alec Warburton say a man they wanted to speak to in connection with his disappearance has been arrested.
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Jason Alexander, 39, used a company credit card to buy almost £91,000 of iPads, phones and computers. Alexander, of Griffithstown, Torfaen, admitted fraud and was jailed for two years in January. But at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, a judge ordered him to pay back £115,000 to his ex-employers. "It seems you were doing it as some kind of philanthropic act," Judge Stephen Hopkins QC said. "In some cases spending £5,000 on items and then selling the items to employees for as little as £180 on the philanthropic basis they will not have been able to buy the items themselves." He ordered Alexander to pay his ex-employers £115,867 within six months or face an additional 18 months in jail. "You had an enormous impact on a large number of perfectly innocent people," the judge added. "Those to whom you sold goods to now feel stupid and stressed. "The impact upon your colleagues has been awful. You have stolen from the company and there was a dip in morale for a period. "This was a gross and serious breach of trust over a substantial period of years." Alexander had control of spending at car parts company, Northern Automotive Systems in Gilwern, near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. He made 287 purchases on internet sites such as Amazon, eBay and Argos. The court heard the company's usual monthly credit card bill was in the hundreds, but when Alexander became purchasing manager the bill "increased to nearly £10,000 per month". But his scheme was discovered when suspicious company managers asked employees if they had bought cut-priced electrical goods. The conman deleted emails as well as falsifying invoices, receipts and card statements to cover his trail. Alexander, who had worked at the company for 14 years, bought petrol for his white Land Rover, red Mini and his partner's Ford Fiesta.
A man who used money defrauded from his employers to buy then sell computers to colleagues at knock-down prices must hand back more than £100,000.
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Union leaders are hoping the formation of a first so-called Dairy Producer Organisation (DPO) could help put the industry on a stronger footing. It would involve small family farms across Wales linking up to talk with milk processors as one legal entity. The hope is that streamlining the way farmers deal with creameries could attract more of them to Wales. But a report has warned that persuading farmers to join up could be a challenge, and there would be no guarantee that processors would agree to strike a deal with them. The main purpose of a DPO is to negotiate terms and conditions of supply, including price, with one or more milk processors. As such, they are exempted from some aspects of competition law. There is currently one DPO in operation in England, and one in Scotland - but they are commonplace throughout Europe, especially in Germany. A working group, involving figures from both farming unions, is investigating what role DPOs could play in securing the industry's future in Wales. Aled Jones, chairman of NFU Cymru's dairy board told BBC Wales that "farmers coming together" could lead to "a far more professional means of operating". "At the moment we deal on an individual basis with the processor but I think long term we are far stronger if we speak with one voice and have that cooperation and attitude of mind." Recent years have seen farmers protesting outside creameries over milk prices but Mr Jones said the focus should now be on "building better relationships". "Nearly half of Welsh milk is carted out of Wales to be processed and that puts us in a weak position. We saw that last year when there was an oversupply of milk and farmers in West Wales were in danger of not having a buyer for their milk." "Looking forward we must try and attract new investment or increased processing in Wales. And obviously, to do that you need to work in a professional manner." Mr Jones, who farms in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, explained that the idea offers security and added value to both producers and processors, but that setting one up could take years. A report commissioned on behalf of the working group warned that persuading farmers to take part could be far from easy. Plan needed for rural economy - Labour AM Farming collaborations have a relatively poor track record in Britain and many producers would be wary of getting their fingers burnt, said report authors Promar International. However the consultants concluded that farmers in Wales should seriously consider DPOs or live with "the insanity of accepting the status quo". UK government ministers have indicated that they see a role for them - so farming leaders claim the concept - a product of EU law - will be unaffected by Brexit. The position of many dairy producers in Wales is fragile after a tumultuous few years, during which the price of milk fell sharply. At one point in 2016 it was below 20p per litre at farm gate prices - the average price paid to all producers for milk sold to dairies. Figures show the number of dairy farms here has nearly halved during the last 15 years, with an average of three farmers a month leaving the industry. Farming leaders say that though the price of milk has recovered somewhat in recent months, many producers are still struggling and are now shouldering heavy debts. A new three part series, starting on BBC One Wales on Monday, takes an in-depth look at the industry's problems. Gareth Wyn Jones - Milk Man is on at 20:30 GMT, BBC One Wales on Monday 6 February 2017 and later on BBC iPlayer.
Dairy farmers in Wales have been urged to club together to help negotiate a better price for their milk.
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A selection of your pictures of Scotland sent in between 26 May and 2 June. Send your photos to scotlandpictures@bbc.co.uk or via Instagram at #bbcscotlandpics
All pictures are copyrighted.
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Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said the money would be given "to develop inspirational projects that could have a transformative local effect". She said it would be a legacy from next year's Great Exhibition Of The North, to be held in Newcastle and Gateshead. It comes after the government scrapped projects in the north and then backed a £30bn Crossrail 2 scheme for London. Jake Berry, minister for the so-called Northern Powerhouse, welcomed the cash injection. He said: "The North is a cultural powerhouse, as well as an economic one, and this £15m fund will give a boost to the region's vibrant culture and tech sectors. "We've already invested over £3.4bn for projects to boost local economies in the Northern Powerhouse and this latest funding will help make sure the Great Exhibition of the North creates a legacy for years to come." Under the scheme, towns and cities across the north can apply for grants of up to £4m per project via the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund. Projects such as opening a new tech start-up centre or renovating live music venues would be considered. Ms Bradley said: "We want as many people as possible to benefit from the Great Exhibition Of The North, and this fund will boost the Northern Powerhouse and help build a lasting legacy across the whole region." The first round of bids will be coordinated by Local Enterprise Partnerships in Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, East Riding, Greater Manchester, Humber, Lancashire, Leeds, Liverpool, North East, Sheffield, Tees, York and North Yorkshire. Successful projects are expected to be announced in March 2018.
A £15m cash fund to boost culture and creativity across the North of England has been announced by the government.
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Sgt Jon Harris had been sent to an alleged assault in the Waterloo Bar in Argyle Street on Wednesday night. After dealing with the incident he surprised customers by belting out the classic 70s track on the karaoke. Peter McKenna-Boyd, who filmed the performance, said: "Everybody just loved it". The officer was in full uniform at the time. Mr McKenna-Boyd told BBC Radio Scotland's The Kaye Adams programme: "Nobody expected it to happen. It was just a normal Wednesday night for us. "They've just launched their new wacky Wednesday which is a bit of a game show and a bit of karaoke." "I think the sergeant was speaking to the karaoke host and she suggested he got up to sing but I don't think she expected him to," Mr McKenna-Boyd said. "But she held him to it just before he went out the door. The other officers were outside and they heard his name called up and they ran straight back in. "They loved it as well. Everybody was clapping and cheering for him. "He was hilarious, especially his pointing and his dance moves. The other policemen were standing and clapping and cheering. Not sure if he was their boss but when they first saw him it was like their dad had just got up on the karaoke." Ch Insp Mark Sutherland, of Police Scotland, said: "Around 19.10 hours on Wednesday evening, officers were called following an alleged assault within the Waterloo Bar on Argyle Street in Glasgow city centre. "A full and thorough investigation led to the arrest of a 23-year-old male who is expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 2nd June. "Once the inquiry had concluded and the victim's safety ensured, Sgt Jon Harris from our city centre community policing team was encouraged to participate in karaoke ongoing in the pub. 'Sgt Jon' took to the stage which helped to defuse any simmering tensions in the pub. "I was pleased to see that once the incident had been professionally concluded, my officers were able to share a lighter moment with those who remained in the pub."
A police sergeant called out to deal with a brawl in a Glasgow pub ended up giving an arresting performance of Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive.
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But the inspiration for this scheme to improve health services in Zambia began in very low-tech and unhappy circumstances. Huw Jones, working in Zambia as a safari guide, was driving a Land Rover along a road in a remote part of the country. He saw a trail of blood in the road, and his first reaction was that it might have come from an animal killed by a lion. But he came across a couple on a bike - the man riding and the woman carried on the handlebars. She was pregnant and bleeding heavily and they had been cycling for hours with the aim of reaching the nearest hospital, almost 60 miles away. The woman was in a great deal of pain and her husband seemed to be in a state of shock, says Mr Jones. "In the heat and that terrain, they were desperate," he says. Mr Jones stopped to pick them up and drive them. But the woman was already weak and died in the back of the Land Rover before they could reach anyone who could give them medical help. "It affected me quite deeply. I wondered if I could do anything," says Mr Jones. It was an awful example of the lack of medical provision for rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa - and, he says, he has come across too many deaths that could have been avoided with better care. Zambia has about 1,600 doctors for a population of 14 million, and two-thirds of these are working in towns and cities, while most of the country's population is in the countryside. It means access to good quality health care is often difficult if not impossible. When Mr Jones returned to the UK, he began to develop a project to fill some of these gaps. He set up the Virtual Doctors charity, based in Brighton, which uses the expertise of volunteer doctors in the UK to provide direct and individual support for health workers in Zambia. For many communities, it is not practical to expect sick and frail people to walk or cycle for hours to hospital. So families depend on rural health centres, which have health workers but no qualified doctors. The virtual doctors project means that these isolated health centres can be supported by doctors thousands of miles away. Health workers and clinical officers on the ground use an app on a smartphone or tablet computer to take notes on a patient's symptoms and photographs. This information is sent to a volunteer doctor in the UK who helps with a diagnosis and recommends treatment. More stories from the BBC's Global education series looking at education from an international perspective and how to get in touch Cases are directed towards doctors with a relevant specialism, whether it is skin diseases or HIV and Aids-related problems. The doctor in the UK will have a list of the drugs and equipment kept in the health centre in Zambia and can suggest treatment or further tests based on what is practical and available. "For instance, there's no point calling for an MRI scan," says Mr Jones. Virtual Doctors is now supporting 19 rural health centres, which typically deal with problems such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and pregnancy-related conditions. There are also two district hospitals taking part in the project. Mr Jones says that even where there are facilities such as X-ray machines, there can be a shortage of radiologists to look at the evidence. The virtual doctors in the UK have been able to help with chest X-rays of patients in Zambia, he says. These local health centres have catchment areas of tens of thousands of people, and hospitals provide services for hundreds of thousands. And Mr Jones says the virtual doctors are now supporting health services for almost a million people. The charity wants to expand further, with discussions in progress about working with other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania and Uganda. Mobile-phone networks are improving, and that could mean moving to more direct, real-time ways of communicating, such as video conferencing. But Mr Jones says the emphasis must be on a system that is robust, simple, reliable and can be depended upon to work. The app used to connect the virtual doctors was itself made by volunteer coders and developers from the Landmark Information Group in Exeter, working in their spare time. Former Education Secretary Charles Clarke, who is supporting the project, describes it as a "brilliant initiative that brings together voluntary expertise and desperate need". The Virtual Doctor system has been backed by the Zambian government. Muyeba Chikonde, Zambia's high commissioner in the UK, said he was very pleased at the assistance being provided. He said it was in the spirit of "ubuntu" - a word used in southern Africa to suggest a philosophy of sharing and showing "humanity towards others".
The idea of a "virtual doctor" project might sound rather futuristic.
36576510
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Set in Singapore during the year 2065, Call of Duty: Black Ops III begins with a mission where players must investigate the "mysterious disappearance" of a CIA station. Ahead of its worldwide release on 6 November, US-based games maker Activision launched a series of tweets, setting up the opening scene for a fictional attack in Singapore. While the tweets aimed to tease fans and also introduced new characters to the game, many social media users were unimpressed at the way things were playing out on Twitter, saying the scenario was in bad taste. 1803: Fictional news network "Current Events Aggregate" sent out a breaking news tweet about "unconfirmed reports" of "an explosion" in Singapore's marina, exciting some gamers on Twitter while confusing others. 1814: "Emergency teams" began to converge on the area. 1821: Another update followed, confirming that the explosion took place at the "Singapore Research Laboratories" facility. 1852: Chaos ensued, causing major traffic jams around the city centre. This led to a "state of emergency" and the Singapore authorities declaring martial law. 1944: Military drones and riot police descended upon Chinatown to control the crowds. 2005: The "Singapore army" released a series of statements on the ground, establishing a "30-mile quarantine zone" and calling for citizens to remain in their homes. "There have been no claims of responsibility from any terror organization," it added in a tweet. 2035: Fictional army commander James Chung, also declared that martial law would "remain in place" until the incident was "firmly understood". 2237: The series of live tweets ended with an official message: "This was a glimpse into the future fiction of #BlackOps3" The popular first-person shooter franchise has attracted its fair share of controversy since its release in 2003. Earlier editions of the game focused on World War Two events while newer titles have been set during more recent times. Cuban authorities expressed unhappiness over a mission in one of the games, where players could attempt to overthrow and assassinate former leader Fidel Castro. Another Call of Duty expansion saw players raiding a news agency in Doha, widely speculated to be the offices of Arabic TV network al-Jazeera. Singapore's military would not give a comment on its view of the campaign, but thousands of social media have been interacting and engaging with it on Twitter. "There have been too many similar tragedies lately to joke in the way you did, without making your fiction clear," said a Twitter user in New York. Other users like Mark Lawson, criticised the stunt. "This Call of Duty stunt is so bad. So irresponsible," he said. "Faking news that could be devastating for those unaware it's video game marketing. Awful," said Twitter user Tauriq Moosa. Tech reporter Allegra Frank slammed the tweets in a blog post, saying: "As someone who has a minimum amount of story-based knowledge about Call of Duty, I can't say that the masquerade has taught me much about the game or increased my interest in it. "Instead, it stands solely as a notable failure in marketing, an attempt to grab some attention by playing to the strengths of social media during actual military action." But members of Singapore's devoted gaming community, "enjoyed the preview" in the tweets and began to hit back. "Video games now are supposed to be realistic. I think it's cool that developers have based scenarios and game play on real life events. Don't stop," said a Twitter user in Japan. "Because you would be looking at a cyber video game account and thinking breaking news events on it were real," said Twitter user Hasmid in Singapore. Another user commented: "I feel sorry for anyone who thinks this is real."
A "terror attack" has taken place in Singapore - all part of a controversial web campaign to launch the newest title from the popular Call of Duty video game franchise.
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Dwindling domestic gas and coal supplies mean the nation would become dependent on volatile imports, it adds. The report, by Cambridge Econometrics for RenewableUK, said wind power saved the UK £579 million in fossil fuel costs in 2013. The UK is recognised for having the best wind resource in Europe. "One of the main messages from this report is that in a scenario with a higher content of wind energy, you are less reliant on fossil fuels," explained co-author Sophie Billington, a researcher from Cambridge Econometrics. "This is a key message, particularly when you consider that the UK - for the past five years or so - has imported more gas than it has produced domestically." She told BBC News that under a high gas scenario (gas power plants replacing end-of-life coal and nuclear plants) and a 40% increase in gas prices by 30%, electricity prices would increase by 8%. However, under a high wind scenario (wind farms replacing end-of-life coal and nuclear plants), electricity prices would still rise but by only 4%. "For the wind scenario, you have higher upfront capital costs but fewer uncertain variable costs, leading to more price resilience," Ms Billington added. The report said that the UK electricity sector had undergone a substantial change in recent decades, shifting from a coal-based system to a more balanced mix "encompassing nuclear and gas-fired power stations, as well as emerging renewable energy technologies". It observed: "Over the next 10 to 20 years, the energy sector will need to be re-shaped again if the UK's targets to reduce CO2 emissions are to be met." In 2008, the UK established the world's first legally binding climate change target, requiring governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. Rob Norris, RenewableUK's head of communications, said that currently there were "not enough renewables in the system to meet those targets". He told BBC News: "The crucial thing is that energy policy is a long-term game and at the moment we only really know what the government support will be out to 2020. "What you really need is a long-term vision out to 2030 so then you can plan, especially when it comes to things like large offshore developments." Mr Norris said he advocated a "rich energy mix so then you do not put all your eggs in one basket". He added: "If you have different technologies, including renewables, competing against each other then the cost is driven down for the consumer."
Installing more wind turbines will make the UK's energy market more resilient to global fossil fuel price shocks, an independent report has concluded.
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Hurst joined Mansfield in June after being released by Southend, and has made 16 appearances for the League Two side this season. The 31-year-old former Sheffield United trainee had not started in a league game since 17 December. He could make his debut for Guiseley when they travel to Wrexham in the National League on Saturday.
National League side Guiseley have signed Mansfield midfielder Kevan Hurst on loan until the end of the season.
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The girl, called Nieve, was attending the Handmade Parade in Hebden Bridge on Sunday with her grandparents when the dog jumped up and bit her. She needed eyelid surgery and suffered "potentially irreparable damage" to a tear duct. The man in the e-fit is described as being broad, bald and aged about 50. A second man, also thought to be about 50 and of similar build, was present at the time of the incident, West Yorkshire Police said. Both men left the scene without checking on the girl's welfare or leaving any details. The dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier, was on a lead at the time of the incident and is described as brindle and white coloured. PCSO Gareth Helliwell said: "The five-year-old girl involved in this incident needed reconstructive surgery to an eyelid following this attack and has suffered potentially irreparable damage to her lower tear duct." The girl's family described the dog's owner as "scum", adding "she could have lost her eye, she was covered in blood and the guy just ran off, it's cowardly". She was also bitten on the ankle despite the dog being pulled away on a lead, they said. Police appealed for anyone with information about the dog or the two men with it to contact them.
Police have issued an e-fit of a man they want to trace in connection with a dog attack on a five-year-old girl.
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But the summer visitor is in decline and, according to a new study, its migratory habits may be to blame. Scientists have tagged birds leaving the UK and believe they take two different routes on their journey to spend the winter in Africa. Surprisingly, survival is lower on the shorter route via Spain, they report in the journal, Nature Communications. And this suggests that migration - as well as other factors such as loss of farmland and insect food - may be to blame for the cuckoo's decline. More than half of cuckoos in the UK have been lost over the past 20 years, according to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in Norfolk, which led the research. "That pattern of starting in the same place but taking two very different routes to get there has not been seen before in any birds, to the best of our knowledge," said lead researcher Dr Chris Hewson. "We need to understand the full annual cycle of a migratory bird in order to understand its population decline." Facts about the common cuckoo Source: British Library/RSPB/BTO Since 2011, the BTO has been satellite-tracking cuckoos to study their migration patterns when they leave the UK. Working with the University of Copenhagen, the charitable research institute used satellite tags to track 42 male common cuckoos from the UK population during more than 50 autumn migrations. The researchers found that birds from declining populations were more likely to migrate to winter breeding grounds in central Africa along a western route (through Spain) than along an eastern route (via Italy and the Balkans). The higher mortality occurred before reaching the harsh environment of the Sahara desert, despite the fact that the western route is about a tenth shorter at this point. The scientists think birds may have encountered challenging drought conditions in Spain. Alternatively, they may have been deprived of insect food such as hairy caterpillars before leaving the UK, leaving them with lower fat stores for their hazardous journey. Migratory bird species are increasingly threatened around the world due to factors including climate change, habitat change and habitat loss. Migratory birds 'lack world protection' Understanding where mortality occurs during their annual cycles is therefore increasingly important, especially for long-distance migratory land birds, which show some of the steepest population declines, say the scientists. Follow Helen on Twitter.
The sound of the first cuckoo in spring is a familiar one in the British countryside.
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On 26 October 1914 Alice Parr arrived at the government's imposing War Office in London, seeking answers about her missing teenage son. Seventeen-year-old Private John Parr had last been seen in August, on the eve of the Battle of Mons. He had been sent to search for two missing platoons and his anxious mother feared the worst when she made her way to Whitehall. "The youngest, the baby," says Iris Hunt, one of Alice's great nieces. "She must've been desperate." As a quarter of a million other boys would go on to do, 14-year-old John had lied about his age to join the Army in 1912. The Parrs shared their small terraced house in Barnet, north London, with another family - overcrowded conditions the youngest brother left behind. He was five years below the legal age at which he could be sent overseas to fight. "He was probably looking for proper clothes and decent meals," according to policeman turned local historian Michael Crick, who has followed Private Parr's paper trail. The brown-haired, brown-eyed boy was working as a caddie at his local golf course when he signed up. "He was looking for adventure and something to do with his life," great-niece Iris says. His life - like more than 700,000 others from the British Isles after him - was cut short on continental Europe. But unlike those whose bodies were never found and who have no headstone, Private Parr entered history as the first of his comrades to die fighting Germany. He would miss the horrors of the trenches, poison gas and mechanised warfare - shot and killed shortly after his 17th birthday. "He's almost an iconic symbol of that first contact of the British Army with that massive German juggernaut crashing through Belgium on its way into France," says military historian Jon Cooksey. There are no known photographs of the 5ft 3in teenager from the north London suburbs, described by his superiors as "clean, sober and intelligent" but "inclined to be insubordinate". After joining his local regiment, the Middlesex, he became a reconnaissance cyclist, trained to ride ahead to retrieve information quickly for commanding officers. When war broke out he and 1,100 other men in his battalion were shipped from Southampton to Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France as the German army was advancing into Belgium. The first major engagement of German and British troops in Europe came at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914 and there are conflicting reports of when exactly John went missing around this time. As far as the military was concerned, he was still with his regiment almost half a year later. "According to the records here, the man is still serving with his battalion," an official at the Infantry Records Office wrote on 27 January 1915. Amid the administrative chaos at the start of the war, John's worried mother seems to have known more than those in charge. "I've not heard from him at all and the War Office can tell me nothing," she wrote to the official, underlining the word "nothing". "I have heard from Berlin," she went on. "The address is from a prisoner of war - one of my son's chums - to say that my son was shot down at Mons." And this is where the mystery of Pte Parr's death begins. It has long been thought that he came across German cavalry after heading off on his bike on a reconnaissance mission from where his unit was based near Bettignies - a French village on the border with Belgium - before the August battle. Almost 70 years later, the curator of Pte Parr's local regimental museum recalled L/Cpl W Beart, one of the soldier's fellow cyclists, saying that, on 21 August 1914, the men had caught a "glimpse of Uhlans" - a German regiment. L/Cpl W Beart made it back but the comrade he called "Old Parr" was never seen again. Was one of the Uhlan soldiers responsible for the death of "Old Parr"? The shooting was apparently witnessed by an eight-year-old Belgian girl. Andy Robertshaw, a historian who traced the girl as an elderly woman, says she remembered Private Parr waving his comrade away when the two men were shot at. "Parr was in a ditch, shooting down her road to the east to give his mate time to get back to base," he says. The first British soldier died, the woman said, after a German soldier ran through her garden to shoot him. But on that night, according to Jon Cooksey, there is no way the men could have encountered any enemy soldiers. "Looking at all the documents," he says, "it's more likely he was killed on the 23rd at the Battle of Mons." He adds that John Parr's burial by the Germans in St Symphorien Cemetery, "just three miles from where his battalion fought that day", backs this up. Given the battle claimed some 1,600 British casualties, this raises the prospect that Private Parr may not have been the first to fall. Jon Cooksey has studied troop movements and war diaries on both sides. He says if Pte Parr was killed on the date on his headstone, it must either have been by a trigger-happy Belgian "terrified of the German hordes", so-called friendly fire from a French cavalry patrol or, worse, from his own side. "The point where he is supposed to have been killed couldn't by any stretch of the imagination have been correct," the author and broadcaster says. On 21 August, according to the battalion war diary, John Parr's regiment was 11 miles south of the position it would take up to fight at Mons - German units did not cross the Mons-Conde Canal until the afternoon of 23 August. There is no mention in any of the brigade or divisional diaries of any contact with the enemy, Jon Cooksey says. Nor is there any record of contact with the British in the Germans diaries. "And what a coup that would have been for that German soldier," he adds. "No such record exists." Andy Robertshaw acknowledges it could actually have been a Belgian who unwittingly fired the shot that killed Pte Parr. "If you're a Belgian, you've never seen a British soldier before," he explains. The first contact the Germans and British report is on 22 August 1914, just after dawn, when cavalry patrols from the two sides meet. And this, according to Jon Cooksey, is still another two miles north of where Pte Parr is supposed to have been killed. Back in London, it is now January 1915 and a fraught Alice Parr has heard nothing from those running the war. She received a letter from the captain of John's regiment. "He informed [me] that my son Private John Parr has been missing from the regiment since August the 23rd 1914 and has not been heard of since," she wrote again to the records office. "I should be very grateful for any information as to his whereabouts." There is nothing to indicate when Alice or her family were finally told John Parr would not be coming home. "They didn't get any closure at all," says ex-policeman turned local historian Michael Crick. "And even when they did learn months later that he was killed, they were never able to find out the circumstances." Official records refer to the "late" Private Parr almost a year after his death, on 19 August 1915 but shed no light on what actually happened to him. "In truth, the mystery is probably never going to be solved," Jon Cooksey says.
A ceremony is being held at the WW1 grave of Private John Parr - a teenager thought to have been the first British soldier killed in action in Europe - but 100 years on mystery still surrounds how he died and who killed him.
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As Abid Naseer started his cross-examination in a New York courtroom of the police officer who searched his Manchester bedroom in 2009, he commented it was nice to hear a Mancunian accent again. Six years ago, the Pakistani national had been living in the north-west English city where he plotted to kill hundreds in a bombing attack at the city centre's Arndale shopping complex during Easter weekend. Naseer, who was extradited from the UK to the United States in 2013, was convicted of providing and conspiring to provide material support to al-Qaeda and conspiring to use a destructive device. Defending himself at his trial in New York, the 28-year-old was polite, calm and professional. He denied he was involved in any form of extremism. But, according to the police officer who headed up the British investigation into his activities, his courtroom conduct was a performance designed to con the jury. In a cafe overlooking the Brooklyn courthouse where the trial was held, Det Supt Mark Smith said Naseer was a good actor, an al-Qaeda trained terrorist and a man with a determination to kill hundreds of people. He said: "He has had lots of time to develop his Westernised social skills, but I would say don't be fooled. Beneath that cool, relaxed exterior is a cold, calculated terrorist." Held in custody in the US ahead of his trial, Naseer had spent the months preparing his legal case and working out. One police officer commented that he had doubled in size since he was handcuffed and led away from a Cheetham Hill house in April 2009. Were it not for his arrest, detectives are convinced he would have gone ahead with a "mass-casualty" attack in Manchester city centre. Based upon intelligence gathered and the plots devised by other terrorists trained at the same al-Qaeda camp in Pakistan, police have pieced together what they believe would have happened. Emails sent from an internet café near Naseer's home had been intercepted in the weeks before his arrest. The final message led police to believe an attack was imminent. Known as the "Hi Buddy" email because of the way it greeted an al-Qaeda operative, it reads: "I met with Nadia family and we both parties have agreed to conduct the nikah after the 15th and before 20th of this month. I have confirmed the dates from them and they said you should be ready between these dates." The jury was told female names, including Nadia, represented different ingredients used to make bombs. Wedding, or 'nikah', was a standard al-Qaeda code for a terror attack. Based on the Islamic calendar, investigators believed this email was referring to a planned attack during the Easter weekend in 2009. Other evidence included photos of Naseer's friends standing in front of the main entrances to the Arndale centre. He claimed they were innocent pictures as they travelled around Manchester. But retired Det Ch Insp Allan Donoghue described the images as "hostile reconnaissance". He said: "That for me was the most alarming thing. To see each entrance of the Arndale Centre being photographed… that was clearly a means by which they would brief the would-be attackers as to what they would see as they made their approaches." Police think the first target would have been the Arndale Centre, which had been rebuilt following the IRA bomb attack on Manchester in 1996. The terrorists would have walked in carrying bombs made out of fizzy drink bottles in rucksacks or specially modified T-shirts. After the first wave of explosions, there would have been a second attack with more suicide bombers waiting in St Anne's Square for the rush of shoppers trying to escape. The target was chosen by al-Qaeda leaders because of the financial impact as well as the huge number of potential victims. According to Dr David Lowe, a retired special branch officer who now teaches law at John Moores University in Liverpool, it would have been a devastating attack. He said: "It would have potentially been bigger than the 7/7 attack in London. It would have sent shockwaves around the world. And it would have shown that not just capital cities are targets." The scale of the potential disaster is something the man who led the police investigation is well aware of. Det Supt Smith said the relief he felt at the time of the arrests continued today. "Every day since that time I've thought about this case and wondered exactly what would have happened if we didn't detain him. "I've always been convinced that we prevented an atrocity in Manchester."
Pakistani national Abid Naseer was convicted of plotting attacks in several countries after being extradited to the US from the UK, where police believe they averted an "atrocity" by his detention.
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Media playback is not supported on this device The former England boss won just six of 28 Premier League games in charge of the Magpies, who are just one place off the foot of the table. McClaren and his team were booed off following Saturday's 3-1 loss to Bournemouth at St James' Park - their third successive league defeat. However, in a statement McClaren said: "I remain confident that we would have stayed in the Premier League." He added: "I am obviously disappointed with the decision. "Whilst there has been a lot of intense speculation surrounding my position over recent days, my sole priority has been to maintain my professionalism and carry on with my work to best prepare the team. "For every supporter of Newcastle, I genuinely hope the club can produce the results I believe they are capable of to maintain their Premier League status." McClaren's future has been a source of almost constant speculation since the defeat by the Cherries. Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tweeted: "Newcastle have finally put Steve McClaren out of his misery. "The running of that great football club is beyond shambolic." Ian Dennis, BBC Radio 5 live's senior football reporter, said Benitez had been identified as a replacement for McClaren at a board meeting on Monday. Media playback is not supported on this device "Rafa in the driving seat to replace McClaren," tweeted former Magpies striker Michael Owen. "Whoever takes over, I still expect Newcastle to stay up." McClaren, 54, signed a three-year contract with the Magpies in June after the club avoided relegation on the final day of last season. Newcastle's next game is at leaders Leicester City on Monday. "After the defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday, the club has spent some time considering its position and has today concluded that Steve McClaren's employment with the club will end with immediate effect. "We acknowledge that reaching this decision has taken a number of days and that this has caused uncertainty for everyone involved, in particular for Steve and the players, for which we apologise. "However, we felt that this time was necessary to ensure the right decisions were reached with the best interests of the club at heart. "Managing director Lee Charnley added: 'I would like to thank Steve personally for his services to Newcastle United. "'He is a man of integrity and class and he has conducted himself with great dignity during this difficult time. "'Steve worked tirelessly to try and bring success to Newcastle United. "'He has the utmost respect of all the players, staff and management and he leaves with our very best wishes and sincere thanks. "'We feel that a change is now needed in order to give the club the best possible chance of securing its Premier League future. A further announcement on a successor to Steve will be made in due course.'" Former Newcastle defender Steve Howey agreed with Lineker that the club's handling of McClaren's sacking had been "pretty shambolic". He added: "That seems to sum Newcastle up at the moment. "Everyone thought after the defeat by Bournemouth there would be discussions straight after the game with the board - which Steve is on - and a decision could be made before the new week started. "It dragged on and, to be fair to Steve, he's shown superb professionalism. He's carried on knowing all along that he was going to be leaving." BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty: Steve McClaren was an uninspired, seemingly safe, appointment by Newcastle United after they escaped relegation from the Premier League on the final day of last season. Dismissed by Derby County after they failed to reach the Championship play-off despite strong financial backing, McClaren arrived as damaged goods. He was fortunate to get the job and it proved comprehensively beyond his capabilities, despite an £80m expenditure since the summer, resulting in just six wins and a place in the relegation zone. But how much influence did McClaren have over transfer policy? Chief scout Graham Carr appears to wield the power, but McClaren took responsibility. This unwieldy system must be scrapped and the manager must be allowed to manage, otherwise Newcastle will never escape the shadow hanging permanently over this giant of a club. Media playback is not supported on this device McClaren spent about £80m on players during his time at St James' Park, including £30m on midfielders Jonjo Shelvey, Andros Townsend and Henri Saivet in January. However, the signings have failed to help improve the club's form and they have won just one of their past six league games, conceding 14 goals in defeats by Watford, Everton, Chelsea, Stoke and Bournemouth. As well as Newcastle, Derby and England, McClaren has managed Middlesbrough, Dutch side FC Twente and Wolfsburg in Germany.
Newcastle United have sacked head coach Steve McClaren.
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The 18-year-old - making his first appearance of the season - steered home Wayne Rooney's cross to spark wild celebrations on the away bench. Moments earlier, David Meyler had blazed over in a rare Hull attack. But it was a deserved win for United, who had gone close though Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba. United and Chelsea are now the only Premier League sides with a 100% record from three games, with Manchester City - who have two wins from two games - playing West Ham on Sunday. Relive the late drama at the KCOM Stadium Rashford's winner was the climax to a performance of persistence and intelligence from the visitors, who changed tack several times before eventually breaking down Hull. Ibrahimovic arrived at Old Trafford with a reputation for audacity, but, in the first half, it was his physical size rather than mercurial skill that posed most threat. Offering himself as a constant target in the box, the Swede headed just over the bar in the 10th minute before an extravagant backheel found the side-netting. The excellent Curtis Davies blocked the more direct route to goal after the break, but the guile of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the pace of fellow substitute Rashford stretched the Hull defence in different directions and, finally, beyond breaking point. A back muscle injury which is likely to rule Marouane Fellaini out for several weeks means United will need to show similar adaptability when they meet Manchester City in their next match With Harry Maguire returning from injury on the bench, former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan had a season-high 14 fit senior professionals available for Hull. But what his squad lacks in numbers, it makes up for in spirit. Alongside Davies, Sam Clucas impressed in midfield, while Adama Diomande and Abel Hernandez chased hard to make something from the few scraps in attack. Before Meyler's late wasted chance, Tom Huddlestone saw a shot deflect just wide with David De Gea hopelessly wrong-footed as they briefly threatened a smash-and-grab victory. But, after wins over Leicester and Swansea in their opening two games, their 100% start to their top-flight campaign is over. The uncertainty over the club's future might also be at an end, however, with vice-chairman Ehab Allam writing in the programme that the match could be his family's last as owners, with takeover talks with a Chinese consortium well advanced. That deal may free up funds to supplement the Tigers' threadbare squad - Tottenham's Ryan Mason is a target - and help them continue to defy the Premier League's usual rules of gravity. Media playback is not supported on this device Alan Shearer: "I don't think it will be long before he is a regular. It has to be absolutely brilliant for him at that football club, working, training and socialising with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney." Ruud Gullit: "What I like about Rashford is that he goes straight past players. He gives you opportunities. I hope Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho considers him more because he's a great player." Hull manager Mike Phelan: "You are playing quality sides who bring quality off the bench, but I am proud of the players. They have put hard work in today without getting anything out of it. Media playback is not supported on this device "The Hull players are good players, and good people. They are determined and earned the right to be at this level. They worked hard for 12 months to be here. "We have six points from nine and that is what dreams are made of with 13 players who are fit. "We have been trying extremely hard to get players in and now have a small window. We have two or three in the pipeline but they are not done." Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "We deserved it and in a more comfortable way. We had an amazing mentality. We tried and tried and got it. Media playback is not supported on this device "I tell the boys every day we have to go into every match to win. We know we will draw or lose matches but the mentality has to be go to win. Today they showed that. "Marcus Rashford gives new problems to the opposition so I am really happy with him and the team. "We want to be champions, we don't want to start well, we want to finish well." After the international break Hull travel to Burnley on 10 September with Manchester United at home to local rivals Manchester City on the same day. Match ends, Hull City 0, Manchester United 1. Second Half ends, Hull City 0, Manchester United 1. Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Curtis Davies. Substitution, Manchester United. Chris Smalling replaces Wayne Rooney. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration. Goal! Hull City 0, Manchester United 1. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wayne Rooney. Attempt missed. David Meyler (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Adama Diomande. Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Luke Shaw. Attempt blocked. Luke Shaw (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Attempt saved. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wayne Rooney. Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Luke Shaw. Attempt missed. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner. Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jake Livermore. Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United). David Meyler (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Wayne Rooney with a cross following a corner. Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by David Meyler. Substitution, Hull City. Harry Maguire replaces Abel Hernández. Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Eldin Jakupovic. Attempt blocked. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marcus Rashford. Attempt blocked. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Eldin Jakupovic. Attempt saved. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Paul Pogba. Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick. David Meyler (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by David Meyler (Hull City). Attempt saved. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Antonio Valencia. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card. Attempt missed. Tom Huddlestone (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Eric Bailly. Attempt blocked. Tom Huddlestone (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Meyler. Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Attempt blocked. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Substitution, Manchester United. Marcus Rashford replaces Juan Mata. Tom Huddlestone (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Tom Huddlestone (Hull City). Attempt missed. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Luke Shaw. Offside, Manchester United. Zlatan Ibrahimovic tries a through ball, but Juan Mata is caught offside.
Substitute Marcus Rashford scored an injury-time winner as Manchester United finally overhauled a stubborn Hull at a sodden KCOM Stadium.
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A chain of people passed a light to each other, finishing at the cathedral. As part of the annual Peace Festival in the city, the cathedral was lit up in blue, white and red to mark Friday's attacks in Paris. The event was led by the Bishop of Coventry and the Duke of Kent. The human chain idea came from a similar event held annually in Dresden to commemorate the allied bombing of February 1945, which destroyed the city's centuries-old baroque city centre. BBC Coventry and Warwickshire was broadcasting the event live until 21:00 on Saturday. As part of the ceremony, the Saint Michael's Singers also performed Mozart's Requiem and Solemn Vespers with the Parliament Choir and the English Symphony Orchestra. Ann Lucas, from Coventry City Council, said: "With each passing year the relevance of the human tragedy of the event and how Coventry rallied to become the city of peace and reconciliation grows in significance. "Whilst remembering the horror of 1940 is vitally important, it's also key we view this as an opportunity for looking forward and ensuring that people and communities come together as a city to work towards a place we can all be proud of." In Dresden, an estimated 22,700 to 25,000 people died as a result of a series of raids by British and US bombers during World War Two.
Hundreds of people have taken part in a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Luftwaffe bombing raid on Coventry, which left 568 people dead and most of the city centre in ruins.
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Juhel Miah had flown to Reykjavik, Iceland, with the party from Llangatwg Community before boarding an onward flight to New York. But before the plane took off on 16 February, he was escorted off by security staff. BBC Wales has asked the US Embassy in London to comment. Neath Port Talbot council has written to the US Embassy to "express its dismay" at the treatment of Mr Miah, who the local authority said had a valid visa to travel. The school trip continued as planned but Mr Miah's removal left pupils and colleagues "shocked and distressed," a spokesman said. "We are appalled by the treatment of Mr Miah and are demanding an explanation. "The matter has also been raised with our local MP." The council confirmed Mr Miah has a British passport and does not have dual nationality. His family's ethnic background is Bangladeshi. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was "providing support to a British man who was prevented from boarding a flight in Reykjavik". Mr Miah, who teaches maths at the 700-pupil school, was also denied access to the US Embassy in Reykjavik, the spokesman added. "No satisfactory reason has been provided for refusing entry to the United States - either at the airport in Iceland or subsequently at the embassy. "Understandably he feels belittled and upset at what appears to be an unjustified act of discrimination." On 27 January, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting all refugee admissions and temporarily barring people from seven Muslim-majority countries, sparking numerous protests and legal challenges. A week later a federal judge in Seattle suspended it nationwide - a ruling which was later upheld at an appeals court hearing in San Francisco. Mr Trump is now considering a revised plan. Abdul-Azim Ahmed, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Wales, said he was "deeply troubled" by the incident. "What we do know is quite troubling and in the context of a school trip and the children being left with one less teacher because of this," he said. "This is the latest in a series of incidents where Muslims have been denied entry to the US which date before even Trump was elected." The school party returned to the UK on Monday after the week-long trip.
A Muslim teacher from Neath Port Talbot has been denied entry to the United States while on a school trip.
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Malorie Bantala, 21, was 32-weeks pregnant when she was assaulted by two people in Peckham on 15 June. A boy, 17, was charged on Tuesday with child destruction and grievous bodily harm. He is due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court later. Kevin Wilson, 20, was charged in June with child destruction and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The teaching assistant, of Longfield Estate in Bermondsey, who is believed to be the baby's father, denies the charge and will face a trial in November.
A second person has been charged over an attack on a pregnant woman in south London after which she lost her baby.
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Mr Kim was speaking after twin tests on Wednesday of the Hwasong-10 missile, known internationally as the Musudan. The US and South Korea say the first test failed, but the second travelled about 400km (250 miles) and reached an altitude of 1,000km. The UN Security Council expressed its opposition after an emergency meeting. Alexis Lamek, France's deputy UN ambassador, said all 15 members had "expressed a strong concern as well as their opposition to these launches," Reuters reports. A spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the tests were "a deliberate and very grave violation" of North Korea's international obligations. Existing UN resolutions, brought in because of its continuing nuclear and conventional weapons programme, ban North Korea from using ballistic missile technology. The Musudan, named by outsiders after a North Korean village, is believed by outside observers to have range of up to 4,000km (2,500 miles). That is far enough to reach the US territory and military bases in Guam, though it has never been fully flight tested. Four tests in recent months have ended in failure. The first missile launched from the North's eastern coast on Wednesday is believed to have flown about 150km before landing in the sea. But a second one launched hours later travelled at least 400km and reached a height of 1,000km. North Korea's KCNA state news agency said it had been successfully conducted, without endangering surrounding countries. Mr Kim, who as always was said to have supervised the test, said it had been "a great event". "We have the sure capability to attack in an overall and practical way the Americans in the Pacific operation theatre," he said. South Korea has not officially said whether it is considering it a successful launch. But an analyst at the state-funded Science and Technology Policy Institute said it had to be seen as such. "No other missiles fired by North Korea have ever flown that high," Lee Choon-geun was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Japan said the launch showed "a certain level of capability" and could lead to a further strengthening of North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities that could cover Japanese territory. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter acknowledged that one of the missiles "flew for a long time". In addition to a flurry of missile tests, North Korea conducted its fourth test of a nuclear weapon in January. But despite its claims, it remains unclear whether it has the ability to make a nuclear device small enough to mount onto a warhead.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country's latest missile tests show it has "the sure capability to attack US interests".
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Crews battled the fire in Littleborough, Rochdale, for several hours after it was reported shortly before 19:30 BST on Wednesday. Engines from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service attended, with back-up from West Yorkshire. Firefighters remained at the scene until after 05:30 BST and the cause remains under investigation.
About 50 firefighters tackled a large blaze at a five-storey disused mill in Greater Manchester.
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The meeting, at Mr Putin's summer residence in Sochi, comes at a low point in bilateral relations over the war in Syria and Russia's annexation of Crimea. They are expected to discuss both issues during their meeting - but no breakthroughs are expected. Mr Putin will then meet Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday. Ties between Russia and Germany have worsened since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea in Ukraine, with Germany being a driving force behind the EU sanctions imposed in response. The pair, who are among the most powerful world leaders, have crossed paths at international summits recently. But this meeting - with the official purpose of discussing the G20 summit of world leaders to be held in Hamburg in July - is the first trip Mrs Merkel has made to Russia in two years. Mrs Merkel wants Russia to seek an end to the conflict in Ukraine by using its influence on pro-Russian separatists, and also needs Moscow's co-operation to bring peace to Syria, the BBC correspondent in Berlin, Damien McGuinness, says. But President Putin equally needs Mrs Merkel's support in to lift the EU's sanctions, our correspondent adds. Mr Putin is also keen to hear her opinion of US President Donald Trump, whom she recently met. The pair spoke frequently before the breakdown in communications since 2014, and were said to have a grudging respect for one another. She speaks Russian, having grown up in communist East Germany, and he speaks German, from his years working for the KGB in Dresden in the 1980s. Russian news outlet Tass said the pair would discuss terrorism, the Middle East, and the Minsk agreements on the Ukraine crisis, quoting a Kremlin press source. But both sides have downplayed the prospect of major breakthroughs during their meeting in Sochi. Germany remains critical of Russia's actions in Crimea in 2014, and the two leaders stand opposed on the war in Syria. The German domestic intelligence agency has also accused Russia of being behind a series of cyber attacks on state computer systems. In contrast, Mr Putin's scheduled meeting with the Turkish president the following day comes at a time of increased co-operation between the two nations. While they back opposing sides in Syria's civil war - with Moscow supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Ankara his opponents - the two countries began carrying out joint air strikes against the so-called Islamic State in January. The joint operation came a little over a year after Turkey shot down a Russian military jet, resulting in a crisis in bilateral relations. US President Donald Trump is also scheduled to speak to President Putin by phone on Tuesday, the White House announced Monday night. They are expected to discuss the war in Syria.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to meet Vladimir Putin in Russia for the first time since 2015.
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Eight year-old Phoebe Hanson wrote to BBC Radio 4's PM saying she worried how the "bongs" would be replaced while Big Ben is being repaired next year. PM's editor, Roger Sawyer, told Phoebe: "It would be quite a task." A Facebook post by Phoebe's father, Jon Hanson, about the exchange has been liked and shared thousands of times. The "Big Ben" bell, after which the Palace of Westminster's Elizabeth Tower is more commonly known, is expected to fall silent early next year for the first time since 2007 for a three-year renovation project. The work will cost £29m and involve repairs to the clock's hands, mechanism and pendulum. Replying to Phoebe's letter on 12 December, Sawyer said he was "very much taken with your idea", but there could be some operational obstacles because "the bongs are live". He explained: "You'd have to rush in after school each day (and at the weekend), rush home for tea, homework, a bit of chillin', then a quick sleep. "And then - here's the hard bit - you'd have to rush in again at midnight, because there are live bongs again before the midnight news. "That's an awful lot of work for someone who is still quite young. I wouldn't like to do all that." Speaking to BBC News, Mr Hanson said: "She was listening to Radio 4 in the car and Eddie Mair was saying that Big Ben would stop chiming next year, and she said, 'Oh no, we have to do something about it. I want to write a letter.' "She was absolutely stunned to get a reply, and was so pleased she took it to school and showed everyone. "She takes things very literally as she is on the autism spectrum, so I think she still wants to do the bongs. "I'm very proud of her. I work in IT and we try to increase our internet presence, but then she has stepped in and done it in one fell swoop." Writing on his Facebook page, Mr Hanson called Sawyer's response "priceless". "She thinks I should drive her up to Broadcasting House and back twice a day," he told others who had commented on his page. Sawyer said that although he was surprised to receive the letter, he was aware that the bongs at the end of the programme "seem to chime with the younger audience especially - no pun intended". He said Phoebe's hand-written letter - accompanied by a covering letter - suggested she could hum the Westminster chimes before playing her own instrument for the bongs, and that she could record everything on her own microphone brought with her to the studio. "What I say to people who ask what the job [of working on PM] entails is that it requires a lot of determination and tenacity, but also what is vital is imagination and free thinking," he said. "She has a great future because she has that ability to problem-solve in a free thinking way. Those are the kinds of skills that the BBC needs."
A girl who offered to replace Big Ben's chimes on BBC radio has been let down gently after an editor warned her of the long hours that would be involved.
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His decision to replace chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton with Nick Brown was met with some surprise last week. MPs Holly Lynch and Conor McGinn have resigned, it was confirmed. Ms Lynch tweeted it was "time to focus" on her marginal constituency while Mr McGinn said it was the "right time" to concentrate on his seat and his family. A spokesman for Mr Corbyn thanked them for their service and said that their positions would be filled "in due course". As his reshuffle continued, Mr Corbyn said 10 MPs who left the front bench in a mass walkout over the summer were returning. They are Jack Dromey, Pat Glass, Sharon Hodgson, Roberta Blackman-Woods, Kevin Brennan, Louise Haigh, Jenny Chapman, Matthew Pennycook, Nick Thomas-Symonds and Emma Lewell-Buck. Mr Corbyn said: "I am pleased to announce the appointment of 21 MPs to our front bench, 14 of whom are women and four of whom are from the black and minority ethnic community. "I welcome back the 10 who have returned, and look forward to working with the eight talented MPs joining the front bench for the first time." But, in response to the removal of Ms Winterton, the chairman of the parliamentary party, John Cryer, wrote to Labour MPs to protest that he had not been kept informed about the reshuffle despite being engaged in talks with the leadership on putting some shadow cabinet posts up for election. However, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, a Corbyn ally, contradicted the claim. She told BBC Radio Four's The Westminster Hour: "He was consulted. We felt it was important to have a full shadow cabinet in place for Parliament coming back." Whips are appointed to help ensure their party's discipline, including making sure MPs vote in line with the leadership. St Helens North MP Mr McGinn clashed with Mr Corbyn in August, when he accused him of threatening to use Mr McGinn's father, a Sinn Fein councillor, to "bully me into submission" after he spoke out against the Labour leader. On his website, he said he had been "very grateful" to the new chief whip for "offering me the opportunity to stay" but "I explained to him that I felt it was the right time for me to leave the front bench at this reshuffle to concentrate on my constituency responsibilities and my young family". He said the new team had his best wishes and thanked the "outstanding" Dame Rosie and colleagues for their support. Ms Lynch tweeted her best wishes to Dame Rosie's replacement, Nick Brown, adding: "It has been a pleasure to serve with @labour whips but with one of the most marginal seats, it's time to focus all my efforts on Halifax." Meanwhile, there were reports on Sunday that Labour rebels were planning to form their own "shadow shadow cabinet", in competition with the front bench, to produce its own policy initiatives.
Two Labour MPs have resigned from the shadow whips' office, just days after party leader Jeremy Corbyn began reshuffling his front bench.
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Leanne Wood made the comments in a BBC TV debate, which took place a day after the terrorist attack in London. Ms Wood also said that she would like to see the highest tax rate raised from 45% to 50%. She said she would be willing to put up taxes to fund public services. Referring to the prime minister's speech in the wake of the attack, where she said there had been "far too much tolerance of extremism in our country", Ms Wood pointed to the fact that Mrs May had been home secretary for six years prior to being prime minister. "Since 2010 she has been in a position to do something about this," she said. "And if we have been too soft on extremists as she claims, then doesn't she need to take some responsibility for that?" Speaking on Election Questions on BBC One, Ms Wood said Plaid "would be open to a discussion" about putting income tax up for higher earners in Wales, once powers are devolved. "For those who can afford to pay the most we would," she said. Pushed on the subject again if, "in principle", she would put tax up in such a way, she said: "For the additional rate of income tax people who currently pay 45%, we would like to see that go up to 50%. "That would bring in a British context £3bn extra to spend on public services." But she qualified that by adding: "When income tax comes to Wales we will be having a different conversation." Income tax varying powers could devolved to the assembly from 2019. Asked if it would be the time to trigger a campaign for independence if there was a "very hard Brexit", she said: "It may well be". "If that final deal is going to be very bad for Wales then we need to consider all options at that time," she said.
Theresa May should take responsibility if Britain has been too soft on extremists, the leader of Plaid Cymru has said.
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It is being performed at Curve theatre in Leicester, the city where Townsend lived and where the book is set. The writer worked on the musical before her death last April and her family have given their blessing to the production going ahead. There will be more than 30 performances over the next four weeks. The author's family were at Curve for the opening night. Her husband, Colin Broadway, said his wife had been "thrilled" to be working on the musical during 2012-14. The role of Adrian is being shared by Lewis Andrews, Sebastian Croft, Joel Fossard-Jones and Toby Murray. The roles of Pandora, Nigel and Barry are each being shared by three actors. This has meant everything has needed rehearsing four times. Executive producer Chris Stafford said: "For us this is something that is the culmination of three and a half years' worth of work, but also we really hope it to be a fitting tribute to Sue, that will really introduce Adrian Mole hopefully to a new generation of audiences."
A musical version of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13ยพ has opened as a tribute to the book's author Sue Townsend.
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His lecture, to be broadcast later this year, is part of a raft of new BBC Radio 4 programmes unveiled on Monday. They include Glenda Jackson's return to acting, in a drama based on a cycle of 20 novels by French writer Emile Zola, and a Late Night Woman's Hour. Also announced is that Miles Jupp is to take over as the new host of BBC Radio 4's comedy show The News Quiz. Prof Hawking said he hoped his lecture would "encourage people to imagine and explore the possibilities of science - both the known, and the as yet unknown". He will also answer some questions sent in by listeners ahead of the recording. "I will describe the remarkable properties of black holes, including the fact that very small black holes aren't black at all, but glow like hot bodies," he said. "We should never stop trying to tell these extraordinary stories from science, and I hope my Reith Lecture will enthuse a new generation to develop ideas that will have an impact on our understanding of the world and never to be overwhelmed by the task of discovery." The BBC Reith Lectures began in 1948, with a talk by philosopher Bertrand Russell. Last year, surgeon Atul Gawande examined the future of medicine. Past lecturers include artist Grayson Perry, politician Aung San Suu Kyi and conductor Daniel Barenboim. Prof Hawking's lecture coincides with BBC Radio 4's plans to mark the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. BBC Radio 4 controller Gwyneth Williams, who announced the new season along with BBC director general Tony Hall, said: "I know that our discriminating audience will be inspired by Prof Hawking's magnificent challenge "never to stop trying to tell… extraordinary stories from science… and never to be overwhelmed by the task of discovery'." The rest of the season includes: Double Oscar winner Glenda Jackson's return to acting after more than two decades in politics comes in an adaptation of Emile Zola's 20-volume novel series Les Rougon-Macquart. Entitled Blood, Sex And Money, the series is described as "a multi-stranded immersive experience that draws us into 19th Century France". There will be three seasons, broadcast at six-monthly intervals, with the first beginning on 21 November. Jackson is cast as 104-year-old Adelaide Fouque alongside Robert Lindsay, Georgina Campbell, Fenella Woolgar and Ian Hart. Late Night Woman's Hour sees Lauren Laverne join the Woman's Hour team in August for a special series containing "mischievous and unbridled" conversation, during which she will share presenting duties with Jane Garvey. Woman's Hour will continue in its regular slot.
Prof Stephen Hawking is to present this year's BBC Reith Lecture, with a talk on black holes.
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Media playback is unsupported on your device 13 January 2015 Last updated at 16:34 GMT Adelaide and Victoria in southern Australia have seen some of the worst bushfires for 30 years. Injured possums, koalas, kangaroos and wallabies have been arriving at animal rescue centres almost every day. A charity called IFAW appealed for the public to sew tiny mittens, to help protect koalas that had burned paws. So many people sent in mittens, they received enough to last them for a year. Now the charity has asked people to sew comfy pouches help the injured baby kangaroos, called joeys, recover. The pouches help keep the babies warm but have to be changed after every feed, so up to six pouches are needed for each animal every day. The animals are being looked after by keepers at Adelaide Zoo. Once they're better they will be released back to the wild.
Wildlife sanctuaries across southern Australia have been helping injured animals - by asking the public to sew mittens and pouches!
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The images are all the more striking when you consider that Mr Jenkinson, 42, from Y Ffor, near Pwllheli in Gwynedd, is blind. He suffers from panhypopituitarism, a condition which has left him with just 5-10% vision in his left eye and 50% in his right eye. He has no perception of 3D and is also colour-blind. Nevertheless, he is a keen photographer who works hard to capture "the best shot I can". Mr Jenkinson, who was diagnosed at the age of 28, said doctors think the condition was caused by a piece of his skull not forming correctly in the womb. This allowed fluid from his brain to squash his pituitary gland and his optic nerves. "The last 10 years or so have been crushing, medically," he said. "I was put on hormone therapy and have been taking steroids for 14 years but a side effect of that is that I now have osteoarthritis in both knees and hips." An operation to try to correct his vision was not successful and temporarily left him with seizures. He has also suffered a "severe" aneurysm and 18 months ago, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. A former building control officer for Gwynedd council, Mr Jenkinson's health problems have meant he has not been able to work for a decade. "I have had some very, very low days after my cancer diagnosis, even some suicidal moments," he said. "But my photography helps me cope. "When you're concentrating on something, like how to get the best shot or where to set up your tripod, you're not thinking about your problems. "I hope my story will help others in the same situation to know that there can be some light at the end of the tunnel, as I have found in my photography."
From Afon Dwyfor to the animals in the Welsh Mountain Zoo, Paul Jenkinson's pictures show his native north Wales in all its glory.
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She stressed that to kill a police officer was "to attack the fundamental basis of our society". But Mrs May also said police officers must end "frivolous" accident claims and focus on raising public trust. Earlier the Police Federation urged her not to base legislation changes on the behaviour of a "handful of officers". During her address, Mrs May said suing someone after slipping on their property was "not the sort of attitude" officers should exhibit. Her comments come after it emerged recently that one police officer, PC Kelly Jones, had taken legal action after tripping on a kerb at a Norfolk petrol station in August. Mrs May also revealed plans to allow police to take over shoplifting prosecutions where goods taken were worth less than £200. Unveiling plans for a change in legislation at the Police Federation conference in Bournemouth, Mrs May announced the government proposal that the minimum term for killing an officer should be increased to life without parole. The current minimum sentence for a police murder is 30 years. By Danny ShawBBC home affairs correspondent Theresa May's whole life tariff for police murderers is being welcomed by rank-and-file officers - but it's unlikely to quell the anger felt by Police Federation members about the government's programme of cuts and reforms to the service. High on their list of concerns is an idea, currently the subject of negotiation, which would allow chief constables to make police compulsorily redundant. Officers say chiefs could get rid of officers they don't like or those approaching pension age - and with no industrial rights there'd be nothing police could do about it. A final decision on whether the home secretary will go ahead is expected in the summer. The federation would no doubt toast Mrs May if she abandoned the whole idea. The home secretary told rank-and-file officers the murder of a police officer was "a particularly appalling crime". "We ask police officers to keep us safe by confronting and stopping violent criminals for us," she said. "And sometimes you are targeted by criminals because of what you represent." She added: "We are clear - life should mean life for anyone convicted of killing a police officer." The Criminal Justice Act 2003 permits Justice Secretary Chris Grayling - following consultation with the Sentencing Council - to make an order to change starting points for sentences. In this instance, it enables him to change the starting point from 30 years to a whole life order, meaning offenders could not be released other than at the discretion of the secretary of state on compassionate grounds - for example, if they are terminally ill or seriously incapacitated. The Sentencing Council, the official body that oversees sentencing in England and Wales, issues guidelines for judges and magistrates to work to for all offences other than murder. A spokesman said: "Introducing whole life tariffs for those who murder police officers would involve changes to the law, which is a matter for Parliament, rather than the Sentencing Council." But he confirmed that the government had a duty to consult with the council before new legislation could be brought in. The Sentencing Council says that, as things stand, whole life orders can be imposed in murder cases "if the court decides that the offence is so serious that the offender should spend the rest of their life in prison". There are currently 47 prisoners in England and Wales who have been given whole life tariffs, including Rosemary West and "Yorkshire Ripper" Peter Sutcliffe. The home secretary, who faced a question and answer session after her speech, was heckled at last year's conference after she told officers to "stop pretending" they were being singled out and would "have to make their share" of public spending cuts. Police Federation chairman Steve Williams, who had earlier welcomed Mrs May's sentencing plan, told her morale was low as a result of the government's programme of cuts and reforms. Speaking at the conference, he urged the home secretary not to "hang your reforms on the reprehensible behaviour of a handful of officers". The biggest applause came when he called for the government to abandon plans for compulsory severance, which are currently subject to negotiation. Chief Inspector of Constabulary Tom Winsor, who is behind hotly debated changes such as fast-track recruitment and lower annual pay for new constables, was also due to address officers. On Tuesday, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the three-day conference that government plans to withdraw from the European Arrest Warrant agreement would make it harder to catch criminals who went on the run abroad.
Criminals who kill police officers in England and Wales will face compulsory whole life sentences, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced.
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The 23-year-old has played nine league games for the Spireites this season, all as a substitute, but started two cup matches. The 6ft 4ins former Ivory Coast Under-20 international has made 98 appearances in total for Chesterfield since joining them in January 2013. Gnanduillet previously had loan spells at Tranmere and Oxford.
Stevenage have signed striker Armand Gnanduillet from League One side Chesterfield on a one-month loan.
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French firm EDF, which is financing most of the £18bn Hinkley Point project in Somerset, approved the funding at a board meeting. Contracts were to be signed on Friday. But Business Secretary Greg Clark has said the government will "consider carefully" before backing it. EDF chief executive Vincent de Rivaz has cancelled a trip to Hinkley Point on Friday following Mr Clark's comments. Critics of the plan have warned of environmental damage and potential escalating costs. They are also concerned that the plant is being built by foreign governments. One third of the £18bn cost is being provided by Chinese investors. Hours after EDF's board voted to approve the £18bn power plant on Thursday, the government launched a further review of the project. This stunning new development came all the way from the top of government and the timing seemed calculated to cause maximum impact. EDF executives were taken completely off guard, the post-Brexit run of major investment is abruptly halted and what precious entente cordiale in Anglo-French relations there is left after the EU referendum result seems diminished. Is it a genuine pause for a new government to read the small print of a project that is two administrations old, or a signal of a potential change in policy? Simon Jack: Hinkley delay is a high stakes bet Tom Greatrex, the chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, urged the government to make a decision as soon as possible. "We need to get on and do this and that's why I'm hoping the government make their decision very soon because if it goes on for a lengthy period of time we are going to run the risk of having real problems in terms of our energy supplies," he said. "Then what happens is that we end up paying a lot more and we end up paying for much more dirty power which we can't afford to do if we are to meet our climate commitments." Claire Jacobson, head of climate, energy and environment policy at the EEF manufacturers' organisation said the government's decision was "yet another blow to a decision that has been hindered by many delays and uncertainties". Hinkley Point C is expected to provide 7% of the UK's total electricity requirement. Announcing the approval of investment on Thursday, EDF had described the plant as "a unique asset for French and British industries", saying it would benefit the nuclear sectors in both countries and would give a boost to employment. However, the project has been hit in recent months by concerns about EDF's financial capacity. Despite the Chinese investment, Hinkley Point would remain an enormous undertaking for the stressed French company, which has had to raise money from its owners. Earlier this week, EDF shareholders approved plans to issue new shares to raise €4bn (£3.4bn) to help pay for the project. Ahead of Thursday's vote on whether to approve the project, an EDF board member, Gerard Magnin, resigned, saying the project was "very risky" financially. Earlier this year, EDF's finance director, Thomas Piquemal, had resigned amid reports he thought Hinkley could damage EDF itself. 5,600 workers on site at peak 4,000km electrical cabling 230,000 tonnes of steel 5.6m cubic metres of earth to be moved Environmentalists are also concerned about the plan. Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "Countless experts have warned that for British families this power station will be terrible value for money. He added that EDF's decision to go ahead with the investment, "doesn't prove the UK is open for business post-Brexit - it just shows the Hinkley deal became too big to fail in the eyes of British and French politicians". The campaign group added that more investment was needed for renewable energy such as offshore wind. Jan 2006 - Government proposes nuclear as part of future energy mix Mar 2013 - Construction of Hinkley Point approved Oct 2013 - UK government agrees £92.50 per megawatt-hour will be paid for electricity produced at the Somerset site - around double the current market rate at the time Oct 2015 - EDF signs investment agreement with China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) July 2016 - EDF board approves final investment decision, but the UK Government postpones a final decision on the project until autumn.
Plans to build the first new UK nuclear plant in 20 years have suffered an unexpected delay after the government postponed a final decision until the early autumn.
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