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The West Indian Carnival in Leeds was launched in 1967 and once again will take over Potternewton Park for the August bank holiday weekend. An exhibition recording its heritage, political and cultural legacy is planned for the city's Tetley gallery. There will also be a week of new plays commemorating carnival at West Yorkshire Playhouse. Live updates and more from Yorkshire Additionally, it has been announced that an illuminated night carnival will kick-off the annual arts and light festival Light Night in October. A recreation of the Sun Goddess, the first Leeds Carnival Queen costume, will be featured at the exhibition from August to October. The celebration of food, music and culture will culminate again in a parade through Chapeltown and Harehills. An estimated 160,000 revellers attended last year's carnival, organisers said. Arthur France initiated it after becoming homesick for his native St Kitts and Nevis. Mr France, head of the organising committee, said: "When you come to carnival it is electric, so many things going on, beautiful costumes, beautiful colours, beautiful music." However, attempts to bring the parade into the city centre have been shelved. Mr France said he was "very sad and upset" at the council decision but added that it would not "dampen my spirits". Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "A lot of events are happening on the bank holiday weekend and with the advice it just wouldn't be possible." Ms Blake added: "The oldest carnival in Europe is here in Leeds. We are so keen to make sure as a city we come together and everyone celebrates an incredible achievement." She praised Mr France as a "legend" that had made "an absolutely fantastic contribution heading up a brilliant team of people".
Plans have been announced for the "oldest carnival in Europe" to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
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Retailers must now ensure the products are covered up and no longer in public view unless a customer asks for them. Shop managers and assistants who break the law could face fines of up to £5,000 and six months in prison. The move follows similar restrictions introduced for larger stores and supermarkets in 2012. Other outlets such as pubs and clubs also have to keep cigarettes out of sight. Cardiff retailer Bobby Singh called the ban "pathetic" and said he did not believe it would stop people smoking. Public Health Wales backed the new law and said the restrictions were a "very important development in improving health in Wales". A spokesman added: "They will play an important role in reducing the appeal of smoking."
Display restrictions on cigarettes and tobacco products sold by small traders in Wales have come into force.
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Leave Means Leave, which is backed by senior Tory backbenchers, says the measure would help get net migration below 50,000. It is currently running at 273,000 a year. Anti-Brexit campaigners said such a move would cause skills shortages that would damage business and the NHS. Leave Means Leave wants to combine the Australian points-based system with plans for work permits which would come into force after the UK has left the European Union. The report is authored by independent MEP Steven Woolfe, who quit UKIP following an altercation with a colleague that left him in hospital. In a speech on Monday, Mr Woolfe will say: "We need an immigration system that is fair, flexible and forward-thinking. "It must be fair in its outlook, flexible in practice and forward-thinking for our economy. "Brexit is not about splendid isolation - it's about re-engaging with the world, without our wings clipped by the European Union." But he said introducing "strict controls, an annual cap and a five-year freeze on unskilled migrants" would "reduce net migration year-on-year, lessen the strain on our public services and help build a more cohesive society". Asked on Sky News about claims his plan would deliver a huge blow to the UK economy, he said that view was based on the idea of a mass exodus of migrants which he did not believe would happen, adding that his plan would lead to a more gentle reduction. Conservative former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson, a member of Leave Means Leave, said the "overwhelming majority of Britons feel absolutely no resentment towards workers or students from overseas". But he added: "Mass migration at its current level has fostered resentment, depressed wages and placed an excessive burden on our public services." The report was condemned by members of the cross-party Open Britain group. Conservative MP Anna Soubry said: "We have seen encouraging signs from the prime minister that she accepts and understands the reality facing British business - they will continue to need overseas workers for years to come. "Migrant workers contribute to our economy and to British culture - we should be welcoming them in the traditional spirit of British tolerance. "Leave Means Leave clearly don't understand why British business relies on migrant workers." Labour's Pat McFadden said the prime minister faced a choice between going "down the road advocated by this kind of plan" or taking a "more realistic and honest approach to the Brexit negotiations on immigration and other matters". Under the Leave Means Leave plan, there would be no cap on highly skilled workers, entrepreneurs or investors but unskilled visas would be halted for five years. Work permits would only be granted if the applicant had a job offer with a minimum £35,000 salary and had passed an English language test, signed a five-year private health insurance contract and had savings in the bank. Up to 50,000 temporary work permits would be issued initially for agricultural workers, tapering off to zero by the third year. There would be no restrictions on the numbers of students who wanted to head to the UK. Exemptions would be made for health workers if they were needed from overseas but the report says the focus should be on increasing the number of Britons working in the medical profession. EU nationals already settled in the UK would have the right to remain indefinitely as long as Brussels adopted the same approach to UK citizens living in Europe, the report says. But the government should immediately announce a cut-off date for when new arrivals stop qualifying, tit added.
Unskilled migrants should be stopped from moving to Britain for five years to help reduce net migration, a report by a pro-Brexit group has said.
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The Giants' Blair Riley replied to David Clarke's early goal as the sides went in level after the first period. Matt Towe, James Desmarais and Steve Saviano on the powerplay were on target in the second period, with Matt Carter scoring for the hosts. Stevie Lee pulled one back on the powerplay in the final period. Saviano had scored four goals as the Giants saw off Fife Flyers 7-2 at the SSE Arena on Saturday night. Jerome Leduc found the net twice in that game, with Mike Forney also getting his name on the scoresheet. The Giants are next in action against Manchester in Belfast on Saturday 4 March.
The Belfast Giants secured their second Elite League win of the weekend by beating Nottingham Panthers 4-3 away from home on Sunday.
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The crash happened at about 17:35 GMT. A woman was also injured in the crash, but her injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward.
An 18-year-old man has died after being injured in a two-car road crash on the Lisburn Road in Saintfield, County Down on Wednesday.
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It made the allegations in a damning report compiled after interviews with more than 200 Rohingya refugees who fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh. One mother recounted how her five-year-old daughter was murdered while trying to protect her from rape. She said a man "took out a long knife and killed her by slitting her throat". In another case, an eight-month-old baby was reportedly killed while five security officers gang-raped his mother. An estimated 65,000 members of the Muslim minority community have fled to Bangladesh since violence broke out in Myanmar - also known as Burma - last October. Nearly half of those interviewed by the UN said a family member had been killed. Of 101 women interviewed, 52 said they had been raped or experienced sexual violence from the security forces. Many told investigators that members of the army or police had burned hundreds of Rohingya homes, schools, markets, shops, and mosques. Numerous testimonies "confirmed that the army deliberately set fire to houses with families inside, and in other cases pushed Rohingyas into already burning houses", the report states. Many victims said they were taunted as they were being beaten or raped, with the perpetrators telling them: "What can your Allah do for you? See what we can do?" UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein said: "The cruelty to which these Rohingya children have been subjected is unbearable - what kind of hatred could make a man stab a baby crying out for his mother's milk? "I call on the international community, with all its strength, to join me in urging the leadership in Myanmar to bring such military operations to an end." The country's government and its de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi have previously dismissed claims of rights abuses and insisted that the security forces follow the rule of law. However, Ms Suu Kyi's spokesman told the BBC that the latest allegations were extremely serious. The spokesman said officials would look into them immediately.
The UN has accused security forces in Myanmar of committing serious human rights abuses, including gang-rape, savage beatings and child killing.
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Defender Fabio Da Silva is closing in on a Premier League return with promoted Middlesbrough. He could be followed out of the exit door if acceptable bids are made. "We don't want to lose anyone in the group, but [at] any club apart from the top ones, every player has their price and you have buy-out clauses," he said. "In terms of players going, the Fabio one has been well-documented but nothing has changed on that, it is an ongoing process. "Obviously there are a few players at the club we are willing to listen to offers for and that won't change between now and the end of the window. "We talk about it as a club, as a head coach I get a very big say in that, but like any club, players have their prices and if clubs reach that price and turn the players' head, it is very difficult. "If players have high offers, obviously you listen to those offers." Trollope, who has left the Welsh coaching set-up to focus on his managerial career, says he has spoken with defender Jazz Richards. Richards, formerly a Swansea player, was booed by Cardiff supporters in their season opener at Birmingham for his apparent reluctance to 'do the Ayattolah' - a cult Cardiff celebration which involved tapping your head with both hands. Cardiff even went to the lengths of releasing footage that showed Richards did do the celebration at St Andrews. Trollope told BBC Radio Wales Sport that he does expect Richards to "respect the club's traditions." "I spoke to Jazz, he is aware of the club's traditions and obligations and it is something that happened during the game that I was not aware of," Trollope explained. "We have got evidence and he assures us that he did it, which I think some of the supporters saw. "But moving forward I don't think it will be a problem. "He performed at a good level for us on Saturday, we were pleased with his contribution, but we don't need these things going on around it. "He's aware of our expectations. He was focused on the game and he did it, that's the main thing and it is a learning curve for him for the next games as to what he should be doing." Cardiff travel to Trollope's former club Bristol Rovers tomorrow night for a clash in the first round of the EFL Cup.
Head coach Paul Trollope says every player at Cardiff City "has their price," before the transfer window closes.
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The Blue Sticks are contesting their first ever World League semi-final, having defied their modest world ranking to reach the Lee Valley event. The Scots - coached by Alan's father Derek - play India, the Netherlands, Pakistan and Canada in Pool B. "We play hockey to play against the best so it's a great opportunity for us," Forsyth, 25, told BBC Scotland. "We do have a tough group but we're now at that level where, whatever team you get, it's going to be a tough game. "That's why they are all in the top 13 teams in the world." The Hockey World League semi-final in London features 10 teams and precedes the second semi-final in Johannesburg, which takes place from 9-23 July. Seven teams go through to the finals in Bhubaneswar to join hosts India in December. Crucially, 10 teams from the London and Johannesburg semi-finals will join hosts India and the five continental champions at the 2018 World Cup, which is also being staged in the east Indian city. Scotland began the tournament last September in World League 1, ranked 28th in the world. Having qualified for the first of the semi-finals as the best ranked third-place finisher at World League 2, with a 4-0 win over Wales in Belfast, Scotland are now 23rd in the rankings. However, they are the lowest-ranked nation in the tournament, some way short of their opponents. In their opening game in London they play India, ranked sixth in the world, while the Netherlands are fourth, Pakistan 13th and Canada 11th. Forsyth, formerly of Kelburne, will be a key man for the Blue Sticks and is the youngest player ever to reach 50 Scotland caps. The Surbiton attacker, who made his Scotland debut in 2009, is also accustomed to playing against the world's best players as part of the Great Britain team. Forsyth scored four goals in last month's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia and was man of the match in the final when GB beat world champions Australia 4-3. He not only wants to help Scotland reach the World Cup for the first time, but is desperately keen to emulate the Rio Olympic success of GB women's hockey team. "I've always wanted to play hockey and at the highest level possible," said Forsyth, who has scored six goals in his 15 GB appearances. "I want to be playing in Olympics, fighting for an Olympic gold medal. "I'll always have that aim. You have your ups and downs but you've got that goal in sight and everyone at training with GB is chasing the same thing. "I was disappointed not to play in Rio but I just look forward and hope that I'll be in Tokyo in 2020. I need to stay consistent and push myself to the next level." Reading's Lee Morton and Kenny Bain of Dutch side HGC are among those in Derek Forsyth's 18-man squad, but it is the play of Scotland skipper Chris Grassick with which his Surbiton, Scotland and GB team-mate is most familiar. Grassick has returned to the Scotland set-up having recovered from a cruciate ligament injury sustained while playing for GB a year ago. Alan, the top scorer in England's Premier Division last season, said of the midfielder: "Chris is my best mate. He was one of the reasons I moved to Surbiton. He moved there two years before I did. "It's nice to have a close friend doing the same as you. You can work off each other." Wei Adams (Dusseldorf), Tommy Alexander (Reading), Russell Anderson (Cannock), Tim Atkins (Reading), Kenny Bain (HGC), Michael Bremner (Klipper), Gavin Byers (Grove Menzieshill), Callum Duke (Hillhead), David Forrester (Edinburgh University), Alan Forsyth (Surbiton), David Forsyth (Qui Vive), Chris Grassick (Surbiton), Ed Greaves (Loughborough University), Gordon McIntyre (Wimbledon), Willie Marshall (Surbiton), Lee Morton (Reading), Nick Parkes (Surbiton), Jamie Wong (Edinburgh University).
Striker Alan Forsyth says Scotland will relish facing some of the world's top teams in London in the next week.
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The militants, who call themselves Sinai Province, posted pictures online of what looked like a missile followed by a large explosion on the ship. Egyptian officials said a coastguard vessel caught fire after a fire-fight with militants on the shore. The army said there were no casualties, contradicting the militants' claim. The incident happened in waters off the north Sinai town of Rafah, which neighbours the Gaza Strip. The SITE Intelligence Group carried a statement and pictures from Sinai Province which it said showed a guided anti-tank missile moments before it struck the vessel, and then the moment of impact. Witnesses said they saw other naval boats rushing to the scene to rescue those on board the burning vessel. It follows a wave of attacks on the Egyptian military by Sinai Province. Earlier this month, more than 100 people - including at least 17 soldiers - were killed in clashes after militants launched near-simultaneous raids on military checkpoints in Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah in Sinai. Analysis: BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner Not surprisingly, there is a wide gap between the two versions reporting the maritime attack off the north coast of Sinai. IS - specifically their local affiliate called "Sinai province" - claim they fired a shore-to-ship missile at the craft and support this with photos on social media showing a massive fireball that would certainly have killed many crew and possibly destroyed the whole ship. Egypt officially denies there were any casualties, saying there was a fire-fight during which a coastguard boat was set on fire. Since anyone found contradicting official casualty figures there risks a $60,000 fine, it is likely that the truth lies somewhere between the two versions. Either way, this is a worrying development for shipping in the region. It comes just two weeks after a major battle between Egyptian forces and IS in Sinai, and it's clearly proving difficult to remove the militants and their growing arsenal from the area. Egypt has vowed to rid its Sinai Peninsula of the militants, and has had a state of emergency and a curfew in place since last October. Sinai Province was previously called Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Champions of Jerusalem), but announced a name change in November 2014 when it pledged allegiance to IS, the militant organisation that has taken over large parts of Iraq and Syria. The group has been on the rise since the military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013, and has killed at least 600 police and armed forces personnel since then. Jihadist attacks on shipping in the Middle East
Islamic State-affiliated militants in Sinai say they have carried out a missile attack on an Egyptian naval vessel in the Mediterranean Sea.
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It follows last month's announcement that Birmingham Prison is to become the first jail in the UK to be privatised. Prison officers are banned from going on strike, but the ballot will seek the members' views about "industrial action up to and including strike action". The government says contingency plans involve the police and military. About 30,000 members of the Prison Officers' Association (POA) in England and Wales will take part in an indicative ballot, which will be considered by union leaders before they decide their next move. POA general secretary Steve Gillan said prison officers were "angry" at the government's privatisation plans. National chairman Colin Moses said: "It is vital members have their say through the ballot box and decide what course of action they are prepared to take to support their colleagues, who have been sold off to the private sector." "Prisons should not be run for profit and whilst Ken Clarke took great pride in announcing the privatisation of these prisons, the POA remains of the view that it is the state's responsibility to imprison its citizens and not profiteers". A Ministry of Justice spokesman said its aim was to avoid "any form of industrial action" and it would continue to talk to unions. "However, given the risks and complexities involved in running prisons, it is sensible and appropriate to review our contingency plans for dealing with widespread industrial action," he said. "There was a previous trilateral agreement with the police and the military for the provision of support to prisons and we are currently reviewing those arrangements and working with the MoD and police to ensure that our contingency arrangements are as strong as possible." Source: Prison Reform Trust In March, security firm G4S was awarded the contract to run Birmingham's 1,400-inmate jail and Featherstone 2 prison, a new jail opening near Wolverhampton. At the time, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke said the move would save money and improve performance on issues such as cutting reoffending rates. Birmingham and Featherstone 2 were among four prisons whose management had been put out to tender. Mr Clarke also announced Serco would continue to run Doncaster Prison, which was built by a private company, and it would become the first prison to be run on a "payment by results" basis, with the firm getting its full payment only if reoffending rates were reduced. The other prison - Buckley Hall, in Rochdale - will continue to be run by HM Prison Service. Thirteen private prisons already exist in the UK - 11 in England in Wales, and two in Scotland - but Birmingham is the first existing public sector prison to be contracted out. The 13 prisons are each managed by one of three firms - Kalyx (previously UKDS), Serco or G4S Justice Services.
Prison officers in England and Wales are to be balloted on industrial action over the privatisation of jails, the Prison Officers' Association has said.
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16 January 2017 Last updated at 13:09 GMT Nominating officer Michelle O'Neill said the DUP's actions had "diminished the credibility" of the political institutions and said it was now "over to the people to have their say".
Stormont faces collapse after Sinn Féin refuses to nominate deputy first minister.
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A European Commission spokesman said while progress was made on Sunday, "significant gaps" remained. Europe wants Greece to make spending cuts worth €2bn (£1.44bn), to secure a deal that will unlock bailout funds. Greek deputy prime minister Yannis Dragasakis said that Athens was still ready to negotiate with its lenders. He said Greek government proposals submitted on Sunday had fully covered the fiscal deficit as demanded. However, Mr Dragasakis added that the EU and IMF still wanted Greece to cut pensions - something Athens has said it would never accept. IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard said in a blog post that an agreement will require "difficult decisions", with "tough choices and tough commitments to be made on both sides". The cash-strapped nation is trying to agree a funding deal with the European Union and IMF before the end of June to avoid a default. Eurozone finance ministers will discuss Greece when they meet on Thursday. The gathering is regarded as Greece's last chance to strike a deal. The Commission spokesman said: "President [Jean-Claude] Juncker remains convinced that with stronger reform efforts on the Greek side and political will on all sides, a solution can still be found before the end of the month." The talks come as Germany ramps up pressure on Greece. Vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday that European nations were losing patience with Greece. Germany wanted to keep Greece in the eurozone, but writing in Bild he warned that "not only is time running out, but so too is patience across Europe". Mr Gabriel is also economy minister and head of junior coalition partners the Social Democrats. His article is seen as a warning, particularly as his party has been more sympathetic to Greece in the past. "Everywhere in Europe, the sentiment is growing that enough is enough," he wrote. Greece is seeking to avoid defaulting on a €1.5bn debt repayment to the IMF due by the end of the month. Creditors have demanded cuts in spending in return for another tranche of bailout funds. But Greece's ruling left-wing Syriza party, led by Alexis Tsipras, was elected in January on promises to ease up on the highly unpopular austerity measures, increase the minimum monthly wage and create more jobs. However, on Saturday Mr Tsipras warned the Greek people to prepare for a "difficult compromise". €320bn Greece's debt mountain €240bn European bailout €56bn Greece owes Germany 177% country's debt-to-GDP ratio 25% fall in GDP since 2010 26% Greek unemployment rate How serious for us is the Greek tragedy?
The latest round of talks between Greek and EU officials in Brussels has failed to reach an agreement.
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Most tax accountants would advise a wealthy family on "gifts" - payments of money - to their children and how to ensure they are not liable for inheritance tax by making payments in tranches to avoid breaching tax thresholds. Mr Cameron's family appear to have done this, and Downing Street says the payments were made by the Prime Minister's mother to "even out" the inheritance payments made to her children following her husband's death. Not to avoid tax. When Mr Cameron's mother dies, her estate becomes liable to inheritance tax. Under the "seven-year rule", if she dies before 2018, the value of that estate will include earlier gifts to her children. The rule was put in place to stop parents simply transferring assets to their children shortly before they died to avoid tax liabilities. Some may argue that it is morally wrong and that everyone should order their affairs so they take no advantage of rules which allow people to pay less tax on their wealth. And, of course, many millions of people are not wealthy enough to ever have to consider such issues. Whatever critics may desire, the UK's tax law is not governed by a "morality code", it is based on statute and is structured so that people, by following the rules, pay no more tax than they are legally obliged to. In fact, in one part of Mr Cameron's tax affairs, he has actually paid more tax than legally necessary, by waiving the tax-exempt £20,000 allowance that prime ministers receive to cover the expenses of holding the office of PM. He still faces questions, though. Downing Street is providing no details about the £72,000 the PM received for selling "other shares" beyond his investment in Blairmore Holdings. Or the £40,000 he received in cash from his stockbroking account. It is argued by some that Mr Cameron should reveal which shares he invested in and how he structured those investments. Also, it is worth noting that revealing tax returns reveals very little about a person's absolute wealth - which is a wholly different matter and one which the French economist, Thomas Piketty, would say is the real issue at hand when it comes to debates about wealth inequality. As he did in an interview with me last week. What the PM has done today is change the rules on what politicians will be obliged to reveal about their formerly private tax affairs. It is difficult to see how any member of the Cabinet, and indeed the whole government, can refuse to give details of their own tax affairs going back six years. To refuse would raise the question - why not? Members of the Opposition front bench will be under similar pressure - pressure that goes beyond, for example, what John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has so far published. In six short days, the prime minister has travelled from a position of "this is a private matter" to a personal tax shock and awe. For politicians, and possibly many other people, he has changed the long-held principle that tax is a private matter in a way that will reverberate for many years to come.
One person's tax planning is another person's tax avoidance - so whether David Cameron's tax affairs are controversial or not is really a matter of where you stand on the payment of tax.
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This weekend will be my first outing at the Stade Jean-Bouin as I didn't take part last year. Those that did play recall tricolours aplenty and a rousing French crowd who were enjoying sevens rugby in Paris for the first time since 2006. With South Africa 25 points clear at the top of the standings with two tournaments to play, they only need to make the quarter-finals to secure the overall series title. Samoa shocked a few people when they claimed victory in Paris last year, coached by Damian McGrath. He now coaches Canada, who claimed a well-deserved but unanticipated victory in Singapore in the last round. This weekend, the series welcomes newly qualified Spain. They won the qualification tournament in Hong Kong and will compete as a core side on the tour next season, having played in the Olympics last summer. They are a passionate group and will be a tough opposition for us as we meet them in our first group game on Saturday. The grand finale will again take place in London on 20 and 21 May. Returning to Twickenham for the 10th and last leg of the series is a particularly special occasion for us in the England team. Setting foot on the hallowed - and incredibly well kept - turf at the home of rugby is a dream for many young players in England and it was no different for me. There is part of me that still feels awestruck when I allow myself to picture that moment standing in the tunnel leading the team out in front of the home crowd. The eight-year-old me playing at East Grinstead Rugby Club didn't even dream this big. The London Sevens also provides a rare opportunity for us to play in front of friends and family. 90% of our playing time is overseas and, while this allows us to connect with fantastic support for England around the world, our friends and family only enjoy the experience on TV. So this is the occasion when we get to truly share the excitement of the journey with our loved ones. The roar we get at Twickenham is like no other. A pre-tournament treat for our home leg is choosing which song will play when we take the field, but whatever we choose, the music is lost in the sound of cheering fans and this is the most motivating song we could ask for. In 15-a-side rugby, the difference between players' positions and roles is very clear. This is not always so obvious in sevens, where you have to be a bit of a jack of all trades - everyone must tackle, pass well, achieve certain speeds (minimum 32kph) etc. Loosely we can divide up a squad into four categories - playmakers (scrum-half, fly-half), strike runners (centres, wings), enforcers (props), and link player/fetcher (hooker). I'm a playmaker, and we are responsible for running the attack and manipulating defences. Often the playmakers are also the kickers and sweep behind the line in defence. The strike runners, such as Dan Norton, are the headline grabbers. They specialise in hot stepping and high speeds, and can hit speeds in excess of 37kph, which is over 10m per second. Tom Bowen utilises both of these attributes brilliantly to beat defenders. The enforcers are often the big boys, but even the props in sevens will run 1,200m in just over four minutes. These guys are often the bosses at the set piece and are also the physical presence in attack and defence. The link player/fetchers are most commonly the hookers. Often these guys are the dogs - putting their heads in tackles and rucks for 14 minutes. "Housewives' favourite" Phil Burgess is an ever-present in this role and so these guys need to have a good engine. One player missing out on Paris through injury is Richard de Carpentier. He has been a force to be reckoned with on the World Series this year, terrorising opposition with his steam-train carrying and wrecking-ball defence. On and off the field, "Chippy" enjoys a witty quip. At scrum time he has been known to have a jibe at the opposition prop and he is always on the lookout for a joke. Just don't steal his tea bags otherwise you'll see a different side to him. Appropriately, Rich picked up the award this week for England Sevens player of the year at the RPA awards. I am sure he is "dead chuffed" (his words, said like a true Lancashire lad).
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series arrives in Europe for the final two legs of the season - Paris and London.
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Kiel Hauley, 33, Jonas Marcius, 23, and Adrian Morley, 33, deny assaulting and murdering Craig Grant, of Inverurie, outside the Galleria shopping centre in August last year. Witness Shaun Wheeldon said he saw Mr Grant being held on the pavement. He said he was "shocked" to see Mr Grant's face was light grey. Mr Wheeldon told the High Court in Aberdeen he could see two men restraining Mr Grant on the ground outside Tonik and stopped to speak to a bouncer. He said: "He just said he had been in the club and he was highly drunk." Mr Wheeldon said there was "quite a commotion" outside the bar with a lot of people standing outside. Advocate depute James Keegan QC asked: "How did you react when you saw his face?" He replied: "I was shocked at the colour of him. He was light grey." Mr Keegan asked: "When you saw the colour of him what did you think?" He replied: "That he was in a bad way." He said Mr Grant's friends were trying to intervene when police arrived at the scene because he had shown no response on the ground. He told the court police took over and tried to sit him up. He said: "They sat him up like a teddy bear. It wasn't a recovery position." Mr Keegan asked: "When you say a teddy bear what do you mean by that?" He replied: "Because he was limp." The trial continues.
A man was limp "like a teddy bear" after he was restrained by bouncers on the ground outside an Aberdeen bar, a murder trial has heard.
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The group, a mix of students and activists, were arrested while taking part in a protest two weeks ago against a new education bill. They face possible jail terms on charges including insulting civil servants and refusing to disperse. Video of the protests showing people being cornered by police and beaten sparked international condemnation. President Thein Sein of Myanmar (formerly Burma) has defended the action of officers, telling the BBC that in many Western countries a similar situation might have ended in gunfire and death. In addition to the 65 people in court in the town of Letpadan on Wednesday, another five have been charged in absentia. Eleven people who were released on bail will be charged at a later date. All could face jail terms of up to six years. The BBC's Jonah Fisher, at the court, says relatives and supporters gathered outside the building with flowers, water and food for the detainees. Riot police were deployed to keep back the crowds. Our correspondent says that while there have been reforms in Myanmar since the end of military rule, the case shows that its laws and legal system remain dated and repressive. The students began a protest march from Mandalay to Yangon (also known as Rangoon) in January, in opposition to a bill which centralises control over higher education. They were calling for more power to be devolved to universities and higher education institutions, the right to form student unions, and teaching in ethnic minority languages. The march was technically illegal as it did not have official approval. The two sides had been in negotiations, and the authorities had agreed to let the students continue to Yangon. But the students were angered by police opposition when they reached Letpadan, 140km (90 miles) north of Yangon, and clashes broke out as they attempted to break through police lines. Scores of students and some police officers were injured, while more than 100 people were arrested. The government has announced an inquiry into the response of the security services, state media report. Young Burmese have been at the forefront of several protests in Myanmar over the years, including a notorious 1988 uprising against the former ruling junta.
Sixty-five people have appeared in court in Myanmar to be charged over a student protest that ended in violence.
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Nia Griffith said her party offers "investment in Wales, versus cuts from Westminster" by the Tories. She urged people to "imagine the price" if there was a Conservative government in Wales as well. "Labour changes peoples' lives when we are in government", Ms Griffith added. She reinforced the message of First Minister Carwyn Jones, who told delegates on Saturday that the assembly election in May would be a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives. "Together we are fighting for Wales in Westminster and taking on the Tories' appalling treatment of our nation," Ms Griffith said. "We need to tell families up and down the country about what our Welsh Labour government is delivering. "Investment in Wales, versus cuts from Westminster - jobs for our young people, not leaving a generation behind. "That's the difference that a Labour government makes. Labour policies promised then delivered because we are in government. "So don't listen to those who say we should be happy just shouting from the sidelines, that principled opposition is better than political power. "If we take that attitude we may as well shut up shop." Ms Griffith pointed to Labour's establishment of the NHS, introduction of the minimum wage, and delivering devolution with the creation of the National Assembly. Meanwhile Mr Jones has said income tax rates in Wales would stay the same as those in England under a Labour Welsh government. He told the Sunday Supplement programme on BBC Radio Wales he would not use new powers to increase income taxes if Labour won the assembly election. "People have a real squeeze on their personal finances and the last thing I want to do is add to that pressure," he said, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has proposed an increase of 1p in the pound for taxpayers in Scotland.
Labour makes a difference in power, not in "principled opposition", the shadow Welsh secretary has told the party's Welsh conference in Llandudno.
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And perhaps to some it may seem bullish to deny the youngest kids a free lunch, even if free breakfast is on offer. The move has sparked taunts of "May, the meals snatcher" - reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher's infamous cancelling of free school milk. But to Theresa May's Conservatives it was a policy that no longer added up. The party does not believe "a free school lunch for every child in the first three years of primary school... is a sensible use of public money". It's one of those tough decisions - but a free breakfast, cheap at a 10th of the price, now seems a more desirable alternative to the Conservatives - although the value of the free-lunch scheme has never been assessed. For some, the idea - brought in by the coalition government in 2014 - was always too expensive. It was very much a Liberal Democrat policy and plans were announced by Nick Clegg at his party's conference in 2013. It was not long before his man in the education department, the then schools minister David Laws, was accused of understating the costs of the policy itself. This he denied, but the then Education Secretary Michael Gove sought reassurance from the Treasury that schools would not be forced "to subsidise meals by reducing their spending on teaching and learning". Those opposed also started to claim it might cut into the budget used to provide much-needed extra school places. And in a sense, the Conservatives do not want to be seen to be funding free dinners when in this tougher school-funding climate heads are saying they are unable to pay for some of the basics. They say the pressures on their budgets are much more about the unfunded extra costs of teachers' pay, pensions and national contributions. Valentine Mulholland, head of policy at the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "After the nightmare of bringing this policy in at breakneck speed and all the capital funding spent to upgrade kitchens and dining facilities, it's pretty sad to see this U-turn." A BBC News Freedom of Information request just six months before it was due to come into force, in September 2014, found 2,700 primary schools needed new catering facilities before they could even think about offering free meals to all infant pupils. Primary school heads had complained they were being asked to do something undeliverable in the time allowed. In any event, as they so often do, schools managed the challenge that landed in their laps. Perhaps this is why teachers and heads appear to feel so upset at the idea of scrapping free lunches - even if breakfast is being offered instead. National Union of Teachers general secretary Kevin Courtney said cancelling the universal offer of a hot meal in the day is "mean-spirited and wrong-headed". The policy did not make sense, or represent value for money, given the investment many schools had already made in kitchens and staffing, he said. "It is a long time for a child to go without food from the morning until 3:30pm, which will be the case for many families in work but struggling." Mr Courtney's claim may seem alarmist to some, but it will ring true for many teachers, who often raise the issue of pupil hunger. Nicky Gillhespie, school business manager at Cheam Fields Primary, said things were very different before her school introduced free school meals. "We had children coming in with nothing. "There were some who'd been given a pound by their parents to stop and get something in the sweet shop for lunch on the way to school," she said. The school in Cheam, south London, had no kitchen when the free school meals pledge was made and dinners were driven over to the school by a catering firm. "Burgers were kept warm in trays of hot water, for example, so they looked really pale and the children just didn't want to eat them," she said. Since then, with the help of a government-funded kitchen pod worth £70,000, the school has seen a complete change of culture. Uptake on meals went from about 85 to 300 a day - and there were some individual success stories. "There was one girl who would only eat rice and now she eats a full diet, like all the other children," Miss Gillhespie said. "It did enable us to change the whole culture of the school - but without that being funded, I do think that it's going to be eroded away. "Parents still think £2.30 is too much to pay for a meal and if they've got two children or even three or four, it's a lot of money. "There must be so many children on that breadline, who wouldn't be entitled to free school meals, but will now be put off because they have to pay for it."
"Mean-spirited" and "wrong-headed" is how teachers' leaders have described Theresa May's plan to scrap free school meals for infant pupils in England.
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Police have charged a 32-year-old Norwegian man over both attacks. The man dressed as a police officer was arrested on tiny Utoeya island after an hour-long shooting spree. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said many people were still looking for their children and had not so far been able to locate them. He was speaking after meeting victims and relatives with Norway's King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon in the town of Sundvollen near the island. Values attackedHome-grown plot?In pictures: Shock Mr Stoltenberg said he was "deeply touched" by the meetings. "We will do whatever we can to give them as much support as possible," he said. Earlier he said that he was due to have been on Utoeya - "a youth paradise turned into a hell" - a few hours after the attack took place. The suspect is reported by local media to have had links with right-wing extremists. He has been named as Anders Behring Breivik. Police searched his Oslo apartment overnight and are questioning him. The BBC's Richard Galpin, near the island which is currently cordoned off by police, says that Norway has had problems with neo-Nazi groups in the past but the assumption was that such groups had been largely eliminated and did not pose a significant threat. Police say they are investigating whether the attacks were the work of one man or whether others helped. "At Utoeya, the water is still being searched for more victims," deputy police chief Roger Andresen told reporters. "We have no more information than... what has been found on [his] own websites, which is that it goes towards the right and that it is, so to speak, Christian fundamentalist." By Richard GalpinBBC News, near Utoeya A search is going on not just on the island itself, but also in the waters around it because a lot of people tried to escape by jumping in the water and trying to swim away. Even as they did that, eyewitnesses say, the gunman opened fire on them. The chatter now is that it took the police an hour, if not an hour and a half, to actually get to the island. Of course that gave the gunman so much time to kill so many people. Also crucially, the police were throwing all their resources at the huge bomb attack which had just taken place in the centre of Oslo. But still, the question will be asked: Were there not police nearer to this area who could have moved in much more quickly? Local media report that police are investigating claims by witnesses that a second person was involved, apparently not disguised in a police uniform. A farm supply firm has confirmed selling six tonnes of fertiliser to Mr Breivik who is reported to have run a farming company. Speculation has been rife that fertiliser could have been used in the Oslo bomb. The number killed in the island shooting spree, which is among the world's most deadly, had been put at 10 on Friday - but soared overnight. Hundreds of young people had been attending the summer camp organised by the governing Labour Party on Utoeya island. Eyewitnesses described how a tall, blond man dressed as a policeman opened fire indiscriminately, prompting camp attendees to jump into the water to try to escape the hail of bullets. Some of the teenagers were shot at as they tried to swim to safety. Armed police were deployed to the island but details of the operation to capture the suspect remain unclear. After his arrest he was charged with committing acts of terrorism. Profile: Anders Behring Breivik Police say they discovered many more victims after searching the area around the island. They have warned the death toll may rise further as rescue teams continue to scour the waters around the island. The gunman is reported to have been armed with a handgun, an automatic weapon and a shotgun. "He travelled on the ferry boat from the mainland over to that little inland island posing as a police officer, saying he was there to do research in connection with the bomb blasts," NRK journalist Ole Torp told the BBC. "He asked people to gather round and then he started shooting, so these young people fled into the bushes and woods and some even swam off the island to get to safety." One 15-year-old eyewitness described how she saw what she thought was a police officer open fire. "He first shot people on the island. Afterward he started shooting people in the water," youth camp delegate Elise told Associated Press. The attacks sparked strong international condemnation, with US President Barack Obama expressing his condolences and offering support. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II spoke of her shock and sadness in a letter to King Harald. In Oslo, government officials urged people to stay at home and avoid central areas of the city. Shards of twisted metal, rubble and glass littered the streets of central Oslo left devastated by Friday's enormous explosion. Windows in the buildings of the government quarter were shattered and witnesses described how smoke filled the atmosphere around the blast site. The BBC's John Sopel in Oslo says there is a heavy military presence, with checkpoints around the quarter. Mr Stoltenberg said civil servants were among the dead in Oslo and he knew some of those killed. There are also concerns that more victims may still be inside buildings hit by the initial massive explosion.
At least 85 people died when a gunman opened fire at an island youth camp in Norway, hours after a bombing in the capital Oslo killed seven, police say.
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According to a statement released by the other two members of the band, the singer and guitarist had left "indefinitely". In an interview with Rolling Stone, drummer Travis Barker and bassist Mark Hoppus described complications with writing and recording a new album. However, DeLonge posted "to all the fans, I never quit the band" on Instagram. He continued: "I was actually on a phone call about a Blink 182 event for New York City when all these weird press releases started coming in. "Apparently those reports were 'sanctioned' from the band. Are we dysfunctional - yes. But, Christ. #Awkward." A poster for an upcoming Blink 182 show at an event organised by Travis Barker suggests the guitarist would be replaced by Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba. Many of DeLonge's recent posts on Twitter consist of promotion for his other band, Angels & Airwaves, with several links to their the latest album The Dream Walker. Last summer he performed with Blink 182 in their headline set at Reading and Leeds Festivals. According to his bandmates, the guitarist's manager sent an e-mail which said: "Tom. Is. Out." Mark Hoppus claimed this is identical to a message they received in 2005 when DeLonge went on hiatus before reforming in 2009 ahead of the release of the band's sixth studio album Neighborhoods in 2011. Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube
Tom DeLonge has denied that he is leaving Blink 182.
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He held off a late charge by Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo in a nail-biting climax and leads his team-mate by eight points after Hamilton took third. Mercedes' decision to switch Hamilton to a three-stop strategy got him back ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. When Ricciardo followed suit, he closed rapidly on Rosberg, who just held on. Australian Ricciardo rejoined just under 30 seconds adrift, with 16 laps remaining, and initially sliced into Rosberg's advantage at nearly three seconds a lap. But as the laps ticked by the advantage of Ricciardo's fresh tyres began to fade and the edge was taken off his charge. Rosberg had just enough pace, despite managing fading brakes, to keep the Red Bull at bay, crossing the line just 0.488 seconds ahead for a win that could prove crucial in the destiny of the world title. Listen as Rosberg holds off Ricciardo to win Singapore GP Hamilton had an out-of-sorts weekend, qualifying only third, 0.7 seconds slower than Rosberg, lacking grip after failing to set up his car properly because of track time lost to a hydraulic failure in Friday practice. He drove a steady race, unable to do anything about Rosberg and Ricciardo ahead of him, and intermittently pleading with his engineers to come up with a strategy that could gain him places. Both Mercedes drivers were struggling with overheating brakes and Hamilton struggled so much that he was caught by Raikkonen in the second stint, and actually lost third place following a mistake at Turn Seven just after half distance. Listen as Raikkonen passes Hamilton for third Raikkonen made his second stop at the end of the lap, Hamilton a lap later, and the world champion rejoined still in fourth place. At this point, Mercedes decided to switch Hamilton's strategy and unleashed him from managing his tyres and told him to close on Raikkonen. Hamilton's final pit stop on lap 45 triggered his rivals to follow suit, with Raikkonen pitting on the following lap and Ricciardo the lap after that. The move worked for Mercedes - it leapfrogged Hamilton back ahead of Raikkonen and despite being on super-soft tyres rather than the ultra-softs chosen by Ferrari, Hamilton was comfortably able to hold on to the final podium place. Behind the top four, McLaren's Fernando Alonso ran fifth from the start of the race after a quick getaway. It took him down the outside as Force India's Nico Hulkenberg and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz collided, and he passed Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat into the first corner. Alonso held on to the place through the subsequent safety car period and the first and second stops, fending off heavy pressure from Sainz's team-mate Daniil Kvyat and Verstappen. Around mid-distance, Alonso got some breathing space thanks to an intense battle between Kvyat and Verstappen. Listen to Hulkenberg's crash at the start The fight had added needle because of the Russian's demotion in Verstappen's favour after four races this season and after Kvyat had squeezed Verstappen close to the wall on a couple of occasions to keep him behind, the Dutchman complained over team radio. In the end, Red Bull pitted Verstappen to give him some clear air to exploit his pace - a decision that ultimately won him sixth place. But as the race progressed and strategies diverged, Alonso was passed by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, recovering strongly from a start at the back of the grid following a suspension failure in qualifying, and found himself defending from Verstappen, who was on fresher tyres, in the closing laps. The extra grip from the rubber and the superiority of the Red Bull car meant Verstappen could pull off an aggressive dive down the inside of Turn Seven with a handful of laps to go. Alonso had to be satisfied with seventh, behind Vettel and Verstappen, a strong performance at the end of a difficult weekend for McLaren. Jenson Button retired at two-thirds distance after an early pit stop to replace a damaged front wing and spending much of his time struggling with poor grip at the back of the field. Singapore Grand Prix race results Singapore Grand Prix coverage details
Nico Rosberg retook the World Championship lead from Lewis Hamilton following a grandstand finish to the Singapore Grand Prix.
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A review of research for the Reading Agency says reading for pleasure does much more than boost educational outcomes among adults and children. One recent study quoted - of 4,000 UK adults - says reading for pleasure can help them enjoy social occasions more. It can also boost children's emotional understanding, the research adds. In general, the study found reading was associated with enjoyment, relaxation and escapism. The research involving a poll of 4,000 people that is cited by the report looked at how mental and physical health can be boosted by the enjoyment of reading. It said those who read regularly for pleasure: It also cited research carried out in Germany, with children aged seven to nine, that looked at possible links between literacy and emotional understanding. The report focused on the impact of after-school literacy sessions in which children's books with emotional content were read and discussed by the group. It found the scheme enhanced the children's emotional vocabulary, knowledge and understanding of emotions. It also found boys were more "positively influenced in their capability to recognise masked feelings than girls". The report concluded that: "Reading is closely linked to increasing understanding of our own identities and can also play a large part in relating to others, understanding their world views and so forth." Sue Wilkinson, chief executive of The Reading Agency, said the findings of the report showed that "everything changes when we read".
Getting stuck into a good book can boost people's ability to relate to each other and increase their empathy, a report suggests.
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Performers from the comic opera L'elisir d'amore gathered outside the Bow Street venue in full costume at 20:30 BST, alongside members of the audience. The theatre said the interruption was a false alarm and the show had restarted. People took to Twitter after being caught up in the real-life drama. Grace Mallon tweeted: "Exciting times at Elisir d'Amore @RoyalOperaHouse - first time I've been evacuated for a fire alarm in the middle of a performance!" Matt Innes‏ tweeted: "Delightful Donizetti interrupted for a fire alarm, but about to restart to a cheer. Blitz spirit right here." Michael Amon‏ added: "#royaloperahouse big says that wasn't a drill and thanks everyone for a "brilliant" evacuation. Ready to start in a couple minutes."
Cast members and theatre-goers were evacuated from the Royal Opera House in London after a fire alarm went off mid-performance.
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It has led to calls for Douglas Ross to stand down from his frontbench role as the party's justice spokesman. He was an assistant referee at the clash between Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid on Tuesday. But it meant he was unable to attend a justice committee meeting in the Scottish Parliament. Mr Ross earns up to £40,000 a year as a self-employed specialist assistant football referee, according to his Scottish Parliament register of interests. He is also a councillor with Moray Council and his trip to Portugal meant he missed its policy and resources committee meeting on Tuesday. SNP MSP Ben Macpherson said it was not the first time Mr Ross's refereeing job had affected his parliamentary work. It has been reported that he missed a key vote in parliament when he was in Switzerland taking part in World Cup referee training. Mr Macpherson said: "The arrogance and blatant disrespect of 'three jobs' Tory Douglas Ross is simply staggering. "Last time the whistle was blown on one of his refereeing junkets the Tories claimed it was just a 'one off'. But he's at it again - and this time it should be a straight red card. "Obviously he values his £40k-a-year weekend job - and all-expenses paid trips to Lisbon and other European cities - more than his responsibilities as an MSP and local councillor, demonstrating complete contempt for the people who elected him. "If Douglas Ross can't pitch up to do his job, it's time for relegation - he should either take a step back from refereeing or stand down from Holyrood's justice committee with immediate effect, and Ruth Davidson should give him the boot from her frontbench team." A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "Earlier this year Ben Macpherson asked Douglas to kindly speak to clubs in his constituency about refereeing - presumably this invitation has now been rescinded." Mr Ross did not comment.
A leading Scottish Conservative MSP missed a parliamentary committee to referee a Champions League match in Portugal.
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The Labour leader, who is battling against challenger Owen Smith to retain his job, has said he will "rebuild and transform Britain's transport system". He pledged to offer councils new franchising powers and allow them to set up local bus companies. He also set out plans to bring railways back into public ownership to fix the present "transport nightmare". Mr Smith's campaign said all of Mr Corbyn's proposals were already Labour policy. The Labour leader promised to expand bus services to areas not currently covered, to give councils franchising powers over their bus networks, and to allow them to set up "municipal bus companies". Mr Corbyn claims the moves would save money that could be used to reverse government cuts to local bus services. Franchising powers are already to be expanded by the government's Bus Services Bill, focusing on areas with an elected mayor in place. However, the bill, which focuses on services in England outside London, rules out allowing local authorities to set up bus companies. The government says it will increase passenger numbers and "enable a thriving and innovative commercial bus sector". Mr Corbyn also highlighted his flagship pledge to renationalise the railways - a pledge matched by Mr Smith. Speaking at a protest about rail fares in London, Mr Corbyn pointed to the "pretty terrible service" run by Southern Rail in the South East of England, where passengers have held protests about train cancellations and timetable changes. He said "pretty much everyone" agreed the Southern network should be publicly-run, adding that the current model was "not a sensible way of running a public railway system that we have all paid for". Mr Smith's spokesman said his candidate would "go further" to improve transport with a £200bn infrastructure fund. He added: "There is nothing new in what Jeremy is saying - he is simply rehashing existing Labour Party policy." The winner of Labour's leadership contest will be announced on 24 September. Mr Corbyn has won the backing of a majority of local constituency Labour parties (CLP) in his re-election bid, securing 285 CLP nominations to Mr Smith's 53, although the scorecard has no direct bearing on the result. The leadership vote comes after Labour MPs signed a vote of no confidence in Mr Corbyn, who won an overwhelming victory among members in last summer's leadership contest. Mr Corbyn said he was "looking forward to a good result" in the contest, adding that if he won he would appoint a shadow team "that represents all of the party". Mr Smith, who has warned the "legacy of successive Labour governments" could be wiped out if the party continues along its current path, focused his campaign on the NHS on Monday. He accused the government of having "a secret plan to privatise the NHS" in England - a view rejected by the Department of Health. The two contenders will take part in a Labour leadership debate on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Wednesday.
Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to extend public ownership of the country's bus networks if he becomes prime minister.
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The game starts at 14:30 BST, followed by hosts Wales against Italy at 16:30, with the Wembley semi-finals on 23 November at 13:00 and 15:30. The final at Old Trafford on 30 November kicks off at 14:30 and will be shown live on BBC One. There will be live TV and radio coverage of all England's group games, plus a quarter-final and a semi-final. New Zealand are the World Cup holders, having shocked Australia in the 2008 decider to win the tournament for the first time. In addition to live coverage, there will also be regular TV highlights programmes throughout the tournament and extensive coverage on BBC Radio, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app. All of the games at the group stage which take place on a weekday will be evening kick-offs.
England's game against Australia will kick off the Rugby League World Cup at the Millennium Stadium on 26 October.
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The 24-year-old has started three of Exeter's four games this season. "He was fantastic, not just in his carrying and his danger in that area, but some of his high-ball stuff was absolutely top drawer," Baxter told BBC Radio Devon. "He looks a big, strong, quick, hungry rugby player and those are some of the qualities we saw in him." Woodburn is in his second season at Sandy Park after moving from Bath, where he failed to break into the side. He was a regular in the Chiefs team which made the play-off final last season and reached the last eight in the Champions Cup, an improvement which Baxter puts down to the work he has done on the training field. "He's thriving on real regular game time and lots of good input from Ali Hepher, who's doing a fantastic job with the backs," Baxter said. "They look like they're thriving on the way we're trying to play and the speed we're moving the ball and the angles we're running."
Exeter head coach Rob Baxter says winger Olly Woodburn is thriving after his two-try haul against Bristol.
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Conservative MP for St Ives, Derek Thomas, claimed diabetes is "completely avoidable through good diet and exercise" on his Facebook page. Dozens of constituents in Cornwall complained that his comments were inaccurate and "insulting". He said he was "sincerely sorry" and would raise the issue with government to prevent confusion in future. Mr Thomas' post provoked more than one hundred comments, many of which pointed out that type 1 diabetes "is genetic", and type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to obesity, is "not preventable for all". Orson Cornick commented: "Being an ignorant human being is avoidable, not type 1 diabetes!" Marianna Baxter whose daughter has type 2 diabetes said she was "very angry and hurt" at the "very offensive" remarks. Mr Thomas told the BBC he was told the information by "two medical professionals" and had simply been trying to raise awareness that many people can help themselves by improving their diet. He said: "I certainly got it wrong and I apologise for that. I certainly wasn't going out to intentionally upset a number of people that can do nothing about their ill health, so I do apologise for the way that was worded." He said he would raise the issue with the government ahead of its national diabetes strategy launch next year to make sure no discrimination took place. Mr Thomas removed the post on Saturday and replaced it with another offering a "sincere apology". Many commended him like Charlotte Clews who commented: "I stand up and applaud you. So does my type one son. It really is very heart warming to see that you have corrected a mistake and educated yourself and now others." The charity Diabetes UK declined to comment but said information on any link with diet and lifestyle was available on its website.
An MP has apologised for his "very offensive" and "damaging" comments on diabetes.
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Williams was the first black woman to be named Miss America in 1983 but resigned after a magazine published nude photos of her without her consent. "I want to apologise for anything that was said or done," said Miss America CEO Sam Haskell. A tearful Williams called the statement "unexpected" and "beautiful". Now 52, she has forged a career as an actress, with major roles in Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. She also scored a global hit in 1992 with the ballad Save the Best for Last; and her recording of Colors of the Wind from Disney's Pocahontas soundtrack earned her a Golden Globe, a Grammy and an Oscar for best original song. The New Yorker won Miss America in September 1983 but, months later, the pageant's executive committee voted unanimously to request that she resign after Penthouse magazine published naked photographs she had posed for several years earlier, Williams remains the only title-holder who was asked to resign in the pageant's history. She was invited back to the competition this year by Chairman Sam Haskell, who asked her to serve as head judge. Before the competition started, he invited her on stage to receive the apology. "I have been a close friend to this beautiful and talented lady for 32 years," he told the audience. "You have lived your life in grace and dignity, and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you resigned. "Though none of us currently in the organization were involved then, on behalf of today's organization, I want to apologize to you and to your mother, Miss Helen Williams." He continued: "I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be." The audience gave Williams a standing ovation and TV coverage showed her mother on the verge of tears. "Thank you so much, Sam, so unexpected but so beautiful," said the actress. "I did the best that I could as Miss America in 1983 to 84," she said. "On behalf of my family, my mother in particular; [publicist] Brian Edwards, who orchestrated this entire thing to bring me back; and your leadership, your integrity and you bringing this pageant back to what it ought to be. I love you. I love the girls. And I'm so honoured to be back." Williams then returned to her seat and helped select the new Miss America - 21-year-old Betty Cantrell of Georgia.
Organisers of the Miss America pageant have apologised to actress Vanessa Williams, 32 years after she was forced to hand back her title.
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A team from Glasgow University studied recorded speech of Glaswegians from the early 20th Century to the present. They found evidence of common UK accent changes, such as the use of "f" for "th" in words like think, and a dropped letter 'l', as in people to peopo. Overall though, the researchers said the Scots accent remained distinctive. The three-year Sounds of the City study, was led by Professor Jane Stuart-Smith, director of the university's laboratory of phonetics. "We were quite surprised by what we found," she said. "The assumption is that traditional dialects generally across the UK are being eroded and some are dying out altogether, but what we have learned, particularly with the Glasgow accent, is that Scots accents are actually flourishing. "Interestingly, what is not happening in Scotland is the dilution of accents to a more homogenised anglicised accent on the scale that we are seeing in England, and in fact the Scots accent remains very distinctive." As part of its study, the Glasgow team built up a digitised body of recorded speech sounds. The team said its work suggested the distinctive Scots accent had undergone two kinds of changes. One set are common accent changes, which have spread right across the UK, such as the "f" and "l" examples. The team said this change was being spread partly by dialect contact and partly by the popularity of TV shows set in London. The project also uncovered a second set of finer changes local to Scotland. These included how vowels were pronounced in words such as boat, goat and coat, or stop sounds that are pronounced in words like pin, top and cat. The researchers anticipated these sounds either to be stable over time, or perhaps to be changing in the same way as in Anglo-English accents. Their evidence suggested, however, that these features and others were all changing, the changes were local to Scotland and not affected by Anglo-English changes, and that they had been happening for 100 years or more. The Glasgow team said the trigger for some of these changes appeared to be the period around the First World War. The study focused on six audio recordings, made in 1916 and held by the British Library, of Scots soldiers from German Prisoner of War camps. From those recordings researchers found evidence to show that even a century ago, and perhaps even earlier, Scottish accents were already changing. The research and findings of the project will be made available to students and other researchers via an online resource.
The Scots accent is flourishing and proving resilient against a growing homogenised anglicised accent across English regions, new research suggests.
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Media playback is not supported on this device Wales led 13-12 at the break but Fourie du Preez's try with five minutes remaining edged it for the Springboks. Backs Tyler Morgan and Dan Biggar plus hooker Scott Baldwin joined Wales' list of injured players during the game. "We don't want to make any excuses. South Africa won... and we weren't good enough to win," said Gatland. "At the end of the day South Africa did what South Africa do. They got one chance and they took it and that was the result." Wales lost a trio of front-line stars in centre Jonathan Davies, full-back Leigh Halfpenny and scrum-half Rhys Webb to long-term injuries before the tournament began. Two more centres - Cory Allen and Scott Williams - were then forced out of action in the opening two pool games against Uruguay and England, with wing Hallam Amos joining them. Wales then lost the versatile Liam Williams - a full-back or wing - during their punishing final pool match against Australia. Media playback is not supported on this device Fly-half Biggar went off the field after a knock to the head just before the scrum which led to South Africa's try. The player remonstrated with WRU medical manager Prav Mathema and team doctor Geoff Davies, but Gatland backed the decision. "That's a medical call," he said. "They took him off the field for a head injury assessment; it looked like he'd got a bit of a knock, he looked unsteady on his feet. "He obviously felt that he was OK, but we support our medical team 100% so there's no issues on that from the coaching set-up." 'We knew it was going to come down to fine margins," said a "proud" skipper Sam Warburton, who lamented what he felt was a premature end to the campaign. "It's a quiet changing room - it's hard to find the words, it's all so raw," he said. "It feels premature with two weeks of the competition left. We've been together since June and all those gruelling camps… it's over, done and dusted." Warburton praised the players who had come in to replace the casualties, saying: "The guys who've stepped in have done a fantastic job. This could be the last World Cup for many of us, but we go out with no regrets." Warburton was sent off in Wales' 9-8 World Cup semi-final defeat by France in 2011, and after this latest disappointment said: "Hopefully I will be around when one of these tight ones goes our way."
Head coach Warren Gatland said Wales' string of injuries were no defence for their 23-19 World Cup quarter-final defeat by South Africa.
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The Dons loaned Smith, 21, to United in July and he has five goals this season. Scotland Under-21 cap Smith made his Aberdeen debut in 2012 and has scored four times in 89 appearances for the Pittodrie side. "It's a brilliant acquisition for us," boss Jack Ross told St Mirren's official website. "Cammy is a really good player and someone I didn't think we'd be able to get because he was at Dundee United. "He's a good, mature boy and I think he'll be a good fit and gives us another option in the attacking area." Championship bottom side St Mirren host Falkirk on Saturday.
St Mirren have signed forward Cammy Smith on loan for the rest of the season after Aberdeen ended his spell with Dundee United.
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Eric Bikubi, 28, and his partner Magalie Bamu, aged 29, have been convicted at the Old Bailey of killing Kristy Bamu after accusing him of being a sorcerer who practised witchcraft. The couple, who live in Newham, acted after accusing Kristy of controlling and adversely influencing a young boy, the jury was told. They originally came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where witchcraft is called Kindoki, and exorcisms are carried out in some churches. In 2010, Unicef reported 20,000 children accused of witchcraft were living on the streets of DR Congo's capital Kinshasa. In the DR Congo, accusing a child of being possessed is a criminal offence, a law that has been in place for several years. But in 2008 I travelled to Kinshasa to see if it was making any difference and, at that time, the answer was not at all. Which is why I found myself in one of the city's slums late at night knocking on the door of tin-roofed shack that doubled as a church. Pastor Tsimba let me in and showed me three children who he had diagnosed as having Kindoki. The youngest was probably six, the oldest no more than 12. They had been in the church for days, deprived of food and forced to work. Their parents were paying for the privilege. The only light came from flickering candles and storm lamps. The pastor began to shout and pray. One by one he brought the children up to the front of the church. He ordered them to lie down and, still shouting and chanting, began slapping their stomachs, one, two, three times. Each harder than the last. Then he took a candle and poured burning hot wax on them, leaving them grimacing and squirming but making almost no sound. Their eyes were wide and staring. Finally, as a bizarre conclusion to the ritual, Pastor Tsimba produced a length of pipe and held it hard against their belly buttons. One after another, he made a play of sucking hard on the pipe and in triumph then spat a lump of meat he claimed to have sucked out of them into a bowl. The meat he claimed had been been fed to them by a witch, infecting them with Kindoki. The children, bewildered and quiet, were now in his words "delivered". I alerted a social worker to the plight of the children. An extraordinary and dedicated man, he said he would do all he could to help them. But his unit had not paid him for months, there was no money for petrol or even a bus fare. So he did his work on foot. He walked miles each day, visiting as many churches as he could, in this sprawling city of nine million people.
An "obsession" with witchcraft and sorcery led a couple to brutally murder a 15-year-old boy at a flat in east London.
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In March, the ICAO issued an alert on Thailand's aviation body after a safety audit revealed that it failed to adequately oversee its airlines. The move led to a ban on new flights to China, Japan and South Korea. Thai officials had then submitted plans to deal with the concerns in March. But, the ICAO "red flagged" the country's body on Thursday for failing to solve the issues within 90 days. Thailand's aviation sector joins 12 other developing countries, including Nepal and Sierra Leone, that have been downgraded to Category 2 from Category 1 by the organisation for its safety standards. An audit in January by the United Nations body had found that Thailand's aviation authority had a shortage of technical officers and issues with certifying the transportation of hazardous goods. The warning meant the country's airlines had to cancel flights and refund or alter thousands of air tickets. The country's flag carrier, Thai Airways, said in a statement that it followed the "highest safety standards" in all operational areas, despite the red flag from the international regulator.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has downgraded Thailand's aviation standards, "red flagging" the country for failing to address safety concerns.
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Domingo has been in the role since May 2013 and his contract ends in August. Cricket South Africa have said they are "resolved to begin a recruitment process" as they look to appoint a head coach "through to the 2019 World Cup". South Africa will play three one-day internationals, three Twenty20 games and four Test matches against England. Domingo's side are currently ranked third in Tests, second in one-day internationals and fourth in T20 cricket. The 42-year-old guided his team to a 3-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka earlier this month and a 2-1 away Test series success in Australia in November. South Africa won the first of five one-day internationals against Sri Lanka on Saturday with a convincing eight-wicket victory at Port Elizabeth. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 181 and South Africa reached 185-2 with 15.4 overs remaining with Hashim Amla scoring 57 and Faf du Plessis making an unbeaten 55.
South Africa head coach Russell Domingo will have to reapply for his job if he wants to stay in charge of the team after their summer tour of England.
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American Ward will defend his WBO belt and the WBA and IBF light-heavyweight titles that he won against the Russian last November. The 33-year-old beat Kovalev, 34, by a unanimous decision but was floored in the second round of the fight. Ward said: "I am looking forward to making a statement in this fight." Despite all three judges scoring it 114-113 to Ward in the first fight, Kovalev was unhappy with the decision. Ward, who extended his record to 31 wins from 15 bouts, does not think his victory was controversial. "Some of you think I lost the fight, but you've got to look at the other side of that coin. There are a lot of people who are convinced I won it," he said. The build-up to the rematch has been heated, with Kovalev storming out of Thursday's press conference. The 'Krusher' pointed at his opponent and said "be prepared", then left before an obligatory face to face. He has also previously mocked Ward's 'Son of God' nickname, referring to him as the 'Son of Judges' instead. Kovalev's record stands at 30 wins, one loss and one draw, with 26 of his wins coming via knockout. The pair weighed in at 12st 5lbs on Friday, two pounds under the light-heavyweight limit. Andre Ward beat Britain's former world champion Carl Froch in a convincing points win in December 2011. He has also beaten Liverpool super-middleweight Paul Smith, stopping him in the ninth round in June 2015. Smith, 34, is also in action on Saturday as he faces WBA 'regular' super-middleweight world champion Tyron Zeuge in Hessen, Germany. His 25-year-old opponent is the only current world champion from Germany. It will be Smith's third shot at winning a world title. His previous two attempts were also against a home favourite in Germany, when he lost back-to-back fights to Arthur Abraham in September 2014 and February 2015. Smith's trainer Joe Gallagher has described Saturday's fight as the "last roll of the dice" for his fighter.
Two-weight world champion Andre Ward says he will remove "any doubt that may be out there" in his Las Vegas rematch with Sergey Kovalev on Saturday.
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The group says it has 1.5 terabytes of the company's data and has posted episodes of Ballers and Room 104 online. It added that more material would be released "soon". HBO confirmed it had experienced a "cyber incident" in a statement. In an email published by Entertainment Weekly, the hackers appeared to offer more details in exchange for favourable coverage. "Hi to all mankind," they wrote. "The greatest leak of cyber space era is happening." They encouraged recipients to download the material and added: "Whoever spreads well, we will have an interview with him." Reports have said the allegedly stolen Game of Thrones script appears to be from the fourth episode of season seven, which is currently being broadcast. The BBC has not been able to independently verify that the hackers possess the material they claim to have stolen. HBO confirmed that a "cyber incident" had resulted in the compromise of information. "We immediately began investigating the incident and are working with law enforcement and outside cybersecurity firms," the firm added. "Data protection is a top priority at HBO, and we take seriously our responsibility to protect the data we hold." The intrusion was "obviously disruptive, unsettling, and disturbing for all of us," said chairman and chief executive Richard Plepler in an email to HBO employees.
A group of hackers claims to have stolen the script for a forthcoming Game of Thrones episode and other data in a breach at entertainment firm HBO.
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Hasan Karkardi has been suspended for six months for sparring with Blackwell, who was left requiring surgery to reduce swelling on his brain. The British Boxing Board of Control said Wilkins' conduct was "detrimental to the interests of boxing". Blackwell, 26, retired after suffering a bleed on the skull in March. He spent a week in an induced coma after losing his British middleweight title fight with Chris Eubank Jr. Despite Blackwell not having a licence to fight, and despite him being advised not to return to the ring, he sparred with Karkardi, 29, on 22 November at a boxing club in Devizes, Wiltshire. On Wednesday, a family member told BBC Sport Blackwell is still unable to walk, and a year away from making a full recovery.
Trainer Liam Wilkins has had his licence withdrawn after overseeing the sparring session that left retired boxer Nick Blackwell in hospital.
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Mancini said a fully-fit Tevez could wear the sky blue shirt again, despite previously asserting that the Argentina international was "finished" at City. Tevez remains at City after interest from AC Milan, Inter Milan and Paris St Germain failed to turn into a transfer. "If he comes back - and he is fit - it is possible," conceded Mancini. I hope for him he has been training in the last three months to help his condition Tevez, 27, remains in Argentina and, as yet, there has been no indication when the striker may return. "Carlos is not an option at the moment but it is possible in the future if he comes back," added Mancini. "I hope for him he has been training in the last three months to help his condition. "There is only one thing on my mind, the Barclays Premier League." Mancini has confirmed Owen Hargreaves remains available but has struggled to gain any consistent form during his time at City, triggering the deadline-day loan deal that saw David Pizarro move from Roma. "Owen always has these little problems," said Mancini. "When he came to us in the summer we took a gamble because he had not played for two years. "We thought we could try and get him fit in two or three months and then he would be able to play. "But, like any player who hasn't played for two years, when they start to train, every day there is a problem, with his knee or his hamstring. "I hope for him he eventually is able to play all the time. He deserves to." Club captain Vincent Kompany has insisted City have the mental strength to keep their title challenge on course. City have had a mixed set of results in January, allowing Manchester United to draw level with them on points at the top of the Premier League table. If people want to underestimate us, then please do so But Kompany expects his team-mates to thrive on the pressure as they aim for a first top-flight title since 1968. He said: "If anything it will give us a boost to carry on and if people want to underestimate us, then please do so." The pressure has increased on City in recent weeks, with their 1-0 league defeat at Everton on Tuesday night coming at the end of a period which included cup defeats by Liverpool and neighbours Manchester United. The Goodison Park defeat marked Kompany's return to the City team after a four-game suspension following his red card in the 3-2 FA Cup third round loss to United in January. And he says he expects City to bounce back from the disappointment against Everton with a win against Fulham at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. "There is no shame in going under at Everton," he said. "It wasn't enjoyable, but we believe we can go back to our best football and win the games that are left to play."
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has named Carlos Tevez in his 25-man squad for the remainder of the season - and admitted he could pick him again.
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In recent months, state media have been stressing the waters have been China's "since ancient times". Now, state media are rolling out masses of fresh material aimed at discrediting The Hague tribunal's ruling. State media anticipated the Permanent Court of Arbitration's findings. Almost immediately, outlets including Xinhua news agency released a prepared statement describing the decision as "illegal and invalid". "China has repeatedly declared that the arbitration tribunal does not have jurisdiction; China neither accepts nor recognises it," Xinhua said. It then released a government statement saying China "has territorial sovereignty and maritime rights over the South China Sea islands" and "resolutely opposes a few countries' illegal violations" - a reference to the US and its allies in the region. But it hinted at a way forward, saying there is potential for China to enter into "joint developments" in order to "achieve win-win results" and peace and stability in the South China Sea. State-run CCTV cited the foreign ministry's view that the tribunal proceedings were "null and void". It featured British, Iranian, Pakistani and Lebanese experts who questioned the verdict. Oxford academic Antonios Tzanakopoulos told the TV that he did not find the tribunal's points "fully convincing". CCTV also hinted at possible negotiations with the Philippines. It showed former Filipino ambassador Alberto Encomienda saying American interference had triggered the case. He added: "There's a lot we can do, not in terms of what China can do for us, but what we can do together for the region." There was an immediate attempt to control online discussion in China. In the minutes before the announcement, Sina Weibo's hashtag #SouthChinaSeaArbitration was number one in its top 10. Its landing page carried more than 170,000 posts. Once the result was out, the hashtag disappeared from Sina's ranking. State media and its millions of followers - including Xinhua, People's Daily and CCTV - adopted a similarly-named hashtag, #SouthChinaSeaArbitrationCase. It quickly rose to number one in the ranking, with posts overwhelmingly dismissing the Hague ruling. Meanwhile, over at censorship-monitoring website Free Weibo, "South China Sea" became the most-censored term. The press room was packed but the statement from Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay lasted just two minutes. In four short paragraphs, he explained that experts were now analysing the ruling and called on all concerned to exercise "constraint and sobriety" at what he described as a "milestone decision". There were no celebrations, hardly even a smile. And there's a reason for that. This is not the same government that first brought this case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration three and a half years ago, in the aftermath of a standoff at Scarborough Shoal. Two weeks ago, Rodrigo Duterte was sworn in as Philippine president. All the indications are that he is more willing to seek accommodation with the Chinese than his predecessor, Benigno Aquino. Here in Manila, many believe that the new president may have sought promises of Chinese investment, in return for a quiet, dignified response. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.
Chinese media have not lost time in reinforcing Beijing's insistence that it does not recognise an international tribunal's ruling against its claims to rights in the South China Sea.
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The Mercedes driver did a sensational lap to beat title rival Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, who was on top form himself, by 0.242 seconds. Hamilton was 0.541secs ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who was third ahead of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari. Max Verstappen headed team-mate Daniel Ricciardo to an all-Red Bull third row. The key to Hamilton's pole was arguably a stupendous effort through the middle sector of the lap at the demanding Spa-Francorchamps track in the Ardennes mountains. The Ferrari had been quicker than the Mercedes through sector two throughout the weekend but Hamilton pulled something out of the bag on his final run to set the pace there by 0.2secs. Afterwards, F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn delivered a message from Schumacher's family. Brawn said: "His wife Corinna said that Michael always believed records were there to be broken, and they want to offer their congratulations." Schumacher has not been seen in public since the skiing accident in 2013 that left him with severe head injuries and in a coma for some months. His family have consistently said his recovery will be long and hard and have given no other news of his condition. "It's a special day," said Hamilton. "I knew it was on the horizon and knew I'd get the 68th pole, but I haven't thought about it much. "But now being there it is an unusual place to be. I remember coming here in 1996, my first grand prix, and watching Michael come by and the engine vibrated my rib cage and that was when my love for the sport took another step. "And I have now equalled him on poles and it is very surreal. It is a humbling experience knowing Michael is such a legend. It is an incredible feat he achieved and I am very proud to be up there with him. "To be able to put a lap together like that is a dream. I have the best job in the world. It's a pleasure to be here. "To hear the message Ross just gave, I have to say a big thank you. I followed Michael and raced against him and always admired him. My prayers are for him and the family and he will always be one of the greatest of all time." As good as Hamilton's lap was, Vettel's was equally impressive. The German had been struggling for pace for much of the weekend compared to team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and was half a second down on Hamilton after the first runs in the top-10 shootout. When Hamilton reduced his own time by a further 0.354secs on his final run and Bottas popped up in second place ahead of Raikkonen, Vettel appeared to have problems. But he produced his own mega-lap to join Hamilton on the front row. "It was the right lap at the right time," Vettel said, adding that he had been helped by a slipstream from Raikkonen in the final sector, where the German set the fastest time of all in a part of the track where Mercedes have dominated all weekend. The stage is therefore set for a titanic battle between the two title rivals in the race, which Vettel starts 14 points ahead of Hamilton. Behind the Red Bulls, Renault's Nico Hulkenberg was seventh, a place that appeared set to occupied by his team-mate Jolyon Palmer. The Englishman, who has had a difficult start to the season, had the edge on Hulkenberg all day and was seventh in the second part of qualifying. But he suffered a loss of gearbox oil pressure on his out-lap at the start of Q3 and pulled off track in a cloud of smoke. Palmer will thus start 10th, as the final Q3 runner, behind the Force Indias of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon. McLaren's Fernando Alonso was 11th, bemoaning a loss of power on his final lap in Q2. McLaren had used team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne, who has a 60-place grid penalty for engine and gearbox transgressions, to 'tow' Alonso to try to compensate for the Honda engines lack of power on both his runs. Alonso was 10th after his first run but on his final lap, which looked set to be quicker, the engine lost hybrid energy deployment between Pouhon and Stavelot and he had to abort the lap. "No power, no power," he screamed over the radio. But after getting over the frustration he said it was a generally positive weekend because 11th with choice of tyres might be better for the race and that the car had been surprisingly competitive on such a power track. Media playback is not supported on this device It was a dire day for Williams, whose drivers Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll both failed to progress beyond the first knockout session. Massa ended up 16th and Stroll 18th, the Canadian denied a second attempt to make it into Q2 when Williams ran out of time to change a damaged rear-wing endplate. Belgian Grand Prix qualifying results Belgian Grand Prix coverage details
Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher's all-time record of 68 Formula 1 pole positions at the Belgian Grand Prix.
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The 24-year-old was an injury-time substitute for the Cherries in their 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Saturday. Wilson, Bournemouth's leading scorer last season, missed six months of the club's first Premier League campaign with medial knee ligament damage. "There's nothing like being back out on the pitch," he told BBC Radio Solent. "It was only a few touches, but it's nice to feel like a football player again." The former Coventry City striker required surgery following the injury he sustained against Stoke in September and revealed his return came a week earlier than planned. "I'd originally targeted the Liverpool game (at home on Sunday), but one week sooner is perfect for me," added Wilson. "There's a little bit of match fitness still to regain, but I feel strong and ready."
Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson said it was "great to feel like a football player again" as he returned to action following a long-term injury.
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A total of 1,400 tickets have sold out for the opening weekend at Bramall Hall in Stockport, Greater Manchester after renovation work began in 2014. Stained glass windows and ceilings have been restored, while the public will be able to visit the dining room and butler's pantry for the first time. Councillor Kate Butler, from Stockport Council, called it the "jewel in the crown" of the town's heritage. The manor dates back to the reign of William the Conqueror when he bestowed the lands upon one of his followers, Hamon de Masci, who became the first Baron of Dunham Massey. Since then the estate has been under the ownership of just three families: the Davenports, De Bromales and Nevills. In 1936, the timber-framed hall and its surrounding parkland was handed over to the local council. The transformation followed a £1.6m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £400,000 in council funding.
A Tudor manor house has reopened following a £2.2m makeover.
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The controversial bonfire is in a public car park at Ravenscroft Avenue, off the Newtownards Road. It is one of four Belfast bonfires that are the subject of court injunctions, sought to prevent them getting bigger. Meanwhile, police are investigating complaints about "distasteful" materials placed on bonfires. Traditionally, bonfires are lit in many loyalist areas of Northern Ireland on the Eleventh Night of July. They mark the start of the annual commemoration of William of Orange's victory over King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. However, some bonfires have caused controversy because they are built close to family homes and pose a risk to health and safety. On Tuesday, Sinn Féin's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill said the burning of flags and election posters on bonfires was a "hate crime". She called on the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to take steps against the practice. "Once again, we have witnessed bonfires across the north being festooned with stolen Sinn Féin election posters, Irish national flags and other emblems," she said. "The theft and burning of posters from any party as well as flags, effigies and other symbols is not culture, it is a hate crime." John Finucane, who ran unsuccessfully for Sinn Féin in the June general election, has said the Orange Order needed to do more to address the burning of flags and posters on bonfires. Speaking after his election posters appeared on a bonfire near Conway Street in Belfast, Mr Finucane said it was "wrong" and "a hate crime". Pictures have also emerged on social media of a bonfire in east Belfast draped with a banner carrying a racist message directed at Celtic footballer Scott Sinclair. In a statement, the PSNI said: "Police are investigating complaints about various materials, some of which are clearly distasteful, placed on the bonfire. "Where police are aware of a crime being committed, an investigation will follow. "We take hate crime very seriously and actively investigate all incidents reported to us," it added. The Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said: "Bonfires on the Eleventh Night have long been part of the unionist culture. "Those who have waged a campaign of demonisation against such celebrations should dial down the rhetoric. "To those who build bonfires, I urge them to not play into the hands of those who want to demonise the culture - they should be respectful of their neighbours. "Endangering property and lives should not be a concern for residents on the Eleventh Night," she added. Progressive Unionist Party councillor John Kyle said there are "real issues with some bonfires" and steps need to be taken when property and lives are put at risk. But he added: "Let's see the broader picture - if we are going to create a future that is peaceful, that is prosperous, then there needs to be respect. "Two of the major casualties of the past 18 months have been trust and respect, there is now no trust, or very little trust, between unionism and republicanism or nationalism. "There is very little respect being felt, particularly by loyalists, they feel continually disrespected and undermined," he added. Earlier on Tuesday, fire crews dealt with a large bonfire in Carrickfergus in County Antrim that was set alight prematurely. Assistant chief fire officer Alan Walmsley said firefighters were called to the scene at about 05:30 BST on Tuesday. On Tuesday morning, staff from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) boarded up the windows of five homes near the Ravenscroft Avenue bonfire. A NIHE spokesman said the five houses were privately owned, but its staff had stepped in to protect the properties. The Ravenscroft Avenue site hit the headlines last month when it was reported that young men involved in building the bonfire had closed off the public car park. The bonfire was set alight prematurely last week and the fire service attended to protect nearby homes and property from damage.
A number of homes close to a large bonfire in east Belfast have been boarded up to protect the properties from heat damage when the fire is lit.
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Russia is fuming, in the words of BBC Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg, but US politicians have not minced their words either. Here is a taster of what's being said and shared. Tweet by Dmitry Medvedev, Russian prime minister "Sad that the Obama administration, which started its life with a reset, ends it in anti-Russian death throes." "The outgoing American administration led by Barack Obama, while accusing Russia of all deadly sins, trying to accuse us, among other things, of the failure of its foreign policy initiatives, as you know, without grounds, has brought forward additional accusations that the Russian side - at state level - was interfering with the US electoral campaign, as a result of which the Democratic candidate lost. Yesterday the US administration, without presenting any facts, any evidence, announced a new wave of sanctions against Russia." Maria Zakharova, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, in a post on Facebook headlined 'Obama's Coming Out' "The people who have lived eight years in the White House are not an administration but a group of vindictive, unimaginative, foreign policy failures. Today [US President Barack] Obama admitted this officially. "Most surprising of all is that after failing to record any achievements in the international arena in the history of his presidency, the Nobel laureate has managed to sign off not with a flourish, but a blot... "Today America, the American people, has been humiliated by its own president. Not by international terrorists, not by enemy troops. This time it's Washington's chief delivering the slap in the face, ramping up the workload for the incoming team..." Zakharova says Jews backed Trump "Such actions of the administration in Washington are the demonstration, unfortunately, of an unpredictable, even aggressive, I can say, foreign policy. We think that such decisions of the acting administration, which is supposed to be in office for three more weeks, pursue two aims: finally (irrevocably?) spoiling US-Russian relations and, obviously, having an impact on the foreign policy of the future administration of the president-elect [Donald Trump]." "What these individuals were doing were basically collecting intelligence. They were intelligence officers operating here and using these compounds, one in New York, one in Maryland, for intelligence collection purposes. And what we are saying today is, in response to and in order to impose consequences for the Russian government's increasing harassment and aggression toward our personnel in Moscow, and, of course, their malicious cyber-activities, interfering and an effort to interfere in our election process, we are imposing consequences." "They [the Russians] are trying to destabilize democracy all over the world, not just here. It's just not about pulling for Trump, it's bigger than that. They're trying to break the backs of democracies. "Here's what we should do. We should tell the Russians that on no uncertain terms, you interfere in our elections, we don't care why, we're going to hit you and hit you hard. I'm going to introduce sanctions, they will be bipartisan that names Putin as an individual, his inner circle, for not only hacking into our political systems but trying to destabilize democracy throughout the world." "We need to get to the bottom of this. We need to find out exactly what was done and what the implications of the attacks were, especially if they had an effect on our election. "There's no doubt they were interfering and no doubt it was a cyber-attack. The question now is how much and what damage and what should the United States of America do? And so far, we've been totally paralyzed." "Russia does not share America's interests. In fact, it has consistently sought to undermine them, sowing dangerous instability around the world. While today's action by the administration is overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia. And it serves as a prime example of this administration's ineffective foreign policy that has left America weaker in the eyes of the world."
The expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats from the US over the email hacking scandal has drawn a barrage of abuse from Moscow, which seems poised to respond in kind.
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The images appeared to show the pair on foot during a safari in June at the Gir National Park in western Gujarat state. Officials at the park said they imposed a preliminary fine because "the cricketer flouted the rules". Visitors to the park are not allowed to leave their vehicles. Jadeja's photos were posted days after Gujarat forestry officials warned of the dangers involved in taking selfies with lions, following a number of attacks. Wildlife officers say they will submit a final inquiry report to their superiors soon. A.P Singh, chief forest conservator in Gujarat state, told AFP they "had instituted a probe and called Jadeja for a statement... but since he was not available, his father-in-law Hardevsinh Solanki gave a written statement on his behalf" and paid the fine for him. Jadeja, 27, was part of India's team for the recent World T20 tournament. A photo posted on Jadeja's Instagram account showed the cricketer pointing to a pride of lions behind him, with the caption, "Family photo, having good time in Sasan (Gir) #rajputboy #wearelions". A second photo posted to the cricketer's account showed him and his wife, Reeva, with a lion looking on in the background. The national park at Gir is the only place where Asiatic lions remain in the wild. The animals, which are slightly smaller than African lions, were listed as endangered in 2008.
Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja has been fined 20,000 rupees (£229; $300) after posting photos online of him and his wife posing in front of endangered Asiatic lions.
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Amina Al-Jeffery, 21, who was born and brought up in Swansea, was taken to Jeddah in 2012 by her father, Mohammed, who said he did it to "save her life". Mr Al-Jeffery has denied the allegations at the High Court. But Mr Justice Holman said she had been "deprived of her liberty" and her father must facilitate her return. Ms Al-Jeffery, who has dual nationality, says her father took the action against her will after she "kissed a guy". Delivering the court order, Mr Justice Holman said Mr Al-Jeffery "must permit and facilitate the return of Amina if she so wishes to Wales or England and pay the airfare" by 11 September. However, he accepted there was "little or nothing this court could do" to enforce the order if Mr Al-Jeffery "was determined not to comply with it". But he said Mr Al-Jeffery might face contempt of court proceedings if he returned to Britain without having complied. Mr Justice Holman added: "There are no conventions between Britain and Saudi Arabia. The courts in Saudi Arabia would not even recognise the basis of the claim, because it does not recognise dual nationality." Her lawyer, Anne-Marie Hutchinson QC, said she has been unable to take instruction from Ms Al-Jeffery, who sent her emails in December 2015. She said she had been "physically abused" and there were times when she had not been allowed to leave her room, meaning she had to use it as a toilet. She described having her head smacked against the wall. Ms Hutchinson later told BBC Newsnight it had been a "difficult" but "compelling" case to work on. "I'm absolutely delighted that the judge has said he has got jurisdiction and that he has gone on to exercise his jurisdiction and make orders. "I'm expecting him [Mr Al-Jeffery,] to comply with the order," she said. Mr Al-Jeffery, who did not attend the case, denied his daughter wanted to return to England or Wales. He said he put up a barrier partition to stop her running away because he was concerned for her welfare, which was taken down on the advice of the authorities. He said he wanted to make sure Ms Al-Jeffery was safe and was not being mistreated. Neither Amina nor her father were in court to hear the ruling. And the question now is what difference a ruling in the High Court of England and Wales will make in Saudi Arabia. Mr Justice Holman said he accepted that there is "little or nothing" this court could do to enforce the order if Amina's father was determined not to obey or comply with it. Certainly the basis on which it was granted, that Amina has dual British and Saudi nationality, is not recognised in Saudi Arabia. And it is perhaps telling that Mohammed Al-Jeffery's legal costs have been paid for by the Saudi embassy. However, the judge stated that to do nothing "would in my view amount to a dereliction towards Amina". The court was told that in April Mr Al-Jeffery instigated legal proceedings against his daughter in Jeddah "seeking parental control over his child for the purposes of caring and supervision". Legal documentation showed both father and daughter agreed to a reconciliation. But Mr Justice Holman said that meant if "she were to run away the police, far from offering her protection from her father, would put her in prison". Mr Justice Holman said: "If Amina chooses to remain voluntarily in Saudi Arabia she must of course adhere to the law and culture of that society but the current constraint is denying to her the ability to be British and to live in Britain. "It is true that she is currently present and habitually resident in Saudi Arabia, but that is due to her obedience to her father in 2012. She did not travel there of her own free will." He said Mr Al-Jeffery "voluntarily chose to live for many years in Wales, to educate and bring his children up here... and to accept the constraints of the legal system of England and Wales". The judge said the fact Ms Al-Jeffery was born and brought up in Britain until she was almost 17 was a "very significant factor" in his decision. The court was told Mr Al-Jeffery's wife, from whom he is not estranged, and several of his children continue to live in the UK. Swansea West MP Geraint Davies has written to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to demand immediate action over the case. The former Swansea schoolgirl has been in touch with friends in the UK and asked them to contact the British Embassy to inform them of her situation, and has also sent a picture of what she claimed was the caged room her father had kept her in. In a statement, the Foreign Office said: "We recognise that this is a distressing time for Ms Al-Jeffery. We have been providing assistance to her since the case was first brought to our attention and will continue to do so. "British embassy staff have met with her to check on her welfare and helped her speak to lawyers in the UK."
A woman who claims her father has kept her locked up against her will in Saudi Arabia must be allowed to return to Britain, a UK judge has ruled.
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Joe Anderson's plans include reducing call centre opening hours, reviewing libraries and increasing the number of "in-house" foster carers. He also suggests opening car parks longer and introducing a premium service for bulky item collections to raise funds. The proposals will be discussed by the city council's cabinet on 24 February. Mr Anderson said reducing council call centre hours could save £2.9m and cutting the number of One Stop Shops - where people can get advice on council services or pay their council tax - could draw back £2.7m. However, he said that would mean it will "take people longer to get a response to requests for some services". His plan sets out a saving of £4.1m in children's services, which would be achieved by reducing the cost of care placements and packages by using fewer independent foster agencies. It also includes reducing the cost of the city's economic development agency, Liverpool Vision, by £1.2m and reviewing of the city's library provision to save £1.6m - a move which could see several close. The budget also proposes a 4.99% council tax increase - the mayor previously suggested a one-off rise of 10% but that was rejected by Liverpool residents during a public consultation. Mr Anderson said the cuts would mean job losses, stating that there was "no doubt that some frontline council services will be significantly reduced and we will have less staff by 2020". "These are not things that we want to do, but we have no choice, because the government isn't listening," he said. Joe Anderson's set out his budget, which would save £90m. Big cuts to adult social care have been minimised - for the moment at least - and the impact of paying the national living wage has turned out to be less costly than was originally budgeted for. The city has also made money through the mayor's flagship Invest To Earn programme, which is generating £3m a year. New homes are generating an additional £8m per year in council tax revenue - an amount that could rise with the building of executive homes in south Liverpool, as the vast majority of the city's housing stock is currently in the lowest bands. Mr Anderson says he's setting up a task force to consider the future of the city's libraries - he expects about four will have to close in order to make the savings - and there is also doubt over the future of the One Stop Shops. But there are also areas where the council is seeking to invest, including in street cleaning, where £2m will be spent, and £1.5m has also been allocated to improve leisure facilities.
Liverpool's mayor has proposed a budget cut of £90m over the next three years, which could see about 300 jobs lost.
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Leader Grenville Ham said community-run renewable energy schemes and "truly efficient" housing could provide jobs for thousands of people. "Across Wales, Greens have the expertise and the appetite to develop sustainable local economies that provide jobs for all," he said. The party currently has one Welsh councillor and 50 confirmed candidates. "As a party, we are focusing on reducing fuel bills through local selling of locally-generated renewable energy," Mr Ham said. "My vision is to cut out the exploitative middle man in energy production and delivery, through Green-led local action." Mr Ham added that Green councillors would not be told by party bosses how to vote on issues. "We believe that our candidates know their local community best," he said.
The Wales Green Party has launched its campaign for the local elections, pledging to "rebuild" communities.
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The animals are easier to spot in spring when vegetation is low and the breeding season is under way. Hares may be declining in parts of the UK, while rabbits have been hit by myxomatosis and other viral diseases, says the Mammal Society. People are being asked to send in photographs of rabbits and hares to help map the UK population. Dr Fiona Mathews, senior lecturer in mammalian biology and chair of the Mammal Society, said: "We have very poor information on rabbits and hares - and it's important to know if numbers are going up or down. "They are part of the ecosystem and lots of other animals depend on them, either through grazing of their habitat or as a food source for foxes or birds of prey." She said some parts of the UK had very low populations of rabbits and hares, particularly where there had been disease outbreaks. However, in other regions they have become so abundant they have become agricultural pests. The Mammal society wants people across the country to send in sightings of wild rabbits or hares across the countryside, including parks, fields and mountains. The data will be used in a national atlas of mammals to support future conservation and research projects. Derek Crawley, who is co-ordinating the atlas, said rabbits and hares can be distinguished by their gait and appearance. "Hares are larger, have long limbs and lollop along whereas the rabbit has a bobbing gait," he said. "The ears are also distinctive: those of hares are longer and have black tips." Sightings of rabbits and hares, or their signs in the countryside, such as droppings and burrows, with any photographs taken, can be reported via the Mammal Tracker app, The Mammal Society website, or by posting information to The Mammal Society.
Biologists are calling on the public to report sightings of rabbits and hares as part of a conservation effort.
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Welsh and Indian creative professionals will travel to each other's countries to work together and produce new works including books, music and dance. The projects will get a share of the £450,000 India Wales Fund. It is a joint Wales Arts International and British Council scheme which aims to help build relationships between the two countries. Performances will take place in India and Wales and some of the work will be available online, with artists and audiences in both countries benefiting from workshops, tours and talks. The projects include: The full list of selected projects will be announced at the Wales Millennium Centre by Economy Secretary Ken Skates. He said: "The UK-India Year of Culture 2017 offers an important opportunity for Wales and India to refresh and strengthen these links and also to create new dynamic connections and creative collaborations." Indian Honorary Consul to Wales, Raj Aggarwal, said: "Wales and India share a love of music, dancing, theatre and literature so this cultural exchange is a fantastic opportunity for each country to share the heritage of each other's performing arts. "A collaboration of Welsh, English and Bengali writers will bring together the works of six writers with live performance and the publication of a new tri-lingual work. "This is an amazing opportunity not just to see and enjoy the other country's culture and talent, but to actually work together to create a hybrid from the two that fuse our nation's cultures in the future."
Eleven arts projects will get funding to take Welsh culture to India as part of the UK-India 2017 cultural season.
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Staff were told on Tuesday that the city centre business had gone into liquidation with the loss of 53 jobs. It was opened by Thomas Austin in 1830 and is thought to have been one of the oldest stores in Europe. One worker, Toni McNally, has been employed by the business for her entire working life. In November 2014, the building was sold to the City Hotel Group. The receiver then sold the trading side of the business. "I'm there from I was 14 and I'm just absolutely devastated," Ms McNally told BBC Radio Foyle, "We laughed everyday, we had great customers, our colleagues were great, our bosses were great. "Even for the management themselves it was just horrific." Toni has two children and believes it will be difficult to adjust to being unemployed. "I don't have a clue, I've never even been to the unemployment centre. "The liquidators have set up a clinic for us to go on Friday so we can discuss what we're entitled to and all the rest of it," she said. "We were all like brothers and sisters. I loved everybody that I worked with." Another worker, Jackie McCormill, described how she arrived at the store to find the shutters pulled down. "We pulled the shutter up and stood inside to wait for one of the managers to say that the shop was closed, that the liquidators were in, and that it was all over for us really. "The other girl I was with was actually physically shaking, it's like someone hit you over the head with a hammer, but this has been coming. "Everybody was crying, women all red faced. People's faces were just drained." Jackie said management had done their best to keep the business afloat. "It seems like ten years this recession's going on and it just seems to be going deeper and deeper down. "They tried their best to keep that store and I think they kept it a lot longer than most people would."
Some workers at Austins, in County Londonderry, say they have been left devastated by the closure of the department store.
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The ECB cut its deposit rate by the minimum 0.1 percentage point to -0.3%, and extended its asset purchase program, but did not increase its monthly government bond purchases. Investors were expecting a bigger cut in the rates, analysts said. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 1.7% to 19,606.32 points. Evan Lucas, market strategist at trading firm IG said Friday's shares sell-off is because there was over-excitement and high expectations for what the ECB would deliver at its policy meeting. "I have been fully aware that last night's ECB meeting would be the biggest 'disappointment' event of the week," he wrote in a note. The six month extension of its stimulus program was seen as the bare minimum, because traders were looking for a one-year extension of the plan - or even an open-ended plan. "What the market 'wanted' versus what the market was 'going to get' were two distinctly different events," Mr Lucas said. Chinese markets followed global markets lower with Shanghai Composite index down 1% to 3,549.51, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 1.2% to 22,158.57. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index was down 1.7% to 5,138 despite retail sales rising 0.5% in October from the month before. It was the third month of solid growth as shoppers spent big on household goods and at department stores. South Korea's Kospi index was down 0.8% to 1,978.78 points.
Asian shares opened lower following the global trend as investors reacted negatively to the European Central Bank's (ECB) policy-easing moves.
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They are worried about losing a rare rest day and the effect on their awards night, Paul Struthers said. The move - supported by top female rider Hayley Turner - could provide the sport with a windfall of more than £1m. But the organiser of a Good Friday charity open day has called the proposal "greedy and selfish". Pros • Would give sport a commercial lift, with extra prize money, betting and racecourse revenue • Could regenerate the all-weather programme, with a 'Champions Series' style schedule building to a Good Friday finale • Racing on most other Bank Holidays attracts good crowds Cons • Jockeys already struggle to spend time with families and some object to Good Friday racing for religious reasons • Annual Lesters awards, where jump and flat jockeys celebrate success, are held the night before • Popular Lambourn and Middleham Open Days take place on the same day Several trainers and others within the industry have also voiced their backing for what they see as a unique chance to exploit a valuable commercial opportunity. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has invited applications from racecourses to stage fixtures on Good Friday for the first time from next year. While a final decision is not expected before 30 September, it is understood the governing body is minded to allow two fixtures on 18 April, 2014, provided they meet criteria around prize money and forecast attendances. BHA chief executive Paul Bittar said his organisation was aware of the "historical sensitivities", but added that it was "a significant leisure day, so we are keen to fully assess the opportunity for racing". Arena Racing, which owns Lingfield racecourse, has proposed a £1m championship meeting at the Surrey track on Good Friday. It would form part of a wider revamp of the all-weather winter racing schedule, while Musselburgh in Scotland would also like to race. But jockeys are concerned they will lose one of only four blank days in the racing calendar, and one which falls the day after their popular annual Lesters awards - the sport's equivalent of the Oscars named after legendary jockey Lester Piggott. Jockey Hayley Turner (Racing UK) "A lot of other sports take place on Good Friday and I think racing is adopting a slightly old-school attitude. "We are in the entertainment business and as jockeys we want to ride in front of bigger crowds, which is more likely to happen during weekends and holidays." Trainer Charlie Brooks (Daily Telegraph): "There is no computer in the world that can quantify the long-term benefits of engaging with the next generation of racing fans at these open days. "And fostering a love of the racehorse rather than bouncy castles, cheap beer and tribute bands is the right way forward." "Most jockeys are unhappy about the idea. It would leave just three days off [23, 24 and 25 December]," said Struthers, whose organisation represents about 450 riders. "They can choose not to ride, but a trainer or owner who wanted them is unlikely to have them again. "If this goes through, a blank day elsewhere in the calendar is vital for the survival of the Lesters. "Plans for more investment in all-weather racing are welcome, but the logic that there has to be a Good Friday finale does not stack up." He said some jockeys, including Irish Catholics, were against the idea on religious grounds. "It is going to be a huge dilemma for those who see it as a religious issue," said Struthers. He said there were two "weak" Saturdays in late March/April where a big all-weather race day could be accommodated. Struthers acknowledges some jockeys are in favour of another chance to showcase their talents - and Turner is one of them. "I am a little surprised by the opposition to it, some of which has been very aggressive," Turner, who has just returned from being sidelined with a broken ankle, told Racing UK. "Coming from a jockey, who has just spent five weeks on the sidelines, I relish the opportunity to be riding as much as I can, especially in the higher profile races." At the racing centre of Lambourn in Berkshire, more than 30 trainers open their yards to the public on Good Friday with an estimated 10,000 people meeting horses and trainers. A similar event has been held for 20 years in Middleham, North Yorkshire. Lambourn organising committee chairman Mark Smyly said his event - which was called off due to waterlogging this year - raised about £60,000 in 2012 for charity, much of which went to a housing project for working and retired stable staff. "It is not just racing people who come to the open day. The PR for the sport is enormous and to do away with that is just greedy and selfish," said Smyly, who helped to run the first open day 23 years ago. "It brings in a lot of new owners to the sport and there must be other days when they can have racing - why not make Easter Sunday a big day?" An Arena Racing spokesman said they were aware of "some opposition" but declined to comment ahead of the BHA decision.
Most riders are unhappy about plans to have horse racing on Good Friday, says the chief executive of the Professional Jockeys' Association.
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Four Taliban gunmen were killed in the gunfight after an argument on the outskirts of Quetta, a source said. Another report said Mullah Mansour died but this is unconfirmed. A Taliban spokesman denied the gunfight happened. Mullah Mansour's appointment prompted splits in the Taliban after its founder Mullah Omar's death emerged in July. A number of senior Taliban commanders refused to pledge allegiance to him and a faction opposed to him was set up last month under Mullah Mohammad Rasool. Read more The Taliban source said the firing seemed to be spontaneous rather than planned. Several other Taliban sources told the BBC that Mullah Mansour and his bodyguards had been at the house of another militant, Abdullah Sarhadi, when fighting broke out. Sarhadi is a Taliban figure with symbolic importance after spending years in US detention in Guantanamo Bay, reports the BBC's Dawood Azami. Compared to Mullah Omar, his secretive predecessor, Mullah Mansour has adopted an open approach and has met Taliban commanders regularly to discuss their policy concerns, our correspondent says. What prompted the shooting in Quetta is unclear. "During the discussion, some senior people developed differences and they opened fire at each other," said a senior Taliban commander, Reuters reports. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid categorically rejected the reports. "No such incident has happened, because he is in Afghanistan not in the area of Pakistan they have mentioned. Secondly his security is not weak to allow such an incident," he told the BBC Afghan service. Mullah Omar died in 2013 but his death was only confirmed in July. News of his death disrupted fledgling peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Some senior Taliban leaders had been suspicious of Mullah Mansour's support for peace talks hosted by neighbouring Pakistan, and accused pro-Pakistani circles of installing him as the new leader. Since August Mullah Mansour has overseen a series of battlefield victories, including briefly capturing the northern Afghan city of Kunduz - a huge setback for Western-backed Afghan forces. But the Islamist movement has split into openly warring factions since Mullah Omar died. Recent reports suggest one of the leaders of the breakaway Taliban faction, Mullah Dadullah, was killed in recent fighting with militants loyal to Mullah Mansour.
Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour has been seriously wounded in shooting at a meeting of militants in Pakistan, Taliban sources say.
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An insipid performance in Tbilisi was bad enough, but in Frankfurt, immediately after that 1-0 victory for Georgia,Germany served up a display against Poland to add another layer of gloom to any analysis of Monday's likely outcome. As Mats Hummels told BBC Scotland afterwards, this was not Germany back to their all-conquering best, but at times against a very good Poland side, they came very close. This was particularly true of the offensive aspect of their play. They swarmed forward, time after time, their incisive passing opening up gaps in the Poland defence. After 20 minutes in the Commerzbank Arena, they had battered the Poles seemingly into submission and the 2-0 scoreline at that point looked like it might become five or six by the end. Thomas Muller, scorer of the first goal, was one of several Germany players on song in that opening period, his languid style belying a sharpness and intelligence that more often than not leads him to be in the right place at the right time in the opposition's box. In Karim Bellarabi, the Bayer Leverkusen winger, Germany appear to have added yet another attacking weapon to their already considerable arsenal. Given his international debut in the defeat by Poland last year, he has become a regular in Joachim Low's line-up and on Friday night showed why. Linking on the left with another relative newcomer - the Cologne full-back Jonas Hector - he gave Lukasz Piszczek, the experienced Borussia Dortmund defender, the run-around, creating Muller's goal and causing havoc. Alan Hutton, or whoever is given the nod by Gordon Strachan at right back, will require support from players in front of and beside him if Germany are not to run amok. Much has been made of the lack of playing time some of Scotland's starters against Georgia had under their belts for their clubs. In the German ranks, a similar issue seemed not to affect Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gotze. The midfielder has started just two of Manchester United's six competitive matches this season, with Gotze starting just once in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich. Yet both men played significant roles in overcoming Poland. Gotze - nominally playing as a striker - drifted to find space, allowing Muller to fill the gaps left behind. He scored twice - the first a finish from the edge of the box after dancing past Polish defenders on the left of the penalty area - and also struck the post as he sought to reward Low's loyalty in the face of Pep Guardiola's continuing quandary about how best to accommodate him at Bayern. And Schweinsteiger, apparently still trying to adjust to the pace of the English Premier League, prowled the midfield, breaking up attacks, starting lightning counter-movements and generally looking majestic. It's no secret. The German side is brimming with talent - and that's without mentioning Toni Kroos or Mesut Ozil! Or indeed Manuel Neuer, who produced two out-of-this-world saves to help ensure the three points stayed in Frankfurt. But there or thereabouts lies the merest chink of light for the Scots. For one of those saves was the result of a wayward clearance from the flamboyant keeper. And he was not the only member of Die Mannschaft to carelessly concede possession or to lose concentration to allow the opposition an opportunity. It happened relatively regularly - sometimes the result of Polish harrying, but on other occasions simply because of a mental or physical lapse by a German player. If Scotland are to take anything from Monday's match, they must surely capitalise on any such failings. The introduction of Hector and Emre Can of Liverpool at full-back looked good from an attacking perspective, but there remains an uncertainty about the German defence. Hummels and Jerome Boateng are undoubtedly excellent defenders, but if their full-backs are caught high up the pitch they can be vulnerable when dragged out wide. These are scraps, though, on which Scotland must attempt to feed. The Germans have a feast of options at their disposal.
It is difficult, in the wake of Friday's fixtures in Group D, to find much to be optimistic about from a Scotland perspective.
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Match ends, Macclesfield Town 0, Dover Athletic 0. Second Half ends, Macclesfield Town 0, Dover Athletic 0. Corner, Dover Athletic. Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Chris Sutherland replaces Chris Holroyd. Substitution, Dover Athletic. Duane Ofori-Acheampong replaces Ricky Miller. Attempt missed. Kristian Dennis (Macclesfield Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Corner, Macclesfield Town. Corner, Dover Athletic. Kristian Dennis (Macclesfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Substitution, Dover Athletic. Liam Bellamy replaces Sean Raggett. Corner, Dover Athletic. Foul by John McCombe (Macclesfield Town). Nicky Deverdics (Dover Athletic) wins a free kick. Substitution, Macclesfield Town. Kristian Dennis replaces Reece Styche. Sean Raggett (Dover Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Sean Raggett (Dover Athletic). Danny M. Rowe (Macclesfield Town) wins a free kick. Foul by Nicky Deverdics (Dover Athletic). Danny M. Rowe (Macclesfield Town) wins a free kick. George Pilkington (Macclesfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by George Pilkington (Macclesfield Town). Nicky Deverdics (Dover Athletic) wins a free kick. Foul by Jack Parkinson (Dover Athletic). Danny Whitaker (Macclesfield Town) wins a free kick. Corner, Macclesfield Town. Attempt missed. Chris Holroyd (Macclesfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Second Half begins Macclesfield Town 0, Dover Athletic 0. First Half ends, Macclesfield Town 0, Dover Athletic 0. Corner, Dover Athletic. Foul by Nicky Deverdics (Dover Athletic). David Fitzpatrick (Macclesfield Town) wins a free kick. Reece Styche (Macclesfield Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Richard Orlu (Dover Athletic) is shown the red card. Foul by Richard Orlu (Dover Athletic). Reece Styche (Macclesfield Town) wins a free kick. Attempt saved. Ricky Miller (Dover Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved. Attempt saved. Stefan Payne (Dover Athletic) header from the centre of the box is saved. Attempt saved. Stefan Payne (Dover Athletic) header from the centre of the box is saved. Assisted by Sean Raggett with a cross. Attempt saved. Danny M. Rowe (Macclesfield Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved. Offside, Macclesfield Town. Chris Holroyd tries a through ball, but Chris Holroyd is caught offside. The decision was taken following an early morning inspection when standing water was found on the playing surface. "As a result of standing water on the pitch and the forecasted heavy rain the game has been postponed," said a statement on the Macclesfield website. A new date for the fixture has yet to be agreed.
The National League game between Macclesfield Town and Dover Athletic has been called off because of a waterlogged pitch.
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A few weeks ago we reported very real concerns about the choreography in the aftermath of the summit from Eurosceptic cabinet ministers, worried that the PM would be setting the pace and terms of the debate in its vital early hours. While they didn't commit officially to a position, the sense in Downing Street was that there was no need to shift cabinet from its usual Tuesday spot. They hoped and expected that cabinet ministers who wanted to campaign for exit would keep their counsel until then, when the government had adopted its official position. But in truth, at least one senior figure had already resolved to break their silence and reveal their plan to campaign for Out over the weekend, in defiance of Number 10. With that knowledge, and several frank conversations with Eurosceptic ministers, David Cameron's team have decided to relent. This is not just a story for political process nerds (honest), but it illustrates how Eurosceptics, although in a clear minority in the cabinet, have been able to force Downing Street's hand. This week's summit and now, the 24 hours that follow, are shaping up to be some of the most important in David Cameron's political career.
This afternoon Number 10 has bowed to the inevitable, and conceded that if (and it is still an if) the deal is done at the EU summit in Brussels this week David Cameron will hold a cabinet meeting as soon as he returns to London early on Friday evening.
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Members were unable to reach a compromise after eight hours of talks. The committee had considered plans - backed by deputy Leader Tom Watson - to reinstate elections to the shadow cabinet. Since 2011, the party leader has selected his own top team. Mr Watson said the proposal could help Labour "put the band back together" for a possible early election. A proposal to decide on the details of the plan ahead of Saturday's leadership election result was voted down, by 16 votes to 15. Mr Corbyn was among those to vote against it, but did agree to further talks with Mr Watson and other senior figures before the next NEC meeting this weekend, at the party's conference in Liverpool. Mr Watson said afterwards that it was a "very positive meeting". He added: "We agreed 22 changes to our rules and guidance, all sorts of positive things I'm sure the media will be really interested in." Many MPs see elections as a way of constraining Mr Corbyn, should he be re-elected as leader, and ensuring a balance of opinion at Labour's top table. Supporters of Mr Corbyn say any plan should call for party members and activists to also have a say in any elections. The Labour leader has said there is a "thirst for democracy" in the party and he backs a "widening of the franchise". Mr Watson also called for Labour's leadership election rules to be changed to exclude registered supporters who pay a one-off fee to vote. He described their participation as "unpopular" and suggested a return to a franchise of party members, trade unionists and MPs. In last year's contest, 84% of the 105,598 registered supporters who paid £3 to vote backed Jeremy Corbyn. This time around, they were asked to pay £25 to take part. Despite the increased fee, 129,000 people are thought to have applied successfully for a one-off vote in the contest between Mr Corbyn and his challenger Owen Smith - the result of which will be announced on Saturday. Registered supporters were given a say in the choice of leader as a result of changes brought in by Ed Miliband, and approved by the party in 2013, designed to open up the process to a wider audience. Critics have said it allowed the leadership election to be hijacked by far-left groups with their own agenda - although Mr Corbyn easily won the most support among all groups - including party members, trade unionists and other affiliated supporters. Mr Watson, who himself was elected deputy leader last year using the same franchise, said the reforms had been "rushed" and "unpopular". He suggested a return to the previous system used to elect Mr Miliband and his predecessors - in which voting was limited to an electoral college of party members, trade unionists, affiliate supporters and elected representatives of the party. "We created a new category of member - a registered supporter - that was pretty unpopular in all sections. We want to remove that and we want also want to enfranchise ordinary trade unionists in the process," he said. Mr Watson said he did not want the changes to be seen as a threat to Mr Corbyn and suggested they would only apply after he stood down, whenever that may be. But the BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said the move would be seen as an attempt to make it much harder for a left winger like Mr Corbyn to be elected. Arriving at the NEC meeting in central London earlier, veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner accused the media of "trying to get rid of" Mr Corbyn.
Labour has failed to agree on how to form its shadow cabinet at a meeting of its national executive committee.
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He made more than 40 feature films in a career spanning 60 years. Many of his films - including Kanal, Man of Marble, Man of Iron and Katyn - were inspired by Poland's turbulent wartime and communist history. In 2000, Wajda was awarded an honorary Oscar for his contribution to world cinema. Wajda had been recently taken to hospital. Unconfirmed reports say he died of lung failure. Wajda's last film Powidoki (Afterimage) tells the life story of the avant-garde painter Wladyslaw Strzeminski, who suffered under the post-war Stalinist government in Poland. The director said he wanted to "warn against state intervention in art". The film was recently chosen as Poland's official entry for the best foreign language film at the 2017 Oscars. Four of Wajda's earlier works had been nominated for that category. Man of Iron won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1981. Wajda once said that "the good Lord gave the director two eyes - one to look into the camera, the other to be alert to everything that is going on around him." Wajda was born in 1926 in the north-eastern Polish town of Suwalki. His father was among the victims of the Katyn massacre of Polish army officers by the Soviet Union in 1940. Wajda tried to follow in his father's footsteps, but was rejected by a military academy, and joined the Polish resistance in World War Two. During World War Two, Wajda joined the Polish resistance. He later studied to be a painter, before entering the Lodz Film School. In 1955, he made his feature film debut with Generation, set during the German occupation of Warsaw in World War Two. It was followed by Kanal, and Ashes and Diamonds, which form a trilogy about life in wartime Poland. Some of his films found disfavour with the communist rulers of Poland because of their trenchant portraits of the wartime Warsaw Uprising and the suppression of the Solidarity movement in the 1980s. It was only after the fall of communism in 1989 that he was able to make his film about Katyn. "I never thought I would live to see the moment when Poland would be a free country," Wajda said in a 2007 interview with the Associated Press. "I thought I would die in that system. It was so surprising and so extraordinary that I lived to see freedom." Following Poland's first free elections in 1990, he served for two years as a senator in the upper house of parliament.
Oscar-winning Polish film director Andrzej Wajda has died aged 90, the Polish Filmmakers' Association has confirmed.
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Pae Jun-ho, known in the US as Kenneth Bae, smuggled anti-government materials and plotted the state's downfall, a Supreme Court spokesman told state news agency KCNA. He denied Mr Bae was being used as a "political bargaining chip" with the US. Mr Bae was detained last year after entering North Korea as a tourist. North Korea has arrested several US citizens in recent years, including journalists and Christians accused of proselytism. They were released after intervention from high-profile American figures, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, both of whom went to Pyongyang. The court spokesman told KCNA that Mr Bae was "dispatched to China as a missionary". There he was involved in setting up "plot-breeding bases" from which he "infiltrated at least 250 students" into the North Korean port city of Rason with the aim of "bringing the government down". US citizens held by N Korea "He committed such hostile acts as egging on overseas [North Korean] citizens and foreigners to perpetrate hostile acts to bring down its government while conducting a malignant smear campaign," he said. He added Mr Bae's full confession was the reason why he did not receive a possible death sentence. "He dared commit such hideous crimes as hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership," he said. The spokesman denied that Mr Bae was "not tried in a transparent matter and [the North] was trying to use this issue as a political bargaining chip". Mr Bae, 44, was arrested in November as he entered Rason, a special economic zone near North Korea's border with China. South Korea activists believe he was arrested for taking pictures of starving children. Other reports have described him as a devout Christian. His conviction on 30 April came amid high tension between the US and North Korea, after Pyongyang's third nuclear test. The UN expanded sanctions against the communist state in March, in the wake of its 12 February nuclear test and December long-range rocket launch. Pyongyang reacted angrily both to the measures and the annual US-South Korea military exercises, threatening to attack US military bases and cutting key hotlines with its southern neighbour.
North Korea has released details of the alleged crimes of a US man it sentenced to 15 years of hard labour.
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The 28-year-old Croatia international will sign the deal, which has a £109m (125m euros) buyout clause, on Friday. Rakitic - whose current contract runs until 2019 - has made 145 appearances for Barca since his 2014 move from Sevilla, scoring 23 goals. He played in Barca's famous 6-1 comeback win against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has agreed a new contract, tying him to the Spanish champions until 2021.
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The former double world champion, 23, missed the 2014 Commonwealth Games due to recurring trouble in her left knee. She also underwent surgery on a long-standing shoulder problem but Sutton said the knee injury was still a cause for concern. "Becky has had a few setbacks over the last week or so," he said. "We looked like getting her back in the spring but there have been one or two little complications. "I have no detailed report. That is kept between the doctors, medical team and her rehab team. Media playback is not supported on this device "They are doing a great job and she is getting the best treatment possible." James aggravated the knee injury when she returned to training following a period of rest after a minor medical procedure. The Abergavenny-born track cyclist won silver and bronze for Wales at the Commonwealth Games in 2010, but came to international prominence at the 2013 Track World Championships. She won golds in the keirin and sprint and also picked up bronze medals in the team sprint and 500m time trial in Minsk. James missed out on the London Olympics in 2012 after a season wrecked by injury and illness, but Australian Sutton has no doubt that success at Rio 2016 remains realistic. "I am totally confident we will get her right for Rio," Sutton added. "Another four or five weeks is really not going to matter. She has lost a lot of time but give us 12 months and a clean bill of health, then Becky will be knocking them over in Rio. "We are talking about a girl that is one of the best on the world stage. "If anyone is going to survive this and cope mentally, it will be Becky."
Becky James has suffered a setback in her recovery from a serious knee injury, says British Cycling chief Shane Sutton.
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On one occasion there was only one commode available for more than 100 patients at North Middlesex University Hospital, a report by the watchdog said. Emergency services at the London hospital have been rated "inadequate". The hospital said it was "extremely sorry" for the problems in the unit. Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission said there were too few competent doctors who were able to assess and treat patients at night when they inspected the department in April and May. The unit - which sees 500 hundred patients a day - logged 22 serious incidents in the past year, including the dead patient not being found for hours. Others included a patient being left sitting on a bedpan for more than an hour. And nurse to patient ratios were rarely achieved because they frequently had 20 patients being treated in the corridor. The report also said staff were afraid to speak up for fear of retribution. The inspection of the emergency department and two of the hospital's medical wards was in response to concerns about the standards of care. The hospital has apologised to patients and says the A&E department now has five additional doctors and consultants on loan from other London trusts, a new nursing lead and new clinical director. Chief Inspector of Hospitals Sir Mike Richards said the hospital has already "turned a corner" since the inspection. He said: "A new leadership team is in place in the emergency department, there are moves to appoint more senior doctors - and I note that the trust is calling on consultants from other departments within the hospital to provide the routine daily support to A and E which is so badly needed. "There is still much more that needs to be done. We will be watching their progress very closely." David Burrowes, MP for Enfield Southgate, said he was left to wait for 12 hours on a trolley with a ruptured appendix in the emergency department in 2014. He said "urgent action" was needed. "The important question is why the warning signals from at least two years ago were not heeded," he added Tottenham MP David Lammy said the "damning" report is "even worse than I feared" and demanded answers from Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. He said: "It shocks and appals me that this situation has been left for so long without an intervention from the Health Secretary, and the way that this has been covered up is nothing short of a scandal." During the same inspection, medical care services were rated as requiring improvement. The trust is now required to improve the care of patients in the emergency department by 26 August 2016 following a warning from the CQC. A full inspection of the trust will take place in September.
A patient lay dead for up to four-and-a-half hours before being spotted at one of the busiest's A&E departments in the country, inspectors have revealed.
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He is known for frank - some would argue brutal - descriptions of sexuality and alienation. One of France's best-known authors internationally, he also wrote the books Atomised and Platform. Houellebecq, 52, won a court case in 2002 against Muslim groups who accused him of insulting Islam. He said he felt contempt for Islam, but he was cleared of inciting racial hatred. The Map and the Territory, first published in French in September, satirises the Paris art world, telling the story of a misanthropic artist who achieves critical and commercial success by photographing old Michelin maps. It also features a badly dressed, drunken writer by the name of Michel Houellebecq who becomes the victim of a grisly murder. "Among all the people who are going to discover my books thanks to this prize, I hope I won't disappoint them and they'll be happy," the author told French media. He has twice come close to winning the Goncourt Prize before, in 1998 and 2005.
The controversial writer Michel Houellebecq has won France's top literary award, the Goncourt Prize, for his book The Map and the Territory.
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The 24-year-old tight-head is among the starting XV who are given a chance to redeem themselves after the 29-13 defeat by Scotland. Asked if he was relieved to be retained, the Exeter Chiefs player replied: "Oh yeah. "Obviously you want to keep your place and after a loss everyone was on edge." Francis continued: "It's good we've got a good squad and a good depth especially in my position. "There's Samson [Lee] there's me and there's Rhods [Rhodri Jones] and there's Scott Andrews. "If you don't have a good game there's someone knocking ready to do anything to take your place." Media playback is not supported on this device Wales go into Friday night's match in Cardiff off the back of defeats by Scotland and England. Another defeat will mean it would be Wales' worst championship since 2010 and Francis accepts the players have something to prove at the Principality Stadium. Francis says he has managed to avoid the worst of the criticism aimed at the team in Wales because he plays his club rugby in the south west of England. "It's a bit like a fishbowl isn't it," he said. "When the game doesn't go how you want it's quite hard not to take that personally especially if you look at the press. "I guess I'm lucky in the weeks after the losses I've been back in Exeter. "I didn't have to stay here and I sort of managed to get away from that and focus on something else and then come back into it. "It's not a nation is it? It's a little part of the south west and there's only a few papers that will print anything about the rugby, but here it's all over the news."
Wales prop Tomas Francis admitted he was relieved when coach Rob Howley named an unchanged team for Friday's Six Nations match with Ireland.
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Lara Clarke, from Brownhills, has previously made near-life-sized cakes of Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lawrence. Her latest creation, baked to celebrate the Defender model, fed 2,000 people at an event at the factory in Solihull on Monday. The half-scale replica weighed 600kg and featured working headlights. Comprising 32 sponge cakes, 50kg (110 lbs) of butter cream, 20kg (44 lbs) of ganache and 50kg icing, it took her 150 hours to produce. Ms Clarke said the bake was so heavy it had to be delivered by fork lift truck. "We arrived by van and everyone was coming round to have a look," she said. "They couldn't believe it was a cake. There was plenty to go round and everyone on the factory floor got a piece." It was baked to celebrate the two millionth Defender rolling off the production line - the figure includes its predecessors the Series I, II and III models. Ms Clarke said it started after she tagged JLR in a tweet about a small Land Rover birthday cake. "They got in touch and asked if I could make a cake in the shape of an engine to mark the opening of their new engine plant. "A woman then asked me if I could make a Land Rover cake. "It was originally meant to be quite small, but I asked them if they wanted something that would really impress people." Ms Clarke said she was getting married in October, a week before the Cake International competition at Birmingham's NEC. Rather than enter this year, she said she planned to bake "the best wedding cake that's ever been seen".
A giant cake has been made in the shape of a Land Rover by an award-winning amateur baker from the West Midlands.
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6 May 2016 Last updated at 17:44 BST Mr Dundar's wife can be seen restraining the gunman along with an unnamed man, before armed plain-clothed police arrive and order the attacker to get down. The journalist and a colleague from Cumhuriyet face charges of revealing state secrets. Witnesses said the assailant fired several shots. Mr Dundar escaped unharmed but a reporter was injured.
Footage from Istanbul shows the aftermath of an attacker opening fire on journalist Can Dundar, outside the court where he is on trial.
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Adams won on her professional debut on Saturday but was frustrated to fight over four two-minute rounds. "Every time I felt I was getting close to a stoppage the bell would go for the end of the round," said Adams, 34. On Tuesday, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said the organisation "will never allow three-minute rounds". Sulaiman said some boxing jurisdictions had taken "steps backwards" in allowing longer rounds in the women's sport. He said the organisation would "limit the dehydration and the fatigue elements to lower as much as possible the risk of a tragedy". Flyweight Adams' next bout in Leeds on 13 May is on the undercard of Josh Warrington's WBC International featherweight title fight with Kiko Martinez. As Adams' fight is not for a WBC title, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) have allowed for the extension of the bout to four three-minute rounds. Ireland's London 2012 Olympic champion Katie Taylor has also called for the move and Adams' management believe it will be the first time a women's bout has featured the same length of rounds as their male counterparts in the UK. "Female boxing has come a long way since Jane Couch MBE made the sport possible here in the UK in 1998," said Adams. "However, there is still a way to go until both male and female boxers can campaign under the same competition rules." Adams is now intent on winning the right for women to wear lighter gloves. The BBBofC's rules specify women must use 10oz gloves, a factor Adams' management believe is even more limiting than round length as gloves become heavier with perspiration as a fight progresses. "It's great that the BBBofC has supported this first change and hopefully changes to glove sizes will come next," said Adams. In the men's game, fighters competing from flyweight to welterweight are allowed to wear 8oz gloves. BBC Radio 5 live boxing pundit Steve Bunce said a move to 8oz gloves would allow Adams to show her power, adding the current 10oz rule was "not good for business".
Double Olympic champion Nicola Adams will contest three-minute rounds in her next fight, a contrast to the standard two minutes in women's boxing.
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Alan Solomons' side had scored a wonderful try through centre Will Helu after Munster had started strongly with a John Ryan score. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne kicked three penalties with a host of returning World Cup internationals on both teams. But the scrum-half saw his dramatic drop-goal attempt charged down three minutes into overtime. With just three minutes gone, Ryan muscled between Edinburgh's centres to ground the ball against the base of the post, Keatley converting. Hidalgo-Clyne replied with a penalty and Munster's Gerhard van den Heever was sin-binned for colliding with the airborne Tom Brown, but Edinburgh - supreme in the scrummage and wayward come the lineout - failed to capitalise significantly on the winger's absence. Keith Earls came within a whisker of a second try, haring after a sumptuous Conor Murray box kick deep into the Edinburgh 22, but spilling the bouncing ball at the corner flag as the cover defence heaved him out of play. Keatley thumped over a penalty from just inside Edinburgh's half after the home pack shunted a fraction too early in the scrum and Hidalgo-Clyne slotted his second three-pointer to bring the hosts back within four points at the break. Under Solomons, Edinburgh have relied more upon a pulverising pack than abandon out wide, but the try they crafted shortly after half-time was a work of some beauty. It started with Cornell du Preez, the back-row, fielding a kick in his own half and releasing Damien Hoyland down the wing with a delightful offload. Youngster Hoyland danced and shimmied his way through the Munster defenders, before the ball was swept to the other flank via Hamish Watson and Tom Brown to find Helu, who raced for the corner and grounded powerfully. Hidalgo-Clyne's conversion attempt ricocheted back off the upright. Keatley then hooked a penalty effort wide from distance and Munster lost a second man to the flash of David Wilkinson's yellow card, All Black centre Francis Saili binned as he was caught on the wrong side of a ruck. Hidalgo-Clyne converted the resulting penalty, but Munster's pivot cancelled it out with one of his own five minutes later. There is little doubt Edinburgh are on an upward trajectory, but there are still rough edges, notably in the fluidity of the backline play, to be refined - the number of infuriating fumbled passes will have more than irked Solomons. From one such vexing spill, replacement prop John Andress brought a scrum crashing to ground and Keatley regained Munster's lead with a huge kick from the tee. The visitors turned the screw. Keatley arrowed the ball in behind Brown and the Irish pack lay siege to Edinburgh's line, yielding a yellow card for the hosts' fly-half Greig Tonks. Edinburgh rallied well, though, resisting Munster's advances, and with the clock almost red, Hoyland intercepted in his own 22 to race downfield and set up a heart-stopping, but ultimately fruitless, finale. Edinburgh: Blair Kinghorn, Damien Hoyland, Will Helu, Matt Scott, Tom Brown, Greig Tonks, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, WP Nel, Anton Bresler, Alex Toolis, Mike Coman (captain), Hamish Watson, Cornell Du Preez. Replacements: Neil Cochrane, Rory Sutherland, John Andress, Roddy Grant, Nasi Manu, Sean Kennedy, Andries Strauss, Dougie Fife. Munster: Simon Zebo, Gerhard van den Heever, Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Ronan O'Mahony, Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Duncan Casey, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Dave Foley, Dave O'Callaghan, Jack O'Donoghue, CJ Stander (captain). Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, Mario Sagario, Robin Copeland, Jordan Coghlan, Tomás O'Leary, Rory Scannell, Denis Hurley.
A late Ian Keatley penalty consigned Edinburgh to a third straight Pro12 defeat at home to Munster.
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As first reported by The Express, the settled community in the Hovefields area of Wickford reported hardcore-laden lorries arrive at the weekend. The lorries were followed by large mobile homes. Basildon Council said it is aware of "an alleged breach of planning laws". Essex Police has also been informed. The Hovefield site - which is subject to a High Court injunction preventing further development - is less than three miles (5km) by road - from the Dale Farm traveller site in Wickford. Dale Farm was Europe's largest traveller site before about 80 families were evicted from unlawful plots in 2011. Jill Walsh, of the Hovefields Residents Association, said an English Traveller family in five caravans left the site on Friday. After they departed, she said, a number of large lorries carrying concrete, hardcore and three mobile homes drove down Hovefields Avenue and onto the five acre field at the end of the road. Mrs Walsh said because of the narrowness of the road one of their neighbours - an elderly couple - had their fence ripped out and shrubbery damaged so that the lorries could get through. "If the council does not prosecute over this and deal with the situation urgently they will have a Dale Farm II, but bigger." Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, said: "Basildon Council is aware of an alleged breach of planning laws in the Hovefields area. "We share the frustrations of residents, but the council does not have powers of arrest and must follow the proper legal process. "As a public body, we must act within the existing legal framework, as set out by Parliament, and this adds considerable time and cost in dealing with such situations. "However, residents can be assured that the council is taking all appropriate steps to deal with unauthorised development." Essex Police said it was investigating a criminal damage report involving the fence and has urged any witnesses to contact them. A police spokesman said: "Essex Police is aware of an unauthorised traveller development on land near Hovefields Avenue. "We are liaising with the local authority and will continue to monitor the situation."
Residents have called for urgent action amid claims that a new mass Traveller site is being created at the end of their road in Essex.
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Defence ministry spokesman Lt Gen Sergei Rudskoi said the Syrian army was poised to defeat IS militants there. But US officials said Russia staged no air strikes in Syria in the past week. The strikes come days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the withdrawal of most Russian forces from Syria. IS militants captured the ancient city of Palmyra last May. Since then it has blown up monumental temples, arches and statues in the Unesco World Heritage site, bringing global condemnation. Meanwhile, IS claimed on Friday it had killed five Russian soldiers in fighting around Palmyra in recent days. Russia has not commented on the claim and there is no independent verification. In recent months, IS has been losing ground to President Bashar al-Assad's forces, rebel groups, and Kurdish militia fighters. Gen Rudskoi told reporters in Moscow that the Syrian army had also seized key hilltop areas near the city of Aleppo and cut supply routes leading to the IS-held city. US Central Command spokesman Patrick Ryder said there had been some bombardments in the Palmyra region but that they were thought to be made by Russian artillery. Russia had withdrawn most if not all of its strike aircraft and there had been little movement of its ground forces, Col Ryder said. Indirect peace talks aimed at resolving the Syrian conflict have been taking place in Geneva for the past week, but so far shown no progress.
Russia says its warplanes are carrying out up to 25 air strikes a day around the Syrian city of Palmyra in support of Syrian forces trying to oust so-called Islamic State (IS).
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Media playback is not supported on this device Spirit of Shankly (SOS) will vote on the issue on Saturday. Its chair, Jay McKenna, said the impact of the Hillsborough disaster might have left fans "behind the curve" in the debate about reintroducing standing. The club said it would "listen" to fans' views if legislation requiring all-seater stadiums were ever changed. Liverpool said their fans were in a "uniquely complex and difficult position" when contemplating safe standing because the requirement for all-seater stadiums in England's top flight came in response to the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 fans were killed in a crush at an FA Cup semi-final in 1989. SOS has discussed the issue with members since September and on Tuesday will meet with survivors of the disaster and families of those killed. It will hold an open meeting in the city this weekend, then open an online vote. The vote will seek to clarify an official stance on safe standing for the group's members but a separate vote will also collate the views of non-members in order to build a supporter-wide consensus. "We think it's important that everybody has a say," added McKenna. "It can be a factual and emotional debate. We are fully aware of that. In the past nobody has wanted to talk about it, perhaps for fear of upsetting people. If we don't have this conversation, it will happen around us. "We just want to know, are you in favour of it or not?" Government legislation would need to change for safe standing to be introduced. The Premier League wrote to its 20 clubs last month to assess whether they would be interested in trialling safe standing. Debate over the issue has grown since Celtic introduced around 3,000 rail seats at Celtic Park at the beginning of last season. The Scottish club will be represented at Saturday's open SOS meeting, as will the Sports Ground Safety Authority, who oversaw regulation surrounding the move to all-seater stadiums. But Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, which helps families of more than 70 of those killed at Hillsborough, reiterated the body's objection to safe standing. "We have had a vote not so long ago with the families and they voted against any form of standing whatsoever," she said. "We don't call it safe standing we call it unsafe standing." A separate organisation - the Hillsborough Justice Campaign - said it remained "neutral" on any move to safe standing but chair Kenny Derbyshire said it was now "imperative" people had their say. In April 2016, inquests concluded the 96 people who died as a result of Hillsborough were unlawfully killed. In June, it was announced six senior figures will face charges for the disaster.
A leading Liverpool fans' group has warned members they need to discuss the issue of safe standing or risk "the conversation happening around them".
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Network Rail is doing work in the Chipping Sodbury and Alderton tunnels and building a new platform at Bristol Parkway. The improvements will run from Saturday until 15 September. They will allow new trains to run on the Great Western Rail mainline, including new intercity express trains. For the duration of the works, those travelling between south Wales and London should note: For those travelling to and from south Wales during the August Bank Holiday weekend from 26 August to 28 August: During the weekends from 23-24 September until 18-19 November, there will be further improvement work affecting south Wales and Bristol Parkway services. Passengers are advised to check their journeys.
Rail upgrade works affecting people travelling between south Wales, Bristol Parkway and London Paddington have begun.
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Media playback is not supported on this device He initially experienced racial abuse, but explains to BBC Sport's Nick Hope how he overcame that and after briefly considering representing France, is now targeting a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. If you'd like to find out about how to get into martial arts, read our special guide.
Great Britain's Taekwondo fighter Mahama Cho was born in the Ivory Coast, but after experiencing physical bullying at school he moved to the UK in 1997 in search of a better life.
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Some 69% of those asked said they had worked when unwell, the report by Aviva UK Health claimed, with many fearing a mountain of work when they returned. This compared with 23% of those surveyed admitting to having been absent when perfectly healthy. The survey comes after official figures showed fewer days were lost to sickness last year than any year on record. The TUC described UK workers as "mucus troopers" after the Office for National Statistics said that sickness absence totalled 137 million working days last year, the equivalent of 4.3 days per worker. When records began in 1993, the equivalent of 7.2 days were lost. Aviva's Working Lives report backs up this view of staff attending work when ill. The insurer's survey suggested that two-fifths of private sector employees were worried that their workload would pile up if they were off sick. It also claimed that having staff in the workplace when they were ill was a false economy for businesses. "Businesses need to ensure they create a working culture whereby people do not feel pressurised into coming to work when they are unwell, safe in the knowledge their absence can be effectively managed," said Dr Doug Wright, medical director at Aviva UK Health. "Presenteeism, driven in part by an increased 'always-on' culture, poses a genuine threat to overall business performance through the adverse impact on productivity and morale in the workplace."
UK workers are three times more likely to go into work when ill than pull a sickie, a survey has suggested.
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The police say Mr Bach is being treated as a witness, not a suspect. Officers have found emails from Mr Bach to another senior IOC official Patrick Hickey, who was arrested last month and is facing charges. Mr Hickey, ex-head of the Irish Olympic Committee, denies all allegations. Police investigators in Rio told the BBC's Wyre Davies they would like to know what Mr Bach's influence was over Olympic ticketing policy. They said the IOC president received personal requests for hundreds of high-value tickets, for the Olympics opening ceremony, the 100m final and the football final from Mr Hickey. Police say that Mr Hickey received 296 tickets after his written request to the IOC president. They have not, thus far, made any contact with the president's office to request a formal interview. Mr Hickey was arrested during the Olympic games and spent time at the notorious Bangu high security jail along with fellow Irishman Kevin Mallon. He was released on bail at the end of August but had to return his passport to the Brazilian authorities and was ordered not to leave the country. A prosecutor laid charges against him on Tuesday. A judge will now decide whether to accept or reject the charges. Mr Hickey, 71, has formally stood aside as president of the Olympic Council of Ireland and European Olympic Committees' president during the investigation. Mr Mallon is the Dublin-based director of THG Sports, a corporate and sports hospitality company. Mr Bach cancelled a planned appearance in Rio this week at the opening of the Paralympic Games, for personal reasons. Mr Bach has not returned to Rio since the Olympics and missed the opening ceremony of the Paralympics at the Maracana on Wednesday. He said would remain in Germany for the funeral of his friend Walter Scheel, the former West German foreign minister and deputy chancellor, who died last month aged 97. IOC officials said Mr Bach would now not travel to Brazil after the funeral because he was unable to reschedule other commitments. The Paralympics run until 18 September. The last time an IOC president failed to attend a Paralympics was in 2010, when Jacques Rogge missed the whole of the Winter Games in Vancouver.
Brazilian police say they want to speak to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach about an alleged scheme to resell tickets during last month's Rio Olympics.
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Shiv Kumar Yadav has also been charged with "criminal intimidation" of the 26-year-old woman, reports said. The victim had used the Uber smartphone app to book a taxi home but said she was taken to a secluded area and raped. Delhi later banned Uber and several other web-based taxi firms for failing to carry out adequate driver checks. Although the driver has not yet given a statement in public, police say he has confessed to the crime. They say he has also been identified by the victim. Rape and the issue of sexual violence against Indian women have been in the spotlight in recent years ever since a 23-year-old physiotherapy student was gang-raped and murdered in Delhi in December 2012. The crime prompted global outrage and a tightening of the laws on sexual violence, but correspondents say they have failed to act as a deterrent. Earlier this month, five men were arrested in Calcutta for kidnapping and repeatedly raping a Japanese student. And in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, two policemen were arrested for allegedly abducting and raping a teenager.
A court in the Indian capital has formally charged a driver of the Uber web-based taxi firm with the rape and kidnapping of a passenger last month.
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Mr Tucker will take over on 1 October, succeeding Douglas Flint who has been in the role since 2010. The appointment breaks an HSBC tradition of appointing insiders to the chairmanship. One of his first jobs will be to find a replacement for Stuart Gulliver, the chief executive of HSBC, who plans to step down next year. While HSBC is Europe's biggest bank, the bulk of its profits are generated in Asia. Mr Tucker has been chief executive of AIA for seven years, during which he oversaw the insurer's expansion in Asia. Before AIA, he was the chief executive of insurance giant Prudential, and brings to HSBC his experience at the top of a UK financial giant as well as his Asian exposure. Richard Dunbar of Aberdeen Asset Management, told the BBC the bank has "obviously decided" that an external perspective would be useful to HSBC at this time. He added that while chief executive of Prudential, Mr Tucker did a good job of expanding its Asian assets, which are seen as the firm's "jewel in the crown". HSBC has been through an overhaul in recent years in an attempt to reverse declining profits. Over the past six years it has cut more than 40,000 jobs and sold off businesses. Despite those efforts, profits tumbled more than 60% last year. The banking industry has been hampered by the extended period of very low interest rates, which makes lending money less profitable. For HSBC, that problem has been compounded by its move into less risky areas of banking since the financial crisis which started in 2007. Those challenges make the appointment of a new chief executive even more crucial for investors, a search which will now be led by Mr Tucker. HSBC has also been attempting to repair its image after a series of scandals. Earlier this year it reached a $470m (£325m) settlement with the US government and states related to dubious mortgage lending and foreclosure practices during the financial crisis. In 2015 Mr Gulliver and Mr Flint apologised for "unacceptable" practices at its Swiss private bank which helped clients to avoid tax. In late 2012 HSBC paid US authorities $1.9bn in a settlement over money laundering. AIA said that Ng Keng Hooi, would take over as chief executive from 1 September.
HSBC has appointed Mark Tucker, the chief executive of Asian insurer AIA, as group chairman.
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The vote in the St Louis suburb is the first since the death of Michael Brown last August led to protests. A federal investigation found racial bias in the Ferguson police department was widespread. Two-thirds of Ferguson's residents are black and now half the council. Shortly after the results came out, a video emerged showing an unarmed black man being shot dead by a police officer in South Carolina. State investigators said the officer, Michael Slager, would be charged with murder after the video showed him firing at Walter Lamer Scott who was running away. Turnout in Ferguson increased from 12% at the last elections, in 2013, to 29%. Wesley Bell, who defeated another black candidate in Ferguson's third ward, said: "This community came out in record numbers to make sure our voices were heard. "When you have a community engaged, the sky is the limit." A drive by activists to register new voters and encourage previously disenfranchised residents to vote appeared to have paid off. "People in general want to see change," Ferguson Mayor James Knowles told the Reuters news agency. Ella Jones defeated another black candidate and two white candidates in Ferguson's first ward to become the first black woman on the council. Black residents in Ferguson protested for several days last August after Mr Brown was shot dead by St Louis police officer Darren Wilson. The protests spread nationwide in November when it was announced that Mr Wilson, who has since left the police, would not be charged. US police have faced severe criticism from rights groups in the wake of Mr Brown's death, with a series of high-profile deaths of unarmed black men in police custody.
Voters in Ferguson, Missouri, where last year an unarmed black teenager was shot dead by police, have tripled the number of African-Americans on the six-member council from one to three.
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Nottingham, who finished fifth in the table and beat Cardiff to win the Challenge Cup in March, got past Belfast in the play-off quarter-finals. Panthers face Fife in Saturday's second semi-final, hosted in their home city. "We've proven that we can lift our level to the stage and this is a huge stage," Neilson said. "It's the hardest thing to win. It's four games and you get to a situation where everyone is playing desperate, everyone is putting body and hearts on the line. It's pretty special. "When the noise comes, be it good or bad, we seem to perform." Nottingham's National Ice Centre again hosts the four-game series, in which fans from across all 10 top-flight sides descend on the city for one weekend. While Nottingham fans continue to make up a majority of the crowd, the collection of support makes for a festival atmosphere. Neilson admits failing to get on the ice at an event hosted in their own city for the past two years was "horrible". The Panthers had won the play-offs three years in a row before first missing out at the end of the 2013-14 season. "When the crowd gets rocking it will be pretty intense," Neilson told BBC Radio Nottingham. "It's an amazing event and I've touched on it with the players before the play-offs saying that this is something you want to be part of." The weekend's action at the National Ice Centre start with defending play-off champions Coventry Blaze facing Cardiff Devils.
Coach Corey Neilson says Nottingham have the big-game mentality to win the Elite League play-offs after a two-year absence from the showpiece event.
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The paper claims London-based private doctor Mark Bonar prescribed banned performance-enhancing drugs to over 150 British athletes including footballers. Arsenal said they were "extremely disappointed" by the publication of the claims, "which are without foundation". Chelsea said the claims were "false and entirely without foundation" while leaders Leicester also denied them. Bonar himself broke his silence on the matter on Sunday evening, writing on Twitter that the newspaper's claims were "false and very misleading". "I have never had a relationship with any premier football club or player," he added on his unverified account, @ZenGrifter. Read more: Footballers 'doped by London doctor' Chelsea added they have "never used the services of Dr Bonar and have no knowledge or record of any of our players having been treated by him or using his services". Leicester denied the allegations and added: "We are extremely disappointed that The Sunday Times has published unsubstantiated allegations referring to players from clubs including Leicester City when, on its own admission, it has insufficient evidence to support the claims." Championship side Birmingham City said: "The club have not used the services of Mark Bonar and has no knowledge or record of any of our players, past or present, doing so." The Sunday Times says it has secretly filmed Bonar claiming he has prescribed drugs such as EPO, steroids and human growth hormone to elite sports professionals from the UK and abroad over the past six years, including: The Sunday Times says it has no independent evidence Bonar treated the footballers or the other sportspeople. Bonar told the Sunday Times he treated the athletes for medical reasons and not to enhance their performance. There is no suggestion the substances were illegal, but they are banned by sporting bodies. Bonar had his professional services agreement with the Omniya Clinic terminated on Friday, after it emerged he does not have a licence to practise medicine in the UK. The Football Association released a statement regarding the claims, saying: "These are very serious allegations. As such, The FA welcomes UK Anti-Doping's decision to immediately launch an independent review into the matters raised by the Sunday Times. "The FA is fully committed to maintaining the integrity of English football and will work with Ukad and other relevant agencies in seeking to do so. The FA urges anyone with information that may be relevant to come forward as soon as possible." The case is now the subject of a government investigation, following claims made by a whistleblower athlete who was banned for breaching anti-doping rules in 2014. According to the newspaper, the sportsman - who wishes to remain anonymous - approached Ukad with evidence that alleged Bonar had prescribed him performance-enhancing drugs. Ukad says it did begin an investigation into Bonar but decided he was outside of its jurisdiction as he was not governed by a sport. Ukad also decided not to pass the case to the General Medical Council (GMC) or to contact the doctor. Ukad chief executive Nicole Sapstead said the organisation was "deeply concerned and shocked by the allegations" and it would conduct an independent review into the case. World Anti-Doping Agency president Craig Reedie told BBC Radio 5 live it was "pretty dreadful news" and backed calls for an inquiry, but added: "It is best to wait for Ukad to do their own investigation, then we have full knowledge of the facts to work with. "My own guess is if they had sufficient evidence then they would have acted." Have you added the new Top Story alerts in the BBC Sport app? Simply head to the menu in the app - and don't forget you can also add score alerts for the Six Nations, your football team and more.
Three Premier League clubs have denied "false" doping allegations made by the Sunday Times.
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Mr Turnbull, himself a republican, said momentum must come from the public, and that he did not want to face another "heroic defeat" in a referendum. His comments, on Australia Day, come amid mounting pressure on the government to restart the debate. The new Australian of the Year, ex-army chief David Morrison, has said it is time to "have the conversation". In his acceptance speech on Monday night, Lt Gen Morrison said the time was right to "at least revisit the question so that we can stand both free and fully independent amongst the community of nations". His speech came hours after all but one of of Australia's state and territory leaders signed a document in support of dropping the Queen as head of state. Critics have said republicans have yet to propose a viable alternative to being a constitutional monarchy. Australians voted against becoming a republic in a 1999 referendum. Mr Turnbull - who was leading the republican movement at that time - said he had "no doubt in the future there will be another referendum, and the matter will be decided, as it should be, by the Australian people". "But the timing of that referendum has to be right," he said, repeating his view that it should not take place until the end of the Queen's reign. "I've led the 'yes' case for a republic into a heroic defeat once, I've got no desire to do so again," he told reporters at an Australia Day event in Canberra. Lt Gen Morrison was named Australian of the Year at a ceremony in Canberra on Monday in recognition of his commitment to gender equality. He famously ordered soldiers who could not accept women as equals to "get out" of the Australian military in a speech in 2013. In his speech, he also praised the outgoing holder of the title, Rosie Batty, a high-profile campaigner against domestic violence. He described her as "the most remarkable woman" who had "set a benchmark for us all". The Australian of the Year is nominated by the public and chosen by a panel, in recognition of their contribution to Australian society. As well as an Australian of the Year, there is also a Senior Australian of the Year (a doctor, Professor Gordian Fulde, this year), a Young Australian of the Year (entrepreneurs Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett) and Australia's Local Hero (Youth educator Dr Catherine Keenan).
PM Malcolm Turnbull has said there are more urgent issues facing Australia than the debate on becoming a republic.
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The man, who was 31, was shot by police on Francis Street at around 09:35 GMT. A Taser was also used. The IPCC said officers had fired more than one shot at the man. Humberside Police said armed officers had been sent to the Holderness Road area at about 09:20 GMT following reports of a man carrying an axe. More on this and other Hull stories The IPCC, which is investigating the shooting, said: "At this stage, the IPCC understands that officers fired more than one shot at the man, at around 09:35 on Francis Street. "During the incident a Taser was also discharged by police." The dead man has not been named but his family have been informed, it added. Earlier Humberside Police confirmed it had been responding to calls from members of the public and confirmed the force was not looking for any other individuals in connection with the incident. One builder working nearby said he heard gunshots. "I heard two fires, that's all I heard really," he said. "It was scary, a scary situation." Rachael, who was attending a training course in a nearby building, said she heard two "loud bangs and screaming". "Then we looked out the window and he was laid on the floor," she said. "He had what looked like two large sort of cuts, slashes things low down and there was blood coming out of them. "There were about four or six (police officers) with him on the floor and he was trying to sit up, obviously he was bleeding quite a lot."
A man shot by police officers in Hull has died in hospital, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) watchdog has said.
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Brian Steele, 13 at the time of the 1989 tragedy, said he did not see 15-year-old Philip after the crush began. A nurse, who tried to help at least six casualties, also told the inquests he asked for oxygen which never came. Ninety-six football fans were fatally injured at the Liverpool versus Nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final. The 200th day of the new inquests heard Philip and Brian Steele, from Southport, went to watch the match with their mother and father, Dolores and Leslie, who had tickets for the seated area above the Leppings Lane terraces. Altar boy Philip was described by his mother as having a "lovely smile". She said she "never heard her son say a bad word about anyone". The brothers were seen on CCTV going through the turnstiles at 13:52 BST. They had left their parents shortly after arriving in Sheffield to secure a good spot to watch the match. Part of Brian's 1989 witness statement was read to the court, in which he said: "It was as the players were coming out or just prior to the players coming out that the first crush started. "At this time Philip was with me. I was pushed towards the goal in this crush. I don't know what happened to Philip and I didn't see him after the first crush. "There were people all around me and I couldn't see anything. I had to put my head up to breathe and all I could see was the sky." Brian Steele said he did not know how long the crush lasted, but eventually the pressure released and he made his way out. He added that during the crush he "started to fall to the floor" before someone grabbed his jumper. "For quite some time my feet weren't on the floor by the person holding my jumper and other people keeping me up." Philip was taken out of the pen and given first aid on the pitch. Nurse John Boyle said he worked with a St John Ambulance volunteer to try to resuscitate Philip but after "three or four minutes" he decided there was nothing more he could do. The jury heard David Thomas, 23, travelled to Sheffield with friends, including brothers Christopher and Kevin Traynor, who also died. The jury also saw a picture of Mr Thomas, a joiner from Birkenhead, among the crowd in pen three timed between 15:06 and 15:08. He was given treatment on the pitch by David Evans, a charge nurse and senior ward manager from Liverpool, and Dr William Purcell, Sheffield Wednesday's club doctor. In a statement, Mr Evans said he and Dr Purcell worked on at least six casualties on the pitch and "one or two" started breathing again. Summarising his statement, Christina Lambert QC, for the coroner, said: "He says he and Dr Purcell asked for oxygen tanks but were unable to get any during this time." BBC footage from the day showed Mr Evans and Dr Purcell working on Mr Thomas between at least 15:26 and 15:33, when he was put into an ambulance. The medic on board said by the time he saw him, "unfortunately there was no chance" of saving him. Another casualty who was breathing was put into the vehicle and treated as a priority. Both Mr Thomas and Philip Steele were taken to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. Their bodies were later brought back to the stadium where their families identified them. The inquests, sitting in Warrington, Cheshire, are due to resume on Tuesday. BBC News: Profiles of all those who died
A Liverpool football fan whose brother died in the Hillsborough disaster has told a jury how he was held up by other supporters as the crush worsened.
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Many developing countries will try to curb carbon emissions by setting aside forested areas as reserves. But experts are worried that creating national parks often involves removing the people who live in these areas. The study indicated designating forest reserves in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo could displace as many as 1.3 million people. With funding from Norway, Liberia has proposed 30% of their forests become protected areas by 2020. DR Congo, funded by Germany and the Global Environmental Facility, aims to set aside 12-15% of their forested lands. Consultants TMP Systems concluded: "Governments have targets to expand their protected areas, and now with new climate funding being available the risk is they will use this to expand in a way that doesn't respect local rights," said Andy White, from the Rights and Resources Initiative, the campaign group that sponsored the research. "It could result in the displacement of millions of people." Analysts say that this type of displacement has already happened in sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia and Latin America, and sometimes caused violent conflict. "I don't think the international community wants to displace rural dwellers in Liberia - but I think if we go about it in the way we are talking about it right now, that is going to be the result," said Constance Teague, from Liberia's Sustainable Development Institute. "We need to recognise that indigenous communities respect the forest and they have worked on [it] for hundreds of years. "It may not look like what the international community may expect, but this effort to conserve the land does exist." Liberia had the largest forest space left in West Africa, largely because of the indigenous communities, she added. The report also looks into the costs of compensating people for the loss of their lands in both Liberia and DR Congo, which range from $200m (£137m) to more than £1bn. The main argument for setting up reserves is to: And Mr White said: "We need to make evidence available that makes it clear that the woods are full of people, and it makes more sense to help them rather than kick them out. "Where indigenous peoples rights are protected, and they are able to use their forests for their own livelihoods, they have more carbon per hectare than protected areas. "They are active protectors, you don't have to pay a park guard, because they protect their forests, and that is what the world needs." Some 1.5 billion indigenous people inhabit or claim most of the land in the world - but, according to a study released last year, they have legal rights to just 10%. Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc and on Facebook.
The Paris climate agreement could make millions of forest dwellers homeless, according to a new analysis.
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The latest data sent back from the probe has made Nasa scientists believe that Saturn's ice-crusted moon Enceladus may now be the single best place to go to find life beyond our Earth. So, before we get all Doctor Who, let's take a look at some top facts about the exciting moon for ET-spotters... Enceladus is the sixth largest moon of Saturn. It is about 500 kilometres (310 miles) in diameter, making it pretty small. In comparison, the Earth is over 12,000 kilometres in diameter. Saturn has many different types of moons, some are very small, and one - Titan - is very, very large! Altogether, Saturn has 62 confirmed moons, 53 of which have names, and only 13 of which have diameters larger than 50 kilometres. Enceladus is named after a giant from Greek mythology. The name was decided by the son of the man who first discovered it, astronomer Frederick William Herschel. He spotted Enceladus all the way back in 1789, during the first use of his new telescope, which was the largest in the world at the time. Enceladus is covered in a thick surface of ice. But it's what lies deep below this icy surface that has got scientists really excited! It's thought a warm ocean flows below the surface, where the conditions to support life could exist. Jets of water vapour and ice particles erupt from Enceladus' underground ocean through deep icy crevasses called tiger stripes near the moon's south pole. These plumes have provided clues about the planets inner-workings. The Cassini spacecraft conducted a fly-through of the plumes, helping to provide the data that has led scientists to believe the planet could hold life.
The Cassini probe may be about to make a dramatic end to its mission, but the information it has provided about Saturn and its moons is still throwing up plenty of fascinating facts for scientists.
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Favourite Air Force Blue, winner of the Dewhurst Stakes last year and four of his five races, never challenged and was a distant 12th of the 13 runners. Dettori crossed to the rail side to win by one and half lengths for his third victory in the prestigious mile race. Massat (9-1) was second with Ribchester (33-1) two lengths back in third. Air Force Blue was widely expected to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a record eighth 2000 Guineas success. But Ryan Moore could find no response from the bay colt and it was Dettori who surged clear, 20 years on from his first success in the race on Mark of Esteem. He also won again in 1999 on Island Sands. The veteran jockey, 45, said of his latest triumph: "We had a bad draw but he's a great horse. "His main forte is that he stays, he galloped out really strong." Trainer Hugo Palmer said: "Frankie was so alert, he said nothing had been coming from behind and that if nothing took us on, he would do it himself and he did. "There were no hard luck stories, for us anyway. It was a masterful ride." BBC horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght "Considering the going was on the soft side, the time was decent so that's another plus about a success achieved by a decisive length and a half. "The winner had to race on the more challenging outside of the field because he was drawn in stall one, and Frankie Dettori gave him extra credit for the performance because of that. "This was Hugo Palmer's first British Classic win; he's very much an emerging force - it won't be his last."
Frankie Dettori rode 14-1 shot Galileo Gold to a surprise victory in the first classic of the 2016 Flat season, the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
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The two men in their 40s went missing on Tuesday as they climbed the 4,248-metre (13,937ft) Mont Blanc du Tacul. The weather is thought to have worsened suddenly. Reports say they had taken the difficult "Devil's Ridge" route. Mont Blanc, with 11 peaks above 4,000m, is Western Europe's highest range, and a challenging area for climbers.
Two German climbers froze to death while attempting one of the peaks of Mont Blanc in the French Alps and rescuers have recovered their bodies.
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North Korea had requested the body, but has not confirmed its identity. It was released as part of a deal under which nine Malaysians previously prevented from leaving North Korea have now arrived home. The two countries had been locked in a diplomatic row in the wake of Mr Kim's murder in Kuala Lumpur last month. Both countries had banned each other's citizens from leaving. "The body of the DPRK citizen who died in Malaysia and relevant DPRK citizens have returned to the DPRK today via Beijing," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a regular press briefing, using the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. North Korea is widely suspected of having orchestrated the killing with a nerve agent in Kuala Lumpur's airport. Three North Koreans who had been wanted for questioning have now been allowed to leave Malaysia, Malaysia's chief of police said. "We have obtained whatever we wanted from them'' and are "satisfied" with the statements, Khalid Abu Bakar said. In the wake of Mr Kim's killing on 13 February, Pyongyang reacted angrily when Malaysia refused to hand over the body immediately, without an autopsy. Malaysian authorities said they had the right to conduct an autopsy as he had been killed on Malaysian soil, and that they would only release the body to Mr Kim's family. On Thursday, Mr Najib said a formal request had been received from the family, but gave no further details. A day later, national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said "legally speaking, Kim Jong Un is the next-of-kin" but declined to say who the request had come from. King Jong-nam's own family previously lived in Macau but they are now thought to be in hiding. His son Kim Han-sol appeared in a video earlier this month confirming he was with his mother and sister at an unspecified location. Although he was the eldest son of the former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-nam was passed over for the leadership and was living outside North Korea at the time of his father's death. Malaysia's refusal to hand over the body prompted a war of words. North Korea's ambassador Kang Chol accused Malaysia of colluding with "hostile forces", allegations which Kuala Lumpur dubbed as "delusions, lies and half-truths". Kang Chol was expelled and the Malaysian ambassador to North Korea was also recalled. Pyongyang then said it would ban all Malaysians in North Korea from leaving until the "situation was resolved", which Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak called an "abhorrent act" that effectively held his citizens hostage. Kuala Lumpur enacted a tit-for-tat exit ban on North Koreans. Under the deal, the nine Malaysian nationals returned to Kuala Lumpur early on Friday, where they were met by relatives. They include the country's counsellor to North Korea, Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain, embassy staff, and their families. The exact circumstances of how the deal was struck remain unclear. Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak described the negotiations as "challenging". Foreign Minister Anifah Aman hailed the exchange as a success of diplomacy and "level-headedness". Reuters reported that television footage showed two North Koreans on the flight to Beijing with the body: Hyon Kwang Song, the second secretary at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Kim Uk Il, a North Korean state airline employee. The third was named Ri Ji U, who had been holed up with them in the North Korean Embassy, Reuters quoted the chief of police as saying.
The body of Kim Jong-nam, half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has arrived in Pyongyang, Chinese officials say.
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Midfielder McClean and goalkeepers Randolph and Doyle have linked up with the squad after a three-day training camp in Fota Island near Cork. McClean and and Randolph will add experience to a 19-man squad. The game is followed by a friendly with Uruguay on 4 June and World Cup qualifier against Austria a week later. Republic boss Martin O'Neill named a 37-strong panel for the three matches a fortnight ago and a selection of senior players will report for duty after the trip to the United States. West Ham teenager Declan Rice was called up by O'Neill last week but he has dropped out following the training camp. Burnley defender Kevin Long and Preston midfielder Alan Browne could make their Republic debuts against the Mexicans. Meanwhile, Shane Duffy and Eunan O'Kane escaped injury in a road collision as they travelled to meet up with the squad on Sunday. Brighton defender Duffy and Leeds midfielder O'Kane were en route to the team hotel when their vehicle was involved in the accident. The Republic will return after the game in the USA for two games at the Aviva Stadium, including the crucial qualifier with Austria on 11 June. O'Neill's side are unbeaten in their Group D campaign and lie second, level on points with leaders Serbia after five rounds of fixtures. Republic squad for Mexico game Goalkeepers: Colin Doyle, Darren Randolph Defenders: Cyrus Christie, Alex Pearce, Richard Keogh, Shane Duffy, Andy Boyle, Kevin Long, John Egan Midfielders: Eunan O'Kane, Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan, Conor Hourihane, Wes Hoolahan, Stephen Gleeson, Callum O'Dowda, James McClean Forwards: David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy
James McClean, Darren Randolph and Colin Doyle have been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for Friday's friendly against Mexico in New Jersey.
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The Handlebar Club, which is holding the contest as it celebrates its 70th year, first met on 1 April 1947, and according to club secretary Steve Parsons "nothing has changed since then". "There aren't many rules," he said. "But you have to have a moustache of graspable extremities." The club specifies that beards are not allowed, and on its page of FAQs - which provides advice on issues ranging from moustache curlers to moustache cups - it advises people whose interest lies more in beards to contact The British Beard Club. About 100 people are expected at this year's Handlebar annual meeting which takes place at the Dover Marina Hotel. They have travelled from across Europe and from as far afield as the US, Mr Parsons said. On a more serious note, Mr Parsons explained the club, which has monthly meetings in London, raises money for charity. Hirsute conversation lasts for about an hour, and members gather to have a laugh about their "silly moustache", but the club was set up for social reasons. Founded by comedians and broadcasters including Jimmy Edwards, Frank Muir and Raymond Glendenning, the club first met in the dressing room of the Windmill Theatre, London, and was about preserving wartime camaraderie, Mr Parsons said. "It was set up on April Fool's Day just after the war. "Most had been in the RAF and wanted to keep the camaraderie," Mr Parsons explained. "It's a tradition and it's about the Britishness of it all."
The title of best moustache is up for grabs as top lip titans clash in Dover for the honour of being crowned owner of the world's wackiest whiskers.
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Mr Swinney said the UK government's recent spending review placed "unprecedented pressure" on public expenditure north of the border. The UK government said Scottish ministers would have £390m more in spending available to them next year. Mr Swinney is due to present his 2016-17 spending plans on Wednesday. The Scottish government argues that cuts imposed by the UK government since 2010 - along with last month's spending review - mean that its discretionary budget will be 12.5% lower in real terms by 2019-20 than it was in 2010-11. Mr Swinney said 4.2% of that reduction would come between now and 2019-20. He said: "The chancellor (George Osborne) has imposed real terms cuts on Scotland every year from now until 2020, and more than £1bn of those cuts are still to come between now and the end of the decade. "We have demonstrated that the UK government didn't have to take this approach. Debt and the deficit could have been reduced without this scale of cuts that has been chosen by the chancellor. "Now Scotland has to deal with the reality of the chancellor's decision. We face tough choices in the coming days. "Against this backdrop, the Scottish government is determined that we will defend and protect the key priorities that the people of Scotland expect us to deliver on." Mr Swinney said schools, hospitals and the police service in Scotland would "not be sacrificed to the chancellor's austerity obsession". He added: "In recent years we have been able to deliver better outcomes for the people of Scotland. More police, lower crime, better schools, tuition-free university education and a health budget that is at a record level. "These commitments demonstrate the prioritisation of the Scottish government." Responding to Mr Swinney comments, a spokesman for the UK government's Scotland Office said: "The Scottish government will have £390m more spending available to it next year, which rises to £750m if you include its own underspend. "The stability of the UK economy means the block grant will be almost £30bn. "One look at the current oil price tells you this is a much better deal for people in Scotland than the constitutional alternative favoured by the Scottish government. "The Scottish government should perhaps focus more on gearing up for its new powers and getting the best for Scotland, rather than grievance." Labour's public services spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "Ahead of the most important budget since devolution, it's time John Swinney backed up his anti-austerity posturing with something real. "Telling us about pre-election giveaways now and cuts later isn't good enough. This needs to be a long-term budget. "Scotland needs a government that spends less time congratulating itself on its spin and more time explaining its record. "Scottish Labour will offer a real alternative to austerity, with different decisions on tax to the Tories, and different decisions on tax to the SNP."
Finance Secretary John Swinney has warned of "tough choices" facing Scotland as he prepares to set out his budget.
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West Berkshire Council is setting up an emotional health academy to train psychology graduates and health professionals. The local authority said, once trained, its staff will work with children, families and schools. It wants to greatly reduce the wait mental health patients face from 12 months to less than a week. The council also hopes the new academy will stop problems escalating to the stage where they require attention from more highly trained mental health specialists. Director of Children's Services Rachael Wardell said: "It works better if you get in there sooner, when people are waiting for help their condition gets worse. "There are lots more things you can do early on without needing to go to a very high-level with a psychologist or psychiatrist. "It is a way of bridging the gap." Plans were submitted to the Department of Health in October and the council hopes to launch the academy in April while contributing about £120,000 a year, with local schools matching its total. Local NHS commissioning groups could also contribute £100,000 a year and local businesses are being asked to help out financially as well.
A council plans to employ its own staff to help young people with mental health problems.
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Amirah Droudis, 37, will spend at least 33 years behind bars for killing the woman -who cannot be identified - in 2013. Droudis's boyfriend, Man Haron Monis, took 18 people hostage in a Lindt cafe in central Sydney in 2014. The 16-hour siege ended with the deaths of Monis and two hostages when police stormed the building. Monis had been charged with being an accessory to his ex-wife's killing, and was on bail at the time of the siege. The Supreme Court of New South Wales heard that Monis planned the 2013 murder and Droudis carried it out. The victim, identified by the pseudonym Helen Lee, was stabbed 18 times before being doused in petrol and set alight outside an apartment in western Sydney. After the trial, Justice Peter Johnson ruled that Monis recruited Droudis to murder his ex-wife. "The offender uncritically adopted and espoused Monis's foul beliefs and acted in public support of him in public protests," he said in his sentencing remarks on Wednesday. The judge described Monis as "an evil man" whose death was "a result of his own criminal and murderous acts". "No-one mourns his passing and many have been left to grapple the consequences of his destructive acts," he said. The judge acknowledged claims that Droudis had been repeatedly assaulted by Monis. Droudis was sentenced to a maximum 44 years in jail with a non-parole period of 33 years. Detective Inspector Jason Dickinson, who worked on the case, said he was satisfied with the sentence handed to Droudis. "This was a brutal and callous crime and I think the sentence today has reflected that brutality," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. The victim's family made a statement outside court, thanking the judge, prosecutors and police. "Today we are very happy that justice has been served to our only daughter," the statement said. The findings of an inquest into the cafe siege are due to be handed down this year. How the Sydney siege unfolded
The girlfriend of a man behind a deadly siege in a Sydney cafe has been jailed for murdering his ex-wife.
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The Scots have won all five qualifiers to date and host Iceland at Falkirk Stadium on Friday knowing victory would all but secure their place. But Evans is desperate not to miss out again after play-off losses for Euro 2013 and last year's World Cup. "Now that we're in this position, it would be devastating," she said. "We've been so close and fallen at the last hurdle twice now trying to get to major competitions. "It would be more heartbreak than humiliation." Iceland, ranked one place above the Scots at number 20 in the world, are also unbeaten after four wins from four, with the outcome of Friday's contest and the return fixture in Reykjavik on 20 September likely to decide who tops the group. "Obviously reaching the finals is everyone's aim," said 24-year-old Bayern Munich forward Evans. "It's been my aim since I got into the squad, and [veteran goalkeeper] Gemma Fay has been aiming for it for 15 years. "I think it's going to be emotional if we do get there, although we're taking it step by step, trying not to think too far ahead." With the best six of the eight group runners-up also qualifying automatically, Scotland are in pole position to reach next summer's finals in the Netherlands without the need for a play-off. "Iceland are top seeds in the group," Evans noted. "They're a really good side and we've always had tough games against them. "But we know we've got a really good chance to beat them. "It would be fantastic to have a big crowd at Falkirk. Having the fans behind us makes a huge difference." Evans is one of 12 players in the current 20-strong squad who play outside Scotland, with five at English clubs, four in Sweden and two at Seattle Reign in the United States National Women's Soccer League, including newly-crowned BBC Women's Footballer of the Year Kim Little. Perth-born Evans recently celebrated winning the women's Bundesliga in her first season at Bayern, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben as they joined the victorious men's squad for a rapturous reception on the balcony at Munich's New Town Hall. "It was mind-blowing, completely mind-blowing," she recalled. "There were thousands of people cheering when we came out. "We had a party with the men's team on the Saturday night, having been in their stadium on the Saturday just to get congratulated. "I actually walked out with Franck Ribery at the Town Hall, but, in the photos, Arjen Robben is in the background. I don't know them very well, but they were all really chatty, really good with us." Evans, who won four Scottish Women's Premier League titles and six domestic cups with Glasgow City before moving to Germany with Turbine Potsdam, believes the benefits of having more players in the world's top leagues benefits the national team as they close in on a first major finals. "Germany has been at the top of women's football for a long time now - it has really developed over there," she added. "The league is good, arguably one of the best in the world for competitiveness, and we have a hard game every week. "Even within the Bayern set-up, there is such good competition. Just being able to train with those players every day makes you better. I'm really privileged. "The league in Scotland is improving, but the girls playing abroad bring something different. "It is a different culture, a new way of playing, and that adds to the national team."
Striker Lisa Evans admits it will be an emotional milestone if Scotland Women maintain their Euro 2017 qualifying form and reach a first major finals.
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He said that a rugby player has many ways to score a try but the route he so often chose was the shortest route: "Straight over a fella. Sometimes you need to run at people rather than around them - you need to put a bit of manners on them." Foley - or Axel to his mates - died suddenly on Sunday in Paris and the game in Ireland, and beyond, is going to take some time to try to comprehend this outrageous loss. When the news broke you thought of his family, of course. You thought of all those people at his beloved Shannon RFC, where it all started for him. You thought of his legion of fans at Munster, who hold him up as one of their greatest and most influential sons. The numbers of his playing career are impressive - 201 appearances for Munster and 62 Tests for his country, 86 European ties, three European finals, three semi-finals. No list of his accomplishments would be complete without cataloguing the five All Ireland League titles he won with Shannon. Those victories meant as much to him as anything. Hard rugby played in front of passionate rugby people. This was where Foley was at his happiest. It was what Foley was born to do. And yet the number that jumped out at you on this grim day was 42 - his age. It's no age. He had taken his first steps in coaching with Munster - he was head coach and in Paris for Munster's opening fixture of the Champions Cup against Racing 92 - and though he had a lot to learn, the story of his playing career told you emphatically that one day he would learn it all and achieve greatness as a coach, too. Media playback is not supported on this device Ten years ago he wrote: "If I'm going to be remembered I'd like to be seen as a stubborn player, somebody who wouldn't give in. There were times during my career when I could have called it quits and gone off and done other things - but there was always a goal there, always something to achieve. "Once there's something to chase, I'll chase it." Foley underplayed his ability. For sure, he was a stubborn back-row forward, a number eight that would never take a backward step for anybody. But he was intelligent. His reading of rugby games was extraordinary at times. "The smartest rugby player I have ever had the honour of playing with or against," said Keith Wood, the former Ireland captain and Foley's boyhood friend. It was easy to see where Foley got it from. He was born into a rugby family - or more particularly, a Shannon family. Shannon people will tell you there's a difference. They'll say there's no rugby family is like a Shannon rugby family - and therein lies the beauty of rugby in Limerick because Young Munster people say the same thing about themselves, as do those in Garryowen, Old Crescent, Bohemians and many other clubs in this rugby-mad city. Foley loved the intercity rivalry. It was bred into him. Long before he brought his uncompromising will to the Shannon and Munster dressing room, his father had done it already. Brendan Foley did not have a lot as a kid, but what he had was a devotion to the game, a hunger to become good at it and an ability to pass on its joys to his son and daughter, Rosie, who won 39 caps for the Ireland women's team. "As a small boy I was sent to games with him," Foley recalled. "I carried his bag into the changing room at Thomond Park [Shannon's and Munster's home ground] and I minded the spot where he used to tog out - I was very protective of it." When Foley started playing for Munster in October 1994, he sat in the same spot where his father had sat. He excelled. He was never the quickest or most athletic back-row forward - far from it - but he had, in Wood's words, "a sixth sense, an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time". He flitted in and out of the Ireland team over the years, a succession of coaches unappreciative of his qualities. In Munster, they loved him unconditionally. His leadership was legendary. When Munster suffered a setback he'd tell his team-mates to stick the memory of the loss into what he called the "bitterness bank". He used bitterness in a big way. They still use it now at Thomond Park. At the beginning of the European Cup in 1995, Munster were an irrelevance. Their form in their bear pit in the middle of Limerick tended to be thunderous and many big wins were achieved, but there was no consistency, no apparent hope of them achieving anything. The Foleys and the Mick Galweys and the Peter Clohessys - the Munster totems - drove the team forward. Foley instilled his principles into the new wave - Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, John Hayes, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan. A team in Foley's own image had been created. Munster made the Heineken Cup final in 2000 and 2002, losing both. They made the semi-finals in 2001, 2003 and 2004 and lost them, too. People in the province wondered if they would ever achieve their ultimate goal. Foley never wondered or never had thoughts of surrender. He drove on, as honest and ferocious as ever. In the 2006 Heineken Cup final he captained the team to victory against Biarritz at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and wrote his name in Munster history just as his father did when playing in the side that beat the All Blacks at Thomond Park 28 years earlier in the most storied Irish rugby game of them all. His loss is profoundly shocking. His list of achievements is long, but nowhere near as lengthy as the queue of people who wish to explain what he did and what he meant.
Anthony Foley once described rugby as, basically, "a street fight with a ball".
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The 22-year-old Australian will act as cover at Allianz Park during the Rugby World Cup, which takes place between 18 September and 31 October. Sarries could potentially lose Jamie George and Schalk Brits to England and South Africa duty at the tournament. "We felt we that we needed some more depth in the hooking position," Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall said. "Alongside Scott Spurling and Jared Saunders, Dave will provide us with more options. "He has been training with us since we've returned to pre-season and has fitted into the club very well." Porecki has had a spell with Super Rugby outfit Waratahs and has been playing for Sydney side Manly Marlins. Saracens will begin the defence of their Premiership title at home to Sale Sharks on Saturday, 17 October.
Premiership champions Saracens have signed hooker Dave Porecki on a short-term contract.
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Yellow "be aware" warnings are also in place for Scotland for Wednesday to Saturday. The Met Office said a storm, named Storm Barbara, could see winds gusting to 90mph over western and northern parts of Scotland. Forecasters have warned of possible disruption to power supplies. The amber warning is in place from 12:00 Friday to 06:00 Saturday. The Met Office said: "A spell of very strong south to southwesterly winds is expected to develop on Friday. "Gusts of 80mph are likely quite widely, with westerly winds gusting to 90mph likely across parts of western and northern Scotland later on Friday and overnight into Saturday. "Winds will then ease on Saturday morning." It added: "Be aware of the potential for some structural damage - this more likely across the northwest of the warning area - as well as disruption to power supplies and travel, with restrictions on bridges and disruption to ferries." Shetland is likely to be the last place to see winds easing on Saturday, the Met Office said. The yellow warnings warns of winds gusting to up to 55mph on Wednesday to Thursday and to 70mph on Friday and Saturday. Snowfalls with accumulations of five to 10cm have also been forecast upland areas of western and central Highlands. Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has said 21 of its 26 routes have already been disrupted by the weather. Several services have been cancelled. Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - has shut the Braighe, the causeway to Point on Lewis, because of strong winds and high tides.
The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" weather warning for large parts of Scotland for Friday and Christmas Eve.
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Media playback is not supported on this device Seven players remain from last season, including Kieron Assiratti, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Morgan Sienawski, Rhun Williams (all Cardiff Blues), Reuben Morgan-Williams, Kieran Williams (both Ospreys) and Declan Smith (Scarlets). "The players are excited to defend the trophy and work towards going beyond the achievement of previous years," said coach Jason Strange. Forwards: Kieron Assiratti (Cardiff Blues), Callum Bradbury (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues), Chris Coleman (Newport Gwent Dragons), Max Davies (Newcastle Falcons), Alex Dombrandt (Cardiff Met), Will Jones (Ospreys), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues), Tom Mably (Cardiff Blues), Morgan Morris (Gloucester), James Ratti (Ospreys), Morgan Sienawski (Cardiff Blues), Corrie Tarrant (Cardiff Blues), Steff Thomas (Scarlets), Ellis Shipp (Newport Gwent Dragons), Aled Ward (Cardiff Blues). Backs: Corey Baldwin (Scarlets), Dane Blacker (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Conbeer (Scarlets), Connor Edwards (Newport Gwent Dragons), Joe Goodchild (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ben Jones (Cardiff Blues), Phil Jones (Ospreys), Cameron Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Ioan Nicholas (Scarlets), Arwel Robson (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jared Rosser (Newport Gwent Dragons), Declan Smith (Scarlets), Will Talbot-Davies (Newport Gwent Dragons), Kieran Williams (Ospreys), Rhun Williams (Cardiff Blues), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys).
Wales U20s have named their 32-man squad for the Six Nations as they bid to impress following their Grand Slam campaign last year.
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