Datasets:

faisaltareque

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consum_v8

like 0

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-39853354

Qantas chief Alan Joyce hit with pie in face

The chief executive of Australian airline Qantas has had a speech interrupted by a man who shoved a pie in his face.

Alan Joyce was addressing a business breakfast in Perth when a man strode to the stage and surprised him. The man was detained by security until authorities arrived. Police said they were interviewing him in custody. Mr Joyce had been discussing the airline's recent decision to operate non-stop flights from London to Perth. "I don't know what that was about," he told the audience of about 500 people. Mr Joyce left the stage briefly to clean his face before returning to applause from the crowd. "Now, if there are any more pies can you get it over with now," he said. One witness, Ben Harvey, told Radio 6PR it had not been clear what prompted the incident, describing it as a "bizarre situation". A Western Australia Police spokesman said: "We're currently investigating the incident and interviewing the individual concerned." Australia's 7 News reported that the pie-wielder was thought to be in his 60s or 70s. Mr Joyce is not the first high-profile person to have been struck with a pie. Others include News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and television presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

['Qantas', 'Australia']

[{"entity": "Australian", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Qantas", "label": "ORG"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Qantas", "Australia"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57432930

Morrisons boss suffers huge revolt over £1.7m bonus

Supermarket Morrisons has suffered a huge shareholder revolt over plans to award bumper pay deals to its bosses.

Just over 70% of shareholder votes were cast against the firm's remuneration proposals, which include paying chief executive David Potts a maximum £1.7m bonus despite a big fall in profits. The board had stripped out the cost of the pandemic when calculating bonuses. The vote is non-binding, and Morrisons said it would now contact investors to again "make the case" for the awards. Pirc, a shareholder advisory group that urged investors to reject Morrisons' plans, said the revolt was one of the biggest on record. Thursday's news marks the latest investor protest against rewards for top executives. Morrisons said it was disappointed by the result, which was announced at the supermarket's annual shareholder meeting in Bradford. "In these circumstances, the remuneration committee believed that it was appropriate to apply some discretion to the remuneration of the senior executives," Morrisons said in a statement. "It is a matter of sincere regret to the committee that it clearly has not been able to convince a majority of shareholders - or the proxy voting agencies - that this was the right course of action. "The committee looks forward to re-engaging with shareholders, listening to their views, and once again making the case for why discretion was used in a genuinely exceptional year which produced a genuinely exceptional performance from the executive leadership." Mr Potts received his bonus despite profits plunging £165m last year, from £435m the previous year. He was a awarded a total pay package in the year to 31 January worth up to £4.2m, including the bonus. He made just under £4m the year before. The firm's remuneration committee had upgraded the chief's payout after it stripped out the cost of the pandemic when calculating whether a bonus would be appropriate. The investor revolt comes a year after more than a third of investors voted against its pay policy for 2019-20, amid concerns over generous pension deals for Mr Potts and chief operating officer Trevor Strain. In March, Morrisons, Britain's fourth-biggest supermarket, reported a halving of annual profit to £201m, due largely to costs incurred during the crisis. At the time, Mr Potts said he wore the profit fall as a "badge of honour", as the priority during the year had been feeding the nation and keeping staff and customers safe. In assessing pay and bonuses, Morrisons said its remuneration committee felt that management should not be penalised by the costs of the crisis. It also pointed out that Mr Potts waived a basic salary increase for a sixth straight year. In recent weeks, cinema chain Cineworld, events company Informa and property group Savills have each suffered a shareholder backlash over pay.

['Companies', 'Morrisons', 'Retailing', 'Supermarkets', 'Pay']

[{"entity": "Morrisons", "label": "ORG"}]

Morrisons

["Companies", "Morrisons", "Retailing", "Supermarkets", "Pay"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-26187876

Being a couch potato could be genetic say Aberdeen scientists

Being a couch potato could be due to a person's genetic make-up, according to new research.

Scientists from Aberdeen University, working with colleagues in China, have been looking at why some people are less inclined to exercise and more likely to put on weight. The team said they had found a mutation in a gene which may explain it. They said their findings raised hope of a personalised pill to reverse the problem being developed in the future. The study, by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) in Beijing and the University of Aberdeen, has been published in the journal PLOS Genetics. The scientists compared "normal" mice with mice that had a mutation in a gene called SLC35D3. The researchers discovered that SLC35D3 produces a protein which plays a key signalling role in the system in the brain which is involved in regulating physical activity levels - the dopamine system. They found that SLC35D3 seems to be important for transporting a type of dopamine receptor, from inside the cell where it is made to the cell surface. However, mice with this gene mutated had far fewer of this type of dopamine receptor on their brain cell surfaces. Instead, the dopamine receptors were stuck within the cell. This meant their signalling process was not functioning properly. However, treating the mice with a drug that activates dopamine receptors reversed the problem - the mice became more active and lost their excess weight. Prof Wei Li, from the IGDB, who led the study, said: "We discovered that mice with this gene mutation were typical couch potatoes. "They walked only about a third as much as a normal mouse, and when they did move they walked more slowly. "The mice became fat and they also developed other symptoms similar to a condition in people called 'metabolic syndrome' - a medical term for those with a combination of risk factors related to diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity." He added: "What was of particular interest, was that what that when we gave the mice a drug that acted on the dopamine signalling system, the genetic defect could be overcome and the mice became more active and thinner." The researchers then screened 400 overweight and obese Chinese patients with metabolic syndrome and found mutations in the SLC35D3 gene in two of them. Prof John Speakman, who works between the University of Aberdeen and the IGDB, and was a co-author on the paper, added: "Although only about one in about 200 people may have these 'rare' mutations, there are a very large number of people worldwide that have metabolic syndrome. "Consequently the population of sufferers that may benefit from being treated with dopamine receptor drugs runs into many millions of patients." Prof Li added: "We are really excited about these findings. Medical treatments will in the future be tailored to fit a person's individual genetic make-up. "

['Aberdeen']

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couch potato

["Aberdeen"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39729601

Homicide and knife crime rates 'up in England and Wales'

Cases of homicide and knife crime recorded by police in England and Wales are rising,

Some 4.8 million offences of all types were recorded in 2016, up 9% on 2015. The Office for National Statistics said this increase was "thought to reflect changes in recording processes and practices rather than crime". Despite those factors, statisticians said homicide (up 21%) and knife crime (up 14%) appeared to show "smaller but genuine increases". The ONS said also there had been small increases in the number of burglaries and robberies, offences where recording practices were less likely to have been a factor in the rise. Key statistics for 2016 include: The ONS said there had been a "near-continual decline" in police recorded crime between 2004 and 2014, but since the year ending March 2014, total police recorded crime had increased. Analysis: Why nobody seems to know if crime is up or down The separate Crime Survey of England and Wales, which estimates offences including those that are not reported to police, suggests that 2016 crime levels were broadly stable with 2015. It suggested about two in every 100 adults had been victims of violent crime last year, compared with a peak in 1995 of five in every 100 adults. Overall, there were about 11.5 million incidents included in the Crime Survey, which records the experiences of adults aged over 16 based on interviews, after fraud and computer misuse offences were included for the first time. They made up 5.4 million of the total, meaning year-on-year comparisons are meaningless. Stripping out the two categories gives a tally of 6.1 million, which the ONS said was not a "statistically significant" change from the previous year, and was still 40% below peak crime levels of 19 million in 1995. These are the final sets of crime statistics to be released before the general election.

['Gun crime', 'Crime', 'Office for National Statistics']

[{"entity": "England", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Wales", "label": "LOC"}]

England ||| Wales

["Gun crime", "Crime", "Office for National Statistics"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56083755

Covid deaths pass 7,000 mark in Wales

The number of deaths involving Covid-19 in the pandemic has passed the 7,000 mark in Wales.

But the number of weekly deaths has fallen for a third successive week, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). There were 314 deaths involving Covid-19 in the week ending 5 February, accounting for 34.8% of all deaths, compared with 37.1% the week before. It takes the total to 7,089 since March last year. The most deaths were again in north Wales with 73 deaths in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board area. Fifty of these were in hospitals and 20 in care homes. Of these, 45 were in Wrexham and Flintshire, which have been the hotspots for Covid cases in Wales in recent weeks. There were also 65 deaths in the Cardiff and Vale area. The number of deaths also rose to 17 in Powys, its highest weekly number since the first wave of the pandemic. Elsewhere, the number of weekly deaths fell. In total in Wales, this meant a drop from 361 deaths the week before. It takes the total of deaths in the pandemic where Covid is mentioned on the death certificate to 7,005 up to 5 February. This is nearly a fifth of all deaths over the period. When deaths occurring up to 5 February but registered in the week or so after are included, the total is 7,089. The figures also show the peak in the second wave of the pandemic came on 11 January, when there were 81 deaths in Wales. This is even higher than the peak of the first wave, which happened on 12 April, when there were 73 deaths involving Covid-19. But the number of weekly deaths has fallen for a third successive week, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). There were 314 deaths involving Covid-19 in the week ending 5 February, accounting for 34.8% of all deaths, compared with 37.1% the week before. It takes the total to 7,089 since March last year. The most deaths were again in north Wales with 73 deaths in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board area. Fifty of these were in hospitals and 20 in care homes. Of these, 45 were in Wrexham and Flintshire, which have been the hotspots for Covid cases in Wales in recent weeks. There were also 65 deaths in the Cardiff and Vale area. The number of deaths also rose to 17 in Powys, its highest weekly number since the first wave of the pandemic. Elsewhere, the number of weekly deaths fell. In total in Wales, this meant a drop from 361 deaths the week before. It takes the total of deaths in the pandemic where Covid is mentioned on the death certificate to 7,005 up to 5 February. This is nearly a fifth of all deaths over the period. When deaths occurring up to 5 February but registered in the week or so after are included, the total is 7,089. The figures also show the peak in the second wave of the pandemic came on 11 January, when there were 81 deaths in Wales. This is even higher than the peak of the first wave, which happened on 12 April, when there were 73 deaths involving Covid-19. The ONS estimates Covid is the underlying cause of death in 90% of those when it is mentioned on certificates by doctors. Unlike Public Health Wales, which gives a daily snapshot of deaths, the ONS also includes cases where Covid is both suspected or confirmed. It also covers deaths not only in hospitals, but all care homes and also hospices and people's homes. The ONS figures cover 65 deaths involving care home residents, including 10 in both Carmarthenshire and Wrexham. The ONS estimates Covid is the underlying cause of death in 90% of those when it is mentioned on certificates by doctors. Unlike Public Health Wales, which gives a daily snapshot of deaths, the ONS also includes cases where Covid is both suspected or confirmed. It also covers deaths not only in hospitals, but all care homes and also hospices and people's homes. The ONS figures cover 65 deaths involving care home residents, including 10 in both Carmarthenshire and Wrexham. So-called excess deaths, which compare all registered deaths with previous years, continue to be above the five-year average. Looking at the number of deaths we would normally expect to see at this point in the year is seen as a useful measure of how the pandemic is progressing. In Wales, the number of deaths from all causes fell again from 974 to 903 in the week, but it was still 143 deaths (18.8%) above the five-year average. So-called excess deaths, which compare all registered deaths with previous years, continue to be above the five-year average. Looking at the number of deaths we would normally expect to see at this point in the year is seen as a useful measure of how the pandemic is progressing. In Wales, the number of deaths from all causes fell again from 974 to 903 in the week, but it was still 143 deaths (18.8%) above the five-year average. Rhondda Cynon Taf has had most Covid-19 deaths in Wales over the course of the pandemic - 838 so far. Looking at the crude mortality rate - which takes into account population sizes - it also has the fourth highest across England and Wales with 347.3 deaths per 100,000. Merthyr Tydfil (328.2) and Bridgend (324.4) also feature in the highest 10 areas. Rhondda Cynon Taf has had most Covid-19 deaths in Wales over the course of the pandemic - 838 so far. Looking at the crude mortality rate - which takes into account population sizes - it also has the fourth highest across England and Wales with 347.3 deaths per 100,000. Merthyr Tydfil (328.2) and Bridgend (324.4) also feature in the highest 10 areas.

['Coronavirus pandemic']

[{"entity": "Wales", "label": "LOC"}]

Wales

["Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58130893

Italy may have registered Europe's hottest temperature on record

The Italian island of Sicily may have registered the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe - 48.8C (119.8F).

Regional authorities reported the reading, which needs to be verified by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), near Syracuse on Wednesday. According to the WMO, the current official record in Europe is 48C, registered in Athens, Greece, in 1977. The latest heatwave in Italy is being caused by an anticyclone - nicknamed Lucifer - moving up from Africa. Anticyclones are areas of high atmospheric pressure where the air is sinking. Lucifer is forecast to head north across mainland Italy, further raising temperatures in cities including the capital, Rome. Italy's health ministry has issued "red" alerts for extreme heat in several regions and the number of cities that face the highest health risk is expected to rise from eight to 15 by Friday. The Mediterranean heatwave, which has seen some countries record their highest temperatures in decades, has led to the spread of wildfires across southern Italy, with Sicily, Calabria and Puglia the worst-hit regions. Italian firefighters on Wednesday said they had been involved in more than 300 operations in Sicily and Calabria over a 12-hour period, battling through the night to control blazes burning thousands of acres of land. Three fire-related deaths - two in Calabria and one in Sicily - have been reported by Italian media. Separately, wildfires are continuing across Greece, fuelled by strong winds and parched vegetation. Foreign teams are helping to tackle blazes in what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described as a "nightmarish summer". Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires. The world has already warmed by about 1.2C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions. On Monday the UN released a major report saying human activity was making extreme weather events more common. Regional authorities reported the reading, which needs to be verified by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), near Syracuse on Wednesday. According to the WMO, the current official record in Europe is 48C, registered in Athens, Greece, in 1977. The latest heatwave in Italy is being caused by an anticyclone - nicknamed Lucifer - moving up from Africa. Anticyclones are areas of high atmospheric pressure where the air is sinking. Lucifer is forecast to head north across mainland Italy, further raising temperatures in cities including the capital, Rome. Italy's health ministry has issued "red" alerts for extreme heat in several regions and the number of cities that face the highest health risk is expected to rise from eight to 15 by Friday. The Mediterranean heatwave, which has seen some countries record their highest temperatures in decades, has led to the spread of wildfires across southern Italy, with Sicily, Calabria and Puglia the worst-hit regions. Italian firefighters on Wednesday said they had been involved in more than 300 operations in Sicily and Calabria over a 12-hour period, battling through the night to control blazes burning thousands of acres of land. Three fire-related deaths - two in Calabria and one in Sicily - have been reported by Italian media. Separately, wildfires are continuing across Greece, fuelled by strong winds and parched vegetation. Foreign teams are helping to tackle blazes in what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described as a "nightmarish summer". Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires. The world has already warmed by about 1.2C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions. On Monday the UN released a major report saying human activity was making extreme weather events more common.

['Europe heatwaves', 'Sicily', 'Climate change', 'Italy']

[{"entity": "Italian", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Sicily", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Europe", "label": "LOC"}]

Italian ||| Sicily ||| Europe

["Europe heatwaves", "Sicily", "Climate change", "Italy"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31603930

How hackers hijack the net's phone books

Online services that charge to kick people out of games or bombard websites with data have been put out of action by PayPal and security researchers.

The payment firm and the experts worked together to identify the accounts used by so-called "booter" services, They are thought to carry out hundreds of thousands of attacks each year and charge up to $300 (£200) a month. Research suggests the action cut the number of active booter services by about 90%. The booting services use many different ways to batter sites with data but have joined with many other cybercriminals recently in abusing part of the net's infrastructure - the Domain Name System (DNS). This acts like a phone book and translates the website names people use into the numeric equivalents that computers are happy with. So when you type bbc.co.uk, DNS translates that into 212.58.244.18 so your browser can find the page. "DNS underlies everything you do on the internet," said Neil Cook, chief technology officer at security firm Cloudmark. It is used billions of times a day to make sure you reach the site you are looking for. Its very usefulness has made it a tempting target for criminally-minded hackers, said Mr Cook, especially because few firms see it as a potential attack vector. "Most people just see it as plumbing," he said. "They don't see it as a security hole." But it is, he said. An attacker that can subvert the DNS system has total control over the data emerging from a company, internet service provider (ISP), home or phone. Cloudmark was alerted to its potential for trouble by one of it customer, a mobile operator that noticed a massive jump in the amount of data being sent to its DNS servers. This was odd because the typical DNS query does not involve much data - a simple query and response. There was no good reason why, suddenly, far more data was being sent to those computers. Closer inspection revealed the culprit. "It was a rogue operator," said Mr Cook. "It had installed software on user's handsets so it did not have to pay roaming charges." The rogue was outside the UK and was funnelling customers data via DNS so it did not have to travel over the main mobile network and be paid for. At its fastest, DNS can move data around at about 200 kilobits per second - much slower than most mobile networks. But, said Mr Cook, the fact that users paid nothing to browse the web overseas offset the inconvenience. Tom Neaves from security firm Trustwave said that might be plenty fast enough if an attacker wants to move a small amount of data - such as a password. "A lot of people underestimate its potential as an attack tool because it was never meant to be used to transfer a lot of data," he said. Mr Neaves has proved just how useful it can be for attackers by creating software that exploits DNS to slowly steal data. For criminal hackers intent on industrial espionage that slow rate is fine - especially when you consider that, on average, it takes companies more than 200 days to spot an intruder insider their network. Trustwave has seen DNS exploited in other ways too, he said. It can be used as a command and control channel for a malicious program attackers have got running on a machine inside a network. Or as a way for attackers to communicate across networks in different companies. And it does not end there, said senior analyst Darren Anstee from network monitoring experts Arbor. "There are a lot of ways to exploit DNS to do bad things," he said. Most often Arbor had seen it used to carry out Distributed Denial of Service attacks that sought to knock a site offline by overwhelming it with data. Using well-known techniques, said Mr Anstee, DNS servers could be tricked into sending data to a particular site. If enough DNS servers are enrolled into the attack the amount of data turning up at a target site can be overwhelming. Arbor had seen attacks that funnelled more than 100 gigabits of data a second at a target. That's so much that it can have a knock-on effect on other systems on the same network. "The attack tools exist and the capability is built into various botnets and crimeware services," he said. Online there are so-called "booter" services that abuse DNS in a bid to knock people off game servers. Attackers had targeted home routers in a bid to subvert their DNS settings so they can get a look at the traffic and scoop up login names and passwords as they travel, he said. Public-spirited efforts such as the Open Resolver Project have helped to patch many vulnerable home routers and stop them being abused for either DDoS attacks or to steal data. The OSR has enjoyed a lot of success and has managed to get about seven million devices fixed. Unfortunately there are still about 20 million vulnerable devices accessible online, said Bruce van Nice, a director at DNS specialist Nominum. "That's a pretty good base of stuff that can be used for attacks," he said. Defending against DNS-based attacks is hard because many of the defensive techniques used to counter other attacks do not work well when applied to DNS. This is because DNS only works well if data can travel quickly to and from servers. Inspecting each packet to see if it is properly formed and is not being used to steal data would slow the whole system down. Users would complain as web browsing slowed to a crawl. There are techniques that can clean up traffic and mitigate DDoS attacks but defenders need to be aware that novel ways to abuse DNS are being produced all the time. Adversaries are not idle and are refining their techniques, said Mr van Nice. "We see activity every single day and we see evolution in those attacks so someone is improving their capabilities. "They do not do that without good reason."

['Software', 'Internet', 'Cyber-security']

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NoPresentEntity

["Software", "Internet", "Cyber-security"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37338265

Fireman Sam 'Koran' scene cleared by Ofcom

Complaints over an episode of Fireman Sam, which seems to show a character treading on a Koran page, will not be investigated by watchdog Ofcom.

The scene shows a fireman slipping on papers and, as they fly up, a page with Arabic script appears to be among them. Ofcom received 170 complaints but said on Monday it could not confirm the page was from the Koran. The episode was pulled from Channel 5's streaming service but was first broadcast on TV in October 2014. "We studied a recording of the programme in the highest possible resolution," an Ofcom spokesperson said. "We found that the page did appear to contain Arabic text, but its contents could not have been deciphered, nor recognised as being from a given text." Mattel, which produced the show, previously apologised and said it did not believe it was done "maliciously". The company, which produces brands including Bob The Builder, Pingu and Thomas The Tank Engine, blamed the animation studio for the mistake. "It's just an unfortunate incident where someone from the production company thought they were just putting in random text," a Mattel spokesperson said. "We have no reason to believe it was done maliciously." In a statement, at the time the complaints were made, Mattel said: "The page was intended to show illegible text and we deeply regret this error. "We sincerely apologise for any distress or offence it may have caused." It said it would "no longer be working with the animation studio responsible", and would take "immediate action to remove this episode from circulation". "We are reviewing our content production procedures to ensure this never happens again," it added. Fireman Sam began in the 1980s, and was broadcast in Welsh on S4C and in English on the BBC. It aired on the BBC until 2008, when a new version of the show - which uses computer-generated imagery (CGI) rather than stop-motion animation - began on Channel 5. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

['Ofcom', 'Television', 'Broadcasting']

[{"entity": "Fireman Sam", "label": "MEDIA"}, {"entity": "Koran", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Ofcom", "label": "ORG"}]

Fireman Sam ||| Koran ||| Ofcom

["Ofcom", "Television", "Broadcasting"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-33276716

Northstowe: second phase of new town plans approved

The second phase of plans to create Britain's biggest new town since the 1960s have been given the go-ahead.

About 3,500 homes will be added to Northstowe, near Cambridge, where work is already under way to build 1,500 new properties. Two primary schools, a secondary school and a sports hall will also be created as part of the development. Northstowe, the biggest new town since Milton Keynes, is being developed by the government and property developers. Tim Wotherspoon from South Cambridgeshire District Council said securing approval for the latest phase was a "major milestone".

['Cambridge']

[{"entity": "Britain", "label": "LOC"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Cambridge"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-41154846

India baby deaths: Second hospital probed

Indian police are investigating the deaths of dozens of newborns at a hospital in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Forty-nine children died at Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in a month, including at least 30 who are said to have died from "perinatal asphyxia". The condition is caused by reduced oxygen levels during childbirth. In August at least 160 minors died at a Gorakhpur hospital, in the same state. Some of the deaths there were also allegedly caused by lack of oxygen. But senior government officials have denied that this was the case in either hospital. In the most recent investigation, a government report blamed medical staff for 30 deaths, prompting the launch of a police investigation. The Press Trust of India reports that those 30 died from an apparent lack of oxygen while in intensive care at Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. Another 19 infants, who did not survive childbirth, were not part of the government report, the news agency said. All 49 deaths happened between 21 July and 20 August. 12 August: News emerges that at least 60 children died in Baba Raghav Das hospital in Gorakhpur. Thirty died in just two days. Reports said there was a shortage of oxygen - which the state and hospital deny - but family members said they had to manually squeeze artificial bags to aid breathing. By 16 August, the death toll had risen to more than 100 children. Initial reports suggested that the hospital's oxygen supply had been cut by a private supplier over unpaid bills of more than 6m rupees ($93,500; £72,500). 27-29 August: Another 60 children, including 31 infants, die at the same hospital. Officials said there was no oxygen shortage, but blamed a high rate of disease from the monsoon season - saying that many child patients arrive in critical condition. 4 September: Police begin the investigation into at least 30 of the 49 deaths at Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in Farrukhabad. Police said that in the Farrukhabad case, the hospital "did not insert oxygen pipes [into infants' windpipes] after birth". The region is one the poorest in India and records hundreds of deaths of children due to various diseases, including encephalitis, every year. Encephalitis, which is common in Gorakhpur, is a life-threatening inflammation in the brain. Very young children and the elderly are particularly at risk, and it has numerous causes, including bacterial or viral infection.

['India']

[{"entity": "Farrukhabad", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Uttar Pradesh", "label": "LOC"}]

Farrukhabad

["India"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50355758

US election 2020: Michael Bloomberg joins race for White House

Billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has signalled he will join the race to secure the Democratic Party's nomination for US president.

He has filed paperwork ahead of a deadline for the Democratic primary election in Alabama. The move is a necessary step to join the race to be the party's candidate to take on President Donald Trump in next year's election. Mr Bloomberg, 77, has not formally confirmed his candidacy. However, spokesman Jason Schechter told US media that an announcement "could come as early as next week". The businessman is said to be concerned the current Democratic contenders would not pose a strong enough challenge to Mr Trump in 2020. He will be entering a crowded field as one of 17 candidates hoping to be chosen as the Democratic nominee. Former Vice President Joe Biden is the frontrunner, followed by senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The tycoon had strongly hinted that he would run, with his adviser Howard Wolfson releasing a statement on Thursday evening saying they wanted to "ensure that Trump is defeated" in the election next year. "But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of [Democratic] candidates is not well positioned to do that," he added. His comments came after months of debate over wealth inequality in the US, with Mr Sanders and Ms Warren announcing plans for steep tax rises for billionaires. Unveiling his tax proposals in September, Mr Sanders said: "Billionaires should not exist." Mr Bloomberg is estimated to be worth $52bn. On Friday, President Trump taunted Mr Bloomberg by saying there was "nobody I'd rather run against than little Michael". Mr Bloomberg filed his papers in Alabama later the same day. He has filed paperwork ahead of a deadline for the Democratic primary election in Alabama. The move is a necessary step to join the race to be the party's candidate to take on President Donald Trump in next year's election. Mr Bloomberg, 77, has not formally confirmed his candidacy. However, spokesman Jason Schechter told US media that an announcement "could come as early as next week". The businessman is said to be concerned the current Democratic contenders would not pose a strong enough challenge to Mr Trump in 2020. He will be entering a crowded field as one of 17 candidates hoping to be chosen as the Democratic nominee. Former Vice President Joe Biden is the frontrunner, followed by senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The tycoon had strongly hinted that he would run, with his adviser Howard Wolfson releasing a statement on Thursday evening saying they wanted to "ensure that Trump is defeated" in the election next year. "But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of [Democratic] candidates is not well positioned to do that," he added. His comments came after months of debate over wealth inequality in the US, with Mr Sanders and Ms Warren announcing plans for steep tax rises for billionaires. Unveiling his tax proposals in September, Mr Sanders said: "Billionaires should not exist." Mr Bloomberg is estimated to be worth $52bn. On Friday, President Trump taunted Mr Bloomberg by saying there was "nobody I'd rather run against than little Michael". Mr Bloomberg filed his papers in Alabama later the same day. Mr Bloomberg is said to be fully aware such a belated entry to the race presents challenges in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where other Democratic contenders have been campaigning for months. The Bloomberg team reportedly sees a possible pathway through the so-called Super Tuesday contests in March, when 14 states - including California, Alabama and Colorado - will vote on a single day for their preferred White House nominee. Mr Bloomberg considered running for the White House as an independent candidate in both 2008 and 2016. In March of this year he had said he would not join the 2020 race. Mr Bloomberg is said to be fully aware such a belated entry to the race presents challenges in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where other Democratic contenders have been campaigning for months. The Bloomberg team reportedly sees a possible pathway through the so-called Super Tuesday contests in March, when 14 states - including California, Alabama and Colorado - will vote on a single day for their preferred White House nominee. Mr Bloomberg considered running for the White House as an independent candidate in both 2008 and 2016. In March of this year he had said he would not join the 2020 race. Mr Bloomberg's advisers are reportedly preparing the paperwork for other states with nearing deadlines. Both Arkansas and New Hampshire require candidates to file by next week. State-by-state votes, known as primaries and caucuses, will be held from February next year to pick a Democratic White House nominee. The eventual winner will be crowned at the party convention in Wisconsin in July. He or she is expected to face President Trump, a Republican, in the general election in November. Mr Bloomberg's advisers are reportedly preparing the paperwork for other states with nearing deadlines. Both Arkansas and New Hampshire require candidates to file by next week. State-by-state votes, known as primaries and caucuses, will be held from February next year to pick a Democratic White House nominee. The eventual winner will be crowned at the party convention in Wisconsin in July. He or she is expected to face President Trump, a Republican, in the general election in November. Mr Biden told media on Friday that he had "no problem" with Mr Bloomberg joining the Democratic field. "Michael is a solid guy," Mr Biden said. "Let's see where it goes." Ms Warren welcomed Mr Bloomberg to the race on Twitter, linking to her own campaign website and suggesting the former mayor take a look for potential policy plans. In tweet seemingly directed at Mr Bloomberg, Mr Sanders wrote: "The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared." Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are more politically liberal than Mr Biden - might face an uphill battle against Mr Trump. The Republican National Committee said in a statement that the billionaire's prospective entry "underscores the weak Democrat field". Mr Biden told media on Friday that he had "no problem" with Mr Bloomberg joining the Democratic field. "Michael is a solid guy," Mr Biden said. "Let's see where it goes." Ms Warren welcomed Mr Bloomberg to the race on Twitter, linking to her own campaign website and suggesting the former mayor take a look for potential policy plans. In tweet seemingly directed at Mr Bloomberg, Mr Sanders wrote: "The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared." Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are more politically liberal than Mr Biden - might face an uphill battle against Mr Trump. The Republican National Committee said in a statement that the billionaire's prospective entry "underscores the weak Democrat field". Mr Bloomberg was a Wall Street banker before going on to create the financial publishing empire that bears his name. His net worth is $52bn (£40bn), according to Forbes. This is 17 times more than Mr Trump's (estimated at $3.1bn). He staged a successful campaign for New York mayor in 2001, remaining in office for three consecutive terms until 2013. A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. Mr Bloomberg was a Wall Street banker before going on to create the financial publishing empire that bears his name. His net worth is $52bn (£40bn), according to Forbes. This is 17 times more than Mr Trump's (estimated at $3.1bn). He staged a successful campaign for New York mayor in 2001, remaining in office for three consecutive terms until 2013. A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Why is he contemplating a run for the highest political job in the land just a few months after announcing he would watch 2020 from the sidelines? Here are a few theories: The top one is the obvious response. Mr Bloomberg has plenty of pollsters and political strategists at his disposal, and is reported to be a very data-driven businessman. It doesn't take an advanced degree in quantitative analysis, however, to realise that the Democratic field, even at this (relatively) late date, is still in flux. There are four candidates at or near the top of early state and national primary polls - Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. All of them have their strengths, of course, but all of them also have obvious weaknesses. Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Why is he contemplating a run for the highest political job in the land just a few months after announcing he would watch 2020 from the sidelines? Here are a few theories: The top one is the obvious response. Mr Bloomberg has plenty of pollsters and political strategists at his disposal, and is reported to be a very data-driven businessman. It doesn't take an advanced degree in quantitative analysis, however, to realise that the Democratic field, even at this (relatively) late date, is still in flux. There are four candidates at or near the top of early state and national primary polls - Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. All of them have their strengths, of course, but all of them also have obvious weaknesses. Originally a Democrat, Mr Bloomberg became a Republican to mount his campaign for New York mayor in 2001. Now regarded as a moderate Democrat, he rejoined the party only last year. Mr Bloomberg has liberal views on issues such as climate change, gun control, immigration and abortion rights. He was credited this week with helping Democrats win control of Virginia's legislature, after his gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety injected $2.5m into the state's election. But Mr Bloomberg is more conservative on topics like the economy and policing. As mayor, he defended the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy, which critics say disproportionately targeted African Americans and Hispanics. At city hall, Mr Bloomberg banned supersize sodas to prevent obesity, but was overruled by the state's Supreme Court. Originally a Democrat, Mr Bloomberg became a Republican to mount his campaign for New York mayor in 2001. Now regarded as a moderate Democrat, he rejoined the party only last year. Mr Bloomberg has liberal views on issues such as climate change, gun control, immigration and abortion rights. He was credited this week with helping Democrats win control of Virginia's legislature, after his gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety injected $2.5m into the state's election. But Mr Bloomberg is more conservative on topics like the economy and policing. As mayor, he defended the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy, which critics say disproportionately targeted African Americans and Hispanics. At city hall, Mr Bloomberg banned supersize sodas to prevent obesity, but was overruled by the state's Supreme Court.

['US election 2020', 'Bernie Sanders', 'Democratic Party', 'Michael Bloomberg', 'Donald Trump', 'Elizabeth Warren', 'US politics', 'United States', 'Joe Biden']

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["US election 2020", "Bernie Sanders", "Democratic Party", "Michael Bloomberg", "Donald Trump", "Elizabeth Warren", "US politics", "United States", "Joe Biden"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30765822

Grabar-Kitarovic elected Croatia's first woman president

Opposition challenger Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has become the first female president of Croatia, winning by the narrowest of margins.

She secured 50.5% of the vote with 99% of ballots counted, while incumbent Ivo Josipovic was close behind on 49.5%. Mr Josipovic has conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent. The challenger's win is a sign that Croatia may be shifting to the right after the centre-left coalition's failure to end six years of downturn. The election was seen as a key test for the main parties ahead of parliamentary elections expected to be held towards the end of 2015. The gap between the two candidates remained at about one percentage point throughout much of the second round. Turnout was 58.9% - some 12% more than in the first round held two weeks ago, which was equally close. Ms Grabar-Kitarovic is a politically conservative member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which pushed the country towards independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. The 46-year-old is a former foreign minister and assistant to the Nato secretary general. "I will not let anyone tell me that Croatia will not be prosperous and wealthy," she told jubilant supporters in the capital Zagreb, calling for national unity to tackle the economic crisis. Mr Josipovic, a 57-year-old law expert and classical composer, had been president since 2010. The BBC's Guy De Launey says Mr Josipovic had been so popular for so long that it seemed impossible he could fail in a bid for re-election. His problem was that he was backed by the governing, centre-left coalition that has failed to pull Croatia out of a six-year-long recession. Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic apologised for being a "burden" to the outgoing president. His government may also pay the price in elections later this year, our correspondent adds. Croatia, which became the newest member of the European Union when it joined in July 2013, has an unemployment rate close to 20%. The Croatian president has a say in foreign policy and is head of the army, but running the country is primarily left to the government. Mr Josipovic proposed constitutional changes in a bid to solve the economic crisis - including increased powers for the president.

['Croatia', 'Zagreb']

[{"entity": "Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Croatia", "label": "LOC"}]

Croatia

["Croatia", "Zagreb"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-43188632

Daisy Dymyd death: Fake fundraising page removed

A fraudulent online fundraising account set up in the name of a six-year-old girl who died has been taken down.

Daisy Dymyd died in Sheffield Children's Hospital after she was found unconscious at her home in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, on Monday. Her family alerted police to the account pretending to have been set up by her uncle on JustGiving.com. The website said it removed the page on Saturday, refunded £140 of donations and is working with the police.

['Tuxford']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Tuxford"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-48227081

Older cars to pay Edinburgh city centre levy

Older cars will have to pay to enter Edinburgh city centre under plans to improve air quality.

Edinburgh City Council has set out proposals to introduce low emissions zones, with older cars being charged a levy to enter. There would be another wider city-wide zone which would only apply to buses, coaches and commercial vehicles. The plans will be discussed by the council's transport and environment committee next week. While the implementation of Edinburgh's LEZ scheme is proposed to start by the end of 2020, grace periods have been factored in to allow the owners of vehicles time to prepare, with an extended grace period for residents living in LEZ areas. Within the city centre boundary, the grace period for buses, coaches and commercial vehicles would be until the end of 2021 and to the end of 2024 for cars. Buses, coaches and commercial vehicles will have until 2023 to comply with the city-wide boundary. Cars will not be affected by the city-wide boundary. After those dates petrol cars made before 2006 and diesels built before September 2014 will be charged to enter the city centre zone. Lesley Macinnes, City of Edinburgh Council's transport and environment convener, said: "Tackling air pollution benefits everyone - residents, commuters and visitors - particularly the most vulnerable members of society. "Like cities across the UK and globally, we are committed to improving air quality and realising the health benefits this will bring. "Edinburgh is one of the fastest-growing cities in the UK and it's clear that we need to take action to build resilience while ensuring a high quality of life for everyone who comes here. "Our plans for an LEZ, as part of a broader package of measures to improve sustainability and connectivity across the city, will be central to achieving this." John Bynorth, of Environmental Protection Scotland, said: "Edinburgh has raised the bar for Low Emission Zones in Scotland backed by a big mandate from people living and working in the city who wanted to see change to improve the city's health and encourage people out of their cars. "Around 75% of the 5,000 respondents to the city's consultation document last year said they agreed with restrictions on vehicles to control and improve air quality. "Edinburgh has cemented its reputation as a world leader for getting people out of their motor cars and into cycling, walking and using public transport more often."

['Greenhouse gas emissions', 'City of Edinburgh Council', 'Edinburgh']

[{"entity": "Edinburgh", "label": "LOC"}]

Edinburgh

["Greenhouse gas emissions", "City of Edinburgh Council", "Edinburgh"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35306209

AirMule military drone set to dodge trees in tests

The maker of a drone designed to carry loads of up to 500kg (1,100lb) says it plans to see if it can fly itself between trees and other obstacles before the end of the year.

The Israeli company behind the AirMule has already successfully tested it flying itself without being tethered to the ground for safety reasons. It aims to be able to deliver models to military customers in the next decade. One expert said the drone was impressive but raised safety concerns. Urban Aeronautics has received financial support from the Israeli government for the project, and its chief executive said it could help save lives. "[It could fly to] anyone out in the field who needs water, food, batteries, supplies, medical equipment and so forth," Rafi Yoeli told the BBC. "Later, it could be used to fetch soldiers that you don't want to leave behind or are wounded. "There are plenty of situations where you cannot send a helicopter - for example, in the middle of fighting where you want to evacuate people from a street or from a narrow roof. "Eventually, there could be civilian applications, such as rescue missions in the mountains or flying into disaster areas - for example, nuclear facilities where no person in a helicopter could get in." Urban Aeronautics has carried out nearly 200 test flights of the AirMule, including its first untethered trial at the Megiddo airfield in northern Israel on 30 December. The machine, 6.2m (20ft) long and 2.3m (7.5ft) tall, takes off vertically, like a helicopter. The company aims to make it able to fly at a maximum speed of 180km/h (112mph) and as high as 18,000ft (5,500m) once a more powerful turboshaft engine is fitted. Mr Yoeli said his team also needed to upgrade the aircraft's flight control system to make it capable of flying in rain and other bad weather. In addition, he said, further work had to be done before he could say what lifespan it would have. "When you supply a vehicle to the customer, you need to offer them a guarantee that it will work for 500 hours or 1,000 hours or so many take-offs and landings," he said. "So, we need to develop the knowledge of the lifespan of the components and maybe redesign some of them. "This will be an expensive aircraft. "There is nothing out there that has the dimensions of a Humvee [military vehicle] yet can take off vertically with 500kg of supplies and fly for an hour." Before the end of 2016, he added, the plan was to demonstrate it could fly itself at low heights over obstructed terrain without the risk of a collision and to carry out the first robotic delivery of a parcel at a destination. A drone expert from Imperial College London said the aircraft could prove groundbreaking, but the engineers would have to prove it did not pose a threat to other aircraft or people living under its flight path. "The vehicle design and control system is impressive," said Dr Ravi Vaidyanathan. "Evacuation of injured people, delivery of supplies or equipment, and intelligence support could represent the first use of autonomous systems in defence and humanitarian relief operations. "But a vehicle this size obviously brings very significant safety issues. "Experiments for large drones to be remotely piloted in civilian airspace have been conducted but are still in very early days, even for vehicles with well-established flight characteristics."

['Israel', 'Drones', 'Military']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Israel", "Drones", "Military"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57665765

The EU vaccine 'passport' and what it means for travel

An EU vaccine "passport" has been introduced, enabling holders to prove they have been jabbed.

The EU Digital Covid Certificate can be used to avoid self-isolating on arrival in the UK, if travelling from amber-list countries. It is available in all 27 member nations - plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. EU citizens (and those of Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein), can download it or obtain a paper copy - at no cost. It is also available to non-EU nationals living legally in member states who have the right to travel to other member states. Because the UK is no longer in the EU, the certificate is not available to most Britons. EU nationals vaccinated in the UK must check with their home countries to see if they are eligible. Travellers will still need to carry a passport or other identification. The certificate can be issued if someone has: Anyone holding a certificate should, in principle, be exempted from testing or quarantine when crossing a border within the EU (or Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein). It has a QR code unique to the place an individual's vaccine information is stored - a hospital or test centre, for example. The personal data is not saved locally when it's verified - at an airport, for example. The NHS Covid Pass is a similar vaccine "passport", but it is only for people who have been fully vaccinated through the NHS. People in England arriving from an amber country can avoid quarantine by using the pass (or by calling 119 for a printed letter). You can't yet use it EU-wide - but some individual countries, such as Greece, Malta and Spain, do accept it. The EU says it's working to ensure its own certificate is compatible with similar products. If it's satisfied the NHS pass complies with EU standards and systems, it can decide to accept it.

['Coronavirus vaccines', 'Pfizer', 'European Union', 'Vaccine passports', 'Coronavirus pandemic', 'AstraZeneca']

[{"entity": "EU", "label": "ORG"}]

EU

["Coronavirus vaccines", "Pfizer", "European Union", "Vaccine passports", "Coronavirus pandemic", "AstraZeneca"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33898331

Jimmy Carter, former US president, reveals he has cancer

Former US President Jimmy Carter says recent liver surgery revealed that he has cancer and it has spread to other parts of his body.

The 90-year-old statesman underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver earlier this month. He said he would reveal more "when facts are known, possibly next week". Mr Carter will undergo treatment by physicians at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. President Barack Obama wished Mr Carter "a full and fast recovery" in a statement released on Wednesday. "Jimmy, you're as resilient as they come, and along with the rest of America, we are rooting for you," Mr Obama said. The White House said Mr Obama spoke to Mr Carter on the telephone on Wednesday. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr, posted on Twitter: "President #JimmyCarter is in my thoughts & prayers. May the Lord heal, comfort & encourage this extraordinary servant-leader to the world." Leaving the White House in 1981, Mr Carter has remained active carrying out humanitarian efforts with his Carter Center in recent years. He founded the centre, which focuses on human-rights efforts and political mediation, soon after he left office. He was later responsible for negotiating a 1994 nuclear disarmament pact with North Korea and has visited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in recent years. A Democrat from Georgia, Mr Carter was elected president in 1976. He won the Nobel Peace prize in 2002 for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, his work with human rights and democracy initiatives and his promotion of economic and social programmes. The BBC interviewed Mr Carter in February about his efforts to eradicate guinea worm disease and in the South Sudan and Mali and river blindness in both Africa and Latin America. He said then he was happy to still be travelling and doing work across the globe. But in May, he returned early from a trip to observe elections in Guyana because he was "not feeling well". Mr Carter has been recently promoting his latest book, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety, which was released in July.

['Jimmy Carter', 'United States']

[{"entity": "Jimmy Carter", "label": "PER"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Jimmy Carter", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36420689

US consumer spending rises but confidence falls

Americans' willingness to open their wallets shot to a seven-year high in April, but confidence in the US economy fell in May.

US consumer spending jumped by 1% in April, the largest month-on-month gain since August 2009. Consumer spending makes up two-thirds of US economic activity. But in May, the consumer confidence index dipped to 92.6 from 94.7 in April, as Americans worried about the long-term outlook of the job market. "Consumers remain cautious about the outlook for business and labour market conditions. Thus, they continue to expect little change in economic activity in the months ahead," said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board. The rise in spending, though, has solidified many investors' belief that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates when it meets in June. Consumer spending was flat in March and rose by just 0.2% in February. The positive news from April also included gains in wages, which rose 0.5%. Spending on durable goods, which includes items such as cars, increased by 2.3%, while spending on non-durable goods, including clothing and food, climbed 1.4%. Core inflation - which excludes food and energy prices - rose by 1.6%. The Fed has been closely monitoring inflation to determine when to raise interest rates and said it is targeting a goal of 2% inflation over the next few years. At a speech on Friday, US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said she expected the central bank would raise interest rates in the coming months.

['US economy', 'Economics', 'Pay', 'United States']

[{"entity": "US", "label": "LOC"}]

US

["US economy", "Economics", "Pay", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43505059

Trump drops $1.3tn budget veto threat but vows: 'Never again'

US President Donald Trump has signed a $1.3tn (£921bn) package to fund the government for six months, while vowing never to approve such a bill again.

Hours earlier, the president threatened to veto the bill over its lack of full funding for his border wall. Congress passed the measure to avert what would have been the third shutdown of the US government this year. But many of the president's fellow Republicans railed against the measure, one calling it "monstrous". The spending bill needed Mr Trump's signature by a Friday midnight deadline to keep federal agencies operating until 30 September. The president suggested in a Friday morning tweet that he might reject the 2,000-page package. But in an afternoon news conference he said that despite the "ridiculous" process of passing the measure he would sign it because of its large increase in military spending. "There's a lot of things that I'm unhappy about in this bill," he said, even though it was cleared by a Congress controlled by his own party. He added: "I will never sign another bill like this again... nobody read it." Mr Trump also told reporters: "I looked very seriously at the veto, but because of the incredible gains we've been able to make for the military, that over-rode any of our thinking." The vote in the Senate in the early hours of Friday caps weeks of congressional horse-trading. The bill does not address the fate of roughly 700,000 young immigrants known as "Dreamers" who illegally entered the US as children. They were enrolled in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) programme, but President Trump ended it in September. Republicans and Democrats were unable to agree over the issue. The White House and Republicans had reportedly offered Democrats a Daca extension of up to three years in return for full funding of Mr Trump's wall. Democrats were said to have countered they would accept that only if a path to citizenship was guaranteed for all 1.8 million people eligible for Daca. In Friday's news conference, Mr Trump said: "I do want the Hispanic community to know that Republicans are much more on your side than the Democrats who are using you for this purpose. "The Democrats did not want Daca in this bill." President Trump said he was "not happy" with the amount allocated to construct his planned wall on the US-Mexico border. "But it does start the wall and we will make that $1.6bn go very far," he said on Friday. It was far short of the $25bn the White House had sought - and there are strings attached to the funding Congress has approved. Most of it can only be used to repair stretches of the 1,900 mile (3,100km) border where there already is a wall, according to the Washington Post. Under the bill, just 33 miles of new barriers can be built and only using "bollard" fencing or levees, not the concrete prototypes Mr Trump has viewed in photo ops, reports the newspaper. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi appeared to taunt Republicans over funding for a wall, which her party firmly opposes. "If you want to think you're getting a wall, just think it and sign the bill," she said to Mr Trump's congressional supporters. Analysis: Anthony Zurcher - BBC Washington Donald Trump stepped up to the podium on Friday and had to walk a fine line. He had threatened to veto the omnibus spending bill, but now he was going to sign it. He thought it was an awful bill, but it had some good parts. He said it spent way too much money, but then went through all the billions of taxpayer dollars it allocated to things he liked. Ships! Planes! Nuclear missiles! Opioid treatment! Border security! It at times sounded like he was checking his way through an extremely high-priced shopping list. The president warned that he would never sign a bill like this again - and that could be unintentionally true. If Democrats do well in November's midterm election, the next spending bill Congress turns out could look very different than the one produced by this Republican-controlled House and Senate. The bottom line is Trump took the stage and essentially admitted he had been outmaneuvered - by Democrats and some members of his own party. He was elected to change the system, but he had to acknowledge that "that's the way right now the system works." That had to be a tough thing to say. Several people panned Mr Trump's empty veto threat. Democratic congressman Mark Pocan accused the president of a "loser's bluff". "Go ahead and veto the omnibus over Daca. We dare you," Mr Pocan said on Twitter. "Everyone knows you're the reason Daca recipients are abandoned." But despite cross-party support, at least 90 conservative Republicans voted against the bill, calling it government spending run amok. Fellow Republican Rand Paul, who briefly shut down the government earlier this year by rejecting a bill, agreed Mr Trump "should veto this sad excuse for legislation". He also argued lawmakers were not allowed enough time to read it.

['Republican Party', 'US government shutdown', 'US government', 'Donald Trump', 'United States Senate']

[{"entity": "Donald Trump", "label": "PER"}]

Donald Trump

["Republican Party", "US government shutdown", "US government", "Donald Trump", "United States Senate"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-42709679

Ealing Council paves way to ban anti-abortion protesters

A council has moved to ban anti-abortion protesters from outside a Marie Stopes clinic in west London.

Campaigners have been accused of "harassing" and "intimidating" women outside the Mattock Lane clinic. Ealing councillors backed the ban in October and now the council's cabinet has voted as part of the next stage in getting the ban enforced. The Good Counsel Network, which holds daily vigils outside the centre in Mattock Lane, denies harassing women. Some 3,593 residents have already signed a petition calling for a ban and now an eight-week public consultation will be held from 29 January based on a draft public spaces protection order (PSPO). This is likely to prohibit people on Mattock Lane from approaching or monitoring women accessing the clinic, congregating in large groups, displaying distressing images and using amplification equipment. Once the consultation has concluded - on 26 March - the council will decide whether or not to implement the PSPO. More than 300 people wrote to the authority describing the pro-life protesters as "intimidating and harassing". Those against abortion have said women are not being offered enough alternatives. Council leader Julian Bell said: "Ealing Council is committed to ending the intimidation and harassment faced by those seeking legally available medical support. "Since Ealing first raised this issue, it has become clear that behaviour of this kind is happening at clinics across the country. "We need ministers to come forward with a national solution to this problem, giving councils and police appropriate powers to prevent intimidation and distress." In a report presented to cabinet, officers concluded that following unsuccessful attempts to negotiate an informal agreement for a "voluntary safe zone" near the clinic entrance, a PSPO was potentially the most appropriate measure. The report also states the "continued deployment of policing resources" outside the clinic was an "unusual and unnecessary use of local policing resources that could be deployed elsewhere".

['Abortion', 'Ealing']

[{"entity": "Marie Stopes", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "London", "label": "LOC"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Abortion", "Ealing"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-china-blog-29222725

Is Ilham Tohti friend or foe of China?

Ilham Tohti, an economist and persistent champion of the rights of China's Muslim Uighur minority group, will face trial in Xinjiang on Wednesday.

For years, Mr Tohti has built a reputation as a moderate critic of Beijing's policies towards Uighurs. He questioned the government's role in persistent violent confrontations between Uighurs and the dominant Han Chinese ethnic group. Mr Tohti's detention in January was seen by many as a part of a broader crackdown against Uighurs in China. The court's charges are serious; Mr Tohti is accused of "separatism". It is almost certain that he will be convicted, given the high profile and political nature of his case. According to the indictment, he faces at least 10 years in prison. So, is Ilham Tohti really a moderate? It depends who you ask. China's mission to the EU appears not to think so. The mission said in August that Mr Tohti had been "personally involved" in orchestrating two episodes of violence in Xinjiang, diplomatic sources have told the BBC. And earlier this year, sources said the mission also accused Mr Tohti of fostering links with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a radical group pushing for Xinjiang's independence. But those closest to Mr Tohti say the allegations against him are simply untrue. He consistently promoted dialogue between Uighurs and Han Chinese, they say. In 2005, Mr Tohti established a website, Uighur Online, in hopes of opening a forum for discussion between the two groups. "I love my still-impoverished and long-suffering ethnic group. I love this land which has nurtured me," Mr Tohti explained in a 2011 essay titled My Ideals and the Career Path I Have Chosen. "I worry about my homeland and my country falling into turmoil and division. I hope that China, having endured many misfortunes, will become a great nation of harmonious inter-ethnic co-existence and develop a splendid civilisation," he wrote. "These are my ideals and personal objectives, and the choices I have made have their roots in my family's history; my upbringing; my mother's teachings; and my education as well as personal experiences." Ilham Tohti was detained in January. For months, he was barred from seeing a lawyer. In August, he was forced to wear leg shackles in prison - reportedly as punishment for coughing and irritating other prisoners. "It's extremely worrying that someone like him, who is effectively the only voice for Uighurs in China, is being targeted and potentially given a very harsh sentence of over 10 years for making these criticisms," says Maya Wang, a Hong-Kong based researcher for Human Rights Watch. "If he is considered, or labelled as a separatist, or an extremist, it really raises the questions of what kind of behaviour would be acceptable to the government besides complete submission to the government's authority." A small group of Mr Tohti's students were also detained at the start of year, although their identities are still unclear. They were also listed on the indictment and might appear in the Xinjiang courtroom alongside their teacher. The scholar is accused of promoting violence and hatred against China in his classroom lectures. Last month, Mr Tohti's wife, Guzailai Nu'er, told the BBC that she could not comprehend the nature of the charges against him. "There are cameras in every classroom [at his university], so why did they not discover his crimes in classroom before," she asks. Ms Nu'er said there were four or five police following her at all times, and standing guard outside her home. She has since left Beijing to travel to Xinjiang for her husband's trial.

['Xinjiang', 'China']

[{"entity": "Ilham Tohti", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "China", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Muslim Uighur", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Xinjiang", "label": "LOC"}]

Ilham Tohti ||| China ||| Xinjiang

["Xinjiang", "China"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-41038932

Savings rates still falling say UK banks

UK consumers are continuing to put less money into savings accounts, according to new figures from the High Street banks.

Personal deposits grew by just 2.3% in July, the lowest growth rate for eight years, and below the rate of inflation. Cash Individual Savings Accounts (Isas) also saw a big annual decline. Consumers put £162m into bank Isas in July, a drop of 3.3% compared to July 2016. That is the largest fall since 2007. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has already reported that the savings rate - the amount that households save out of their income - fell to just 1.7% in the first quarter of 2017, the lowest rate recorded. One reason might be the fact that, since April, wages have risen more slowly than inflation, meaning people cannot afford to save as much. However, the ONS has said the savings ratio has been falling since 2015, suggesting that the decline may be driven by low interest rates, which make savings less attractive. UK Finance, which represents the banks, said tax changes were also be a factor. Since April 2016, savers have been allowed to make £1,000 a year in interest without paying tax. That makes Isas, which are free of both income and capital gains tax, less attractive.

['Savings', 'Personal finance']

[{"entity": "High Street", "label": "LOC"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Savings", "Personal finance"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35924423

Kezia Dugdale: 50p income tax rate 'not gesture politics'

The leader of Scottish Labour has insisted that raising the top rate of income tax to 50p is not merely gesture politics - and could raise up to £110m.

Kezia Dugdale said her party would use the money to close the attainment gap in Scotland's schools. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has argued raising the top rate could cost Scotland £30m. And the Conservatives have warned against making Scotland the highest-taxed part of the UK. The Liberal Democrats - like Labour - have argued for an immediate 1p income tax increase across all bands, which they have estimated would raise £475m to help "transform" Scottish education. The Scottish Parliament will have the ability to set income tax rates and bands from 1 April next year - with the issue a clear dividing line between the parties ahead of the Holyrood election on 5 May. But the SNP, which opinion polls have suggested is on track for a third successive Holyrood victory, has ruled out raising the basic 20p rate for the five years of the next parliament, with Ms Sturgeon also pledging the top rate will not rise in 2017-18. Ms Sturgeon told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme on Tuesday that raising the top rate for those earning more than £150,000 from 45p to 50p - higher than elsewhere in the UK - could see Scotland lose up to £30m a year. She pointed to concerns that the top 1% of earners - who pay more than a fifth of the income tax total - would be able to move their homes to England, or find other ways of avoiding paying the higher Scottish rate. However, Ms Sturgeon said she would ask her economic advisers to examine the potential impact of a 50p top rate on a year-by-year basis. HM Revenue and Customs reckon that: The Scottish government looked at a variety of possible responses by additional tax earners: Read more from the BBC's Douglas Fraser Ms Dugdale told Holyrood magazine in October that a 50p tax rate "could also raise zero because of the mechanisms by which people can avoid paying tax". But speaking to Good Morning Scotland on Wednesday, she insisted: "Since that point Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have had a crackdown on people being able to move their tax liability throughout the United Kingdom." She was referring to evidence given by HMRC to Holyrood's finance committee in October, in which the agency said it was preparing to clamp down on high earners who attempt to avoid paying the new Scottish rate of income tax by changing the location of their main home to England. Ms Dugdale said her party had estimated that increasing the tax rate for those earning more than £150,000 would bring in "between £70m and £110m". She added: "Its not gestural politics and the Scottish government's own analysis that Nicola Sturgeon published last week actually details that it would raise money, "Her problem is not with the detail of this - its the principle. She quite clearly, like Ruth Davidson, doesn't think that the richest should pay any more tax in Scotland. I fundamentally disagree. "I think Nicola Sturgeon is making the same excuses the Tories made, they're trying to say rich people will be able to avoid tax while the rest of us have to pay. "I think if you believe in the principle of the richest paying their fair share, you chase after the money, you make sure they pay their taxes." Ms Dugdale said the additional revenue would be used to pay for the party's "fair start fund" - which would see schools receive an additional £1,000 for each pupil who is entitled to free school meals. Headteachers would then be able to use the money to help close the attainment gap between the wealthiest and most deprived pupils, Ms Dugdale said. She has estimated the policy would cost about £77m.

['Kezia Dugdale', 'UK devolution', 'Nicola Sturgeon', 'Scottish Labour', 'Scottish Parliament', 'SNP (Scottish National Party)']

[{"entity": "Scottish Labour", "label": "ORG"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Kezia Dugdale", "UK devolution", "Nicola Sturgeon", "Scottish Labour", "Scottish Parliament", "SNP (Scottish National Party)"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-58395974

GDPR: Welsh government breached data laws 300 times since 2019

The Welsh government has broken data protection laws more than 300 times in less than three years.

Breaches since the start of 2019 involved documents which included criminal allegations and "personal sensitive data". Some breaches were made from a "secure" government site, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request found. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said people should expect personal data to be handled securely. The Welsh government said it "takes data protection obligations seriously and carries out an internal reporting process". It added: "Once each breach is reported, processes are reviewed and where necessary, remedial action is agreed with management." Of the 300 breaches, 11 were referred to the ICO, including: In three cases, the subject of the data was offered protection under the fraud prevention service Cifas. Cifas then flags the subject's details in the National Fraud Database, allowing companies to see that person is at risk of impersonation and take extra steps to ensure they are protected. Thirty-three Welsh government staff members were referred to the human resources department, with disciplinary action or the "underperformance procedure" used with some and "informal action" taken against others. In addition, about 60 staff have had to repeat mandatory data protection training. Desk instructions, relevant policy documents and guidelines have been reviewed and updated in response to the cases. Some staff were asked to turn off the email auto-fill facility in Outlook, which automatically fills in names and email addresses based on the characters you start to enter. The Welsh government - which has about 5,500 full-time equivalent staff - added all breaches were "reported, recorded and acted upon, no matter how small, with very few meeting the criteria for reporting to the ICO despite the level of personal data processing undertaken by the Welsh government." The ICO said: "Not all data breaches need to be reported to the ICO. The organisation must assess the seriousness of the incident and whether it poses any risk to the rights and freedoms of people. If they decide not to report it, they must be able to say why. "People have the right to expect that organisations will handle their personal information securely, when that doesn't happen, they should contact the organisation first, if they are still not satisfied, they can come to us."

['Welsh government', "Information Commissioner's Office", 'Data protection']

[{"entity": "Welsh", "label": "LOC"}]

Welsh

["Welsh government", "Information Commissioner's Office", "Data protection"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55006621

The Great British Bake Off: How has the show changed since series one?

It's 10 years since The Great British Bake Off first appeared on our screens - so how does the show compare with the very first series, and what is its recipe for success?

This year's Bake Off contestants have had their culinary skills tested to the limit by tarts in cages, jelly art, Danish horns, Japanese crepe cakes and Jewish babkas - not to mention edible busts of Freddie Mercury and David Bowie. Over the past decade the fiendishness of the challenges, and the contestants' baking standards, have risen like a well-proved Paul Hollywood loaf. Back when the show started with little fanfare on BBC Two in 2010, things were simpler. The first signature challenge in the first episode was to bake a cake. Just a cake. Any cake. The signature challenge was so called because it should say something about the baker - be that a family recipe or a connection with their past or personality. For Annetha from Essex, it was a Light Jamaican Black Cake that a friend asked her to bake for an engagement party. For Mark, a bus driver from south Wales, it was his sticky marmalade tea loaf, which was the talk of the depot. The opening task may have seemed simple and at that early stage Mark hadn't had the chance to learn that contestants shouldn't tempt fate by saying things like: "There's not a huge amount that can go wrong." So when disaster struck and his loaf sunk in the middle, he became the first person to be reduced to tears in the Bake Off pressure cooker. "You've put your heart and soul into this," consoled co-host Sue Perkins as the burly bus driver fought back a blubbering fit. "You've got the whole weekend," she encouraged him. "You've got a perfect tie. Stand up straight. You've got it all to play for." By the end of her pep talk, Mark was fit to take on the tent again, like a boxer back on his feet. "I'm ready for the next challenge," he told her. Sadly for Mark, he still got evicted that week. By the end of the episode, he had come to the realisation that the contest was perhaps always going to be a bit of an uphill struggle. "Cakes aren't my strong suit," he admitted. In series one, the technical challenges didn't leave the bakers scratching their heads over recipes they had never heard of, let alone attempted. The first technical was a Victoria sponge; in episode three it was a cob - in other words, a loaf of bread. Some tasks were more intricate, and the more ambitious bakers soon realised they could excel by adding their own twists. And while the standard has risen over the years, let's not forget this year's crop of bakers could barely rustle up a decent chocolate brownie between them. After the signature and technical comes the showstopper - except no-one had thought of the "showstopper" name in series one. It was just... the last challenge. The showstopper name arrived in series two, along with star baker, the words "ready, steady, bake" and the hosts doing the narration, replacing the dry voiceover man who had been used the previous year. The famous soggy bottom made its first appearance in series one, when Paul warned how long a contestant's minced beef pie would take to cook. "I think we could be looking at a soggy bottom," he intoned gravely. "I think we could be looking at a slightly raw bottom." "Ooh!" Sue gleefully exclaimed. "A raw bottom!" For the first five series, Sue and co-host Mel Giedroyc occasionally left the tent to present short segments about the history of baking - Sue sitting in the middle of a stone circle to educate and inform us about Stone Age cake, and Mel entertaining us with her reaction to a sheep's gut that was used to boil 15th Century puddings (which smelt like "my brother's sleeping bag circa 1976"). But producers eventually realised those films broke the tension of the tent. Revisiting the original series, it also becomes clear why the bakers were in a tent in the first place - rather than, say, a kitchen. In series one, the show went on tour, with the tent pitched in a new location for every episode - bread week in Sandwich, pasties in Cornwall, scones at Scone Palace. By series two, producers had either run out of locations with links to baked goods, or realised that the tent looked the same wherever it was pitched - so it stayed parked in one place. The tent, benches, union flag bunting, titles and illustrations have all survived since series one. The other constant has been Paul - the only difference being that the silver fox was then more of a flecked badger. There's now a different judge by his side, with Prue Leith replacing Mary Berry when the show moved to Channel 4 in 2017. The hosts changed, too. After Mel and Sue came Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig, and it's now Noel and Matt Lucas. The latest pairing has divided opinion. They're both funny, likeable, and able to chivvy and console with empathy. But while Noel and Sandi complemented each other, Noel and Matt are at times too similar in their silliness, egging each other on like a pair of playground show-offs. But the show's ingredients for success have changed remarkably little over the years. Sue nailed it in the very first episode, while ruminating on Mark's marmalade-flavoured meltdown. "The structure of it is a competition, and there will be a winner," she said. "But along the way it's important to remember that making something for somebody is an act of love, and it's an act of committing their time and their energy and their passion, and it's incredibly painful when someone rejects that." Baking, the show has taught us, is a very personal activity. As another contestant, Miranda, put it after handing over her lemon cupcakes in the very first final: "You do feel like you're sending little members of your family out there to be judged." The 2010 final's second task was more a test of stamina than ingenuity, with the last two bakers each tasked with rustling up 24 mini tarts, 24 scones, 24 choux buns and 24 finger sandwiches (made with freshly baked bread) for a tea party. Edd Kimber emerged as the victor. But, as the cliché says, it's not all about the winning. Runner-up Ruth told us how being on the programme had helped her overcome a sense of inferiority she'd felt ever since she had missed out on going to university like her friends. "I feel almost like that 18-year-old again that was full of confidence before the world knocked it out of her," she said after impressing the judges one week. She wasn't downhearted to lose out to Edd. "I think I've changed an awful lot," she reflected at the end of the series. "I'm a lot more confident and proud of myself than I have been for years." And perhaps that's the key ingredient - the egg that binds the others together - how the contestants grow in confidence as well as competence as they overcome the challenges that are put in their way. The final episode of series one closed with Mel and Sue larking about on the lawn - and a TV hit was born. The final of The Great British Bake Off 2020 is on Channel 4 at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday, 24 November, and then on All 4 in the UK. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

['The Great British Bake Off', 'Cooking shows', 'Television', 'Baking', 'Channel 4']

[{"entity": "The Great British Bake Off", "label": "MEDIA"}]

The Great British Bake Off

["The Great British Bake Off", "Cooking shows", "Television", "Baking", "Channel 4"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49643035

Corbyn promises 'biggest' boost to workers' rights

A Labour government would introduce the biggest extension of workers' rights ever seen in the UK, including a new department to protect workers' rights, party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said.

He told the TUC conference the aim was to deliver better wages, greater security and give workers more of a say in how their workplaces are run. He pledged to stand up for the majority who do the work and pay their taxes. "Not the few at the top who hoard the wealth and dodge their taxes," he said. Addressing the conference in Brighton, Mr Corbyn said Labour would appoint a secretary of state for employment rights and a workers' protection agency to enforce rights, standards and protections so that every job was a "good job". "If you're a worker with a boss who makes you work extra hours for no pay or forces you into dangerous situations, you deserve a government that's on your side and ready to step in to support you," he said. He added that workers would be offered security, dignity, fair pay and rights in the workplace under minimum standards set through collective bargaining. The Labour leader also repeated an earlier party pledge to repeal the 2016 Trade Union Act, which made strikes illegal unless at least half of eligible union members take part in the ballot. Other new policies would include: Mr Corbyn told delegates: "The next Labour government will bring about the biggest extension of rights for workers that our country has ever seen. We will put power in the hands of workers. "For 40 years, the share of the cake going to workers has been getting smaller and smaller. "It's no coincidence that the same period has seen a sustained attack on the organisations that represent workers - trade unions. "We have witnessed a deliberate, decades-long transfer of power away from working people. "The consequences are stark for all workers, whether members of a trade union or not. Pay is lower than it was a decade ago in real terms. "Labour is on the side of the people in the real battle against the born-to-rule establishment that [Boris] Johnson represents." Mr Corbyn's speech also brought clarification on Labour's position on Brexit, with him promising a further referendum with a "credible Leave option" if Labour wins the next general election. He told the conference an general election was coming, but Labour would not allow Mr Johnson to dictate the terms. "And in that election we will commit to a public vote with a credible option to leave and the option to remain." But some senior party figures, including shadow chancellor John McDonnell and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, have said they will campaign to stay in the EU under any circumstances - even if Labour negotiates its own deal.

['Trades Union Congress', 'Boris Johnson', 'Labour Party', 'Jeremy Corbyn', 'Brexit']

[{"entity": "Labour", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "UK", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Jeremy Corbyn", "label": "PER"}]

Labour

["Trades Union Congress", "Boris Johnson", "Labour Party", "Jeremy Corbyn", "Brexit"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38245797

Aleppo battle: Assad says victory in city would be 'huge step'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said a victory for his army in Aleppo would be a "huge step" towards ending the country's five-year civil war.

But he added that the defeat of rebel groups in the northern city would not end the conflict. The rebels called for a five-day truce to allow the evacuation of civilians, after withdrawing from their last strongholds in Aleppo's Old City. But Mr Assad ruled out any ceasefires, as his army continues its offensive. This is despite new calls for an immediate truce from the US and five Western powers. In an interview with Syria's al-Watan newspaper, President Assad said: "It's true that Aleppo will be a win for us, but let's be realistic - it won't mean the end of the war in Syria. "But it will be a huge step towards this end. "Terrorists are present elsewhere. Even if we finish with Aleppo, we will continue our war against them." Rebel-held districts in east Aleppo are falling fast, faster than expected. The full story from the battlefield is still emerging. Areas we've been able to visit are a testament to intense fighting. The district of Al-Shaar, cleared on Tuesday to enable the army's assault on the Old City, is now in utter ruin. The smoke of battle still hung in the air a day later as did the residue of explosives. There are also reports of deals to allow rebel fighters to retreat, including from the Old City. But the most battle hardened fighters, including forces known as the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front are vowing to fight on in what remains of the opposition enclave. The Syrian military, and its Russian and Iranian allies, aren't listening to calls for a truce, or even for humanitarian corridors. Monday's mortar attack on Russia's field hospital is said to have stiffened Moscow's resolve to finish the battle for Aleppo as soon as possible. Tens of thousands of civilians are still trapped in rebel-held districts of south-eastern Aleppo. The rebel groups said those residents were in great danger, adding that they would support any initiative to ease their suffering. One resident said those districts were now heavily crowded and there were fears that people faced being captured, detained and tortured to death. "I know people who literally did nothing, they just kept doing nothing for four, five years, they just wanted to stay in their homes and now they are being arrested by the regime," Wissam, a teacher and activist said. Food supplies are exhausted and there are no functioning hospitals after months of heavy bombardment. Government forces now control about 75% of eastern Aleppo, held by the rebels for the past four years. The rebels, who had been left with just a spit of land north-east of the citadel after recent government advances, had abandoned it by Wednesday morning, retreating to territory they still hold further south. Meanwhile, the US, Britain, Germany, Italy, France and Canada jointly called for an immediate ceasefire "to allow the United Nations to get humanitarian assistance to people in eastern Aleppo". They also condemned the Syrian government and its main backer Russia for "their obstruction of humanitarian aid", accusing them of targeting hospitals and schools "in an attempt to wear people down". But fresh talks on Wednesday evening between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ended without a breakthrough on the issue. Russia and China earlier vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on a week-long ceasefire. French President Francois Hollande responded by accusing Russia of "systematic obstruction" which "bolsters the regime of Bashar al-Assad in its destructive drive which is harming the defenceless civilian population". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described all the remaining rebels in Aleppo as "terrorists", saying they had united around the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front.

['Syrian civil war', 'Bashar al-Assad', 'Aleppo', 'Syria']

[{"entity": "Bashar al-Assad", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Aleppo", "label": "LOC"}]

Bashar al-Assad ||| Aleppo

["Syrian civil war", "Bashar al-Assad", "Aleppo", "Syria"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33747346

Outburst mars Bobbi Kristina Brown memorial in Georgia

The memorial for Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown has been marred by an outburst that reflects the continuing tensions in the family.

Bobbi Kristina's aunt, Leolah, left the service after venting anger at the role of another relative, Pat Houston. Bobbi Kristina, 22, died at a hospice last Sunday, six months after she was found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub. She is expected to be buried beside her mother at a cemetery in New Jersey. An initial autopsy found no obvious underlying cause for Brown's death. She was discovered in the bathtub at the Atlanta home she shared with her partner Nick Gordon in January. Houston drowned in a bathtub at a Los Angeles hotel in 2012 on the eve of the Grammy Awards ceremony. Speaking to media outside the church, Leolah Brown, the sister of Bobbi Kristina's father, R&B singer Bobby Brown, said the funeral was going "wonderfully" well until Pat Houston started speaking. "I didn't like that, so I left... I just told her that Whitney is going to haunt her from the grave." Pat Houston is Whitney Houston's sister-in-law and former manager. Leolah Brown suggested that the feud between the Houstons and the Browns was far from over. "It's just getting started,'' she said. The funeral service at St James United Methodist Church in Alpharetta, which was closed to the public, lasted about two hours. Those attending included Bobby Brown; grandmother Cissy Houston; cousin Jerod Brown; Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed and R&B singer Monica. Brown began performing with her mother in 1999, singing duets of My Love is Your Love and recording Little Drummer Boy for a holiday album in 2003. She was the only daughter of Houston and Bobby Brown. In a statement after her death, Bobby Brown said the family must find a way to honour his daughter's memory. "Krissy was and is an angel," he said. "I am completely numb at this time."

['Whitney Houston']

[{"entity": "Whitney Houston", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Bobbi Kristina Brown", "label": "PER"}]

Whitney Houston

["Whitney Houston"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57432280

Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: UN aid chief says there is famine

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock has said there is famine in northern Ethiopia after the release of a UN-backed analysis of the situation.

"There is famine now," he said, adding: "This is going to get a lot worse." The study found that 350,000 people were living in "severe crisis" in the war-torn Tigray region. Tigray has been devastated by fighting between government forces and rebels, with 1.7 million people displaced since fighting began in November 2020. According to the assessment, the food situation in the region has reached the level of a "catastrophe", which it defines as starvation and death affecting small groups of people spread over large areas. The UN's World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization and children's agency Unicef have all called for urgent action to address the crisis. The analysis - or Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) as it is known - was not endorsed by Ethiopia's government, which has denied that there is a famine in the country. It insists that humanitarian access is being expanded as it restores order across the region. People in Qafta Humera, an isolated district in the west of Tigray, told the BBC this week they were on the verge of starvation. "We don't have anything to eat," one man said by phone, explaining their crops and livestock had been looted during seven months of war. They were being prevented from seeking aid by a militia fighting with government forces, he added. "We were eating small remains of crops that we managed to hide, but now we don't have anything," said a farmer in his 40s. "Nobody has given us any aid. Almost everyone is on the verge of death - our eyes are affected by the hunger, the situation is perilous. Death is knocking on our door. You can see the hunger on the face of each of us." Residents said they had seen vehicles carrying aid pass by, but no-one had bothered to inquire about their predicament. In 1984, Tigray and the next-door province of Wollo were the epicentre of a famine caused by a combination of drought and war that led to between 600,000 and one million deaths. The Integrated Phase Classification is a measure of the severity of food shortages, drawn up by multiple organisations which include UN agencies and non-governmental aid organisations. "An IPC analysis update conducted in Tigray and the neighbouring zones of Amhara and Afar concludes that over 350,000 people are in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) between May and June 2021," the report says. "This severe crisis results from the cascading effects of conflict, including population displacements, movement restrictions, limited humanitarian access, loss of harvest and livelihood assets, and dysfunctional or non-existent markets," the analysis adds. It says that as of May, 5.5 million people were facing high levels of acute food insecurity in the region and the situation was likely to worsen through to September. But the report stops short of officially declaring a famine, which has a very specific definition. The IPC announcement falls short of declaring a famine in Tigray. That is because the "f-word" is such a powerful, compelling word that governments and international organisations have agreed it should only be used when certain strict criteria are met. For now, the IPC has settled on the use of the word "catastrophe" instead - with a warning that large parts of Tigray are at risk of famine in the coming months. Put simply, a "Phase 5 catastrophe" can refer to small groups of people, spread over large areas, whereas the word "famine" is only used when a big and distinct population group is experiencing conditions of starvation and death. And right now, in Tigray - in part because of insecurity and problems accessing those in most need - there is not yet the data to support a definition of famine. But many experts find this - often highly politicised - debate over definitions both petty and counter-productive, and individuals, like the UN's humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, have chosen to ignore the rules and insist that "there is famine now in Tigray". Last November Ethiopia's government launched an offensive to oust the region's then ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The party had had a massive fallout with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed over political changes to the country's ethnically based federal system - though the TPLF's capture of federal military bases in Tigray was the catalyst for the invasion. Mr Abiy, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, declared that the conflict was over at the end of November, but fighting has continued. Thousands of people have been killed. Tens of thousands have sought refuge in neighbouring Sudan. All sides have been accused of numerous human rights abuses. Food shortages can lead to large numbers of people lacking nutrition, but only rarely do they amount to famine, according to UN humanitarian criteria. Long periods of drought and other problems reducing the supply of food do not necessarily result in a famine. A famine is declared only when certain measures of mortality, malnutrition and hunger are met. They are: The declaration of a famine carries no binding obligations on the UN or member states, but serves to focus global attention on the problem. Source: UN

['United Nations', 'Tigray crisis', 'Ethiopia']

[{"entity": "Mark Lowcock", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Ethiopia", "label": "LOC"}]

Mark Lowcock ||| Ethiopia

["United Nations", "Tigray crisis", "Ethiopia"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35296135

Robert Black: Convicted child killer dies in prison

The child killer Robert Black, who was convicted of the murders of four children from across the UK in the 1980s, has died in prison.

Black, 68, had a history of abducting, abusing and murdering young girls. His victims were Jennifer Cardy, nine, of County Antrim, Sarah Harper, 10, of Leeds, Susan Maxwell, 11, of Northumberland, and Caroline Hogg, five, of Edinburgh. Black died of natural causes in Maghaberry prison, Northern Ireland. In a statement, the Northern Ireland Prison Service confirmed that a "68-year-old prisoner" had died at the high-security jail in County Antrim. "While this is not being treated as suspicious, the Prison Service has informed the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Coroner, and Prisoner Ombudsman," the statement added. "It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time." Black, originally from Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, was a predatory paedophile with a long criminal record of sexually abusing young girls. In 1963, when he was 16, he abused a seven-year-old girl in a disused air shelter near his then home in Greenock near Glasgow. When he was 19, he was convicted of indecently assaulting the young daughter of the family he had been lodging with. Jennifer Cardy's killing was the first murder that he was known to have carried out, but it was the last one of which he was convicted. Black's job as a delivery driver meant he travelled widely across the UK and, at the time, he was in Northern Ireland driving for a London-based poster company. His nine-year-old victim was cycling to a friend's house near her home in Ballinderry, County Antrim, on 12 August 1981 when Black abducted and sexually assaulted Jennifer, before dumping her body in a dam. Black, 68, had a history of abducting, abusing and murdering young girls. His victims were Jennifer Cardy, nine, of County Antrim, Sarah Harper, 10, of Leeds, Susan Maxwell, 11, of Northumberland, and Caroline Hogg, five, of Edinburgh. Black died of natural causes in Maghaberry prison, Northern Ireland. In a statement, the Northern Ireland Prison Service confirmed that a "68-year-old prisoner" had died at the high-security jail in County Antrim. "While this is not being treated as suspicious, the Prison Service has informed the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Coroner, and Prisoner Ombudsman," the statement added. "It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time." Black, originally from Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, was a predatory paedophile with a long criminal record of sexually abusing young girls. In 1963, when he was 16, he abused a seven-year-old girl in a disused air shelter near his then home in Greenock near Glasgow. When he was 19, he was convicted of indecently assaulting the young daughter of the family he had been lodging with. Jennifer Cardy's killing was the first murder that he was known to have carried out, but it was the last one of which he was convicted. Black's job as a delivery driver meant he travelled widely across the UK and, at the time, he was in Northern Ireland driving for a London-based poster company. His nine-year-old victim was cycling to a friend's house near her home in Ballinderry, County Antrim, on 12 August 1981 when Black abducted and sexually assaulted Jennifer, before dumping her body in a dam. In 2011, the police officer who led the Jennifer Cardy murder inquiry described Robert Black as "a lost cause to humanity". Det Supt Raymond Murray said "good, old-fashioned police work" had solved one of the longest police investigations ever conducted in Northern Ireland. "It was trawling through literally tons of material and checking every minute aspect to pull together all the pieces of this jigsaw from many parts of the UK," he added. Read more. The following year, Black abducted and murdered 11-year-old Susan Maxwell, who had been walking to her home in Cornhill on-Tweed, Northumberland. In 1983, five-year-old Caroline Hogg disappeared from outside her home in Portobello, Edinburgh, and was later found dead in a ditch in Leicestershire. Three years later, Black abducted 10-year-old Sarah Harper as she walked from a corner shop near her home in Morley, Leeds. Sarah's body was later discovered in the River Trent in Nottingham. In 2011, the police officer who led the Jennifer Cardy murder inquiry described Robert Black as "a lost cause to humanity". Det Supt Raymond Murray said "good, old-fashioned police work" had solved one of the longest police investigations ever conducted in Northern Ireland. "It was trawling through literally tons of material and checking every minute aspect to pull together all the pieces of this jigsaw from many parts of the UK," he added. Read more. The following year, Black abducted and murdered 11-year-old Susan Maxwell, who had been walking to her home in Cornhill on-Tweed, Northumberland. In 1983, five-year-old Caroline Hogg disappeared from outside her home in Portobello, Edinburgh, and was later found dead in a ditch in Leicestershire. Three years later, Black abducted 10-year-old Sarah Harper as she walked from a corner shop near her home in Morley, Leeds. Sarah's body was later discovered in the River Trent in Nottingham. Black was eventually arrested in 1990, when police stopped his van and found a six-year-old girl bound and gagged in the back of his vehicle. The child, who had been kidnapped from a village in the Scottish Borders, was rescued by police but the case led detectives to Black's previous victims. In 1994, Black was convicted for the murders of Susan, Caroline and Sarah. He was already serving life sentences for the three killings when he was found guilty of Jennifer's murder in 2011. Reacting to the news of Black's death in prison on Tuesday, Jennifer's mother Pat Cardy said her family had "mixed feelings" but added that it had not yet sunk in. "We certainly have no pleasure that he has gone," Mrs Cardy said. "I'd like to have known the man, to have had more time to prepare himself for his death," she said. Jennifer's brother, Phillip Cardy, said he did not hate the child killer but added that the main focus of attention should be his victims. "I have no hate for him, I couldn't muster the hate for him," Mr Cardy said. "It's a real shame that victims and their families are not remembered as much as the murderer. Everybody knows Robert Black but not everybody knows Susan Maxwell and Sarah Harper and Caroline Hogg and Jennifer. People forget very quickly." He added: "All those wee girls never got a chance to live a life - it's sad." BBC NI reporter Gordon Adair's Cardy trial memories: Rarely, if ever, have I seen an outpouring of emotion like that triggered when the jury foreman at Armagh Crown Court uttered the single word "guilty" in 2011. Thirty years after her death, justice had finally caught up with Jennifer Cardy's killer. Jennifer's family, jurors, journalists, and even detectives wept. The only person who showed no emotion was Robert Black. He sat - as he had done throughout the trial - gazing towards the front of the court. No matter how horrific or distressing the evidence had been, he demonstrated not a single flicker of concern; not for Jennifer, not for her family. Black never accepted his guilt, never showed any remorse, never apologised. At his sentencing, his barrister took the unusual step of standing up, saying: "I intend to say nothing in mitigation" and sitting back down. Looking back now on Black's life there is, again, little to be said in mitigation. In addition to the four murder convictions, Black attempted to abduct a 15-year-old girl in Nottingham in 1988, and was suspected of other unsolved crimes against children. In 2005, he was arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police investigating the murder 13-year-old Devon schoolgirl Genette Tate in 1978, but there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. Black was eventually arrested in 1990, when police stopped his van and found a six-year-old girl bound and gagged in the back of his vehicle. The child, who had been kidnapped from a village in the Scottish Borders, was rescued by police but the case led detectives to Black's previous victims. In 1994, Black was convicted for the murders of Susan, Caroline and Sarah. He was already serving life sentences for the three killings when he was found guilty of Jennifer's murder in 2011. Reacting to the news of Black's death in prison on Tuesday, Jennifer's mother Pat Cardy said her family had "mixed feelings" but added that it had not yet sunk in. "We certainly have no pleasure that he has gone," Mrs Cardy said. "I'd like to have known the man, to have had more time to prepare himself for his death," she said. Jennifer's brother, Phillip Cardy, said he did not hate the child killer but added that the main focus of attention should be his victims. "I have no hate for him, I couldn't muster the hate for him," Mr Cardy said. "It's a real shame that victims and their families are not remembered as much as the murderer. Everybody knows Robert Black but not everybody knows Susan Maxwell and Sarah Harper and Caroline Hogg and Jennifer. People forget very quickly." He added: "All those wee girls never got a chance to live a life - it's sad." BBC NI reporter Gordon Adair's Cardy trial memories: Rarely, if ever, have I seen an outpouring of emotion like that triggered when the jury foreman at Armagh Crown Court uttered the single word "guilty" in 2011. Thirty years after her death, justice had finally caught up with Jennifer Cardy's killer. Jennifer's family, jurors, journalists, and even detectives wept. The only person who showed no emotion was Robert Black. He sat - as he had done throughout the trial - gazing towards the front of the court. No matter how horrific or distressing the evidence had been, he demonstrated not a single flicker of concern; not for Jennifer, not for her family. Black never accepted his guilt, never showed any remorse, never apologised. At his sentencing, his barrister took the unusual step of standing up, saying: "I intend to say nothing in mitigation" and sitting back down. Looking back now on Black's life there is, again, little to be said in mitigation. In addition to the four murder convictions, Black attempted to abduct a 15-year-old girl in Nottingham in 1988, and was suspected of other unsolved crimes against children. In 2005, he was arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police investigating the murder 13-year-old Devon schoolgirl Genette Tate in 1978, but there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him.

['Edinburgh', 'Ballinderry Lower', 'Ballinderry Upper', 'Police Service of Northern Ireland', 'Scottish Borders Council', 'Morley']

[{"entity": "Robert Black", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "UK", "label": "LOC"}]

Robert Black ||| UK

["Edinburgh", "Ballinderry Lower", "Ballinderry Upper", "Police Service of Northern Ireland", "Scottish Borders Council", "Morley"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32969054

South Korea has first two Mers deaths

Two people have died of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) in South Korea, becoming the country's first fatalities from the disease.

The first victim was a 58-year-old woman who had contact with the original case, a South Korean who visited the Middle East. A 71-year-old man also died. The vast majority of cases have been in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, but South Korea has reported 17 since last month. More than 680 people, who may have come into contact with the infected patients, have been placed in isolation. Health ministry official Kwon Jun-wook told reporters on Monday that those in quarantine were being held at their homes or in state-run facilities in order to prevent the spread of the virus. The first fatality from Mers was recorded in June 2012 in Saudi Arabia. It belongs to the family of coronaviruses that includes the common cold and Sars, and can cause fever, breathing problems, pneumonia and kidney failure. Experts believe the virus is not very contagious. There have been 1,167 cases of Mers worldwide, of which 479 have died, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The only previous fatality in East Asia was a Malaysian man who died in April after returning from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile nurses at a hospital in China have been reportedly drawing lots to determine who should treat the country's first case of Mers. The hospital, in the southern city of Huizhou, said the ballot was arranged because there were too many volunteers to treat the South Korean man. But posts on social media suggest many were reluctant to take on the task. The virus has a death rate of 27%, according to the World Health Organization.

['Mers virus', 'South Korea']

[{"entity": "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome", "label": "DIS"}, {"entity": "South Korea", "label": "LOC"}]

South Korea

["Mers virus", "South Korea"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41529550

Nafta talks: Trump open to a bilateral Canada-US trade deal

President Trump says if talks to reform Nafta fail, he could envisage a US-Canada trade pact, excluding Mexico.

The US president said if there was no deal on the North American Free Trade Agreement, it would be terminated. He was speaking at the White House with visiting Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Replying to a question, Mr Trump said he said he would consider a trade pact with Canada minus Mexico, adding that both the US and Canada wanted to protect their workers. The current round of talks on renegotiating the trade bloc is reported to be stalling, with Mexico opposing a US move to increase the percentage of US-made components in car manufacturing. Mr Trump's stance has however been criticised by US businesses, And Mexican foreign minister Luis Videgaray, speaking ahead of the latest round of talks, said terminating Nafta could harm US-Mexico relations and damage co-operation on issues like fighting drug-trafficking. Mr Trudeau said he believed the Nafta talks could still end in a "win, win, win". But he said that Canada had to "be ready for anything" if the attempts to modernise the 23-year-old deal faltered. Overall trade between the three Nafta partners reached $1.1 trillion (£832bn) in 2016. American and Mexican officials say they want a renegotiated deal by December. This week the influential US Chamber of Commerce warned it was time to "ring alarm bells" over the Nafta talks. The business lobby group said there were "several poison pill proposals" put on the table by the US that could tank the renegotiations. Those include US demands to adjust the rules of origin, which would increase the percentage of the content of car parts and other materials that would come from Nafta countries in order for a good to qualify as duty free - a specific concern for the North American auto industry. The US and Canadian leaders also discussed the Bombardier-Boeing trade dispute. Canada and the UK are sparring with the US over Canadian aerospace giant Bombardier. The Trump administration has imposed hefty duties on Bombardier's C-Series jetliner. American aerospace firm Boeing claims Bombardier received unfair government subsidies to produce its showcase passenger jet. Bombardier is a significant employer in Northern Ireland and Canada. Mr Trudeau said he "highlighted to the president how much we disagree vehemently" on the decision to impose anti-dumping duties.

['Trade war', 'Donald Trump', 'United States', 'Canada']

[{"entity": "Trump", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Nafta", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Canada", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Mexico", "label": "LOC"}]

Trump ||| Nafta ||| Canada ||| Mexico

["Trade war", "Donald Trump", "United States", "Canada"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27398640

Nigeria abductions: Government 'ready' for Boko Haram talks

Nigeria is ready to talk to Islamist militants to negotiate the release of more than 200 abducted girls, cabinet minister Tanimu Turaki has said.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said on Monday that captured girls who had not converted to Islam could be swapped for jailed fighters. Mr Turaki said that if Shekau was sincere, he should send representatives for talks. The girls were abducted last month from a boarding school in the north-east. A video emerged on Monday showing about 130 of the girls wearing hijabs and reciting Koranic verses. The governor of north-eastern Borno state, Kashim Shettima, says all those seen in the 27-minute footage have been identified as the abducted schoolgirls from Chibok Secondary School. The girls' families have said that most of those seized are Christians, although there are a number of Muslims among them. Mr Turaki - who is special duties minister and chairman of a committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to find ways of reaching agreement with Boko Haram - said that Shekau should send people he trusted to meet the standing committee on reconciliation. He told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that "dialogue is a key option" in bringing the crisis to an end and that "an issue of this nature can be resolved outside of violence". Correspondents say that the government appears to have changed its stance in relation to talks, because it initially suggested there would be no negotiations with Boko Haram. Government information agency director Mike Omeri said late on Monday that the authorities would "use whatever kind of action" it took to free the girls, and that a military operation - with foreign help - was possible. In efforts to confirm the identities of girls in the video, it was shown to some people in Chibok - the town where the girls were kidnapped - on Monday evening. The chairman of the parents-teachers association at the school told the Reuters news agency that while seeing the video had "got parents apprehensive again", the steps taken by the government and "the arrival of foreign troops" were boosting spirits. But Dumoma Mpur said that so far she has not seen any government troops in Chibok. Meanwhile President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the National Assembly to extend for another six months the state of emergency in Borno - from where the girls were abducted - and two other north-eastern states. In another development, the US has revealed it is flying manned surveillance missions over Nigeria to an effort to find the missing schoolgirls. A team of about 30 US experts - members of the FBI and defence and state departments - is in Nigeria to help with the search. The UK, France and China also have teams on the ground in Nigeria and an Israeli counter-terrorism team is on its way. Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh welcomed such support and described the relationship between his country and the US as "mutual and strategic". British Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds will travel to Nigeria on Wednesday for high-level meetings to discuss further British assistance.

['Nigeria', 'Boko Haram', 'Nigeria schoolgirl kidnappings']

[{"entity": "Nigeria", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Tanimu Turaki", "label": "PER"}]

Nigeria

["Nigeria", "Boko Haram", "Nigeria schoolgirl kidnappings"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26465728

Max Clifford: The fallen king of spin

Max Clifford is the master media manipulator who was behind many of the juiciest tabloid scoops of the past 30 years - while at other times stopping scandals about his clients from hitting the front pages.

Clifford, who has been found guilty of eight counts of indecent assault, and cleared of two further charges, was one of the most powerful people in the British media in the 1990s and 2000s. With unrivalled sources of gossip and unmatched influence in editors' offices, Clifford would plant or prevent stories that could end the careers of politicians, sportsmen and celebrities. People who wanted to kiss and tell knew he would get them the best price (even after he had deducted his 20%). He orchestrated tabloid revelations about the sex lives of politicians, including David Mellor and John Prescott, sporting figures such as David Beckham and Sven-Goran Eriksson and actors including Jude Law. "He understood newspapers better than most," says Phil Hall, who was editor of the News of the World from 1995 to 2000. "It was a time when papers were spending a lot of money on stories and he happened to ride that wave. "He understood what made a good story and what was necessary to corroborate it. And he was a real master at squeezing the lemon dry. "Any time he did a story, he wouldn't place it in a paper once. It would appear for the next six months in different forms. So he was really good at getting the last buck out of an opportunity. And he was the first to do that." Mr Hall was editor when Clifford arranged a story revealing that former Conservative deputy chairman Jeffrey Archer had asked a friend to lie on his behalf in a libel trial. That led Lord Archer to be found guilty of perverting the course of justice and jailed for four years in 2001. Meanwhile, public figures who wanted to keep their indiscretions out of the press knew Clifford had the clout to help. "The biggest part of my game is not promotion, it's protection," Clifford told The Observer in 2006. Mr Hall, who now runs the PHA Media PR agency, says: "Because of the number of stories that were coming in [from him], newspapers were wary of falling out with him. "So he did have a certain negotiating tool. He could often come to editors and say, 'Look, you're doing this story about my client, my client's not happy about it, can we work it between us so that it's less damaging than it would have been?' "He's famous for doing that. Some editors would negotiate with him on that level and some wouldn't." The publicist also used his influence to ensure papers wrote about his other clients when they bought his juicy scoops. After brokering the Archer story, he made sure the News of the World ran a four-page supplement on The Pet Club and two pages on the Erotica exhibition in Kensington, both Clifford clients. In addition, the paper carried a fundraising article on the Royal Marsden Hospital, for which he was an adviser. "He was using the kiss-and-tells as a bargaining chip to succeed elsewhere," Mr Hall says. Clifford was also the first publicist to become as famous as some of the stars he represented. Mr Hall says this was a deliberate move to encourage more people to bring him their scandalous stories. The publicist made an early television appearance representing Lady Bienvenida Buck after she sold the story of her affair with Sir Peter Harding, Chief of the Defence Staff, to the News of the World in 1994. "My view was [we should] let him go out there and promote the fact that he's behind the story because others will pour in. And that's what happened," Mr Hall says. "He had thousands of people coming to him with stories, to the extent that he couldn't cope with the number of calls he was getting." Danny Rogers, editor of PR Week magazine, says Clifford was "without doubt the most powerful PR man in the country" in his heyday. "He had a lot of good contacts and he was very, very tough," Mr Rogers says. "He would cut some very hard deals, saying, 'If you run this story you're not going to get this story.' Or, 'If you stop running this story, I'll give you something fantastic.' "He was wheeling and dealing with stories with the likes of Kerry Katona or David Beckham or Katie Price, those kinds of A-list celebrities." With such power and profile, Clifford's morals and methods have frequently come under scrutiny. He has said he exposes public figures where he believes there is some hypocrisy and corruption. He only went ahead with the Archer story, he said, because the politician was running to be London mayor and Clifford did not think he was a fit candidate. Clifford told The Independent in 1999 that David Mellor, as part of the Major government's "back to basics" campaign, was "basing his whole image on his family life, and it was all a sham". However, the ethical arguments for outing the extramarital affairs of some other celebrities were less clear-cut. Clifford also represented figures such as OJ Simpson and purportedly advised the five men suspected of the Stephen Lawrence murder (he maintains he simply put them in touch with TV journalist Martin Bashir). He has also not shied away from admitting that lying is a key part of a publicist's job. "I've been telling lies on behalf of people, businessmen, politicians and countries for 40 years," Clifford declared during a PR Week debate in 2007. "It shouldn't be necessary, but it is. I'd rather be honest, but I cannot be all the time. The only mantra I work to is that your duty is to your client. "I lie on behalf of a cross-dressing MP, a prominent businessman who is having an affair with a man, and a gay footballer. Always the aim is to keep their identity out of the press. "I'm proud I've been able to do it. There's only been one footballer who was revealed to be gay, and he hanged himself. I know the ruin that will befall these people if news gets out. Here, the truth is destructive - I lie because there is no choice." The motion "PR has a duty to tell the truth" was defeated in a vote of the 260 public relations professionals and students who attended that debate. However, most in the public relations industry feel publicists such as Clifford have given PR a bad name, according to Phil Morgan, policy and communications director for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. "He is an excellent publicist, but he is not a public relations professional," Mr Morgan says. Feeding individual stories to the tabloid press is "a small part of public relations". The business "has moved on an enormous way from that kind of practice. We're talking about the fossilised prehistory of public relations," he adds. "It's one-dimensional, very tactical and it's on the seedy end of media relations. "He's as adept at keeping things out of the press as he is at getting them in there. Is that a professional, open and transparent way of working?"

['Max Clifford']

[{"entity": "Max Clifford", "label": "PER"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Max Clifford"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39789693

ITV chief executive Adam Crozier steps down

ITV's chief executive Adam Crozier, who is credited with helping to turn around the broadcaster's fortunes, is to step down after seven years.

Mr Crozier built up ITV's production arm, reducing its reliance on shrinking advertising revenue. The company, frequently tipped as a takeover target, said that a successor will be announced "in due course". During the interim, ITV chairman Sir Peter Bazalgette will take on the role of executive chairman. Finance director Ian Griffiths will lead the executive team until Mr Crozier's replacement is appointed. Mr Bazalgette said in a statement that Mr Crozier "has made a fantastic contribution to ITV and the board is deeply indebted to him for his strong leadership and personal dedication in very successfully turning around the business and building a more global and diversified organisation with real scale in key creative markets around the world". Mr Crozier, a former boss of the Football Association and Royal Mail, said: "Having spent 21 years as a chief executive across four very different industries, I now feel that the time is right for me to move to the next stage of my career and to build a portfolio of roles across the plc and private sectors." ITV said the company's revenue from sources other than advertising had more than doubled to almost £1.9bn in 2016, more than half of its total, under Mr Crozier's tenure. The broadcaster, which makes Coronation Street, is seen as a possible takeover target in an industry that is consolidating as viewers increasingly watch content on demand and on different platforms. US media group Liberty Global, which owns 9.9% of ITV, had been tipped as a potential bidder, although it has previously said it did not want to buy the broadcaster. ITV shares finished 1.75% lower on Wednesday.

['ITV', 'Companies']

[{"entity": "ITV", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Adam Crozier", "label": "PER"}]

ITV

["ITV", "Companies"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26649153

Budget 2014: Miliband criticises 'same old Tory tricks'

Ed Miliband has said millions of people are worse off under the government, dismissing George Osborne's Budget as full of the "same old Tory tricks".

The Labour leader said the chancellor was "giving with one hand and taking far more with the other", claiming there had been 24 tax rises since 2010. Chancellor George Osborne told MPs that the UK was now growing faster than any other major economy in the world. Mr Miliband said it "painted a picture working people will not recognise". In his speech, Mr Osborne said the UK economy was forecast to expand by 2.7% this year while the deficit would fall over the next five years, with a budget surplus by 2018-9. He also announced a further rise in the personal allowance - the amount of income that is tax-free - to £10,500 and a raft of support for pensioners and savers, including abolishing the 10% basic tax rate on savings income. But Mr Miliband said the Budget was a reflection of the "gap" between the chancellor's "rhetoric" and the reality facing million of families across the UK. The majority of people were, on average, £1,600 worse off each year since 2010, he said, due to the rise in VAT and other taxes and an extra million people now finding themselves paying tax at the 40% higher rate. "The chancellor spoke for nearly an hour but he did not mention one central fact - the working people of Britain are worse off under the Tories," he told MPs. "This is the Budget which confirms people are worse off under the Tories," he added. "A worse off Budget from an out of touch chancellor." He contrasted last year's decision to cut the top rate of tax for those earning more than £150,000 with the proposed 1% pay rise for many public sector workers, saying this illustrated that the government was "by the privileged, for the privileged". "It is more tax cuts for the rich while everyone else gets squeezed." Referring to the plans to replace the £1 coin announced on Wednesday, he said. "You can change the shape of the pound but it doesn't matter if the pound is square, round or oval - if you're £1,600 worse off, you're still £1,600 a year worse off." A Labour government would build 200,000 homes a year, freeze energy bills, guarantee jobs for the unemployed and reverse housing benefit cuts, he added.

['Ed Miliband']

[{"entity": "Ed Miliband", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "George Osborne", "label": "PER"}]

George Osborne

["Ed Miliband"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40885399

Rough sleeping 'could increase by 76% over next decade'

Rough sleeping in Britain could increase by more than three quarters in a decade, a homeless charity says.

Crisis claims 16,000 people could be sleeping on the streets by 2026 across England, Scotland and Wales, in comparison to 9,100 people in 2016. The charity warned homelessness would continue rising if current government policies continue unchanged. The government said it was investing £550 million into tackling homelessness by 2020. Labour said the figures produced by Crisis were "a national scandal" and a result of "seven years of failure on housing". Reality Check: How many people are homeless in England? The research - compiled by Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University - claims 159,900 households experienced a form of homelessness in 2016. This includes rough sleeping, living in temporary accommodation, and sofa surfing - bedding down at friends' houses. The report predicts rough sleeping, where people are living on the streets, will increase by 76% across England, Scotland and Wales. Crisis claims about 8,000 people in England lived on the streets in 2016, and that this number will nearly double in 2026 to 15,000. Government statistics claim 4,134 people were categorised as rough sleepers in 2016, but Crisis says the official figure is a significant underestimate. The government also admits the figures are subject to uncertainty as they are collected in a single night. Government figures show the number of rough sleepers in England alone has more than doubled since 2010. Neo, from Oxford, has lived on the streets "on and off" since the age of 18. The 46-year-old said he was not surprised about the predicted increase in sleeping rough, and added that he had seen a rise in homelessness in Oxford after the closure of a number of hostels. But he said: "Hostels aren't the answer, they're not nice to live in - you're forced to live with other people, some may be dangerous. "You couldn't pay me to stay there. "What we need is more social housing, and more affordable social housing." Chef Barry Deighan was homeless for a year and would sleep in the doorways of flats, and on the street. He said: "It makes you feel isolated, rejected by society. "You encounter more aggression by members of society, and I think it's very difficult to do it day-in and day-out because you never have the opportunity to have a decent night's sleep." Homelessness is expected to rise by a third in Wales in the next 5 years, while Scotland's homeless population could increase by 53% in the next 25 years.. Crisis chief executive Jon Sparkes said: "[The] report makes it only too clear that unless we take action as a society, the problem is only going to get worse with every year that passes. "That means more people sleeping on our streets, in doorways or bus shelters, on the sofas of friends or family, or getting by in hostels and B&Bs." Mr Sparkes urged "action and long-term planning to end homelessness for good". It is a piece of very complicated statistical modelling using data on regional housing markets, labour markets, current prevalence of homelessness and recent trends, factors in changes to welfare system and then uses all this information about the situation now and in the past to predict future trends. As a forecast there is always going to be an element of uncertainty but uses a lot of good data sources to get the best possible projection. This kind of model has been used before by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It has also been used by the government and is considered robust. The predicted 76% increase in rough sleeping actually represents a slowing of the upward trend - it's doubled since 2010 . The Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said it was determined to help "the most vulnerable in society" through investing £550 million by 2020 to tackle homelessness. A spokesman added: "We're implementing the Homelessness Reduction Act, which will require councils to provide early support to people at risk of becoming homeless. "There's more to do and ministers will set out plans shortly." But Labour's shadow housing secretary John Healey said: ""It is a national scandal that in 21st-century Britain the number of people experiencing homelessness is spiralling upwards. "These new figures are a terrible reminder of the consequences of Conservative ministers' seven years of failure on housing. "The number of people sleeping rough fell under Labour but has risen every year under the Conservatives and has now doubled since 2010."

['Heriot-Watt University', 'Homelessness', 'Homelessness in the UK']

[{"entity": "Britain", "label": "LOC"}]

Britain

["Heriot-Watt University", "Homelessness", "Homelessness in the UK"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-37274708

Yachters fight back against real-life pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates who target vulnerable vessels have plagued the oceans for centuries but violence and piracy against yachts cruising the Caribbean is on the rise.

The region's yachting fraternity is fighting back, using social media and online forums to unite, to warn fellow mariners of incidents and danger hotspots, and to raise money to get victims back on the water. After a couple were held at gunpoint and assaulted, and had their yacht damaged, in Grenada on 30 July, the Caribbean cruising community raised several thousand dollars within days. A boom in forums such as maritime Facebook groups means there are more people than ever sharing information and appealing for everything from cash to blood donors. The internet has changed cruising habits with wifi availability a "must-have" for many when considering anchorages. "Land-lubbers think of sailors as being alone on their boats and don't realise what a huge community we are and how many networks we have for dialogue, especially since the advent of things like Facebook," says Pippa Turton, of Antigua-based charter yacht firm Miramar. "We don't always have that much money but we do like to help each other when needed. There have been incidents where someone has been seriously ill and everyone has gone and given blood or clubbed together to send someone to the US for medical treatment." Crime figures compiled by the Caribbean Safety and Security Net (CSSN) indicate a three-fold surge on assaults against cruisers in 2015 compared to 2014, while last year also saw four incidents of piracy compared to none for the previous year. And the volunteer-run group says the real numbers are likely to be higher still with attacks often going unreported for reasons of privacy, embarrassment or fears of economic repercussions. Statistics from Noonsite, a cruisers' information website, also show that piracy, suspicious incidents, robbery and burglary are on the rise in the Caribbean. The 18 reports in 2014 soared to 27 in 2015. There are already more than 20 listed for 2016. In March, a German sailor was murdered and the yacht's captain seriously injured when masked pirates armed with guns boarded their vessel anchored in St Vincent's Wallilabou Bay, where Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed. Vincentian police told the BBC no one had been charged but the matter remained under investigation. Officials in Germany have since begun their own inquiry. Kim White, executive editor of CSSN - considered the authority on Caribbean boating security incidents - describes prosecution rates on the most serious crimes as "rather dismal". She believes sailors' transient status may be one reason why efforts to apprehend perpetrators appear sparse. "If arrests and prosecutions are not made promptly, the cases seem to fall into obscurity," she explains. "While total numbers of incidents may not have changed dramatically, the nature of them seems to have changed - we are seeing more violent crimes, weapons are involved more often, and there are more assaults, piracy and attempted piracy." Ms White says awareness is crucial. "We hope everyone who reads our reports thinks about what they would do if that happened to them so they have a thought-out plan if it does. That makes more difference to the outcome than anything else cruisers can do. "These events can profoundly change people's lives. Some lose their loved ones, others give up cruising and sell their boats. It's tragic." Ms White added that efficient patrols both on sea and around marinas had been shown to have an impact in some areas. In Antigua & Barbuda, Major Alando Michael said the country's defence force had executed a "robust patrolling system" in the international sailing hub since the 1990s. "Boat attacks are not much of an issue here," he said. "We have a presence on the water as much as possible." Two incidents of armed pirates attacking boats in the water between Trinidad and Grenada in December 2015 prompted a series of measures including increased patrols, according to Ocean Cruising Club port officer Jesse James. "This is an extreme high priority issue," he said. "All efforts are being made to secure our borders." For many, the beauty of yachting is the solitude. And for the thousands visiting the Caribbean each year, an encounter with modern-day marauders remains unlikely. Chris Doyle, an administrator of the "Grenada Cruisers Information" Facebook group, believes while the wealth of online forums has boosted communication resources, it has "increased paranoia" too. "Now everyone can print their bad news," he rues. "I have an alarm that wakes me up if something happens. In the 3,000 nights since I installed it, it's never once gone off."

['Antigua and Barbuda', 'Grenada']

[{"entity": "Caribbean", "label": "LOC"}]

Caribbean

["Antigua and Barbuda", "Grenada"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-37235315

Who is US journalist Lindsey Snell detained in Turkey?

An American journalist has been arrested by Turkish authorities and charged with violating a military zone, US officials have confirmed.

Lindsey Snell was arrested earlier this month, US state department spokesman John Kirby said. The Florida native recently posted on Facebook that she was kidnapped in July by Jabhat al Nusra, formerly al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, and had escaped. The US said it was in touch with Turkish officials regarding the case. Ms Snell is being held at a prison in the southern Hatay Province and consular officials had visited her on 26 August, Mr Kirby added. According to her Facebook page, Ms Snell is a native of Daytona, Florida, and had been living in Istanbul. The American describes herself on her Twitter page as a video journalist. She also has worked as a freelancer for Vocativ, but has not worked with them in months, a Vocativ spokeswoman told the BBC. Vocativ said they were "very concerned" about Ms Snell and were continuing to monitor the situation, she added. Ms Snell also attended University of Florida and Fordham University's School of Law, according to her social media profiles. Ms Snell said in her most recent Facebook post on 5 August that she was held in a cave prison by militants even though she was given permission to film in their territory in Syria. "I must apologise to my friends and colleagues for all the pain and worry this caused you. I love you all, and I appreciate every effort made to secure my release," her post said. Ms Snell, who identified herself as Muslim, said she had been staying with the family of one of the militant group's recent martyrs when she was "arrested." "Because of my unique situation, I was able to convince my captors to give me the use of a phone...which ultimately let me plan my escape, but which also let me document much of my captivity in photos and video," she continued. Two days later, she was taken into custody by Turkish authorities. According to the Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak, Ms Snell was detained near the country's Syrian border. "A US journalist was captured while she was trying to cross the border illegally; she was taken to court and remanded. The trial phase is ongoing. For now, we do not know if she is a spy or not," Hatay Governor Ercan Topaca told national media outlet Anadolu Agency. A state department official told the BBC it is unclear why she travelled to Syria and whether her profession as a journalist had anything to do with her arrest. Ms Snell's arrest comes amid strained relations between the US and Turkey after Turkish forces targeted Kurdish fighters in Syria. The US has criticised Ankara for pursuing Kurdish forces, whom Turkey considers terrorists, along with the so-called Islamic State inside Syria. The US depends on Kurdish forces for supporting in the battle against IS in northern Syria. The country is also reeling after a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 15 July. At least 246 people died during the attempted coup and more than 2,000 others were injured. President Erdogan has accused the US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen of orchestrating the army-led attempted coup. Mr Gulen has denied any involvement. Turkish authorities have also cracked down on media outlets in recent weeks, shuttering 131 media organisations in the wake of the failed coup. Many of the media outlets are linked to Mr Gulen.

['Turkey', 'United States', 'Syria']

[{"entity": "Turkish", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "US", "label": "LOC"}]

Turkish ||| US

["Turkey", "United States", "Syria"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-38171657

Sutton Hoo bitumen links Syria with Anglo-Saxon England

Analysis of black organic fragments found in the Sutton Hoo boat burial has revealed they are bitumen from Syria.

The Suffolk site was excavated in 1939. Gold and garnet jewellery, silverware and ceremonial armour were discovered. The small black objects scattered among the 7th Century finds were believed to be pine tar used for boat maintenance. British Museum and Aberdeen University experts have revealed they are bitumen and said they demonstrated the "far-reaching" Anglo-Saxon trade network. They believe the petrochemical scraps should now be viewed as "exotic grave goods which can be counted among the other treasures from the burial". The discovery was made when the fragments were included in an EU-funded research project studying the preservation of tars associated with ancient boats. Pauline Burger, who analysed the material while on a Marie Curie Fellowship at the museum, said the result was "completely unexpected". She said: "To find some undiscovered imported grave goods instead was tremendously exciting." The chemical fossils within "show this material comes from the Dead Sea family of bitumens, perhaps sourced in Syria", according to Stephen Bowden, from the University of Aberdeen. Bitumen is a viscous or semi-solid oil deposit, which is also known as asphalt. The British Museum has described archaeological finds of bitumen from ancient Britain as "extremely rare" - and said this is the first to be linked to the Middle East The experts do not know if the fragments were part of a larger object whose other materials did not survive or the remains of small objects. British Museum senior scientist Rebecca Stacey said: "Either way, it rewrites our understanding of the finds and shows that more than 75 years after its first discovery there is still much to be learnt about this remarkable burial assemblage".

['University of Aberdeen']

[{"entity": "Sutton Hoo", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Syria", "label": "LOC"}]

Syria

["University of Aberdeen"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-30378429

Shropshire pony Chester rescued from slurry pit

A pony has been rescued after it fell into an underground slurry pit and became trapped.

Chester was found in the trench, on farmland near Wellington, Shropshire, at about 08:25 GMT. Fire crews from two stations spent around two hours removing the animal from the hole, using specialist animal rescue equipment. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said there was "a lot of cleaning to be done" after the rescue.

['Wellington']

[{"entity": "pony", "label": "ANIM"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Wellington"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53780094

Police investigate racist hate crime at British Army base in Cyprus

Military police have been called in to investigate a racist hate crime carried out at a British Army base in Cyprus.

A black soldier found racist graffiti sprayed on his car at Dhekelia camp, currently home to troops from 1st Battalion, The Princess Of Wales's Royal Regiment. Photographs show a racist word sprayed on his car. The Ministry of Defence condemned the attack and confirmed a criminal investigation is under way. Photographs released on social media show a white car daubed with a highly offensive racist insult along with what appears to be an attack on the Black Lives Matter movement with "All Life Matter" sprayed in black paint across the vehicle. The BBC has confirmed the car belonged to a black soldier serving with the regiment. The incident happened on Thursday while the vehicle was parked inside the camp behind security fencing and gates. The racist abuse sprayed on the car includes the N-word. "We are actively supporting the criminal investigation into this repellent and wholly unacceptable incident," said the Ministry of Defence in a statement. "We always take the strongest action possible against those responsible for this type of unacceptable behaviour, which is contrary to all we exemplify as an open and welcoming organisation, which draws and relies on people from across the whole of society." The British Army has two bases in Cyprus, which allow the UK to have a permanent military presence at a strategic point in the eastern Mediterranean, the Army says. The incident follows a recent promise by defence chiefs to show "zero tolerance" to racism in the armed forces. In a joint letter signed in July, military chiefs also set out a commitment to improving diversity in the forces. Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) personnel make up just over 8% of the total armed forces - with a target to increase that proportion to 10% this year. Statistics show that personnel from BAME backgrounds are more likely to complain about bullying harassment and discrimination. Cases of discrimination account for 25% of all the complaints made across the armed forces. According to the ombudsman who oversees those complaints, a "disproportionate" number of those come from ethnic minorities. Earlier this year, the UK's most senior military officer said more must be done to tackle racial discrimination in the armed forces. General Sir Nick Carter, chief of the defence staff, called on all personnel to see the potential in every recruit and "refuse to allow intolerance". There had been "soul searching" about events highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement, a defence source said.

['British Armed Forces', 'Cyprus', 'Racism', 'British Army', 'Ministry of Defence']

[{"entity": "British Army", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Cyprus", "label": "LOC"}]

British Army ||| Cyprus

["British Armed Forces", "Cyprus", "Racism", "British Army", "Ministry of Defence"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-41588039

Love Island stars blasted in House of Lords for smoking

If you needed further proof of the influence that Love Island's had on the UK, then here it is.

The reality TV show was the topic of a "fiery" exchange between two politicians in the House of Lords. Liberal Democrat, Lord Storey accused ITV and the contestants in the villa of glamorising smoking. The discussion was a long-way from the usual topics discussed by the Lords, such as Brexit, unemployment and the NHS. This is a tweet from TV editor Scott Bryan and features the moment Love Island was mentioned in the House of Lords. The House of Lords reviews and debates government policy and normally acts as a set of checks and balances. During the two-minute debate Lord Storey said of his opposing peer Lord Ashton: "I don't know if he's a regular watcher of Love Island but if you were to look at the ITV website it describes Love Island as an 'emotional feast of love and passion in the sun'." His description of the show drew an audible, "Ooooohhhh" from other peers in the chamber. Lord Storey continued: "On this programme those contestants are seen regularly smoking. What message does that say to young people?" This is a picture of Alex with his fellow Love Island contestants. The Conservative Culture Minister Lord Ashton then quipped: "My Lords, I am not a regular watcher of Love Island." An answer which drew multiple "LOLS" from the room. "Obviously it is a matter for Ofcom. The broadcasting code is there to be regulated by Ofcom and that's what we put them there for," Lord Ashton continued. "And of course it's up to anyone who has complaints about smoking to complain. "To put this into perspective, Ofcom had just under 15,000 complaints last year and 75 related to smoking on Love Island." Following this exchange the House returned to a more typical agenda which included discussing human rights and world trade. The Radio 1 Breakfast Show team tweeted this picture of the pair talking to Nick Grimshaw. Either way the show being bought up in such a setting highlights the impact it's had. Love Island was a surprise ratings winner in June and July with even ITV bosses surprised how much interest there was in the show. Since leaving contestants have signed deals with clothing labels and even record deals. Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat The reality TV show was the topic of a "fiery" exchange between two politicians in the House of Lords. Liberal Democrat, Lord Storey accused ITV and the contestants in the villa of glamorising smoking. The discussion was a long-way from the usual topics discussed by the Lords, such as Brexit, unemployment and the NHS. This is a tweet from TV editor Scott Bryan and features the moment Love Island was mentioned in the House of Lords. The House of Lords reviews and debates government policy and normally acts as a set of checks and balances. During the two-minute debate Lord Storey said of his opposing peer Lord Ashton: "I don't know if he's a regular watcher of Love Island but if you were to look at the ITV website it describes Love Island as an 'emotional feast of love and passion in the sun'." His description of the show drew an audible, "Ooooohhhh" from other peers in the chamber. Lord Storey continued: "On this programme those contestants are seen regularly smoking. What message does that say to young people?" This is a picture of Alex with his fellow Love Island contestants. The Conservative Culture Minister Lord Ashton then quipped: "My Lords, I am not a regular watcher of Love Island." An answer which drew multiple "LOLS" from the room. "Obviously it is a matter for Ofcom. The broadcasting code is there to be regulated by Ofcom and that's what we put them there for," Lord Ashton continued. "And of course it's up to anyone who has complaints about smoking to complain. "To put this into perspective, Ofcom had just under 15,000 complaints last year and 75 related to smoking on Love Island." Following this exchange the House returned to a more typical agenda which included discussing human rights and world trade. The Radio 1 Breakfast Show team tweeted this picture of the pair talking to Nick Grimshaw. Either way the show being bought up in such a setting highlights the impact it's had. Love Island was a surprise ratings winner in June and July with even ITV bosses surprised how much interest there was in the show. Since leaving contestants have signed deals with clothing labels and even record deals. Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat

['Conservative Party', 'Television', 'Democratic Party', 'Life', 'House of Lords']

[{"entity": "Love Island", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "UK", "label": "LOC"}]

Love Island

["Conservative Party", "Television", "Democratic Party", "Life", "House of Lords"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-32005200

Lucha libre wrestler Pedro Aguayo killed by blow in Mexico ring

A celebrated Mexican wrestler has died after taking a heavy blow to the neck in the ring.

Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, known as "Hijo del Perro Aguayo" was thrown on to the ropes after a kick from Oscar Gutierrez, known as "Rey Misterio Jr". The match in Tijuana continued for several minutes before anyone realised that Aguayo was not moving. He was rushed to hospital but died early on Saturday morning. An investigation has been opened. The cause of death is still unclear but local media report that he suffered cervical spine trauma. The state prosecutor's office has said it is looking into possible manslaughter. Aguayo was the son of retired wrestler Pedro "Perro" Aguayo, a wrestling legend from the 1970s to 1990s. The company AAA, where he worked, tweeted: "Pain overwhelms our hearts again. Rest in peace, Hijo del Perro Aguayo". Wrestler Hijo del Santo told Associated Press: "I think the fans in Japan, the US and Mexico of course, where he was very popular, must be in mourning, especially because of his youth. He had much ahead of him." Professional wrestling or lucha libre is extremely popular in Mexico and is known for its colourful costumes and famous characters.

['Mexico']

[{"entity": "Mexican", "label": "LOC"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Mexico"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-37948762

Why are people wearing safety pins after Trump victory?

Safety pins have again become a symbol of solidarity with victims of racist, religious or homophobic abuse, following alleged attacks in the US in the wake of Donald Trump's election win.

The idea of wearing a safety pin as a political message was used in the UK after the vote there to leave the European Union, following an increase in alleged cases of hate crime. The Republican said in his victory speech that he would be a "president for all Americans". But the billionaire ran a campaign in which he made remarks that offended Muslims, Latinos, women and the disabled, among others. Hours after his victory, alleged cases of abuse against minorities were reported in many US cities. In California, authorities were investigating the reported attack of a Muslim student wearing a headscarf at the San Diego State University campus by two suspects. They allegedly made comments about Mr Trump's election. Officials said the assault on the woman, who was wearing a hijab and was not hurt, happened in a parking complex. The suspects stole her car keys, and the vehicle was later reported missing. Police were also investigating spray-painted obscene messages in South Philadelphia, the Philly Voice reported. Pro-Nazi graffiti was also spotted - it was not clear if the cases were related. There was also at least one false claim. In Louisiana, an 18-year-old student admitted she fabricated a story that two white men, one wearing a Trump hat, had attacked her near the University of Louisiana campus hours after the Republican's victory. She gave no reason for the false account. There were also cases of violence against Trump voters. Police were investigating an incident in Chicago, where a man was beaten after a traffic incident, with bystanders yelling "Don't vote Trump". A video of it has gone viral. Safety pins were first used as a symbol of unity and hope back on World War II, when the Netherlands were invaded. The Dutch wore them under their collar to show loyalty to the queen and not be persecuted by the Nazis.

['Islamophobia', 'Racism', 'Donald Trump', 'US election 2016', 'United States']

[{"entity": "US", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Donald Trump", "label": "PER"}]

US

["Islamophobia", "Racism", "Donald Trump", "US election 2016", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-43538017

Alphons Kannanthanam: India minister's 'naked' visa claim criticised

An Indian minister has sparked a social media storm with his comments on the country's controversial biometric identity scheme.

Alphons Kannanthanam said Indians had no problem "getting naked" for a US visa, but object to the Aadhaar scheme over privacy concerns. It is not clear what he meant exactly but he may be referring to airport strip searches. Since Aadhar's inception, critics have been worried about its data safety. In January, an Indian journalist said she was able to access citizens' personal details on the Aadhaar website after paying an agent 500 rupees ($8; £6). The government called it a data breach at the time. More than a billion Indians have enrolled in Aadhaar and have received a 12-digit unique identification number after submitting biometric data. It started out as a voluntary programme to tackle benefit fraud, but the ID number has become increasingly necessary for financial transactions and social welfare. Mr Kannanthanam, the minister of tourism, electronics and information technology, criticised Indians who have resisted giving their data to the government. "We [Indians] have absolutely no problems going and putting our fingerprints and the iris and getting your whole body naked before the white man at all," he said. "But when the government of India, which is your government, asks you your name and your address, nothing more, there's a massive revolution in the country saying it's an intrusion into the privacy of the individual." He added that the biometric data collected under the scheme was safe with the government. The comment by the minister comes a week after the Indian Supreme Court extended its deadline on ruling whether Aadhaar needs to be mandatorily linked to avail various services, including welfare schemes, bank accounts and phone numbers. Mr Kannanthanam added that he had to fill out a 10-page form to apply for a US visa. "Ten pages of data which you have never even confessed to your wife or husband ever, that is passed on to the white man. We have no problem," he said. However, many on social media were quick to point out the differences between the two scenarios he put forward: India's biometric database is the world's largest. The government has collected fingerprints and iris scans from more than a billion residents - or nearly 90% of the population - and stored them in a high security data centre. Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that citizens have a fundamental right to privacy in a landmark judgment. The ruling, experts said, had significant implications for the government's vast biometric ID scheme.

['Asia', 'India', 'Privacy']

[{"entity": "Indian", "label": "LOC"}]

Indian

["Asia", "India", "Privacy"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-56322001

Covid: Why are Yorkshire cases falling slowly?

The type of jobs people do is a factor in stubbornly high infection rates in parts of Yorkshire, officials say.

Cases are falling more slowly in the region - which has the highest number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people in England - than elsewhere. In parts of the county where people are unable to work from home, it is thought workplace exposure has kept numbers up. Public Health England (PHE) said occupation could be one of several factors behind regional variations. Yorkshire and The Humber recorded an infection rate of 98.8 in the seven days to March 5 and Barnsley, Hull, Rotherham, Bradford and Wakefield have the highest in the region. In Wakefield, where the infection rate is 138.1 per 100,000, public health director Anna Hartley said the area had very high numbers of manufacturing jobs and people in essential and key worker roles. "We know around 44% of our cases have got workplaces as a common exposure and that's really different to London and the south east where there are a lot of white collar jobs," she said. "People can work at home, so we believe that is one of the main factors driving our transmission rates." England's average infection rate was 60.8 per 100,000 in the seven days to 5 March and in London and the south the figure was below 50 cases per 100,000. Toni Williams, consultant in public health with Public Health England, said there was evidence Covid-19 does not affect all population groups equally. "From what we can tell, the different patterns of infection could in part reflect factors such as occupation, population density, use of public transport, household composition and housing conditions, and employment in work which does not allow either working from home or easy following of social distancing." She said occupations where people spend a longer period of time together and where social distancing is more difficult tend to have higher rates of Covid-19. Deprivation, insecure employment and living in multi-occupancy homes can also play a part. Barnsley has the second highest weekly rate in England, with 146.2 cases per 100,000 people for the seven days to 5 March. The town's public health director Julia Burrows said the rate was "frustrating" but reflected the population. "High-density households, a large number of people who have to leave their homes to work in factories and warehouses, an older population, and people living with long-term health conditions," she said. It is a similar picture in Hull, which has the fourth-highest rate in England at 144.4 cases per 100,000 people. Assistant director of public health Tim Fielding said the city also has a large number of manual workers who cannot work from home. "Our rate is still relatively high and is not coming down as needed; it is currently among the highest in the country and it is urgent we all take that very seriously," he said. Mr Fielding urged businesses and individuals to take up the offer of free regular testing of people without symptoms. "This can be crucial in preventing people unknowingly spread the virus," he said. Figures in Yorkshire and The Humber are coming down - the infection rate dropped 23% in the seven days to 5 March and, in parts of the region, such as York and North Yorkshire, has fallen below the England average. For public health officials the challenge remains encouraging people to stick to the rules as lockdown starts to be eased. "We're making good progress, but we aren't done yet," Toni Williams said. Analysis by Rob England, BBC England Data Unit Overall the universal drop in cases seen since January has been slower in Yorkshire than in other areas, which is reflected in the high infection rates across some districts. This is not the first time the region has stood apart from the rest of the country. For the past six months the pandemic has behaved in subtly different ways in Yorkshire, with the best example being cases peaking in late November as opposed to January. It seems local demographics, such as the type of work people do in the area, may be playing a part in the less dramatic fall in cases, which is difficult to tackle in terms of lockdown rules. It is still unclear how the easing of lockdown will affect the trend in Yorkshire, but it is clear that cases are going in the right direction. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here.

['Hull', 'Coronavirus lockdown measures', 'Barnsley', 'Wakefield', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[{"entity": "Yorkshire", "label": "LOC"}]

Yorkshire

["Hull", "Coronavirus lockdown measures", "Barnsley", "Wakefield", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43653418

Superfast 5G mobiles move a step closer

An auction of frequencies for the next generation of mobile phone networks has raised £1.36bn, says regulator Ofcom.

Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three all won the bandwidth needed for the future 5G mobile internet services, which are not expected to be launched until 2020. It is expected that 5G will provide much faster connections than the existing system. In particular, Ofcom said going online from mobiles would be "quicker and easier" on 5G. Telefónica, which owns O2, also bought additional frequency for its 4G coverage, which will improve existing connectivity for customers. Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three all won the bandwidth needed for the future 5G mobile internet services, which are not expected to be launched until 2020. It is expected that 5G will provide much faster connections than the existing system. In particular, Ofcom said going online from mobiles would be "quicker and easier" on 5G. Telefónica, which owns O2, also bought additional frequency for its 4G coverage, which will improve existing connectivity for customers. Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three all won the bandwidth needed for the future 5G mobile internet services, which are not expected to be launched until 2020. It is expected that 5G will provide much faster connections than the existing system. In particular, Ofcom said going online from mobiles would be "quicker and easier" on 5G. Telefónica, which owns O2, also bought additional frequency for its 4G coverage, which will improve existing connectivity for customers. 5G will vastly improve data speeds on mobile devices and will help free up much-needed bandwidth. It could also help driverless cars to communicate with traffic lights and other vehicles to anticipate traffic conditions and avoid collisions. Ofcom auctioned two spectrum bands: 3.4GHz, which is one of the spectrum bands earmarked for 5G, and 2.3 GHz, which is used by current mobile networks and will help improve 4G capacity. The 3.4GHz spectrum band is "hugely important" for 5G, said Bengt Nordstrom of telecoms consultancy Northstream as it lets operators add extra capacity to their existing networks without too many new base stations. EE, Vodafone, Three and 02 all successfully bid for 3.4GHz spectrum band and O2 also also bought some 2.4GHz spectrum band, which will improve 4G availability. Digital minister Margot James said the spectrum would be instrumental in improving 4G services while "helping the UK to lead the 5G revolution". 5G will vastly improve data speeds on mobile devices and will help free up much-needed bandwidth. It could also help driverless cars to communicate with traffic lights and other vehicles to anticipate traffic conditions and avoid collisions. Ofcom auctioned two spectrum bands: 3.4GHz, which is one of the spectrum bands earmarked for 5G, and 2.3 GHz, which is used by current mobile networks and will help improve 4G capacity. The 3.4GHz spectrum band is "hugely important" for 5G, said Bengt Nordstrom of telecoms consultancy Northstream as it lets operators add extra capacity to their existing networks without too many new base stations. EE, Vodafone, Three and 02 all successfully bid for 3.4GHz spectrum band and O2 also also bought some 2.4GHz spectrum band, which will improve 4G availability. Digital minister Margot James said the spectrum would be instrumental in improving 4G services while "helping the UK to lead the 5G revolution". 5G will vastly improve data speeds on mobile devices and will help free up much-needed bandwidth. It could also help driverless cars to communicate with traffic lights and other vehicles to anticipate traffic conditions and avoid collisions. Ofcom auctioned two spectrum bands: 3.4GHz, which is one of the spectrum bands earmarked for 5G, and 2.3 GHz, which is used by current mobile networks and will help improve 4G capacity. The 3.4GHz spectrum band is "hugely important" for 5G, said Bengt Nordstrom of telecoms consultancy Northstream as it lets operators add extra capacity to their existing networks without too many new base stations. EE, Vodafone, Three and 02 all successfully bid for 3.4GHz spectrum band and O2 also also bought some 2.4GHz spectrum band, which will improve 4G availability. Digital minister Margot James said the spectrum would be instrumental in improving 4G services while "helping the UK to lead the 5G revolution". 5G is not expected to roll out widely to mobiles before 2020, but there will be plenty of testing before that, including at tourist hotspots in Bristol and Bath. Analyst Matthew Howett, founder of research firm Assembly, thinks most customers will not see 5G any time soon. "Everyone is getting a bit ahead of themselves," he said, "but the industry hasn't yet agreed on how it will be different from 4G". Mr Howett said it would mean "faster, more reliable connection", but added: "My view is, it's a way off." He added: "All they are buying is essentially the airwaves that are all around us and have existed since the Big Bang, because there is only a finite amount." 5G is not expected to roll out widely to mobiles before 2020, but there will be plenty of testing before that, including at tourist hotspots in Bristol and Bath. Analyst Matthew Howett, founder of research firm Assembly, thinks most customers will not see 5G any time soon. "Everyone is getting a bit ahead of themselves," he said, "but the industry hasn't yet agreed on how it will be different from 4G". Mr Howett said it would mean "faster, more reliable connection", but added: "My view is, it's a way off." He added: "All they are buying is essentially the airwaves that are all around us and have existed since the Big Bang, because there is only a finite amount." 5G is not expected to roll out widely to mobiles before 2020, but there will be plenty of testing before that, including at tourist hotspots in Bristol and Bath. Analyst Matthew Howett, founder of research firm Assembly, thinks most customers will not see 5G any time soon. "Everyone is getting a bit ahead of themselves," he said, "but the industry hasn't yet agreed on how it will be different from 4G". Mr Howett said it would mean "faster, more reliable connection", but added: "My view is, it's a way off." He added: "All they are buying is essentially the airwaves that are all around us and have existed since the Big Bang, because there is only a finite amount." In the second half of 2019, Ofcom will also auction spectrum in the 700MHz band, but this will come with a caveat: the need to improve 4G coverage first. "To ensure widespread improvements in mobile coverage across the UK, we are proposing to attach coverage obligations to some of the licences we will award for the 700 MHz band," Ofcom said. "These obligations will require winning bidders to roll out improved mobile coverage in rural areas and the nations." In the second half of 2019, Ofcom will also auction spectrum in the 700MHz band, but this will come with a caveat: the need to improve 4G coverage first. "To ensure widespread improvements in mobile coverage across the UK, we are proposing to attach coverage obligations to some of the licences we will award for the 700 MHz band," Ofcom said. "These obligations will require winning bidders to roll out improved mobile coverage in rural areas and the nations." In the second half of 2019, Ofcom will also auction spectrum in the 700MHz band, but this will come with a caveat: the need to improve 4G coverage first. "To ensure widespread improvements in mobile coverage across the UK, we are proposing to attach coverage obligations to some of the licences we will award for the 700 MHz band," Ofcom said. "These obligations will require winning bidders to roll out improved mobile coverage in rural areas and the nations."

['Companies', 'Telecommunication', '5G']

[{"entity": "Ofcom", "label": "ORG"}]

Ofcom

["Companies", "Telecommunication", "5G"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-44356080

Hundreds wait hours in Stansted Airport baggage 'chaos'

Hundreds of passengers had to wait up to four hours to reclaim their luggage after most baggage handlers at Stansted Airport had gone home.

Cargo handlers Swissport said "seven times the number of anticipated flights arrived after 01:00 BST on Monday". Many were delayed when air traffic control restrictions were put in place because of storms across Europe. Passengers described the baggage situation as "chaos". The company has apologised for the delays. David Pengelly, from Sudbury, Suffolk, arrived on a delayed flight from Crete at about 02:45, and was faced with an hour-long wait in passport control. "There must have been about a thousand people there, some queuing on the stairs. "We thought after all that we could just walk out and the bags would be there, but no," he said. "Baggage was another story altogether - it was chaos and I was told there were only three handlers on duty but there were no Swissport staff to be seen." He eventually left the airport with his luggage at about 06:30. Others waited a similar length of time, describing the situation in baggage reclaim as "shocking", "disgusting" and "a shambles". There were reports of passengers sleeping on the airport floor and in the toilets. One woman wrote on social media she got so fed up by 03:30 she left without her luggage. Lightning strike causes Stansted disruption Stansted Airport collision delays passengers Stansted fire forces cancellation of flights Ryanair, with whom many of those affected were flying, said it had "asked our handling agent at Stansted (Swissport) to take necessary steps to ensure these delays to do not recur". Swissport has apologised to passengers for what it admitted were "significant delays". A spokesman said "air traffic control restrictions due to thunderstorms over European airspace... forced a high number of flights at Stansted to land outside of the scheduled operating hours". Stansted Airport said its terminal staff "volunteered to assist" with the baggage backlog and it would be "working closely with our airline and handling agent partners to find a solution".

['London Stansted Airport', 'Ryanair']

[{"entity": "Stansted Airport", "label": "LOC"}]

Stansted Airport

["London Stansted Airport", "Ryanair"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-57684212

Reporter Martha Gellhorn honoured with purple plaque

Pioneering war reporter Martha Gellhorn has been honoured with a plaque at her former home in Monmouthshire.

Ms Gellhorn, who died in 1998, covered 12 conflicts in a career spanning six decades. At the age of 76, she came out of retirement to report on the miners' strike from Newbridge in 1984. It was the sixth purple plaque to be erected in Wales, marking the achievements of women from all walks of life. Ms Gellhorn was already a published writer when she visited Madrid during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s with her future husband, Ernest Hemingway. Once there, she began reporting on the plight of civilians in the besieged city and from then on, her work always focused on the ordinary people affected by conflict and hardship. "I began to write about what happens to what we now call real people, and perhaps that was different," she told the BBC's HARDtalk programme in 1997. "Nobody else was doing it because that wasn't the thing, I mean the thing was to rush out and say whether somebody had advanced or retreated. "Even when I began writing about any of the soldiers, it was always as people." Ms Gellhorn was the only woman reporter at the D-Day landings. Having been refused accreditation, she got there by stowing away in the toilet of a hospital ship until it set sail. She went ashore with medics to help bring back the wounded and reported on what she saw and heard. Ms Gellhorn wrote about the Dachau concentration camp shortly after it was liberated in one of the 20th Century's most famous pieces of reportage. She told HARDtalk it was an experience which always haunted her. "It was just so much more cruel than war. Here were people being kept in conditions of inhumanity and slavery and cruelty such as I had never even imagined possible, let alone seen. "I didn't exaggerate it. I just described it." In one of her last assignments she went to Newbridge to write about the miners' strike in 1984 and returned there years later at the age of 88 for a BBC documentary. On both occasions, former miner Alan Sandel drove her around the area. "I heard via the grapevine that she was feisty, no way was she feisty with me," he said of their first meeting. "She was a proper lady and the aura that she gave… was that she would care about the everyday person. She would really go that extra mile for them as far as I can remember. "It was a very enjoyable day and a privilege to have met her." Mr Sandel made quite an impression on Ms Gellhorn too - in her article on the strike, she describes him as a "charming grey-haired miner" who speaks of the beauty of the Ebbw valley. When reminded of this, Mr Sandel chuckles: "I always admire people who speak the truth." Ms Gellhorn paid tribute to the people of Newbridge at the end of the documentary. "It has been wonderful to spend two days with good people, that was my feeling about them 13 years ago and it's my feeling now. These are genuinely, simply, unpretentiously, unselfconsciously good people." American by birth, Ms Gellhorn lived in Europe for most of her life and for many years, had a cottage near Devauden in Monmouthshire, which provided sanctuary from the chaos and conflict she reported on. Now a purple plaque has been unveiled there in her honour. Ms Gellhorn's stepson, Alexander Matthews, attended the unveiling ceremony. "Martha Gellhorn came to this lovely spot in Wales to recharge her emotional batteries. She loved the magic of being alone. There was a kind of independence about it, which she thoroughly enjoyed," he said. "She wanted to be known as a fiction writer but had ended up being perhaps the best-known foreign correspondent of her generation."

['Journalism', 'World War Two']

[{"entity": "Martha Gellhorn", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Monmouthshire", "label": "LOC"}]

Martha Gellhorn ||| Monmouthshire

["Journalism", "World War Two"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45247169

Social media faces EU fine if terror lingers for an hour

The European Commission is planning to order websites to delete extremist content on their sites within an hour to avoid the risk of being fined.

The regulation would affect Twitter, Facebook and YouTube among others. The crackdown would lead to the EU abandoning its current approach - where the firms self-police - in favour of explicit rules. The shake-up comes in the wake of high-profile terror attacks across Europe over the past few years. Julian King, the EU's commissioner for security, told the Financial Times that the EU would "take stronger action in order to protect our citizens". The BBC has confirmed the details of the report. In March, the EU's civil service published details of the current voluntary arrangement, which noted that "terrorist content is most harmful in the first hours of its appearance online". At the time, it said there was "significant scope for more effective action". The BBC understands the draft regulation is set to be published next month. It would need to be approved by the European Parliament and a majority of EU states before it could be put into action. Mr King told the FT that the law would apply to small social media apps as well as the bigger players. "Platforms have differing capabilities to act against terrorist content and their policies for doing so are not always transparent," he added. A study published last month by the not-for-profit Counter Extremism Project said that between March and June, 1,348 videos related to the Islamic State group were uploaded on to YouTube, via 278 separate accounts, garnering more than 163,000 views. The report said that 24% of the videos had remained online for more than two hours. The BBC has asked Google, Twitter and Facebook to comment. Google has previously said that more than half of the videos YouTube removes for containing violent extremism have had fewer than 10 views. In its latest 'transparency report', Twitter says that between July and December 2017, a total of 274,460 accounts were permanently suspended for violations related to the promotion of terrorism. The company says 74% of those accounts were suspended before their first tweet. If the EU's proposed regulation is approved, it will be the first time the European Commission has explicitly targeted tech firms' handling of illegal content.

['Social media', 'YouTube', 'Google', 'European Commission', 'Twitter', 'Facebook', 'Counter-terrorism']

[{"entity": "European Commission", "label": "ORG"}]

European Commission

["Social media", "YouTube", "Google", "European Commission", "Twitter", "Facebook", "Counter-terrorism"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33077205

John Inverdale loses BBC Wimbledon highlights role

Clare Balding is replacing John Inverdale as the host of the BBC's Wimbledon highlights show.

The move comes two years after Inverdale was accused of making sexist comments about women's champion Marion Bartoli. Almost 700 people complained when he suggested the French player was "never going to be a looker". Although Inverdale will remain as a commentator, Balding will present a new highlights show, called Wimbleon 2Day. In a statement, the BBC said: "John Inverdale will take up a new role on TV commentary duties at this year's championship and we are looking forward to having him as part of the team. "The introduction of Wimbledon 2Day, presented by Clare Balding, will provide a fresh new look for the highlights show and continue to develop the 'today at the games' brand which Clare presented at both the Sochi Winter Olympics and Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014." Inverdale got into trouble in 2013, when he asked his guest Lindsay Davenport about Bartoli: "I just wonder if her dad did say to her when she was 12, 13, 14 maybe: 'Listen, you are never going to be, you know, a looker. "'You are never going to be somebody like a Sharapova, you're never going to be 5ft 11in, you're never going to be somebody with long legs, so you have to compensate for that. You are going to have to be the most dogged, determined fighter that anyone has ever seen on the tennis court if you are going to make it,' and she kind of is." The BBC later apologised for the "insensitive" comments. Inverdale put the gaffe down to feeling unwell, and said he was "horrified" for Bartoli. She never took offence at the comments, telling the Radio Times: "In my mind it was never really a story. "I'd known John a long time, and I knew what he was trying to say. Everyone starts with their own assets, not everyone is born the same way, but the point is that in sport - in life in general - the message is, if you have determination you can still make it happen." Inverdale continues to front ITV's tennis coverage, where Bartoli is one of his co-presenters.

['BBC', 'Broadcasting']

[{"entity": "Clare Balding", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "John Inverdale", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "BBC", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Wimbledon", "label": "EVE"}]

Clare Balding ||| John Inverdale ||| BBC ||| Wimbledon

["BBC", "Broadcasting"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26341119

Team GB get Downing Street reception after Sochi Winter Olympics

Medal-winning Team GB athletes who competed in the Sochi Winter Olympics have been recognised for their achievements at a special Downing Street reception.

The team won medals in four events during the Games. The medal haul equalled the record achieved by the Great Britain team at the inaugural Winter Olympics in 1924. Prime Minister David Cameron told the winners they were "brilliant", saying: "You have inspired me." The athletes attending the reception included skeleton gold-medallist Lizzy Yarnold and snowboard slopestyle bronze-medallist Jenny Jones, as well as the women's and men's curling teams, who won bronze and silver respectively. Speaking to the BBC just before she met the PM, 25-year-old Lizzie Yarnold said: "It's been a great day; it's been a great week. I just can't really believe that it's all happened." Yarnold, whose gold medal is one of only 10 in British Winter Olympic history, added: "People are driving along, and coming past, honking their horns and taking pictures, so, it's nice to share it with everyone now I'm back in Britain." UK Sport invested £13.4m from lottery and exchequer funding so that Team GB could take part in the Games.

['David Cameron']

[{"entity": "Sochi Winter Olympics", "label": "EVE"}, {"entity": "Downing Street", "label": "LOC"}]

NoPresentEntity

["David Cameron"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52903443

Coronavirus: Iran fears second wave after surge in cases

Iran has reported a record daily increase in the number of coronavirus cases, stoking fears of a second wave in the Middle East's biggest outbreak.

The health ministry said 3,574 new Covid-19 infections were recorded on Wednesday - the third consecutive day the figure has exceeded 3,000. Another 59 people with the disease died, raising the toll to 8,071. The president has said restrictions may be re-imposed if people do not follow social distancing and hygiene rules. Before Wednesday's new infections were reported, bringing the overall total to 164,270, the previous high was 3,186 on 30 March. The number of cases then declined steadily until 2 May, when 802 were recorded. By Rana Rahimpour, BBC Persian For the third consecutive day, Iran has reported more than 3,000 cases. The situation in several provinces has been classified as "alarming" and some restrictions have been reinstated in Khuzestan, in the south-west of the country, where there is a state of emergency. Experts believe several reasons are behind the increase in cases. Most important is the fact that many Iranians are not taking social distancing seriously. Ignoring official advice, thousands of people travelled to northern Iran - then considered a high-risk "red" zone - two weeks ago for the Eid al-Fitr holidays. Undergrounds, banks and offices have also been packed with people. The authorities have been warning about a second wave of the outbreak, but they do not seem interested in a second lockdown in order to contain the virus - at least for now. Since early April, the government has been trying as much as it can to reopen businesses, schools and religious sites, and revive an economy that was already crippled by US sanctions. Last weekend, it allowed all civil servants to return to work and mosques resumed daily prayers. However, such moves have caused concern among health officials. "People seem to think the coronavirus is over," Health Minister Saeed Namaki told a news conference on Tuesday. "The outbreak is not over yet and at any moment it may come back stronger than before." "If our people fail to respect the health protocols... we must prepare ourselves for the worst situation," he added. Mr Namaki said the authorities had pleaded with people not to hold weddings or funerals, but they had not listened. President Hassan Rouhani echoed the comments on Wednesday, saying: "If in any part of the country these warnings are not taken seriously and, God forbid, the outbreak of illness peaks again, the authorities will have to re-impose restrictions." He added: "This will create problems for the ordinary lives of citizens and also will bring serious economic damage to society." Last week, Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said a health ministry poll suggested only 40% of the population believed in social distancing, down from 90%, and that 32% believed in self-isolation, down from 86%. He called this a "calamity".

['Coronavirus lockdown measures', 'Iran', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[{"entity": "Iran", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Middle East", "label": "LOC"}]

Iran

["Coronavirus lockdown measures", "Iran", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33662640

Internet companies face 'tax crackdown'

Internet companies may have to provide more information on people and businesses who sell goods and services online, in a crackdown on tax evasion.

HM Revenue & Customs wants to target businesses that have failed to register for tax, and individuals who fail to declare the money they make online. It said this "hidden economy" could equate to £5.9bn a year in tax. HMRC has launched a consultation on extending its powers to collect extra data from firms and individuals. No specific firms have been named, but sellers on internet marketplaces such as online advert site Gumtree, holiday home rental site Airbnb and e-commerce giant eBay could be among those targeted. HM Revenue & Customs wants to target businesses that have failed to register for tax, and individuals who fail to declare the money they make online. It said this "hidden economy" could equate to £5.9bn a year in tax. HMRC has launched a consultation on extending its powers to collect extra data from firms and individuals. No specific firms have been named, but sellers on internet marketplaces such as online advert site Gumtree, holiday home rental site Airbnb and e-commerce giant eBay could be among those targeted. In the consultation document published online, HMRC said data played a key role in enabling it to detect those not paying tax. Existing laws allow HMRC to access certain data but it wants to broaden its scope. "Data can be particularly powerful when it is collected from third parties who facilitate trade, either between businesses, or between businesses and consumers," the consultation document said. "This is because they can provide information in bulk about the activity of large numbers of traders, and because third party data can be used as an independent check against the data that taxpayers themselves report to HMRC." The document said the extended powers would affect businesses acting as intermediaries or providing electronic payment services. In the consultation document published online, HMRC said data played a key role in enabling it to detect those not paying tax. Existing laws allow HMRC to access certain data but it wants to broaden its scope. "Data can be particularly powerful when it is collected from third parties who facilitate trade, either between businesses, or between businesses and consumers," the consultation document said. "This is because they can provide information in bulk about the activity of large numbers of traders, and because third party data can be used as an independent check against the data that taxpayers themselves report to HMRC." The document said the extended powers would affect businesses acting as intermediaries or providing electronic payment services. HMRC stressed it would not target individuals who sold personal possessions, only businesses that failed to pay tax owed. It said it would not seek to find out what people bought online, but rather what was sold and not declared. "Effective tackling of the hidden economy will ensure a level playing field between those businesses and individuals who comply with their tax obligations and those that do not," the consultation said. It said those who were tax compliant "should see little or no impact". The 12-week consultation runs until 14 October. HMRC stressed it would not target individuals who sold personal possessions, only businesses that failed to pay tax owed. It said it would not seek to find out what people bought online, but rather what was sold and not declared. "Effective tackling of the hidden economy will ensure a level playing field between those businesses and individuals who comply with their tax obligations and those that do not," the consultation said. It said those who were tax compliant "should see little or no impact". The 12-week consultation runs until 14 October.

['Personal finance', 'UK taxes', 'HM Revenue & Customs', 'Internet']

[{"entity": "tax evasion", "label": "TIME"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Personal finance", "UK taxes", "HM Revenue & Customs", "Internet"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-56374925

Ma Copley: How a woman came to be Belfast's biggest boxing promoter

Boxing promoters are generally thought of as being fast-talking alpha males, but in Belfast in the 1930s one celebrated promoter couldn't have been further removed from this stereotype.

Long before there was Don King, Barney Eastwood and Eddie Hearn, Clara Copley - affectionately known as Ma - was a pioneer in the fight business, giving many young boxers their start and providing them with much needed income during a period of financial hardship. For her granddaughter, Doreen Devenney, Ma Copley's achievements in a male-dominated field remains a source of great pride. "People still talk about my grandmother. I grew up living in the caravan beside her and have many happy memories of being with her and watching the boxing. "She had a great personality, but she didn't let people walk over her." Ma Copley was born in Yorkshire, England in 1866. She became part of her family's travelling amusement business, living in caravans while managing attractions including a circus, funfair and waxworks. She came to Belfast in the 1920s and was still involved in the family business, with many children coming to their funfair based in Belfast's Chapel Fields. But in the 1930s, Ma decided to focus on the city's thriving boxing trade - it was a move that would seal her legacy. She used vacant ground around Alfred Street and Adelaide Street, opposite St Malachy's Church, in Chapel Fields to begin hosting boxing shows in 1934, which took place three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings. The bouts were held outside in the summer and in a large marquee, which became known as "Ma's tent", during the rest of the year. The venue hosted more than 600 shows over the years. They weren't expensive to attend and supporters came from all sections of the community in Belfast, with a predominantly working class crowd creating a tremendous atmosphere. The entertainment wasn't confined to the ring with the crowds often warmed up by bizarre acts, which ranged from goldfish-swallowers to lion-wrestlers. Ma's boxers were largely inexperienced, with many of them starting their careers on the Chapel Fields. They normally received five shillings as a fight purse (though occasionally some got paid more), which provided a lifeline for many young men. In return, they were expected to put on a good show. The fighters had to be tough, particularly as they would at times face an opponent who was significantly heavier. One of the boxers, Dan Canning, later reflected on what it was like at Chapel Fields: "Anybody who fought for Ma had to be as tough as boot leather, and love a good punch-up." Most of the boxers came from local clubs, but at times fighters were brought over from other parts of the UK. Ma was an imposing figure, who carried a stick and took no nonsense from any of the men, but she was also known to slip a little cash to young boxers down on their luck. Some of Ireland's best boxers, including Rinty Monaghan, who would go on to become world flyweight champion, fought on her shows early in their careers. There were also a vast array of colourful characters among the featured fighters, many with memorable nicknames such as Machine-Gun Mackenzie, Buckets McGahey and The Birdman Cecil Creighton (who ran a pet shop). McGahey was involved in a particularly memorable bill, later when the shows moved to the Ulster Hall, in which he won and lost separate fights to the same opponent on the same night. He was fighting Dan Canning, a Londonderry docker, who floored him in the second round, with McGahey failing to beat the count. But he got the chance to exact revenge when someone on the bill didn't show up and he knocked Canning out in the third round. By the late 1930s, the boxing arena had been developed into a wooden structure - in 1938, Ma Copley was visited by a boxing official who deemed the facility a fire hazard. The police came and said she would have to close it down. The final show at Chapel Fields was in September 1938. She then rented the Ulster Hall, putting on many fights there. But when the Belfast Corporation proposed a hefty rent increase, she decided it was time to retire. In 1942, an event was held at the Ulster Hall to honour her, the person "who for years had had the distinction of being Britain's only woman British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) licensed promoter". A silver fruit bowl was presented to her with the inscription: "By the Patrons of the Ulster Hall as a token of appreciation of services rendered to the sport of boxing." When Ma stopped living in her caravan she moved to a house in Donegall Pass, where she lived until her death in 1949. In 2012 a blue plaque honouring her was unveiled there by the Ulster History Circle. While Ma Copley's name will forever be attached to Belfast's rich boxing heritage, for Doreen Devenney it is happy times spent with her grandmother that she remembers the most. "When she retired from the boxing I used to visit her on Saturday evenings and play cards with her - we would play for pennies. Then I would make her and my grandfather their supper. She was great fun." Discover more local historical figures in the BBC Bitesize series: History Makers.

['Belfast']

[{"entity": "Belfast", "label": "LOC"}]

Belfast

["Belfast"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-35359187

Bereaved South Yorkshire mother calls for legal changes

A mother whose two sons were killed by their estranged father is calling for a change in the way courts deal with child access cases.

Jack and Paul Sykes, aged 12 and nine, died when their father Darren, 44, set fire to his house in Penistone on 22 October 2014. Mr Sykes also died in the blaze. He had recently divorced the boy's mother Claire Throssell, who claimed he was granted access visits by a court against her children's wishes. Ms Throssell is backing the "Child First" campaign by charity Women's Aid which calls on the "family courts and the government to put the safety of children back at the heart of all decisions made by the family court judiciary". In a report, the organisation claimed that "unsafe child contact arrangements" had led to the killing of 19 children by their fathers between 2005 and 2015. At an inquest into Jack and Paul's deaths the coroner found they had been unlawfully killed by their father after he lured them to the house with a new train set. A report published by Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board in September said the boys told social workers they were scared of their father, with Paul describing him as "pure nasty". Ms Throssell said she found the legal process a "traumatic and at times frightening experience". "The tragic consequences happened whilst still under the jurisdiction of family law," she said. "I don't want this to happen to anybody else, or any other parent to feel the pain of holding their children in their arms and comfort them as they die." The president of the Family Division Sir James Munby, said: " I will consider the report with the care it deserves and identify the lessons that the judiciary can learn from it. "I believe that other agencies in the family justice system may also benefit from the report and I look forward to discussing its conclusions with them and to taking joint action to address the findings of the report."

['Domestic abuse', 'Ministry of Justice', 'Penistone']

[{"entity": "child access", "label": "DIS"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Domestic abuse", "Ministry of Justice", "Penistone"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38067813

Trump calls son of ambushed San Antonio officer

US President-elect Donald Trump has spoken on the phone with the son of a Texas detective who was murdered on Sunday, his spokeswoman tells the BBC.

Otis Tyrone McKane was arrested for shooting San Antonio Detective Benjamin Marconi, who was writing a traffic ticket when he was shot in the head. The suspect told reporters he was upset about a child-custody battle and apologised to the officer's family. The shooting was one of four against US police in a 24-hour period. Detective Marconi's son, Dane, posted on Facebook: "Just got off the phone with the future president Trump, he sends his condolences to our family." The post went viral after a screenshot of it was reposted by a woman whose Facebook page identifies her as a crime scene investigator for San Antonio Police. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks did not respond to a request for more details. Mr Trump ran for office as a law-and-order candidate, frequently criticising his opponent Hillary Clinton for contributing to a "war on police". He received the endorsement of the National Fraternal Order of Police, the largest police union in the US. Det Marconi, 50, was shot at around noon on Sunday after pulling over a motorist. The 20-year police veteran had returned to his patrol car to write a ticket when the assailant approached on the driver's side and shot him twice in the head. The 31-year-old suspect, Mr McKane, was arrested at 16:30 local time on Monday while riding with a woman and two-year-old child in the car. He told reporters at Bexar County Jail late on Monday night: "I lashed out at somebody who didn't deserve it." "I've been through several custody battles, and I was upset at the situation I was in," he said as he was led away by officers. "I'd still like to see my son," he added. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said after the arrest was made earlier in the day by Swat officers that "the uniform was the target" in the shooting of Det Marconi. Four hours before the attack, Mr McKane visited a police station to ask a clerk a question, but left before receiving a response. Chief McManus said after the arrest that this is "the person we believe is responsible for the cold and calculated murder of Detective Marconi". San Antonio police drew a connection with July's shooting of officers in Dallas, Texas, pointing out that targeted attacks against police were on the rise. Five officers were shot and killed during a Black Lives Matter protest in that incident, which was the deadliest day for US officers since the 9/11 attacks. So far this year 60 US law enforcement officers have been fatally shot, compared to 41 in 2015, according to data compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Twenty were purposefully targeted, compared with only eight last year.

['Policing', 'Texas']

[{"entity": "Donald Trump", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Texas", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "BBC", "label": "ORG"}]

Texas

["Policing", "Texas"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51427718

The Razzies: Cats and Rambo sequel among worst film nominees

It may just a day until the Oscars, but nominees for a rather different award have been announced: the Razzies.

The Golden Raspberry Awards celebrate the worst films in Hollywood, and Cats is among this year's nominations. The musical is up for eight awards, with nominations for its four stars, including Dame Judi Dench and James Corden. The latest film in the Rambo franchise and comedy A Madea Family Funeral also received eight nominations each. All three films are up for worst film. The Razzies describe themselves as "Tinseltown's least coveted $4.97 statuette" and are voted for by more than 1,000 Golden Raspberry Foundation members based in the US and abroad. The star-studded Cats, which is based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical, was lambasted by the Razzies as a "widely derided feline flop". Rambo: Last Blood fared no better, with Sylvester Stallone's fifth film in the series up for worst sequel. Meanwhile, actor and comedian Tyler Perry received worst actor nominations for three of the four characters he played in A Madea Family Funeral. Even Oscar nominees have not been spared. Joker, which is up for 11 Academy Awards on Sunday night, was one of five films nominated for a new category in the Razzies - the worst reckless disregard for human life and public property.

['The Oscars', 'Film']

[{"entity": "Razzies", "label": "ORG"}]

Razzies

["The Oscars", "Film"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36268324

Banks close more than 600 branches over the past year

More than 600 bank branches have closed across Britain over the past year, with rural areas worst affected, according to figures obtained by the BBC.

Parts of Wales, Scotland and south west England lost the most per population between April 2015 and April 2016. Five of the top 10 areas losing banks are in Wales: Powys, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Conwy, and Carmarthenshire. The banks said that demand for branches was falling, as more people switch to banking online. The data - obtained by BBC Breakfast - came from the big six High Street banks: Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), HSBC, Santander, Barclays and the Co-operative. Parts of Wales, Scotland and south west England lost the most per population between April 2015 and April 2016. Five of the top 10 areas losing banks are in Wales: Powys, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Conwy, and Carmarthenshire. The banks said that demand for branches was falling, as more people switch to banking online. The data - obtained by BBC Breakfast - came from the big six High Street banks: Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), HSBC, Santander, Barclays and the Co-operative. Over the last year, RBS closed the most branches - 166 - followed by HSBC with 146 (see chart below). In total, about 3,000 branches have shut over the last decade, according to the Campaign for Community Banking Services, leaving around 8,000 now. Aside from rural areas, many closures occurred in commuter towns, where customers are more likely to do branch banking near their place of work, or use telephone or online banking. The seaside town of Birchington-on-sea in Kent has lost three banks in the last year, with the last branch due to close next month. David Hart, who runs a pet shop in the town, now has to travel to do his banking. "I have to spend half an hour - maybe 45 minutes, even an hour sometimes, just driving to the nearest bank to get my coinage." "We never take the decision to close branches lightly," a spokesperson for HSBC said. "The way we bank is changing very quickly, and with an increase in the use of online and telephone banking over the past few years, use of branches has fallen significantly." The figures do not include new openings. However, Metro Bank is the only lender to open a significant number of branches. It has opened 41 in the last six years, with a further 59 expected by 2020. Over the last year, RBS closed the most branches - 166 - followed by HSBC with 146 (see chart below). In total, about 3,000 branches have shut over the last decade, according to the Campaign for Community Banking Services, leaving around 8,000 now. Aside from rural areas, many closures occurred in commuter towns, where customers are more likely to do branch banking near their place of work, or use telephone or online banking. The seaside town of Birchington-on-sea in Kent has lost three banks in the last year, with the last branch due to close next month. David Hart, who runs a pet shop in the town, now has to travel to do his banking. "I have to spend half an hour - maybe 45 minutes, even an hour sometimes, just driving to the nearest bank to get my coinage." "We never take the decision to close branches lightly," a spokesperson for HSBC said. "The way we bank is changing very quickly, and with an increase in the use of online and telephone banking over the past few years, use of branches has fallen significantly." The figures do not include new openings. However, Metro Bank is the only lender to open a significant number of branches. It has opened 41 in the last six years, with a further 59 expected by 2020. Figures from RBS show that over-the-counter transactions have fallen 43% since 2010. At the same time, online and mobile banking have increased four-fold. "We review our branch network regularly to make sure the services we provide are appropriate for each local community, based on our customers' usage and other ways to bank in the local area," an RBS spokesperson said. "Where we do have to make the difficult decision to close a branch, we will always tell our staff and customers first." The British Bankers' Association - which represents all the major High Street names - said transactions in branches were down 6% over the last year. On the other hand, there were about 9.6 million daily log-ins to online banking. Figures from RBS show that over-the-counter transactions have fallen 43% since 2010. At the same time, online and mobile banking have increased four-fold. "We review our branch network regularly to make sure the services we provide are appropriate for each local community, based on our customers' usage and other ways to bank in the local area," an RBS spokesperson said. "Where we do have to make the difficult decision to close a branch, we will always tell our staff and customers first." The British Bankers' Association - which represents all the major High Street names - said transactions in branches were down 6% over the last year. On the other hand, there were about 9.6 million daily log-ins to online banking. Campaigners argue that losing a bank branch can be debilitating for communities. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) wants greater consideration to be taken whenever a branch is closed. "In the unfortunate event that a closure takes place, customers must be redirected to appropriate banking services," said the FSB's chairman Mike Cherry. Under the current rules, banks considering closures already have to investigate alternative arrangements, as part of a 12-week consultation process. But those rules are to be reviewed by Prof Russel Griggs. He is expected to publish recommendations by the end of this year. The charity Age UK said that closures could affect older customers more severely. Such customers are more likely to be using traditional over-the-counter banking. Thousands of people in rural areas do not have internet access anyway. Basic banking is available at 11,500 branches of the Post Office, which offers a bigger network than all the High Street banks put together. Maps and data analysis by Ed Lowther. Campaigners argue that losing a bank branch can be debilitating for communities. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) wants greater consideration to be taken whenever a branch is closed. "In the unfortunate event that a closure takes place, customers must be redirected to appropriate banking services," said the FSB's chairman Mike Cherry. Under the current rules, banks considering closures already have to investigate alternative arrangements, as part of a 12-week consultation process. But those rules are to be reviewed by Prof Russel Griggs. He is expected to publish recommendations by the end of this year. The charity Age UK said that closures could affect older customers more severely. Such customers are more likely to be using traditional over-the-counter banking. Thousands of people in rural areas do not have internet access anyway. Basic banking is available at 11,500 branches of the Post Office, which offers a bigger network than all the High Street banks put together. Maps and data analysis by Ed Lowther.

['Personal finance', 'Banking']

[{"entity": "Britain", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "BBC", "label": "ORG"}]

BBC

["Personal finance", "Banking"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28374787

Analysis: Assisted dying debate

There is a profound gulf between those who see assisted dying as a fundamental human right for the terminally ill and those who fear that right could easily turn into a duty for the disabled and vulnerable.

It was the case of the late Tony Nicklinson, who had locked-in syndrome and wanted doctors to help him die, which proved a powerful talisman for the pro-lobby. The Supreme Court rejected that argument last month, but invited Parliament to reconsider the law on assisted suicide as it could be incompatible with human rights legislation. It is ironic that Mr Nicklinson would not have been eligible for help under the Assisted Dying Bill as he was not terminally ill and lacked the ability to self-administer a lethal dose. It was the case of the late Tony Nicklinson, who had locked-in syndrome and wanted doctors to help him die, which proved a powerful talisman for the pro-lobby. The Supreme Court rejected that argument last month, but invited Parliament to reconsider the law on assisted suicide as it could be incompatible with human rights legislation. It is ironic that Mr Nicklinson would not have been eligible for help under the Assisted Dying Bill as he was not terminally ill and lacked the ability to self-administer a lethal dose. The assisted dying bill would allow adults of sound mind, with six months to live, the right to end their life at a time of their choosing. It would be a profound step for society, modelled on the law in Oregon in the US. If experience there is a guide it may lead to around 1,000 people a year in England and Wales choosing an assisted death. Supporters believe opinion has shifted decisively in their favour since the Lords last rejected the measure eight years ago. However, there seems no realistic possibility that the Bill will become law without government support and Parliamentary time. But this issue - arguably one of the most significant facing society - will keep re-emerging and those of both sides of the divide will have their arguments ready. The assisted dying bill would allow adults of sound mind, with six months to live, the right to end their life at a time of their choosing. It would be a profound step for society, modelled on the law in Oregon in the US. If experience there is a guide it may lead to around 1,000 people a year in England and Wales choosing an assisted death. Supporters believe opinion has shifted decisively in their favour since the Lords last rejected the measure eight years ago. However, there seems no realistic possibility that the Bill will become law without government support and Parliamentary time. But this issue - arguably one of the most significant facing society - will keep re-emerging and those of both sides of the divide will have their arguments ready.

['Euthanasia and assisted dying']

[{"entity": "terminally ill", "label": "DIS"}]

terminally ill

["Euthanasia and assisted dying"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-53013441

Coronavirus: Sevenoaks family faces birth registration delay

A family of a baby boy who want to take him to meet his elderly grandparents in Canada cannot travel because birth registrations remain suspended in England because of Covid-19.

Catherine Wong needs to register the birth of Oliver, who was born on 14 March, so he can get a passport. "There will be an unmanageable backlog of registrations," she said. Her authority, Kent County Council (KCC), hopes to restart registrations "in less than two weeks time". Registering a birth has been suspended since the coronavirus lockdown restrictions were announced on 23 March. Mrs Wong, whose husband Vincent is Canadian, had an appointment to register her son's birth at Sevenoaks library on 24 March. But she was informed it could not go ahead, and she should check back three weeks later. "Naturally, we were understanding at the time... [but] there has been no change," she said. "Now, three months later, this is unacceptable. "So many other businesses have adapted to the changing environment... there are ways around it that don't necessitate in person registrations." Mrs Wong added the family wanted to fly to Canada as soon as travel restrictions were lifted. In a statement, KCC said: "Kent has more locations for registrations than most other authorities, and because we need them all to be open and operating from the same date, it is taking a while to make all locations safe for visitors, including the installation of purpose-built screens. "It is possible in an emergency, such as the need for a passport for urgent foreign travel, to register a birth face to face. "However, as foreign travel to anywhere outside the UK is difficult if not impossible at the moment, we expect our birth registrations service to be up and running again before those travel restrictions are lifted." Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.

['Kent County Council', 'Coronavirus lockdown measures', 'Sevenoaks', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[{"entity": "Canada", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "England", "label": "LOC"}]

Canada

["Kent County Council", "Coronavirus lockdown measures", "Sevenoaks", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-44309607

The other times Drake has had beef with rappers

From back and forth Twitter feuds, alleged fights in nightclubs to an extensive list of diss tracks, Drake is no stranger to rap beef.

The Canadian has once again found himself caught up in a spat, this time with 41-year-old rapper Pusha-T. Drake recently released a diss track called Duppy Freestyle, to which Pusha T responded days later with The Story of Adidon. Here are some other Drake rap feuds you may have forgotten about. The Canadian has once again found himself caught up in a spat, this time with 41-year-old rapper Pusha-T. Drake recently released a diss track called Duppy Freestyle, to which Pusha T responded days later with The Story of Adidon. Here are some other Drake rap feuds you may have forgotten about. Drake was romantically linked to Chris Brown's ex-girlfriend Rihanna after the two artists released Take Care together. So when the two rappers ended up in the same New York club later that year it didn't end well. The story goes that Drake sent Chris Brown a note and a fight broke out. That was never confirmed but in April 2013, in an interview with East Village Radio, the Canadian rapper said about Chris Brown: "His insecurities are the fact that I make better music than him, that I'm more popping than him. "And that at one point in life the woman that he loves fell into my lap." Drake was romantically linked to Chris Brown's ex-girlfriend Rihanna after the two artists released Take Care together. So when the two rappers ended up in the same New York club later that year it didn't end well. The story goes that Drake sent Chris Brown a note and a fight broke out. That was never confirmed but in April 2013, in an interview with East Village Radio, the Canadian rapper said about Chris Brown: "His insecurities are the fact that I make better music than him, that I'm more popping than him. "And that at one point in life the woman that he loves fell into my lap." In late 2012, Common released his ninth studio album entitled The Dreamer/The Believer. The album featured 12 songs but it was one track in particular that gained the attention of Drake fans. The fourth song - Sweet - was criticised for taking subliminal shots at the Canadian, indirectly calling him soft. During a live show in Las Vegas, Drake responded: "If Common got something to say, say it to my face." After he confirmed the song was about Drake in a radio interview, Drake took the opportunity to respond on the track Stay Schemin. But rapper Common wasted no time levelling the playing field. He remixed the track Stay Schemin, calling Drake out by name. In late 2012, Common released his ninth studio album entitled The Dreamer/The Believer. The album featured 12 songs but it was one track in particular that gained the attention of Drake fans. The fourth song - Sweet - was criticised for taking subliminal shots at the Canadian, indirectly calling him soft. During a live show in Las Vegas, Drake responded: "If Common got something to say, say it to my face." After he confirmed the song was about Drake in a radio interview, Drake took the opportunity to respond on the track Stay Schemin. But rapper Common wasted no time levelling the playing field. He remixed the track Stay Schemin, calling Drake out by name. Drake and Tyga were once both under the music label YMCMB. Back in 2009 the pair featured on YMCMB's song Bedrock together and a few years later in 2013, Drake's song The Motto. But all was not as it seemed. In an exclusive interview with Vibe magazine, Tyga said his relationship with Drake was forced. "I don't like Drake as a person. He's just fake to me. "We were forced together and it was kinda' like we were forcing relationships together." Drake responded by liking Tyga's ex-girlfriend Blac Chyna's Instagram photos. Compton born rapper Tyga went on to release Make It Work afterwards, which many say was aimed at Drake. Drake and Tyga were once both under the music label YMCMB. Back in 2009 the pair featured on YMCMB's song Bedrock together and a few years later in 2013, Drake's song The Motto. But all was not as it seemed. In an exclusive interview with Vibe magazine, Tyga said his relationship with Drake was forced. "I don't like Drake as a person. He's just fake to me. "We were forced together and it was kinda' like we were forcing relationships together." Drake responded by liking Tyga's ex-girlfriend Blac Chyna's Instagram photos. Compton born rapper Tyga went on to release Make It Work afterwards, which many say was aimed at Drake. "Stop comparing Drake to me too... He don't write his own raps!" It all started with a tweet in which Meek Mill claimed Drake had used a ghost writer called Quentin Miller on his album. Funkmaster Flex, an American hip-hop DJ supported Meek Mill's claims by releasing audio of Quentin Miller performing soon-to-be Drake songs. Drake released Charged Up, a song in response. Then four days later came another diss track aimed at Meek Mill, about his relationship with Nicki Minaj and who was in control. "Is that a world tour or your girl's tour?" The next day, Meek Mill released his response, Wanna Know, revealing another ghost written track by Quentin Miller. In fact, Drake has had that many run-ins with other rappers, that many often forget who the Canadian rapper has had a spat with in the past. Joe Budden, P. Diddy, Kanye West, Kid Cudi and Ludacris are just a few other artists who Drake has had differences with. Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. "Stop comparing Drake to me too... He don't write his own raps!" It all started with a tweet in which Meek Mill claimed Drake had used a ghost writer called Quentin Miller on his album. Funkmaster Flex, an American hip-hop DJ supported Meek Mill's claims by releasing audio of Quentin Miller performing soon-to-be Drake songs. Drake released Charged Up, a song in response. Then four days later came another diss track aimed at Meek Mill, about his relationship with Nicki Minaj and who was in control. "Is that a world tour or your girl's tour?" The next day, Meek Mill released his response, Wanna Know, revealing another ghost written track by Quentin Miller. In fact, Drake has had that many run-ins with other rappers, that many often forget who the Canadian rapper has had a spat with in the past. Joe Budden, P. Diddy, Kanye West, Kid Cudi and Ludacris are just a few other artists who Drake has had differences with. Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here.

['Drake', 'Kanye West', 'Chris Brown', 'Celebrity']

[{"entity": "Drake", "label": "PER"}]

Drake

["Drake", "Kanye West", "Chris Brown", "Celebrity"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37720930

Shamed again in the age of Facebook

In 2001, the brutal gang rape of a 13-year-old girl made headlines in Bangladesh. But up until this year Purnima Shil was still being abused and shamed on social media, writes Shahnaz Parveen.

"Two hundred yards from our home was a cremation ground. That's where they raped me. "I could see their faces lit up by their own torch lights." Purnima Shil was gang-raped in the village of Ullapara in northern Bangladesh. Twenty-five men were accused of the attack and 11 were later convicted. "They were scratching me, tearing off my clothes, making dirty jokes," she says. "At some point I lost consciousness." When Purnima came round and stumbled home hours later, she found the house full of police. "There was so much light, so many people in the house, and a truck full of police. They kept asking me, 'Did they rape you?' But I did not even know what rape was." The brutality of the attack made front-page headlines in Bangladesh and was picked up by the international media. But what has never been reported is that, 15 years later, Purnima still faces abuse online because of the stigma that clings to rape survivors in parts of Bangladesh. This is one of a series of stories looking at a new and disturbing phenomenon - the use of private or sexually explicit images to threaten, blackmail and shame young people, mainly girls and women, in some of the world's most conservative societies. Explore all the stories and join the conversation here. "In 2013, I discovered a Facebook page using my name and photo," she says. "It had my office address and even my phone number. It was posting dirty words and dirty photos of women. There were posts that said, 'I am available for hire.'" At the time Purnima was working at a local TV station, where many of her friends and colleagues accepted friend requests from the Facebook account, thinking it was genuine. "They asked, 'Why are you posting these dirty pictures? Is this how you earn your living?' One friend even asked me how much I charge." Ostracised by some of her colleagues, the object of malicious gossip and derision, Purnima left her job. She never found out who was behind the Facebook page, which was finally taken down earlier this year after Purnima filed repeated complaints, with the help of a friend. The online abuse was, for Purnima, just a new expression of a hostility she has faced her entire life - a hostility rooted in the belief that survivors of sexual assault are somehow sullied or worthless. "All through school, college, and university, I've had to face this," she says. "I couldn't walk in the street. People would point at me and say, 'That's the girl!' "Some even grabbed hold of my hair and hit me. They used to say, 'She's been sullied, don't speak to her.' They used to call me 'the girl who was raped'." Purnima now works as a private music teacher and finds solace in singing classical Bangla songs and playing the harmonium. "When I feel weak, I lock myself in the room and sing," she says. But she knows that, although the Facebook page has gone, the stigma will never entirely leave her. "When I went back once to look at that page, one colleague had posted: 'Purnima, don't you have any shame?' "But they are shaming me for something I did not do. This is not my shame. It's the shame of Bangladeshi society." Read more: The head-on collision between smartphones, social media and age-old notions of honour and shame

['Sexual violence', 'Bangladesh']

[{"entity": "Bangladesh", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Purnima Shil", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Shahnaz Parveen", "label": "PER"}]

Bangladesh ||| Purnima Shil

["Sexual violence", "Bangladesh"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-43316047

Colombia's Farc: Choosing the ballot box over violence

In the Colombian town of Fusagasugá, about two hours from the capital, Bogotá, Senate hopeful Julián Gallo Cubillos is on stage for the close of his campaign.

It is pouring down with rain but for a man used to living in the jungle, it is hardly a problem. Better known by his nom de guerre, Carlos Antonio Lozada, he fought for three decades with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the left-wing rebel group better known as Farc. Watch and read more: He is telling the 400 people who have turned up in the town square why they should vote for him in Sunday's legislative elections. "For 53 years we've been fighting for changes in this country," he says. "We weren't allowed to be a part of the political system so we had no choice but to take up arms. With the peace agreement, we left that behind." This is certainly a scene that few people would have imagined unfolding here until recently. A fighter-turned-aspiring-congressman has armed guards standing by and mounted police are protecting him like any other politician. It is a measure of how much Colombia has changed. The Farc started life in the 1960s as a Marxist-inspired rebel group demanding land reform. The guerrillas soon became a key player in a conflict involving the government, right-wing paramilitaries and other armed groups, which left an estimated 220,000 dead and millions displaced over five decades. The turning point was the peace agreement signed between the government of President Juan Manuel Santos and the Farc in 2016. As part of the deal, the Farc were given 10 seats in Congress up until 2026, regardless of how many votes they received. After the Farc rebels disarmed last year, the group announced its new party. It kept the acronym Farc but changed what the letters stand for to the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force. "We had to maintain our name because it's linked to our history of struggle and resistance," explains Mr Lozada. "It wouldn't have been ethical to hide behind any other acronym." But the new political party is having trouble convincing the general public of its new role. "How are we going to pardon a group who has spilt so much blood and is now expecting us to put them in power?" asked Alejandro Castañeda, who was walking through Bogotá's main square, Plaza Bolívar. Colombians are not against the idea of peace but they are divided about how to go about it. And for many, it is hard to forget the crimes the Farc committed during more than five decades of armed conflict. One of the biggest criticisms of the deal was allowing Farc members to run for office without having to serve prison time first. "They get seats with no votes and they aren't facing justice,' says 24-year-old Nicolás Ordoñez Ruiz, who is part of Colombia's main opposition party, Democratic Centre. "It's an irresponsible message. It will create more violence in the future." That, says conflict expert Jorge Restrepo, will be reflected on voting day. "People won't want to vote for them because they were not punished," he says. "That lack of justice, that need for revengeful justice, has not been satisfied in Colombia." Former Farc combatant Byron Yepes is talking to residents in the Ciudad Bolívar slum on the outskirts of Bogotá. Mr Yepes takes the megaphone and starts talking. It feels a little overdone. There are no more than 30 people listening. "A political class has governed the country for more than 200 years," he says. "The role of the peace accord was to change that," he says, adding that everyone here is a victim of the long war. The Farc's political skills need fine-tuning. That will take time. "Most of the candidates are part of the traditional hierarchy of the Farc," says Mr Restrepo, adding that in the future, political activists who support the Farc but who are not seen as having blood on their hands will start to emerge. "We will need a couple of generations for the Farc to make that change. They are there for the long term." On the other side of Bogotá, Javier Gutiérrez is waiting for a taxi to pick him up and take him to the doctors. He is getting a new prosthetic leg fitted. In 2003, he lost his leg in the bombing of El Nogal social club in Bogotá. The attack, which the Farc has been blamed for, killed 36 and injured many more. Watch: Farc rebels come face to face with victims Mr Gutiérrez worked there as a chef. The force of the explosion threw him against a deep-fat fryer. He has had several operations on his other leg and struggles to walk. He says he is apolitical but fails to understand how the country can move from more than 50 years of war to open politics just by signing a peace deal. It is a subject he clearly finds very difficult to talk about but sums it all up by referencing a song by Colombian pop singer Shakira: Blind, Deaf and Dumb. "Most of us behave like that with what's going on, especially the youth," he says. "But how can I forget what's happened when I have half a leg?"

['Farc', 'Bogota', 'Colombia']

[{"entity": "Fusagasug\u00e1", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Bogot\u00e1", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Juli\u00e1n Gallo Cubillos", "label": "PER"}]

Bogotá

["Farc", "Bogota", "Colombia"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-33751731

Ancient hillfort to be excavated in Lochaber

Archaeologists are preparing for the first ever excavation of an ancient hillfort in Lochaber.

Dun Deardail was constructed on a prominent knoll on Sgorr Chalum, a hill overlooking the River Nevis in Glen Nevis. AOC Archaeology, which will lead volunteers in the dig, has described the site as "enigmatic". Little is known about the origins of the fort, who built it or when it was constructed. The first phase in a three-year project will examine the defences. They were vitrified, meaning stone and wood in the defensive walls were burned at a high temperature for a long time to fuse the stone together. Examples of vitrified forts can be found across Scotland, including in Aberdeenshire. The Lochaber site has never before been excavated or dated with any accuracy. Forestry Commission Scotland, which is supporting the project, said it may have been constructed in the first millennium BC or first millennium AD. The commission said the fort's name may suggest a link with an ancient Irish myth called Deirdre of the Sorrows. The legend tells of a chieftain's daughter who was said to be so beautiful that kings, lords and warriors fought and died to try to win her hand in marriage. Martin Cook, of AOC, said: "We are really looking forward to getting started at Dun Deardail. "This promises to be a really exciting excavation, yielding the first evidence to confirm the date and nature of this enigmatic hillfort." The first phase of the excavation will take place from 14 to 28 August. Further digs are planned for 2016 and 2017.

['Archaeology']

[{"entity": "Lochaber", "label": "LOC"}]

Lochaber

["Archaeology"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48348651

Austrian far-right FPÖ quits Kurz government after sacking

Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has pulled out of the ruling coalition days after two top party figures were caught up in a secret video.

President Alexander Van der Bellen fired FPÖ Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, prompting the party's other ministers to resign in solidarity. In the video, far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache appears to offer government contracts to a woman in exchange for electoral support. He has stood down as vice-chancellor. The interior minister was not in the footage, but on Tuesday, President Van der Bellen fired him at the request of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Mr Kurz is now attempting to replace all five ministers with technocrats - who he says will be experts in their field - to form an interim government. The only exception is Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, an independent picked by the FPÖ, who said she would remain in her post. Mr Kurz, meanwhile, faces the prospect of a no-confidence vote on Monday amid the political chaos. A special session of the Austrian parliament has been tabled for 27 May. The fallout has spread beyond the FPÖ to Chancellor Kurz, who is the leader of the centre-right People's Party in the coalition government. Mr Kurz effectively ended the coalition by calling for fresh elections in September and announcing the dismissal of Interior Minister Kickl - who was FPÖ secretary general at the time the video was made in 2017. Mr Kurz said he wanted "total transparency and a completely and unbiased investigation". Other FPÖ ministers, however, said on Monday they would stand by Mr Kickl and resign in solidarity. Mr Kurz has said a caretaker government would continue in power until September vote, but his ruling party has only 62 seats in the 183-seat parliament. The no-confidence motion, presented by Peter Pilz of the Jetzt party, called for a technocratic government to replace him until elections. Mr Kurz had been part of two failed governments, he said. "Increasingly we get the impression that this failure is no accident.... With him apparently it's about increasing his own power." "In the current situation, stability can only be achieved with an independent group of experts, not by a campaigning cabinet led by Kurz." It is unclear which parties will back the motion. On Tuesday morning, Mr Kickl said his party would vote against the chancellor if a no-confidence vote was brought forward. But a Freedom Party spokesman told the Austrian Press Association that Mr Kickl's comments had been misinterpreted, and no decision had yet been taken. The scandal is widely being labelled "Ibiza-gate", after the Spanish island where the video was recorded. It was made just weeks before the election which saw both the FPÖ and Chancellor Kurz's People Party perform well. In the footage, released last Friday by German media, Mr Strache can be seen relaxing and drinking for hours at a villa with FPÖ parliament group leader Johann Gudenus, while they meet with a woman, considered an investor purported to be the niece of a Russian oligarch. During the conversation, Mr Strache appears to propose offering her public contracts if she buys a large stake in the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung – and makes it support the Freedom Party. He is heard suggesting that a number of journalists would have to be "pushed" from the newspaper, and that he wants to "build a media landscape like [Viktor] Orban" – referring to Hungary's nationalist leader. Many questions remain unanswered about the video itself: it is not clear who recorded or how it was offered to German media outlets. The timing of its release - a week before European Parliament elections across the EU - has also been called into question. The Vienna prosecutor is considering a possible criminal inquiry. The video's content was enough to force the resignation of Mr Strache on Saturday, within hours of it emerging and despite his protestations of innocence. Chancellor Kurz said his party was "shocked", labelling Mr Strache's behaviour "a wrong approach to politics". He also called for a criminal investigation. And he revealed the long-standing friction between the coalition parties, saying: "Even if I didn't express myself publicly at the time, there were many situations that I found difficult to swallow." "I must say quite honestly: Enough is enough," he added. Mr Kurz and President Alexander van der Bellen called for fresh elections over the scandal on Sunday. A European Commission spokesman said members had "followed in disbelief as a leader of a political party was seen negotiating access to media and institutions, in exchange for funds from external benefactors who clearly do not have Europeans' best interests at heart". A flurry of meetings and press conferences on Monday revealed little more, but it soon became clear that the FPÖ was standing by the interior minister. When he was dismissed on Tuesday by the president, the party's other ministers followed immediately. Austrians, in common with all other EU countries, are voting this week. Many who are voting by post have already cast their ballots, Austrian broadcaster ORF reports - and they cannot change their mind at this stage. Meetings of senior officials continue, and it is possible the president may announce replacements for the FPÖ ministers, as the chancellor attempts to hold his government together.

['Austria', 'Sebastian Kurz', 'Austria video scandal']

[{"entity": "Freedom Party", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "FP\u00d6", "label": "ORG"}]

Freedom Party ||| FPÖ

["Austria", "Sebastian Kurz", "Austria video scandal"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45636861

Thailand: UK millionaire and wife found murdered

The bodies of a UK millionaire and his Thai wife have been found in northern Thailand nearly a week after what police suspect was a contract killing.

The bodies of Alan Hogg, 64, and Nod Suddaen, 64, were discovered buried on their property in Phrae province. Police say Mr Hogg, who was from Edinburgh, was shot dead, while his wife was killed with a hammer. Three suspects have been held. They are alleged to have been hired to carry out the attack by Nod Suddaen's brother. He has now been arrested. "The motive for the killings was a long-running internal family conflict, feuds and property," local police commander Manas Kerdsukho told the AFP news agency. The couple were reported missing last week. The three alleged killers were arrested after police tracked down a pick-up truck said to have been taken from Mr Hogg's property. They later admitted killing Mr Hogg and his wife, police say. The British embassy in Thailand has so far made no public comment on the issue. Mr Hogg moved to Thailand several years ago and had built a luxury villa in Phrae which included a swimming pool and a summer house, reports say.

['Edinburgh', 'Thailand']

[{"entity": "UK", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Thailand", "label": "LOC"}]

Thailand

["Edinburgh", "Thailand"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56033300

Sinn Féin criticises NI Electoral Office review plan

Sinn Féin has criticised plans by the Electoral Office to carry out a review of Northern Ireland's electoral register this summer.

The canvassing of households is legally required to update voter details, but was delayed last year due to the pandemic. People who do not return their form on time will be removed from the register. The Electoral Office said the process was needed to ensure "accuracy and completeness" of the register. The last canvass took place in Northern Ireland in 2013. More than 60,000 voters were removed from the register ahead of the most recent assembly election in 2017. That figure included some voters who had been allowed a two-year rollover on the register following the 2013 canvass, but were no longer deemed eligible. On Thursday, Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey expressed concerns about the plans following a meeting with NI's chief electoral officer Virginia McVea. He described the review as "unacceptable" while Northern Ireland was still dealing with the pandemic and urged the Electoral Office to reconsider the plans. The canvass is legally required by the UK government, but Mr Maskey described it as "organised voter suppression" by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). A spokesperson for the government dismissed the suggestion as untrue. "Canvass is not about removing people from the register, but ensuring the register is as accurate as possible," they added. "Registering to vote is fundamental to the democratic process and people cannot remain on the NI register indefinitely without periodically refreshing their registration." Mr Maskey said his party would be challenging the issue to "protect the voting rights of all citizens". "What the Electoral Office needs to do is implement new ways to make voting easier for people in an election in a pandemic situation," he said. But Ms McVea told BBC News NI that the Electoral Office was preparing to perform its statutory duty. The canvass will open at the start of July and people will be able to register until the start of December, she said. "As explained in detail to Sinn Féin and previously, the Electoral Office is intent upon supporting everyone in Northern Ireland who is eligible to get on the register during those five months," she added. Details will be sent to every house and registration will be available online or by paper. All households are also expected to receive reminders encouraging them to register to vote. The next assembly election in Northern Ireland is scheduled for May 2022. Unlike in Great Britain, Northern Ireland does not have an annual canvass process and Westminster sources said 2021 must be a canvass year.

['Sinn Féin']

[{"entity": "Sinn F\u00e9in", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Electoral Office", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Northern Ireland", "label": "LOC"}]

Sinn Féin ||| Electoral Office ||| Northern Ireland

["Sinn F\u00e9in"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-57917116

Euro 2020 led to more young men in Essex getting Covid, says health boss

More young men have tested positive for Covid than women in Essex because of Euro 2020, according to the county's director of public health.

The average infection rate among the county's men is 550 per 100,000, compared to 420 per 100,000 in women. National data also suggests the number of men in their 20s in England testing positive for Covid-19 increased during the football tournament. Dr Mike Gogarty said coronavirus rates in Essex were doubling every 10 days. Public Health England (PHE) figures nationally show up to the week ending 11 July young men and women had been testing positive at roughly the same rates during the pandemic, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. However, in the two weeks prior to England's match against Italy in the final the figures show 55,679 men aged between 20 to 29 tested positive compared to 45,412 women. At a meeting of Essex County Council's health board, Dr Gogarty said: "Interestingly we are seeing a marked divergence in the rate between men and women - which is likely related to the impact from the Euro football tournament." He said Essex's overall rate is 490 per 100,000 people compared to a national average of 473, but the rate among 19 to 21-year-olds is 1,600 per 100,000. "The rates in the over 60s, which is the age group I'm much more concerned about, are much lower," he added. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

['Essex County Council', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[{"entity": "Essex", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Euro 2020", "label": "EVE"}]

Essex

["Essex County Council", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46999443

The battle against AI bias

For someone tasked with advancing a technology which, in the words of Google's chief executive, is "more profound than electricity and fire", Jeff Dean is a remarkably calm man.

As the head of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the tech giant, he is responsible for leading a department that is integral to the future of Google, if not the future of human activity on Earth. That such a cosmic task doesn't faze Mr Dean, who remains Zen even amid the frenzy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, is perhaps unsurprising. One of his early interventions at Google involved dealing with a threat that "almost certainly" originated from outer space. Back at the turn of the century, Google's search engine began to malfunction, and its small group of coders were mystified as to the cause. It was Mr Dean, along with his close friend Sanjay Ghemawat, who diagnosed the extraterrestrial problem. Google was running on cheap hardware, explains Dean, "sort of held together with baling wire and chewing gum", and it was therefore susceptible to "a very low probability event". "A particular ray from outer space will come in and hit one of the memory cells that stores a bit - either a zero or one - and flip it to a one or a zero, which is particularly bad if you're manipulating lots of data, because all of a sudden a few random bits in your data will be will be flipped and corrupted. "Most machines these days have hardware protection against those. But the early machines Google were using really didn't." These days, however, it's Google's cutting-edge machines that preoccupy Mr Dean's mind, and that of the firm's boldly named "Brain Team". Its mission, to "make machines intelligent and improve people's lives" could hardly be more ambitious, even if the current applications of AI at Google are somewhat more pedestrian. It is machine learning that enables Google users to retrieve their photos by searching for objects that appear in them (by typing in cake, or cat, for example), and machine learning that is behind speech recognition tools, which can turn audio from several languages into text. Google's translation tool is another of the AI team's triumphs, but also provided an early example of the way in which algorithms can "learn from the world as it is, not the world as we would like it to be". When an algorithm is fed a large collection of text, Mr Dean explains, it will teach itself to recognise words which are commonly put together. "You might learn for example, an unfortunate connotation, which is that doctor is more associated with the word 'he' than 'she', and nurse is more associated with the word 'she' than 'he'. "But you'd also learn that surgeon is associated with scalpel and that carpenter is associated with hammer. So a lot of the strength of these algorithms is that they can learn these kinds of patterns and correlations". The task, says Mr Dean, is to work out which biases you want an algorithm to to pick up on, and it is the science behind this that his team, and many in the AI field, are trying to navigate. "It's a bit hard to say are we're going to come up with a perfect version of unbiased algorithms." A surprising example of a company grappling with these issues is the professional networking site LinkedIn. When its 562 million users log in to their accounts, they are served up unique recommendations for jobs and connections - powered by AI. More importantly, recruiters who use LinkedIn are presented with a list of ideal candidates, filtered by machine learning. But the site's co-founder, Allen Blue, soon identified a problem with this process. Women weren't showing up high enough on those shortlists. "What we were able to do is say: 'All right, we're going to correct that algorithm," says Mr Blue, "so that it returns men and women in equal proportion to the people who actually match the search criteria and orders them in a way to make sure that the women are not being accidentally de-prioritised'". But fixing this problem was just the tip of the AI iceberg, he says. "We are just coming to the place where we understand how it is possible to build a machine learning algorithm with the best possible intentions, but still unintentionally introduce bias into the results," he explains. His favourite example is facial recognition. "The first versions of facial recognition trained on pictures of celebrities who are mostly white and mostly male, and that means that there is 97% accuracy on white men but three percent accuracy on African women." There can be no remedy, he argues, that does not involve increasing the diversity of those who build AI algorithms. "When we look at the people [on LinkedIn] who actually have AI skills, only 22% of them are women," says Mr Blue. What's worse, he adds, is that "the women tend to have roles which are a little bit more research oriented more teaching oriented whereas the men have tend to have roles which are more leadership oriented." "Everyone's biased, but we're not fully understanding how people work if women aren't actually there helping design." Despite these warnings, both Mr Blue and Mr Dean are brimming with enthusiasm when it comes to talking about the potential positives of AI. When it comes to the hiring process, Blue argues, computers can even teach us how to eliminate human failings. "When you go in and speak to someone face-to-face, you get a great read, or energy off them, or whatever, that is built on your very idiosyncratic… and therefore biased, views of what makes a good person to come work at a company. "Artificial intelligence can help you separate that good feeling you get from a viewpoint which eliminates that bias… that's what I mean by pure machines and people working together." For Mr Dean, it's the work Google's AI teams have been doing on humanitarian issues around the world - such as systems that can predict flooding and earthquake aftershock - that he cites as their proudest achievements. A particular focus is healthcare and biosciences, which had led to tools that can diagnose of a disease called diabetic retinopathy from a retinal image, without the need for an ophthalmologist. Its these uses of AI that Mr Dean has been extolling at the World Economic Forum, where session after session focused on data privacy and governance concerns about the technology. For Google's part, Mr Dean is confident that the company's internal principles will help protect against the potential misuse of AI, and reveals that his team have "certainly decided not to publish some kinds of work that we think are might have negative implications". But he says the way to protect against the misuse of machine learning, is to get the right kind of intelligent humans to come and work in the sector. "We need more people studying these sorts of fields and more people being excited about them," he says "because that's how we make progress and solve a lot of problems in society."

['Google', 'Artificial intelligence', 'Davos', 'LinkedIn']

[{"entity": "Google", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Jeff Dean", "label": "PER"}]

Google

["Google", "Artificial intelligence", "Davos", "LinkedIn"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-35088144

Thousand-tonne nuclear sub part driven through Barrow

An enormous, 1,000-tonne nuclear submarine part brought traffic to a standstill while it was slowly driven through a Cumbrian town.

The cylindrical unit is the heaviest ever moved by technology and defence giant BAE Systems. Road blocks were in place while the unit was taken on its 20-minute journey from a new assembly shop in Bridge Road in Barrow to Devonshire Dock Hall. The unit will form part of an Astute class nuclear-powered submarine. The first three submarines of the seven-sub programme - HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful - are already in service. Four more are in various stages of construction at Barrow - the Audacious, Anson, Agamemnon and Ajax. Last month, it was announced BAE systems had been awarded a contract for a fifth submarine, taking the total value for work on the vessel to £1.3 billion. The contract covers the design and remaining build, test and commissioning activities. Manufacturing of the vessel began in 2010. HMS Anson is on schedule to begin sea trials in 2020.

['BAE Systems', 'Barrow-in-Furness']

[{"entity": "Cumbrian", "label": "LOC"}]

NoPresentEntity

["BAE Systems", "Barrow-in-Furness"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-56427081

Covid-19 vaccine plan 'has forgotten' clinically vulnerable kids

A father whose son has serious health issues has said clinically vulnerable children are being forgotten about during the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out.

Kevin McBride, from Londonderry, said it is unclear when his four-year-old son James might be eligible for vaccination. Without it his family will not be able to return to normality, he said. Vaccines are currently offered only to very high risk children over the age of 12. Mr McBride, his wife Ann-Marie, and James' sister Anna and brother Ryan have been shielding since March last year to protect James. "If James gets infections he can get quite critical quite quickly and need intensive care," Mr McBride told BBC Radio Foyle. Since he was born, James has had open heart surgery and a kidney removed. At five-weeks-old he had to have a tracheostomy. He also has one working lung. The last year has been "difficult and challenging", Mr McBride added, and while Northern Ireland is now taking its first steps out of lockdown, little is likely to change for the McBride family. "We are now only at the stage where they are actually doing (vaccine) tests for vulnerable children and James is nowhere near getting a vaccine. It's like - how long do we continue?" Mr McBride said. "There doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel." A Department of Health spokesman said the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that there is no data to support the use of the vaccine in younger children. "(The) JCVI advise only older children (aged 12 and over) at very high risk of exposure and serious outcomes, such as older children with severe neuro-disabilities and recurrent respiratory infections that require residential care, should be offered vaccination with either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the AstraZeneca vaccine." the spokesman said. Mr McBride said vulnerable children had been forgotten about both during the pandemic and now again as the vaccines are rolled-out. "Covid-19 has been out since the winter of 2019, we are now in March 2021 and nobody has thought along this process - what is happening to the vulnerable children out there and their families? "There are other families dotted around Northern Ireland in similar situations to ourselves, it is increasingly complicated to keep surviving."

['Coronavirus vaccines', 'Londonderry-Derry', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Coronavirus vaccines", "Londonderry-Derry", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33141225

In Pictures: Rebuilding a rare Mk1 Spitfire

During World War Two, Spitfires were mass-produced in a matter of weeks. Today it can take years of research and hard work to restore one of these iconic fighter aircraft to the skies.

When Spitfire P9374 was shot down over northern France as the British Army was retreating towards Dunkirk, nobody thought that 70 years later she would be flying once again. When Spitfire P9374 was shot down over northern France as the British Army was retreating towards Dunkirk, nobody thought that 70 years later she would be flying once again.

['History', 'Aerospace', 'World War Two']

[{"entity": "World War Two", "label": "EVE"}]

NoPresentEntity

["History", "Aerospace", "World War Two"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53342271

Coronavirus: Public spending on crisis soars to £190bn

Public spending on the battle against coronavirus has risen to nearly £190bn, according to latest Treasury figures.

It comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced another £30bn of support in his summer statement on Wednesday. The extra money is worth nearly £3,000 for every person in the UK - and more than the entire planned health budget for 2020-21. But despite the soaring cost of supporting the economy, some sectors said they had been "ignored". Although Mr Sunak said his priority was getting people back to work, he acknowledged that the extra support would not be enough to save every job and prevent further economic hardship. Direct spending on the crisis, excluding the latest £30bn package, has risen to £158.7bn, Mr Sunak revealed on Wednesday. Including the new measures, it means the cost of the crisis has risen by more than 40% since last month, when the government's spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, estimated it at £133bn. This extra spending is likely to push the gap between what the government spends and what it raises in taxes - the deficit - above the OBR's latest estimate of around £300bn, according to the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank. Before the coronavirus outbreak began, the government was expecting a deficit of £55bn. It comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced another £30bn of support in his summer statement on Wednesday. The extra money is worth nearly £3,000 for every person in the UK - and more than the entire planned health budget for 2020-21. But despite the soaring cost of supporting the economy, some sectors said they had been "ignored". Although Mr Sunak said his priority was getting people back to work, he acknowledged that the extra support would not be enough to save every job and prevent further economic hardship. Direct spending on the crisis, excluding the latest £30bn package, has risen to £158.7bn, Mr Sunak revealed on Wednesday. Including the new measures, it means the cost of the crisis has risen by more than 40% since last month, when the government's spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, estimated it at £133bn. This extra spending is likely to push the gap between what the government spends and what it raises in taxes - the deficit - above the OBR's latest estimate of around £300bn, according to the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank. Before the coronavirus outbreak began, the government was expecting a deficit of £55bn. The extra public spending figure includes £15bn to buy personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks. It also includes £10bn for the testing and tracing of infected persons, taking the total extra spending on health services to £32bn. "There is a huge public services additional spending that we didn't really know about that was announced (on Wednesday). It was kind of skated over, but £15bn for PPE for frontline workers is an enormous sum," Paul Johnson, director of the IFS, told the BBC. He said the chancellor's strategy was to spend money now, to minimise long-term damage to the economy, which would ultimately cause more harm overall. "I don't think the chancellor is desperately worried about the size of the deficit this year. What will concern him is the size of the deficit the year after, and the year after, and the year after that," he said. Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation think tank, said the financial cost of the crisis, at £190bn so far, was "approaching the amount we spend on the day-to-day running of our NHS, schools and colleges each year". He welcomed the focus on supporting young people and sectors most affected by lockdown, but added: "The scale of support... risks falling short of what will be required. The chancellor is taking quite a gamble on the strength of the recovery in the months ahead." There are some things no chancellor can prepare for - such as what to do if your economy wipes out 18 years' gains in two months of lockdown. His solution was to temporarily deep freeze the economy, and pump money into crisis response. And the thawing process needs more funds, to prevent long term damage. Now economists are talking about a deficit, a shortfall of way more than the £300bn previously expected. It's equivalent to a bigger slice of the economy than at any time since the Second World War. And it could get bigger; if more is needed to support the recovery - or in the event of a severe second wave. But it's a cost worth bearing if it carries the economy through a devastating crisis, safeguard the damage to output and jobs - and ensure taxes get paid. For at some point, there will have to be a discussion about how we pay this back. The government is currently borrowing record amounts on the financial markets to plug the gap - but that may not be enough. There may have to be tax hikes, possibly less generous rises in pensions. But it may be a while until the economy is robust enough to bear that. Concern that the chancellor did not go far enough was underlined by the aviation industry. The Airlines UK trade body criticised the decision not to extend the furlough scheme beyond October, saying flights were likely to continue to be restricted during the winter. It would mean more jobs lost in addition to the tens of thousands of redundancies already announced "if the government continues to ignore aviation", a spokesman for the trade body said. Of the policy measures announced in Wednesday's summer statement, the biggest was the plan to pay employers £1,000 for every furloughed worker they retain past January. The total bill could rise as high as £9.4bn, but only if every furloughed worker keeps their job. But Charlie Mullins, founder of Pimlico Plumbers, wondered if it was money well spent, as he thought some firms would only retain staff until they get the cash. "Firms will either want their staff back, or they won't. I just feel some employers will take advantage of this scheme," he told the BBC. The extra public spending figure includes £15bn to buy personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks. It also includes £10bn for the testing and tracing of infected persons, taking the total extra spending on health services to £32bn. "There is a huge public services additional spending that we didn't really know about that was announced (on Wednesday). It was kind of skated over, but £15bn for PPE for frontline workers is an enormous sum," Paul Johnson, director of the IFS, told the BBC. He said the chancellor's strategy was to spend money now, to minimise long-term damage to the economy, which would ultimately cause more harm overall. "I don't think the chancellor is desperately worried about the size of the deficit this year. What will concern him is the size of the deficit the year after, and the year after, and the year after that," he said. Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation think tank, said the financial cost of the crisis, at £190bn so far, was "approaching the amount we spend on the day-to-day running of our NHS, schools and colleges each year". He welcomed the focus on supporting young people and sectors most affected by lockdown, but added: "The scale of support... risks falling short of what will be required. The chancellor is taking quite a gamble on the strength of the recovery in the months ahead." There are some things no chancellor can prepare for - such as what to do if your economy wipes out 18 years' gains in two months of lockdown. His solution was to temporarily deep freeze the economy, and pump money into crisis response. And the thawing process needs more funds, to prevent long term damage. Now economists are talking about a deficit, a shortfall of way more than the £300bn previously expected. It's equivalent to a bigger slice of the economy than at any time since the Second World War. And it could get bigger; if more is needed to support the recovery - or in the event of a severe second wave. But it's a cost worth bearing if it carries the economy through a devastating crisis, safeguard the damage to output and jobs - and ensure taxes get paid. For at some point, there will have to be a discussion about how we pay this back. The government is currently borrowing record amounts on the financial markets to plug the gap - but that may not be enough. There may have to be tax hikes, possibly less generous rises in pensions. But it may be a while until the economy is robust enough to bear that. Concern that the chancellor did not go far enough was underlined by the aviation industry. The Airlines UK trade body criticised the decision not to extend the furlough scheme beyond October, saying flights were likely to continue to be restricted during the winter. It would mean more jobs lost in addition to the tens of thousands of redundancies already announced "if the government continues to ignore aviation", a spokesman for the trade body said. Of the policy measures announced in Wednesday's summer statement, the biggest was the plan to pay employers £1,000 for every furloughed worker they retain past January. The total bill could rise as high as £9.4bn, but only if every furloughed worker keeps their job. But Charlie Mullins, founder of Pimlico Plumbers, wondered if it was money well spent, as he thought some firms would only retain staff until they get the cash. "Firms will either want their staff back, or they won't. I just feel some employers will take advantage of this scheme," he told the BBC.

['Rishi Sunak', 'UK economy', 'UK government spending', "Chancellor's Summer Statement", 'Office for Budget Responsibility', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Rishi Sunak", "UK economy", "UK government spending", "Chancellor's Summer Statement", "Office for Budget Responsibility", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44615890

Michael Jackson: On the Wall exhibition explores images of the star

A new collection of paintings and images of Michael Jackson goes on display at the National Portrait Gallery this week.

The exhibition includes the final portrait commissioned by the singer before his death in 2009. It'll be the first time Kehinde Wiley's painting of the superstar as King Phillip II of Spain has been seen in the UK. Wiley has sometimes inserted African Americans into images borrowed from Western art history, to provoke discussion of the status of black people in society. It's one picture that exhibition curator Nicholas Cullinan is particularly delighted to have in the show, starting on Thursday. "Wiley's picture was the last portrait actually commissioned by Michael, who'd encountered his work in the Brooklyn Museum during a photo shoot," says Cullinan. "The two men alighted on the idea of a portrait which emulated Pieter Paul Rubens' famous portrait of Philip II of Spain. "Kehinde told me that when he was working on the painting, Michael asked him about the different viscosity of the brushwork in early Rubens versus late Rubens. I think Michael had a forensic interest in craft and artistry." Cullinan took over as director of the National Portrait Gallery in London in 2015 and his first curated exhibition there takes the gallery into ambitious new territory. It's nine years since Michael Jackson died in Los Angeles yet his fame remains undiminished and his records still sell in huge numbers. The singer would have turned 60 this August and the gallery has used the milestone to investigate how visual artists have used the image of one of music's greatest showmen. Michael Jackson: On the Wall - a play on the singer's 1979 Off the Wall album - isn't meant as a survey of the singer's life or music, Cullinan explains. "But now that a few years have passed since he died, I thought it was time to look at his legacy and his impact on an array of contemporary artists," he says. "There's probably no one else in recent history who attracted so much attention from artists wanting to capture his image." There are 48 artists represented in the exhibition, of whom 46 are still living. The exceptions are Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. "Andy Warhol always had a keen eye for coming talent and he was the first artist to use Michael as a subject," says Cullinan. "We have a whole room devoted to his images. Their relationship extended for around a decade until Warhol died in 1987. "The exhibition isn't really about Jackson memorabilia but we do display some that Warhol collected. "When, in October 1982, Michael appeared on the cover of Interview magazine (which Warhol owned) it was a major step up for him. "And there is also the Warhol silkscreen from 1984 which was used on the cover of Time magazine. It's probably one of the more familiar images in the exhibition." When Cullinan, who has curated exhibitions on subjects ranging from Edvard Munch to Henri Matisse, started thinking about On the Wall, there was no definite plan to commission new work. But he says new pieces seemed to emerge organically. "I'd mention the idea to artists who would either say they already had a Michael Jackson piece - or in some cases that they would love to attempt one. "It confirmed for me how often artists were attracted to his image. Ultimately, we commissioned half a dozen pieces from scratch." Cullinan says many of the images in the exhibition are based on photographs. He has no problem with that: "Especially after the success of the album Thriller in 1982, pictures of Michael were everywhere. "Hundreds of millions of people knew his videos. Even people who didn't particularly like his music knew the image - so it's fitting that many of the works we've assembled were based on photos. "By the 1980s Michael was famous in an almost unprecedented way. So his image proliferated, was reproduced, fragmented and it spread around the world. "He meant different things to different people but an important and often moving part of the exhibition is what he achieved as an African American - which is why it was important to include Kehinde Wiley, for instance." Wiley has recently become better known because of his official portrait of Barack Obama, unveiled this year, but Cullinan says he was also pleased to secure the work of Todd Gray, who's much less well known. Exquisite Terribleness in the Mangrove (2014) uses some of the shots Gray took as Jackson's official photographer in the Thriller era. "Todd Gray was able to record Michael close-up: the images are resonant in themselves. But he's also made photo-collages using those pictures, in some of which Michael is fragmented or obscured. There's a beautiful one where you see Michael at Disneyland with Mickey Mouse. Todd Gray said Michael confided in him that he wanted to be as famous as Mickey was," adds Cullinan. The National Portrait Gallery director knows there are issues such as Michael Jackson's family life and his relationships which, in a more biographical show, might need to be addressed. "But that's not what we are doing," Cullinan explains. "As we approach the 10th anniversary of his death there are still people with hugely positive and very negative views of Michael Jackson. But it's rare to find anyone who finds him entirely uninteresting." The final room contains a 2005 piece shot in Berlin called King (A Portrait of Michael Jackson) by the artist Candice Breitz. "I didn't want to end with the sadness of his passing," says Cullinan. "King is a video piece with 16 young people all performing Thriller from first to last. It's joyful and moving - I hope people will think it sums up the whole show." Michael Jackson: On the Wall runs at the National Portrait Gallery in London until 21 October. It then travels to Paris, Bonn and Espoo in Finland. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

['Photography', 'Art', 'Michael Jackson', 'Music']

[{"entity": "Michael Jackson", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "National Portrait Gallery", "label": "LOC"}]

Michael Jackson ||| National Portrait Gallery

["Photography", "Art", "Michael Jackson", "Music"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55638848

Covid-19: New treatment, NHS staff struggles and free meals row

Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Wednesday morning. We'll have another update for you at 18:00 BST.

The first Covid patients have begun receiving a new treatment it's hoped will prevent sufferers becoming seriously ill. The patients are part of a large-scale trial testing the effect of inhaling a protein called interferon beta which the body produces when it gets a viral infection. Developed at Southampton University Hospital and produced by biotech company, Synairgen, early findings suggest the treatment cuts the odds of severe illness by almost 80%. Find out more here. Many hospital staff treating the sickest patients during the first wave of the pandemic have been left struggling to cope, a new study suggests. Researchers at King's College London questioned 709 workers at nine units in England and nearly half reported symptoms of severe anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or problem drinking. Lead researcher Prof Neil Greenberg said it should be a "wake-up call" for managers about the need to provide more mental health support. Some staff are they're also facing abuse online and at protests from Covid sceptics and anti-lockdown activists. Children's minister Vicky Ford says caterers must urgently improve the quality of food parcels being provided for low-income families. Catering company Chartwells has apologised after photographs of some parcels were shared online and heavily criticised. The packages - more on them here - are being sent to children who would normally receive free school meals in England. The row could well come up when Education Secretary Gavin Williamson faces MPs' questioning later. Our education correspondent looks closely at Mr Williamson - a man whose political obituary has been written so many times he must sometimes feel like the walking dead. The Scottish Government may announce further Covid restrictions today in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has hinted some new rules could be introduced affecting services like click-and-collect shopping and takeaways - find out more. The move could come despite a levelling off in the number of daily infections in Scotland. The R rate - a reminder of what that is - has also fallen in Northern Ireland. Leaders said it was down to many people "doing the right thing". The rules are already tougher in Wales, as we explain in our full UK run-down. Isabella Curry received a coronavirus vaccination alongside her card from the Queen when she turned 100. She said the extra special gift offered hope, telling us: "This vaccine means I'll be able to go out, meet my friends soon and feel safe." Ms Curry, known as Ella, who lives alone in Northumberland, said it was just a little "prick in the arm". The UK, like most countries, is focusing on the elderly first for vaccination, but find out why one country is targeting young, working people instead. Debate continues around who else should be high up the list here - parents of children at special schools want their teachers prioritised, while customs operators argue they should be, in an effort to keep vital supplies flowing. Get a longer news briefing from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning, by signing up here. Find more information, advice and guides on our coronavirus page. Plus, Britain's top police officer, Dame Cressida Dick, says it's "preposterous" to suggest some people are not aware of what the lockdown laws now tell them to do. So how much do you know? Try our quiz. What questions do you have about coronavirus? In some cases, your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. Use this form to ask your question: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in. If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in.

['Coronavirus lockdown measures', 'Coronavirus vaccines', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Coronavirus lockdown measures", "Coronavirus vaccines", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-57146299

Domestic abuse: Swansea man jailed for murdering partner

A man has been jailed for life for battering his partner to death in a "ferocious and merciless" attack.

Jonathan Campbell, 37, subjected mum Helen Bannister to "years of terror" before beating her at their home in Swansea on 1 December last year. The 48-year-old mother-of-two died of brain injuries five days later. Campbell, of Mayhill, pleaded guilty to murder at Swansea Crown Court having claimed he had "snapped" after accusing Ms Bannister of "cheating" on him. The couple had been in a relationship for five years and the court heard Campbell had a history of violence again women having faced three previous abuse charges, including a case of battery involving Ms Bannister in 2017. Christopher Clee QC, prosecuting, said Campbell rang for an ambulance and admitted he had hit Ms Bannister who was 'outers on the sofa' Mr Clee said Campbell then bought two bottles of wine from a shop before meeting up with another woman and spending the day walking around Swansea Marina "smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol". In the meantime, emergency services had arrived at the address in Waun-Wen Road where Ms Bannister was found "lying on her back on the sofa, unconscious and unresponsive" with significant injuries. Campbell was arrested by police that night and claimed he had head-butted Ms Bannister twice and, having failed to revive her, stripped her and took her to the bath to bring her round. However Ms Banister never regained consciousness. A post-mortem found she had suffered swelling and bleeding of the brain, a nasal fracture, a fractured eye socket, fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. In a victim impact statement read to the court, her daughter Sarah Jane Bannister said her mother had been "young at heart and full of life". "I begged her to leave Campbell but she would not listen," she said. "He has stolen my future with my mother." She said she told her mother the last time they saw each other: "The next phone call I will get about you is that you are in a body bag." Recalling the day of the assault, Ms Bannister said: "What stands out is my sister screaming when she saw our mother for the first time. "Her face and eyes were so swollen she looked like the elephant man. She was lifeless and as soon as I saw her, I knew that she had died." "I am devastated that this is the last image I have of her." Ms Bannister's other daughter, Stacey Harris, told the court she was aware Campbell was violent and abusive towards her mother and that had damaged their own relationship. "I wanted her to be a part of mine and my children's lives but couldn't because Campbell was there," she said in a statement. "My children are too young to understand [and] I worry that they will not remember her. The thought of getting married without my mother there leaves me completely broken. "My last memory of my mum is holding her hand, while she was lying in the hospital bed fighting for her life." The family said afterwards in a statement: "Our whole lives have changed and destroyed. It feels like a horrible nightmare and doesn't feel real. What has happened will affect us for the rest of our lives. "The sentence given to Campbell will never be enough and will not bring our mother back." Sentencing Campbell to a minimum of 18 years, Judge Paul Thomas QC said he had subjected his partner to a "drunken, ferocious, sustained and merciless assault". "You told the police, and maintained for some time, that you had only head-butted her twice," he said. "That was simply not true. "You then left her unconscious, alone, without help and you left her dying. You prioritised buying yourself two bottles of wine [and] then met up with another woman." Det Insp David Butt of South Wales Police said: "Jonathan Campbell subjected {Helen Bannister] to years of terror. No person should have to suffer this kind of abuse. "I hope the sentence handed down to him today will provide a degree of comfort to Helen's family, though I recognise that no amount of time in prison could ever properly compensate them for such a dreadful loss."

['Swansea']

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NoPresentEntity

["Swansea"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-27393388

Peaky Blinders pub The Garrison to be auctioned

A pub made famous by Birmingham-set BBC TV drama Peaky Blinders is to be auctioned.

In the drama, set in the 1920s, members of the Peaky Blinders gang meet in The Garrison pub. The real-life Garrison, on Garrison Lane in the city, is to be auctioned at Villa Park on 22 May and has a guide price of £160,000 to £175,000 plus VAT. The first series of the show, starring Cillian Murphy, attracted audiences of about 2.4m. A second series is expected to be broadcast in the autumn. The series takes its name from a real-life gang in the city who had razor blades hidden in the peaks of their flat caps. The sale catalogue from Cottons Chartered Surveyors describes the pub, near Birmingham City's St Andrew's stadium, as "a substantial freehold public house". A reader in public history at Newman University, Birmingham, Chris Upton, said the father of the drama's creator, Steven Knight, used to drink at The Garrison. "Illegal betting bookmaking often was associated with pubs," he said. "They took the bets and passed them on and gangs were often involved in controlling that. "We've lost so many pubs locally... It's fine in the city centre but outside there it's tough. "I suppose this one's got a better chance because of its associations and its history but it's tough times for pubs." The second six-part series, which started filming earlier this year, will see the Shelby family expand their empire to the north and south while maintaining a stronghold in their Birmingham heartland. In January thousands of people turned up at casting auditions in the city. The first series, which was generally well-received, attracted some criticism for some of the cast's "dodgy" West Midlands accents.

['Birmingham']

[{"entity": "Birmingham", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "BBC", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Peaky Blinders", "label": "MEDIA"}]

Birmingham ||| Peaky Blinders

["Birmingham"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31099106

English MPs would get tax veto under Conservative plans

MPs for Scottish seats would be stripped of the power to "impose" income tax rate changes on England under Conservative plans.

MPs for English seats would have a veto on tax, and issues like schools and health, which only affect England. The plan falls short of the English Parliament demanded by some Tory MPs. But Commons leader William Hague said it was a "fair solution". Labour is calling for a cross-party investigation into the matter. Scotland is on course to be given the power to set its own income tax rates and bands - and Air Passenger Duty rates - under proposals drawn up by the The Smith Commission in the wake of September's independence referendum. Prime Minister David Cameron promised a new settlement for England at the same time. Critics say it is unfair that Scottish MPs should help decide how things such as schools and the health service are run in England, when English MPs have no such say over how they are run in Scotland. But attempts at cross-party talks to resolve the so-called "West Lothian Question" were boycotted by Labour - which could struggle to get key legislation through the Commons if it won the election without its Scottish MPs - as a "stitch up". Mr Hague's plan would give an effective veto to MPs for English seats - and Wales on some policies - for matters decided in the Scottish Parliament, but would still require a majority of all UK MPs to pass legislation. He said it was the least radical of three options to resolve demands for "English votes for English laws" but would bring "fairness and accountability to England without breaking up the unity and integrity of the UK Parliament". He told BBC Breakfast: "MPs from all parts of the UK would continue to debate, as they do now, anything they want. It is just that they would only be able to pass measures relating only to England with the agreement of the English MPs." English MPs were never going to be given total control over English law. That would have created a de facto English Parliament that many MPs believe would have left the United Kingdom unworkable. David Cameron never had this in mind when he stood outside Downing Street last September and promised to listen to the voices of England. While some constitutional purists on the Tory benches are feeling sore, others are content. They now have something to say on the doorstep about the so-called English issue. Read more from James Mr Hague said the Commons Speaker would probably have the job of deciding which measures should be treated as England only. He said the proposals were unlikely to become law before May's general election but they would be in the Conservative manifesto and he was keen for MPs to debate them before the election. But some Conservative MPs say the plan will still give MPs for Scottish constituencies too much influence. Former Cabinet Minister John Redwood told The Daily Telegraph: "It gives them leverage. If you had a lot of Nationalist MPs, for example, who wanted something for Scotland then presumably they would all gang up and try to block an English proposal until we cave in on what they wanted. It would be perfectly legitimate political tactics." He said Tory MPs would not back Mr Hague's proposals. In December Labour said an English, or English and Welsh, committee stage would give those MPs "a key role" in considering the legislation in question, while MPs as a whole would have the final say. Labour said this and other ideas should be considered by a constitutional convention after May's general election. The Liberal Democrats favour a grand committee of English MPs, with the right to veto legislation applying only to England, with its members based on the share of the vote. But Lib Dem Deputy Commons Leader Tom Brake said it would be a "major mistake" to "rush through" changes without a constitutional convention. UKIP Deputy Leader Paul Nuttall said: "Cameron has spoken of English votes for English laws but these proposals will fail to deliver anything but chaos." Stewart Hosie, deputy leader of the SNP, said Hague's plan was "confused and a bit shambolic" and the UK government could not exclude Scottish MPs from debate unless full tax and spending powers were devolved to Holyrood. Elfyn Llwyd, Plaid Cymru's leader at Westminster, said English votes must "go hand in hand with home rule all round and the Barnett formula must be replaced in order to address the chronic underfunding of Wales".

['UK devolution', 'Conservative Party', 'Scottish independence', 'UK Parliament', 'Lord Hague']

[{"entity": "Scottish", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "England", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Conservative", "label": "ORG"}]

Scottish ||| England ||| Conservative

["UK devolution", "Conservative Party", "Scottish independence", "UK Parliament", "Lord Hague"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-57006440

Dangerous driving mayhem in funeral procession for crash men

High performance cars hired for a funeral procession were driven dangerously along pavements and into oncoming traffic, police have said.

Pedestrians were forced to flee during the mayhem as the procession made its way from Bolsover to Shiregreen Cemetery in Sheffield. It had been organised to celebrate the lives of two Sheffield men killed in an accident on the M1 on Easter Sunday. Jordan Caster, 19, and a 22-year-old named locally as Tyrone Forde, died. The families of the two friends organised a joint funeral service and the procession involved cars, motorbikes and quad bikes. South Yorkshire Police said they had received a number of calls from people reporting dangerous driving during the event on 28 April. Drivers were also seen to be blocking junctions, with some people inside the cars hanging out of the windows. One person posted on Facebook group Sheffield Online: "Sad that a tragedy was hijacked as an excuse for dangerous driving, not to mention extremely tasteless in the circumstances." Another person commented: "We saw bikers riding on the pavement, vehicles travelling on the wrong side of the road and people hanging out their car windows." Read more Yorkshire news Sgt Matt Duffy said: "This funeral was a result of a tragic accident which sadly cost two young men their lives. "People were there that day to pay their respects and commemorate the lives of their loved ones. "However, the manner of driving demonstrated by a handful of those attending meant that they not only posed a risk to themselves, but to other members of the procession and members of the public en route." Police have appealed for any CCTV or dashcam footage of the driving. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here.

['Sheffield', 'South Yorkshire Police']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Sheffield", "South Yorkshire Police"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-44224319

I wish mum's phone was never invented

Mobile phones are bad for us. We know because every day there is a news story telling us so, or at least it can feel like that.

But no-one ever actually puts their phone down after hearing these reports, right? What if children told you exactly how your WhatsApping, Instagramming, emailing and news-reading makes them feel? "I hate my mum's phone and I wish she never had one," is what one primary school child wrote in a class assignment. American school teacher Jen Adams Beason posted the comment on Facebook, and revealed that four out of 21 of her students said they wished mobile phones had never been invented. Ms Beason, who lives in Louisiana, also posted a picture of the second grade (ages seven to eight) pupil's class work after she asked them to describe something they wish had never been created. "I would say that I don't like the phone," one child wrote. "I don't like the phone because my parents are on their phone every day. A phone is sometimes a really bad habit." The student completed the work with a drawing of a mobile phone with a cross through it and a large sad face saying "I hate it". But no-one ever actually puts their phone down after hearing these reports, right? What if children told you exactly how your WhatsApping, Instagramming, emailing and news-reading makes them feel? "I hate my mum's phone and I wish she never had one," is what one primary school child wrote in a class assignment. American school teacher Jen Adams Beason posted the comment on Facebook, and revealed that four out of 21 of her students said they wished mobile phones had never been invented. Ms Beason, who lives in Louisiana, also posted a picture of the second grade (ages seven to eight) pupil's class work after she asked them to describe something they wish had never been created. "I would say that I don't like the phone," one child wrote. "I don't like the phone because my parents are on their phone every day. A phone is sometimes a really bad habit." The student completed the work with a drawing of a mobile phone with a cross through it and a large sad face saying "I hate it". But no-one ever actually puts their phone down after hearing these reports, right? What if children told you exactly how your WhatsApping, Instagramming, emailing and news-reading makes them feel? "I hate my mum's phone and I wish she never had one," is what one primary school child wrote in a class assignment. American school teacher Jen Adams Beason posted the comment on Facebook, and revealed that four out of 21 of her students said they wished mobile phones had never been invented. Ms Beason, who lives in Louisiana, also posted a picture of the second grade (ages seven to eight) pupil's class work after she asked them to describe something they wish had never been created. "I would say that I don't like the phone," one child wrote. "I don't like the phone because my parents are on their phone every day. A phone is sometimes a really bad habit." The student completed the work with a drawing of a mobile phone with a cross through it and a large sad face saying "I hate it". The picture was posted last Friday and has been shared almost 170,000 times since, including by shocked parents who are stopping to think twice about their technology habits. "Wow. Out of the mouths of babes! We are all guilty!" responded one user, Tracy Jenkins. "Strong words for a second grader! Listen parents," added Sylvia Burton. Another wrote, "That is so sad and convicting. Great reminder for us all to put those phones down and engage with our kids more." Other teachers also joined the discussion to add their own experience of children's reaction to their parents' internet use. "We had a class discussion about Facebook and every single one of the students said their parents spend more time on Facebook then they do talking to their child. It was very eye opening for me," commented Abbey Fauntleroy. Some parents offered their personal experience of trying to address the problem. Beau Stermer wrote that he has seen his two-year-old son reacting negatively to his use of his mobile phone: "I've noticed if he and I are playing and my phone rings for something at work, he has nothing to do with me after I get off the phone. "It kills me. I have made an agreement with myself that if I am playing with him everything else can wait." However, one mum pointed out that her teenagers were just as bad, often choosing their phone over family time. A survey carried out in the US in 2017 reported that half of parents surveyed found that using technology disrupted interactions with their child three or more times a day, a phenomenon named "technoference". The picture was posted last Friday and has been shared almost 170,000 times since, including by shocked parents who are stopping to think twice about their technology habits. "Wow. Out of the mouths of babes! We are all guilty!" responded one user, Tracy Jenkins. "Strong words for a second grader! Listen parents," added Sylvia Burton. Another wrote, "That is so sad and convicting. Great reminder for us all to put those phones down and engage with our kids more." Other teachers also joined the discussion to add their own experience of children's reaction to their parents' internet use. "We had a class discussion about Facebook and every single one of the students said their parents spend more time on Facebook then they do talking to their child. It was very eye opening for me," commented Abbey Fauntleroy. Some parents offered their personal experience of trying to address the problem. Beau Stermer wrote that he has seen his two-year-old son reacting negatively to his use of his mobile phone: "I've noticed if he and I are playing and my phone rings for something at work, he has nothing to do with me after I get off the phone. "It kills me. I have made an agreement with myself that if I am playing with him everything else can wait." However, one mum pointed out that her teenagers were just as bad, often choosing their phone over family time. A survey carried out in the US in 2017 reported that half of parents surveyed found that using technology disrupted interactions with their child three or more times a day, a phenomenon named "technoference". The picture was posted last Friday and has been shared almost 170,000 times since, including by shocked parents who are stopping to think twice about their technology habits. "Wow. Out of the mouths of babes! We are all guilty!" responded one user, Tracy Jenkins. "Strong words for a second grader! Listen parents," added Sylvia Burton. Another wrote, "That is so sad and convicting. Great reminder for us all to put those phones down and engage with our kids more." Other teachers also joined the discussion to add their own experience of children's reaction to their parents' internet use. "We had a class discussion about Facebook and every single one of the students said their parents spend more time on Facebook then they do talking to their child. It was very eye opening for me," commented Abbey Fauntleroy. Some parents offered their personal experience of trying to address the problem. Beau Stermer wrote that he has seen his two-year-old son reacting negatively to his use of his mobile phone: "I've noticed if he and I are playing and my phone rings for something at work, he has nothing to do with me after I get off the phone. "It kills me. I have made an agreement with myself that if I am playing with him everything else can wait." However, one mum pointed out that her teenagers were just as bad, often choosing their phone over family time. A survey carried out in the US in 2017 reported that half of parents surveyed found that using technology disrupted interactions with their child three or more times a day, a phenomenon named "technoference".

['Social media', 'Schools', 'Children', 'Relationships', 'Mobile phones', 'Parenting', 'United States']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Social media", "Schools", "Children", "Relationships", "Mobile phones", "Parenting", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43043291

Slovakia woos with 'love bank' for Valentine's Day

A picturesque old town in Slovakia is running a "love bank" where couples can go on Valentine's Day to deposit small, cherished tokens of their love.

The lovers' vault, containing 100,000 tiny drawers, is in Banska Stiavnica's House of Marina, a museum celebrating the world's longest love poem. Marina, published in 1846, is a 2,910-line poem by Andrej Sladkovic. He loved Maria Pischlova, but her parents made her marry a gingerbread maker. The poem is studied in Slovak schools. Andrej and Maria fell in love in Banska Stiavnica when they were just 14. He was a poor student who tutored her at her parents' comfortable home. She became his muse but, sadly for him, her parents preferred the wealthy gingerbread maker. Andrej later became a priest and married the daughter of a clerk, two years after Marina's wedding. You might also like: The medieval town is a protected Unesco World Heritage Site and the poem Marina is regarded as a Slovak national treasure. The House of Marina is where Maria Pischlova spent most of her life. In the "love bank" couples can "preserve their love for ever, leaving photos or love letters, rings or cinema tickets from their first date", the exhibition's spokeswoman Katarina Javorska told the BBC. "It's really safe, protected with a special seal. Only they can see what's inside," she explained. Among the other exhibits at the museum is a "love-o-meter", purporting to measure the strength of a couple's love. Ms Javorska called the love-o-meter's technology "a big secret". Lovers get their own verse from Marina when they use the machine. "They hold hands or kiss, and with their other hand they hold a special handle - it measures the electricity in their bodies. Then the verse they get shows the strength of their love." Ms Javorska said "our goal is to create the next Verona". "That is based on fiction - Romeo and Juliet - but our Sladkovic-Marina story is a real one." Slovak children memorise verses from Marina, and Slovakia has named streets, and even a town, after Sladkovic. Among the many lines in Sladkovic's poem are these: "I can abandon your lips, I can abandon the chance to marry you I can kill myself: But I can't stop loving you!"

['Poetry', 'Slovakia']

[{"entity": "Slovakia", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Valentine's Day", "label": "TIME"}]

Slovakia

["Poetry", "Slovakia"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45028014

The early victims of Trump's trade war

As a US-led trade war rages on, some companies are starting to feel the pain.

The US has been embroiled in a tit-for-tat trade battle on several fronts over the past few months. The one that's creating the most interest is the one with China, as the world's two largest economies wrangle for global influence. Some say President Trump is trying to raise pressure on China ahead of key mid-term elections at home in November. In the latest move, China said on Friday that it would levy new tariffs on more than 5,200 US products if the US goes ahead with its latest threat to impose 25% tariffs on $200bn (£152bn) of Chinese goods. Earlier this year, the US also started charging levies on the imports of steel and aluminium, including from the European Union, Mexico, and Canada. These countries have retaliated. Here are some of the main sectors finding themselves victims of the trade war so far. The car industry seems to have been the most affected so far, with three major automakers recently warning that changes to trade policies are hurting performance. Ford and General Motors lowered profit forecasts for 2018, citing higher steel and aluminium prices caused by new US tariffs. Fiat Chrysler also cut its 2018 revenue outlook after sales in China slumped, as buyers postponed purchases in anticipation of lower car tariffs. In May, China announced that it would cut tariffs on imported cars from 25% to 15% on 1 July in a move seen as an attempt to reduce trade tensions with the US. But shortly after, on 6 July, it increased tariffs on US-made cars to 40% in retaliation to the US's move to tax $34bn of Chinese products. Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's biggest car firm, also recently reported a loss for the first time in three years after sales slowed down in China. Among the reasons, it said many consumers had delayed purchases due to a change in Chinese import duties. European and US car companies are also responding by increasing prices in China. BMW recently said it would raise prices on two of its models from 30 July due to the increased import duty on US-made cars in China. Tesla has also reportedly increased prices on two of its models. However, there has also been a positive impact for China, as Anna-Marie Baisden, head of autos research at Fitch Solutions, points out. "We have seen a number of carmakers, including Tesla, accelerating plans to invest in local production facilities to avoid import tariffs," she says. Other firms in the broader industry are also considering their options. "Ironically some of the hardest-hit companies are American or producing in the US, even though the tariffs imposed by the US are intended to help domestic companies," says Ms Baisden. US motorcyle maker Harley-Davidson plans to shift some production away from the US to avoid the "substantial" burden of European Union tariffs, imposed in retaliation to US duties on steel and aluminium. Some companies in the food and drinks industry are also lowering their outlooks and putting up their prices to cope with the new status quo. Tyson Foods recently cut its profit forecast, saying retaliatory duties on US pork and beef exports had lowered US meat prices. US spirits and wine giant Brown-Forman has said it will increase the price of Jack Daniel's and other whiskeys in some European countries, according to media reports. Coca-Cola has also said it will increase prices in North America this year to compensate for higher freight rates and metal prices, according to the Wall Street Journal. Other companies are seeking to do less business with China as a way of avoiding the tariffs. Toymaker Hasbro is moving more production out of China, US conglomerate Honeywell wants to use more supply chain sources from countries outside China and home furnishing company RH expects to cut the amount of goods sourced from China, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, US equipment maker Caterpillar recently said strong demand had allowed it to hike prices to offset $100m-$200m in higher steel and aluminium costs. The International Monetary Fund says an escalation of the tit-for-tat tariffs could shave 0.5% off global growth by 2020. Separate releases recently showed growth in China's manufacturing sector slowing in July and one measure of US consumer sentiment falling due to tariff concerns, according to media reports. Morgan Stanley estimates that a full-blown escalation of the trade dispute could knock 0.81 percentage points off global gross domestic product. This scenario would involve the US slapping 25% tariffs on all goods from both China and the EU, and them responding with similar measures. The bank said most of the effect from tariff hikes on growth would probably be seen only in 2019. Most of the impact - or almost 80% - would come through a disruption of domestic and international supply chains, the bank added.

['Global economy', 'China', 'Trade war', 'United States', 'Car industry', 'Trade']

[{"entity": "US", "label": "LOC"}]

US

["Global economy", "China", "Trade war", "United States", "Car industry", "Trade"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-27763085

Not just a game: Is it right to 'recreate' disability?

A growing number of apps and software give non-disabled people an "experience" of being disabled. But do they serve any useful function?

Low-tech training with scarves over eyes and oven gloves on hands have traditionally assisted people in understanding what some disabilities feel like. Away from the practical, there are an increasing number of computer simulations which recreate disabilities previously incapable of being recreated. But does becoming disabled for a day give authentic insight, and is it respectful? You are standing on the edge of a busy playground where children are shouting, and singing the alphabet song. As you move closer to them, your vision gets fuzzier and the noise gets distorted and sharp. "Now I know my ABC..." starts to ring painfully in your ears and the trees begin to move of their own accord. That's what happens to players of the interactive online game Auti-sim, a creatively geeky play on the word "autism". The web-based simulator was designed with help from a specialist advisor and aims to show how a child might experience sensory overload in a busy playground. "People were shocked by Auti-sim because they tried it and realised what a huge impact sensory issues can have," says Robyn Steward, who is herself on the autism spectrum and runs workshops about the subject. She says that, when people think about sensory overload, they tend to focus on single events like visiting a supermarket or crossing a road but should think beyond that, like the game does. It builds up the full picture and Steward says the game helps players appreciate the feelings those on the spectrum can have. "What people don't always realise is that as soon as you wake up, your brain is taking in information from the senses and this can have a cumulative impact over time." The suffocating noise and visuals of Auti-sim make players want to retreat to the fringes of the playground. Designer Taylan Kay told the Ars Technica website that the game saw teachers of children with autism "displaying behaviours and reacting in ways that they have seen children in real life do". A recent online film, Sensory Sensitivity, from the National Autistic Society, attempts to do similar in film form, rather than as a game. Other disabilities which are hard to physically recreate have been attempted in interactive simulations too. Depression Quest, a text adventure game, asks players to negotiate a virtual life with mental health difficulties where positive options are crossed out and unavailable to select, depending on how low their character is feeling. And CBBC's website puts you in the shoes of four children with dyslexia in Try Being Me - My Dyslexic Mind. Critics say that simulations are counter-productive. They worry that having taken part in a simulation exercise, non-disabled people will believe they fully understand disability. They say that unless you are disabled and live with the knock-on consequences like unemployment, pain and prejudice, it doesn't give a true picture. Robin Steward disagrees. She says: "When you fly a plane simulator, its similar to what it would be like to fly a plane but you know that if you were doing it for real, it would be different. People know that what they are seeing and hearing is a simulation, and is just there to provide information and ideas." Physical disabilities are easier and cheaper to recreate than autism and other developmental disorders, and there is a long tradition of devising home-made ways of doing so. Delegates at disability training events have reportedly been asked to pick up small objects whilst wearing mittens to impair fine movement like people with cerebral palsy experience. Others have had their legs tied together to recreate mobility problems. Elsewhere, scouts doing their disability awareness activity badge are invited by the association website to "make a sandwich using only one hand, or draw a picture using only your feet to hold the pen." Since the late 80s, some disabled people and groups have been vocal on why they don't like simulation of disability as a tool for learning or research. "It is not seen by [disabled people] as a solution to the problems we face," says Nicholas Watson, professor of disability studies at the University of Glasgow. He adds that many disabled people feel their lived experience can't be considered too important if people feel they get more from trying it out for themselves. When people do try it for just a few hours, says Watson, the difficulties can elicit pity rather than a constructive response. "People don't blame what they should blame, the inaccessible environment and the poor design, they blame the problems on the fact that you have to use a wheelchair or that you can't see." When he was able to walk, Watson recalls he went on a trip to Glasgow in a wheelchair for a learning exercise. He reports feeling frustrated and angry, learnt nothing useful, and admits that he cheated. "I got stuck trying to get out of Tesco's, so I got out and pushed the chair... there were a few raised eyebrows." But hearing about disability problems second-hand doesn't always have enough impact. In a campaign promoting better travel, the UK's biggest sight-loss charity, RNIB, asked bus drivers to don blindfolds or special simulation spectacles before boarding buses as passengers. Spokesperson Lindsay Armstrong says it has proven "more tangible and practical than simply just talking about different eye diseases. People often say how they would feel if it were them and it can open the door to a great degree of empathy." Additional reporting by Damon Rose. Follow @BBCOuch on Twitter and on Facebook, and listen to our monthly talk show

['Disability']

[{"entity": "disabled", "label": "DIS"}]

disabled

["Disability"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39984639

Afghan Vice-President Dostum flies to Turkey amid torture claims

Afghanistan's Vice-President, Abdul Rashid Dostum, has left the country amid claims that he ordered his men to kidnap, beat and rape a political rival last year.

Afghan officials confirmed he had left Kabul for Turkey on Friday night. General Dostum has not been charged with any offence, and the incident is under government investigation. His spokesman said he had travelled abroad for a medical check-up and would return shortly. "General Dostum never leaves the country but remains alongside his people during difficult times," the spokesman said. The vice-president is a former warlord with decades of experience in Afghanistan's turbulent political arena. He is blamed for some of the worst atrocities in the country's long-running civil war, but joined its national unity government in 2014. The allegations against him come from Ahmad Eshchi, a former ally, who says he suffered days of severe beatings and sexual abuse at Gen Dostum's command. He said the vice-president and 10 other men assaulted him while he was forcibly kept at Gen Dostum's residence in November 2016. The ex-warlord denies the claims and has said that Mr Eshchi was detained by the country's intelligence service. Afghanistan's Western allies have called for a prompt investigation, but the government has so far failed to question the vice-president. The delay prompted speculation that he might be forced into exile in Turkey instead. In 2008 Gen Dostum went to Turkey amid similar allegations that his personal militia had abducted, beaten and sexually assaulted a political rival in Kabul, then fired on police who responded to the incident.

['Afghanistan']

[{"entity": "Afghanistan", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Abdul Rashid Dostum", "label": "PER"}]

Afghanistan

["Afghanistan"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-34312528

Invasive species early warning methods tested

Marinas, fish farms and navigation buoys could be regularly monitored to help provide early warnings of the spread of invasive marine species.

Scientists examined the best ways of checking for non-native wildlife for a report commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). An estimated 58 invasive species cause at least £40m worth of damage a year to UK marine industries, the report said. The harmful wildlife include algae and Pacific oysters. The scientists tested several techniques for monitoring non-native species at sites on Scotland's west coast, including Loch Fyne and Firth of Lorn, and the Firth of Forth on the east coast. Objects checked for alien life included the submerged bottoms of Northern Lighthouse Board navigation buoys. The report has recommended that a network of sites could be surveyed for the presence of invasive plant and animal life.

['Nature', 'Animals']

[{"entity": "spread", "label": "DIS"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Nature", "Animals"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43897018

How knowing your genetic code could lengthen your life

Fifteen years ago this month, the full human genome sequence was published for the first time, heralding a new era of medicine. Since then technology has markedly speeded up genomic sequencing and reduced the cost. But have those hoped-for medical breakthroughs materialised?

"We have embarked on one of the most exciting chapters of the book of life," said Prof Allan Bradley, director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, as he welcomed the success of the Human Genome Project. Sequencing the human genome took 10 years and cost about $3bn (£2.2bn). Now advances in computing power have seen the cost of human genome sequencing fall to under $500. A firm called Oxford Nanopore has even developed a hand-held reader that can sequence genetic material in minutes. Dr Gordon Sanghera, the firm's chief executive, talks about creating "the internet of living things - real time connection of live DNA information" using such portable devices. And the applications won't just be for healthcare, he argues, but for establishing the provenance of food in restaurants, or the presence of dangerous microbes in food factories or water supplies. It could also be used for analysing DNA evidence at crime scenes. "It's like the ultimate barcode," he says. A single strand of DNA is one ten-thousandth the width of a human hair, but the hand-held reader, called MinION, squeezes each strand through a tiny hole - the nanopore - and reads its electrical signals. These signals are instantly converted into a DNA sequence. Dr Sanghera, whose firm has raised more than £450m in investment so far, believes the device could eventually be used to diagnose common infections at home and so reduce needless trips to the doctor and the over-prescription of antibiotics. Within the next 10 years, "everyone will get sequenced at birth", he says, and we'll be able to assess whether we have genetic dispositions to particular diseases and take preventative steps accordingly. This reduction in the cost of genomic sequencing has seen the number of completed sequences rise quickly. DNA sequencing company Illumina - worth $35bn on the US stock market - estimates that more than 500,000 human genomes have now been sequenced worldwide. But it is how this data will be combined with other data and analysed that is causing excitement. The UK Biobank, established in 2007 by the Wellcome Trust, has enlisted 500,000 volunteers who've shared their medical data anonymously in the hope of improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. Scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, used Biobank data to highlight the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes among shift workers. The researchers found that people who worked irregular shift patterns were 44% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people working permanent day shifts. Now, genetic data will be added to the mix. In April, UK Biobank announced that it plans to sequence the full genomes of 50,000 volunteers by 2019. The project will be funded by a £30m Medical Research Council grant and conducted by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge. A consortium of companies, led by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, has already vowed to read and analyse volunteers' exome data - a small subset of the entire genome - with each member investing $10m in the project. There are great hopes that such genomic data, analysed by artificial intelligence (AI), will help speed up the diagnosis of cancers and lead to more targeted treatments. Swiss company Sophia Genetics has developed an AI that has been used in the diagnosis of 200,000 patients in more than 400 hospitals across 55 countries. "Sophia has the capability of paving the way towards a collective intelligence that will help diagnose and treat every patient precisely and equally around the world," claims Sophia Genetics boss Dr Jurgi Camblong. Billions of data points are analysed in just a few minutes. These results are refined by the healthcare community, which helps the algorithm to become smarter. Tests that would normally take months can now be done in hours. "We have embarked on one of the most exciting chapters of the book of life," said Prof Allan Bradley, director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, as he welcomed the success of the Human Genome Project. Sequencing the human genome took 10 years and cost about $3bn (£2.2bn). Now advances in computing power have seen the cost of human genome sequencing fall to under $500. A firm called Oxford Nanopore has even developed a hand-held reader that can sequence genetic material in minutes. Dr Gordon Sanghera, the firm's chief executive, talks about creating "the internet of living things - real time connection of live DNA information" using such portable devices. And the applications won't just be for healthcare, he argues, but for establishing the provenance of food in restaurants, or the presence of dangerous microbes in food factories or water supplies. It could also be used for analysing DNA evidence at crime scenes. "It's like the ultimate barcode," he says. A single strand of DNA is one ten-thousandth the width of a human hair, but the hand-held reader, called MinION, squeezes each strand through a tiny hole - the nanopore - and reads its electrical signals. These signals are instantly converted into a DNA sequence. Dr Sanghera, whose firm has raised more than £450m in investment so far, believes the device could eventually be used to diagnose common infections at home and so reduce needless trips to the doctor and the over-prescription of antibiotics. Within the next 10 years, "everyone will get sequenced at birth", he says, and we'll be able to assess whether we have genetic dispositions to particular diseases and take preventative steps accordingly. This reduction in the cost of genomic sequencing has seen the number of completed sequences rise quickly. DNA sequencing company Illumina - worth $35bn on the US stock market - estimates that more than 500,000 human genomes have now been sequenced worldwide. But it is how this data will be combined with other data and analysed that is causing excitement. The UK Biobank, established in 2007 by the Wellcome Trust, has enlisted 500,000 volunteers who've shared their medical data anonymously in the hope of improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. Scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, used Biobank data to highlight the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes among shift workers. The researchers found that people who worked irregular shift patterns were 44% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people working permanent day shifts. Now, genetic data will be added to the mix. In April, UK Biobank announced that it plans to sequence the full genomes of 50,000 volunteers by 2019. The project will be funded by a £30m Medical Research Council grant and conducted by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge. A consortium of companies, led by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, has already vowed to read and analyse volunteers' exome data - a small subset of the entire genome - with each member investing $10m in the project. There are great hopes that such genomic data, analysed by artificial intelligence (AI), will help speed up the diagnosis of cancers and lead to more targeted treatments. Swiss company Sophia Genetics has developed an AI that has been used in the diagnosis of 200,000 patients in more than 400 hospitals across 55 countries. "Sophia has the capability of paving the way towards a collective intelligence that will help diagnose and treat every patient precisely and equally around the world," claims Sophia Genetics boss Dr Jurgi Camblong. Billions of data points are analysed in just a few minutes. These results are refined by the healthcare community, which helps the algorithm to become smarter. Tests that would normally take months can now be done in hours. "We are entering a new era where we will be able to cluster patients' cancer cases in virtual cohorts and determine whether the cancer of a specific patient looks like the one of 10,000 other patients," says Dr Camblong. Doctors will then know which treatment worked best for that type of person with that type of cancer. The AI engine was recently boosted with radiomics capabilities, which is the ability to extract useful information from medical images - of tumours, for example. If you can predict how a tumour is likely to develop you can treat it more effectively, says Dr Camblong. "We are at the beginning of a revolution in healthcare," says Ruth March, vice-president and head of precision medicine and genomics at pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. "An increasing number of patients are being matched with precision medicines due to the growing understanding of the genetic drivers of disease. Patients can be treated with medicines most likely to benefit them." Some companies believe genomics linked with other health data analysis could help us lead longer, healthier lives. For example, human genome pioneer Prof Craig Venter is co-founder and chairman of Human Longevity Inc (HLI), a firm aiming to give us all "data-driven health intelligence". "We're fighting medical tradition where we wait until people are sick before we treat them," says Prof Venter. HLI has teamed up with Amra, a world leader in body composition analysis, to combine genomic analysis with metabolic profiling. The aim is to give patients a detailed understanding of their fat and muscle measurements from a simple six-minute scan. But dramatic medical breakthroughs have been tougher to come by than many had hoped at the start of the genomics era. "The completion of the human genome project held out much hope for the better understanding and treatment of diseases. "But as is usually the case, we had underestimated the complexity of the relationship of genome to disease and health," concludes IBM's Laxmi Parida. Yet this is only the beginning - in the genomics era, healthcare is irrevocably changing. "We are entering a new era where we will be able to cluster patients' cancer cases in virtual cohorts and determine whether the cancer of a specific patient looks like the one of 10,000 other patients," says Dr Camblong. Doctors will then know which treatment worked best for that type of person with that type of cancer. The AI engine was recently boosted with radiomics capabilities, which is the ability to extract useful information from medical images - of tumours, for example. If you can predict how a tumour is likely to develop you can treat it more effectively, says Dr Camblong. "We are at the beginning of a revolution in healthcare," says Ruth March, vice-president and head of precision medicine and genomics at pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. "An increasing number of patients are being matched with precision medicines due to the growing understanding of the genetic drivers of disease. Patients can be treated with medicines most likely to benefit them." Some companies believe genomics linked with other health data analysis could help us lead longer, healthier lives. For example, human genome pioneer Prof Craig Venter is co-founder and chairman of Human Longevity Inc (HLI), a firm aiming to give us all "data-driven health intelligence". "We're fighting medical tradition where we wait until people are sick before we treat them," says Prof Venter. HLI has teamed up with Amra, a world leader in body composition analysis, to combine genomic analysis with metabolic profiling. The aim is to give patients a detailed understanding of their fat and muscle measurements from a simple six-minute scan. But dramatic medical breakthroughs have been tougher to come by than many had hoped at the start of the genomics era. "The completion of the human genome project held out much hope for the better understanding and treatment of diseases. "But as is usually the case, we had underestimated the complexity of the relationship of genome to disease and health," concludes IBM's Laxmi Parida. Yet this is only the beginning - in the genomics era, healthcare is irrevocably changing.

['Medical research', 'Medicine', 'Medical technology']

[{"entity": "era of medicine", "label": "TIME"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Medical research", "Medicine", "Medical technology"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35773851

Letter from Africa: Ghana opens doors to other Africans

In our series of letters from African journalists, Ghanaian writer Elizabeth Ohene reflects on Ghana's decision to remove visa requirements for citizens of all African countries.

After President John Dramani Mahama delivered his State of the Nation address two weeks ago, most of the discussions were on local and internal affairs, and this being an election year in the country, the debates were heated and will continue for a long time. But hidden somewhere in the speech and lost in all the discussion was a major foreign affairs initiative which slipped by without media reporting or analysis and it seems likely people may have missed this completely. Ghana's new visa-on-arrival policy for citizens of African Union (AU) member states, to be introduced from July, only came to light after an announcement from the pan-African body. Nationals from African countries complain loudly about the humiliations they go through to get visas for Europe and the United States but the process for African visas is often just as frustrating. Anyone who has tried to cross borders on the African continent will have experienced the difficulties with travelling in Africa. Air fares cost more than anywhere else and few roads or railways connect the countries to each other. The immigration and police check points turn the journeys into veritable obstacle courses. We no longer have to go through Europe to fly to each other's countries, but flight connections are so few and so random, you are tempted to resort to the old routes through Europe to go to the country next door. However, this is nothing compared to the hassle one has to go through to get visas for another African country. Business people trading in the continent felt frustrated in the past at spending weeks trying to get visas for each country. They pointed out that once armed with a European Schengen visa, they could travel through many European countries and conduct business without hassle. Unsurprisingly Ecowas, the West African regional body established in 1975 was at the time considered an attractive union due to the introduction of visa-free travel among member states. Continental organizations like the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), formed to foster cooperation between African states and its successor the African Union (AU), launched in 2002, have few passionate supporters these days in Ghana as they are seen as pointless bureaucracies that have no bearing on the lives of people. President Mahama's policy could boost AU's significance once again. African unity was taken very seriously here in Ghana. It was our first President, Kwame Nkrumah, who was the driving force behind the establishment of the OAU back in 1963. During the struggle for independence, Ghana provided a place of refuge for many freedom fighters, especially from South Africa with many being given Ghanaian passports. As countries gained independence, Ghanaians were dismayed to discover they were not particularly welcome in these countries. In the early years of Ghana's independence, and before the establishment of Ecowas, there were visa exemptions for "persons of African descent" born in the neighbouring west African countries, and members of the Casablanca group, which consisted of Guinea, Tunisia, Mali, United Arab Republic, Morocco and Algeria. But these arrangements were scrapped after the overthrow of President Nkrumah. With the new visa policy, Ghanaians will be watching to see if the number of non-Ecowas African nationals coming to Ghana will rise. We in Ghana have a reputation for restless feet and are always trying to find new destinations to get to. Obtaining visas for travel is often the greatest obstacle to travel and any country that makes it easier for us to enter becomes very attractive. Whilst many here will be feeling that Ghana is taking a lead in implementing an AU directive, there will be greater interest in knowing how many other African countries will be allowing Ghanaians to enter their countries on a visa-on arrival policy. More from Elizabeth Ohene: How to insult a politician Ghana's fondness for creative language Our presidents are addicted to titles Britain's speedy high-drama elections seen through Ghanaian eyes Should Ghanaians be given a three-day-weekend to attend funerals? Taking advantage of a crisis Tolerating fufu made in a microwave

['Ghana']

[{"entity": "Elizabeth Ohene", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Ghana", "label": "LOC"}]

Elizabeth Ohene ||| Ghana

["Ghana"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45910179

Cannabis in Canada: Shortages, fines and Girl Guide cookies

As Canada became the second country to legalise marijuana on Wednesday, some areas faced their first major challenge as supply failed to meet demand.

Customers queued for hours. Some retailers sold out on the first day, and shortages continued on Thursday. Online shoppers also faced delays as the new law came into effect, with high volumes affecting websites. Customers were warned to expect shipping delays of up to five days, as a postal strike looms next week. But the change was also lucrative: more than C$660,000 ($506,000; £387,000) was reportedly spent on the first day in Nova Scotia, one of Canada's smallest provinces. Shortages were reported in Newfoundland and Saskatchewan, and in the Arctic territory of Nunavut. Queues were still present at many outlets on Thursday, as customers turned away on the first day came back to try again. Traders weren't the only ones to take advantage of legalisation. Nine-year-old Girl Guide Elina Childs manage to raise C$120 by selling cookies to customers outside a cannabis shop in Edmonton, Alberta. There are still some restrictions on cannabis use and it did not take long for the first penalties to be issued, with one driver in Manitoba receiving a fine of C$672 for smoking in a vehicle. A member of the Winnipeg Police Service traffic division told CBC that the ticket was issued around 01:00 local time on Wednesday (06:00 GMT) - just an hour after cannabis consumption became legal. Canadian provinces and municipalities had been preparing for months for the end of cannabis prohibition, with legislation varying across the country. The change was a 2015 campaign promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who argued that previous drug laws were ineffective. He said the new law was designed to keep drugs out of the hands of minors and profits out of the hands of criminals. But there has also been opposition to the change, including from health officials.

['Cannabis ', 'Legality of cannabis', 'Canada']

[{"entity": "Canada", "label": "LOC"}]

Canada

["Cannabis ", "Legality of cannabis", "Canada"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-34068727

Food and drink sector 'could create 14,000 jobs'

Food and drink companies could create 14,000 jobs over the next five years, according to a Bank of Scotland report.

The study said several firms had ambitious plans to create new products, target fresh markets and create more jobs. However, many of the companies warned they were hampered by increasing regulation and rising labour costs. The conclusions were made in the annual Bank of Scotland Fresh Opportunity and Growth report. Scotland's food and drink industry is already an important part of the Scottish economy and there are ambitious plans to grow it from its current value of £14bn to £16.5bn by 2017. This report suggests good progress is being made. Over the next five years, two thirds of businesses expect to develop new products and expand their international operations. More than three-quarters said they had benefited from the reputation Scotland's food and drink enjoyed overseas. Two-thirds of respondents were planning to create new roles in the next five years, which, if replicated across the entire industry in Scotland, could mean the creation of more than 14,000 positions. Graham Blair, an area director of the Bank of Scotland's commercial banking sector, said: "Scottish food and drink manufacturers of all sizes are making ambitious plans for significant growth, cementing the sector as one of Scotland's key economic contributors. "Scotland's food and drink sector has a significant impact on Scotland's Gross Value Added and this year's report gives every indication that this input will become even stronger." James Withers, chief executive at industry body Scotland Food & Drink, added: "One element of Scotland's reputation for world-class produce is our heritage and tradition, but that can still marry well with smart product innovation, tapping into fast-changing consumer and market trends. "One of the most important catalysts for Scotland's remarkable food and drink growth in recent years has been the development of a new culture of collaboration. Different sectors, from seafood to red meat to whisky, now work together to build our national reputation. "Competition is healthy but collaboration opens up new markets and relationships." Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment Richard Lochhead said that the "story of growth, development, and success" in the Scottish food and drink sector since 2008 was "remarkable". He added: "With unprecedented industry turnover growth; huge export growth of over 50%, new markets opened up across the world; and greatly improved collaboration between all parts of the industry. "For the industry to continue to grow and flourish it is vital there is a strong investment in skills, innovation and research. "It is heartening therefore to see the confidence that our food and drink companies are displaying in predicting the need for many new jobs over the coming years that can help us capitalise on our fantastic larder and natural resources and enhance Scotland's reputation as a land of food and drink."

['Food industry', 'Bank of Scotland']

[{"entity": "Bank of Scotland", "label": "ORG"}]

Bank of Scotland

["Food industry", "Bank of Scotland"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-44966768

Birmingham manager Garry Monk signs fan's cheeky tattoo

Birmingham City manager Garry Monk has signed the cheeky tattoo of a fan who lost a bet.

Kevin Tomlinson pledged to have the manager's face tattooed on his backside if Blues beat Fulham on the last day of the Championship. Monk's side won 3-1 to clinch survival, ending Fulham's 23-game unbeaten run. Monk, who donated £80 towards the tattoo, signed it on Wednesday at St Andrew's. The club said it was a "masterpiece". The Blues boss had donated to fund the inking to ensure Mr Tomlinson reached his initial £100 target. Mr Tomlinson raised more than £400 in his appeal, with remaining monies going to the Justice for the 21 campaign. Speaking after their meeting, Mr Tomlinson thanked Monk for all he had done and wished him good luck for the season. Earlier this month, football fans said they had no regrets after having World Cup-based tattoos in support of the England team who lost out in the semi-finals to Croatia.

['Birmingham']

[{"entity": "Birmingham City", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Garry Monk", "label": "PER"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Birmingham"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57876608

Covid:-19 Decision on vaccinations for under-18s 'within days'

A decision on routinely offering Covid jabs to under-18s will be made within days, a senior minister has said.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the government was "very sympathetic" to the idea of inviting children aged 12 to 17 to have a jab. It comes as every adult in the UK has now been offered a vaccine, with the prime minister hailing the "extraordinary achievement". England and Scotland are set to ease restrictions from Monday. It comes as more than 50,000 daily coronavirus cases were recorded on both Friday and Saturday - levels last seen in January. So far, around 88% of adults have had a first dose and around 68% have had both, according to the latest figures. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises government ministers on which people should be offered a vaccine. Mr Jenrick told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "We are still awaiting the final advice from the JCVI about extending the vaccination programme to younger people. "It seems like a sensible thing to do. The evidence we have received so far is compelling and ministers are going to make a decision armed with the advice in the coming days." If it does get the go-ahead, those just short of their 18th birthday are likely to be invited to have a vaccine first, along with those who have health vulnerabilities and children who live in households with others who are more vulnerable. His comments come after a report in the Sunday Telegraph said that the JCVI is believed to have advised ministers against a mass vaccination programme for all children until further evidence of the risks is available. According to the Telegraph, guidance this week is expected to say the vaccine should be offered only to vulnerable 12 to 15-year-olds and to those who are within three months of turning 18. More than 46 million people have been given a jab since the UK's Covid vaccine rollout began in December 2020. Mr Johnson promised in February that all adults would be offered a first dose by the end of July, and the Health Secretary Sajid Javid said last month that the government wanted two-thirds of UK adults to have had two by 19 July. The prime minister urged anyone who had not booked their vaccine to do so and thanked those who had taken up their offer. "You are the reason we are able to cautiously ease restrictions next week, and return closer towards normal life," he said. "Now let's finish the job." But in Scotland, almost a third of younger adults remain unvaccinated - despite the fact that by the end of Sunday, all over-18s will have been offered an appointment to have their first dose. Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said some had re-arranged appointments and would receive the jab shortly. The UK recorded 54,674 Covid cases on Saturday - following 51,870 new cases on Friday - as well as 41 deaths within 28 days of a positive test. The last time cases exceeded 50,000 was 15 January. Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who has been doubled jabbed, announced on Saturday he had tested positive for coronavirus and was isolating. It is understood Mr Javid met Boris Johnson at Downing Street on Friday - the prime minister is now self-isolating at Chequers. Chancellor Rishi Sunak was also contacted by NHS Test and Trace and is isolating. Almost all legal restrictions on social contact are to be lifted in England on Monday. New travel rules will also come into effect, allowing people who are double-jabbed to return to the UK from amber list countries without quarantining - except for those returning to England, Wales and Scotland from France, because of concerns over the prevalence of the Beta variant there. The prime minister has described England's approach to easing lockdown as "cautious but irreversible". But Jeremy Hunt, chairman of the Commons health select committee, said on Saturday the government was likely to have to reintroduce some controls in the autumn, as rising case numbers and hospital admissions meant the NHS was facing a "very serious" situation. England's deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, warned of a "bumpy winter" ahead. He urged people to approach the easing of restrictions in "a cautious, steady, gradual way". Social distancing rules will end in England on Monday, although government guidelines advise face coverings should still be worn in enclosed spaces such as in shops and on public transport. Scotland will move to level zero of Covid restrictions on Monday, meaning pubs and restaurants can open until midnight. However, limits on outdoor meetings will remain, the return of workers to offices will be delayed and face coverings will still be mandatory. Most Covid rules in Wales are set to be scrapped from 7 August., but face coverings will still be required in most public places and on public transport. In Northern Ireland, restrictions will be eased further on 26 July, if approved at a review on 22 July.

['Coronavirus lockdown measures', 'Coronavirus vaccines', 'Boris Johnson', 'Department of Health & Social Care', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[{"entity": "Covid", "label": "ORG"}]

Covid

["Coronavirus lockdown measures", "Coronavirus vaccines", "Boris Johnson", "Department of Health & Social Care", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40891774

Hate crime reports rose after terror attacks, police say

Hate crime reports surged in the days immediately after three terror attacks in the UK this year, police data shows.

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) registered "brief increases" in hate crime reports following attacks at Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge, but not after Finsbury Park. The incidents were reported to forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. NPCC hate crime lead, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, said reports "quickly subsided within a few days". There have been four terror attacks in Britain in 2017 - at Westminster Bridge in London on 22 March, Manchester Arena on 22 May, London Bridge on 3 June and at Finsbury Park in London on 19 June. Police recorded 234 hate crime incidents two days after the Westminster attack, 273 reports two days after Manchester and 319 reports two days after London Bridge. Police said in 2016 there were on average 171 hate crimes per day - although this could be higher on weekends, where more hate crimes tended to be reported, or after specific events such as protest marches. In the week after each attack, hate crime reports increased by 12% after Westminster, 50% after Manchester and 34% after London Bridge. By contrast, hate crime reports were 7% lower in the week after the Finsbury Park attack, the NPCC said. Police said race or faith hate crime comprised the vast majority of reports. But the NPCC added that analysis of the data was "ongoing" and that year-on-year comparisons should be viewed with caution - last year, for example, hate crime reports increased after the EU referendum vote in June. ACC Hamilton said the figures were nevertheless a "real concern for the police service and wider society". He said: "We know that terrorist attacks and other national and global events have the potential to trigger short-term spikes in hate crime and so we have been carefully monitoring community tensions following recent horrific events. "As terrorists seek to divide us, it is more important than ever that we continue to stand united in the face of hostility and hatred."

['Westminster attack', 'Finsbury Park mosque attack', 'Manchester Arena attack', 'Counter-terrorism', 'London Bridge attack ']

[{"entity": "UK", "label": "LOC"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Westminster attack", "Finsbury Park mosque attack", "Manchester Arena attack", "Counter-terrorism", "London Bridge attack "]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36633474

What are 'safe haven' investments in stormy markets?

These are worrying times for investors.

When the markets opened on Friday in the wake of Britain's decision to leave the European Union, the FTSE 100 plunged hundreds of points in minutes, wiping billions off the value of banks, homebuilders and retailers in particular. There were similar sell-offs in European, US and Asian markets - a $2 trillion (£1.5tn) haemorrhaging. Although the FTSE recovered some of those losses by the end of the day, it still ended down more than 3% - a huge fall ordinarily. Sterling experienced its biggest fall for decades, at one point down more than 11% against the dollar. For a few hours, it seemed like the sky was falling in. The market turmoil triggered a "flight to safety", as investors looked for calmer waters elsewhere. But where are these safer investments? When the markets opened on Friday in the wake of Britain's decision to leave the European Union, the FTSE 100 plunged hundreds of points in minutes, wiping billions off the value of banks, homebuilders and retailers in particular. There were similar sell-offs in European, US and Asian markets - a $2 trillion (£1.5tn) haemorrhaging. Although the FTSE recovered some of those losses by the end of the day, it still ended down more than 3% - a huge fall ordinarily. Sterling experienced its biggest fall for decades, at one point down more than 11% against the dollar. For a few hours, it seemed like the sky was falling in. The market turmoil triggered a "flight to safety", as investors looked for calmer waters elsewhere. But where are these safer investments? The precious metal has traditionally been the comfort blanket of choice, with investors clinging to its reassuring solidity and comparative rarity - only about 165,000 tonnes of the stuff has ever been mined. Throughout human history gold has been synonymous with wealth and luxury - a tangible repository of value - and for hundreds of years was used as a currency in its own right. Major economies even pegged their currencies to the gold standard, because the metal was seen to be such a stable store of value. The Bank of England gave up on the gold standard in 1931, but the US didn't completely give it up until 1971. So it is not surprising that gold rose nearly 5% to more than $1,310 an ounce on Friday and has risen 12% over the year to date. The precious metal has traditionally been the comfort blanket of choice, with investors clinging to its reassuring solidity and comparative rarity - only about 165,000 tonnes of the stuff has ever been mined. Throughout human history gold has been synonymous with wealth and luxury - a tangible repository of value - and for hundreds of years was used as a currency in its own right. Major economies even pegged their currencies to the gold standard, because the metal was seen to be such a stable store of value. The Bank of England gave up on the gold standard in 1931, but the US didn't completely give it up until 1971. So it is not surprising that gold rose nearly 5% to more than $1,310 an ounce on Friday and has risen 12% over the year to date. Governments raise money from investors by offering to pay a guaranteed level of interest on bonds - effectively IOUs that must be repaid after a set period, which can be months or decades depending on the type of bond. In the UK these government bonds are called gilts; in many other countries they're called Treasuries. This type of investment is deemed to be relatively safe because there's less chance of a country going bust than there is of a company going bust. Bonds can be bought and sold on the open market and so their price fluctuates according to supply and demand, but the annual rate of interest remains the same. So as more people pile into them looking for safety, prices rise, but the yield - the actual amount of interest you receive - falls. But that's still better than losing lots of money in shares that are tanking on the markets. The price for safety is usually a lower investment return. So after the Brexit vote, the US 10-year Treasury bond yield fell to 1.56% while the UK 10-year gilt fell to a record low of 1.02% at one point. It was only the prospect of Bank of England intervention that helped the yield recover to 1.09%. Governments raise money from investors by offering to pay a guaranteed level of interest on bonds - effectively IOUs that must be repaid after a set period, which can be months or decades depending on the type of bond. In the UK these government bonds are called gilts; in many other countries they're called Treasuries. This type of investment is deemed to be relatively safe because there's less chance of a country going bust than there is of a company going bust. Bonds can be bought and sold on the open market and so their price fluctuates according to supply and demand, but the annual rate of interest remains the same. So as more people pile into them looking for safety, prices rise, but the yield - the actual amount of interest you receive - falls. But that's still better than losing lots of money in shares that are tanking on the markets. The price for safety is usually a lower investment return. So after the Brexit vote, the US 10-year Treasury bond yield fell to 1.56% while the UK 10-year gilt fell to a record low of 1.02% at one point. It was only the prospect of Bank of England intervention that helped the yield recover to 1.09%. The British pound took a kicking on Friday - down nearly 8% against the US dollar, nearly 6% against the euro, and a thumping 11% against the Japanese yen - as currency traders dumped sterling and bought other currencies fearing the economic turmoil that might follow the Brexit decision. While other currencies may seem like a safer investment, governments can intervene in a number of ways to stop their own currencies from growing too strong or too weak. Raising interest rates is one such measure, which means investors earn more interest on their cash, thereby attracting more investment in that currency. After investors started buying Swiss francs, pushing the currency up 6.6% against sterling on Friday, the Swiss National Bank intervened immediately, effectively flooding the market with its own currency to manage demand. It didn't want its exporters to suffer from a strong franc. So if you're searching for safer investments, currency speculation is unlikely to help you sleep much better at night. The British pound took a kicking on Friday - down nearly 8% against the US dollar, nearly 6% against the euro, and a thumping 11% against the Japanese yen - as currency traders dumped sterling and bought other currencies fearing the economic turmoil that might follow the Brexit decision. While other currencies may seem like a safer investment, governments can intervene in a number of ways to stop their own currencies from growing too strong or too weak. Raising interest rates is one such measure, which means investors earn more interest on their cash, thereby attracting more investment in that currency. After investors started buying Swiss francs, pushing the currency up 6.6% against sterling on Friday, the Swiss National Bank intervened immediately, effectively flooding the market with its own currency to manage demand. It didn't want its exporters to suffer from a strong franc. So if you're searching for safer investments, currency speculation is unlikely to help you sleep much better at night. Many investors simply sell up and go to cash until a clear picture emerges. While interest rates are at historic lows - the Bank of England has held the base rate at 0.5% since March 2009 - inflation is also very low at around 0.3%. So investors may be earning miserable rates of interest on cash, but at least high inflation isn't gnawing away at the buying power of that cash. Of course, selling up has its own risks. You crystallise any losses on your investments and incur dealing charges as well. But if you think there is more turmoil to come in the markets, stemming your losses may seem like the safest option. Many investors simply sell up and go to cash until a clear picture emerges. While interest rates are at historic lows - the Bank of England has held the base rate at 0.5% since March 2009 - inflation is also very low at around 0.3%. So investors may be earning miserable rates of interest on cash, but at least high inflation isn't gnawing away at the buying power of that cash. Of course, selling up has its own risks. You crystallise any losses on your investments and incur dealing charges as well. But if you think there is more turmoil to come in the markets, stemming your losses may seem like the safest option. When there is a general sell-off in equities (company shares), some sectors are hit harder than others. Housebuilders, for example, took the worst of it in the UK, with Taylor Wimpey crashing 29%, and Barratt, Berkeley and Bellway all falling more than 20%. Investors assumed a slowdown in economic activity post-Brexit would affect UK construction companies the most. But other sectors, like mining, bucked the trend as investors sought safety in gold and a weakening pound worked in their favour, given that their earnings are quoted in dollars. Randgold Resources, which operates mainly in Africa, was up 14% on Friday, for example. Globally spread companies that make a lot of sales abroad, like Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline and Rolls-Royce, for example, are also considered good stocks to cling to in choppy waters. When there is a general sell-off in equities (company shares), some sectors are hit harder than others. Housebuilders, for example, took the worst of it in the UK, with Taylor Wimpey crashing 29%, and Barratt, Berkeley and Bellway all falling more than 20%. Investors assumed a slowdown in economic activity post-Brexit would affect UK construction companies the most. But other sectors, like mining, bucked the trend as investors sought safety in gold and a weakening pound worked in their favour, given that their earnings are quoted in dollars. Randgold Resources, which operates mainly in Africa, was up 14% on Friday, for example. Globally spread companies that make a lot of sales abroad, like Unilever, GlaxoSmithKline and Rolls-Royce, for example, are also considered good stocks to cling to in choppy waters.

['Personal investment', 'Stock markets', 'UK economy']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Personal investment", "Stock markets", "UK economy"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29062640

One in five child deaths 'preventable'

One in five child deaths in England could be prevented, according to reports in The Lancet.

Around 5,000 die each year, with 15- to 17-year-olds having the highest proportion of preventable deaths from suicide, accidents, abuse and neglect. The University of Warwick researchers said more could be done to cut future deaths by tackling child poverty and spotting serious illnesses sooner. Overall, child mortality in high-income countries has fallen to very low rates. In a series of three reports looking at child deaths in high-income countries, researchers used previously published figures to compare death rates. They also looked in detail at patterns of child mortality in England and Wales and sometimes for the UK. In the past one hundred years, the number of child deaths in England and Wales has fallen in all age groups, the report says. Infant deaths - before the age of one - which have always shown the highest mortality rates, decreased from 7.88 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 4.36 in 2011. In other age groups, deaths have fallen by nearly 50% since 1990. Deaths of children diagnosed with chronic, life-limiting diseases make up at least half of all child mortality in England and Wales. However, the report said compared with many other European countries, child mortality in the UK remained high because of the income gap between rich and poor. The reports found that child mortality rates tended to be higher in the Midlands and north of England, and lower in the south and east, appearing to affect poorer families disproportionately. At all ages, death rates were higher in boys than girls. Dr Peter Sidebotham, series lead author and associate professor of child health at the University of Warwick, said more could be done to prevent child deaths across all age groups. "It needs to be recognised that many child deaths could be prevented through a combination of changes in long-term political commitment, welfare services to tackle child poverty, and health-care services. "Politicians should recognise that child survival is as much linked to socio-economic policies that reduce inequality as it is to a country's overall gross domestic product and systems of healthcare delivery." Focusing on three "key areas" where child mortality rates could be improved, the researchers said strategies to promote a healthy, no-smoking lifestyle to women during pregnancy would help to reduce stillbirth and perinatal deaths, up to seven days after birth. To prevent child deaths due to natural causes, they recommended "enhanced and extended training of family doctors" and improved communication with parents and families when it came to spotting signs of illness or failing health. They also said "there was a strong economic and ethical argument to target prevention strategies at the most vulnerable" to reduce deaths due to injuries and suicides in older children. The authors concluded that all countries should explore the different factors that contribute to every child death. They said this knowledge could be used to help prevent more deaths. Dr Sidebotham said: "Child death review processes that are being developed in many high-income countries provide important details of the circumstances surrounding a death and can add to a greater understanding of how and why children die. "To be effective, child death reviews need to conducted by multi-disciplinary teams that share information about the circumstances of child deaths, with the goal of preventing future deaths and improving child health and welfare." Dr Hilary Cass, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said the figures were a serious wake-up call for both healthcare professionals and policymakers. She said the high levels of deaths caused by accidents, suicides, and abuse in 15-19-year-olds was worrying and action was needed. "It means equipping all professionals with the knowledge and skills to identify mental health difficulties early, better access to mental health support for children and young people, and making sure that Ofsted's inspection framework for early years settings, schools and colleges includes consideration of the extent to which these settings promote children and young people's social and emotional wellbeing." She added: "We also want to see some practical measures such as the reduction of the national speed limit in built-up areas to 20mph and the introduction of Graduated Licensing Schemes for novice drivers to reduce road deaths."

['Poverty', 'Children']

[{"entity": "England", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "The Lancet", "label": "ORG"}]

England

["Poverty", "Children"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-32181193

Hampton Court celebrates 500 years

The history of Hampton Court Palace will be retold in one evening as part of celebrations to mark its five hundredth anniversary.

Live period music and a banquet prepared in the Tudor kitchen are just some of the activities being held later to mark the event. Actors will also be performing palace stories throughout the day. Declared a palace in 1530 by Henry VIII, the London building has hosted William Shakespeare. Rebuilt under the orders of Cardinal Wolsey in 1515, the palace also hosted the religious conference which led to the creation of the King James Bible. Deborah Shaw, from Hampton Court Palace, said the site had always been used to make a statement. "It was a real bling palace. It was a place to show off for... first of all for Wolsey when he started rebuilding it," she said. "He was on the European stage as a cardinal and he had to have a place to entertain ambassadors and obviously the king, and of course the king, Henry the VIII, loved it so much that he got Wolsey to rather obligingly hand it over." Celebrations will culminate in a party this evening where the historic palace's south facade will be lit up with animation and music displaying its 500-year history, ending with a 25-minute light show. Thousands of young people have been recruited to contribute to an animated film covering the history of the palace. Workshops have been held at the venue since February. Hampton Court Palace has hosted many royal honeymoons, meetings between Elizabeth I and her suitors and a performance from Handel. It is the place where Jane Seymour died, where Charles I was imprisoned and where William III suffered a fatal accident.

['Hampton Court']

[{"entity": "Hampton Court Palace", "label": "LOC"}]

Hampton Court Palace

["Hampton Court"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36228034

Britons with 'wrong passport' stopped from travelling to US

Britons travelling to the United States have been warned to check they have an e-passport, or risk being turned away.

Vic Ryan, from Lincoln, said his family holiday to Florida had been "totally ruined" after he was turned away at airport check-in because he had an old style passport. New rules requiring US visitors to have passports with a biometric trip came into force on 1 April. Tour operators have urged customers to check their passports. Biometric passports are identifiable on British passports by the camera logo at the bottom of the front cover, and have an embedded electronic chip holding the carrier's facial details, in a bid to combat fraud and forgery. It is understood that British passports affected are those issued between April and October 2006 - before the introduction of the biometric passport. Simon Calder, travel editor at the Independent newspaper, estimates about 1.3 million British passports are currently valid but not biometric. In a Facebook post that was shared more than 60,000 times, Mr Ryan said he was prevented from boarding his flight on 1 May, despite having a passport valid for six months, because it was not biometric. "I have now spent best part of three hours on the phone being passed from pillar to post," he said. "And had to fork out over £500 to try and get to the US on Wednesday to meet up with a very distraught family to try and rescue a totally ruined holiday." Despite booking through travel agent Thomson, and filling in advanced passenger information and Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta), the issue was never flagged, he said. Thomson said it was "sorry to hear that a small number of customers had been unclear on the passport and visa guidelines" for entry to the US. "We also advise customers it's their responsibility to check the passport, visa and health requirements for their holiday destination," the company said, adding that it was also reviewing how it could better highlight the issue to customers. The new rules, which were decided in as part of an anti-terrorism strategy in December 2015, say that only people with a biometric passport will be allowed entry to the United States from 1 April 2016. US Homeland Security states: UK passports which are biometric feature a small gold symbol at the bottom of the front cover. Any Briton travelling to the US for tourism or business for 90 days or less also needs fill in a form to obtain a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta). This is not a visa, but is part of a system to increase security for travellers entering the US from the 38 countries signed up to the Visa Waiver Programme - including the UK. Babies, and those passing through America in transit, also need an Esta. Hannah Elphick, 25, told BBC Radio 5 live her partner Kevin Nash was refused travel at Stansted Airport check-in on 6 April. She was forced to go without him to Florida with their two-year-old, Kloe. "It was awful, we were all pretty upset," she said, adding that it had taken more than two days and £700 for Mr Nash to finally get to the US. "What annoys me most is that British Airways didn't inform me when I phoned them," she said. British Airways said: "Customers should ensure they have the relevant documents before they travel."​ The relevant information is on its website, and customers are prompted when booking and later reminded again by email, the company said. Sean Tipton, from the Association of British Agents (ABTA), said airlines and travel agents "certainly should have been" alerting customers. "We sent out two notifications to our members saying rules were changing and people needed to be informed. From our side, we did tell them to do so," he said. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has encouraged travellers to check they have the right passport, and said warnings had been issued on their website and via email where possible. Those without an e-passport and who wished to travel to the US could obtain a non-immigrant visa, a spokeswoman said. Such visas can be applied for and obtained from the nearest US embassy or consulate, according to advice on the Home Office website.

['Travel', 'Travel & leisure industry', 'Air travel']

[{"entity": "United States", "label": "LOC"}]

United States

["Travel", "Travel & leisure industry", "Air travel"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47121851

Brexit: EU digs heels in over deal

So. How open does the EU seem almost a week on from parliament narrowly voting in favour of an amendment to find alternatives to the backstop guarantee to keep the Irish border open after Brexit?

After all, with every passing day as we've heard , again and again and again, the clock is ticking us all towards an increased chance of a no-deal Brexit with all the costs and chaos that could involve. Well, if I were to speak in weather forecast terms, I might describe current EU attitudes as frosty with a chance of ice. If Theresa May comes to Brussels later this week, she will be received politely and listened to attentively. But if her EU ask remains centred around getting a time limit to, or allowing the UK a unilateral get-out mechanism from, the Irish border backstop or if she pushes again for pure technology as a means of avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, then the likelihood of her being sent home empty-handed - or as good as - is very high indeed. This is not because the EU has suddenly become cavalier about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit - far from it. The club may be over the moon about just sealing the world's largest ever bilateral deal with Japan but that's no replacement for trade and cooperation with neighbouring UK. It's just that the EU sees so many reasons not to budge over the backstop: solidarity with EU club member Ireland over "caving in" to departing member UK; defending the Good Friday Agreement and the Northern Ireland peace process; and above all (in the eyes, hearts and pockets of many EU politicians and businesses) defending the integrity of the EU's single market. So when Sajid Javid, the UK's home secretary, announced at the weekend that sorting out the backstop would just involve "a bit of good will" on behalf of the EU, I could almost hear the groans of European exasperation from my Brussels living room. This is something that those in the UK who knowingly repeat that "the EU will give in, in the end" perhaps don't fully appreciate. The EU certainly does budge at times, even when it has repeatedly ruled out such a move but it performs U-turns out of self-interest, to safeguard the bloc in some way. Take the oft-cited Greek debt crisis - the EU acted in the interest of the eurozone currency. That is ultimately why it changed its line on member country Greece. The Brussels calculation is that a no-deal Brexit would be damaging for the EU but exposing the entire EU single market to clear vulnerabilities would be the worst of two evils. The backstop guarantee for the Irish border ensures a means of sealing the long, meandering, porous border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in a way that technology alone (as many Brexiteers are suggesting) cannot. The EU worries about tariff-dodging and about non-EU standard products being smuggled into the EU's single market "through the back door" - via Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. If technology alone could seal a border in terms of customs and regulatory checks then you would no longer see the existing infrastructure in place between close allies and neighbours non-EU Norway and EU member Sweden or between Switzerland, which has very tight relations with the European Union, and its EU neighbours. So, instead of dramatically changing or weakening the backstop, the EU is more than happy - as officials indicated today to visiting members of the UK's parliamentary Brexit Select Committee - to repeat or re-package its previous reassurances about the backstop. For example: An important aside on the transition period: there's a new proposal the EU understands is now being championed by Downing Street - The Malthouse Compromise. Brussels would likely reject this, not only because it seeks to rewrite the backstop but because it suggests paying the EU to extend the transition period even in the case of a no-deal Brexit. The EU argues (and this is included in the text of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement) that if the Brexit deal is not passed by the House of Commons, there will be no transition period. Full stop. Now, the EU is not at all convinced that re-hashing assurances about the backstop will be enough to satisfy MPs who voted to change it. They believe the bar set by the DUP and hard-line Brexiteers is too high for any tweaks the EU might be willing to make. Which leaves EU leaders sceptical that Theresa May actually has the majority of MPs behind her. Just this weekend for example, the EU's deputy chief Brexit negotiator, Sabine Weyand, retweeted a UK commentator pointing out signs of splintering in the brief truce inside the Conservative Party. Which is why the EU will continue to show ice-cold resolve - at least for now. Hoping, by not giving an inch over the backstop, that the Prime Minister will be forced to look across the political divide, to the Labour Party, for another means to find parliamentary support for the Brexit Deal - such as opting for a permanent customs union with the EU. This is the EU's hope. But European diplomats see in Theresa May a politician who likes sticking to her Plan A's. From the beginning we've discussed the big possibility that with such a divided country, parliament, party and cabinet, the prime minister will simply keep playing for time, inching forward small step by small step until so close to the cliff-edge of having no Brexit deal at all that most MPs will end up backing her and her deal at the very last moment. This is high-risk brinkmanship. Dublin is deeply concerned about the consequences of a no deal Brexit - for peace above all but also about the impact on the Irish economy. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar heads to Brussels this Wednesday for high-level meetings. That same day his deputy flies to Washington to lobby for US support to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and to ensure the Irish border stays open. Could US disapproval over UK pressure on the backstop makes things more complicated for a future UK-US trade deal? It won't make things any simpler.

['Brexit']

[{"entity": "Irish", "label": "LOC"}]

Irish

["Brexit"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-55915354

Myanmar coup: Detained Aung San Suu Kyi faces charges

Police in Myanmar, also known as Burma, have filed several charges against the elected civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi following Monday's military coup.

She has been remanded in custody until 15 February, police documents show. The charges include breaching import and export laws, and possession of unlawful communication devices. Her whereabouts are still unclear, but it has been reported that she is being held at her residence in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw. Deposed President Win Myint has also been charged, the documents show - in his case with violating rules banning gatherings during the Covid pandemic. He has also been remanded in custody for two weeks. Neither the president nor Ms Suu Kyi have been heard from since the military seized power in the early hours of 1 February. The coup, led by armed forces chief Min Aung Hlaing, has seen the installation of an 11-member junta which is ruling under a year-long state of emergency. The military sought to justify its action by alleging fraud in last November's elections, which Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won decisively. The accusations are contained in a police document - called a First Initial Report - submitted to a court. It alleges that Ms Suu Kyi illegally imported and used communications equipment - walkie-talkies - found at her home in Nay Pyi Taw. She was remanded in custody "to question witnesses, request evidence and seek legal counsel after questioning the defendant", the document says. Mr Win Myint is accused, under the National Disaster Management Law, of meeting supporters in a 220-vehicle motorcade during the election campaign in breach of Covid restrictions. Given the gravity of the military's power grab, claiming that Myanmar's national unity was at stake, and the storm of international condemnation that's followed, these charges seem comically trivial. But they may be enough to secure the military's objective of barring Aung San Suu Kyi from political office, as members of parliament cannot have criminal convictions. For 32 years the generals have tried, and failed, to neutralise the threat posed by Aung San Suu Kyi's enduring popularity. She has won every election she's been allowed to contest by a wide margin. The only election she did not win was one held by the military government 10 years ago - back then she was also barred from contesting by a bizarre criminal conviction which was imposed on her after an American man managed to swim across a lake in Yangon to her home, where she was being held under house arrest. Activists in Myanmar are calling for civil disobedience. Many hospital medics are either stopping work or continuing but wearing symbols of defiance in simmering anger over the suppression of Myanmar's short-lived democracy. Protesting medical staff say they are pushing for the release of Ms Suu Kyi. They are wearing red, or black, ribbons and pictured giving the three-fingered salute familiar from the Hunger Games movies and used by demonstrators last year in Thailand. Online, many changed their social media profile pictures to one of just the colour red. "Now young people in Myanmar... have digital power, we have digital devices and we have digital space so this is the only platform for us" Yangon Youth Network founder Thinzar Shunlei told AFP. "So we've been using this since day one, since the first few hours that we are opposing the military junta." A Facebook group has been set up to co-ordinate the disobedience campaign. But there have been few signs of major protest. On Tuesday night, drivers honked their horns in the main city, Yangon (also known as Rangoon), and residents banged cooking pots. Myanmar has been mainly calm following the coup, with troops on patrol and a night-time curfew in force. There have also been demonstrations in support of the military - one attracted 3,000 people, AP news agency reports. Hundreds of MPs were also detained by the military but were told on Tuesday they could leave their guest houses in the capital. Among them is Zin Mar Aung, an NLD MP who spent 11 years in jail on political charges under military dictatorship. She told BBC Burmese she had now been given 24 hours to leave the MPs' compound. "Currently the situation is very very tough and challenging," she said. "Under the military coup it's very dangerous if we speak out about what will be our next steps... only thing that I can say is that the MPs of parliament will stand with our people and vote." The Group of Seven major economic powers said it was "deeply concerned" about the coup and called for the return of democracy. "We call upon the military to immediately end the state of emergency, restore power to the democratically-elected government, to release all those unjustly detained and to respect human rights," the statement released in London said. The G7 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. But efforts at the United Nations Security Council to reach a common position came to nought as China failed to agree. China is one of five permanent members with a right of veto in the council - the UN body responsible for maintaining peace. China has been warning since the coup that sanctions or international pressure would only make things worse in Myanmar. Beijing has long played a role of protecting the country from international scrutiny. It sees the country as economically important and is one of Myanmar's closest allies. Alongside Russia, it has repeatedly protected Myanmar from criticism at the UN over the military crackdown on the Muslim minority Rohingya population.

['Aung San Suu Kyi', 'Myanmar coup ', 'Nay Pyi Taw', 'Myanmar']

[{"entity": "Myanmar", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Burma", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Aung San Suu Kyi", "label": "PER"}]

Myanmar ||| Aung San Suu Kyi

["Aung San Suu Kyi", "Myanmar coup ", "Nay Pyi Taw", "Myanmar"]