Datasets:

faisaltareque

/

consum_v8

like 0

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37726675

Diabetes amputations 'eight times more likely' in parts of England

People living with diabetes in some parts of England are eight times more likely to suffer an amputation than others, latest figures show.

Scarborough in North Yorkshire, has the joint highest rate of amputations along with Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. They had 4.9 per 1,000 adults with diabetes, eight times more than Brent, north-west London, with only 0.6 per 1,000 patients in the past three years. Overall, the number of patients having an amputation is on the increase. According to the Hospital Episode Statistics and Quality and Outcomes Framework, there were 19,066 amputations carried out between 2009-12, and 22,109 between 2012-15 - an increase of 3,043. Dave Campbell, from Scarborough, lost four toes due to complications with diabetes. The true cost of type 2 diabetes He says he got an ulcer in his foot which became infected, resulting in him having two toes amputated. The same thing happened again two years later. "Fortunately I still have the big toe, which is very helpful as far as balance is concerned," he said. "Everything I do has to be done at a slow pace." Katharine Speak, the lead on diabetes and high-risk podiatry services in North Yorkshire, said people with diabetes may not always be getting the right treatment at the right time. "We are not seeing the patient soon enough," she said. "Sometimes they feel that they can deal with things themselves and once it's got out of control there is very little we can do to get it back." Chris Gosling, from Scarborough's Diabetes UK support group, said: "There is the impression that Scarborough is a nice holiday town, but in fact it has one of the highest deprivation rates in Yorkshire. "People aren't aware of the complications of diabetes, they do not have a GP possibly, there are a lot of hard to reach groups who don't use the medical facilities, and it is not diagnosed quickly enough." Stephen Ryan, Regional Head of Diabetes UK said: "We know that up to 80% of amputations can be avoided with good diabetes care and improved footcare. "We need to make sure that everyone with diabetes gets good quality annual foot checks and knows how to reduce their risk of foot problems, and that anyone who has a foot problem gets the right care to prevent or treat it. "It is particularly important that if anyone with diabetes has a foot infection they get urgent attention from a multidisciplinary team of specialists."

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english

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-52494404

Coronavirus: Kenyans moved by widow cooking stones for children

Kenyans have rallied to the aid of a widow filmed cooking stones for her eight children to make them believe she was preparing food for them.

Peninah Bahati Kitsao, who lives in Mombasa, hoped they would fall asleep while they waited for their meal. She used to wash laundry locally but such work is hard to come by now as people have restricted their interactions because of coronavirus. A shocked neighbour, Prisca Momanyi, alerted the media to her plight. After being interviewed by Kenya's NTV, the widow has received money via mobile phone and through a bank account that was opened for her by Ms Momanyi, as the mother of eight does not know how to read and write. Ms Kitsao, who lives in a two-bedroomed house without running water or electricity, has described the generosity as a "miracle". "I didn't believe that Kenyans can be so loving after I received phone calls from all over the country asking how they might be of help," she told Tuko news website. She had told NTV that her hungry children had not been deceived for long by her delaying stone-cooking tactics. "They started telling me that they knew I was lying to them, but I could do nothing because I had nothing." Her neighbour had come around to see if the family was OK after hearing the children crying, NTV reports. As part of measures to cushion the most vulnerable from the coronavirus crisis, the government has launched a feeding programme. But it had yet to reach Ms Kitsao, who was widowed last year when her husband was killed by a gang. Her neighbour has also thanked the county authorities and the Kenya Red Cross, who have also come to help Ms Kitsao. Many more households in that neighbourhood of the coastal city are now going to benefit from the relief food scheme too, the authorities say. Like many low-income Kenyans, Ms Kitsao has been struggling to earn money for the last month since the government put in place measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, including a ban on travel in and out of major cities, reports the BBC's Basillioh Mutahi from the capital, Nairobi. Many companies have reduced their operations or have suspended them altogether, meaning that workers who depend on short contracts or menial jobs have no alternative means to earn their livelihoods. Those who run small businesses have also been affected by the nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew. Ms Kitsao's story of desperation has coincided with the revelation that the health ministry has spent huge sums of money, donated by the World Bank to respond to the pandemic, on tea, snacks and mobile phone airtime for its staff. Details about how many people were provided for are unclear, nonetheless there has been outrage on social media that the government is spending such amounts at a time many Kenyans continue to suffer, our reporter says. The East African nation has recorded 395 cases of Covid-19 and 17 deaths.

['Kenya', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

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food

["Kenya", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/education-45719070

Cambridge plans to recruit poorer students

Cambridge University is to open its doors to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who show great potential but have not met the entry grades.

Vice-chancellor Prof Toope said it was time to dispel the stereotype of the highly selective university as a "bastion of privilege". Under the plan, some students who have faced "educational challenge" will be asked to join a transition programme. Presently, entry to Cambridge requires at least three As or A*s at A-level. Applicants also need to perform well in an interview. But, last year, data revealed that four-fifths of students accepted at Oxford and Cambridge universities between 2010 and 2015 had parents with top professional and managerial jobs. And Cambridge was further criticised for its relatively low recruitment rate of black students. Last year, 58 black students were admitted across the university. Under the transition programme, candidates who show promise of excellence but may have come up against barriers to achieving their full potential may join a three-week bridging scheme or attend a foundation year designed to help them reach the required standard for Cambridge entry. In a speech marking the start of term, Prof Toope said: "We cannot be truly great as a university if - even inadvertently - we are not open to the social and cultural diversity of the world around us. "I would go as far as to ask,' Can we call ourselves a place of excellence if we are not fully inclusive of the most diverse talent?' "This is not just a matter of box-ticking. "For me, it goes even beyond acknowledging the obvious fact that all of us benefit in countless ways from teaching, learning, researching and working in environments where diverse nationalities, ethnicities, skill-sets, world-views or family backgrounds enrich one another." Prof Toope said it was an ethical issue for Cambridge and the university could expect to receive public support only if it was prepared to encourage top talent "regardless of where it flows from". But he said: "We will not lower our academic standards for admission. "We will, however, continue to actively encourage applications from those eligible students - undergraduate and postgraduate, from the UK and from overseas - who may have been disadvantaged as a result of their educational journey." Cambridge is aiming to raise at least £500 million to attract and support undergraduate and postgraduate students from around the world on the programme.

['Social mobility', 'University of Cambridge', 'Higher education']

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NoPresentEntity

["Social mobility", "University of Cambridge", "Higher education"]

english

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-31864431

Brazil arrests fugitive Italian writer Cesare Battisti

Brazilian police have arrested fugitive Italian writer Cesare Battisti, a former communist militant convicted of murder in his home country.

He was granted asylum in Brazil four years ago, but earlier this month a judge ruled that he should be deported to serve his sentence. He has been released from jail in Sao Paulo pending an appeal. Battisti, 60, says he was a member of a radical left-wing group in the 1970s, but insists he never killed anyone. If deported, Battisti would be sent either to France or Mexico, which could then extradite him to Italy. Cesare Battisti was charged with murdering four people in Italy between 1978 and 1979. He escaped from jail in Italy in 1981 while awaiting trial, and was convicted in absentia in 1990. He went on to became a successful writer of police novels in France and Mexico, before escaping to Brazil in 2004. Battisti was arrested in Brazil in 2007, prompting the Italian government to request his extradition under an existing bilateral treaty. It said the former member of the radical Armed Proletarians for Communism (PAC) was a terrorist. In 2010, the Brazilian government accepted a request from Battisti for political asylum, but the Supreme Court ruled that the designation was illegal as he was convicted of "common crimes" rather than political acts. The judges said the extradition treaty should apply, but nevertheless left the final decision to the president. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva decided on his last day in office, 31 December 2010, not to extradite Battisti. The Italian foreign ministry recalled its ambassador to Brazil in protest. The families of the four alleged victims - a police officer, a prison guard, a butcher and a jeweller - condemned the Brazilian government's decision at the time. Battisti has always denied the allegations and said his trial was flawed. "I am guilty, as I have often said, of having participated in an armed group with a subversive aim and of having carried weapons. But I never shot anyone," he wrote in a book published in 2006.

['Brazil', 'Italy']

[{"entity": "Cesare Battisti", "label": "PER"}]

Cesare Battisti

["Brazil", "Italy"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-55416939

Brexit: How do voters now feel about it?

The UK's departure from the European Union single market at the end of December marks the final stage of the Brexit process, triggered by the majority vote to leave in the 2016 referendum.

However, this does not mean that the debate about Brexit is over. Polls suggest voters remain as divided on the issue as they were at the start of 2020. YouGov has regularly asked people the question: "In hindsight, do you think Britain was right or wrong to leave the European Union?" During the last three months, on average, 39% have said that the decision was right, while 49% have stated it was wrong. These figures are similar to those recorded by YouGov in the three months leading up to the UK's formal withdrawal from the EU at the end of January. At that point, 40% said that the decision was right and 49% wrong. The divide looks even sharper when voters are asked how they would vote now in response to the question that appeared on the 2016 referendum ballot paper: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the EU or leave the EU?" In recent months, a handful of polls by ComRes, Deltapoll and YouGov have posed that question again. On average, they have found that 53% would vote Remain and 47% Leave - the same as at the end of January. Of course, given that the UK has now left the EU, "Remain" is no longer an option. The question now is whether the UK should stay out of the EU or apply to rejoin. In a couple of their recent polls, Kantar asked people to choose between these two options - 51% backed staying out and 49% backed applying to rejoin. This points to a country that is still divided down the middle on Europe. Few voters have changed their minds since the referendum. As many as 86% of those who voted Remain in 2016 say they would vote the same way again, while 81% of those who backed Leave say they would vote for Brexit once more. Similarly, 89% of Remain voters believe the decision was wrong and 81% of Leave voters that it was right. Equally, according to Kantar, only one in eight (12%) Remain supporters say the UK should stay out of the EU, while just 8% of Leave supporters believe the UK should now apply to rejoin. Of course, the most immediate issue about Brexit has been whether the UK would agree a future relationship with the EU, or exit the EU single market without a deal. The polls had suggested that most voters would have preferred to leave with a deal than without one - but not at any price. Meanwhile, Remain and Leave supporters regarded the choice very differently. YouGov found people preferred a deal to no deal by 66% to 15%. Kantar, by contrast, put support for a deal at a more modest 44%, but still found only 21% backing no deal. The rest did not know which was better. Other polls have presented respondents with a more complex set of choices, but largely found the same picture. ComRes on average found that 37% preferred a deal compared with 21% who would have preferred no deal (19% preferred an extension of the transition period until a deal had been struck). Meanwhile Opinium reported that only 16% preferred no deal, while 26% backed a deal that would represent a "clean break" with the EU. Another 18% wanted a deal that left the UK closely aligned with the EU, while 26% felt rejoining would be the best option. However, support for leaving without a deal was much higher among Leave voters - and indeed might have been as popular as leaving with a deal. Kantar suggested 35% of Leave voters would have preferred to leave without a deal, while 34% backed having a deal. ComRes put support for the two options among Leave voters at 38% apiece. However, while most voters preferred to be leaving with a deal, it did not necessarily mean that they are opposed to leaving without a deal whatever the circumstances. When YouGov simply asked people whether they supported or opposed leaving without a deal, as many as 32% said they were in favour - much closer to the 44% who were opposed. Among Leave voters, as many as 67% said they supported no deal. Meanwhile, when Opinium asked what should happen if the UK and the EU were to fail to reach an agreement by the end of 2020, as many as 35% of all voters - and 69% of Leave supporters - said the UK should leave without a deal. For some voters, the better course of action depended on the price to be paid. According to Deltapoll, 38% of all voters thought that the UK should be willing to compromise in order to strike a deal, but rather more - 41% - say the UK should not make any more compromises. Among Leave voters, no less than 57% are opposed to making compromises. Sir John Curtice is professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, and senior research fellow at NatCen Social Research and UK in a Changing Europe.

['EU-UK post-Brexit trade talks', 'Ursula von der Leyen', 'Boris Johnson', 'Brexit', 'John Curtice', 'Fishing industry']

[{"entity": "UK", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "European Union", "label": "ORG"}]

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["EU-UK post-Brexit trade talks", "Ursula von der Leyen", "Boris Johnson", "Brexit", "John Curtice", "Fishing industry"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44070470

Why Ebola keeps coming back

The Ebola virus has reared its head again, this time in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While it is impossible to predict exactly where and when the next outbreak will occur, we now know much more about how to prevent a crisis.

The news of an Ebola outbreak in the town of Bikoro in north-west DR Congo instantly brings to mind the horror of the epidemic that took 11,000 lives and infected 28,000 people in West Africa between 2014 and 2016. It is a nightmare no-one wants to relive - or should have to. Since 4 April in DR Congo, there have been more than 30 possible cases - involving 18 deaths - although only two incidents have so far been confirmed as Ebola. So why does Ebola keep coming back and what work is being done to prevent a repeat of the tragedy in West Africa? The news of an Ebola outbreak in the town of Bikoro in north-west DR Congo instantly brings to mind the horror of the epidemic that took 11,000 lives and infected 28,000 people in West Africa between 2014 and 2016. It is a nightmare no-one wants to relive - or should have to. Since 4 April in DR Congo, there have been more than 30 possible cases - involving 18 deaths - although only two incidents have so far been confirmed as Ebola. So why does Ebola keep coming back and what work is being done to prevent a repeat of the tragedy in West Africa? The news of an Ebola outbreak in the town of Bikoro in north-west DR Congo instantly brings to mind the horror of the epidemic that took 11,000 lives and infected 28,000 people in West Africa between 2014 and 2016. It is a nightmare no-one wants to relive - or should have to. Since 4 April in DR Congo, there have been more than 30 possible cases - involving 18 deaths - although only two incidents have so far been confirmed as Ebola. So why does Ebola keep coming back and what work is being done to prevent a repeat of the tragedy in West Africa? Ebola can spread rapidly, through contact with even small amounts of bodily fluid of those infected. Its early flu-like symptoms are not always obvious. Its appearance in Bikoro - a market town close to other local towns, well connected by major rivers and near the national border - is a cause for concern. This is an area where people connect, trade and travel - an environment ripe for spreading disease. The West African epidemic of 2014-16 began in a small border village in Guinea, its first victim thought to be a two-year-old boy who died in December 2013. The disease spread quickly across Guinea and neighbouring Sierra Leone and Liberia, spiralling out of control when it reached urban centres. DR Congo is thousands of miles from the West African countries devastated by that epidemic. That it should reappear so far away is not in itself a surprise. The Ebola virus has been traced back to two simultaneous outbreaks in 1976 - 151 people died in the Nzara area, South Sudan, and 280 in the Yambuku area, near the Ebola river, from which the disease takes its name. This latest outbreak is the ninth in DR Congo, which has seen all three Ebola outbreaks to have occurred since the 2014-16 epidemic. In total, there have been 24 recorded outbreaks - in addition to the 2014-16 epidemic - in west and central Africa, including in DR Congo, Uganda, Sudan and Gabon. The number of deaths has ranged from one to 280. While we can identify high-risk areas, it is unrealistic to expect that we could ever eradicate this disease and impossible to know when or where the next outbreak will occur. Fruit bats are thought to be the main host of the disease, but it is also introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of other infected animals. These can include chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, antelope and porcupines. The disease is endemic to the area and it is not possible to eradicate all the animals who might be a host for Ebola. As long as humans come in contact with them, there is always a possibility that Ebola could return Ebola can spread rapidly, through contact with even small amounts of bodily fluid of those infected. Its early flu-like symptoms are not always obvious. Its appearance in Bikoro - a market town close to other local towns, well connected by major rivers and near the national border - is a cause for concern. This is an area where people connect, trade and travel - an environment ripe for spreading disease. The West African epidemic of 2014-16 began in a small border village in Guinea, its first victim thought to be a two-year-old boy who died in December 2013. The disease spread quickly across Guinea and neighbouring Sierra Leone and Liberia, spiralling out of control when it reached urban centres. DR Congo is thousands of miles from the West African countries devastated by that epidemic. That it should reappear so far away is not in itself a surprise. The Ebola virus has been traced back to two simultaneous outbreaks in 1976 - 151 people died in the Nzara area, South Sudan, and 280 in the Yambuku area, near the Ebola river, from which the disease takes its name. This latest outbreak is the ninth in DR Congo, which has seen all three Ebola outbreaks to have occurred since the 2014-16 epidemic. In total, there have been 24 recorded outbreaks - in addition to the 2014-16 epidemic - in west and central Africa, including in DR Congo, Uganda, Sudan and Gabon. The number of deaths has ranged from one to 280. While we can identify high-risk areas, it is unrealistic to expect that we could ever eradicate this disease and impossible to know when or where the next outbreak will occur. Fruit bats are thought to be the main host of the disease, but it is also introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of other infected animals. These can include chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, antelope and porcupines. The disease is endemic to the area and it is not possible to eradicate all the animals who might be a host for Ebola. As long as humans come in contact with them, there is always a possibility that Ebola could return Ebola can spread rapidly, through contact with even small amounts of bodily fluid of those infected. Its early flu-like symptoms are not always obvious. Its appearance in Bikoro - a market town close to other local towns, well connected by major rivers and near the national border - is a cause for concern. This is an area where people connect, trade and travel - an environment ripe for spreading disease. The West African epidemic of 2014-16 began in a small border village in Guinea, its first victim thought to be a two-year-old boy who died in December 2013. The disease spread quickly across Guinea and neighbouring Sierra Leone and Liberia, spiralling out of control when it reached urban centres. DR Congo is thousands of miles from the West African countries devastated by that epidemic. That it should reappear so far away is not in itself a surprise. The Ebola virus has been traced back to two simultaneous outbreaks in 1976 - 151 people died in the Nzara area, South Sudan, and 280 in the Yambuku area, near the Ebola river, from which the disease takes its name. This latest outbreak is the ninth in DR Congo, which has seen all three Ebola outbreaks to have occurred since the 2014-16 epidemic. In total, there have been 24 recorded outbreaks - in addition to the 2014-16 epidemic - in west and central Africa, including in DR Congo, Uganda, Sudan and Gabon. The number of deaths has ranged from one to 280. While we can identify high-risk areas, it is unrealistic to expect that we could ever eradicate this disease and impossible to know when or where the next outbreak will occur. Fruit bats are thought to be the main host of the disease, but it is also introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of other infected animals. These can include chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, antelope and porcupines. The disease is endemic to the area and it is not possible to eradicate all the animals who might be a host for Ebola. As long as humans come in contact with them, there is always a possibility that Ebola could return We can, however, stop outbreaks becoming epidemics and we can better protect people. A swift and well-co-ordinated response can ensure disease is contained early on, so as few people as possible become ill and die. For example, an outbreak in DRC almost a year ago was quickly contained. It was in a very remote area in the country's northern region, further from borders and so perhaps less of a risk than the current outbreak. But an immediate response was still critical and meant the impact was limited to four deaths and four survivors. More stories like this: First-response teams of health workers and scientists from DR Congo, World Health Organization and aid agencies are now in the area of the latest outbreak. Establishing the strain of the virus and tracking all possible transmissions will be their priority. They will be working to identify "patient zero" as fast as possible. They will want to know all the people they've been in contact with and, in turn, all the people they have been in contact with. Suspected patients and the people they have been in contact with will be cared for in local health facilities. Scrupulous hygiene procedures will be paramount - including the use of face-shields, gowns and gloves to block splashes of bodily fluid or other contact with infected materials. Communication to all at risk is vital, and the response teams will be expert in ensuring all those living locally have the best information. Blood samples from patients in the current outbreak have been sent to the national lab in Kinshasa for testing. We can, however, stop outbreaks becoming epidemics and we can better protect people. A swift and well-co-ordinated response can ensure disease is contained early on, so as few people as possible become ill and die. For example, an outbreak in DRC almost a year ago was quickly contained. It was in a very remote area in the country's northern region, further from borders and so perhaps less of a risk than the current outbreak. But an immediate response was still critical and meant the impact was limited to four deaths and four survivors. More stories like this: First-response teams of health workers and scientists from DR Congo, World Health Organization and aid agencies are now in the area of the latest outbreak. Establishing the strain of the virus and tracking all possible transmissions will be their priority. They will be working to identify "patient zero" as fast as possible. They will want to know all the people they've been in contact with and, in turn, all the people they have been in contact with. Suspected patients and the people they have been in contact with will be cared for in local health facilities. Scrupulous hygiene procedures will be paramount - including the use of face-shields, gowns and gloves to block splashes of bodily fluid or other contact with infected materials. Communication to all at risk is vital, and the response teams will be expert in ensuring all those living locally have the best information. Blood samples from patients in the current outbreak have been sent to the national lab in Kinshasa for testing. We can, however, stop outbreaks becoming epidemics and we can better protect people. A swift and well-co-ordinated response can ensure disease is contained early on, so as few people as possible become ill and die. For example, an outbreak in DRC almost a year ago was quickly contained. It was in a very remote area in the country's northern region, further from borders and so perhaps less of a risk than the current outbreak. But an immediate response was still critical and meant the impact was limited to four deaths and four survivors. More stories like this: First-response teams of health workers and scientists from DR Congo, World Health Organization and aid agencies are now in the area of the latest outbreak. Establishing the strain of the virus and tracking all possible transmissions will be their priority. They will be working to identify "patient zero" as fast as possible. They will want to know all the people they've been in contact with and, in turn, all the people they have been in contact with. Suspected patients and the people they have been in contact with will be cared for in local health facilities. Scrupulous hygiene procedures will be paramount - including the use of face-shields, gowns and gloves to block splashes of bodily fluid or other contact with infected materials. Communication to all at risk is vital, and the response teams will be expert in ensuring all those living locally have the best information. Blood samples from patients in the current outbreak have been sent to the national lab in Kinshasa for testing. There are five identified strains of the Ebola virus, the deadliest to date being the Zaire strain. This is the strain involved in the latest outbreak, for which there is now a vaccine ready for emergency use. In December 2016, final results of a large trial of this vaccine - with funding from the Wellcome Trust and the UK and Norwegian governments - confirmed it provides a high level of protection. It was developed rapidly during the 2014-16 epidemic but came too late to have a significant impact at the time. It is not yet fully licensed, but thanks to global efforts it has been proved safe for human use and 300,000 doses are stockpiled. Crucially, it would be free for patients and could be in the area within three to four days. WHO guidelines recommend that should there be an Ebola outbreak before licensing has been granted, the vaccine should be given to all suspected patients, contacts and health workers at risk. The decision on giving this vaccine is one for the DR Congo Ministry of Health to make. The DR Congo response to recent outbreaks has proved the country's government is well-prepared. But no country could or should be expected to manage this alone. Global support and an early, well co-ordinated response is essential to ensuring outbreaks are effectively contained. This outbreak will be a challenge for local teams on the ground. But it is also a challenge and an opportunity for the global community to prove it has learned lessons from the West African epidemic. We cannot hope that Ebola will simply disappear but we can hope to make tackling it so routine that it can be quickly stopped in its tracks. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Dr Charlie Weller is head of vaccines at the Wellcome Trust, which describes itself as a global charitable foundation working to improve health for everyone. Follow her at @DrCharlieWeller. The Wellcome Trust has announced an initial fund of up to £2m to support a rapid response to the current Ebola outbreak in DRC. Edited by Duncan Walker There are five identified strains of the Ebola virus, the deadliest to date being the Zaire strain. This is the strain involved in the latest outbreak, for which there is now a vaccine ready for emergency use. In December 2016, final results of a large trial of this vaccine - with funding from the Wellcome Trust and the UK and Norwegian governments - confirmed it provides a high level of protection. It was developed rapidly during the 2014-16 epidemic but came too late to have a significant impact at the time. It is not yet fully licensed, but thanks to global efforts it has been proved safe for human use and 300,000 doses are stockpiled. Crucially, it would be free for patients and could be in the area within three to four days. WHO guidelines recommend that should there be an Ebola outbreak before licensing has been granted, the vaccine should be given to all suspected patients, contacts and health workers at risk. The decision on giving this vaccine is one for the DR Congo Ministry of Health to make. The DR Congo response to recent outbreaks has proved the country's government is well-prepared. But no country could or should be expected to manage this alone. Global support and an early, well co-ordinated response is essential to ensuring outbreaks are effectively contained. This outbreak will be a challenge for local teams on the ground. But it is also a challenge and an opportunity for the global community to prove it has learned lessons from the West African epidemic. We cannot hope that Ebola will simply disappear but we can hope to make tackling it so routine that it can be quickly stopped in its tracks. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Dr Charlie Weller is head of vaccines at the Wellcome Trust, which describes itself as a global charitable foundation working to improve health for everyone. Follow her at @DrCharlieWeller. The Wellcome Trust has announced an initial fund of up to £2m to support a rapid response to the current Ebola outbreak in DRC. Edited by Duncan Walker There are five identified strains of the Ebola virus, the deadliest to date being the Zaire strain. This is the strain involved in the latest outbreak, for which there is now a vaccine ready for emergency use. In December 2016, final results of a large trial of this vaccine - with funding from the Wellcome Trust and the UK and Norwegian governments - confirmed it provides a high level of protection. It was developed rapidly during the 2014-16 epidemic but came too late to have a significant impact at the time. It is not yet fully licensed, but thanks to global efforts it has been proved safe for human use and 300,000 doses are stockpiled. Crucially, it would be free for patients and could be in the area within three to four days. WHO guidelines recommend that should there be an Ebola outbreak before licensing has been granted, the vaccine should be given to all suspected patients, contacts and health workers at risk. The decision on giving this vaccine is one for the DR Congo Ministry of Health to make. The DR Congo response to recent outbreaks has proved the country's government is well-prepared. But no country could or should be expected to manage this alone. Global support and an early, well co-ordinated response is essential to ensuring outbreaks are effectively contained. This outbreak will be a challenge for local teams on the ground. But it is also a challenge and an opportunity for the global community to prove it has learned lessons from the West African epidemic. We cannot hope that Ebola will simply disappear but we can hope to make tackling it so routine that it can be quickly stopped in its tracks. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Dr Charlie Weller is head of vaccines at the Wellcome Trust, which describes itself as a global charitable foundation working to improve health for everyone. Follow her at @DrCharlieWeller. The Wellcome Trust has announced an initial fund of up to £2m to support a rapid response to the current Ebola outbreak in DRC. Edited by Duncan Walker

['Ebola treatments', 'Ebola virus', 'Expert Network']

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-25838661

India investigation ordered into death of Shashi Tharoor's wife

A magistrate in Delhi has ordered an investigation into the death of the wife of Indian minister Shashi Tharoor.

Doctors said on Tuesday that Sunanda Pushkar, whose body was found in a hotel room on Friday, may have died from an overdose of drugs. Magistrate Alok Sharma directed police to investigate whether the overdose was deliberate or accidental. The couple became embroiled in a row last week after Twitter messages suggested he was having an affair. Magistrate Sharma told the Indo-Asian News Service news agency that he had ordered the inquiry into Ms Pushkar's death after going through the findings of the autopsy report. "The post-mortem report reveals that she died due to [drug] poison. But it will be too early to say before her viscera report if she had consumed poison, or the drug consumed by her acted as poison," Mr Sharma said. Mr Sharma declined to reveal the full findings of the autopsy, but doctors have said that the "preliminary report shows there was drug overdose". The autopsy also found "injury marks" on Ms Pushkar's body, but did not say if they were linked to her death. Meanwhile, Ms Pushkar's son said his mother "was too strong to commit suicide". In a press statement released on Tuesday, Shiv Menon said media reports on his mother's death were "untrue and outrageous" and defended Mr Tharoor. "I also do not believe that Shashi was capable of physically harming her, let alone the speculation that he could have taken her life. They were very much in love, despite occasional differences, which they always overcame," he said. A public row broke out last week when seemingly private messages between Mr Tharoor and Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar were published on his Twitter feed. Ms Pushkar, 52, said she had gone into her husband's account and published the messages, accusing Ms Tarar of stalking her husband - an allegation denied by the Pakistani journalist. Ms Pushkar and Mr Tharoor later insisted they were happily married and blamed "unauthorised tweets" for causing confusion. Mr Tharoor, a former UN diplomat, was forced to resign from his first ministerial position in 2010 amid controversy over his involvement in bidding for a cricket team. He was appointed minister of state for human resource development in 2012.

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english

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-56907280

Gobnascale: Man in court over attempted murder of police officer

A man was shot in the chest by a police officer after he attempted to "slash and stab" another officer on the head, a court in Londonderry has heard.

Noel David Quigley, 42, of Celandine Court, Derry, appeared at the city's magistrates' court via videolink on Tuesday. He is charged with the attempted murder of a police officer following an incident at his home on 17 April. The case has been adjourned until Wednesday. A PSNI officer told the court police were called to an address in Celandine Court when Mr Quigley, who has 15 previous convictions for assaulting police officers, had phoned 999 threatening to self-harm. She said when police arrived the defendant was sitting in a chair holding a knife in each hand and threatening to cut his throat. Police tried to talk him into placing the knives down but he refused. An irritant spray was used but to no avail, the officer said. Mr Quigley, she added, was then said to have stood up "stabbing and slashing at an officer about the head". The attack ended only when an officer discharged his firearm, the court was told. The officer said the defendant had threatened to stab officers with syringes in the past and also bit officers and claimed he had Aids. The officer said police were opposing bail due to a fear of reoffending and because Mr Quigley is a danger to himself and to the public. A defence solicitor told the court the defendant had called the police as he intended to kill himself. He said the defendant had been shot and the bullet had gone through his arm into his chest, into a lung and exited at his back breaking three ribs. Police objections to bail seemed to be "a moveable feast," he said. The solicitor said his client had been arrested in the Intensive Care Unit of Belfast's Royal Victoria hospital. He said the defendant had made a statement in which he said he could recall a "struggle with police" but said that he was not trying to strike any officer. The defence solicitor also disputed the alleged injuries to the officer saying the allegations had not been put to his client. The deputy district judge adjourned the case until he could see a medical report on the officer's injuries.

['Londonderry-Derry']

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english

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-19870221

Li Keqiang: China's marginalised premier

As China's Premier, Li Keqiang is the second most powerful man in the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

He rose through the party ranks despite not having any power base, and at one point was even pegged for the top role of president. But in the end Mr Li was made premier in 2013. He has developed a reputation as a leader who works for the less privileged, with policies that focus on reducing the wealth gap and providing affordable housing. A trained economist, he was initially given the reins of China's economy, but in recent years has been sidelined in that role. Mr Li comes from a modest family background, and is the son of a local official. He was born in July 1955 in Dingyuan County in eastern China's Anhui province. As a teenager, he witnessed the turbulence of the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) and worked for a few years as a "sent-down youth" at an agricultural commune in Fengyang County in Anhui. After college entrance exams were reinstated in 1977, he enrolled at Peking University to study law and completed a master's degree in economics in 1988. A fluent English speaker, he helped translate several important legal works from English to Chinese, including Lord Denning's The Due Process of Law. He studied for a PhD in economics from Peking University and his dissertation about the structure of the Chinese economy won the Sun Yefang Economics Prize, the highest award in Chinese economic circles. The first years of his political career were spent in the Communist Party's youth movement, the Chinese Communist Youth League (CCYL). He was elected as secretary of the CCYL committee at Peking University in 1982. At the CCYL, he worked under Hu Jintao - who later became China's president - after he was elected to the secretariat of the CCYL Central Committee in 1983. Ten years later, Mr Li became the CCYL's first secretary. In July 1998, Mr Li became the youngest provincial governor in China when he took the helm as head of the central province of Henan. Under his tenure as governor, and as the province's Communist Party secretary from 2002 to 2004, Henan saw significant economic growth. But Mr Li had also to deal with challenges, including the spread of the HIV virus through contaminated blood transfusions. He was transferred to the northeastern province of Liaoning in December 2004 as party secretary, where he oversaw the revival of the area's old industrial base and established a coastal economic belt to boost trade with neighbouring countries. His successes in Liaoning won him a post in the top echelon of the party's central leadership, the Politburo Standing Committee, in October 2007. In March 2008, he was appointed as vice-premier. At the time, many speculated that because of his close association with then-President Hu Jintao in the Youth League faction, Mr Li would be groomed to succeed Mr Hu. But he lost out to Xi Jinping, a rising star in the "princeling" faction of leaders drawn from the families of senior revolutionaries or top officials. Mr Li was appointed premier in March 2013 amid much fanfare. His economic policy of structural reform and debt reduction, termed "Likonomics", aimed to reduce China's dependency on debt-fuelled growth and steer the economy towards self-sustainability. But his economic leadership was weakened after November 2013, when Xi Jinping appointed himself as head of the Leading Group on Comprehensively Deepening Reform, one of several groups set up by Mr Xi to reinforce his power in the party. By 2016, articles in the party's mouthpiece People's Daily had dropped "Likonomics" in favour of Mr Xi's economic thoughts, which emphasised micro-economic reforms and advocated supply-side changes. In March 2018, Mr Li was re-elected as premier for second five-year term, but the task of economic management was entrusted to the newly-appointed Vice Premier Liu He, a Harvard-educated economist. Li was conspicuously absent at a symposium called by President Xi in August 2020 to prepare for China's 14th Five-Year Plan, which was attended by economic experts and top party leaders. Not much is known about Mr Li's personal life. He is married to Cheng Hong, a professor specialising in English teaching and research. According to Chinese state media they met while studying in the prestigious Peking University, and have a daughter. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.

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China

["Xi Jinping", "China"]

english

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54522299

Cyprus to suspend 'EU golden passports' scheme

Cyprus is suspending a scheme that grants citizenship and guarantees visa-free travel throughout the EU for those who invest a minimum of €2m (£1.8m).

It comes after Al Jazeera reporters filmed Cypriot officials using the scheme to assist a fictional Chinese businessman with a criminal record. One of those filmed was Cyprus's parliamentary speaker, Demetris Syllouris, who said he would step down until an investigation was completed. The move comes into force next month. Mr Syllouris, who is Cyprus's second-highest ranking state official, said he would withdraw from his duties from 19 October. In the video footage captured by undercover Al Jazeera journalists and released on Monday, Mr Syllouris appears to offer his influence to assist in obtaining citizenship for the fictitious businessman. On Tuesday, Mr Syllouris released a statement apologising for "this unpleasant image conveyed to the Cypriot public... and any upset it may have caused". His announcement came shortly after the government said it had approved a proposal to suspend the scheme - the citizenship for investment programme - following an emergency session on Tuesday. In a statement posted on Twitter, the office of Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said the proposal was put forward in response to "weaknesses" in the scheme that could be "exploited". Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, currently provides passports to non-EU nationals who make sufficient investments in the country. Last November, it emerged that fugitive financier Jho Low - a central figure in the global scandal which saw billions of dollars go missing from the Malaysian state fund 1MDB - had obtained Cypriot citizenship in September 2015 and reportedly bought a €5m property in the Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa. Mr Low is wanted in the US, where prosecutors say he laundered billions through its financial system. Mr Low has denied any wrongdoing, and his current whereabouts are unknown, although there have been reports of him in various locations. Cyprus later revoked his "golden passport" and those bought by 25 foreign investors, including nine Russians, eight Cambodians and five Chinese. Last year, the EU Commission told EU states to tighten checks on non-EU nationals who acquired citizenship through investments. Malta and Bulgaria operate similar schemes to that of Cyprus. The commission said the programme could be abused and used for tax evasion and money-laundering. It added that applicants could acquire citizenship of Cyprus, Malta and Bulgaria - and hence EU citizenship - "without ever having resided in practice in the member state". EU citizens can move easily throughout the bloc, as well as live and work in another member state without the bureaucratic hurdles that non-EU nationals face. Some other EU states and the UK offer "golden" residence visas in exchange for large investments.

['Cyprus']

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

Cyprus ||| EU

["Cyprus"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35784066

Angola's Jose Eduardo dos Santos 'to step down in 2018'

Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has announced he will step down in 2018, having ruled since 1979.

"I took the decision to leave and end my political life in 2018," he told a congress of the ruling MPLA party. In 2001, Mr Dos Santos said he would not seek office in the next presidential elections, which were then abolished under the new constitution. He is Africa's second longest-serving leader, after Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. General elections are due in Angola, Africa's second largest oil producer, in August 2017. Critics accuse long-serving President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of being authoritarian and his government of committing human rights abuses. The southern African state is rich in diamonds, which fuelled a 27-year civil war in the country. Will Dos Santos really leave? By Angola analyst Justin Pearce I remember Jose Eduardo dos Santos saying in 2001 that he was to step down. That wasn't the only time he's spoken of an exit, but then allowed himself to be persuaded otherwise. The problem is there is no obvious successor. Mr Dos Santos has run the MPLA in a manner that rules out any challenge to his leadership. With the wealth he has amassed, if he relinquishes power it has to be to someone who will keep the business interests in the family. Since 2011, attention has turned to Manuel Vicente, the state oil company boss who was hurriedly elevated to vice-president, then to Mr Dos Santos' son Jose Filomeno, and most recently to his wealthy businesswoman daughter Isabel. None of these people will find favour with an increasingly restless public, or with MPLA old timers, who will resent a political newcomer being appointed simply because of connections with the veteran leader. So two years hence, the president might again present himself as the least bad option. But, aged 73, he must know the question cannot be put off forever. The former Portuguese colony the biggest military spender in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Since the end of the conflict in 2002, the country has witnessed an economic boom, though critics of the elected government say the wealth has only benefited a small elite.

['Angola']

[{"entity": "Angola", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Jose Eduardo dos Santos", "label": "PER"}]

Angola ||| Jose Eduardo dos Santos

["Angola"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-33398655

Cuba's Fidel Castro in rare appearance at cheese meeting

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has appeared in public for the first time in more than a month.

State television showed images of Mr Castro at a meeting with cheese experts near the capital, Havana. Fidel Castro, 88, handed power to his younger brother Raul in 2006 after struggling to recover from illness. His appearance comes days after Cuba and the United States announced they were reopening embassies in each other's capitals on 20 July. Mr Castro is rarely seen in public, and secrecy about his health means his public appearances are scrutinised by the media. The historic thaw between the old Cold War enemies was announced on 17 December, in joint media conferences by Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro. There was no immediate comment from Fidel Castro, and analysts said the rapprochement would not have happened if he was still in power. Just over a month later, he broke his silence in a letter published on the Cuban Communist Party newspaper, Granma. "I don't trust the policy of the United States… but this does not mean I reject a pacific solution to the conflicts," he wrote. Relations had been frozen since the early 1960s when the US broke links and imposed a trade embargo on Cuba.

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[{"entity": "Fidel Castro", "label": "PER"}]

Fidel Castro

["Cuba", "Havana", "Raul Castro"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-46171221

Clacton owner to auction original Sooty TV puppets

Sooty fans have the chance to buy the ultimate toy memorabilia - original hand puppets from the TV shows.

Two puppets owned by father and son, Harry and Matthew Corbett, will be auctioned along with Sooty's magic wand. One was used by Matthew Corbett in his last stage show in London in 1977. The other was given to Eunice Weston in 1960 after Harry Corbett stayed at her parents' bed and breakfast pub in Clacton, Essex, while performing. Mrs Weston, now 69, was living with her parents who ran the Robin Hood pub. "I didn't really speak to him very much," the 69-year-old said. "I was only 11, quite shy and used to scuttle off to school. So, I was delighted at the end of the week when he gave me the Sooty puppet. "Sooty was huge back then. At that time everyone only had three TV channels - and everyone watched Sooty." Sooty turned 70 in July and - together with his friends Sweep and Soo - have delighted generations of children. Mrs Weston's puppet, which was made to measure Harry's hand, has an estimated auction value of £1,000 to £1,500. In September, an original puppet used by Harry Corbett on TV in the 1950s sold for £14,500. The 1997 Matthew Corbett puppet, which comes with magic wand, could fetch between £2,000-£3,000, said Hansons Auctioneers. The Sooty-wand combo up for sale belongs to Rob Smith, 37, from Tewkesbury and his wife Suzie, 35 who are selling it to raise money for a new wheelchair for her. They bought it in 2011 as it was being sold to raise money for Whizz-Kidz, a charity close to their hearts which provides wheelchairs for disabled children. Auctioneer Charles Hanson said: "I hope I can make good use of Sooty's magic wand and deliver another strong result. "The interest in this iconic children's character is huge," he added. The auction will take place on 23 November.

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english

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-29416791

Warning of university 'cold spots'

There are warnings that a lack of higher education in some parts of England could hamper the growth of local economies.

Maps produced by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) reveal "cold spots" in degree places and entry rates into university. These include parts of south-west England and East Anglia. Hefce chief Madeleine Atkins says universities play a "critical role" in creating a skilled workforce. The mapping by the funding council shows big regional differences in the provision of higher education and how many young people take up university places. Limits on student numbers are to be lifted in England from next year - with the number of undergraduate places expected to increase by about 20%. The funding council map shows the concentration of higher education places in and around London, and then a corridor of "hot spots" through the midlands and up towards the north west. But the availability of places is much more stretched in areas in the east of England, the south west, north east and Cumbria. There is also a "cold spot" along the border between England and Wales. Prof Atkins says universities play a key role as drivers of local economies - and the funding council research shows a link between higher graduate numbers and lower levels of unemployment. The longest average distances travelled by students from their home to get a university place are those from the south west. The shortest distance travelled was for young people from London - with many options for studying in the capital. Young people in London were also the most likely to stay near their family home after graduation. The mapping shows that university take-up is not simply about the proximity of universities. There is a much higher likelihood of young people entering university in the Liverpool area than in Birmingham, when looking at young people with similar exam grades. There are also local "subject deserts", with some particular subjects not available, even if there is a university in the area. "The data shows us that the issues associated with higher education cold spots can often be complex," says Prof Atkins. The funding council maps also show the proportion of young people entering higher education - and this highlights areas with a particularly low level of graduates, including coastal regions, the east and north-east of England. It also shows how neighbouring areas can have very different levels of going to university. London has high levels of university entry, even in poorer parts of the capital. But travelling eastwards from London along the Thames, there are parts of Dartford and Thurrock with some of the lowest levels of university participation in the country. Anna Vignoles, professor of education at Cambridge University, said that whether someone lived near a university did not affect whether or not they would enter higher education. But distance was a "significant influence" on which university young people attended. "The geographical spread of universities will therefore influence the types of university that some students are likely to enrol in," said Prof Vignoles. Helen Simpson, reader in economics at the University of Bristol, said there was evidence that "for some students distance will matter, so the range of higher education institutions available to them locally can affect the type of institution they ultimately study at". Alison Wolf, professor of public sector management at King's College London said: "Pouring public money into a locality obviously creates direct local beneficiaries. But there is nothing in the research literature to suggest it automatically strengthens the wider local economy in the short or the long term. "And if economic growth is what you are after, there is nothing to suggest that building yet more new universities is the most effective use for public money."

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

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https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50009971

Few convinced by Apple's case for Hong Kong app removal

As if piling up sandbags before a flood, Apple was well prepared to face a backlash over its decision to remove an app used by Hong Kong protesters.

But the firm’s carefully-worded statement offering its reasoning has left China watchers, politicians - and some famed Apple supporters - wholly unconvinced. “Apple’s decision to cave to Communist China’s demands is unacceptable,” tweeted Rick Scott, a Republican senator for Florida. “Putting profits above the human rights and dignity of the people of Hong Kong is wrong. No ifs, ands or buts about it.” Late on Wednesday, the firm started briefing journalists on the move, pushing its view that the HKmap.live was being “used in ways that endanger law enforcement and residents”. On Thursday morning, Apple chief executive Tim Cook posted an internal memo. “It’s out of my great respect for the work you do every day that I want to share the way we went about making this decision,” he wrote. “Over the past several days we received credible information, from the Hong Kong Cybersecurity and Technology Crime Bureau, as well as from users in Hong Kong, that the app was being used maliciously to target individual officers for violence and to victimize individuals and property where no police are present. This use put the app in violation of Hong Kong law. “Similarly, widespread abuse clearly violates our App Store guidelines barring personal harm.” Long-time Apple commentator John Gruber wrote of Mr Cook’s email: “I can’t recall an Apple memo or statement that crumbles so quickly under scrutiny.” Apple has yet to provide any additional information about those claimed incidents. Charles Mok, a Hong Kong legislator who represents the IT industry in the territory, posted a letter to Mr Cook on Twitter. “There are numerous cases of innocent passers-by in the neighbourhood injured by the Kong Kong Police Force’s excessive force in crowd dispersal operations,” he wrote. “The user-generated information shared using HKmap.live in fact helps citizens avoid areas where pedestrians not involved in any criminal activities might be subjected to police brutality which many human rights organisations such as Amnesty International have observed.” Mr Mok went on to argue that users on major social networks, such as Facebook or Twitter, also share information about police activity - but were not being held to the same standard. “We Hongkongers will definitely look closely at whether Apple chooses to uphold its commitment to free expression and other basic human rights, or become an accomplice for Chinese censorship and oppression.” Apple has not responded to the letter. Apple’s decision comes against a backdrop of major American firms being seen as bowing to political pressure from Beijing. In just the past week, the NBA grovelled its way around a tweet from a team executive supporting the protests, while video games published Activision Blizzard banned e-sports competitor Ng Wai "Blitzchung" Chung for showing his support for the movement. And Google removed a role-playing game called “Revolution of Our Times” from its app store after deeming it violated its policies on depicting “sensitive events” (the player plays the role of a Hong Kong protester). According to the Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong authorities had contacted Google with concerns about that app - though the company has said it decided to take action before any communication took place. One bucking of the trend, however, came via Tim Sweeney, chief executive of Epic Games, the firm behind online multiplayer game Fortnite. “Epic supports everyone’s right to speak freely,” he wrote on Twitter, in response to a question about gamers voicing support for Hong Kong protesters. Chinese tech giant Tencent owns 40% of the firm. “China players of Fortnite are free to criticize the US or criticize Epic just as equally as all others,” Mr Sweeney said. In characteristically astute timing, an episode of Comedy Central’s South Park earlier this month led Chinese censors to “delete virtually every clip, episode and online discussion of the show from Chinese streaming services, social media and even fan pages”, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The episode featured four of the show’s main characters working on a film script that gets constantly altered so that it could be distributed in China. “Well you know what they say,” the film’s director in the show says, “You gotta lower your ideals of freedom if you wanna suck on the warm teat of China.” In Apple’s case that means revenues that are on course to exceed $40bn this year - almost a fifth of the firm’s total global sales. Apple’s reliance on Chinese manufacturing means the relationship goes far deeper than just local sales. The firm has 10,000 direct employees in the firm; the economy around Apple’s presence in China is responsible for around 5m jobs. What happens next depends on the extent to which China feels its hardline stance is working - and there are indications officials are becoming wary. According to reporting in the New York Times, Beijing is concerned its actions are drawing more attention to the protests and harming the country’s standing on the global stage, adding yet more tension to relations with the US as trade talks restart in Washington. The rows have also bolstered concerns that China has few qualms when it comes to making demands of companies both based in the Communist state, as well as those who merely want to do business there. “What would Huawei do if they were the dominant 5G provider for a country, and that country’s leaders said the wrong thing?” speculated Elliott Zaagman, who covers Chinese business and investment, _____ Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC Do you have more information about this or any other technology story? You can reach Dave directly and securely through encrypted messaging app Signal on: +1 (628) 400-7370

['Hong Kong anti-government protests', 'China', 'Apps', 'Hong Kong', 'Apple']

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Apple ||| Hong Kong

["Hong Kong anti-government protests", "China", "Apps", "Hong Kong", "Apple"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35739304

Matthew Garnett: Teen who thinks he's in prison 'may leave' psychiatric unit

A 15-year-old with autism who believes he is being held in prison after being sectioned may be moved to a treatment unit, following a campaign.

Matthew Garnett was removed from his home in south London in September after attacking his father. He was placed in a unit normally used for short-term emergency admissions, resulting in his family campaigning for him to be moved. NHS England said he would now be moved within weeks. It said Matthew would be transferred from the psychiatric ward in Woking, Surrey, to St Andrew's Healthcare in Northampton, which specialises in treating patients with autism. His family said they were sceptical about the news. Matthew's father Robin Garnett said: "Nothing has changed as far as we are concerned. Matthew has always been told that he has a place at St Andrew's and we have not been contacted by anyone from the NHS about moving him. Why should we trust them now?" Writing on petition website Change.org, his mother Isabelle Garnett said for the past six months Matthew had been denied specialist care and was "trapped, alone, in a place unequipped to look after him." "What I was promised would be a six-week pit stop has become a six-month jail sentence," she continued. His move has been held up by other patients awaiting transfers out of the facility, although to date more than 150,000 people have signed the family's petition calling for Matthew to be taken off the psychiatric ward. Mr Garnett said he now wanted to see words become actions. Matthew "thinks he's in prison and is being punished for attacking us," he said. His son has learning difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and "like a toddler" is unable to control his emotions, Mr Garnett added. A spokesman for NHS England said: "We have every sympathy for Matthew and his family and we understand that this has been a very difficult time. "It has been confirmed that Matthew will be moved to St Andrew's, where he will be able to receive the specialist care that he needs. We anticipate this will happen in a matter of weeks but cannot confirm an admission date at this point."

['Autism']

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

autism

["Autism"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32331559

Lebanese journalist on trial for contempt at Hague

A Lebanese journalist has become the first defendant to take the stand at the UN-backed tribunal at The Hague investigating the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Karma Khayat and her TV station are accused of obstruction of justice. Prosecutors say they revealed details about key protected witnesses. The journalists deny any wrongdoing. Five men accused of killing Mr Hariri remain in hiding, and are being tried by the tribunal in absentia. Mr Hariri was killed along with 21 others when his motorcade was hit by a massive bomb blast in the Lebanese capital Beirut on 14 February 2005. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) was set up by the United Nations to try those accused in connection with the killings. The five suspects still at large have been linked to the militant Shia Islamist movement, Hezbollah. On Thursday, prosecutors played footage from al-Jadeed and told the judge Ms Khayat and al-Jadeed had deliberately set out to reveal the identities of witnesses for the prosecution who had been promised anonymity. The journalists' defence lawyer Karim Khan accused the court of "shooting the messenger". He said that the failures lay with the tribunal's inability to stop the leaks, rather than the journalists reporting that these leaks existed. Ms Khayat says the list she published was redacted, which made it impossible to identify any witnesses. The full list of witnesses was later published by other parties, she asserts. Ms Khayat accused the court of attempting to silence the Lebanese media "in order not to criticise the tribunal in future". "I am there to defend freedom of speech and freedom of press," she told the BBC.

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[{"entity": "The Hague", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Rafik Hariri", "label": "PER"}]

NoPresentEntity

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english

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38124358

Trump attacks Clinton over Wisconsin vote recount

US President-elect Donald Trump has attacked Hillary Clinton over her campaign's support for a recount of votes in the state of Wisconsin.

Mr Trump reminded his Democratic rival that she had already conceded, and published remarks from the presidential debates in which she had urged an acceptance of the poll results. Mrs Clinton was then reacting to Mr Trump's refusal to respect the outcome. The recount in Wisconsin was initiated by Green Party candidate Jill Stein. The state was narrowly won by Mr Trump. Dr Stein also wants recounts in Michigan and Pennsylvania, citing "statistical anomalies". The Green Party nominee reportedly wants to be sure computer hackers did not skew the poll in favour of Mr Trump. Concerns over possible Russian interference had been expressed in the run-up to the vote. The US government has said Russian state actors were behind hacks on the Democratic National Committee, a claim denied by Moscow. Results would need to be overturned in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania to alter the outcome of the 8 November presidential election - something analysts say is highly unlikely. Is US system a 'disaster for democracy'? Why US fears Russia is hacking election US election results Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign has said it will participate in Wisconsin's recount. Her campaign's general counsel, Marc Elias, said there was no evidence to conclude the election had been sabotaged, but "we have an obligation to the more than 64 million Americans who cast ballots for Hillary Clinton to participate in ongoing proceedings to ensure that an accurate vote count will be reported". Posting on Twitter, Mr Trump said the recount decision was "sad". "So much time and money will be spent - same result!" he said. He had earlier accused Dr Stein of trying to "fill her coffers with money" on the pretext of asking for donations towards a recount. Her website says more than $6m (£4.8m; €5.6m) has already been raised toward a $7m target. It says this is enough to fund the recounts in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. The deadline for the petition for the recount in Wisconsin was Friday, while Pennsylvania's deadline is Monday, and Michigan's is Wednesday. Michigan is yet to declare its final results.

['Wisconsin', 'Michigan', 'Hillary Clinton', 'Pennsylvania', 'Donald Trump', 'US election 2016', 'United States']

[{"entity": "Donald Trump", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Hillary Clinton", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Wisconsin", "label": "LOC"}]

Hillary Clinton ||| Wisconsin

["Wisconsin", "Michigan", "Hillary Clinton", "Pennsylvania", "Donald Trump", "US election 2016", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49513403

FBI's James Comey spared prosecution over Trump memo leak

Former FBI Director James Comey has been criticised in a Department of Justice report for the leak of memos on his interactions with President Trump.

An internal watchdog said Mr Comey had failed to "live up" to his duty to safeguard sensitive information. The watchdog said Mr Comey broke FBI rules by giving the contents of a memo to a friend to share with a reporter. But the inspector general said he was not recommending that Mr Comey be prosecuted for the breach. Mr Comey has been a vocal critic of Mr Trump since the president fired him in May 2017. The report said that, after losing his job, Mr Comey divulged the unclassified parts of a memo he had written on his private conversations with Mr Trump. He passed the contents to a friend, his personal lawyer Dan Richman, and authorised him to share them with a New York Times journalist. The inspector general's report said: "Were current or former FBI employees to follow the former Director's example and disclose sensitive information in service of their own strongly held personal convictions, the FBI would be unable to dispatch its law enforcement duties properly." The watchdog found that Mr Comey had also violated departmental policies by keeping copies of the memos in a safe at his home and failing to notify the FBI that he had done so. The inspector general said Mr Comey shared the document because he wanted to pressure the Department of Justice to launch an independent investigation into the president. "Comey had several other lawful options available to him to advocate for the appointment of a Special Counsel, which he told us was his goal in making the disclosure," the report says. "What was not permitted was the unauthorised disclosure of sensitive investigative information, obtained during the course of FBI employment, in order to achieve a personally desired outcome." Despite the findings, Mr Comey claimed vindication. Mr Trump tweeted on Thursday that Mr Comey "should be ashamed of himself". White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that Mr Comey "is a proven liar and leaker" who "forced" the nation to endure a "baseless politically motivated, two-year witch hunt". "Comey disgraced himself and his office to further a personal political agenda, and this report further confirms that fact," she added. After he was fired, Mr Comey wrote a book, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, condemning the president as "unethical, and untethered to truth and institutional values". He has kept up his criticism of Mr Trump. The good news for former FBI Director James Comey in the inspector general's report is the conclusion that he did not break the law and will not face criminal prosecution. The bad news is everything else. Mr Comey violated FBI policies and standards. He, in effect, acted as though the rules didn't apply to him. President Trump and his supporters will point to this as evidence that Mr Comey was a bad actor with an axe to grind against the president. Those in Hillary Clinton's circle will note, with irony, that the man whose investigation into the former secretary of state's handling of government documents that helped derail her presidential campaign is now on the receiving end of a not-prosecutable-but-not-proper finding. Mr Comey's claim that the inquiry is a vindication is a real stretch. It is, rather, a stinging rebuke of the nation's former top cop - a man who in his writings and public statements has presented himself as striving for virtue in a toxic political world. Mr Comey wrote seven memos between January and April 2017 about conversations he had with Mr Trump. He said that the president asked the FBI director to pledge loyalty to him during a private dinner. And at a private Oval Office meeting weeks later, Mr Comey says the president asked him to drop an inquiry into former US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Mr Flynn was fired for misleading the White House about his interactions with Russian officials. He pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the encounters. The firing of Mr Comey prompted nationwide uproar and one day after his memo was leaked to the New York Times, the Department of Justice launched an investigation to establish if there was collusion between the president's 2016 election campaign and Russia. That special counsel inquiry by another former FBI Director, Robert Mueller, concluded there was not enough evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy, despite a number of interactions between Trump aides and Russian officials. Mr Mueller's final report also noted that the president repeatedly tried to interfere with his investigation, though the special counsel did not conclude whether this amounted to criminal obstruction of justice.

['FBI', 'James Comey', 'Donald Trump', 'United States']

[{"entity": "James Comey", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Department of Justice", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Trump", "label": "PER"}]

James Comey ||| Department of Justice ||| Trump

["FBI", "James Comey", "Donald Trump", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40303761

Brexit talks 'to focus on withdrawal first'

Formal Brexit negotiations will first focus on issues to do with the UK's withdrawal from the EU, as part of a sequenced approach to talks, the European Commission has said.

The BBC has been told by EU sources that the talks will follow the EU's preferred pattern of exit negotiations first, with the future relations between the two sides at a later date. The UK's Department for Exiting the EU said it still held the view that both withdrawal and future relations should be agreed at the same time. Brexit negotiations are due to start on Monday in Brussels, but that will be the only day of talks next week. The talks are set to continue every month throughout the summer. The European Commission said "separation issues", such as citizens' rights and the UK's financial obligations, would be discussed first as part of its sequenced approach to talks. That's what the EU always insisted on, the BBC's Europe correspondent Damian Grammaticas reports. EU sources have told the BBC they believed the UK had understood this. The sources said the EU hoped to move on to discussing a trade deal in October, if enough progress has been made. Monday's talks between Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU negotiator Michel Barnier follow preliminary negotiations in Brussels between officials. In a statement the European Commission said: "The opening of negotiations at political level next week will focus on issues related to citizens' rights, the financial settlement, the Northern Irish border and other separation issues, as part of the sequenced approach to the talks. "Both sides will also discuss the structure of the negotiations and the issues that need to be addressed over the coming months." A spokesman for Mr Davis's Brexit department said: "We have been crystal clear about our approach to these negotiations. "As we set out in the Article 50 letter, our view is that withdrawal agreement and terms of the future relationship must be agreed alongside each other. We are clear this is what is set out in Article 50. "We believe that the withdrawal process cannot be concluded without the future relationship also being taken into account. "As the EU has itself said, 'nothing is agreed, until everything is agreed'." The BBC has been told by EU sources that the talks will follow the EU's preferred pattern of exit negotiations first, with the future relations between the two sides at a later date. The UK's Department for Exiting the EU said it still held the view that both withdrawal and future relations should be agreed at the same time. Brexit negotiations are due to start on Monday in Brussels, but that will be the only day of talks next week. The talks are set to continue every month throughout the summer. The European Commission said "separation issues", such as citizens' rights and the UK's financial obligations, would be discussed first as part of its sequenced approach to talks. That's what the EU always insisted on, the BBC's Europe correspondent Damian Grammaticas reports. EU sources have told the BBC they believed the UK had understood this. The sources said the EU hoped to move on to discussing a trade deal in October, if enough progress has been made. Monday's talks between Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU negotiator Michel Barnier follow preliminary negotiations in Brussels between officials. In a statement the European Commission said: "The opening of negotiations at political level next week will focus on issues related to citizens' rights, the financial settlement, the Northern Irish border and other separation issues, as part of the sequenced approach to the talks. "Both sides will also discuss the structure of the negotiations and the issues that need to be addressed over the coming months." A spokesman for Mr Davis's Brexit department said: "We have been crystal clear about our approach to these negotiations. "As we set out in the Article 50 letter, our view is that withdrawal agreement and terms of the future relationship must be agreed alongside each other. We are clear this is what is set out in Article 50. "We believe that the withdrawal process cannot be concluded without the future relationship also being taken into account. "As the EU has itself said, 'nothing is agreed, until everything is agreed'." The BBC has been told by EU sources that the talks will follow the EU's preferred pattern of exit negotiations first, with the future relations between the two sides at a later date. The UK's Department for Exiting the EU said it still held the view that both withdrawal and future relations should be agreed at the same time. Brexit negotiations are due to start on Monday in Brussels, but that will be the only day of talks next week. The talks are set to continue every month throughout the summer. The European Commission said "separation issues", such as citizens' rights and the UK's financial obligations, would be discussed first as part of its sequenced approach to talks. That's what the EU always insisted on, the BBC's Europe correspondent Damian Grammaticas reports. EU sources have told the BBC they believed the UK had understood this. The sources said the EU hoped to move on to discussing a trade deal in October, if enough progress has been made. Monday's talks between Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU negotiator Michel Barnier follow preliminary negotiations in Brussels between officials. In a statement the European Commission said: "The opening of negotiations at political level next week will focus on issues related to citizens' rights, the financial settlement, the Northern Irish border and other separation issues, as part of the sequenced approach to the talks. "Both sides will also discuss the structure of the negotiations and the issues that need to be addressed over the coming months." A spokesman for Mr Davis's Brexit department said: "We have been crystal clear about our approach to these negotiations. "As we set out in the Article 50 letter, our view is that withdrawal agreement and terms of the future relationship must be agreed alongside each other. We are clear this is what is set out in Article 50. "We believe that the withdrawal process cannot be concluded without the future relationship also being taken into account. "As the EU has itself said, 'nothing is agreed, until everything is agreed'." The spokesman added that although some issues would be given early priority "the withdrawal and future are intimately linked". "In particular, we want to move ahead on securing the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU. We want to end the anxiety facing four million citizens. "That has always been our first aim and that is what we will do." David Davis has said the UK will pay what was legally due, in line with its rights and obligations, but "not just what the EU wants", following reports the "divorce bill" could be 100bn euros (£87bn). Mr Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, has said there was no desire to punish the UK but "its accounts must be settled". "There is no Brexit bill. The final settlement is all about settling the accounts," he said last month. The spokesman added that although some issues would be given early priority "the withdrawal and future are intimately linked". "In particular, we want to move ahead on securing the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU. We want to end the anxiety facing four million citizens. "That has always been our first aim and that is what we will do." David Davis has said the UK will pay what was legally due, in line with its rights and obligations, but "not just what the EU wants", following reports the "divorce bill" could be 100bn euros (£87bn). Mr Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, has said there was no desire to punish the UK but "its accounts must be settled". "There is no Brexit bill. The final settlement is all about settling the accounts," he said last month. The spokesman added that although some issues would be given early priority "the withdrawal and future are intimately linked". "In particular, we want to move ahead on securing the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU. We want to end the anxiety facing four million citizens. "That has always been our first aim and that is what we will do." David Davis has said the UK will pay what was legally due, in line with its rights and obligations, but "not just what the EU wants", following reports the "divorce bill" could be 100bn euros (£87bn). Mr Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, has said there was no desire to punish the UK but "its accounts must be settled". "There is no Brexit bill. The final settlement is all about settling the accounts," he said last month. In Prime Minister Theresa May's letter triggering Article 50, she states: "We believe it's necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU.' But European Council president Donald Tusk and other senior EU officials have consistently ruled out parallel talks. Labour's Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer has written to David Davis urging him to "reset" the government's "belligerent and reckless" approach to leaving the EU. In the letter, obtained by the Financial Times, Sir Keir warned that Theresa May's "inflexible" stance "makes a good deal for Britain less likely, not more likely". He urged ministers to make jobs and the economy their priority in negotiations, echoing comments earlier by Chancellor Philip Hammond. Sir Keir said the government should now drop their claim that "no deal is better than a bad deal" on Brexit, saying it had "never been a viable option". "To threaten to jump off a cliff rather than to be pushed is not a viable negotiating strategy," he said. Labour is seeking regular meetings with the most senior civil servant at the Department for Exiting the EU, saying it needs to be ready to take over negotiations at any stage if Mrs May's government falls. In Prime Minister Theresa May's letter triggering Article 50, she states: "We believe it's necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU.' But European Council president Donald Tusk and other senior EU officials have consistently ruled out parallel talks. Labour's Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer has written to David Davis urging him to "reset" the government's "belligerent and reckless" approach to leaving the EU. In the letter, obtained by the Financial Times, Sir Keir warned that Theresa May's "inflexible" stance "makes a good deal for Britain less likely, not more likely". He urged ministers to make jobs and the economy their priority in negotiations, echoing comments earlier by Chancellor Philip Hammond. Sir Keir said the government should now drop their claim that "no deal is better than a bad deal" on Brexit, saying it had "never been a viable option". "To threaten to jump off a cliff rather than to be pushed is not a viable negotiating strategy," he said. Labour is seeking regular meetings with the most senior civil servant at the Department for Exiting the EU, saying it needs to be ready to take over negotiations at any stage if Mrs May's government falls. In Prime Minister Theresa May's letter triggering Article 50, she states: "We believe it's necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU.' But European Council president Donald Tusk and other senior EU officials have consistently ruled out parallel talks. Labour's Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer has written to David Davis urging him to "reset" the government's "belligerent and reckless" approach to leaving the EU. In the letter, obtained by the Financial Times, Sir Keir warned that Theresa May's "inflexible" stance "makes a good deal for Britain less likely, not more likely". He urged ministers to make jobs and the economy their priority in negotiations, echoing comments earlier by Chancellor Philip Hammond. Sir Keir said the government should now drop their claim that "no deal is better than a bad deal" on Brexit, saying it had "never been a viable option". "To threaten to jump off a cliff rather than to be pushed is not a viable negotiating strategy," he said. Labour is seeking regular meetings with the most senior civil servant at the Department for Exiting the EU, saying it needs to be ready to take over negotiations at any stage if Mrs May's government falls.

['Brexit']

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

UK ||| EU ||| European Commission

["Brexit"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58853859

Texas abortion: US appeals court reinstates near total ban

A US appeals court has temporarily reinstated Texas's near total ban on abortions.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to a request from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that an injunction imposed against the law be lifted. On Wednesday, a lower court had temporarily blocked the bill for the "offensive deprivation" of the constitutional right to an abortion. The restrictive law bans all abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy. It gives any individual the right to sue anyone involved with providing or facilitating an abortion after cardiac activity is detected, and makes no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. On Wednesday District Judge Robert Pitman granted a request by the Biden administration to prevent enforcement of the law while its legality was being challenged. He held that women had been "unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution". However, Texas officials immediately appealed against the ruling, which the New Orleans-based, conservative-leaning Fifth Circuit court has agreed to set aside. It ordered the justice department to respond to its ruling by Tuesday. In a statement following the latest ruling, Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, called on the Supreme Court to "step in and stop this madness". "Patients are being thrown back into a state of chaos and fear, and this cruel law is falling hardest on those who already face discriminatory obstacles in health care, especially Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour, undocumented immigrants, young people, those struggling to make ends meet, and those in rural areas," she said. "The courts have an obligation to block laws that violate fundamental rights." The Texan attorney general said the court's decision was "great news", adding he would "continue to fight to keep Texas free from federal overreach". The dispute over the law could ultimately end up before the US Supreme Court, which in September declined to hear an emergency case filed in a last-minute bid to prevent the ban passing into law. Several clinics in Texas had resumed providing abortions to patients who were beyond the six-week limit following Wednesday's order. They may now face some legal risk, as the law includes a provision that says clinics and doctors may still be liable for abortions carried out while an emergency injunction is in place, legal experts say. However, it is unclear whether such a provision can be enforced, with Judge Pittman saying in his ruling that it is "of questionable legality". Some women have reportedly been travelling to other states where the procedure is legal.

['Abortion', 'Texas', 'United States']

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

Texas

["Abortion", "Texas", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-58464958

Plymouth shooting: Hundreds mourn toddler and dad

Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of a three-year-old girl and her father, who were killed in a mass shooting.

Sophie Martyn and her father Lee, 43, were shot dead by Jake Davison, 22, in Plymouth on 12 August. About 300 people filled the Minster Church of St Andrew, in Royal Parade, Plymouth, many of them dressed in black. Other mourners waited outside during the hour-long service. A single white coffin was taken into and out of the church by pallbearers. The shootings in the Keyham area of the city saw Davison kill his 51-year-old mother, Maxine, at a house in Biddick Drive, during an argument. The apprentice crane driver then went into the street and killed the Martyns as they walked their pet dog. He also killed Stephen Washington, 59, in a nearby park, before shooting Kate Shepherd, 66, on Henderson Place.. Davison then turned the gun on himself before armed police reached him. Inquests into the deaths of Davison and his five victims have been opened and adjourned by a coroner, saying they all died from shotgun wounds. Three separate inquiries, by the Plymouth coroner, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), are under way in the incident. Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk

['Plymouth', 'Firearms', 'Plymouth shooting']

[{"entity": "mass shooting", "label": "DIS"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Plymouth", "Firearms", "Plymouth shooting"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-41580280

Van crashes into Maulden thatched cottage front door

A white van has crashed through the front door of a listed 16th Century thatched cottage.

It is thought the vehicle came off at a bend on Ampthill Road, in Maulden, Bedfordshire, on Tuesday before it crossed a grass verge, went through a hedge and embedded itself in the house. A 34-year-old man from Maulden was arrested on suspicion of being unable to drive through drink or drugs. No-one is thought to have been hurt in the crash. Val Fossey, who lives in the cottage, said there was "a dreadful noise - like an earthquake" when the van struck. She was in the living room with her husband Steve when the van crashed into their home, which they have lived in for 14 years, at about 22:35 BST. "This van came flying over a hedge and crashed into our hall and kitchen," she said. "If I had left the room I don't know what would have happened. "We are not right on the bend and we are about 20 yards from the road," she said. "He must have been going fast to go over the verge. "There are cracks going up the wall into the bedroom. "I don't know when we will be allowed back in." Central Bedfordshire Council's structural engineers have said the house is structurally safe. A spokesman said an expert had checked the building, and the area that the van damaged had been shored up. The authority said it was waiting for the insurers to take over the case and it was not clear when the family would be able to return home.

['Maulden']

[{"entity": "16th Century", "label": "TIME"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Maulden"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32214799

Jeremy Clarkson to host Have I Got News For You

Jeremy Clarkson is set to make his first appearance on the BBC since losing his job as co-presenter on Top Gear.

The controversial broadcaster will appear as the guest host of Have I Got News for You on 24 April. "Jeremy's contract has not been renewed on Top Gear but he isn't banned from appearing on the BBC," a BBC spokesman said. Clarkson has hosted the satirical news quiz on numerous occasions. During one appearance in 2008, he threw a pen at regular panellist Ian Hislop that left the latter with a cut on his face. Clarkson was suspended by the BBC on 10 March following a "fracas" with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon in a hotel in North Yorkshire. Mr Tymon suffered swelling and a split lip in the assault on 4 March and visited a hospital A&E department for his injuries. Following an internal investigation, the BBC announced on 25 March Clarkson's contract on Top Gear would not be renewed. More than a million fans signed a petition to reinstate the presenter, but BBC director general Tony Hall said "a line has been crossed" and "there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another". On Tuesday, North Yorkshire Police said there was "no need for further action" against Clarkson following an inquiry into the "fracas". Top Gear is watched by some 350 million viewers worldwide and is one of the BBC's biggest properties - with overseas sales worth an estimated £50m a year. The BBC has said the show will continue without Clarkson, however it is unclear whether co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond will remain.

['Television', 'Jeremy Clarkson', 'Top Gear']

[{"entity": "Jeremy Clarkson", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "BBC", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Top Gear", "label": "MEDIA"}]

BBC ||| Top Gear

["Television", "Jeremy Clarkson", "Top Gear"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37563824

GB demand for Irish passports doubles post-Brexit vote

The number of applications for Irish passports from people living in Great Britain has almost doubled since the UK voted to leave the European Union.

New figures from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs show that between July and September the number of GB applications rose by 96%. There were 3,431 applications in September 2015, compared to 7,518 in September 2016. Year-on-year applications from Northern Ireland have also risen since the vote. They have increased by two-thirds in the three months since the Brexit decision. In terms of numbers, there have been 15,757 applications from people in Northern Ireland since July, compared 9,401 in the same period last year. The Northern Ireland-only figures show demand was strongest at the end of the summer: In Great Britain, the trend has been upwards over the past three months: There have been 21,549 Irish passport applications from people in Great Britain since July, compared 10,959 in the same period last year.

['Republic of Ireland', 'Immigration', 'Citizenship', 'Brexit', 'Passports']

[{"entity": "Great Britain", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "UK", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "European Union", "label": "ORG"}]

Great Britain

["Republic of Ireland", "Immigration", "Citizenship", "Brexit", "Passports"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39776710

Brexit: UK 'will not enter into briefing war' with EC

The UK will not enter into "a briefing war" with the European Commission over Brexit talks, Tory sources have said.

It follows reports in a German paper of repeated clashes between Theresa May and Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker at a Downing Street dinner. EU sources claimed UK misunderstanding of the talks process, and ignorance about how Brussels works, could lead to no deal being agreed on the UK's exit. Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the reports were "tittle-tattle". She said the emergence of the reports was "not the right way" of negotiating, but the UK was committed to negotiating in "good faith". According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine, the prime minister and Mr Juncker reportedly clashed last Wednesday over Mrs May's desire to make Brexit "a success" and whether the issue of protecting the rights of expat UK and EU nationals could be agreed as early as June. The German newspaper's report of the dinner, which looks to have come via European Commission sources, said that after the PM said she wanted to "make Brexit a success", Mr Juncker's response was: "Brexit cannot be a success. The more I hear, the more sceptical I become." And when she said the UK owes no money to the EU, the president informed her that she was not leaving a "golf club". The German newspaper report also suggested Mr Juncker said there would be no trade deal between the UK and the rest of the EU if the UK failed to pay the "divorce" bill which it is expected to be asked for. Reports also claim that the morning after the dinner last Wednesday Mr Juncker told German chancellor Angela Merkel that Mrs May was "on a different galaxy". A No 10 spokesman said the UK was approaching the talks constructively and in a spirit of goodwill towards the EU, but was also determined to make a success of leaving. In a speech later on Tuesday, Mrs May will suggest the two-year Brexit process will be tough and the other 27 nations are "united in their determination to do a deal that works for them." Ms Rudd said the UK would not be responding to the claims but the government had set out a clear plan and priorities for the talks and Mrs May was the best person to negotiate a Brexit deal that was in the UK's "national interest". "Once you start engaging in gossip, in tittle-tattle in this way, it (will) carry on and who knows where it will lead?" she told BBC Breakfast. "Nobody knows how much truth there is in gossip. But there are ways of conveying what is going on and this is not the right way. "I do not recognise the tone in which this has been reported but I come back to the fact that it does make it clear that it is going to be a complex, potentially difficult negotiation at times and who do we want leading those - we want Theresa May leading them, not Jeremy Corbyn." Welcome to the EU/UK dominated Brexit Galaxy of Spin and Counter-Spin. A crazy old place. The galactic atmosphere is such these days that the dimensions of truth are elastic; at times, distorted. Take the arguments this weekend over whether the Downing Street dinner last Wednesday at which Theresa May hosted European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was a complete disaster or not. Not at all, insists Downing Street. But it was a fiasco, according to Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and thereafter hitting Twitter and headlines across the UK. In Brussels, Politico quotes an EU diplomat saying the dinner went "badly, really badly". He reportedly went as far as to claim the British government was now "living in a different galaxy" to the EU when it came to Brexit expectations. This all seems rather inflammatory, so who's right and who's stretching the truth? The accounts of the dinner were seized upon by European politicians and opposition parties in the UK. Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister who leads the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, said it was time to "get real". He tweeted: "Any Brexit deal requires a strong and stable understanding of the complex issues involved." Labour's shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said Mrs May's stance was "wrong, not strong" while Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said the backlash in the European media was a "taste of things to come". "The reports show a prime minister who seems to have no idea how difficult these negotiations will be," he said. In his first leader column as Evening Standard editor, former Conservative chancellor George Osborne urged Mrs May to spell out her intentions more clearly regarding Brexit and other issues. "There's nothing wrong with repeating election campaign slogans," the article - published on ex-Tory MP Mr Osborne's first day in the editor's chair - stated. "The problem comes when the election campaign amounts to no more than a slogan. If you ask for a blank cheque, don't be surprised if later it bounces." The Green Party, meanwhile, has said voters should be given the chance to change their minds in a second "ratification referendum". "Whoever wins this election has a mandate to negotiate on behalf of the British people - but that does not mean that they have a right to impose a final deal," said its co-leader Caroline Lucas. But UKIP said Mr Juncker was playing "hardball" and Mrs May should not give any ground. "What is clear is that they won't be able to bully Britain and nor should they," its leader Paul Nuttall told the BBC's Daily Politics. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

['Theresa May', 'Brexit']

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

UK ||| European Commission

["Theresa May", "Brexit"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-56307066

Rangers fans gather outside Ibrox despite lockdown

A large group of Rangers fans gathered outside Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow on Saturday despite lockdown rules.

Images posted on social media showed flares being set off and fans singing ahead of Rangers' game against St Mirren. Under current guidance public gatherings are banned and a maximum of two people from two households are allowed to meet outdoors. Rangers are currently one point short of winning the Scottish Premiership. The team beat St Mirren 3-0 on Saturday and will claim the title on Sunday if Celtic do not win against Dundee United. Football games are taking place behind closed doors with no fans in the stadium. Following their win against St Mirren, some players made their way to the fence to celebrate in sight of fans who had made their way to the stadium. Hundreds of supporters arrived at Ibrox on Saturday morning, with some seen crowding around a car entering the ground as police tried to hold them back. In a statement, Ch Supt Mark Sutherland from Police Scotland said: "About 10am a large number of supporters gathered outside Ibrox Stadium and a number of pyrotechnic devices were set off. "I would remind supporters that in line with current Scottish government coronavirus guidelines, all gatherings are currently prohibited and we would urge members of the public to comply with these restrictions. "Our priority is public safety and an appropriate policing plan was in place and officers engaged with those present to explain and encourage compliance with restrictions." No one has been arrested. The Scottish government said it was "extremely disappointed" that some supporters had gathered at the stadium. A spokeswoman added: "At this crucial stage of suppressing the virus, the actions of this minority of individuals jeopardises the safety of other supporters, the police on duty and the wider community. We will continue to engage with Police Scotland and the club." Steven Gerrard's side are within one point of their first Premiership title in 10 years, having ended their city rivals' Celtic's hopes of a 10th championship win in a row. Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson said he could "understand" the emotions that led some Rangers fans "to do daft things" and break lockdown guidelines to celebrate with their team. He said: "It is a little disappointing when we consider what's going round the country, but these fans have been starved of success for so long and they just want some way to thank the team and Steven Gerrard. "Obviously it's not right to do it in the numbers they did and it can't be excused, but we all do silly things when we get caught up in celebrations." First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously criticised fans for gathering in large numbers. After Celtic fans took part in a protest outside the club's stadium in November, she said: "We have advice against gatherings and every day I stand up here and say avoid crowded places. "We have a limit on people coming together outside... so it stands to reason any group of people that are gathering together in a crowd are putting themselves and others at risk. "Whether it's football fans, rugby fans, any other kind of sport fans or just people in general, please don't do it because right now, in the middle of this pandemic, it is a risky thing to do that puts you and other people at risk."

['Coronavirus lockdown measures', 'Glasgow']

[{"entity": "Rangers", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Ibrox Stadium", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Glasgow", "label": "LOC"}]

Rangers ||| Ibrox Stadium

["Coronavirus lockdown measures", "Glasgow"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-45559834

Storm Ali to bring high winds and rain across much of Scotland

Much of Scotland is due to be battered by high winds and heavy rain as the first named storm of the season sweeps in.

The Met Office has issued weather warnings and said Storm Ali could bring winds of 80mph and a danger to life from flying debris. An amber warning is in place for large parts of the country between 08:00 and 17:00 on Wednesday. Travel disruption and huge waves in coastal areas are also expected. The amber warning covers central, Tayside, Fife, Grampian, south west, Lothian and Borders and the Strathclyde areas. The Met Office said flying debris was likely as was damage to buildings from falling tiles, trees and branches. It added: "Large waves could affect coastal roads, sea fronts and properties." Gusts of 65-75mph were expected inland, with winds reaching up to 80mph at times on high ground and in coastal areas. A Scotland-wide yellow "be aware" warning is also in place between 06:00 and 22:00 on Wednesday. The warning has prompted police to caution drivers of high-sided vehicles to consider whether they are safe to drive. Ch Supt Stewart Carle, head of road policing, said: "Previous incidents have clearly shown the dangers of driving vehicles vulnerable to being blown over in high wind conditions and the subsequent danger created for other road users, emergency services and recovery operatives where incidents have occurred due to drivers ignoring warnings." He added: "If you are driving a vehicle which may be vulnerable to being blown over in such conditions along exposed routes including bridges, please exercise additional caution and plan your route to avoid exposed areas or consider cancelling your journey until conditions improve." The Met Office tweeted about naming the storm. It said: "Very strong winds and heavy rain will reach Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland during Wednesday. @MetEireann and @metoffice have just jointly named this system 'Storm Ali'." Scotland's Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said the Scottish government's resilience room would be active throughout Wednesday to monitor the wider impact of Storm Ali. He urged motorists to check Traffic Scotland before setting off to make sure that their route was available. He added: "The conditions are also likely to lead to disruption on other modes of transport, so we are urging people to take the weather into account if they are planning to travel on trains, ferries and flights." Stein Connelly from Transport Scotland told the BBC: "We've been doing a lot of planning on this and have been working closely with the Met Office. "We have called in our operating companies to look at what resources they have available. They have specialised resources - people trained with chainsaws and pumps to clear out drains and make sure there is no flooding. "The amber warning covers from Dundee to the south. It covers the morning and evening peak, with the disruption expected to increase as the day goes on. "Our advice is as always, plan your journey, be prepared and drive to the conditions." ScotRail said it was planning to run a normal service on Wednesday but urged passengers to check their journeys before setting off. It also urged anyone who lives near the railway to secure any loose garden furniture. A spokesman said: "We plan to run a normal service tomorrow across all routes. We'll be keeping a close eye on wind speeds in real-time from our integrated control room." CalMac has cancelled a number of ferry sailings in the Western Isles and has warned of a "high likelihood of major disruption" across all of its routes. Scottish Borders Council said it was opening its "emergency bunker" from 07:30 "to enable a co-ordinated response with partners" to Storm Ali. The Dumfries and Galloway Virtual Operations Support Team (DGVOST) - involving council and emergency services - is also being activated. It uses social media and online updates to keep people informed of any major incidents in the area.

['Met Office', 'Severe weather']

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

Scotland

["Met Office", "Severe weather"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58230790

Hollywood-style sign in Wrexham is a whodunnit

A Hollywood-style sign has been erected in Wrexham, with those behind it a mystery.

Huge white lettering spelling out the name of the north Wales town was spotted on the slag heap at Bersham Bank colliery tip, near Rhostyllen. Social media speculation has linked it to Wrexham AFC - which is owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. But so far everyone contacted insisted it had "nothing" to do with them. In a statement, a club spokesman said: "The sign is not, as far as we [are] all aware, anything to do with the football club." Council worker Joe Edwards saw the sign when he was driving along the A483 with his girlfriend Chel Humphreys, 21, on Sunday. They decided to take a closer look and travelled up to the slag heap where it currently stands. The 22-year-old Wrexham AFC season ticket holder said: "When we went up there, some workmen were just finishing up. "We asked who was doing it and they just said 'us'. They didn't say the company or anything. "They weren't anything to do with the council either." Despite not knowing who was behind it, Joe - who has had a season ticket for 15 years - said "any publicity is good for the club". Wrexham AFC's Twitter account retweeted and shared images of the sign - including drone footage taken by a professional videographer. In one message, the club wrote: "Wrexham, it's always been the Hollywood of Europe, apparently…" Margaret Jones, who helps run the nearby Bersham Colliery mining museum, said she was also aware of the sign but had "no idea" who was behind it. A spokeswoman for Wrexham council said: "This sign is nothing to do with the council although we are aware of it."

['North Wales', 'Wrexham', 'Ryan Reynolds', 'Hollywood']

[{"entity": "Hollywood", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Wrexham", "label": "LOC"}]

Hollywood ||| Wrexham

["North Wales", "Wrexham", "Ryan Reynolds", "Hollywood"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33970145

Bangkok bomb: Victims and survivors

An avid food blogger, a Manchester United fan, and a Malaysian family of four were among the 20 people killed by the bomb blast in Bangkok on Monday night.

More than 120 people were injured in the explosion at the Erawan shrine, a Hindu tourist hotspot also frequented by Buddhists. Authorities have been releasing details of those confirmed to have been killed or injured, while Asian media outlets have revealed more about those who died, more than half of whom were foreigners. More than 120 people were injured in the explosion at the Erawan shrine, a Hindu tourist hotspot also frequented by Buddhists. Authorities have been releasing details of those confirmed to have been killed or injured, while Asian media outlets have revealed more about those who died, more than half of whom were foreigners. Suwan Sathman, 30, worked for a foundation that manages the Erawan shrine. He was killed in the blast. His family members told Thai media that he had a six-year-old son and had been planning to marry his fiancee soon. "They [the bombers] have total disregard for victims' families. This is murdering innocent people. Suwan has worked hard to take care of his family," Mr Sathman's mother told the Bangkok Post. Other Thai victims include: Yutthanarong Singror, 44, who was on his way to deliver documents when the blast happened; Standard Chartered bank employee Suchada Niseeda, 32; and Namouy Sangchan, 30. Suwan Sathman, 30, worked for a foundation that manages the Erawan shrine. He was killed in the blast. His family members told Thai media that he had a six-year-old son and had been planning to marry his fiancee soon. "They [the bombers] have total disregard for victims' families. This is murdering innocent people. Suwan has worked hard to take care of his family," Mr Sathman's mother told the Bangkok Post. Other Thai victims include: Yutthanarong Singror, 44, who was on his way to deliver documents when the blast happened; Standard Chartered bank employee Suchada Niseeda, 32; and Namouy Sangchan, 30. Chinese state media has reported that as of Tuesday evening, six Chinese citizens had died - four from mainland China, the other two from Hong Kong. Twenty-two Chinese nationals were also among the injured. The UK Foreign Office said a British national resident in Hong Kong was among the dead, with Prime Minister David Cameron saying on Twitter he was "deeply saddened" to hear of her death. That person has been named as 19-year-old law student and food blogger Vivian Chan. She graduated from Harrow International School in Hong Kong in 2014. The school said in a statement that she was a "tremendous role model". The South China Morning Post said she was a fan of Hong Kong singer Joey Yung, whom she met in 2014. Ms Yung posted a picture of herself with Ms Chan on her Facebook page and said: "I'm very sad at this moment, she left such a deep impression on me." Pontakorn Urapeepatanapong, who went to school with Ms Chan, told the BBC: "[She was] very easy to like. Everyone got on well with her. She'd always have a smile. You'd think she was happy about everything." Ms Chan was travelling with Hong Kong resident Arcadia Pang, 24, who also died. Ms Pang had studied human resource management at the Institute of Vocational Education in Hong Kong. A friend of hers told the Post that she was "very gentle and quiet". Chinese state media has reported that as of Tuesday evening, six Chinese citizens had died - four from mainland China, the other two from Hong Kong. Twenty-two Chinese nationals were also among the injured. The UK Foreign Office said a British national resident in Hong Kong was among the dead, with Prime Minister David Cameron saying on Twitter he was "deeply saddened" to hear of her death. That person has been named as 19-year-old law student and food blogger Vivian Chan. She graduated from Harrow International School in Hong Kong in 2014. The school said in a statement that she was a "tremendous role model". The South China Morning Post said she was a fan of Hong Kong singer Joey Yung, whom she met in 2014. Ms Yung posted a picture of herself with Ms Chan on her Facebook page and said: "I'm very sad at this moment, she left such a deep impression on me." Pontakorn Urapeepatanapong, who went to school with Ms Chan, told the BBC: "[She was] very easy to like. Everyone got on well with her. She'd always have a smile. You'd think she was happy about everything." Ms Chan was travelling with Hong Kong resident Arcadia Pang, 24, who also died. Ms Pang had studied human resource management at the Institute of Vocational Education in Hong Kong. A friend of hers told the Post that she was "very gentle and quiet". Authorities have confirmed four Malaysians were killed, and three were injured. Malaysian press reports said the dead were all from the same family. They are: Lee Tze Siang, 35, and his four-year-old daughter Lee Jing Xuan; as well as Lim Saw Gek, 49, and 20-year-old university Neoh Jai Jun. The Star said they came from a family well-known in their hometown of Butterworth for their kueh (traditional cakes) business. Authorities have confirmed four Malaysians were killed, and three were injured. Malaysian press reports said the dead were all from the same family. They are: Lee Tze Siang, 35, and his four-year-old daughter Lee Jing Xuan; as well as Lim Saw Gek, 49, and 20-year-old university Neoh Jai Jun. The Star said they came from a family well-known in their hometown of Butterworth for their kueh (traditional cakes) business. One Singaporean woman was killed and seven other Singaporeans were injured, the foreign ministry said in a statement to parliament. Sources confirmed the dead woman to be 34-year-old Melisa Liu Rui Chun, who worked for the Singapore branch of French insurance company AXA. She was on holiday with her husband and brother - both were injured, reported The Straits Times. Friends of Ms Liu remembered her as a bubbly and outgoing person who was a fan of football club Manchester United. "She was always laughing, very loud and outgoing. I saw her as one of the boys," the newspaper quoted one of her friends as saying. One Singaporean woman was killed and seven other Singaporeans were injured, the foreign ministry said in a statement to parliament. Sources confirmed the dead woman to be 34-year-old Melisa Liu Rui Chun, who worked for the Singapore branch of French insurance company AXA. She was on holiday with her husband and brother - both were injured, reported The Straits Times. Friends of Ms Liu remembered her as a bubbly and outgoing person who was a fan of football club Manchester United. "She was always laughing, very loud and outgoing. I saw her as one of the boys," the newspaper quoted one of her friends as saying. An Indonesian government statement reported by Indonesian media said a 61-year old woman, Lioe Lie Tjing, had been killed. Her husband, Hermawan Indradjaja, is in intensive care at a Bangkok hospital. An Indonesian government statement reported by Indonesian media said a 61-year old woman, Lioe Lie Tjing, had been killed. Her husband, Hermawan Indradjaja, is in intensive care at a Bangkok hospital. Taiwan media report that at least five Taiwanese nationals were injured. Thailand's Institute of Forensic Medicine said that among those injured were citizens of Japan, the Philippines, Oman, Maldives and Qatar. Taiwan media report that at least five Taiwanese nationals were injured. Thailand's Institute of Forensic Medicine said that among those injured were citizens of Japan, the Philippines, Oman, Maldives and Qatar.

['Bangkok']

[{"entity": "Manchester United", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Malaysian", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Bangkok", "label": "LOC"}]

Manchester United ||| Malaysian ||| Bangkok

["Bangkok"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-30922622

Fatboy Slim is confirmed to play Common People festival

Renowned DJ Fatboy Slim is to headline a new festival on Southampton Common.

Common People will take place for the first time on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May with tickets going on sale on Thursday morning. Fatboy Slim is to play on Saturday as well as De La Soul, Jaguar Skills and George the Poet. A headline act for Sunday has not yet been announced but Clean Bandit, Band of Skulls, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Slaves and DJ Yoda are booked to play. The Cuban Brothers, Craig Charles and West End Kids will also appear on Sunday. It is being organised by Rob da Bank, a DJ who started Bestival on the Isle of Wight and also runs Camp Bestival in Dorset.

['Southampton']

[{"entity": "Fatboy Slim", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Southampton Common", "label": "LOC"}]

Fatboy Slim

["Southampton"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34659811

Phil Collins 'no longer retired'

British singer Phil Collins has said he is coming out of retirement and is even planning to tour.

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, he said: "I'm no longer officially retired. "The horse is out of the stable and I'm raring to go." The 64-year-old artist - who also played with prog-rockers Genesis - said in 2011 he was leaving music to be "a full time father to my two young sons". Following a scheduled reissue of his solo albums he told Rolling Stone "it would be silly to not make more music." Collins has not released a full album of new material since 2002's Testify though he topped the chart in 2010 with a collection of Motown covers called Going Back. In 2007, a Genesis reunion tour led to a dislocated vertebra and nerve damage in his hands, leaving him unable to play the drums. He told Rolling Stone that he was moving a studio into his home in Miami, Florida and would start recording new music next month. His new band features Jason Bonham, the son of Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham. In terms of a tour to support the new songs, he said: "I don't think I want a very long tour. "But I would like to play the stadiums in Australia and the Far East, and that's the only way to do that. But there's a part of me that just wants to do theatres, so we'll see." One of the most successful songwriters and performers of all time, Collins is one of only three recording artists, alongside Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, who have sold over 100 million albums worldwide both as solo artists and as members of a band. His number one singles include A Groovy Kind of Love and Against All Odds. Collins has won seven Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards, an Oscar and two Golden Globes.

['Genesis', 'Music']

[{"entity": "Phil Collins", "label": "PER"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Genesis", "Music"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41017657

Should we ban nuts in public places?

Nuts are an on-the-go snacking staple, yet they are also potentially deadly to a small fraction of the UK population. So is it time to crack down on eating nuts in public and if so, where should we start?

About two million people in the UK have a food allergy, with fish, shellfish and nuts among the most common types. For most people, the symptoms are mild - such as an itchy mouth or a rash - but in extreme cases, it can result in difficulty breathing or a potentially fatal anaphylactic shock. More than 25,000 people were admitted to hospital in England for allergies between 2015 and 2016 - a third higher than four years earlier - and the number of people treated for anaphylactic shock is also on the rise. So as the family of one young woman, Amy May Shead, who was left severely brain damaged after a reaction to nuts, campaign to have them banned on planes, is it time to take action? Becky Gittins, 22, is about to start her first full-time job as an accountant and says she is already nervous about her first day. Becky, a Warwick University graduate, also has a severe peanut allergy which can provoke anaphylaxis - a life-threatening allergic reaction. "My manager asked me about it this week, and I said I'd bring my own lunch, but she told me she had the same allergy and they do her a box of salad separately. "That makes me much more reassured about that first day." But she says work events "make me quite anxious", adding: "There's nothing worse than those dinners when they ask, 'Why have the serving staff spoken to you?' and the whole table for an hour is talking about it." She adds: "I noticed the office eats Hersheys Kisses which I think have nuts in them, so I'm going to have to be quite careful." Employers have a duty under health and safety law to protect your health, including allergies, but only as far as they "reasonably can". Supporters of a nut ban on flights argue allergy sufferers are at risk from airborne peanut particles - recirculated around the aircraft - and far from medical help in the event of emergency. However, most major airlines cannot guarantee a nut-free flight. Some - including EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic - say cabin crew can make an announcement if a passenger asks them to beforehand. Vanessa James, a nut-allergic investment banker who travels for work, says flying has become "more difficult". Now 37, she has lived with the allergy for nearly two decades and suffered six anaphylactic shocks. "These days they won't make those announcements, and if they serve peanuts they won't not serve them that day." But a total nut ban is "impractical" to enforce, says Amena Warner, head of clinical services at charity Allergy UK. "Even if the airline did not carry or serve nuts, it would be virtually impossible for them to check whether their passengers have brought nut products with them onto a flight," she says. Amena added that if someone ate nuts earlier in the day, then boarded the plane, there could still be a contamination risk. So should we avoid eating peanuts on all forms of transport? Many trains sell nuts on board and passengers may have already brought their own snacks. TransPennine Express, for example, said it sells nuts and would not offer an allergen-free carriage, while Virgin Express said it could not control what foods customers bring on board. Becky says: "I'm constantly having to get up and move on trains if someone opens a bag of peanuts and my lips begin to tingle. "I think it's really irresponsible for train stations and airports to actively sell nuts," she adds. She thinks people are generally understanding if she asks them to stop eating nuts. "I do feel like a massive square. Usually, I keep another snack in my bag just in case - they could be a diabetic," she says. Vanessa adds: "I'll normally just move carriage, to be honest, it's not their fault they're sitting next to someone with an allergy." She says everyday situations can be just as dangerous. "Five years ago a friend kissed me on the cheek, and she'd been eating a Snickers - when it kicked in I went into anaphylactic shock." About one in 50 primary school-age children is affected by a peanut allergy, which has prompted some schools to ban peanuts and other foods in the canteen, staff room and playground. A primary school in South Wales recently implemented a "no chocolate policy" because of one boy's allergy, telling parents: "All areas of the school will be chocolate-free." And while schools have been known to ban some foods for health reasons - such as fruit juices - another school prohibited birthday cakes in case any of the ingredients contain allergens. But Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, says a no-nut school or nursery "would not reflect the reality of the outside world". He says: "It would be difficult, if not impossible, to enforce a total ban on certain foods in school." He suggests a "whole school awareness" approach instead, where staff and pupils know how to deal with allergic reactions. So maybe it is up to snackers themselves - rather than organisations - to think twice before opening a packet of peanuts in public. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

['Food allergies', 'NHS']

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

UK

["Food allergies", "NHS"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51342714

'Empathy' for independent Scotland joining the EU says Tusk

Former European Council president Donald Tusk says Brussels feels "empathy" towards an independent Scotland joining the European Union.

Nicola Sturgeon has said an independent Scotland would seek full EU membership. When asked if this would be looked upon favourably, Mr Tusk said there would be enthusiasm but he warned the country would not be automatically accepted. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned the comments could encourage "separatist tendencies" in the EU. They were "rather un-European and rather irresponsible," he added. "I'm not sure European leaders, let alone here in the UK, would actually welcome that comment," he said. Mr Tusk, who served as European Council president for five years until November last year, told the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show that he feels "very Scottish, especially after Brexit". When asked about the prospect of an independent Scotland joining the EU, the Polish politician said he had to "respect the internal debate in the United Kingdom" and it was not his role to intervene. But when pressed on the level of support in the EU towards an independent Scotland joining the union, he said: "Emotionally I have no doubt that everyone will be enthusiastic here in Brussels, and more generally in Europe. "If you ask me about our emotions, you will witness I think always empathy." However he warned that any future entry bid on the part of an independent Scotland would not be automatically accepted - "formalities" and treaty agreements would still need to be adhered to. It came as other European leaders expressed sadness at the UK leaving the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "deeply sad" while the EU's Guy Verhofstadt pledged to try and "ensure the EU is a project you'll want to be a part of again". Mr Tusk's comments come after his predecessor, Herman Van Rompuy, last year said he believes Brexit has changed EU attitudes to Scottish independence. Britain officially left the European Union on Friday at 23:00 GMT after 47 years of membership, and more than three years after it voted to do so in a referendum. Scotland voted in favour of the UK staying in the EU by 62% to 38% in 2016. The overall UK result backed Leave by 51.9% to 48.1%. In a speech on Brexit day, Nicola Sturgeon said there was "real and profound sadness" felt by many Scots, also tinged with anger. An independent Scotland would require the backing of all 27 EU members to join the trading bloc and there are a number of countries which have already applied and started accession negotiations. The European Policy Centre think-tank, of which Mr Van Rompuy is president, last year published an analysis on independent Scottish membership of the EU. It concluded that the EU should "engage positively" with Scotland in the event of independence, if there had been a properly constituted referendum. But it said Scotland could not expect "special treatment" and that the Scottish government would have to accept all the obligations of membership, including agreeing in principle to join the euro.

['Donald Tusk', 'Scottish independence', 'Emmanuel Macron', 'European Union', 'Brexit']

[{"entity": "European Council", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Donald Tusk", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Brussels", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Scotland", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "European Union", "label": "ORG"}]

European Council ||| Brussels ||| Scotland ||| European Union

["Donald Tusk", "Scottish independence", "Emmanuel Macron", "European Union", "Brexit"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-49557225

Morton Hall brain bleed detainee 'should have been checked'

A detainee who died after collapsing at a detention centre should have been referred to a GP following an earlier suspected seizure, an inquest heard.

Bai Bai Ahmed Kabia, 49, was being held at Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre, near Lincoln, when he lost consciousness on 5 December 2016. He died in hospital the next day. Sleaford Coroners Court heard he suffered a massive bleed to the brain. An NHS trust admitted he should have been checked after an incident in 2015. Kabia, who was born in Sierra Leone, arrived to the UK in 1994 and was granted indefinite leave to remain 11 years later. But in May 2014 he was handed a 15-month jail term at Newcastle Crown Court after being convicted of fraudulently using false details to get a job as a doctor. While he was awaiting deportation at Morton Hall 19 months before his death, Kabia suffered a suspected seizure, the inquest heard. A post mortem examination found he had suffered a cerebella haemorrhage and a pathologist noted the presence of a "naturally occurring abnormality of blood vessels which are known to be prone to rupture causing haemorrhage", the court was told. The day before his death at Lincoln County Hospital, Kabia had complained of a severe headache. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, which provides healthcare at Morton Hall, admitted he should have been referred to a GP following the earlier incident, the inquest heard. Mr Stuart Knowles, representing the trust, said: "It is admitted that on the night of 10th May or during the day of 11th May 2015, Mr Kabia should have been referred to medical staff for review." Senior Coroner Mr Timothy Brennand told a jury: "The family may be rhetorically asking themselves: 'If this was a natural cause of death, was it in any way wholly preventable?'" The inquest continues. Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.

['UK immigration', 'Swinderby', 'Mental health', 'Detention centres']

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

seizure

["UK immigration", "Swinderby", "Mental health", "Detention centres"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-56817533

Fishmongers' Hall: Terror attacker shouted 'I'm going to blow you all up'

A former prisoner sprayed a fire extinguisher to try and stop a terror attacker who was shouting he would "blow you all up", an inquest heard.

John Crilly described how he tackled Usman Khan, who was armed with knives and what appeared to be a suicide belt. Khan killed Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones and attacked others at Fishmongers' Hall on 29 November 2019. Another witness said he thought "everyone was dead" after later hearing what he thought was the belt exploding. Mr Crilly, who attended a prisoner education conference at the venue, was one of three men who tried to tackle Khan, another of them armed with a narwhal tusk taken from inside. He knew Jack Merritt through the Learning Together programme. Recalling the moment he came face to face with an armed Khan inside the building, he said: "He had two big knives on his hands, there was no missing them." The inquests into the deaths of Ms Jones, 23, and Mr Merritt, 25, heard Mr Crilly describe Khan as "shouting and jumping about like a loon. He was going nuts, shouting Allahu Akbar". "As I got closer I could see the [suicide] belt, pretty clearly. Like a black bodybuilder-belt with bits stuck to it, bits of iron, bits of silver, a contraption," he said. Answering Jonathan Hough QC, counsel to the inquiry, Mr Crilly described how he tried to "distract" Khan and "call his bluff". "I was hoping it [the belt] was fake. He started shouting and saying things like: 'I'm going to blow you all up,' so I said 'blow it then'. "He said, 'I'm waiting for the police'." Mr Crilly said he tried without success to stop Khan using a series of makeshift weapons including an ornamental chair, before he picked up a fire extinguisher to tackle the armed suspect. He continued: "I just sprayed him with it, it seemed to have an effect on him - like, blinded him. "He started running through the foam so I thought I'd have to back off and spray him again." Mr Crilly was among the three men who followed as Khan went outside onto London Bridge. "He looked back and would try and stab one of us. The three of us would be swapping places," he said. He described how he first hit Khan in the head with the extinguisher and then "grabbed his hands and tried to wrestle the knife off him". Darryn Frost, a communications manager within the Prison and Probation Service, was also at the event and told the jury hearing "screams" was his "call to action". He said he grabbed a narwhal tusk from the wall and ran towards another delegate, Steve Gallant, who appeared to be trying to keep Khan "at bay" with "an old mahogany chair". He explained how after he hit Khan in the stomach with the tusk, he passed it to Mr Gallant and went to grab another one before chasing the terrorist out of the hall. Once on London Bridge, Mr Frost again struck the attacker with the tusk as he, Mr Crilly and Mr Gallant, fought with Khan. "As he ran towards me I thrust it into him. I don't think he expected to be struck by this. The force of it made him kind of buckle over," he said. He described how Mr Crilly then used the fire extinguisher again and an unarmed Mr Gallant forced Khan to the ground. "I dropped the narwhal tusk and jumped onto the assailant," he explained. Mr Frost told the inquests when police arrived and told people to leave Khan, he continued to hold him down as he did not want him to be shot. He said police again shouted for him to run away but "they didn't know how he had a bomb and that he had threatened to set it off when police arrived, so I refused to move. I wouldn't leave Khan alone." Once he had finally been pulled away by an officer Mr Frost said he "three cracks and an echo", which he thought was the bomb going off. "I thought then that everyone was dead," he said. Mr Gallant, then an inmate at HMP Springhill, told the inquests Khan had "moved towards me, pulled back his coat, and showed me his bomb. "It looked fake, I chose to ignore it," he said. He described how he first used a narwhal tusk to "whack" the terrorist and then hurled a chair. Once on London Bridge, Mr Gallant said he "somehow" managed to grab Khan and hold him to the ground. The former prisoner added he "waited for my moment" to let go of Khan once police had arrived. "I heard some shots. And then I turned and I saw Usman, "I thought I had seen him reach to his belt or the middle of his body, try to get up, then he was shot again and Tasered," he said. The inquests continue.

['Stratford-upon-Avon', 'Cambridge', "Fishmongers' Hall attack inquests"]

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Stratford-upon-Avon", "Cambridge", "Fishmongers' Hall attack inquests"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-50073546

Cars could be banned from Birmingham road tunnels

Cars could be banned from Birmingham's city centre road tunnels, as one of several ideas being considered by transport bosses.

Details of the city's Transport Plan have emerged at a committee meeting, ahead of its publication next month. But the ideas, part of a "medium to longer term" vision, would require about £1bn of investment in public transport, the council believes. The proposals have prompted mixed reaction from councillors. Birmingham City Council has already been given a final warning to clean up its air by 2020 and has approved plans for a clean air zone which has been delayed by government. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said Mel Jones, Birmingham City Council's head of transport planning and network strategy, told its transport and sustainability scrutiny committee transforming the city centre was one of the plan's four "big moves". She said the city centre could be divided into a series of cells, which cars could only access from the ring road and not travel through the centre. Phil Edwards, assistant director for transport and connectivity, said rather than "brick up" the Queensway and other tunnels, he suggested they could be used by trams, buses and even cyclists. He added that the ideas outlined in the Transport Plan were more than "a year or two around the corner". The ideas have already prompted criticism, including from the city's opposition Conservative group leader, Councillor Rob Alden, who accused the Labour-run council of conducting an "ongoing war on motorists". Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone.

['Birmingham']

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

Birmingham

["Birmingham"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43425048

Leo Varadkar under fire over Trump wind farm call

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has received criticism over comments he made about helping President Donald Trump resolve a planning issue in 2014.

Mr Varadkar, who at the time was the Irish tourism minister, said on Thursday that he spoke to Clare County Council regarding a planning application for a wind farm near Doonbeg golf resort. The resort was purchased by Mr Trump in 2014. The planning application was refused. The taoiseach clarified on Friday that he did not in fact contact Clare County Council, but instead contacted Fáilte Ireland - the tourism authority in the Republic of Ireland. Mr Trump tweeted about the decision in 2014 and said it was "great news from Ireland - Clare County Council turned down a massive wind farm near my hotel & golf course in Doonbeg". Mr Varadkar discussed his role in resolving the dispute on Thursday, while in Washington DC for traditional St Patrick's Day celebrations. At first he thought it was his staff playing a joke when told that Donald Trump was on the line. Mr Trump was worried that plans for the wind farm would affect the tourist numbers in the area. "I endeavoured to do what I could do about it," said Mr Varadkar. "I rang the county council and inquired about the planning permission and subsequently the planning permission was declined and the wind farm never built, thus the landscape had been preserved. "And the president has very kindly given me credit for that, although I do think it would have been refused anyway, but I'm very happy to take credit for it, if the president is going to offer it to me." Clare County Council has said it does not have any record or recollection of Mr Varadkar making an inquiry about a planning application for a proposed wind farm four years ago. The council said it decided to refuse the planning application on 8 October 2014, a decision that was upheld by the Irish planning appeals board. A spokesperson for the taoiseach said the minister had asked his office to make an inquiry as to the status of application and that it was "normal work of a minister's office". Speaking to reporters in New York on Friday, Mr Varadkar said he contacted Fáilte Ireland, and not Clare County Council. He said that following the controversy over his remarks yesterday he had gone back and checked with his staff and checked the record. Politicians in the Republic of Ireland have condemned Mr Varadkar's actions. Sinn Féin's justice spokesperson Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said: "There is no way that politicians should intervene in the planning process by way of phone calls and backdoor interference."s Green Party leader Eamon Ryan accused Mr Varadkar of having "privately interfered in the planning process" while Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin said the intervention was extraordinary and inappropriate. The Green Party described the call as a shocking error of judgement while Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin said the intervention was extraordinary and inappropriate. Mr Varadkar is visiting the US ahead of St Patrick's Day on Saturday. He met with President Trump in the White House on Thursday and, later, presented the president with a bowl of shamrocks as part of the traditional celebrations. During the ceremony, the taoiseach said the Irish government would continue to work with the US government to find a solution to the issue of undocumented Irish people in the US. He also said that "the United States has helped build modern Ireland, one that is prosperous and at peace, self-confident about our place in the world". President Trump said he had told the taoiseach that he has plans to visit Ireland in the near future.

['Leo Varadkar', 'Republic of Ireland', 'Donald Trump']

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

Donald Trump

["Leo Varadkar", "Republic of Ireland", "Donald Trump"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-26621350

Air Canada suspends Venezuela flights over 'civil unrest'

Air Canada has suspended flights to and from Venezuela, citing concerns over security.

The airline said it would consider resuming operations once the situation in Venezuela had stabilised. It operated three return flights between Toronto and Caracas per week. Twenty-nine people - from both sides of the political divide - have been killed in six weeks of protests against high inflation, crime and the shortage of many staples in Venezuela. "Due to ongoing civil unrest in Venezuela, Air Canada can no longer ensure the safety of its operation and has suspended flights to Caracas until further notice," says the Canadian airline in a statement. It says customers who have not begun their travel "may obtain refunds". Others may be rebooked on other airlines. Several international airlines have reduced operations in recent weeks in Venezuela, but their main grievance has been the government's tight currency controls. International airlines say the government of Nicolas Maduro owes them more than $3bn (£1.8bn). Tough foreign currency controls make it difficult for foreign airlines to repatriate money obtained from ticket sales in Venezuela. In January, Ecuadorean airline Tame suspended flights to Venezuela, demanding $43m (£26m) - one third of the company's yearly revenue - in overdue payments for tickets. Mr Maduro said that airlines that reduced their operations in Venezuela would face "severe measures". "The company that leaves the country will not return while we hold power," said Mr Maduro. The government says right-wing groups backed by the US have fomented the unrest as part of a coup plot. Tight controls over foreign exchange were first imposed in 2003, following a troubled year which saw a coup against then-President Hugo Chavez. The government expected to avoid capital flight, but the economic crisis of the past year has led to a shortage of foreign currency. Two months ago, the government introduced further exchange controls.

['Toronto', 'Caracas', 'Nicolás Maduro', 'Venezuela', 'United States', 'Canada', 'Ecuador']

[{"entity": "Air Canada", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Venezuela", "label": "LOC"}]

Air Canada ||| Venezuela

["Toronto", "Caracas", "Nicol\u00e1s Maduro", "Venezuela", "United States", "Canada", "Ecuador"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-46426300

Why do people experience phantom rectum?

There's nothing about sex and relationships that author and YouTuber Hannah Witton will shy away from talking about - including little-discussed topics such as disability and sex. She's frank, informed, funny and focused on breaking down taboos.

Then there's the Little Mix video. Recently, the 26-year-old - who earlier this year underwent emergency surgery to have her colon removed and a stoma created - featured in the band's music video for the song Strip. The stoma - an opening in the tummy - means Hannah lives with an ileostomy bag she calls Mona. She has blogged about her journey to "love her new body", including publishing a mini-documentary about an underwear photo-shoot in which her stoma and her scars are on display. Here, and for the Ouch podcast, she "shoots the breeze about pooing into a bag" with two more experienced stoma users - BBC presenter Sam Cleasby, who runs the So Bad Ass website, and Blake Beckford who is "most well known for having a stoma and a sixpack". Thousands of people in the UK are living with a stoma bag, having undergone surgery for a number of conditions, including bowel cancer, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Here's everything you didn't know you wanted to know about living with an ileostomy bag - warning, topics include phantom rectums, Barbie butts and sex. What on earth's an ileostomy bag? An ileostomy is an operation involving the small intestine being diverted through an opening - or stoma - in the abdomen. A bag is then placed over the stoma to collect liquid and waste, which is emptied into the toilet. According to Hannah, the stoma looks "red, squishy and moist. It has no nerve endings, you can't really feel it if you touch it, and poo comes out of it." All three had theirs fitted due to ulcerative colitis - where the colon and rectum become inflamed and ulcers develop on the colon's lining. "I often forget that I have one until I go to the toilet," says Hannah. "The only time I feel it, is if there is any kind of gas. Then the bags get a little bit crunchy, or if my output is kind of liquidy, then it gets a bit sloshy." Is it high maintenance? "At first it's all consuming," says Sam. "You have to learn this whole process of how you look after it, how you change it, how you empty it. Now it is totally just part of my daily routine - I have a shower, change my bag." All three say they also have to get up in the middle of the night to empty their bags to prevent leakage. Can you eat normally? "My family is Indian," says Sam. "When I was in hospital a nurse told me: 'You'll never be able to eat curry again.' I was ready to rip out the drips in my arms. She was wrong. You have to just try different foods and now there's pretty much nothing that I wouldn't eat." She says, though, that the first time she ate beetroot, after the surgery, she was horrified: "I thought I was haemorrhaging from the inside out." Having a stoma means food isn't digested as well as someone with a fully-functioning system. Hannah finds it "fascinating and disgusting" to watch food emerge and likes to "pull out long bits of mushroom". Sam, meanwhile, looks out for whole peas in her bag, and pops them while they're in the pouch. Is it smelly? Hannah says the output - or poo - smells once it's out of the bag, for example while it's being emptied. In the bag, however, she says you won't smell a thing. "If you smell a fart, it is 100% not me because there are filters. So whoever's got a functioning butthole, it was them." One thing that does smell a bit fishy when it comes out of the bag is, well, fish. But Sam has a top tip - add a drop of minty mouthwash to the pouch which neutralises the fish so you won't smell a thing. Hannah likes to talk about sex, so, does that mean you can still do it if you've had your plumbing re-routed? "Hell yeah," says Sam. "You can't take your bag off during sex - you'd let all your output out," adds Hannah. "For me it was more the mental barriers like body confidence, feeling insecure and overcoming those. From a physical sense it doesn't really affect anything other than a bag flapping around." But it's not so straightforward for everyone. "I've got a gay male friend who has a stoma and has the Barbie butt - when you have your rectum and anus removed and they sew everything up, down below. That changed his sex life," says Sam. Hannah still has a rectum, but says she doesn't think there's enough information out there. "I've no idea how long it is, how fragile it is. Because anal play is not just a gay thing, it's for everyone, so I don't know what I can do with my butt." While we're there, what's a phantom rectum? "People who have lost a limb, still feel pain or itching or they feel like their limb's still there," says Sam. "So that's the same but in your rectum. It's like your brain doesn't know that it's not attached anymore." Hannah adds: "At the beginning I got it all the time. I was talking to my nurse about these urges that I need to poo. She said: 'Next time just go sit on the toilet and feel it out.'" Sounds peculiar, what's the cringiest moment you've had? For Sam, it was earlier this year in San Francisco. She felt the skin around her stoma start to burn - a sure sign that it's leaking. She found a supermarket with toilets and dashed inside. "There was a massive queue and by the time I got there it was everywhere - from my boobs to my knees," she says. "I ended up having to throw away my leggings and T-shirt and had to come out of the toilet in just a bra and dungaree dress crying and walk slowly past this queue of people. "There are times where it just feels quite devastating to have an accident in public, but I can laugh about it now." Hannah says she has a Can't Wait Card from Crohn's and Colitis UK which she can flash in cafes or shops so she can use their facilities without having to give a long explanation. Are stomas always so troublesome? "It's given me my life back," says Blake, "because living with ulcerative colitis was just dreadful. You feel a lot of pain and sickness. I'd get to a point where I wouldn't leave the house for the sake of having an accident." For Hannah, it wasn't so liberating. She was diagnosed at the age of seven and had a lot of difficulty with inflammation. But between the ages of 15 and 25 she went into remission. This changed last year. "This flare up just came out of the blue and completely wiped me out. I was in hospital for a month and had to have emergency surgery. "I don't feel like getting a stoma gave me my life back. I want to go back to my life before all of this. But having said that, I'm not ashamed of it." Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week runs until 7 December. For more Disability News, follow BBC Ouch on Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to the weekly podcast.

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NoPresentEntity

["Disability"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-46643173

Gatwick runway reopens after drone chaos

Gatwick's runway has reopened after drones caused the airport to shut down for more than a day.

The airport, the UK's second busiest, said 837 flights were scheduled but there were delays and cancellations. Boss Chris Woodroofe said "mitigating measures" from the government and military had given him "confidence to reopen". The drone operator is still at large and police said it was possible they were an environmental activist. The airport is expected to be "back to normal" by the end of Saturday. Thousands of passengers - including some attending funerals, honeymoons and Christmas reunions with their families - remain stranded at Gatwick. The airport could not operate while the drones were in flight in case they hit and damaged a plane. Gatwick said the 837 flights planned for Friday would have more than 130,000 passengers on board. A total of 155 flights have been cancelled. Pilots' union Balpa said it understood detection and tracking equipment had been installed around Gatwick's perimeter and that if the drones reappear the airport would close again. Mr Woodroofe said: "Additional mitigating measures provided by government agencies and military have given me the confidence to reopen the airport. "We are now operating at almost normal runway conditions but the challenge for the airlines, as the result of this disruption, is that their planes are not all in the right place. "So what we'll be doing today is recovering their operations so by tomorrow we are back to standard operation and continue to recover the situation for our passengers." He added he was determined to get passengers moving so "they can enjoy their Christmas". The first flights in and out of Gatwick were Norwegian Air, Easyjet and BA departures and a China Eastern Airlines arrival from Shanghai. Staff continue to advise passengers to check their flight status before turning up at the airport. Ryanair said it was switching all of its Gatwick flights to operate in and out of Stansted airport on Friday. Sussex Police was locked in a game of cat and mouse with the drone operator. Officers have so far failed to locate the "industrial specification" drones or their pilot and had been considering plans to shoot a device down. But Steve Barry, Sussex assistant chief constable, said they were in a "much better position today". Mr Barry said a drone had last been seen at 22:00 GMT on Thursday. He added measures to tackle the threat include "technical, sophisticated options to detect and mitigate drone incursions, all the way down to less sophisticated options" including using shotguns. Mr Barry previously told BBC Breakfast there were a "number of lines of inquiry" into the "very malicious and criminal behaviour", including the possibility it could have been the work of an environmental activist. At a press conference, he said there was "no evidence" the use of the drones was state-sponsored. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said there was no evidence it was terror-related. But he called it a type of disruption "we've not seen before" and "lessons need to be learned". He said the situation was "unprecedented, anywhere in the world". "Every possible measure will be put in place to make sure this can't happen again," he said. But he added there was "no simple solution" and "you can't fire weapons haphazardly around an airport". It is illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary and flying above 400ft (120m) - which increases the risk of a collision with a manned aircraft - is also banned. Endangering the safety of an aircraft is a criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence of five years. At Gatwick Airport's South Terminal this morning, passengers waited anxiously for news on whether their flights would depart. It appears to be much quieter here today, compared to the chaotic scenes yesterday. As the West Sussex airport announced the reopening of its runway on Friday, some travellers were hopeful of getting airborne. But others expressed concern that the operators of the drone had not yet been apprehended - and could go on to cause more havoc. All weary travellers could do was monitor the arrival and departure boards - showing many cancellations and delays to flights - and hope their Christmas getaways would not be ruined. Travellers have found themselves unable to fly in and out of Gatwick. Thousands were left stranded for hours inside the airport's terminal building, resorting to sleeping on floors and benches. Some who spoke to the BBC included a couple hoping to honeymoon in New York and a seven-year-old who had been due to fly to Lapland. Others have found themselves stuck abroad. Airport chief Mr Woodroofe refused to comment on the possibility of those affected by the chaos being awarded compensation. The Civil Aviation Authority said it considered the event to be an "extraordinary circumstance", and therefore airlines were not obligated to pay any financial compensation to passengers. But that does not mean passengers should be left out of pocket. It is the airline's responsibility to get anyone with a ticket to their destination, unless the passenger accepts a refund instead. Alex Neill, from consumer rights group Which?, said people "may still be entitled to meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation or transfers".

['Gatwick Airport', 'Gatwick drone shutdown ']

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

Gatwick

["Gatwick Airport", "Gatwick drone shutdown "]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-30999175

Warning: Why using the term 'coloured' is offensive

Benedict Cumberbatch has

He was on a US talk show, explaining that there are more opportunities for black actors in Hollywood than the UK. In a statement he said: "I can only hope this incident will highlight the need for correct usage of terminology that is accurate and inoffensive." He said the most "shaming aspect" was he was talking about "racial inequality" at the time of his error. So why is the term considered so offensive? In the UK the term is, at best, seen as old fashioned and "something your gran might say". But it's also regarded as a highly offensive racial slur which recalls a time when casual racism was a part of everyday life. In the US, because of the country's recent era of racial segregation, it is among the most offensive words for describing a black person. "[It] was used to describe anybody who was not white, which may imply that to be white is 'normal' or default," says the charity Show Racism the Red Card. "If we consider it, every human has a skin colour, so technically we are all coloured." Historically, the word is associated with segregation, especially in the US, where black people where kept separate from white people - on public transport, or at drinking fountains which were described as "coloured-only" for example. These rules - known as "Jim Crow laws" - happened mainly in the states in the south of the US, from the 1870s until the 1960s. The phrase Jim Crow originated from a song-and-dance character of the 1800s. In the stage show a white actor "blacked up" to play the role of an African slave. No-one is quite sure how this name became associated with the racial hierarchy the US adopted. In part because of this association, using the phrase is seen as contributing racist behaviour, according to Show Racism the Red Card. It was also seen as an acceptable word to use in much of the UK until the 1960s and 1970s. There are places in the world where "coloured" is used without offence - for example in South Africa, where it refers to people who have multiple heritages. Founded in 1909, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) is a huge organisation in the US; it seeks to end discrimination on the basis of race. It is "much better" to use the word black, says Show Racism the Red Card. "There are lots of rumours that cause people to feel uncomfortable about saying black, but as a descriptive term it is absolutely fine, and is a term that has been chosen by and is used by black people." According to the British Sociological Association, there are other words and phrases used to describe race, skin colour and heritage which could be found offensive however. "Halfe-caste" is a "dated, racist term which should be avoided", they explain. "Mixed race is a misleading term since it implies that a 'pure race' exists." They advise alternatives including "mixed parentage" and "dual heritage". Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

['Racism']

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NoPresentEntity

["Racism"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40308298

Spanish nurse had to sit exam while in labour

A Spanish auxiliary nurse forced to take a professional exam while in labour has won the right to take the exam again.

In October 2014, Mar Herraiz was close to giving birth. She had been 20 hours without sleep and had had an epidural. Nonetheless, three members of the examination board for her nursing course appeared, insisting she would have to take a test or fail the course. The Spanish High Court has now ruled in Ms Herraiz's favour. Now, unless it appeals, Madrid's health service must let Ms Herraiz, 37, resit the exam of 100 questions, which she failed just before giving birth to her daughter. The judge found that Ms Herraiz's treatment amounted to discrimination and that she had suffered greatly from a "major lack of sensitivity" that "confounds the most basic commonsense", reported El Español newspaper (in Spanish). You may also like: Spain's female bodyguards who protect abused women Madrid cracks down on 'manspreading' on public transport

['Spain', 'Sexism', 'Women', 'Healthcare']

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

Spanish

["Spain", "Sexism", "Women", "Healthcare"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-47256348

Qatar football shirt row Briton 'leaves UAE custody'

A British man who was detained in the United Arab Emirates after reportedly being assaulted when he wore a Qatar football team shirt to a match has "left custody", the BBC understands.

Ali Issa Ahmad, 26, from Wolverhampton, is said to have been unaware of a law against "showing sympathy" for Qatar. He has been released from custody and has since "departed from UAE", it is understood. He was held by police after reporting the attack, his friend said. Previously, the UAE embassy in London said Mr Ahmad had been charged with wasting police time and making false statements. It previously said he was "categorically not arrested for wearing a Qatar football shirt". Mr Ahmad, who is said to be a dual Sudanese-British citizen, is understood to have travelled to the UAE for a holiday and the Foreign Office said it had been assisting a British man arrested in the UAE and was in touch with the local authorities. Mr Ahmad was arrested after watching Qatar play Iraq in an Asian Cup match in Abu Dhabi on 22 January. His friend Amer Lokie said Mr Ahmad told him he had been assaulted after leaving the stadium and when he later reported the attack to police, Mr Ahmad was subsequently held. The UAE and four other countries in the region are currently engaged in a political and diplomatic stand-off with Qatar, which they have accused of supporting radical and Islamist groups. On its website, the Foreign Office warns travellers to the UAE of a June 2017 announcement "that showing sympathy for Qatar on social media or by any other means of communication is an offence". Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone.

['Foreign & Commonwealth Office', 'United Arab Emirates', 'Wolverhampton', 'Qatar']

[{"entity": "United Arab Emirates", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Qatar", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "BBC", "label": "ORG"}]

Qatar ||| BBC

["Foreign & Commonwealth Office", "United Arab Emirates", "Wolverhampton", "Qatar"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52010555

Coronavirus: What are the current restrictions and why are they needed?

A series of strict measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak has been introduced by the government.

They are aimed at stopping the spread of infection by making people stay at home unless absolutely necessary. Under the new regulations nobody may leave their homes "without reasonable excuse". Reasonable excuses include: Religious ministers are also allowed to visit their place of worship. When outside your home, you should keep a safe distance of 2m or more from anyone who is not a member of your household. Many businesses and venues have been ordered to close. These include: Shops that remain open include supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations and post offices. A full list can be found here. Tradespeople can still carry out repair and maintenance work in people's homes as long as they are well and have no symptoms, and keep 2m away from people in the household. However, in households where people are self-isolating, or where a vulnerable individual is being shielded, no work should be carried out except emergency repairs to remedy a direct safety risk to the household. All gatherings of more than two people have been banned by the government. The only exceptions are: In addition, the government has stopped weddings, baptisms and other religious ceremonies, apart from funerals. The restrictions were announced on 23 March by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, with the plan to review them after three weeks. The police have been given powers to make sure people follow the measures. If you leave your home or gather in public for any reason other than those allowed, the police may instruct you to go home or disperse. They may also instruct you to stop your children from also breaking the rules. They also have the power to take you home or arrest you. If the police believe you have broken rules, or if you refuse to follow their instructions, they may issue you with a fine of £60 (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days). If it's the second time you've received a fine, the amount will increase to £120 and double on each further repeat offence. The guidance says that "the police will act with discretion and common sense in applying these measures". Local authorities (such as trading standards officers) will be monitoring local businesses to make sure they also follow the rules. Those that don't comply will face the threat of fines, and of being closed down. Coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs small droplets into the air. These can be breathed in, or cause an infection if you touch a surface they have landed on, and then touch your face with unwashed hands.

['Boris Johnson', 'Social distancing', 'Self-isolation', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

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NoPresentEntity

["Boris Johnson", "Social distancing", "Self-isolation", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-46312909

Brexit: May says EU will not offer 'better deal' if agreement rejected

Theresa May has said the UK should not hope for a "better deal" from the EU if MPs reject her Brexit agreement.

She told a BBC phone-in that there would be just "more division and uncertainty" if Parliament voted against the agreement next month. But she declined to say whether the UK would be better off outside the EU, saying only it would be "different". A summit of EU leaders to sign off the deal will go ahead on Sunday despite "unresolved" issues over Gibraltar. Spain is seeking written assurances from the UK that it will be directly consulted over its future trade negotiations with the EU which relate to Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory. Its prime minister Pedro Sanchez has said he won't decide whether to attend Sunday's summit until these are provided. He has said his backing for the overall deal cannot be taken for granted although no one country can block the withdrawal agreement on its own at this stage. Meanwhile, the leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, has said she will "look again" at her party's deal with the Conservatives if Mrs May's Brexit bill passes through parliament. "But we are not there yet," Mrs Foster added. Mrs May told the Emma Barnett Show that her job was to persuade MPs to back her but also to "explain" the merits of the deal to the public. Asked what her plan B was, if MPs rejected the deal, she suggested there would be little point going back to the EU to ask for further changes. "I believe if we were to go back to the European Union and say: Well people didn't like that deal, can we have another one? ... I don't think they're going to come to us and say: We'll give you a better deal." Mrs May, who has previously warned about the dangers of the UK leaving without a deal or not leaving at all, would not be drawn on whether she would quit if MPs refused to back her deal. Asked what was a more likely outcome in such an event - a no-deal exit or the UK remaining in the EU - she said "from my point of view, personally, there is no question of 'no Brexit' because the government needs to deliver on what people voted on in the referendum in 2016". Asked by a caller called Michael if the UK would be better off outside the EU under her deal than staying in, she said that as someone who voted to Remain, she had never said the "sky would fall in" if Brexit happens. "I think we will be better off in a situation which we'll have outside the European Union, where we have control of all those things, and are able to trade around the rest of the world," she said. She added: "You say: Are we better off?... actually it's a different sort of environment, and a different approach that we'll be taking to things." Pressed by Emma Barnett to answer the question, she said "it is going to be different," before adding: "We can build a better future outside the European Union." The UK and EU have agreed in principle the framework for their future relations outlining how UK-EU trade, security and other issues would work. The document, known as the "political declaration", is not legally-binding but will be the starting point for negotiations on co-operation after the UK leaves. It has been heavily criticised by many MPs for lacking detail. This is a separate document to the legally-binding withdrawal agreement - setting out the terms of the UK's exit from the EU, including the £39bn "divorce bill", citizens' rights and the Northern Ireland "backstop" to keep the border with the Republic of Ireland open, if trade talks stall. Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said what was on offer in the political declaration was inferior to EU membership, as it would leave the UK bound by the same rules but without control over them. She told a BBC phone-in that there would be just "more division and uncertainty" if Parliament voted against the agreement next month. But she declined to say whether the UK would be better off outside the EU, saying only it would be "different". A summit of EU leaders to sign off the deal will go ahead on Sunday despite "unresolved" issues over Gibraltar. Spain is seeking written assurances from the UK that it will be directly consulted over its future trade negotiations with the EU which relate to Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory. Its prime minister Pedro Sanchez has said he won't decide whether to attend Sunday's summit until these are provided. He has said his backing for the overall deal cannot be taken for granted although no one country can block the withdrawal agreement on its own at this stage. Meanwhile, the leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster, has said she will "look again" at her party's deal with the Conservatives if Mrs May's Brexit bill passes through parliament. "But we are not there yet," Mrs Foster added. Mrs May told the Emma Barnett Show that her job was to persuade MPs to back her but also to "explain" the merits of the deal to the public. Asked what her plan B was, if MPs rejected the deal, she suggested there would be little point going back to the EU to ask for further changes. "I believe if we were to go back to the European Union and say: Well people didn't like that deal, can we have another one? ... I don't think they're going to come to us and say: We'll give you a better deal." Mrs May, who has previously warned about the dangers of the UK leaving without a deal or not leaving at all, would not be drawn on whether she would quit if MPs refused to back her deal. Asked what was a more likely outcome in such an event - a no-deal exit or the UK remaining in the EU - she said "from my point of view, personally, there is no question of 'no Brexit' because the government needs to deliver on what people voted on in the referendum in 2016". Asked by a caller called Michael if the UK would be better off outside the EU under her deal than staying in, she said that as someone who voted to Remain, she had never said the "sky would fall in" if Brexit happens. "I think we will be better off in a situation which we'll have outside the European Union, where we have control of all those things, and are able to trade around the rest of the world," she said. She added: "You say: Are we better off?... actually it's a different sort of environment, and a different approach that we'll be taking to things." Pressed by Emma Barnett to answer the question, she said "it is going to be different," before adding: "We can build a better future outside the European Union." The UK and EU have agreed in principle the framework for their future relations outlining how UK-EU trade, security and other issues would work. The document, known as the "political declaration", is not legally-binding but will be the starting point for negotiations on co-operation after the UK leaves. It has been heavily criticised by many MPs for lacking detail. This is a separate document to the legally-binding withdrawal agreement - setting out the terms of the UK's exit from the EU, including the £39bn "divorce bill", citizens' rights and the Northern Ireland "backstop" to keep the border with the Republic of Ireland open, if trade talks stall. Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said what was on offer in the political declaration was inferior to EU membership, as it would leave the UK bound by the same rules but without control over them. Meanwhile, EU officials are meeting to try to put the finishing touches to both the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration. The future of Gibraltar and its 30,000 residents, 96% whom voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum, remains a sticking point. Spain has long contested Britain's 300 year-rule of the peninsula and there are concerns about how the territory's political status and economic ties with the Spanish mainland will be affected by Brexit. Catherine Barnard, a professor of EU law and employment law at Trinity College, Cambridge, told the BBC that Spain's room for manoeuvre was limited as the "divorce" document only had to be agreed at EU level by qualified majority voting, meaning 20 of the 27 member states. Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar, said the territory was perfectly happy to have "direct engagement" with Madrid over future trade relations but would not be "dragged" into doing so Meanwhile, EU officials are meeting to try to put the finishing touches to both the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration. The future of Gibraltar and its 30,000 residents, 96% whom voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum, remains a sticking point. Spain has long contested Britain's 300 year-rule of the peninsula and there are concerns about how the territory's political status and economic ties with the Spanish mainland will be affected by Brexit. Catherine Barnard, a professor of EU law and employment law at Trinity College, Cambridge, told the BBC that Spain's room for manoeuvre was limited as the "divorce" document only had to be agreed at EU level by qualified majority voting, meaning 20 of the 27 member states. Fabian Picardo, the chief minister of Gibraltar, said the territory was perfectly happy to have "direct engagement" with Madrid over future trade relations but would not be "dragged" into doing so

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UK ||| EU

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en

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-55903529

Keeping the faith: Christian chaplains in the time of Covid

At times of great uncertainty, many people turn to faith leaders for support, but with the current social restrictions, it's more difficult than ever for ministers to offer pastoral and spiritual care to their congregations.

Photographer Louise Haywood-Schiefer set out to photograph Christian chaplains from churches and institutions around London to discover how they are facing these challenges. How do you provide comfort and solace to guys who are stuck behind doors for a ridiculous amount of time? I've found that if you make the time, the people you speak to are more open now and there's more opportunity for that conversation to get deeper and be more meaningful. It's been less about just wanting an excuse to get out of the cell, it's almost like they've treated it as a gift and they've decided that if I can engage with them, they will engage with me too. You can come across some truly broken and desperate cases, it's really heartbreaking sometimes. There are a lot of people in prison for criminal reasons and there are a lot of people in prison because society has been criminal to them. My main task as student chaplain is to provide confidential one-to-one counselling sessions with Danish students here in London. The counselling sessions that I offer to the students aren't necessarily about religious beliefs or their thoughts about God, it can be about life and existential thoughts. Before Covid, the themes were generally the difficulties in student life, feelings about not being good enough and exam anxiety. Now it's a lot about Covid and the uncertainty that's affecting all of us. It's so difficult for human beings in general to live in uncertainty and not be able to plan anything or to see that the plans that you've made are not going to happen. Being on Zoom with lots of people can offer many positives if you feel isolated, but it can also give you an empty feeling after you've closed down the room. It's a strange feeling for the body, because even though your mind knows you've been together with people, your body hasn't felt it. The airport is my life, it's my parish. You build up relationships, you get to see people regularly and over 18 years here, I've done baptisms, weddings and sadly, funerals. We have a passing congregation except for our "regular irregulars" who we only see two or three times a year, and there are currently fewer people coming into the chapel for worship, but the pastoral care hasn't gone. I'm still walking around and chatting to anybody at any time but our passenger numbers have massively depleted. The wonderful thing is that the staff have got a little more time, they're not so rushed or pressurised and you can pick up more of an in-depth conversation. Like with the cleaners, there was one lad who came up to me and said: "Can I have a chat?". I've not met him before but wallop, it all came out. Live-streaming on a phone with a microphone plugged in gives you such good quality without any of the complexity. I just stand up and preach like I would on a normal Sunday which I think gives the sense of being gathered together during the services, even if we aren't physically together in the building. From March to July, when we were properly locked down, I was broadcasting services from the vicarage. My wife and I had my four teenage children at home who all appeared on video at various points which actually was one of the lovely things about that period of time. Quite a lot of people have told me since that seeing the vicar and his family together in the same situation as them was actually really significant. This idea that although everything seemed to be falling apart, there was a consistency. I got my minister's licence in the last week of February, just before the lockdown. In a spiritual way I feel I got here at the right time because if I had arrived a little later I wouldn't have been able to settle in as well. My primary focus is the Chinese congregation who commute here from all across London because we do services in Cantonese and Mandarin. I lived in Britain for many years before wearing a clerical collar, and this is the first time I've been racially abused by strangers. During the first week of lockdown, I went to a store to buy communion wine and an Italian gentleman served me. Italy had been badly hit with Covid at that time and obviously there was something in our interaction he didn't like or maybe it was because of the atmosphere here, but he completely took what I said the wrong way and it took us a few minutes, with another colleague of his involved, to resolve the misunderstanding. For me, things like that are unprecedented because I've integrated into this country very well. I went to school here and I see myself as British too, so I never would have imagined my Chinese identity would be exposed and abused in that way. The word "crisis" in Chinese is written in two parts. The first part means danger and the second word is possibility. When there's a crisis, there's also hope. It's a really hard time to be a student right now and nothing can get this time back for them. Many feel very isolated and are having to work at home with their parents which is especially bad for those who aren't in very good family relationships, or who don't have a good internet connection or private space to work in. I spoke to one student who told me that none of his lectures is at a specific time, they're all pre-recorded. So he can instantly access all his lectures for the rest of the year but he doesn't do it, because there's no urgency for him and he is really struggling with motivation. He doesn't have any seminars or any way of properly talking to his classmates so he isn't doing the work. I really miss being present for students. One positive outcome from this is the mindfulness session I've been running since the first lockdown. It's quite small but it's often with the same people who would usually be based at different campuses and wouldn't be able to meet in person. We talk about our weeks and our ups and downs so we've got to know one another quite well and it feels like we've been on this journey together. Soldiers are trained to deal with what's in front of them, so fighting Covid is no different from fighting a physical enemy in terms of approach, but usually that involves deploying on operations and being away for six months at a time. It's easy to isolate yourself from your family if you're 2,000 miles away in a desert somewhere, but when your family is just a short journey away, some people have found that a challenge. The Guards' Chapel family is much bigger than just those we see here on a Sunday. Most of our congregation are people who either have a connection with the military, or they like military music, so as soon as we got wind that churches were going to close, our choir came in to record three months of music in a day and we then started producing a weekly podcast. I thought it was important to have some sort of presence out there and it really took off so we're now reaching a very significant audience. When you're on an operation in a war zone you face all sorts of restrictions from your movements and daily routines, to not being able to see or even speak to loved ones for weeks on end. The way you deal with it is to ask yourself," What can I achieve today?" rather than thinking of how many months more there might be. That's been my mental approach to this and I've tried to enjoy and cherish the things I am able to do. There will be an end to this at some point - you just have to readjust your sights. Interviews and portraits by photographer Louise Haywood-Schiefer

['Photography', 'Religion', 'Christianity', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

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NoPresentEntity

["Photography", "Religion", "Christianity", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

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https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53662800

Perez Hilton: I never needed to be so cruel

In 2011, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton met with an exciting new singer named Ariana Grande.

She was 18 at the time, and looking for a manager to help launch her career. Hilton, a well-known figure in the entertainment industry, could see her potential and wanted to work with her. But ultimately, Grande went with someone else. "I was really hurt, so for years afterwards I was super petty toward Ariana on my website and on social media," Hilton admits in his new memoir. "I regret that." It's one of the many stories he tells in TMI: My Life in Scandal, which recounts his 16 years in showbiz. It sees him reflect on his success, but also express his many regrets. It's a memoir he hadn't intended to write. "I'd never put much thought into writing an autobiography before, because while I have this public persona of being extremely confident, I also am extremely filled with self-doubt, worry and insecurity," Hilton tells BBC News. "This book came about because I was trying to sell another book, unsuccessfully, about health and wellness," he explains, with characteristic transparency. "But when I got my rejections, that's when I tried to turn my lemons into lemonade." Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, had been approached by a Swedish writing duo about doing a memoir while he was in talks with publishers about the wellness book, but hadn't initially taken them up on the offer. He later relented, and when you read the many juicy anecdotes in the memoir, you can see why they were so keen. And yet, the 42-year-old says candidly: "I expect my book to not do well, in terms of sales. And I'm fine with that, because it's not a reflection on me at all. "I get it, I'm not hot right now. I'm 16 years into my career. But while I might not have the heat of [TikTok star] Charli D'Amelio, who is the 'it girl' of 2020, I have a lot more to offer. I have a whole life that she hasn't quite lived yet." Hilton started his gossip blog from a café near his apartment in 2005. At the time, he couldn't afford to have internet installed at home, so he would use the free wi-fi at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in LA. "I would always sit in the same place, because in the entire coffee shop there was only one power outlet, so I had to sit there to plug in my laptop," he laughs. "I hope they've upgraded since then." The website grew quickly, attracting eight million hits a day at a time when the internet was still in its relative infancy. Hilton would write stories about the celebrity world, often adding his own catty comments. It was quickly dubbed the most hated website in Hollywood, a description he embraced. Word got around that Hilton was running the entire operation from this coffee house, and before long, celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes were dropping in to feed him stories. But plenty of celebrities, as you can imagine, weren't thrilled by the site's content. Nicole Richie turned up one day to complain in no uncertain terms about his mean-spirited coverage. "To me, he was the first person that created ugly news, that literally just spread filth," Mila Kunis said in 2018. "It was just mean, and so it allowed people to be mean." She suggested the "whole concept of trolling really didn't exist" prior to his blog. Hilton rejects this specific charge, pointing to the countless celebrity magazines that preceded him. "Did Mila Kunis never read Us Weekly or National Enquirer or Star magazine?" he asks. "All of those existed before I ever did, and they did the exact same thing. Maybe I was the first to do it online, and therefore, I'm a pioneer!" However, there were other complaints about the website which prompted him to significantly change its tone. The LGBT community criticised him for outing gay celebrities, while others were upset by his use of nasty nicknames. In 2010, for example, Hilton repeatedly referred to Christina Aguilera as "Floptina" in an effort to damage her sales and boost those of his then friend Lady Gaga. Hilton's remorse for his behaviour makes for one of the most interesting sections of the book. "I have a ton of regrets, particularly because I now see that I never needed to be so mean or cruel," he writes. "One of the many things I regret is that I hurt so many people by giving them nasty nicknames, and above all that I was unkind to the children of celebrities. "I also regret that I thought it was OK to out celebrities. That is something I no longer believe." Hilton, who is gay himself, received death threats when he outed former American Idol contestant Clay Aiken. But it was a social-action campaign that led him to change his ways. In 2010, activist Dan Savage launched the It Gets Better movement in response to the multiple suicides of teenagers that year who had been bullied because they were gay. But when Hilton recorded a message of support for the campaign, he faced an immediate backlash. "The response I got truly shook me to my core," he explains. "Almost every comment said, 'You're a hypocrite, you're a bully, you're part of the problem.' I knew a lot of people didn't like me before then, but I was living in my own little bubble. "I had brainwashed myself into saying things like, 'If people don't like what I'm writing then they shouldn't read it.' Or '[Perez is] just a character, these people don't know the real me.' But at that point I said, 'Wow, I need to take ownership of what is happening here and what I'm doing.'" Hilton has since made efforts to make amends. "I reached a point in my private life where I started having these thoughts about changing. But I was paralysed by fear, that I would lose everything that I had worked very hard to achieve up until that point," he says. "Over the last 10 years, it's been this ongoing process of making constant changes, finding out what the line is, and making mistakes along the way. I'm not perfect, I've had slip-ups, even in the last 10 years. "And it's been a whole variety of changes from not outing people to no longer drawing inappropriate doodles on photos and no longer having nasty nicknames. I don't share photos of people grieving leaving a funeral or outside of a hospital when a loved one is sick... You can do your job and have an opinion and have it be strong, but not be hurtful or cruel." Nowadays, Hilton often appears on celebrity reality shows and presents his own showbiz news podcast alongside his superb co-host Chris Booker, whose scepticism and impatience with much of celebrity culture is the perfect balance to Hilton's excitable and animated personality. As for his website, Hilton can still be found regularly making cutting comments about the day's entertainment news. But, he says, there's a difference between being mean for the sake of it and an honestly held opinion. "For example, if Mila Kunis were to release a song tomorrow, and I said I don't like her song, she might be like, 'Don't say that, just keep it to yourself,'" he says. "And to Mila Kunis, I say, 'Snap out of it!'" TMI: My Life in Scandal by Perez Hilton is out now

['Television', 'Celebrity']

[{"entity": "Perez Hilton", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Ariana Grande", "label": "PER"}]

Perez Hilton

["Television", "Celebrity"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-56747017

The Circle's Manrika on trolling: 'You're a woman of colour. It makes a difference.'

If you've just been on one of the biggest reality TV shows of the year, you'd expect to be recognised on the street.

But for The Circle's Manrika Khaira, her "heart just drops" when someone calls her name. "You've had so many threats you don't know if somebody is going to do something," she tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. The 25-year-old came second on the recent Channel 4 show, but since it was screened, she's experienced death threats and abuse on social media. "It's been very scary. My address has been leaked on Twitter, my address has been posted on Instagram pages," she says. At one point during the three-week series, Manrika says the toll on her mental health was so bad she didn't get out of bed for three days. "I just didn't have the energy or the life in me. And I ignored my phone." The Circle was filmed last September, which meant the contestants had to wait months for it to air - and they could follow the reaction live on social media. If you watched the show, you'll remember the point when Manrika sent her ally and friend Tally home - that's when Manrika says the trolling was at its worst. If you haven't seen the show, players are isolated in flats and can only speak to each other by messaging in a group chat or private chat. They vote on who become "influencers" which gives them the power to block or eliminate fellow players. From the start, Manrika was clear she would play tactically in order to win the £100,000 prize - but she says that might have been why she got a lot of trolling. "I think a lot of people got mixed up with The Circle being a reality TV show rather than a game show," she says. "People saw it as snakey and backstabbing." She accepts there may be some double standards at play too. "A lot of people have said, 'If that was a man, we would have thought he was an absolute genius.' Those comments have come to me. "My dad said to me numerous times: 'You're a woman of colour. It makes a difference.'" The trolling has led to statements condemning the abuse from Channel 4, Manrika's own management team and a joint message from all the contestants in this series - who all say they've suffered some sort of online abuse. The question of aftercare - psychological support given to reality TV contestants - has come up repeatedly over the past few years. Tim Wilson, who was on the second series of The Circle, told The Guardian that The Circle has one of the best aftercare processes - but he still didn't think it went far enough. "I loved the experience, but I hated what happened afterwards," he said. "I was left feeling wrung out and abandoned. I have never been quite so miserable in my life." Love Island stars Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon both ended their own lives, and there has also been suicides of reality TV contestants around the world. For Manrika, the trolling "took a huge toll" on her mental health. But she says she's been offered a lot of support since the show was filmed six months ago and can phone a psychiatrist 24 hours a day. "I think it's good. It was good in the lead up to it and it was good while we were in there. I can't really fault them." But, she adds: "As much support as Channel 4 is giving me, there isn't much that they can do about trolls or fake accounts. "This is why I spoke to my management, and we wanted to make a difference." The cast members from this series came together in a video encouraging people to be nicer online. "Each and every single one of us has received some form of online abuse or hate, which is part of the experience that's not been great for us," says contestant Shabaz in the video. "If there's anything we can learn from some of the horrifying devastations of amazing personalities in the past, it's that words can cut deep - even from people we don't know," adds Natalya. The video goes on to show screenshots of some of the abusive messages they've received. Manrika says the video has already "made a difference," and she's even had some of her trolls apologise for the messages they sent. "I don't expect an apology from people. I expect people going forward to just think about things," she adds. "I want to be able to say, 'Yeah, I've made I've made the world a little bit of a safer place'." Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

['Social media', 'Television', 'Online abuse', 'Reality TV', 'Mental health', 'Channel 4']

[{"entity": "year", "label": "TIME"}]

year

["Social media", "Television", "Online abuse", "Reality TV", "Mental health", "Channel 4"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37358145

Deepwater Horizon film 'a tribute', says Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg, star of the film Deepwater Horizon, says it is a tribute to the people who lost their lives in the 2010 disaster.

The explosion on a rig in the Gulf of Mexico led to one of the world's worst environmental catastrophes. At the film's world premiere in Toronto, Wahlberg was joined by Mike Williams, the rig worker he plays on screen. "It's a character-driven piece," Wahlberg said. "It's an action movie but it's about the people that lost their lives and the heroes on these drill rigs. None of them want any credit and they certainly don't like the title of hero." Wahlberg described Mr Williams, who acted as an adviser on the film, as "a very humble guy". "He was just doing his job and everything he could to help others and to survive. "I certainly view him as a hero and think the things that he did were extremely courageous. "For him to be able still be able to relive it with us to make sure it was as accurate as possible takes a special individual." The cast includes Kurt Russell as Deepwater Horizon rig manager Jimmy Harrell, Gina Rodriguez as rig worker Andrea Fleytas and John Malkovich as a BP executive. The Deepwater Horizon rig, owned by Swiss company Transocean and leased by BP, was drilling a deep well about 40 miles (65 km) off the Louisiana coast when it suffered the deadly blowout on 20 April 2010. Eleven people were killed. The rig itself sank while millions of barrels of crude oil gushed into the ocean. It took 85 days to stop the leak permanently. Actress Kate Hudson plays Mike Williams' wife, Felicia, who watches the tragedy unfold on her TV at home. Hudson told the BBC that director Peter Berg had taken care to focus on the human element of the story. The actress had the real Felicia Williams on set to help her with her role. "There's a lot of post traumatic stress that happens after something like that. It's a scary and sad experience," she said. Wahlberg added: "The audience are going to see something that's extremely moving and emotional and a tribute to the 11 people who lost their lives." Deepwater Horizon is released in UK cinemas on 29 September. The Toronto International Film Festival runs until 18 September. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

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[{"entity": "Mark Wahlberg", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Deepwater Horizon", "label": "MEDIA"}]

Deepwater Horizon

["Toronto", "Toronto Film Festival", "Film"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53221447

Syed Ali Geelani: Kashmir leader quits Hurriyat Conference

Syed Ali Geelani has quit as the political head of prominent separatist groups in Indian-administered Kashmir.

In his resignation letter, the 91-year-old has accused some Hurriyat Conference leaders of "revolting against his leadership". He rejected speculations that he had resigned because of pressure from the government or his ill health. Mr Geelani has spearheaded political protests against Indian rule in the disputed Kashmir region since 1989. He added that he would continue to "lead his people" against India. Mr Geelani said he was unable to reach other leaders of the group to discuss his decision. "Despite my ill health and continued restrictions, I tried to approach you through various ways but none of you were available. Now that you feel that you will be held accountable for the misappropriation of funds, you openly revolted against the leadership," Mr Geelani said in his letter. Call for peaceful Kashmir protest However, he did not elaborate on what he meant by misappropriation of funds. Other top leaders of the Hurriyat have not responded to the letter. Mr Geelani has been a central figure in political protests against Indian rule in Kashmir for decades. He was a legislator for over 15 years before resigning in 1989 to join anti-India protests. He played a prominent role in bringing several political and religious groups under the banner of All Parties Hurriyat Conference in 1993. He was later elected as the group's chairman. Mr Geelani is known for his strong opposition to holding any kind of dialogue with India. He has always demanded that a plebiscite on whether Kashmir should remain under Indian rule should be held before any talks can take place. This often brought him in conflict with his younger colleagues, who were more open to holding talks with Indian leaders.

['Asia', 'India', 'Kashmir']

[{"entity": "Syed Ali Geelani", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Kashmir", "label": "LOC"}]

Kashmir

["Asia", "India", "Kashmir"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-41465222

Kendall Jenner 'feels bad' after Pepsi Black Lives Matter advert controversy

Kendall Jenner says she feels "really bad" if she offended anyone after appearing in a controversial Pepsi advert earlier this year.

She was accused of undermining the Black Lives Matter movement after handing a can of the soft drink to a police officer during a protest. Speaking in a new episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the model says she'd "never purposely hurt someone". "I just feel really, really bad," Kendall tells Kim Kardashian. "I feel really bad that anyone was ever offended. I feel really bad that this was taken such a wrong way and I genuinely feel like [rubbish]. "I have no idea how I'm gonna bounce back from it." Kim Kardashian is then seen comforting Kendall and telling her she'll learn from the experience. "This is the first time you've had a scandal," she says. "This is your first real experience with something like this. "This is just gonna be the biggest lesson learned for you." In the Pepsi advert, Kendall Jenner leaves a photoshoot to join protesters calling for love and peace, before handing a can to police as a peace offering. The officer smiles and the crowd cheers. It was criticised for painting a "privileged, white" model as a peacemaker between civil rights activists and police. But in a tearful confessional piece on the season 14 premiere, Kendall says she regrets doing the advert. "If I knew this was gonna be the outcome I would have never done something like this," she says. Khloe Kardashian said: "You can tell this is eating up Kendall 😩 my sweet sister #kuwtk." She also said: "Kendall crying makes me want to cry 😩😩😩." "But you don't know when you're in the moment. I just felt so stupid. "The fact that I would offend other people or hurt other people was definitely not my intent and that's what got me the most, is that I would ever make anyone else upset." In a statement released at the time, Pepsi said it didn't intend to make light of serious issues and pulled the advert less than 24 hours after releasing it. But not everyone was happy with how she responded to the controversy on the show. Shuri said: "I knew it. I knew all @KendallJenner was going to do was cry & talk about how her life was "ruined" as opposed to apologize right out #KUWTK." Safira said: "Kendall waiting for months to talk about the pepsi thing.... you know what they say: satan is working hard but kris jenner is working harder." Cheyenne said: "kendall jenner crying makes me laugh. you knew exactly what you were doing when you shot that commercial sis #kuwtk." Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat

['Television', 'Black Lives Matter', 'PepsiCo', 'Advertising', 'United States', 'Black interest']

[{"entity": "Kendall Jenner", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Pepsi", "label": "FOOD"}]

Kendall Jenner ||| Pepsi

["Television", "Black Lives Matter", "PepsiCo", "Advertising", "United States", "Black interest"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-39802328

Birmingham pub bombings: Families granted legal aid

Lawyers acting for eight families of victims of the Birmingham pub bombings say they have been offered legal aid funding.

The government had previously intervened to remove legal barriers that had barred the Northern Ireland-based firm from applying for funding. The Legal Aid Agency confirmed the decision on Wednesday. Inquests into the deaths of the 21 people killed by the IRA in November 1974 are due to resume later this year. The government previously confirmed one legal aid funding application had been granted for Liverpool-based firm Broudie Jackson Canter, who represent some of the other victims' families. A spokesman for KRW Law, which is representing the eight families, said: "[We] have been offered a contract to continue to represent our client and that this is in the best interests of the effective administration of justice. "Financial eligibility limits for legal aid have been waived in this exceptional application." Read more Birmingham and Black Country stories here It added they hoped to represent the families at the next hearing later this month and were "cautiously optimistic" they could move forward. Speaking to BBC WM Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine died in the attack, said: "If there is everything that we would like which is to have equal funding as all the public bodies will have when they are legally represented at the inquest, then that will be exactly what we want." No-one has been brought to justice for the 21 murders, although members of the IRA are believed to have been responsible. Six men were arrested and later jailed, but claimed in court confessions were beaten out of them. After two appeals the Birmingham Six, as they became known, were freed in 1991.

['Birmingham', 'Legal aid']

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

Birmingham

["Birmingham", "Legal aid"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-30289788

Picture power: Under the dress

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the highlights of the entertainment year, and the comings and goings on the red carpet can make for arresting pictures.

In this case, arresting is the right word. Reuters photographer Benoit Tessier explains how he captured the moment a man tried to slip under the dress of actress America Ferrera as she arrived for the screening of her film How to Train Your Dragon 2. "I was covering the stars' red-carpet arrival for the film screening of How to Train Your Dragon 2, when suddenly Vitalii Sediuk, a Ukrainian journalist also known as a red-carpet prankster, tried to stick his head under actress America Ferrera's netted skirt. "No doubt feeling fabulous in her beautiful couture gown, the moment was clearly ruined for Ferrera. "I had only 10 seconds to realise what was happening and take the shot. "Security rapidly dealt with the culprit amid shocked looks from Ferrera and co-star Cate Blanchett. "After a flash of appearing red-faced and confused, the actress continued the red carpet walk as if nothing had happened."

['Photography']

[{"entity": "Cannes Film Festival", "label": "EVE"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Photography"]

english

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-44546780

Guy Verhofstadt warns MPs of 'two decade' Brexit ratification

Brexit could take as long as two decades to get EU approval unless the two sides agree a "precise" blueprint in October, Guy Verhofstadt has said.

The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator wants the UK to have an "association agreement" with the EU. He told the UK MPs' Brexit committee he wanted to see clear details of how that would work in the Autumn. If there was room for misunderstanding it could take a long time for the EU to ratify it, he warned. The EU and UK are hoping to publish the final withdrawal agreement and a political statement on future relations in October or November so it can be voted on by MPs at Westminster and MEPs in the European Parliament. Mr Verhofstadt said the agreement had to be published by the end of 2018 at the latest, to give the European Parliament enough time to ratify before the UK formally leaves the EU in March. He said it would take the entire two-year transition period, which is due to kick in after Brexit on 29 March 2019, to sort out the details of future trading relations between the EU and UK. But he warned MPs that it would take a lot longer if the political statement published in the autumn was not clear enough about what kind of relationship the EU was going to have with the UK. The advantage of an association agreement, he argued, was that it would be a flexible framework, allowing for a "very narrow" relationship based on trade alone, or a "very broad" relationship. And it would avoid the prospect of an "inflation of agreements between the EU and the UK" in a lot of different areas as the two sides hammered out their differences during the transition period. If, he told the MPs, "this whole bunch of agreements will be put in the ratification machine of the European Union, including the member states, we are going to be in ratification - and in uncertainty - for more than one decade, even two decades". The European Parliament set out details of what it means by an "association agreement" - something the EU normally signs with aspiring member countries such as Ukraine - in a draft resolution in March. It would open the door to continued cooperation with some EU institutions, although Mr Verhofstadt said the UK would still have to be kicked out schemes such as the European Arrest Warrant and the Galileo satellite navigation system when it became a "third country" outside the EU. UK Brexit Secretary David Davis said last month he had no "intrinsic objection" to an "association agreement" but it "depends what's in it", adding that he would not accept the continued jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Mr Verhofstadt said Brexit had increased the "popularity" of the EU in other member states and that it had reignited debate about reform of its institutions. He said he was looking forward to the UK government's Brexit White Paper, which he hoped would give more details about how to resolve sticking points such as the Irish border and ECJ membership. "I think that is it still possible to have for October/November an agreement on the political declaration. For that we need to speed up, certainly the negotiations in the coming months." Mr Verhofstadt was also quizzed by the Commons home affairs committee. He repeated his warning of the "nightmare" of multiple agreements - on security, nuclear materials and many other issues - that he said could could take decades to ratify. This could be avoided with a single "association agreement", he told the MPs, but he cautioned against the idea of copying Ukraine's association agreement, which he said was "specific" to its ambition to join the EU. Committee chairman Yvette Cooper asked whether the Ukraine model, which allows partial access to the single market but not free movement, could point the way to a deal that might work for the UK. "We did it with Ukraine so it's possible," said Mr Verhofstadt, but he said if the UK wanted deeper access to the single market than that enjoyed by Ukraine it would have to accept free movement. Similarly, he added, the EU would accept continued membership of the customs union, but only if the UK accepted it could not strike its own trade deals.

['Brexit']

[{"entity": "EU", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Guy Verhofstadt", "label": "PER"}]

EU

["Brexit"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53476811

UK suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong

The UK government will suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong "immediately and indefinitely".

Announcing the move, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK "wants a positive relationship" with China. But he said the "imposition" of the new security law in Hong Kong by Beijing was a "serious violation" of the country's international obligations. Labour said it would support changes to the law, calling it a "step in the right direction". The extradition treaty means that, if someone in Hong Kong is suspected of a crime in the UK, then the British authorities can ask Hong Kong to hand them over to face justice - and vice versa. The UK fears the arrangement - which has been in place for more than 30 years - could see anyone it extradites to Hong Kong being sent on to China. Mr Raab also confirmed the government would extend its arms embargo - which has been in place with China since 1989 - to Hong Kong, stopping the UK exporting equipment, such as firearms, smoke grenades and shackles, to the region. But China has accused the UK government of "brutal meddling", insisting it is committed to upholding international law. The country also promised a "resolute response" if the UK withdrew from extradition arrangements. Beijing introduced the security law at the end of June, creating new offences which could see Hong Kong residents sent to mainland China for trial. Critics said it could see pro-democracy protesters in the region being served with life sentences. They have also said the law breaches an agreement made with the UK before Hong Kong - a former British colony - was handed over to China in 1997. Under the 50-year agreement, China enshrined civil liberties - including the right to protest, freedom of speech and the independence of the judiciary - in Hong Kong's Basic Law, an approach which came to be known as "one country, two systems". Mr Raab told MPs: "There remains considerable uncertainty about the way in which the new national security law will be enforced. "I would just say this: the UK is watching and the whole world is watching." The foreign secretary also confirmed plans for a path to UK citizenship for around three million Hong Kong people would be in place by early 2021, in response to the law. However, Border Force officials have been given the ability to grant leave to any applicants before then. Political and economic relations between the UK and China have become strained in recent months. Mr Raab referenced a number of tensions during his speech, including the decision by the UK government to ban Chinese firm Huawei from the country's 5G network. He told MPs: "We will always protect our vital interests including sensitive infrastructure and we won't accept any investment that compromises our domestic or national security" The foreign secretary also raised his "grave concerns" about the "gross human rights abuses" taking place in China's Xinjiang region against Uighur Muslims, after reports of forced sterilisation and wider persecution of the group. He said they had raised the issue with his Chinese counterparts and with the United Nations. Mr Raab added: "We want a positive relationship with China. There's a huge amount to be gained for both countries, there are many areas, where we can work productively, constructively to mutual benefit together. "For our part, the UK will work hard and in good faith towards that goal. But we will protect our vital interests, we will stand up for our values, and we will hold China to its international obligations." The change in the treaty was praised by MPs from other parties. Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said Labour "strongly welcomed" the measures, adding they should lead to a "new era" in the two countries' relationship. "This must mark the start of a more strategic approach to China based on an ethical approach to foreign policy and an end to the naivety of the 'golden-era years'," she told MPs. "Our quarrel is not with the people of China, but the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, the actions of the Chinese government in the South China Sea and the appalling treatment of the Uighur people is reason now to act. "We will not be able to say in future years that we did not know." But other MPs called for the government to go further. Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael wanted action on imports from China - especially surveillance equipment - while the SNP's Margaret Ferrier called for sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights violations. Conservative MPs also called for further action. Tory MP and former defence minister Tobias Ellwood said: "For decades we have turned a blind eye to China's democratic deficit and human rights violations in the hope that it would mature into a global, responsible citizen [but] that clearly hasn't happened. "Can I ask the secretary of state, is this now the turning point that we drop the pretence the China shares our values, given its actions... [and] can we have a strategic overhaul of our foreign policy in relation to China?" Mr Raab said the government was carrying out an integrated review about its strategy.

['House of Commons', 'Dominic Raab', 'Hong Kong national security law', 'Hong Kong', 'Extradition', 'Hong Kong extradition bill']

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

UK ||| Hong Kong

["House of Commons", "Dominic Raab", "Hong Kong national security law", "Hong Kong", "Extradition", "Hong Kong extradition bill"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-39258229

Fewest avalanches recorded in almost 10 years

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) has wound up its latest forecasting season with its lowest number of recorded avalanches in almost 10 years.

There were 83 avalanches between December last year and this month, according to the service's initial figures. It will provide an official tally in an annual report later this year. Last season, there were 207 avalanches and 305 in 2014-15, 350 in 2013-14, 129 in 2012-13, 154 in 2011-12, 178 in 2010-11 and 220 in 2009-10. The snow slides that are recorded occur naturally - often after a cornice, snow overhanging a slope or cliff, collapses - or have been triggered by walkers and climbers accidentally or deliberately by ski patrols to make an area used for snowsports safe. SAIS assesses for the risk of avalanches in six areas: Lochaber, Glen Coe, Northern Cairngorms, Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh and Torridon. This winter and spring, conditions have included periods of freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls but also mild weather and high winds, which strip snow from hillsides. SAIS has just announced the winding up of its latest season. However, it said: "We will continue to monitor weather and snow conditions leading up to and during the Easter holidays. "Mountain information will continue to be provided on the SAIS blogs for the next period and for the Easter weekends. "We recommend that mountain-goers venturing into the hills continue to observe weather forecasts prior to their excursions, and visual observations of conditions during their trip. "This information is important in making good plans and allowing for flexible decision-making when in the mountains and hills." It warned that late spring snow falls could still occur and cause a hazard high up in the Cairngorms, Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor. All images copyrighted.

['Ben Nevis', 'Glencoe']

[{"entity": "Scottish Avalanche Information Service", "label": "ORG"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Ben Nevis", "Glencoe"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25757714

Protests throw spotlight on Israel's African migrant pressures

Hundreds of African women and children marched across the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Wednesday to demonstrate outside the offices of the United Nations and the embassy of the United States.

It was the latest in an unprecedented wave of protests by African asylum seekers, who fear the Israeli government is trying to force them out of the country. Since a new law came into force last month, the asylum seekers - most of whom are from Sudan and Eritrea - say the authorities have been instructing many of them to leave the cities and towns where they have been living and report to a detention centre in the Negev desert in southern Israel. The new law gives the authorities the power to hold them in the centre indefinitely, putting them under intense pressure to agree to leave Israel voluntarily. The African immigrants began arriving in Israel in 2006 and it is estimated there are currently 53,000 in the country. "The reason I am here is because I fled violence and persecution back home, the on-going genocide," says Dahar Adam who is from the Darfur region of Sudan. "I came here seeking protection as a refugee and have been here almost seven years, but I didn't get any kind of status or recognition as a refugee." "We requested many times, but they denied and neglected us, they don't want to take this problem seriously," he said. In a rare public rebuke, the UN Refugee Agency has accused the Israeli government of following a policy that "creates fear and chaos amongst asylum seekers," and warned that putting asylum seekers under pressure to return home, without first considering why they had fled, could amount to a violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention. But the government is sticking to its position that the African immigrants are not refugees but are instead economic migrants who see Israel as an attractive destination because it is the nearest developed country where they can find jobs. The government also insists it has the systems in place to process any asylum applications. "Only a few hundred have applied," says the foreign ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor. "It is quite a mystery why not more have tried to use the procedure." And only a handful so far, approximately a dozen, have been granted refugee status. "The others have been found to be working migrants or other types of migrants and did not qualify for refugee status under the criteria of the Refugee Convention," Mr Palmor said. But a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency rejected this, telling the BBC that the Israeli government, having initially advised the immigrants they did not need to apply for asylum, then changed its mind in 2012. But, the UN spokesperson said, the government failed to inform the migrants that they needed to submit their applications. Many of the Africans live in a run-down area of south Tel Aviv, attracted to the city by the chance of finding work in the many restaurants, cafes and hotels. At the entrance to a dingy, dilapidated apartment block, I met Zena Mebrahtu, a 27-year-old Eritrean, who invited me to follow him up the stairs to see the room that is now his home. He shares the bed and single electric cooking ring with his younger brother. The other rooms which make up what was once an apartment, have all been rented out individually to Sudanese and Eritrean immigrants. But Zena knows he is lucky. He has a fridge, a television and even a surfboard leaning against the wall, given to him by a friend. "I have a good job," he says, "I have Israeli friends and they gave me a job." "My [African] friends are living in the worst condition, in a room like this with five people." Zena's neighbourhood has a particularly high concentration of immigrants, and relations with the local Israeli population are tense. "There are people who behave well with me," he says. "But there are more who don't like me, don't like refugees and don't like me staying here. "They say to me you are dirty, you don't know how to live, you need to go home. "Most of them think I came to Israel to get money." On the street outside, a local Israeli man Yaniv Avigad poured out his feelings about the immigrants. "They are destroying our lives in many ways," he said. "There's a lot of violence. I have lived in the neighbourhood ever since I was a little kid and they always said this was a bad neighbourhood. "But I've never encountered anything like it since they came here five years ago." "I feel very scared, it is not my country any more, it is theirs." Mr Avigad believes the government is not being tough enough and wants new laws which will stop the African immigrants renting rooms. "I think then they will go home." The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the immigrants that their protests will make no difference to the government's policy of removing "illegal infiltrators". The increasingly shrill debate about the African immigrants prompted President Shimon Peres to speak out last week. He reminded Israelis that the country had signed the UN convention on refugees and this prohibited the deportation of people to countries where their lives would be in danger. He added: "We remember what it means to be refugees and strangers." And all this even though the government says it has successfully stopped almost all illegal immigration into Israel, with the completion last year of a fence across the border with Egypt - the route which the Sudanese, Eritreans and other Africans had been using.

['Israel', 'Tel Aviv', 'Refugees and asylum seekers', 'Migration']

[{"entity": "Israeli", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Tel Aviv", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "United Nations", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "United States", "label": "LOC"}]

Israeli ||| Tel Aviv

["Israel", "Tel Aviv", "Refugees and asylum seekers", "Migration"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-54116094

Week in pictures: 5-11 September 2020

A selection of powerful news photographs taken around the world this week.

All pictures are subject to copyright.

['Photography']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Photography"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-43046367

Flooding hits Aberdeen Royal Infirmary dispensary

Flooding at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has caused "considerable damage" to the hospital dispensary.

NHS Grampian said the incident late on Monday evening had hit the ability of pharmacy staff to dispense medicines and would mean delays for patients. A spokeswoman said: "We will continue to fill all prescriptions. "It is important to stress that our main pharmacy stock holding area was unaffected and we still have access to a full range of medicines." The flooding happened in the main concourse area of the hospital, known as the Yellow Zone. Robots used to assist with dispensing have been taken out of commission. NHS Grampian said a smaller dispensary is operational at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital but it would not be able to match the capacity of the ARI dispensary. The spokeswoman said: "We can only apologise to patients facing longer waits for their medicines and thank them in advance for their understanding." The Aroma cafe also suffered flood damage and will be closed until further notice.

['Aberdeen']

[{"entity": "Aberdeen Royal Infirmary", "label": "LOC"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Aberdeen"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31759338

America's 50-year journey from Bloody Sunday in Selma

Of all the battles of the civil rights era, few have been lodged quite so firmly in the American memory as "Bloody Sunday" in Selma, Alabama.

On one side of the racial divide was that brave column of protesters, two abreast and smartly dressed, who knew they could end the day as martyrs. On the other was the Alabama state troopers, helmeted and holstered, carrying truncheons and wearing gas masks, who were eager to play the brutal role assigned them by history. They faced off on what became a great landmark of the freedom struggle, the Edmund Pettus Bridge - a stark, geometrical structure that provided an eerie setting for this climactic showdown. The soundtrack came from the chants of the movement and the anthems of determined hope: "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round." But it was the brute force of that day, shrouded though it was in dense clouds of tear gas, which lingers most powerfully in the mind. Fifty years on, those violent images still have the capacity to shock and shame. The blows from those truncheons. The charging police horses, with their trampling hooves. The bloodied bandages. The broken bones. The fractured skulls. More so than the courage of the protesters, however, it was the viciousness of police that turned Selma into such a milestone. Martin Luther King, who was in Atlanta on Bloody Sunday but soon travelled to Alabama, called it "the greatest confrontation so far in the South." And it produced precisely the kind of violence that the non-violent black protesters relied upon to achieve major breakthroughs. Had it not been for police brutality, the civil rights movement would never have made such major strides. Part of the reason why Selma had provided the ideal setting for such a historic showdown was because it was so easy to foretell the ferocious response of local and state police. In Sheriff Jim Clark, black leaders had the perfect adversary. A former rancher, Clark had for years corralled black protesters seeking the right to vote with a cattle prod. A portly man, with a penchant for military regalia, his uniform was emblazoned not just with the six-pointed sheriff's star but a badge proclaiming "Never." A son of Dixie, he seemed to have stepped from Confederate central casting. On Bloody Sunday, Clark's posse of officers had meted out some of the most violent beatings, with the sheriff in the vanguard. But the civil rights movement, for all the blows and its injuries that its members sustained that day, needed him to be there, because he personified southern intransigence. Had the march passed off peaceably, there would be no cause for commemoration. As it was, the bloodshed in Selma prompted President Lyndon Baines Johnson to push for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever passed by Congress. As a writer for the New Republic observed at the time, "Selma's Sheriff Jim Clark can take much of the credit for the bill." Eight days after Bloody Sunday, LBJ also delivered perhaps the greatest presidential speech on race relations, in front of a joint session of Congress and a primetime audience of 70 million viewers. "At times history and life meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point in man's unending search for freedom," he intoned, in his Texan drawl. "So it was at Lexington and Concord. So it was a century ago at Appomattox. So it was last week in Selma, Alabama." Then, in a dramatic rhetorical end-piece that aligned him with the foot-soldiers of the struggle for black equality, he told Congress: "We shall overcome." Two years earlier, in Birmingham, Alabama, non-violent protests had also produced a violent rejoinder from police. The police's German Shepherd dogs snarled and lunged at black protesters, tearing their clothes and ripping their skin. High-pressure fire hoses, with the power to rip bark from trees, were trained on children. As with Selma, this was the intention of black leaders all along: to orchestrate protests that would provoke such a vicious response that it would prick the conscience of white America and pressure a reluctant president, in this case John F. Kennedy, to act. As he languished in one of the city's cells, King laid out this strategy in his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail. "Non-violent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension," he wrote on scraps of paper, "that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue." Like Selma, Birmingham threw up a model adversary, the grandly named Theophilus Eugene Connor, who was better known as "Bull". In the country's most thoroughly segregated city, police used what King described as "Gestapo-like methods". Way in advance of the militarisation of American police forces, an armoured personnel carrier already patrolled the streets of the city, called "Bull Connor's tank". Mounted in the spring of 1963, the Birmingham campaign was pivotal. Not only did the ugly images of police brutality build white support for an end to southern segregation, but they unleashed a wave of black fury that deeply unsettled the Kennedy brothers in Washington. Between May and late August of 1963, there were 1,340 demonstrations in over 200 cities across 36 states. Fearing that his presidency could be overwhelmed by the great social revolution of his age, Kennedy finally agreed to send a meaningful civil rights bill to Congress. In June 1963, he also delivered a long overdue televised address to the nation in support of desegregation. "We are confronted primarily with a moral issue," he said from the Oval Office. "It is as old as the scriptures and it is as clear as the American constitution." Had it not been for Bull Connor and those snarling police dogs, Kennedy, a bystander on civil rights for so much of his presidency, might have remained on the sidelines. When the president hosted his first summit of civil rights leaders at the White House that same month, he even acknowledged the Alabaman's role. "You may be too hard on Bull Connor," he said. "After all, Bull has probably done more for civil rights than anyone else." At first there were sharp intakes of breath, until they realised that Kennedy was joking. But it was only a half-joke. The civil rights movement needed thugs like Bull Connor. Without him the 1964 Civil Rights Act might never have been enacted. Long forgotten now is the failed Albany campaign in 1962, where King's leadership of the civil rights movement - a broad amalgam of often antagonistic groups - was brought into question. King's great misfortune in Albany was to come up against a police chief who understood the strategy of creative tension. Laurie Pritchett had studied Gandhian principles of non-violence and how protesters would apply them in this Georgian backwater. Throughout the demonstrations, then, his police force was a model of restraint and calm. King suffered an embarrassing defeat. In the decades since, the catalyst for many of the most meaningful national conversations about race relations, and many of the moments of national reckoning, have been acts of police brutality or failures of the criminal justice system. The merciless beating of Rodney King by cops from the Los Angeles Police Department in 1991, and the deadly riots a year later that followed the acquittal of the officers involved, prompted major police reforms. Lifetime terms for LAPD police chiefs came to an end. This led to the creation of an independent inspector of police. A new emphasis came to be placed on community policing, not just in Los Angeles but across the country. To this day, Barack Obama, the first black man to occupy the White House, tends to discuss race mainly in the context of police excess or criminal justice. The controversy in 2009 surrounding the arrest of the black Harvard academic Henry Louis Gates prompted his strongest racial remarks since taking office. By arresting Professor Gates as he tried to enter his own home, the Cambridge police had "acted stupidly", the president complained, adding: "there's a long history in this country of African Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately". The killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old shot dead by a neighbourhood watch volunteer in Florida, prompted another presidential intervention. "My main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. You know, if I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," Obama said. "All of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves." The deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in New York, both at the hands of police officers, have more recently been the spur for national introspection and protest. Both bridge a contemporary edge to this weekend's commemorations, and with it the sense that many race-related issues remain unsolved. That is why when the singer-songwriter John Legend proclaimed that "Selma is now" from the stage of the Academy Awards in Hollywood, as he picked up the Oscar for his song Glory from the movie Selma. It had such resonance. Manifestly, race relations in America have come a long way since Bloody Sunday, when a system of racial apartheid was still in the process of being dismantled in the south, when citadels of segregation, like Selma and Birmingham, finally surrendered. But not every wall of prejudice has been demolished.

['Racism', 'United States']

[{"entity": "Bloody Sunday", "label": "TIME"}, {"entity": "Selma", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Alabama", "label": "LOC"}]

Bloody Sunday ||| Selma ||| Alabama

["Racism", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25804157

Deutsche Bank reports surprise loss as legal costs mount

Deutsche Bank has reported a surprise loss for the fourth quarter of 2013, after releasing its

Overall Deutsche said it posted a pre-tax loss of 1.153bn euros for the final quarter of 2013. The bank said that litigation costs and restructuring had weighed heavily on its financial performance. Litigation costs mounted up to 528m euros (£435.3m) for the period, while revenue fell 16%. At the end of last week the company's shares closed down 3% in New York after reports of a profit warning rattled already anxious investors. Deutsche Bank - Germany's largest lender - has faced some large problems in the past 12 months. In December 2013 it agreed to pay 1.4bn euros to settle a lawsuit with the US Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The lawsuit accused Deutsche Bank of breaking state and federal laws when it sold financial products backed by mortgage loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac between 2005 and 2007. Also in December it was among six banks fined $2.3bn (£1.4bn) by the European Commission after been found guilty of colluding to rig two global interest rate benchmarks. Deutsche Bank suffered the largest fine of the six - 725.36m euros - over rate fixing. For the year, it has set aside 2.5bn euros for various lawsuits. In Sunday's results statement, the bank's joint chief executives Juergen Fitschen and Anshu Jain said that they are confident of reaching their targets for 2015. Though they said that they "expect 2014 to be a year of further challenges". The bank will post a profit for 2013 overall, they added. Deutsche Bank had originally planned to release its results on 29 January.

['Banking']

[{"entity": "Deutsche Bank", "label": "ORG"}]

Deutsche Bank

["Banking"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-41763074

Princes Risborough silver hawk treasure has royal link

A 17th Century silver hawk ring found in a field by a metal detectorist has been linked with royalty.

The 8.23mm (0.3in) vervel, unearthed in Buckinghamshire in 2015, was worn by a hawk to identify its owner. It has since been established it was owned by Robert Dormer, 1st Earl of Carnarvon - a keeper of the royal hawks who died in the English Civil War. Buckinghamshire County Museum said the vervel was a "rare find" and would go on display. The ring is inscribed "Robert Erle Carmarvin" and has an image of a bird of prey on a gloved hand, with a crown above its head. Carnarvon had an estate near High Wycombe and the vervel was discovered about eight miles away at Princes Risborough by Roger Paul. Brett Thorn, the museum's keeper of archaeology collections, said the earl had been Charles I's ward and was later Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. He said: "He was a significant player in the English Civil War in the county, involved in the sack of Wendover and his own house at Wing was sacked by Parliamentarians." Carnarvon was killed at the Battle of Newbury in 1643, aged 33. The silver ring was declared treasure and the museum bought it for £3,000 with help from grants. Mr Thorn said: "It's a rare find for the county and it was the first time in the museum's 150-year history that we've been able to acquire one."

['Princes Risborough', 'Wendover', 'High Wycombe', 'Wing', 'Treasure', 'Museums']

[{"entity": "17th Century", "label": "TIME"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Princes Risborough", "Wendover", "High Wycombe", "Wing", "Treasure", "Museums"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29776544

UK ends Afghan combat operations

The last UK base in Afghanistan has been handed over to the control of Afghan security forces, ending British combat operations in the country.

The union flag was lowered at Camp Bastion, while Camp Leatherneck - the adjoining US base - was also handed over to Afghan control. Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would never forget those who had died serving their country. The number of deaths of British troops throughout the conflict stands at 453. The death toll among US military personnel stands at 2,349. Mr Cameron tweeted: "I made a commitment that I would get our Armed Forces out of Afghanistan by 2015 and today sees the end of combat operations in the country. "We will always remember the courage of those who served in Afghanistan on our behalf and never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice." The union flag was lowered at Camp Bastion, while Camp Leatherneck - the adjoining US base - was also handed over to Afghan control. Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would never forget those who had died serving their country. The number of deaths of British troops throughout the conflict stands at 453. The death toll among US military personnel stands at 2,349. Mr Cameron tweeted: "I made a commitment that I would get our Armed Forces out of Afghanistan by 2015 and today sees the end of combat operations in the country. "We will always remember the courage of those who served in Afghanistan on our behalf and never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice." The union flag was lowered at Camp Bastion, while Camp Leatherneck - the adjoining US base - was also handed over to Afghan control. Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would never forget those who had died serving their country. The number of deaths of British troops throughout the conflict stands at 453. The death toll among US military personnel stands at 2,349. Mr Cameron tweeted: "I made a commitment that I would get our Armed Forces out of Afghanistan by 2015 and today sees the end of combat operations in the country. "We will always remember the courage of those who served in Afghanistan on our behalf and never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice." The union flag was lowered at Camp Bastion, while Camp Leatherneck - the adjoining US base - was also handed over to Afghan control. Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would never forget those who had died serving their country. The number of deaths of British troops throughout the conflict stands at 453. The death toll among US military personnel stands at 2,349. Mr Cameron tweeted: "I made a commitment that I would get our Armed Forces out of Afghanistan by 2015 and today sees the end of combat operations in the country. "We will always remember the courage of those who served in Afghanistan on our behalf and never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice." A spokesman for the Afghan Defence Ministry welcomed the handover, which he said "puts our capabilities into practice". "Afghan security forces have been leading the fight in ground operations in the country for two years now." The UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US. After 9/11, US President George Bush had demanded that the Taliban hand over any leaders of al-Qaeda - the militant group which later claimed responsibility for the attacks - in Afghanistan, but the Taliban did not immediately comply. Taliban leaders called for talks, but US President George Bush said there would be "no negotiations" and military action started on 7 October. Camp Bastion, in Helmand province, has been the UK troops' main Afghan base since 2006. At the time it opened, the UK said its forces would be there to protect reconstruction of the country, but they got caught up in the struggle against the Taliban - which continues to fight and has carried out attacks in recent weeks. Helmand's Provincial Governor Naim Baluch said British forces and their allies had improved security and Afghanistan was grateful for their "courage and commitment". He said Afghans were now "ready to deliver security ourselves". A spokesman for the Afghan Defence Ministry welcomed the handover, which he said "puts our capabilities into practice". "Afghan security forces have been leading the fight in ground operations in the country for two years now." The UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US. After 9/11, US President George Bush had demanded that the Taliban hand over any leaders of al-Qaeda - the militant group which later claimed responsibility for the attacks - in Afghanistan, but the Taliban did not immediately comply. Taliban leaders called for talks, but US President George Bush said there would be "no negotiations" and military action started on 7 October. Camp Bastion, in Helmand province, has been the UK troops' main Afghan base since 2006. At the time it opened, the UK said its forces would be there to protect reconstruction of the country, but they got caught up in the struggle against the Taliban - which continues to fight and has carried out attacks in recent weeks. Helmand's Provincial Governor Naim Baluch said British forces and their allies had improved security and Afghanistan was grateful for their "courage and commitment". He said Afghans were now "ready to deliver security ourselves". A spokesman for the Afghan Defence Ministry welcomed the handover, which he said "puts our capabilities into practice". "Afghan security forces have been leading the fight in ground operations in the country for two years now." A spokesman for the Afghan Defence Ministry welcomed the handover, which he said "puts our capabilities into practice". "Afghan security forces have been leading the fight in ground operations in the country for two years now." The UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US. After 9/11, US President George Bush had demanded that the Taliban hand over any leaders of al-Qaeda - the militant group which later claimed responsibility for the attacks - in Afghanistan, but the Taliban did not immediately comply. Taliban leaders called for talks, but US President George Bush said there would be "no negotiations" and military action started on 7 October. Camp Bastion, in Helmand province, has been the UK troops' main Afghan base since 2006. At the time it opened, the UK said its forces would be there to protect reconstruction of the country, but they got caught up in the struggle against the Taliban - which continues to fight and has carried out attacks in recent weeks. Helmand's Provincial Governor Naim Baluch said British forces and their allies had improved security and Afghanistan was grateful for their "courage and commitment". He said Afghans were now "ready to deliver security ourselves". The UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US. After 9/11, US President George Bush had demanded that the Taliban hand over any leaders of al-Qaeda - the militant group which later claimed responsibility for the attacks - in Afghanistan, but the Taliban did not immediately comply. Taliban leaders called for talks, but US President George Bush said there would be "no negotiations" and military action started on 7 October. Camp Bastion, in Helmand province, has been the UK troops' main Afghan base since 2006. At the time it opened, the UK said its forces would be there to protect reconstruction of the country, but they got caught up in the struggle against the Taliban - which continues to fight and has carried out attacks in recent weeks. Helmand's Provincial Governor Naim Baluch said British forces and their allies had improved security and Afghanistan was grateful for their "courage and commitment". He said Afghans were now "ready to deliver security ourselves". Responding to the handover, Labour party leader Ed Miliband said: "All those who served did so to help ensure Afghanistan could no longer be used as a safe haven for terrorists." He added that Britain "must make sure that we continue to give the right support to the Afghan government both politically and through humanitarian aid, so that security and stability in Afghanistan can be maintained in the years to come". Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said UK support would continue through "institutional development", the Afghan National Army Officer Academy and development aid. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Fallon accepted the Taliban had not been defeated, but said Afghan forces were now taking "full responsibilities". He said: "Our armed forces' tremendous sacrifice laid the foundations for a strong Afghan security force, set the security context that enabled the first democratic transition of power in the country's history, and stopped it being a launch pad for terrorist attacks in the UK." Responding to the handover, Labour party leader Ed Miliband said: "All those who served did so to help ensure Afghanistan could no longer be used as a safe haven for terrorists." He added that Britain "must make sure that we continue to give the right support to the Afghan government both politically and through humanitarian aid, so that security and stability in Afghanistan can be maintained in the years to come". Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said UK support would continue through "institutional development", the Afghan National Army Officer Academy and development aid. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Fallon accepted the Taliban had not been defeated, but said Afghan forces were now taking "full responsibilities". He said: "Our armed forces' tremendous sacrifice laid the foundations for a strong Afghan security force, set the security context that enabled the first democratic transition of power in the country's history, and stopped it being a launch pad for terrorist attacks in the UK." Responding to the handover, Labour party leader Ed Miliband said: "All those who served did so to help ensure Afghanistan could no longer be used as a safe haven for terrorists." He added that Britain "must make sure that we continue to give the right support to the Afghan government both politically and through humanitarian aid, so that security and stability in Afghanistan can be maintained in the years to come". Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said UK support would continue through "institutional development", the Afghan National Army Officer Academy and development aid. Responding to the handover, Labour party leader Ed Miliband said: "All those who served did so to help ensure Afghanistan could no longer be used as a safe haven for terrorists." He added that Britain "must make sure that we continue to give the right support to the Afghan government both politically and through humanitarian aid, so that security and stability in Afghanistan can be maintained in the years to come". Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said UK support would continue through "institutional development", the Afghan National Army Officer Academy and development aid. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Fallon accepted the Taliban had not been defeated, but said Afghan forces were now taking "full responsibilities". He said: "Our armed forces' tremendous sacrifice laid the foundations for a strong Afghan security force, set the security context that enabled the first democratic transition of power in the country's history, and stopped it being a launch pad for terrorist attacks in the UK." Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Fallon accepted the Taliban had not been defeated, but said Afghan forces were now taking "full responsibilities". He said: "Our armed forces' tremendous sacrifice laid the foundations for a strong Afghan security force, set the security context that enabled the first democratic transition of power in the country's history, and stopped it being a launch pad for terrorist attacks in the UK." Asked about UK military operations, Mr Fallon said: "Mistakes were made militarily, mistakes were made by the politicians at the time and this goes back 10, 13 years. "Clearly the numbers weren't there at the beginning, the equipment wasn't quite good enough at the beginning and we've learnt an awful lot from the campaign. "But don't let's ignore what has been achieved." Mr Fallon said most of the UK forces would be home by Christmas, with a few hundred staying to help with training at the officer academy. "We're not going to send combat troops back into Afghanistan, under any circumstances," he added. Asked about UK military operations, Mr Fallon said: "Mistakes were made militarily, mistakes were made by the politicians at the time and this goes back 10, 13 years. "Clearly the numbers weren't there at the beginning, the equipment wasn't quite good enough at the beginning and we've learnt an awful lot from the campaign. "But don't let's ignore what has been achieved." Mr Fallon said most of the UK forces would be home by Christmas, with a few hundred staying to help with training at the officer academy. "We're not going to send combat troops back into Afghanistan, under any circumstances," he added. Asked about UK military operations, Mr Fallon said: "Mistakes were made militarily, mistakes were made by the politicians at the time and this goes back 10, 13 years. "Clearly the numbers weren't there at the beginning, the equipment wasn't quite good enough at the beginning and we've learnt an awful lot from the campaign. "But don't let's ignore what has been achieved." Mr Fallon said most of the UK forces would be home by Christmas, with a few hundred staying to help with training at the officer academy. "We're not going to send combat troops back into Afghanistan, under any circumstances," he added. Asked about UK military operations, Mr Fallon said: "Mistakes were made militarily, mistakes were made by the politicians at the time and this goes back 10, 13 years. "Clearly the numbers weren't there at the beginning, the equipment wasn't quite good enough at the beginning and we've learnt an awful lot from the campaign. "But don't let's ignore what has been achieved." Mr Fallon said most of the UK forces would be home by Christmas, with a few hundred staying to help with training at the officer academy. "We're not going to send combat troops back into Afghanistan, under any circumstances," he added. Jonathan Beale, BBC defence correspondent, Camp Bastion The Union flag has been flying in Helmand since 2006. In a simple ceremony in Bastion - the now mostly empty main base for UK forces - it was lowered for the last time. The moment was a symbol - for Britain at least - that its war in Afghanistan was over. US marines alongside British and Afghan soldiers formed a guard of honour, saluting as the national anthems of all three countries were played over a loudspeaker. It was a US-led ceremony with speeches by American and Afghan commanders. There was no British voice. As American marching tunes were piped over the sound system, the Afghan flag stood on its own. The Afghans will now carry on a fight that's already claimed the lives of around 4,000 of their security forces this year. As for the few remaining British troops in Bastion - about 300 - they will be leaving for good soon. Read more from Jonathan Beale. The UK's command of Helmand was transferred to US forces in April and personnel, military vehicles and kit have been returning home in recent months. At the height of the war in 2009, about 10,000 UK troops were based at Camp Bastion and the UK's 137 patrol bases in southern Afghanistan. Professor Malcolm Chalmers, of defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute, warned that the Taliban was still "a very capable organisation". "What we have to do to prevent the country slipping back is support the Afghan state - the civilian side, making sure that teachers and doctors and nurses are paid, but also critically the armed forces," he said. "The Afghan army has come a long way in the last few years but they're still dependent on foreign money to pay their wages and right now there's a question mark over how long that will continue." Sir William Patey, former UK ambassador to Afghanistan, said the UK must keep its promise to financially support the Afghan government. "If we renege on that commitment and lose interest because the troops have gone, that will be a betrayal of what we've said we will do for the Afghan state and the Afghan people," he said. Lord Dannatt, former head of the Army, said the conflict had been "difficult and expensive in blood and treasure" for the UK, but Afghanistan now had a "chance of a decent future". Rear Adm Chris Parry, who helped plan the role of UK troops in Afghanistan, told the BBC that Britain's involvement had been "worth it", saying the country was now "more stable", was improving economically and had 40% more children going to school. But he said politicians in 2001 had not known what they wanted to achieve, the military had not had enough resources and there had been no "coherent military plan". Jonathan Beale, BBC defence correspondent, Camp Bastion The Union flag has been flying in Helmand since 2006. In a simple ceremony in Bastion - the now mostly empty main base for UK forces - it was lowered for the last time. The moment was a symbol - for Britain at least - that its war in Afghanistan was over. US marines alongside British and Afghan soldiers formed a guard of honour, saluting as the national anthems of all three countries were played over a loudspeaker. It was a US-led ceremony with speeches by American and Afghan commanders. There was no British voice. As American marching tunes were piped over the sound system, the Afghan flag stood on its own. The Afghans will now carry on a fight that's already claimed the lives of around 4,000 of their security forces this year. As for the few remaining British troops in Bastion - about 300 - they will be leaving for good soon. Read more from Jonathan Beale. The UK's command of Helmand was transferred to US forces in April and personnel, military vehicles and kit have been returning home in recent months. At the height of the war in 2009, about 10,000 UK troops were based at Camp Bastion and the UK's 137 patrol bases in southern Afghanistan. Professor Malcolm Chalmers, of defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute, warned that the Taliban was still "a very capable organisation". "What we have to do to prevent the country slipping back is support the Afghan state - the civilian side, making sure that teachers and doctors and nurses are paid, but also critically the armed forces," he said. "The Afghan army has come a long way in the last few years but they're still dependent on foreign money to pay their wages and right now there's a question mark over how long that will continue." Sir William Patey, former UK ambassador to Afghanistan, said the UK must keep its promise to financially support the Afghan government. "If we renege on that commitment and lose interest because the troops have gone, that will be a betrayal of what we've said we will do for the Afghan state and the Afghan people," he said. Lord Dannatt, former head of the Army, said the conflict had been "difficult and expensive in blood and treasure" for the UK, but Afghanistan now had a "chance of a decent future". Rear Adm Chris Parry, who helped plan the role of UK troops in Afghanistan, told the BBC that Britain's involvement had been "worth it", saying the country was now "more stable", was improving economically and had 40% more children going to school. But he said politicians in 2001 had not known what they wanted to achieve, the military had not had enough resources and there had been no "coherent military plan". Jonathan Beale, BBC defence correspondent, Camp Bastion Jonathan Beale, BBC defence correspondent, Camp Bastion The Union flag has been flying in Helmand since 2006. In a simple ceremony in Bastion - the now mostly empty main base for UK forces - it was lowered for the last time. The moment was a symbol - for Britain at least - that its war in Afghanistan was over. The Union flag has been flying in Helmand since 2006. In a simple ceremony in Bastion - the now mostly empty main base for UK forces - it was lowered for the last time. The moment was a symbol - for Britain at least - that its war in Afghanistan was over. US marines alongside British and Afghan soldiers formed a guard of honour, saluting as the national anthems of all three countries were played over a loudspeaker. It was a US-led ceremony with speeches by American and Afghan commanders. There was no British voice. As American marching tunes were piped over the sound system, the Afghan flag stood on its own. The Afghans will now carry on a fight that's already claimed the lives of around 4,000 of their security forces this year. As for the few remaining British troops in Bastion - about 300 - they will be leaving for good soon. Read more from Jonathan Beale. The UK's command of Helmand was transferred to US forces in April and personnel, military vehicles and kit have been returning home in recent months. US marines alongside British and Afghan soldiers formed a guard of honour, saluting as the national anthems of all three countries were played over a loudspeaker. It was a US-led ceremony with speeches by American and Afghan commanders. There was no British voice. As American marching tunes were piped over the sound system, the Afghan flag stood on its own. The Afghans will now carry on a fight that's already claimed the lives of around 4,000 of their security forces this year. As for the few remaining British troops in Bastion - about 300 - they will be leaving for good soon. Read more from Jonathan Beale. The UK's command of Helmand was transferred to US forces in April and personnel, military vehicles and kit have been returning home in recent months. At the height of the war in 2009, about 10,000 UK troops were based at Camp Bastion and the UK's 137 patrol bases in southern Afghanistan. At the height of the war in 2009, about 10,000 UK troops were based at Camp Bastion and the UK's 137 patrol bases in southern Afghanistan. Professor Malcolm Chalmers, of defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute, warned that the Taliban was still "a very capable organisation". "What we have to do to prevent the country slipping back is support the Afghan state - the civilian side, making sure that teachers and doctors and nurses are paid, but also critically the armed forces," he said. "The Afghan army has come a long way in the last few years but they're still dependent on foreign money to pay their wages and right now there's a question mark over how long that will continue." Sir William Patey, former UK ambassador to Afghanistan, said the UK must keep its promise to financially support the Afghan government. "If we renege on that commitment and lose interest because the troops have gone, that will be a betrayal of what we've said we will do for the Afghan state and the Afghan people," he said. Lord Dannatt, former head of the Army, said the conflict had been "difficult and expensive in blood and treasure" for the UK, but Afghanistan now had a "chance of a decent future". Professor Malcolm Chalmers, of defence think tank the Royal United Services Institute, warned that the Taliban was still "a very capable organisation". "What we have to do to prevent the country slipping back is support the Afghan state - the civilian side, making sure that teachers and doctors and nurses are paid, but also critically the armed forces," he said. "The Afghan army has come a long way in the last few years but they're still dependent on foreign money to pay their wages and right now there's a question mark over how long that will continue." Sir William Patey, former UK ambassador to Afghanistan, said the UK must keep its promise to financially support the Afghan government. "If we renege on that commitment and lose interest because the troops have gone, that will be a betrayal of what we've said we will do for the Afghan state and the Afghan people," he said. Lord Dannatt, former head of the Army, said the conflict had been "difficult and expensive in blood and treasure" for the UK, but Afghanistan now had a "chance of a decent future". Rear Adm Chris Parry, who helped plan the role of UK troops in Afghanistan, told the BBC that Britain's involvement had been "worth it", saying the country was now "more stable", was improving economically and had 40% more children going to school. Rear Adm Chris Parry, who helped plan the role of UK troops in Afghanistan, told the BBC that Britain's involvement had been "worth it", saying the country was now "more stable", was improving economically and had 40% more children going to school. But he said politicians in 2001 had not known what they wanted to achieve, the military had not had enough resources and there had been no "coherent military plan". But he said politicians in 2001 had not known what they wanted to achieve, the military had not had enough resources and there had been no "coherent military plan".

['Afghanistan', 'British Army']

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

UK ||| Afghanistan

["Afghanistan", "British Army"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-26992411

Five people compared to Adrian Mole

Sue Townsend, the creator of fictional diarist Adrian Mole, has died. The character who started life at 13 3/4 has permeated culture and led to unlikely comparisons to real life figures. Here are five.

The prime minister John Major was compared so closely to Adrian Mole that a spoof column appeared in Private Eye called The Secret Diary of John Major (aged 47 3/4). Townsend, herself, once said of Adrian in an interview: "I couldn't imagine what he looked like until I saw John Major on the television and Margaret Thatcher was introducing her Cabinet... There was this geeky looking man at the back of the group. I said to my children, 'My God that's Adrian Mole'." After John Major's affair with Edwina Curry was made public, Private Eye editor Ian Hislop said in the Sunday Telegraph in 2002 that the details of the affair were in keeping with Mole. "The extract in Edwina's diary that refers longingly to this man 'in his blue underpants' does not turn Major from an typically English joke figure into a suave and sophisticated French-style politician; it just makes him more ludicrous." The aristocrat One grew up in suburban Leicester, the other in the stately home Longleat in Wiltshire. But The Daily Mail's June Southworth found many similarities between a 19-year-old Viscount Weymouth, Ceawlin Thynn, and Adrian Mole. In 1993 she was struck by his "eyes shining with idealism behind his granny glasses". "A skinny, pale youth, he sports jeans, T-shirt and a short-back-and-sides, and has the slightly prim and earnest air of a social worker trying to bring some order to the chaos of a problem family." The diarist Unrequited lust was a running theme in Adrian's life. Something David Mellor noted in 1998 in the Mail on Sunday was also present in Alan Clark's diaries. "Alan reveals himself here to be not so much a mole at the Ministry, as Adrian Mole at the Ministry. Lots of breathless stuff about big-breasted Folkestone shop assistants and sad passages such as: 'At lunchtime I was on the news both going into and emerging from Number Ten. I do hope Jane sees it.'" The king He was alive more than 400 years before Adrian Mole was old enough to fret about pimples, but that didn't stop historian David Starkey comparing Edward VI to the diarist. The prince, like Mole, recorded his painful time growing up Starkey points out in his documentary Edward and Mary. "Remarkably Edward has left us his own account of the turbulent years of his childhood, written as if he were a character in his own drama". The generation The New Statesman's Martin Bright noticed back in 2005 that the rising stars of Labour, the Lib Dems and the Conservatives were roughly the same age as Adrian. Adrian Mole was born 2 April 1967, meaning both David Cameron and Nick Clegg would have been in the same school year, with Ed Miliband three school years below. On age alone, he rightly predicted "whatever happens in the next few years. One way or another we will have Adrian Mole as Prime Minister." He says the context they grew up in was bound to have an influence. "The Moles, like Adrian himself, had their politics forged in the sectarian politics of the 1980s. Their university years - Oxbridge of course - were bracketed by the miners' strike and the fall of the Berlin Wall. The economic recession that followed made them cautious and socially conventional." Follow @BBCNewsMagazine on Twitter and on Facebook

['Literature']

[{"entity": "Sue Townsend", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Adrian Mole", "label": "PER"}]

Adrian Mole

["Literature"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-27804744

Bristol man, 60, charged with indecently assaulting seven boys

A man from Bristol has been charged with indecently assaulting boys at two boarding schools in the 1970s and 80s.

David Lowe, 60, of Charlotte Street South, is accused of seven counts of indecent assault against seven boys, aged 10 to 14, between 1978 and 1984. According to the charge sheet, the locations of the alleged abuse were Westminster Cathedral Choir School and Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire. Mr Lowe is due to appear at West London Magistrates' Court on 25 June. The Metropolitan Police Service said Mr Lowe, now retired, had been charged by detectives from its team investigating historical allegations of sexual abuse.

['City of Westminster', 'Bristol']

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

NoPresentEntity

["City of Westminster", "Bristol"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-47772477

'Incredibly early' basking shark spotted off Cornwall

An "incredibly early" sighting of a basking shark has been made off the coast of Cornwall.

The 20ft-long (6m) female was photographed on Saturday, near Falmouth, by a boat skipper. The plankton eating creatures - which can weigh up to seven tonnes - are not normally seen in UK waters until the start of May. Higher than average sea temperatures were probably a factor in the early sighting, Cornwall Wildlife Trust said. Captain Keith Leeves - who spotted the shark - said the temperature of 12.9C (55F) was much higher than average for the time of year. "This is an incredibly early sighting and it's always exciting to see them. Normally, we're looking at May to see them arriving," Captain Leeves said. "They only come up when the plankton comes up and having that still, lovely warm, settled period - bless your heart, there was one on the surface," he added. It is not the earliest known sighting of a basking shark in the UK - that was thought to have occurred around 24 March 2011, when a shark was also spotted off Cornwall, thought to have been attracted by an algal bloom. But in recent years there have been fewer sightings of the sharks, Cornwall Wildlife Trust conservation manager Ruth Williams said. "We've had a few really bad years in terms of sightings because although basking sharks are fish, they don't have to come up to the surface. "It may be they're still there feeding but we're just not seeing them," she added.

['Marine biology', 'Sharks', 'Falmouth']

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

Cornwall

["Marine biology", "Sharks", "Falmouth"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34619291

Cryosat tracks Arctic sea ice freeze-up

Arctic sea-ice volume during the first two weeks of October was about 6,200 cubic km.

The number comes from Europe's Cryosat mission, which has just restarted its near-real-time data service. It is slightly higher than for the same period in 2010, but 1,500 cu km below the 2013 high point seen by the space sensor, now in its sixth year in orbit. A rapid data feed is aimed at those sectors that need to be aware of the position of the most robust floes. These include shipping and oil and gas operations. Users can get snapshots of the Arctic basin covering two days, two weeks or one month. New data is added just a couple of days after being acquired by the spacecraft and its radar instrument. Volume of Arctic autumn sea ice: First two weeks of October (average) 2010: 5,900 cubic km; 2011: 4,500 cu km; 2012: 4,600 cu km; 2013: 7,800 cu km; 2014: 6,800 cu km; 2015: 6,200 cu km Cryosat first introduced the service in April, but then had to suspend it in May because its complex, three-dimensional measurement technique of sea-ice thickness does not work in the peak of the summer melt season. Now, with the autumn freeze-up well under way, the observations can be made again. But even though Cryosat cannot produce reliable numbers in July, August and September, its early October figure is still a useful gauge of what happened during the summer period. And this year's Crysosat volume measurement agrees well with the assessment, published by other satellite teams, of the area, or extent, of sea ice. This is a plain two-dimensional measurement that is much easier to make from orbit, even in the warmest months. It witnessed the floating pack decline to a minimum of 4.41 million sq km by mid-September - the fourth lowest extent in the satellite era. "Similarly, our number for volume in early October is our fourth lowest, but you have to remember that with Cryosat we've only got six years of data, whereas for the extent measurement the satellite record goes back several decades," explained Rachel Tilling from the Nerc Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling (CPOM) at University College London, UK. Her CPOM colleague from Leeds University, Andy Shepherd, added: "Volume and extent seem to be tracking each other relatively closely of late, but going forward you might expect to see more variability in area than thickness, simply because natural variability from year to year can change quite quickly the amount of thin ice that is grown or melted in the Arctic." Climate models forecast a general downward trend in sea-ice cover in the northern polar region as temperatures rise. CPOM research has shown that floe volume correlates well with "melt degree days" - essentially, the number of days in a year when air temperatures are sufficiently warm to erode the ice. And, at the moment, the long-term trend sees this index increasing by about a quarter of a day, year on year. Cryosat is a mission of the European Space Agency. It carries one of the highest-resolution synthetic aperture radars ever put in orbit. The instrument sends down pulses of microwave energy that bounce off both the top of the Arctic sea ice and the water in the cracks, or leads, that separate the floes. By measuring the difference in height between these two surfaces, it is possible to calculate a thickness based on the known fraction of floating ice that is normally submerged. A map of thickness points can then be converted into a volume when combined with data on sea-ice extent. The technique becomes problematic in summer months because melt water sitting on the tops of floes looks the same to the radar as the seawater in the leads. How Cryosat measures sea-ice volume Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

['Arctic', 'University of Leeds', 'University College London', 'Climate change']

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

Arctic

["Arctic", "University of Leeds", "University College London", "Climate change"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-36987989

Major dissident republican arms dump found near Lurgan

A major arms haul believed to be connected to dissident republicans has been uncovered in County Armagh.

Firearms and munitions were found by police during a two-day search operation in the grounds of a former convent on the outskirts of Lurgan. The weapons that were discovered are believed to belong to the group known to as the New IRA. Det Supt Karen Baxter said police believe one of the items is a "fully constructed explosive device". "These items were in the advanced stages of readiness and some were ready to be used," she said. It was a "significant and key" find that had saved lives, she added. Specialist search teams scoured a wooded area close to a railway line and discovered the weapons hide. Among the items found were homemade explosives, improvised mortars and launchers, a number of pipe bombs and three firearms. Det Supt Baxter said it was difficult to say how long the hide had been in place. She added that other hides in the area had been uncovered during the search and more items were found. This is significant in two ways, firstly because of the quantity and variety of what was discovered. But also because of where the items were found. The dissident republican group referred to as the New IRA is known to be active in north County Armagh, and particularly in the Lurgan area. Police believe this find has dealt a serious blow to that organisation's ability to carry out its activities. Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said those who had hidden the weapons "want to drag Northern Ireland backwards" but added that they would "not succeed". "This is a reminder of the continuing need for vigilance and to report any information, no matter how small, to the Police Service of Northern Ireland," he said. Anne Connolly, the chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, thanked the police and army bomb experts who were involved in the searches. "It's a great result for the PSNI to find these firearms and munitions and take them away from those who would have used them to cause harm in our community," she said. Sinn Féin MLA Catherine Seeley said: "The fact that those who would try to roll back the progress we have made as a society will not be able to use these weapons is to be welcomed. "I'm glad these materials have been taken out of circulation and cannot be used to endanger life." Carla Lockhart, a Democratic Unionist Party MLA, praised the police for their work. "It should be a wake-up call to those in our community who want to return to the past, that the PSNI will continue to work to defeat the threat of dissident activity," she said. It is the third significant discovery of arms to be made this year. In May, components for making bombs were found at Capanagh Forest near Larne in County Antrim. Police said that was one of the most significant arms discoveries in years. Arms, including parts that could be used to make under-car booby-trap bombs, were also found at Carnfunnock Country Park near Larne in March.

['Lurgan', 'Police Service of Northern Ireland']

[{"entity": "County Armagh", "label": "LOC"}]

County Armagh

["Lurgan", "Police Service of Northern Ireland"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47411731

Sulawesi: Heavy machinery joins Indonesia mine rescue

Rescuers battling to free more than 30 people from a collapsed Indonesian gold mine have brought in a heavy excavator, amid fears time is running out.

Emergency teams had previously used only spades and their bare hands amid fears of triggering another landslide. Indonesia's disaster agency said on Thursday that 19 people had been rescued from the illegal site in Bolaang Mongondow, on Sulawesi island. Eight are confirmed dead, with 36 still feared trapped. Teams have been trying to get food and water to those underground, but there are concerns that their oxygen supply is waning. A handful of victims have called for help from within the mine shafts, but disaster official Abdul Muin Paputungan said they could no longer hear voices. Authorities said dozens of people were underground when support beams gave way at the mine on Tuesday, due to shifting soil land and numerous mining shafts. The collapse then triggered a landslide. The terrain around the mine is steep and muddy, and rescue teams have reportedly carried survivors off the hillside on makeshift stretchers made from branches and twine. One miner died after his leg was amputated in efforts to free him, local disaster official Abdul Muin Paputungan said. "Rescuers were forced to amputate the victim's leg because it was stuck under a rock, and they were afraid that moving the rock would cause a further collapse," disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement. The search for survivors is expected to continue until at least Tuesday. More than 200 rescuers and military personnel have joined the operation, Reuters reports. Small-scale gold mining is banned in Indonesia but remains widespread in rural areas. Lack of regulation and the poor construction of makeshift mines means accidents are relatively frequent. Campaigners have long argued that a lack of local employment opportunities means people feel forced to rely on illegal mining.

['Indonesia', 'Mining']

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

NoPresentEntity

["Indonesia", "Mining"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-32352674

Allah flyers put up in Cardiff tell Muslims not to vote

Flyers have been put up in Cardiff urging Muslims not to vote as democracy "violates the right of Allah".

The notices were put up on lamp-posts and bus stops on Friday morning in Grangetown - an area with a significant Muslim population. Many have been ripped off and Cardiff council said a cleaning team will remove any remaining ones. A trustee for the Muslim Council of Wales said the posters did not reflect views of the majority of Muslims. The flyers stated: "Democracy is a system whereby man violates the right of Allah and decides what is permissible or impermissible for mankind, based solely on their whims and desires. "Islam is the only real, working solution for the UK. It is a comprehensive system of governance where the laws of Allah are implemented and justice is observed." Akmal Hanuk, a trustee at the Muslim Council of Wales, said: "It is not representing the views of the majority of Muslims. I think the majority of Muslims want to vote and will. "From a Muslim Council of Wales perspective, we encourage them to vote and to have a say in the democratic system." A Cardiff council spokesman said it was already working to removed the flyers. "Priority is given to fly posting that can cause offence or is religiously motivated," said an official.

['Cardiff', 'Islam']

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

Cardiff

["Cardiff", "Islam"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-58426795

Afghanistan: Leaked document warns of refugee funding shortfall

The Treasury must "urgently" confirm extra funding before councils can start making offers to house Afghan refugees, a document seen by the BBC suggests.

It estimates the cost of helping those coming to the UK over the next 10 years could be more than £2.5bn. And it suggests a shortfall in the cash committed by Whitehall so far. A government spokesperson said hundreds of Afghan nationals who had worked alongside the British in Afghanistan had already been welcomed to the UK. But Labour's shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said it was "deeply worrying" that the government was "failing to step up and play its role in providing national coordination, leadership and support". The Treasury has been asked to comment on the contents of the leaked document. Thousands of people have fled Afghanistan since the country fell to the Taliban in August, as US and UK troops withdrew their forces after 20 years on the ground. Around 15,000 people eligible to come to the UK were evacuated in the final two weeks, including 8,000 Afghans who had worked alongside British forces. But the government has admitted it cannot be precise with how many others were left behind. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is in the region to try to negotiate safe passage through neighbouring countries for Britons and others still trying to leave Afghanistan. Speaking at a press conference in Pakistan, he pledged £30m in aid to bordering countries taking in the majority of the refugees, to help provide shelter and sanitation. And he promised the UK would be "shouldering our humanitarian responsibilities" to help. The government is talking to councils about how many people could be resettled in their areas when they reach the UK, calling for a fair distribution across the country. This call was echoed in a joint statement by council leaders in Greater Manchester, including its mayor, Labour's Andy Burnham, who said "every part of the country needs to take a share of the responsibility across all schemes, asylum and resettlement" - rather than areas with lower house prices accommodating "far higher numbers of those seeking sanctuary". The leaked document - Afghan Resettlement: Domestic Support Offer and Funding Requirements - was discussed by ministers on Wednesday. It said just under £400m has been allocated so far to help resettle those who had fled the country, but an extra £557m could be needed over the next three years. The government intends to provide funding to local authorities to accommodate Afghans, and the document says relocation costs were a "substantial - but necessary - offer of support". Ministers met to discuss resettling plans on Friday before holding a meeting with local authority leaders, telling them to see "no offer of housing and support as too small". But the BBC understands the councils were not given confirmation of how much funding they would receive. Among the councils offering support, Walsall Council in the West Midlands has taken in 69 evacuees so far and says it hopes to house up to 120. Mike Bird, the council leader, said it was a difficult task, housing families with children who needed school places. "With children going back to school, and the pressure on school places, that in itself is something the government don't seem to be taking into account," he said. "We've got the whole of the UK that should be considered. If only one [some] councils are coming forward... then the government have got to step in and make sure it does happen." One refugee, Ahmed, whose real name is not being used, arrived in the UK from Kabul with his wife and six children in July. He told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme this week about the challenges his family faced. "We have been living in hotels for quite a while now in larger groups and it's becoming tougher and tougher, so it's time for us to move to a proper house," he said. "That is the overarching concern we are having, because we can't have a bank account." Schemes for people fleeing the country include the existing Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) for Afghans who worked with the UK government and a new Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) for vulnerable people. Funding models for the resettlement schemes are still being developed, but initial proposals suggested the figures would be based on 5,000 Afghans arriving under the ACRS scheme per year (capped at 20,000 people) at a cost of £715m, 5,000 arriving under the UK Resettlement Scheme each year at a cost of £1.65bn, and 7,000 arriving under the ARAP scheme in 2021-2 at a cost of £190m. The document also suggested that while some refugees would require more support than others, local authorities should be given a set amount per person housed to make their funding easier to plan. It recommended local authorities should be given £20,520 per person split over three years, plus more for education costs. It also recommended extra healthcare funding of £3,200 per person and £15m funding per year to "international partners" to support resettlement in third countries. These initial funding proposals suggest the costs would reach £187m in 2021/2 and £975m over the course of this spending review period - which lasts until 2024/5. But the document said that with just under £400m of this funding already committed, there would be a shortfall of approximately £557m, so confirmation of further funding from the Treasury will be required "urgently". Labour's Mr Thomas-Symonds accused ministers of being "disastrously complacent" throughout the crisis in Afghanistan. He said: "Councils across the country want to do the right thing, so it's deeply worrying that the UK government is failing to step up and play its role in providing national coordination, leadership and support." The shadow home secretary called on the prime minister to urgently set out details on how promised funding would be spent to "allow Afghan people who have been through hellish experiences rebuild their lives here". A spokesperson from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said that the government was calling on all councils who had not yet offered, to come forward with offers of support. "Thanks to the efforts of nearly a third of Britain's councils and vital delivery partners, hundreds of Afghan nationals who have worked alongside our Armed Forces and diplomats in Afghanistan, risking their lives supporting us, have already been warmly welcomed to the country," they said. "Councils in England, Scotland and Wales will have access to a share of an additional £5m to help them provide the necessary housing and support to Afghans who have worked for this country in Afghanistan, but who now face threats of persecution or worse."

['War in Afghanistan (2001-present)']

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

BBC

["War in Afghanistan (2001-present)"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37618574

Driverless car tested in public in UK

A driverless car has been tested among members of the public for the first time in the UK, in Milton Keynes.

The two-seater electric vehicle travelled in a 1km (0.6-mile) loop on the pavements around the town's railway station. The team behind it hopes a fleet of 40 of the pods will be available to the public next year. It called the test "a landmark step" towards bringing self-driving vehicles to the roads of the UK. Local dignitaries and members of the press sat alongside a safety driver, who was there to take the car out of autonomous mode in the case of an emergency. Programme director Neil Fulton said: "This public demonstration represents a major milestone for autonomous vehicles in the UK and the culmination of an extensive project involving UK companies and experts. The autonomy software running the vehicle, called Selenium, was developed by Oxford University's Oxford Robotics Institute and integrated by Oxford University spinout company Oxbotica. Selenium uses data from cameras and LIDAR systems to navigate its way around the environment. "Oxford University's technology will go on to power automated vehicles around the world, and the project will now feed into a much wider programme of autonomous trials across the UK," said Mr Fulton. "Driverless vehicles are coming to Britain, and what we have demonstrated today is a huge step on that journey." The two-seater electric vehicle travelled in a 1km (0.6-mile) loop on the pavements around the town's railway station. The team behind it hopes a fleet of 40 of the pods will be available to the public next year. It called the test "a landmark step" towards bringing self-driving vehicles to the roads of the UK. Local dignitaries and members of the press sat alongside a safety driver, who was there to take the car out of autonomous mode in the case of an emergency. Programme director Neil Fulton said: "This public demonstration represents a major milestone for autonomous vehicles in the UK and the culmination of an extensive project involving UK companies and experts. The autonomy software running the vehicle, called Selenium, was developed by Oxford University's Oxford Robotics Institute and integrated by Oxford University spinout company Oxbotica. Selenium uses data from cameras and LIDAR systems to navigate its way around the environment. "Oxford University's technology will go on to power automated vehicles around the world, and the project will now feed into a much wider programme of autonomous trials across the UK," said Mr Fulton. "Driverless vehicles are coming to Britain, and what we have demonstrated today is a huge step on that journey." The UK government is keen to lead the way on the development of driverless car technology and earlier this year launched a consultation on changes to insurance rules and motoring regulations to allow driverless cars to be used by 2020. It said it would allow such vehicles to be tested on motorways from next year. The trial in Milton Keynes is the culmination of 18 months planning, which required a virtual mapping of the town along with extensive work with Milton Keynes Council to ensure the vehicles would be safe, conform to regulations and be accepted by the public. Mr Fulton said that public response to the vehicles, which will be on show for three days, had been "overwhelmingly positive." The UK government is keen to lead the way on the development of driverless car technology and earlier this year launched a consultation on changes to insurance rules and motoring regulations to allow driverless cars to be used by 2020. It said it would allow such vehicles to be tested on motorways from next year. The trial in Milton Keynes is the culmination of 18 months planning, which required a virtual mapping of the town along with extensive work with Milton Keynes Council to ensure the vehicles would be safe, conform to regulations and be accepted by the public. Mr Fulton said that public response to the vehicles, which will be on show for three days, had been "overwhelmingly positive." Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: "Today's first public trials of driverless vehicles in our towns is a ground-breaking moment and further evidence that Britain is at the forefront of innovation. "The global market for autonomous vehicles present huge opportunities for our automotive and technology firms. "And the research that underpins the technology and software will have applications way beyond autonomous vehicles." There are other driverless car trials being carried out, in Bristol and London. Both are likely to conduct public trials in coming months. Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: "Today's first public trials of driverless vehicles in our towns is a ground-breaking moment and further evidence that Britain is at the forefront of innovation. "The global market for autonomous vehicles present huge opportunities for our automotive and technology firms. "And the research that underpins the technology and software will have applications way beyond autonomous vehicles." There are other driverless car trials being carried out, in Bristol and London. Both are likely to conduct public trials in coming months.

['Car Technology', 'Driverless cars']

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

UK ||| Milton Keynes

["Car Technology", "Driverless cars"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46022930

Pittsburgh synagogue gunman suspect: Who is Robert Bowers?

Details are slowly emerging about the man suspected of killing 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Authorities identified the alleged gunman as 46-year-old Robert Bowers. Before the shooting on Saturday, he was apparently unknown to law enforcement and had no criminal record. He was wounded in a gun battle with police and sent to hospital, but was discharged on Monday. According to an affidavit, he told police while receiving medical treatment that "he wanted all Jews to die and also that they [Jews] were committing genocide to his people". Here's what we know about the suspect. Neighbours speaking to US media describe Robert Bowers as "normal". He was reportedly a truck driver, living in a flat in Baldwin, a suburb of Pittsburgh. He kept to himself, and neighbours never saw him with visitors. Neighbour Chris Hall told AP: "The most terrifying thing is just how normal he seemed." He reportedly often visited a relative's home 10 minutes away, neighbours told the Washington Post. They said he may have been helping care for a disabled man there. Robert Bowers had an active gun licence and owned 21 firearms, officials say. While there are few details about the man himself, he left a trail of anti-Semitic comments on social media. Since January, he had had an active account on the Twitter-rival site Gab - a platform criticised as being an outlet for far-right figures and conspiracy theorists who have been banned from other social networks. On the now-archived Gab profile that appears to be his, he called Jewish people "the children of Satan". His feed was full of anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant posts calling Jews "an infestation", "filthy" and "evil". Just an hour before the shooting, that account posted: "HIAS [Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society] likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics. I'm going in." Two days earlier, the user had criticised President Donald Trump for being a "globalist, not a nationalist". He also commented that he did not vote for Mr Trump. US media report that he is registered as an unaffiliated voter. "The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity," said Scott Brady, the US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He added that justice "will be swift and it will be severe". Mr Brady announced on Sunday he is seeking the death penalty, though the final decision on this lies with Attorney General Jeff Sessions. These are the 29 charges against Bowers:

['Pittsburgh synagogue shooting', 'Pittsburgh', 'United States']

[{"entity": "Tree of Life", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Pittsburgh", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Pennsylvania", "label": "LOC"}]

Pittsburgh ||| Pennsylvania

["Pittsburgh synagogue shooting", "Pittsburgh", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35304710

US frenzy for world's largest lottery draw

Thousands are queuing up outside shops across the US to buy a chance to win the world's biggest lottery prize.

The US Powerball lottery has grown to $1.5bn (£1.04bn) ahead of Wednesday night's draw. Extra staff have been brought in at many shops, as customers hope to defy the odds of 292.2 million to one. The last draw on 9 January was the 19th without a grand prize winner, which requires all six numbers to match. The winner - assuming no split in the prize - stands to take home the jackpot in annual payments over 29 years. He or she could also opt for one smaller payout of $930m. The government would share in the big prize, however, levying a 39.6% federal income tax on the winner, plus any taxes that the winner's home state may impose. After paying tax, however, the winner would still be wealthier than Beyonce and Lionel Messi, according to Agence France Presse. Is this really the biggest? The current $1.5bn jackpot is a whopping $600m more than previous record holder. A March 2012 drawing of the US lottery Mega Millions had a $656m prize shared by three winners. In Europe, the largest lottery prizes have been lower than in the US but the jackpots are given as a lump sum rather than as an annuity and most countries do not tax the winnings. The biggest European prize was won in July 2011 by a ticketholder in the UK. That person took home a lump sum of $260m (£161.7m). Where do Powerball profits go? Back to the participating states. For example, New Jersey has sold more than $50m in tickets during this current jackpot craze and lottery officials said about $20m of that would return to the state. More than 15 states use the profits to fund education. However, schools aren't expecting a huge windfall. California officials estimate the lottery money accounts for about 1% of the state's education budget. In Wisconsin, the profits go towards lowering property taxes. How did the jackpot get so big? No one has won the draw since 4 November. The prize is based on ticket sales so high jackpots usually create a snowball effect until a winning combination is picked. A new format introduced in October makes these massive jackpots more likely, meaning more records could be broken in future. The states that don't play Powerball The world's (other) largest lotteries Across the country, shops selling tickets have faced a frenzy of customers and the rush has forced managers to boost staffing to reduce queues. Shopkeepers are hoping for a boost in other sales from the lottery mania, with people opting for a snack or drink while waiting for their lucky numbers. Six of the 50 US states do not participate in the lottery, forcing some of their residents to drive hours to buy tickets. Alabama, Mississippi and Utah cite religious reasons, while Alaska has said it would not be economical in such a sparsely populated state. In Hawaii, proposed legislation to start it fails consistently and in Nevada the lottery is rejected because the state's world famous casinos prefer not to have competition. Nevertheless, residents in these states are itching for tickets. The Multi-State Lottery Association, which manages Powerball, has said some of the largest ticket sales come from border cities. Reports say that residents of Nevada are driving across the desert to California where they have been queuing for hours for a chance to win - a testament to the jackpot's powers of temptation over people who are four times more likely to be killed by an asteroid impact this year.

['Nevada', 'Beyoncé', 'United States']

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

US

["Nevada", "Beyonc\u00e9", "United States"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-55796799

Baby tyrannosaurs dinosaurs were the 'size of a Border Collie'

Baby tyrannosaurs were only the size of a Border Collie dog when they took their first steps, a team of palaeontologists has discovered.

Researchers from Edinburgh University examined fossilised remains of a tiny jaw bone and claw found in Canada and the US. They have been revealed, in 3D scans, to belong to a baby tyrannosaur - cousin of the T-Rex dinosaur. They are the first-known fossils of tyrannosaur embryos. It suggests the creatures which lived more than 70 million years ago were only about 3ft (91cm) long when they hatched, despite being able to grow to 40ft (12.2m) in length and weighing about eight tonnes. The team has also estimated that tyrannosaur eggs - remains of which have never been found - were around 17ins (43cm) long. Distinctive tyrannosaur features were found in analysis of the three-centimetre long jaw bone, including a "pronounced chin", which the team say suggests physical traits were also present before they hatched. The researchers said tyrannosaur hatchlings would be about the size of a Border Collie dog, much larger than the imagined baby raptors depicted in films like Jurassic Park. Dr Greg Funston, of the university's School of GeoSciences, said: "These bones are the first window into the early lives of tyrannosaurs and they teach us about the size and appearance of baby tyrannosaurs. "We now know that they would have been the largest hatchlings to ever emerge from eggs and they would have looked remarkably like their parents - both good signs for finding more material in the future." The study is published in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences and was supported by the Royal Society, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and National Science Foundation. Researchers from the universities of Alberta, Calgary, Montana State and Chapman were also involved.

['Fossils', 'Dinosaurs', 'Edinburgh', 'Dogs', 'University of Edinburgh', 'Canada']

[{"entity": "Border Collie", "label": "ANIM"}]

Border Collie

["Fossils", "Dinosaurs", "Edinburgh", "Dogs", "University of Edinburgh", "Canada"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29002740

Mother's appeal to missing Hanwell teenager Alice Gross

The mother of a 14-year-old girl from west London who went missing three days ago has urged her to make contact, as celebrities joined in the appeal to trace the teenager.

Alice Gross, who has health concerns, was last seen on Thursday afternoon when she left home in Hanwell. Mother Rosalind Hodgkiss appealed for her to "let someone know you are safe". Celebrities including Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross have retweeted an online appeal to find her. Police have conducted searches and house-to house inquiries and say they are "growing increasingly concerned". The Brentside High School student has been described as being 5ft 2in tall, slim, with shoulder-length light brown hair. When she was last seen, she was wearing dark blue jeans, a dark green lacy cardigan and denim Van's shoes. She may also be wearing tartan-framed spectacles. On the Facebook group Find Alice Gross, the teenager's sister Nina Gross posted an appeal from Ms Hodgkiss. The girls' mother wrote: "Alice if you can see this, please know sweetheart that all of us love you and miss you desperately. "You may be sad, you may be angry, you may be hurt, you may be scared too. I just want to hug and hold you. "Know that we love you and are there for you whatever you are going through. "My love please get in touch and let someone know you are safe. Alice please come home. Mum xxxxxx" Nina Gross has thanked people helping with the appeal and said: "It's very important to spread the word out of Ealing to Kew, Richmond, Brentford and other west London places. Thank you again, hopefully she will be found soon." The "very vulnerable" teenager was last heard from at about 15:00 BST on Thursday. She does not have her Oyster card with her and her phone appears to be switched off, her sister said on Facebook.

['Hanwell']

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

London

["Hanwell"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52795577

India coronavirus: Chaos at airports as domestic flights resume

Long queues and chaos greeted passengers at Indian airports as flights resumed two months after they were halted to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Local media said almost 100 flights were cancelled, but many more took off. Maharashtra state, which has India's highest number of Covid-19 cases, said it would only allow 50 flights a day, leading to several cancellations. Angry passengers say they were not informed ahead of time. "Our flight was cancelled and there is no-one to answer us at the help desk. We don't know what to do now," a passenger in the southern city of Chennai told the ANI news agency. He says he and his family have been in the city since 15 March, and finally booked tickets to fly back to their home in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra state. They only found out about the cancellation after arriving at the airport, the passenger said. Several fliers also took to Twitter to complain that Air India, the national carrier, had not informed them of cancellations, and had mixed up departure schedules. Others say they only learned of cancellations after already waiting hours in long queues to enter the airport. India has stepped up preventive measures ahead of resuming domestic flights. Security officers are checking each passenger's temperature and verifying that they have downloaded the government's Covid-19 tracking app, Aarogya Setu. Other measures include disinfecting shoes and luggage. India has recorded more than 138,000 cases of Covid-19 so far. But the country has also begun easing restrictions on the nationwide lockdown imposed on 25 March, which saw passenger trains and flights suspended, and most businesses being asked to close or operate only with staff working from home. Only those that were classified as essential - healthcare, food supply, government services and media - were allowed to run during the lockdown. But now, many of these restrictions have been lifted in areas that are not deemed hotspots.

['Coronavirus lockdown measures', 'Asia', 'India coronavirus lockdown', 'Maharashtra', 'India', 'Air travel', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Coronavirus lockdown measures", "Asia", "India coronavirus lockdown", "Maharashtra", "India", "Air travel", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-51205114

Mexican butterfly activist's disappearance: 53 police detained

In Mexico, 53 local police officers are being questioned over the disappearance of environmental activist Homero Gómez.

Mr Gómez, who manages a butterfly sanctuary in the central town of Ocampo, was last seen on 13 January. Prosecutors said they had detained the entire police forces of Ocampo and neighbouring Angangueo for questioning. Prosecutors have not said why they suspect the local police officers of involvement in Mr Gómez's disappearance. It is not the first time the police force of Ocampo has been detained for questioning. In June 2018, 27 officers were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder of a local politician who was running for mayor. Ocampo is located in Michoacán state, a region that is notorious for its violent criminal gangs, which often bribe or intimidate local police into working for them. Relatives of Mr Gómez told local media that the conservationist had received threats from an organised crime gang. Rights groups had earlier said they feared that Mr Gómez may have been targeted because of his fight against illegal logging, one of the activities that criminal gangs in the area are involved in. Mr Gómez is a tireless campaigner for the conservation of the monarch butterfly and the pine and fir forests where it hibernates. Scientists have been fascinated with the orange and black monarch butterflies because of the vast distances they fly each year to hibernate in Mexico - the longest migration of any insect. The sanctuary Mr Gómez manages near Ocampo opened in November as part of a strategy to stop illegal logging in the area, which is a key habitat for the monarch butterfly. In a video posted on his Twitter account shortly before his disappearance, he invited people to visit the sanctuary. He was last seen in person attending a meeting in the village of El Soldado on the afternoon of 13 January and his family reported him missing the next day. A search which was joined by 200 volunteers has so far yielded no clues. Since 2006, 60,000 people have disappeared in Mexico, many of them are believed to have fallen victim to criminal gangs who kill anyone who could interfere with their illegal activities.

['Butterflies', 'Mexico']

[{"entity": "Mexico", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Homero G\u00f3mez", "label": "PER"}]

Mexico

["Butterflies", "Mexico"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49108817

UK heatwave: Trains between Swansea, Cardiff and London disrupted

The risk that rail tracks will buckle in the heat is disrupting train services between Cardiff Central and London Paddington.

The UK has recorded its hottest July day on record, with temperatures reaching 38.1C (100.6F) in Cambridge, but reaching just 31C in Wales. Great Western has cancelled trains between London, Cardiff and Swansea. Speed restrictions are in place to protect tracks, Network Rail (NR) said. Most London to south Wales trains are hourly instead of half-hourly, according to Great Western, with only the route between London and Swansea running. It added that other ad hoc service alterations were expected, and encouraged those travelling to check their journeys. Passengers were also advised to be aware of the high temperatures, and to travel with bottled drinking water, sun cream and cooling face wipes or spray. In such weather conditions, the track can get up to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature, said NR, which manages the rail network infrastructure. Wales has had a hot week, with temperatures also hitting 31C on Tuesday. And a lightning strike "like a gunshot" set a bedroom roof on fire, as storms hit parts of Wales in the early hours of Wednesday. GWR said some of its services from London Paddington to Cardiff Central will be terminated at Bristol Parkway rather than travelling on to Newport and Cardiff Central "due to forecasted severe weather".

['Cambridge', 'Network Rail', 'Weather forecasting', 'Cardiff', 'UK heatwaves']

[{"entity": "Cardiff Central", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "London Paddington", "label": "LOC"}]

Cardiff Central ||| London Paddington

["Cambridge", "Network Rail", "Weather forecasting", "Cardiff", "UK heatwaves"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52579475

Coronavirus: Israel turns surveillance tools on itself

Hirsh Kotkovsky thrusts his phone towards me but I can't read the screen from 2m (6.6ft) away due to social distancing rules.

We're in the bomb shelter below his Jerusalem apartment block - the only place the photographer has been able to work since his studio closed in the lockdown. "I was shocked," he says as he reads out the message from the Israeli government. "It's telling me that I was next to someone that has corona... and that I must go into quarantine." He obeyed the order that came in late March, cancelling lucrative wedding shoots and shutting himself away from his wife and four small children, even though he had no symptoms. Mr Kotkovsky is one of thousands of Israelis who have been alerted by similar messages. In the fight to contain the coronavirus, Israel's internal security agency - the Shin Bet - was empowered to use covert systems to track people's movements. The Middle East's cyber-superpower has made extensive use of surveillance technology to try tackle Covid-19, as countries around the world grapple with the trade-off between privacy and monitoring infection. The Shin Bet can access the location data of millions of mobile phone users to trace those who have been in proximity to confirmed patients. Israel credits the system, among other measures, with reducing the rate of infection. The number of new cases reported each day is now down to double digits. Its death toll has also remained relatively low, currently standing at 252. Many shops have reopened and some school classes have started up again. It has felt like the first wave of infection is passing. "It is precisely now when we need this tool... to break the chain of contagion and permit the people to go on with their lives," said National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat at a parliamentary oversight committee last week. But the unprecedented expansion of the Shin Bet's powers has been the subject of controversy, including a Supreme Court challenge, questions over its accuracy, and accusations from doctors that it creates a distraction from testing for the coronavirus. The agency, now acting as a tool of public health enforcement, is usually tasked with preventing attacks against Israelis and routinely monitors Palestinians in the occupied territories. Arik Brabbing slips his surgical mask under his chin and breathes in Tel Aviv's warm air. He was better known during his three decades in the Shin Bet by his cover name "Harris". We sit at either end of a park bench as the former agent-handler describes how he rose to become chief of the spy agency's cyber unit. Now retired, he says counter-terrorism technology is hunting down people exposed to Covid-19. "It's the same system, the same methods," he explains. "We know that someone was here in the park. We can get from the [phone] company all the details about the hour, the place, exactly the place... and we can understand who else was around." I ask him a series of questions - some get a response, others don't. Can people be monitored in real-time? "I cannot answer your question." How accurate is the geo-location data? "Accurate enough. It's a very, very, very sensitive tool, ok? But I don't want to add another word about the sensitivity," he says, arguing that it could reveal capabilities to enemies. Can agents log-in to security cameras to track patients? "No, No, No. It is against the law." The Shin Bet "saved lives from terror, but it saves lives also from the corona," he says. The agency believes the system has located almost 4,000 individuals who later tested positive - around a quarter of the confirmed Covid-19 cases in Israel. However, concerns have been raised about whether it is picking up too many people, including those who simply pass a patient in the street. Almost 79,000 people have been sent messages based on the Shin Bet data, the government says. The Israel Association of Public Health Physicians told MPs that the programme raised "the substantial possibility of various errors", saying that "close contact" meant a distance of less than 2m for more than 15 minutes. Mr Brabbing said the system did measure the duration of contact. Others believe mass surveillance programmes scrambled to deal with the pandemic are rife for abuse around the world. "What scares me is that, at least for now, the norm is suddenly changing," says cybersecurity analyst John Scott-Railton of the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab. "People who have been [quietly] doing these things which are highly questionable are suddenly saying: 'Look, we're your saviours here.'" Meanwhile, police in Israel have enforced isolation orders partly drawing on the surveillance data. Since March, more than 110,000 checks have been carried out to confirm people are at home. In one case, officers flew a drone up to the window of an 18th floor flat to check on a coronavirus patient's quarantine. She waved at the aircraft filming her. Police spokesman Superintendent Micky Rosenfeld thinks the measures have kept Israel in a "relatively good position" in tackling the virus. "We didn't reach a stage where we had hundreds of thousands of people in hospitals... but we're keeping our heads up and we're staying on top of the situation," he says. A committee of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, has been overseeing the Shin Bet program and authorising its continued use. Israel's ministry of health told the BBC that it was continuing to use the data. It declined to answer a question about privacy concerns. The Shin Bet has previously said individuals' data will be used only for providing instructions to save lives, and will be deleted 60 days after the coronavirus emergency is lifted. Ministers have pledged to underpin the programme with legislation after a Supreme Court challenge by human rights groups. Mr Kotkovsky, the photographer who self-isolated after a government message, says he supports the system but still feels left in the shadows. He doesn't believe he actually came into contact with a coronavirus patient but was told he could not receive a test. "It didn't feel like someone was crushing my privacy," he says. "The problem was that I think it wasn't accurate."

['Israel & the Palestinians', 'Israel', 'Surveillance', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[{"entity": "Hirsh Kotkovsky", "label": "PER"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Israel & the Palestinians", "Israel", "Surveillance", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-27556800

Commonwealth Games: Baton continues Wales journey

The Queen's baton will continue its journey around Wales on Sunday ahead of the Commonwealth Games after heavy rain failed to put a dampener on day one.

One of the baton bearers will be Norman Richards, 74, who first carried it before the 1958 Cardiff Games. It will make several stops in Rhondda Cynon Taf including the Royal Mint in Llantrisant where a special coin will be pressed. Saturday saw big crowds view the baton in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil. The first stop on Sunday is the Royal Mint which will see Wales 400m hurdler Rhys Williams create a commemorative 50p coin. It then heads to the Cynon Valley where Mr Richards, a former long jumper and triple jumper, will reprise his role of 56 years ago. "I am so looking forward to once again having the huge honour of carrying the Queen's Baton Relay ahead of the Commonwealth Games," he said. BATON RELAY ROUTE IN WALES •Day two (25 May): Aberdare, Llandrindod Wells •Day three: Urdd Eisteddfod, Bala •Day four: Laugharne, Carmarthen, Ammanford, Llanelli •Day five: St David's, Machynlleth •Day six: Llanberis, Beaumaris, Menai Strait, Caernarfon •Day seven: Rhyl, Moel Famau, Ruthin, Llandegla "It was an enormous honour for me to be a part of it in 1958 and I will feel that same pride when I carry it once again in my home county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf on 25 May. "I have never, ever, forgotten that day and have told my family all about it many times over. My family will be out in force to see history repeating itself." The baton tradition started before the Cardiff Games and has taken place in some form before every Games since. On day two the baton will be in Aberdare before heading to Llandrindod Wells in Powys. Baton bearers include archery twins Janette and Jeanette Howells from Pontypridd, who represented Wales in the 2010 Games in Delhi, and weightlifter Michaela Breeze. The baton arrived in rain at Cardiff Airport on Saturday morning but that failed to stop crowds turning out to see it in Abertillery, Ebbw Vale, Tredegar and Merthyr Tydfil. Former miner Joseph Price, 82, a survivor of the Six Bells mining disaster in Abertillery, was one of the baton bearers, as was Paralympic gold medal winning cyclist Mark Colbourne. In Merthyr, members of the family of Welsh world champion boxer Howard Winstone, who won gold at the 1958 Games in Cardiff, were involved in the relay. The baton will travel 731 miles (1,176km) in Wales over seven days visiting sights such as Snowdon's summit and Dylan Thomas's boathouse. The relay is the curtain raiser to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow which start on 23 July.

['Abertillery', 'Llandrindod Wells', 'Merthyr Tydfil', 'Cardiff', 'Glasgow', 'Llantrisant', 'Pontypridd']

[{"entity": "Wales", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Commonwealth Games", "label": "EVE"}]

Wales ||| Commonwealth Games

["Abertillery", "Llandrindod Wells", "Merthyr Tydfil", "Cardiff", "Glasgow", "Llantrisant", "Pontypridd"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-31015055

AirAsia crash: Search for bodies 'could end soon'

The head of Indonesia's civilian search and rescue agency has said the search for victims of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 could be ended by the end of next week if no more bodies are found.

It comes a day after the military said it was suspending its operation to retrieve the fuselage from the seabed as they believe no bodies are inside. The plane was flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore on 28 December carrying 162 people when it crashed. More than 90 people are still missing. Bambang Soelistyo, the chief of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), told reporters on Wednesday that search teams were not affected by the military's pull-out. They were taking a few days' rest but would resume their operation on Saturday at the latest. "After seven days we will evaluate whether the operation will be extended or shut down. It will depend on the dynamics of what happens within the seven days," he said. "If we can find one or two more bodies, that means we have the opportunity to prolong the operation," Reuters quoted him as saying. Authorities had initially thought that most of the missing bodies would be inside the sunken fuselage, but now believe that is no longer the case. Agency official S B Supriyadi told AFP news agency that the bodies "could be on the seabed, or have been swept away by waves and currents". Basarnas are using helicopters, four ships and both professional and volunteer divers in their search. The team identifying victims who have been found will still remain in operation and stationed in Surabaya, said Mr Soelistyo. He added that victims' families had been informed of the possible deadline and understand the situation. BBC Indonesian's Pinta Karana says that families have welcomed efforts to continue the search. But some have also expressed concern about the possible deadline. Dwi Yanto, whose son Bima Adi Wicaksono was on the plane, said: "I plead for the search efforts to continue, that is my only hope." "Why would they terminate it? The number of bodies not found is a lot more than the number of bodies recovered." The military had announced on Tuesday that it was suspending its operation to retrieve the fuselage following three days of failed attempts. Search and retrieval efforts have been hampered by bad weather, and the wreckage is said to be too fragile to be lifted. Military chief Gen Moeldoko told the BBC he was convinced that the fuselage was empty, and the National Transportation Safety Committee had confirmed that the wreckage might not be needed for their investigation as it is heavily damaged. A preliminary report on the crash is expected to be filed this week, although the full investigation will take months. The plane's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were found earlier this month. Information from those devices showed the jet had climbed too fast, causing it to stall, according to Indonesia's Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan.

['Indonesia']

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

Indonesia

["Indonesia"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52286296

Ugandan floating island causes national power cut

A huge floating island in Lake Victoria triggered a nationwide blackout in Uganda after clogging a turbine in a hydroelectric power station.

"It was at least two acres, almost two football size pitches," an official, Simon Kasyate, told the BBC. The outage caused a broadcast by President Yoweri Museveni on the Covid-19 crisis to be delayed by an hour. Lake Victoria, which is shared by three East African countries, has for decades been invaded by water hyacinth. The huge mass of vegetation choked the turbines of Nalubaale Hydro Power Station, causing widespread disruption, power utility company Eskom Uganda said in a statement. The company said the lake's "current rising water levels" could be behind the movement of the floating island. The water level in the lake is currently at 13.12m, almost reaching the record high of 13.46m seen in 1964, said Mr Kasyate, from the Uganda Electricity Generation Company. It is usually between seven and nine metres deep, he said. Heavy rain, clogging of the lake's tributaries, and pollution could also explain the island's movement. He added that electricity had finally been restored, but workers were still chopping off parts of the island. "We have always managed to manually deal with this plant - this one was unprecedented," said Mr Kasyate.

['Uganda']

[{"entity": "Lake Victoria", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Uganda", "label": "LOC"}]

Lake Victoria ||| Uganda

["Uganda"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57131155

PSNI recruitment 'a challenge' in working class areas of Northern Ireland

Isaac Andrews is rarely off his phone.

As a community worker in the unionist and loyalist Shankill area of Belfast, he responds to calls from local residents who are often in need of help or advice. His role also involves liaising with the police on a range of community policing matters. Yet, he doesn't know anyone who has joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). "I'm sadly not aware of one person that I could tell you that I know from a working class background recently has joined the PSNI," he said. "Most of the PSNI officers who I work with are from the suburbs, somewhere else in Belfast, but they're not working class." Police reform via the Patten Commission Report was a key part of the peace process. However, two decades after the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was superseded by the PSNI, recruitment from some communities remains a challenge for policing in Northern Ireland. "A lot of change happened in policing, like badges, uniforms, symbols, human-rights training," said Peter Sheridan, a former PSNI assistant chief constable. "Unfortunately I think what happened is that all of those, if you like, shiny new police officers and new ideas and the new recruits went out into a society that largely hadn't changed, those deep-rooted divisions were there so that makes policing that environment still very difficult - and I think then that started to impact again more so in recent times around the politicisation of policing." Police transformation was intended to build support for policing from all communities but attracting Catholics remains an issue for the PSNI. The ongoing dissident republican threat to police officers, as witnessed in recent weeks, is seen as a major factor in Catholic under-representation. Emmet Doyle is the Aontú councillor for Ballyarnett on Derry City and Strabane District Council. "I'm 34 and I don't know anyone, certainly from the area where I am, who has joined the PSNI," he said. "There is a trade-off I suppose that many people from a nationalist/republican community would see when you join the police. "It's almost accepted that you won't be part of the community anymore and that's not necessarily something I agree with but that's the reality of it." There has been a drop-off in applications from the Catholic community in recent years - the 2018 recruitment campaign had around 500 fewer applicants than the year before. Add to that, the problem in trying to attract working-class Protestants, women, ethnic minorities and members of the LGBT community. "The police service should reflect the society it comes from," said Peter Sheridan. "We wanted young people from the Shankill Road, from Creggan, from the Bogside - that's what moderates policing when you have people from those communities - and if that disconnect is happening then it's not just a matter for the police and the police recruitment, it's a matter for all of society." Chief Constable Simon Byrne said that in terms of recruitment, there is "more to do". "I think we have tried certainly in my time, in the last recruitment round which has been the first under my tenure, we did reach out into working class loyalist and Catholic communities to try and attract people from there," he said. "I think there's a recognition that there's more space to actually recruit people from all sorts of different backgrounds and it's a key commitment that I want to see fulfilled." Spotlight will be broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland on Tuesday, 18 May at 22:45 BST.

['Policing', 'Police Service of Northern Ireland', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[{"entity": "Isaac Andrews", "label": "PER"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Policing", "Police Service of Northern Ireland", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47028748

No-deal Brexit 'to leave shelves empty' warn retailers

A no-deal Brexit threatens the UK's food security and will lead to higher prices and empty shelves in the short-term, retailers are warning.

Sainsbury's, Asda and McDonald's are among those warning stockpiling fresh food is impossible and that the UK is very reliant on the EU for produce. The warning comes in a letter from the British Retail Consortium and is signed by several of the major food retailers. It comes ahead of crucial votes in Parliament on Tuesday. Retailers have told me that they fear shelves would be left empty if there were significant disruptions to supplies. The letter from the retailers, and seen by the BBC, says there will be "significant risks" to maintaining the choice, quality and shelf life of food. "We are extremely concerned that our customers will be among the first to experience the realities of a no deal Brexit," the letter says. MPs will consider a series of amendments to Theresa May's plans that could shape the future direction of Brexit. While it will not be MPs' final verdict on the deal, they will vote on the amendments and, if one is passed, it will illustrate what changes to the deal might be enough to get a modified version of the deal through Parliament. Retailers have been reluctant to intervene in the Brexit debate but are doing so now as the UK's departure date from the EU approaches. In the letter, they urge MPs to work together "urgently to find a solution that avoids the shock of a no-deal Brexit". The letter uses the government's own estimate that freight through Calais may fall 87% from current levels, threatening the availability and shelf life of many products. It expresses worry over tariffs, with only 10% of the UK's food imports currently subject to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. If the UK were to revert to WTO rules, the retailers warn that would "greatly increase import costs that would in turn put upward pressure on food prices". The other signatories to the letter include the chief executives of M&S, KFC, Co-Op, and Lidl. The letter spells out the UK's food relationship with Europe, with nearly one third of the food in the UK coming from the EU. "In March, the situation becomes more acute as UK produce is out of season," the letter says. At that time of year, 90% of lettuces, 80% of tomatoes and 70% of soft fruit sold in the UK is grown in the EU, the letter says. "As this produce is fresh and perishable, it needs to be moved quickly from farms to our stores," the retailers say. Sainsbury's, Asda and McDonald's are among those warning stockpiling fresh food is impossible and that the UK is very reliant on the EU for produce. The warning comes in a letter from the British Retail Consortium and is signed by several of the major food retailers. It comes ahead of crucial votes in Parliament on Tuesday. Retailers have told me that they fear shelves would be left empty if there were significant disruptions to supplies. The letter from the retailers, and seen by the BBC, says there will be "significant risks" to maintaining the choice, quality and shelf life of food. "We are extremely concerned that our customers will be among the first to experience the realities of a no deal Brexit," the letter says. MPs will consider a series of amendments to Theresa May's plans that could shape the future direction of Brexit. While it will not be MPs' final verdict on the deal, they will vote on the amendments and, if one is passed, it will illustrate what changes to the deal might be enough to get a modified version of the deal through Parliament. Retailers have been reluctant to intervene in the Brexit debate but are doing so now as the UK's departure date from the EU approaches. In the letter, they urge MPs to work together "urgently to find a solution that avoids the shock of a no-deal Brexit". The letter uses the government's own estimate that freight through Calais may fall 87% from current levels, threatening the availability and shelf life of many products. It expresses worry over tariffs, with only 10% of the UK's food imports currently subject to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. If the UK were to revert to WTO rules, the retailers warn that would "greatly increase import costs that would in turn put upward pressure on food prices". The other signatories to the letter include the chief executives of M&S, KFC, Co-Op, and Lidl. The letter spells out the UK's food relationship with Europe, with nearly one third of the food in the UK coming from the EU. "In March, the situation becomes more acute as UK produce is out of season," the letter says. At that time of year, 90% of lettuces, 80% of tomatoes and 70% of soft fruit sold in the UK is grown in the EU, the letter says. "As this produce is fresh and perishable, it needs to be moved quickly from farms to our stores," the retailers say. Their letter says that stockpiling fresh food is impossible and that the complex, just-in-time supply chain through which food is imported into the UK will be "significantly disrupted" in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It adds it is difficult to stockpile any more produce as "all frozen and chilled storage is already been used". "While we have been working closely with our suppliers on contingency plans, it is not possible to mitigate all the risks to our supply chains and we fear significant disruption as a result if there is no Brexit deal," the retailers say in the letter to MPs. The retailers say that while they are looking for alternate supply routes, there are limited options and not enough ferries. Their letter says that stockpiling fresh food is impossible and that the complex, just-in-time supply chain through which food is imported into the UK will be "significantly disrupted" in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It adds it is difficult to stockpile any more produce as "all frozen and chilled storage is already been used". "While we have been working closely with our suppliers on contingency plans, it is not possible to mitigate all the risks to our supply chains and we fear significant disruption as a result if there is no Brexit deal," the retailers say in the letter to MPs. The retailers say that while they are looking for alternate supply routes, there are limited options and not enough ferries. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "The UK has a high level of food security built upon a diverse range of sources including strong domestic production and imports from other countries. This will continue to be the case whether we leave the EU with or without a deal." They added the government had "well established" ways of working with the food industry to prevent disruption. The letter comes after a report from MPs on the Exiting the EU Committee said the government must rule out a no-deal Brexit. Committee chairman Hilary Benn said: "The suggestion that the UK might opt for a no-deal outcome but assume that the EU will continue to act in a co-operative manner to avoid disruption, cannot seriously constitute the policy of any responsible government." However, a Tory member of the committee, Craig Mackinlay, said he "disowned" the report findings as "just more Project Fear from a group of MPs who have never wanted the UK to leave the EU". A number of amendments are being voted on by MPs on Tuesday - although the Irish deputy PM says changes to the backstop - aimed at preventing a hard border - would not be acceptable. The backstop is the "insurance policy" in the withdrawal deal, intended to ensure there will be no return to a visible border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after the UK leaves the EU. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "The UK has a high level of food security built upon a diverse range of sources including strong domestic production and imports from other countries. This will continue to be the case whether we leave the EU with or without a deal." They added the government had "well established" ways of working with the food industry to prevent disruption. The letter comes after a report from MPs on the Exiting the EU Committee said the government must rule out a no-deal Brexit. Committee chairman Hilary Benn said: "The suggestion that the UK might opt for a no-deal outcome but assume that the EU will continue to act in a co-operative manner to avoid disruption, cannot seriously constitute the policy of any responsible government." However, a Tory member of the committee, Craig Mackinlay, said he "disowned" the report findings as "just more Project Fear from a group of MPs who have never wanted the UK to leave the EU". A number of amendments are being voted on by MPs on Tuesday - although the Irish deputy PM says changes to the backstop - aimed at preventing a hard border - would not be acceptable. The backstop is the "insurance policy" in the withdrawal deal, intended to ensure there will be no return to a visible border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after the UK leaves the EU.

['Retailing', "Sainsbury's", 'Food', 'Asda', 'Brexit', "McDonald's"]

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

Brexit ||| UK

["Retailing", "Sainsbury's", "Food", "Asda", "Brexit", "McDonald's"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-29561723

Mexico 'drug lord' Carrillo arrested

The alleged leader of the Juarez drug cartel - one of Mexico's most powerful crime syndicates - has been arrested, government officials say.

Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, known as "the Viceroy", was held in the northern city of Torreon. The arrest is the latest in a series of high profile operations against drug lords in Mexico this year. He is said to have waged war with the rival Sinaloa gang over control of trafficking routes to the US. The war left thousands dead in and around Ciudad Juarez on the border with the United States between 2009 and 2011. The US had offered a reward of $5m for his arrest. Vicente Carrillo Fuentes took over the cartel from his brother Amando, nicknamed "Lord of the Skies", who died in 1997 after a botched cosmetic surgery operation. Amando got his nickname by flying planeloads of drugs into the US, but his brother Vicente carried on trafficking on a more modest scale. Despite recent news reports about its decline, the Juarez Cartel remains one of the most powerful criminal organisations in Mexico and the region. The cartel maintains a firm foothold in Ciudad Juarez and the Valle de Juarez, which remains the key corridor for transporting illegal drugs into the US. Correspondents say it still has some measure of control over the local and state police, as well as some politicians.

['Mexico', 'Drugs trade']

[{"entity": "Juarez", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Mexico", "label": "LOC"}]

Juarez ||| Mexico

["Mexico", "Drugs trade"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-31310675

Sam Smith's Theory of Winning Everything

The maths all looks pretty good for Sam Smith after he added four Grammys to his mountain of awards.

By our sums the soul singer has now won a major industry gong for every 162 seconds of music he's recorded. That's an intake of 15 prizes in exchange for his one album, its six singles plus appearances on tracks by Naughty Boy and Disclosure. If Sam converts any of his five Brit award nominations later this month, Newsbeat's calculator may explode. "Thank you so much for breaking my heart because you got me four Grammys," he told the audience in Los Angeles on Sunday night. We suspect he meant "mantelpiece" when he said "heart" as he walked off with four trophies - for record of the year, song of the year, best new artist and best pop vocal album. The 22-year-old added: "Before I made this record [In the Lonely Hour], I was doing everything to try to get my music heard. I tried to lose weight and... I was making awful music. "It was only until I started to be myself that the music started to flow and people started to listen. So, thank you, guys, for accepting me to be just me." He may be a humble lad, but it's hard to imagine an awards ceremony without Sam grappling with chunks of metal, perspex and general shiny stuff. Undaunted Newsbeat went in quest of the five awards Sam probably won't win, at least not this year. Ok, so Sam seems like a pretty peace-loving chap. But we fear his schedule may not be able to accommodate international diplomacy until at least 2016. The current holders of the Nobel Peace Prize are Malala Yousafzai, the schoolgirl educational campaigner who defied the Taliban, along with Indian child rights campaigner Kailash Satyarthi. This is the award given to the best European footballer of the year, voted for by fellow professional players. Cristiano Ronaldo's the current holder, but doesn't Sam look great in Cris's suit? Ok, so this is less of an award and more the most prized tennis trophy on earth. To make it a bit harder for Sam to add this particular bit of bling to his collection, we've set him the challenge of winning the women's singles title. We think that's perfectly fair. The current holder is Petra Kvitova. We suspect she is not worried. Because we fear Sam will make us look silly by winning all of the above, we're making this one *even* harder. Here's how the soul singer might look if he were named Glamour's Woman of the Year. Dutch model Doutzen Kroes, the real winner, is untroubled, we hear. We have no idea whether Sam has secret horticultural powers. He could well be tending to a tray of seedlings in a greenhouse near you right now. But with the Brit Awards around the corner, we're going to give him until he's at least 25 to beat the majesty of this enormous squash. If you're wondering, this fine specimen won in the giant marrow class at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show. Good luck Sam. We believe in you! Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram and Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube

['Sam Smith', 'Music']

[{"entity": "Sam Smith", "label": "PER"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Sam Smith", "Music"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-40502759

Valuable Colin John McCahon painting stolen in Sydney

A valuable artwork by renowned New Zealand artist Colin John McCahon has been stolen from a house in Sydney.

The 1974 painting, Comet (F13), is estimated to be worth A$200,000 (£117,000; $152,000). The artwork was taken on Sunday as its owner moved house, New South Wales Police said. McCahon, who died in 1987, produced some of New Zealand's most recognisable modernist paintings over a career spanning more than four decades. Comet (F13), which depicts a night scene, measures approximately 1m (3ft) by 75cm. A set of stereo speakers was also stolen. Police have appealed for anyone with information, saying it would be treated in "the strictest of confidence". Art consultant Stephen Nall said art theft was relatively uncommon in Australia because it was difficult to sell on the black market. "The general rule is that you would only get about 10% of the value if you are selling a picture that is stolen," he told the BBC.

['Art', 'Sydney', 'New Zealand', 'Australia']

[{"entity": "New Zealand", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Colin John McCahon", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "Sydney", "label": "LOC"}]

New Zealand

["Art", "Sydney", "New Zealand", "Australia"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35605518

Electoral Commission to probe Tory Thanet South spending

A probe has been launched into claims about the Conservative Party's spending during the general election in the UKIP-contested seat of Thanet South, the Electoral Commission has said.

The claims - made by Channel 4 - allege that some bills were wrongly declared in the party's spending returns. The commission said it would look at bills for two hotels in the Kent constituency. A Conservative spokesman said spending was all legal and "correctly recorded". During last year's election UKIP's Nigel Farage lost out in the race for South Thanet seat to the Conservative Party's Craig Mackinlay. The rules around candidate spending and any potential criminal offence can only be investigated by the police under the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1983 - not the Electoral Commission. But while the commission has no powers to investigate or sanction alleged candidate spending offences, it does have powers in relation to national campaign spending. Kent Police says it will not pursue an investigation over individual candidate spending in Thanet South during the commission's review. "At this stage the matter will sit with the Electoral Commission. Kent Police officers will liaise closely with the Electoral Commission and investigate if appropriate," a spokeswoman said. The commission said it would specifically consider whether stays at the Royal Harbour Hotel in Ramsgate and the Premier Inn in Margate, should have been included in national campaign spending or not. "The investigation opened by the commission today focuses on whether the Conservative Party met their reporting obligations under the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act," a statement said. The commission's sanctioning powers are limited to a civil penalty of up to £20,000. The allegations were first made by on 20 January and relate to how much an individual can spend on their campaign during an election. The commission said that during what was defined as the "short campaign" - which ran from 30 March to 7 May - £8,700 could be spent, plus 6p for every "registered parliamentary elector". In his blog Michael Crick - the political correspondent for Channel 4 - said the legal expense limit in Thanet South for that period was £15,016.

['Conservative Party']

[{"entity": "Conservative Party", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "UKIP", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Thanet South", "label": "LOC"}, {"entity": "Electoral Commission", "label": "ORG"}]

Conservative Party ||| UKIP ||| Thanet South ||| Electoral Commission

["Conservative Party"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-40528840

Charlie Gard: Mother says terminally-ill son 'not in pain and suffering'

The mother of terminally-ill Charlie Gard has said he is not in "pain and suffering".

It comes after a US hospital offered to ship an experimental drug to the UK to help treat him. It also offered to admit the 11-month-old if "legal hurdles" can be cleared. Great Ormond Street hospital has said further treatment will not help. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said it would be impossible for Charlie to be transferred to another hospital. Charlie's mother Connie Yates told Good Morning Britain on Friday: "We are not bad parents, we are there for him all the time, we are completely devoted to him and he's not in pain and suffering, and I promise everyone I would not sit there and watch my son in pain and suffering, I couldn't do it." Ms Yates said the Pope's intervention earlier this week came after she wrote a letter to him. She said: "It does give us a hope definitely, because there was no hope left. Charlie was going to die on Friday and, you saw the video we did, we were absolutely devastated. "We had no control over it, the way it was done. "And then it was going to be on the Monday instead but I think the White House got involved over the weekend and then that changed things." Charlie has mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a rare genetic condition which causes progressive muscle weakness. Doctors have said he cannot see, hear, move, cry or swallow and that his life support should be switched off because there is no chance of his condition improving. Charlie's parents, Ms Yates and Chris Gard, raised £1.3m on a crowdfunding site to pay for experimental nucleoside therapy in the US. But they lost a legal battle with the hospital last month after judges at the European Court of Human Rights ruled further treatment would "continue to cause Charlie significant harm". It comes after a US hospital offered to ship an experimental drug to the UK to help treat him. It also offered to admit the 11-month-old if "legal hurdles" can be cleared. Great Ormond Street hospital has said further treatment will not help. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said it would be impossible for Charlie to be transferred to another hospital. Charlie's mother Connie Yates told Good Morning Britain on Friday: "We are not bad parents, we are there for him all the time, we are completely devoted to him and he's not in pain and suffering, and I promise everyone I would not sit there and watch my son in pain and suffering, I couldn't do it." Ms Yates said the Pope's intervention earlier this week came after she wrote a letter to him. She said: "It does give us a hope definitely, because there was no hope left. Charlie was going to die on Friday and, you saw the video we did, we were absolutely devastated. "We had no control over it, the way it was done. "And then it was going to be on the Monday instead but I think the White House got involved over the weekend and then that changed things." Charlie has mitochondrial depletion syndrome, a rare genetic condition which causes progressive muscle weakness. Doctors have said he cannot see, hear, move, cry or swallow and that his life support should be switched off because there is no chance of his condition improving. Charlie's parents, Ms Yates and Chris Gard, raised £1.3m on a crowdfunding site to pay for experimental nucleoside therapy in the US. But they lost a legal battle with the hospital last month after judges at the European Court of Human Rights ruled further treatment would "continue to cause Charlie significant harm". The US hospital, which cannot be named for legal reasons, said that it would treat the boy with an experimental drug pending approval from government regulators, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It said it had "agreed to admit and evaluate Charlie, provided that arrangements are made to safely transfer him to our facility, legal hurdles are cleared, and we receive emergency approval from the FDA for an experimental treatment as appropriate". It added: "Alternatively, if approved by the FDA, we will arrange shipment of the experimental drug to Great Ormond Street Hospital and advise their medical staff on administering it if they are willing to do so." A US specialist told judges that a "small chance" of a meaningful improvement in Charlie's brain function would be provided by therapy. Charlie's parents, from Bedfont, west London, have spent the last days of their son's life with him, after being given more time before his life-support is turned off. Last week they said the hospital had denied them their final wish to take their son home to die. The US hospital, which cannot be named for legal reasons, said that it would treat the boy with an experimental drug pending approval from government regulators, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It said it had "agreed to admit and evaluate Charlie, provided that arrangements are made to safely transfer him to our facility, legal hurdles are cleared, and we receive emergency approval from the FDA for an experimental treatment as appropriate". It added: "Alternatively, if approved by the FDA, we will arrange shipment of the experimental drug to Great Ormond Street Hospital and advise their medical staff on administering it if they are willing to do so." A US specialist told judges that a "small chance" of a meaningful improvement in Charlie's brain function would be provided by therapy. Charlie's parents, from Bedfont, west London, have spent the last days of their son's life with him, after being given more time before his life-support is turned off. Last week they said the hospital had denied them their final wish to take their son home to die.

['Great Ormond Street Hospital', 'European Court of Human Rights']

[{"entity": "Charlie Gard", "label": "PER"}]

NoPresentEntity

["Great Ormond Street Hospital", "European Court of Human Rights"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36313760

Southern rail strike: 'Solid support' for second 24-hour strike

A second 24-hour strike by Southern rail conductors is being "solidly" supported, according to the RMT union.

Hundreds of trains have been cancelled on one of the busiest routes in the UK, causing travel chaos for passengers. The walkout by union members started just after midnight and is part of a dispute over the role of guards. The RMT opposes a new on-board supervisor role and plans for drivers to operate doors. Govia Thameslink said the action was "totally unnecessary". The operator has insisted there will be no job losses or pay cuts, and the proposals would be implemented. Live updates on the rail strike The rail company said it was "evolving" the role of conductors so on-board staff would no longer be responsible for closing doors but would have a more visible presence on trains. Govia Thameslink Railway warned there would be no service on many routes and only a limited service between 07:30 and 1800 BST on others. However, by 13:00 BST it said the service was operating well with about two thirds of services running. Chief executive officer, Charles Horton, said: "This pointless and unnecessary action by the RMT causes enormous disruption for the 300,000 people we carry on their commute every day. "The railway men and women of Britain are overwhelmingly diligent and hard-working, and they care deeply about the rail service they provide. "But they are being led astray, and misled repeatedly, by trade unions acting in their own narrow, selfish interests and ignoring the interests of either commuters or railway workers themselves." RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Our members have been backed into a corner by this aggressive and unpopular company and have had no option whatsoever but to fight to defend the safety-critical role of the guard on these rammed-out and unreliable Southern routes". Union members, who staged their first strike action on 26 April, held a protest outside the Department for Transport Rail Industry Day conference in London earlier. The RMT claims train companies nationally are "hell-bent" on removing train and station staff accusing them of putting profits before safety. Press Association industrial correspondent Alan Jones said the situation was "properly deadlocked". "The rhetoric is getting angrier by the day," he said. "Southern says all they are doing is changing the role of the conductor or guard. "But the unions are very suspicious that this is part of a wider attempt to get rid of guards altogether, which has happened on a lot of trains. "And with station staff, there is a separate dispute which may well end up in a strike soon about closure of ticket offices across Southern," he added. Govia Thameslink's chief operating officer, Dyan Crowther told BBC Surrey the company would now be implementing its proposals. "Our staff are starting to make preferences on the type of roles they want to do. We will be retaining some conductors on some coastal services. "Some staff have already opted to do those roles and some have opted to do the onboard supervisor roles," she said. Southern warned passengers that queuing systems would be in place at many stations, there may be long waits to board trains, and the company could not guarantee to get people to their destinations. The company said Gatwick Express and Thameslink services would be largely unaffected. But some services were expected to be extremely busy and some Gatwick Express trains would be unable to call at certain stations. Passengers can check Southern's live running page, a map of services during the strike and customer information.

['Southern', 'Rail travel', 'RMT']

[{"entity": "Southern rail", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "RMT", "label": "ORG"}]

RMT

["Southern", "Rail travel", "RMT"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40879485

North Korea warned by Mattis not to invite 'destruction'

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has told North Korea to avoid actions that could usher in the "end of its regime and the destruction of its people".

The Pentagon chief also said Pyongyang would be "grossly overmatched" in a war against the US and its allies. His stark warning comes a day after President Donald Trump threatened North Korea with "fire and fury". US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sought to assure Americans there was no imminent threat. In Wednesday's strongly worded statement, Mr Mattis called on Pyongyang to halt its arms programme. "The DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons," the US Marine Corps general said. "While our state department is making every effort to resolve this global threat through diplomatic means, it must be noted that the combined allied militaries now possess the most precise, rehearsed and robust defensive and offensive capabilities on Earth." Pyongyang's actions "will continue to be grossly overmatched by ours and would lose any arms race or conflict it initiates", Mr Mattis added. Mr Trump - who has said he will not allow Pyongyang to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the US - boasted earlier on Wednesday of America's atomic arsenal. In early morning tweets from New Jersey where he is on holiday, the president said the US nuclear stockpile was "more powerful than ever before". He added that he was hopeful "we will never have to use this power". The tweets come amid escalating rhetoric between the two sides. North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency said on Wednesday that Pyongyang was "carefully examining" a plan to strike the US territory of Guam. The Pacific island is home to US military bases, strategic bombers and about 163,000 people. Stopping in Guam to refuel after a trip to South East Asia, Mr Tillerson said he was hopeful a global "pressure campaign" involving Russia and China could lead to new dialogue with Pyongyang "about a different future". America's top diplomat also defended President Trump's language. He said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not understand diplomatic language, and a strong message was needed that he could understand. Mr Tillerson added the situation had not dramatically changed over the last few days, and that Americans "should sleep well at night". China has urged calm, describing the situation as "complex and sensitive". The Pentagon chief also said Pyongyang would be "grossly overmatched" in a war against the US and its allies. His stark warning comes a day after President Donald Trump threatened North Korea with "fire and fury". US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sought to assure Americans there was no imminent threat. In Wednesday's strongly worded statement, Mr Mattis called on Pyongyang to halt its arms programme. "The DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons," the US Marine Corps general said. "While our state department is making every effort to resolve this global threat through diplomatic means, it must be noted that the combined allied militaries now possess the most precise, rehearsed and robust defensive and offensive capabilities on Earth." Pyongyang's actions "will continue to be grossly overmatched by ours and would lose any arms race or conflict it initiates", Mr Mattis added. Mr Trump - who has said he will not allow Pyongyang to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the US - boasted earlier on Wednesday of America's atomic arsenal. In early morning tweets from New Jersey where he is on holiday, the president said the US nuclear stockpile was "more powerful than ever before". He added that he was hopeful "we will never have to use this power". The tweets come amid escalating rhetoric between the two sides. North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency said on Wednesday that Pyongyang was "carefully examining" a plan to strike the US territory of Guam. The Pacific island is home to US military bases, strategic bombers and about 163,000 people. Stopping in Guam to refuel after a trip to South East Asia, Mr Tillerson said he was hopeful a global "pressure campaign" involving Russia and China could lead to new dialogue with Pyongyang "about a different future". America's top diplomat also defended President Trump's language. He said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not understand diplomatic language, and a strong message was needed that he could understand. Mr Tillerson added the situation had not dramatically changed over the last few days, and that Americans "should sleep well at night". China has urged calm, describing the situation as "complex and sensitive". Anthony Zurcher, BBC senior North America reporter As Donald Trump made his "fire and fury" threat against North Korea, the lone camera in the room zoomed in for a tight shot. It would have been telling to see the effect those words had on his advisers. Did they nod knowingly or look surprised? Was this part of the plan or an off-the-cuff presidential remark they'd have to clean up? A day later and thousands of miles away, Rex Tillerson had out his mop and broom. The secretary of state said Mr Trump was merely reasserting that the US would defend itself if attacked, using language North Korea would understand. That's not exactly what the president said, however. He warned of retribution if Kim Jong-un continued to make threats - punishing words with action. It could simply be unfortunate phrasing from a man who is sometimes loose with words. Mr Tillerson would not be the first presidential aide intent on framing Mr Trump's blunt statements in a softer light. With the president touting US nuclear might and test-firing an ICBM, however, the secretary of state - already considered to have little sway in this administration - may find his efforts at clarification buried in a torrent of bluster. The White House on Wednesday denied reports that Mr Trump's "fire and fury" statement a day earlier, unusually provocative for a US president, was an off-the-cuff remark that had caught his inner circle unawares. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters: "The tone and strength of the message were discussed beforehand." Despite rounds of UN sanctions, Pyongyang carried out two nuclear bomb tests last year and two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. On Tuesday, media reports in the US claimed the North had achieved its goal of making a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles. However, most analysts doubt the tiny dictatorship would launch a suicidal pre-emptive attack on the US. North Korea remains technically in a state of war with the US and South Korea after the 1950-53 conflict on the peninsula ended in a truce. Anthony Zurcher, BBC senior North America reporter As Donald Trump made his "fire and fury" threat against North Korea, the lone camera in the room zoomed in for a tight shot. It would have been telling to see the effect those words had on his advisers. Did they nod knowingly or look surprised? Was this part of the plan or an off-the-cuff presidential remark they'd have to clean up? A day later and thousands of miles away, Rex Tillerson had out his mop and broom. The secretary of state said Mr Trump was merely reasserting that the US would defend itself if attacked, using language North Korea would understand. That's not exactly what the president said, however. He warned of retribution if Kim Jong-un continued to make threats - punishing words with action. It could simply be unfortunate phrasing from a man who is sometimes loose with words. Mr Tillerson would not be the first presidential aide intent on framing Mr Trump's blunt statements in a softer light. With the president touting US nuclear might and test-firing an ICBM, however, the secretary of state - already considered to have little sway in this administration - may find his efforts at clarification buried in a torrent of bluster. The White House on Wednesday denied reports that Mr Trump's "fire and fury" statement a day earlier, unusually provocative for a US president, was an off-the-cuff remark that had caught his inner circle unawares. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters: "The tone and strength of the message were discussed beforehand." Despite rounds of UN sanctions, Pyongyang carried out two nuclear bomb tests last year and two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. On Tuesday, media reports in the US claimed the North had achieved its goal of making a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles. However, most analysts doubt the tiny dictatorship would launch a suicidal pre-emptive attack on the US. North Korea remains technically in a state of war with the US and South Korea after the 1950-53 conflict on the peninsula ended in a truce. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

['North Korea-US relations', 'Kim Jong-un', 'North Korea weapons programme', 'Donald Trump', 'Nuclear weapons', 'United States', 'North Korea']

[{"entity": "Jim Mattis", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "North Korea", "label": "LOC"}]

North Korea

["North Korea-US relations", "Kim Jong-un", "North Korea weapons programme", "Donald Trump", "Nuclear weapons", "United States", "North Korea"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-44399124

Does the word Glen on a bottle mean the whisky is Scotch?

When a German drinker looks at the range of drinks available at a bar and sees the word Glen on a bottle, what does that evoke?

A stag surveying a misty Scottish loch, where an artisan distillery works its magic on the purest of mountain water. Or a municipality in Baden-Württemberg? Or neither? That's the question that has been considered by the European Court of Justice, in ruling on a case brought by the Scotch Whisky Association. The trade body is trying to use the European law on Geographical Indicators to stop a single malt whisky from using Glen in its name. It won a minor victory in the ECJ ruling, issued on Thursday, which says that context doesn't count for anything. So it doesn't seem to matter that the spirit's full name is Glen Buchenbach, or that the bottle has the name of the distillery prominently above that - 'Waldhornbrennerei', meaning the Waldhorn distillery. It explains very clearly on the label that it is Deutsches Erzeugnis (a German product) and that it is Hergestellt in den Berglen (produced in the Berglen). It also says, in English, that is is Swabian single malt whisky. The distillery is located in the municipality of Berglen near Stuttgart, which helps explain how the word Glen might have made it onto the label. On its website - where a half-litre of Glen Buchenbach can be purchased for €49.50 - it is explained that the word glen is from the Gaelic language and means "in the valley of", but makes no other reference to any association with Scotland. The ECJ ruling is very specific about the type of German, or other European, who is gazing across the bar at the range of spirits: "The Court holds that the decisive criterion for finding there to be an 'evocation' of the protected geographical indication is whether, when an average European consumer who is reasonably well informed and reasonably observant and circumspect is confronted with the name of the product concerned, the image triggered in his mind is that of the product whose indication is protected." So does the European Court of Justice speak for that informed, observant, circumspect European in ruling whether Glen evokes the mists and mysteries of a Scottish valley? No. It is sending its ruling back to the regional court in Hamburg, to apply that test. The Scotch Whisky Association has a legal department that pursues those it deems to be passing off non-Scottish spirits as having a link with Scotland. Several countries have agreed to UK and European pressure to introduce legal protections against those who would counterfeit or wrongly pass off spirits as Scotch whisky, and some have added protection for Speyside, Highland and Islay. The Geographical Indicator protection under European law is playing a significant part in Brexit negotiations. The European Commission wants Westminster, post-Brexit, to write into law a continuing protection for all of the products currently covered by the GIs, including Champagne, Parma ham and numerous local specialities. In the UK, this has extended beyond Scotch whisky to include Stornoway black pudding and the Arbroath smokie. The UK government has so far been resistant to this, as it does not want to be required to put European law into future laws in Britain. Particularly where that could interfere with future trade deals being struck with other countries.

['Germany', 'Scotch whisky', 'Scotch Whisky Association']

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["Germany", "Scotch whisky", "Scotch Whisky Association"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36938368

Theresa May 'won't intervene' in David Cameron's honours list

Theresa May will not intervene over her predecessor David Cameron's resignation honours list because it would "set a very bad precedent", No 10 has said.

It comes amid opposition MPs' calls for reform of the system after the ex-PM's alleged list was leaked by a newspaper. The Sunday Times said Mr Cameron had chosen to reward Remain campaigners and No 10 staff and donors, including his wife Samantha's special adviser. Downing Street said all the "proper processes" would be followed. Requests for political honours are considered by special honours committees, which are independent of Downing Street. Sources have told the BBC that while much of the leaked list is correct, reports that a quartet of pro-EU Cabinet ministers - including Chancellor Philip Hammond and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon - are to be recommended for knighthoods is wrong. Meanwhile, a former aide to Mr Cameron has dismissed "cronyism" claims and suggested much of the criticism of the list was motivated by envy. According to the Sunday Times, Will Straw, head of the official pro-Remain campaign, has been proposed for a CBE, and Tory and Remain campaign donors, Ian Taylor and Andrew Cook, are in line for knighthoods. Mr Cameron's list is also said to have: Amid growing calls for it to step in, Downing Street issued a statement saying it was "standard for an outgoing prime minister to submit a resignation list". "The names on the list were at the formerly prime minister's discretion, and they will now go through all the proper processes and committees," a spokesperson said. "It would set a very bad precedent for a new prime minister to interfere in the official processes." It comes amid opposition MPs' calls for reform of the system after the ex-PM's alleged list was leaked by a newspaper. The Sunday Times said Mr Cameron had chosen to reward Remain campaigners and No 10 staff and donors, including his wife Samantha's special adviser. Downing Street said all the "proper processes" would be followed. Requests for political honours are considered by special honours committees, which are independent of Downing Street. Sources have told the BBC that while much of the leaked list is correct, reports that a quartet of pro-EU Cabinet ministers - including Chancellor Philip Hammond and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon - are to be recommended for knighthoods is wrong. Meanwhile, a former aide to Mr Cameron has dismissed "cronyism" claims and suggested much of the criticism of the list was motivated by envy. According to the Sunday Times, Will Straw, head of the official pro-Remain campaign, has been proposed for a CBE, and Tory and Remain campaign donors, Ian Taylor and Andrew Cook, are in line for knighthoods. Mr Cameron's list is also said to have: Amid growing calls for it to step in, Downing Street issued a statement saying it was "standard for an outgoing prime minister to submit a resignation list". "The names on the list were at the formerly prime minister's discretion, and they will now go through all the proper processes and committees," a spokesperson said. "It would set a very bad precedent for a new prime minister to interfere in the official processes." It comes amid opposition MPs' calls for reform of the system after the ex-PM's alleged list was leaked by a newspaper. The Sunday Times said Mr Cameron had chosen to reward Remain campaigners and No 10 staff and donors, including his wife Samantha's special adviser. Downing Street said all the "proper processes" would be followed. Requests for political honours are considered by special honours committees, which are independent of Downing Street. Sources have told the BBC that while much of the leaked list is correct, reports that a quartet of pro-EU Cabinet ministers - including Chancellor Philip Hammond and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon - are to be recommended for knighthoods is wrong. Meanwhile, a former aide to Mr Cameron has dismissed "cronyism" claims and suggested much of the criticism of the list was motivated by envy. According to the Sunday Times, Will Straw, head of the official pro-Remain campaign, has been proposed for a CBE, and Tory and Remain campaign donors, Ian Taylor and Andrew Cook, are in line for knighthoods. Mr Cameron's list is also said to have: Amid growing calls for it to step in, Downing Street issued a statement saying it was "standard for an outgoing prime minister to submit a resignation list". "The names on the list were at the formerly prime minister's discretion, and they will now go through all the proper processes and committees," a spokesperson said. "It would set a very bad precedent for a new prime minister to interfere in the official processes." An outgoing prime minister has the right to draw up a resignation honours list on leaving office although Sir John Major was the last to formally do so in 1997. Requests for political honours are considered by a committee chaired by the Conservative peer and former MP Lord Spicer. The majority of the committee's members - which currently include former head of the civil service Lord Butler and ex-Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness Hayman - are deemed to be independent of government. The names then get sent back to the prime minister who is entitled to make any recommendations she sees fit before the Queen formally approves them. An outgoing prime minister has the right to draw up a resignation honours list on leaving office although Sir John Major was the last to formally do so in 1997. Requests for political honours are considered by a committee chaired by the Conservative peer and former MP Lord Spicer. The majority of the committee's members - which currently include former head of the civil service Lord Butler and ex-Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness Hayman - are deemed to be independent of government. The names then get sent back to the prime minister who is entitled to make any recommendations she sees fit before the Queen formally approves them. An outgoing prime minister has the right to draw up a resignation honours list on leaving office although Sir John Major was the last to formally do so in 1997. Requests for political honours are considered by a committee chaired by the Conservative peer and former MP Lord Spicer. The majority of the committee's members - which currently include former head of the civil service Lord Butler and ex-Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness Hayman - are deemed to be independent of government. The names then get sent back to the prime minister who is entitled to make any recommendations she sees fit before the Queen formally approves them. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - speaking at a Communications Workers Union press conference - said he wanted to see an honours system that was "fair", "open" and "more democratic". "I do not believe in honours for politicians who are in office because I believe to be in office, to be elected, to be in Parliament, to account to everyone else, is honour itself," he added. And Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said that if the list was accurate, it showed that "cronyism runs rife" in Mr Cameron's former administration, with . "Theresa May has the ability to stop it, and she should do so," he said. A senior Westminster figure who has been closely involved with the honours list in the past, said it looked to be "an extraordinarily expansive list". "As such it risks undermining confidence in the honours system as a whole, which follows an independent and rigorous process," they told Radio 4's World at One. "There is still time for the former prime minister to surprise us with the brevity and good sense of his nominations." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - speaking at a Communications Workers Union press conference - said he wanted to see an honours system that was "fair", "open" and "more democratic". "I do not believe in honours for politicians who are in office because I believe to be in office, to be elected, to be in Parliament, to account to everyone else, is honour itself," he added. And Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said that if the list was accurate, it showed that "cronyism runs rife" in Mr Cameron's former administration, with . "Theresa May has the ability to stop it, and she should do so," he said. A senior Westminster figure who has been closely involved with the honours list in the past, said it looked to be "an extraordinarily expansive list". "As such it risks undermining confidence in the honours system as a whole, which follows an independent and rigorous process," they told Radio 4's World at One. "There is still time for the former prime minister to surprise us with the brevity and good sense of his nominations." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - speaking at a Communications Workers Union press conference - said he wanted to see an honours system that was "fair", "open" and "more democratic". "I do not believe in honours for politicians who are in office because I believe to be in office, to be elected, to be in Parliament, to account to everyone else, is honour itself," he added. And Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said that if the list was accurate, it showed that "cronyism runs rife" in Mr Cameron's former administration, with . "Theresa May has the ability to stop it, and she should do so," he said. A senior Westminster figure who has been closely involved with the honours list in the past, said it looked to be "an extraordinarily expansive list". "As such it risks undermining confidence in the honours system as a whole, which follows an independent and rigorous process," they told Radio 4's World at One. "There is still time for the former prime minister to surprise us with the brevity and good sense of his nominations." However, Sir Desmond Swayne, who was knighted for political service in this year's New Year Honours list, said it was representative of Mr Cameron's six years as prime minister and all the names would be "robustly scrutinised". The New Forest West MP and former minister said: "The reason we have a resignation honours list is because over a period of government, particularly difficult government in a coalition, a prime minister has to cajole and get the support of a number people and he builds up a debt of honour. "I think that frankly an honours list is a relatively light way of paying it off. I think we get far too excited about these things. "The reality is with any honours list there are names that will warm our hearts and names that will send us into an apoplectic rage." Controversy has surrounded the honours system since its infancy, with David Lloyd George and Harold Wilson among leaders accused of using it to reward friends for political and financial favours. In 1997, Sir John Major rewarded a number of former Downing Street staff and long-serving Conservative MPs who lost their seats at that year's general election while in 1990 Margaret Thatcher recognised her personal physician and detective among others. Although neither Tony Blair nor Gordon Brown issued a resignation honours list when they left Downing Street, Mr Blair became embroiled in a "cash for honours" row during his premiership while his successor used a dissolution honours list in 2010 to ennoble a host of former ministers and aides. However, Sir Desmond Swayne, who was knighted for political service in this year's New Year Honours list, said it was representative of Mr Cameron's six years as prime minister and all the names would be "robustly scrutinised". The New Forest West MP and former minister said: "The reason we have a resignation honours list is because over a period of government, particularly difficult government in a coalition, a prime minister has to cajole and get the support of a number people and he builds up a debt of honour. "I think that frankly an honours list is a relatively light way of paying it off. I think we get far too excited about these things. "The reality is with any honours list there are names that will warm our hearts and names that will send us into an apoplectic rage." Controversy has surrounded the honours system since its infancy, with David Lloyd George and Harold Wilson among leaders accused of using it to reward friends for political and financial favours. In 1997, Sir John Major rewarded a number of former Downing Street staff and long-serving Conservative MPs who lost their seats at that year's general election while in 1990 Margaret Thatcher recognised her personal physician and detective among others. Although neither Tony Blair nor Gordon Brown issued a resignation honours list when they left Downing Street, Mr Blair became embroiled in a "cash for honours" row during his premiership while his successor used a dissolution honours list in 2010 to ennoble a host of former ministers and aides. However, Sir Desmond Swayne, who was knighted for political service in this year's New Year Honours list, said it was representative of Mr Cameron's six years as prime minister and all the names would be "robustly scrutinised". The New Forest West MP and former minister said: "The reason we have a resignation honours list is because over a period of government, particularly difficult government in a coalition, a prime minister has to cajole and get the support of a number people and he builds up a debt of honour. "I think that frankly an honours list is a relatively light way of paying it off. I think we get far too excited about these things. "The reality is with any honours list there are names that will warm our hearts and names that will send us into an apoplectic rage." Controversy has surrounded the honours system since its infancy, with David Lloyd George and Harold Wilson among leaders accused of using it to reward friends for political and financial favours. In 1997, Sir John Major rewarded a number of former Downing Street staff and long-serving Conservative MPs who lost their seats at that year's general election while in 1990 Margaret Thatcher recognised her personal physician and detective among others. Although neither Tony Blair nor Gordon Brown issued a resignation honours list when they left Downing Street, Mr Blair became embroiled in a "cash for honours" row during his premiership while his successor used a dissolution honours list in 2010 to ennoble a host of former ministers and aides.

['David Cameron', 'Desmond Swayne']

[{"entity": "Theresa May", "label": "PER"}, {"entity": "David Cameron", "label": "PER"}]

Theresa May

["David Cameron", "Desmond Swayne"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-52697358

Amazon Crucible: 'Can games be as fun to watch as they are to play?'

Think of Amazon and last-minute deliveries, streaming box-sets and Kindles spring to mind - but not necessarily making video games.

Now, the online giant wants that to change and is getting its teeth into game development with new release, Crucible. "We want to make games that resonate with a very large audience of players," Mike Frazzini, the vice president of Amazon Games, tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. "Ultimately the players will get to decide whether or not we succeed." "We're pleased with the feedback on early play-tests, but ultimately we don't know how good it is until it gets out there." Crucible is a new free-to-play PC game and is a competitive shooting title that's a cross between Overwatch, Gears of War and League of Legends. It's the first big-budget, original game that Amazon Game Studios has released, and the company hopes it will compete with titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends. "We're really looking forward to getting it out the door." This may be Amazon's first major release but it's been involved in the games industry for a long time - it already owns the streaming site Twitch. The number of viewers on Twitch is clearly having an impact on the types of games the company wants to be making now and in the future. During development, Mike asked his team: "Can we make games that are as fun to watch as they are to play?" "On Twitch, you have a player, a viewer and a streamer all connected together in a single live experience. "We're really interested in exploring that - so we're generally biased towards games that we think are going to resonate on Twitch and fundamentally be watchable games." With Fortnite recently announcing it has more than 350 million registered users, there's a big financial incentive to get more involved in game development. But the gaming industry is competitive and success is not likely to come overnight - even if you're Amazon. "Making a fun game that attracts and retains large audiences of players is extremely difficult," Mike says. "If the game's not fun, none of our long term ideas make a difference." He says it's important to tune, polish and add to the gaming experience of players because of how much of their time they spend gaming. "On average people play from five to ten hours a week, that's what it takes to read a book, and so it's like writing a new book every single week." "Trying to get to something that attracts, engages and retains players is incredibly difficult." Early previews of Crucible have been favourable but competing in the hero-shooter genre, where Overwatch has dominated, will be tough. Games like Gigantic and Battleborn - which were also positively reviewed and well supported - failed to attract enough of a long-term audience to survive. Mike explains how he hopes Crucible will be different: "Multiplayer in our games is going to include a lot of social dynamics. "That's what makes sport so much fun, as you play with others. "I think that's what helps create games that are re-playable, and it resonates well in Twitch too, so we're trying to explore those frontiers." The coronavirus pandemic has affected how the studio has been able to promote Crucible and delayed another title it's working on - an online multiplayer game called New World. But despite the difficulties and frustrations, there are some positives. "One of the reasons I've always loved games is not only is it a fun form of entertainment, but it's a way to connect with others," says Mike. "There's a surge of interest in playing right now as a way to stay connected in a safe way." Amazon has set some ambitious targets for its games division and seems willing to be patient. "This is the starting line not isn't the finish line," he adds. "We're trying to earn respect from players." Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

['Gaming', 'Social media', 'Amazon', 'Streaming', 'Fortnite', 'eSports', 'Amazon Game Studios', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

[{"entity": "Amazon", "label": "ORG"}, {"entity": "Kindles", "label": "ORG"}]

Amazon

["Gaming", "Social media", "Amazon", "Streaming", "Fortnite", "eSports", "Amazon Game Studios", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51715245

Coronavirus: Four more deaths in Washington state

Four more people have died in a coronavirus outbreak in Washington state, bringing the total fatalities there to six.

These are the first deaths due to Covid-19 on US soil. Washington declared a state of emergency over the weekend. Five of the deaths occurred in King County, whose main city is Seattle. There are now 18 confirmed cases in the region, and there are growing fears it may spread further. Researchers who studied the first two Washington deaths had said the virus may have been spreading there for weeks, and suggested that up to 1,500 people may have been infected. Kathy Lofy, Washington state's health officer, said cases were confined to two counties - King and Snohomish - and the virus was "actively" spreading there. She added it was possible the virus was spreading elsewhere. Eight of the 14 cases in King County, and four of the deaths, are linked to one care facility. Most of those who died were elderly or had underlying health conditions. King County is to buy a hotel so it can isolate the growing number of patients in the region. More schools in the Seattle area closed on Monday. Dr Jeff Duchin, the chief health officer for the Seattle and King County Public Health agency, said there would be no wider school closures at this stage, nor would major events be cancelled. But, he said, the number of cases is expected to increase. "We are taking this situation extremely seriously," he said. The weekend brought a sharp rise in the number of cases, raising concerns. There are now 91 confirmed cases across the country and while some patients are believed to have travelled to high-risk countries, others are thought to have contracted the virus within the US. Late on Monday, officials said two cases of coronavirus had been confirmed in Georgia. One of the two people infected - who both live in the same household - had recently returned from Italy. Officials on the US West Coast - in Washington, California and Oregon - have expressed concerns about infections appearing in patients who had not visited an area where there was an outbreak or been in contact with anyone who had. The federal government has admitted to problems with its diagnostic testing amid the rise in cases. A top federal scientist has raised concerns about a possible contamination in an Atlanta, Georgia, lab where the government had made test kits for the virus, Axios reports. Elsewhere in the US on Monday: The world is in "uncharted territory" on the coronavirus outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. Deaths globally have passed 3,000. Most are in China but there are now far more new infections outside China than inside. One of the countries worst affected outside China - Italy - saw a big jump in its death toll from 34 to 52 on Monday.

['Washington', 'United States', 'Coronavirus pandemic']

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

Washington

["Washington", "United States", "Coronavirus pandemic"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-26385797

Roree Cox sentenced to life for Kevin Ssali murder

A man has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering a 14-year-old boy in a "revenge" attack.

Roree Cox, 18, was found guilty of murdering Kevin Ssali on the top floor of a south London bus after an argument in 2012. Judge Wendy Joseph told Cox at the Old Bailey: "I am quite sure you armed yourself before the incident." Cox, from Lewisham, must serve a minimum of 14 years. During the case the court heard that Kevin was arguing with Cox's brother while on the 202 bus in Burnt Ash Road, Lee, in September 2012. The brother then phoned Cox, who boarded the bus and took a knife out of his shoe before stabbing Kevin. During the sentencing Judge Joseph said: "You deliberately took off your shoe and took out the knife. "You deliberately held the knife in your hand and you ran up those stairs intending to use it." She added she was sure there was an element of revenge in his actions. A post-mortem examination found the teenager died from a stab wound to the heart. The court heard that Kevin's mother, Clemence Mudage, had escaped the genocide in Rwanda when her son was born and moved to England to give him a better and safer life. Cox had been on bail at the time of the attack, charged with robbery, and should not have been in the area, the court heard.

['Old Bailey']

[]

NoPresentEntity

["Old Bailey"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36975088

Zika vaccines show early promise

Three different ways of designing a vaccine have been shown to be completely protective against the Zika virus.

Scientists found all three offered protection in tests on rhesus monkeys. Zika has been deemed a public health emergency, because it can cause serious birth defects. Teams around the world are working to design a vaccine that can be given to people, but it is likely to be years before any is ready for widespread use. More than 60 countries and territories now have continuing transmission of Zika, which is carried by mosquitoes. Read more here about the Zika outbreak The scientists in this latest study used three different approaches often used in vaccine development - one was an inactive, and therefore harmless, replica of the virus and two others used parts of the Zika virus's genetic code. All three offered complete protection and none were linked to major side-effects. The US scientists, including experts from the military, say their results mark a further promising step forward in the search for a jab against the Zika virus. The next step will be early trials, possibly later this year, to establish that the vaccine is safe and effective in humans. But British experts were clear that any of the vaccines would take time to develop. Dr Ed Wright, senior lecturer and virologist at the University of Westminster, said: "All of the vaccines currently under development are many years away from being licensed and available for widespread public use." Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said: "We knew that these vaccines worked in mice and now the researchers have shown that they also protect non-human primates from Zika virus infection. "The next step will be to see if these vaccines are safe and the scientists hope to start early trials in humans to address this." But he said there were still many questions about how a Zika virus would behave - including whether or not they would be effective in people exposed to related viruses such as dengue.

['Zika virus outbreak']

[{"entity": "Zika", "label": "BIO"}]

Zika

["Zika virus outbreak"]

english

en

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37845487

Killed by Jutting and forgotten by Indonesia

British banker Rurik Jutting has been found guilty of murder, but in Jakarta, as BBC Indonesian's Rebecca Henschke reports, the grisly fate of the two Indonesian women he killed was seen as just another migrant worker story gone wrong.

Indonesians are used to reports of violence and abuse of their migrant workers. The media here carries horror stories almost every month and President Joko Widodo has made protecting migrant workers one of his key policies. Some cases have sparked protests outside foreign embassies as fellow workers shout out for the rights of the women labouring abroad. But few of them get so brutally killed and there has been notably little coverage of the murder trial in Hong Kong of Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujiasih, the two victims. On social media no one is really talking about it and when they do there is little sympathy for the women. "Sumarti was generous. That much is clear from the evidence in the house. Her driving force was to improve life for her family, to make them richer. Life may be peaceful in the village but she would have been all too aware of the possibilities of a life with more material comforts." The story of Sumarti: Born in Indonesia, murdered in Hong Kong Facebook provides a clue as to why sympathy for the two women may be in short supply. "That's the risk of being a sex worker," wrote one Facebook user. "They want to get rich but they don't want to work hard." Another wrote: 'I hope God forgives the sins of the killer and the victim." It's certainly true that some on social media point out that no matter what your profession, nobody deserves to be tortured like that. But activists say that the way the murders were reported two years ago dehumanised the two women. "They have been incredibly stigmatised by the press as sex workers who in some way deserve to be tortured and killed," Anis Hidayah, the executive director of Migrant Care says. "People are now not as interested as they should be in their families receiving the justice that they deserve for this horrific crime." She sees this case as a missed opportunity. "Hong Kong has always been seen as a safe place for our migrant workers to work in but these murders show that is not the case. This trial is very important to remind the government that they have lots of work to do to better protect our women abroad." Fellow migrant worker Lidya says she is devastated by the lack of sympathy for her friends, adding that even the media coverage has lacked empathy. "I can't understand why after this horrific thing has happened to them people focusing on their profession as female entertainers," she told BBC Indonesian. Struggling with loss Outside the Hong Kong court on Tuesday, a group representing the two families distributed statements describing how the women only wanted to seek a better life and support their families back in Indonesia, who still live in grinding poverty. Ms Mujiasih's family described her as an "outgoing" person who had many friends. "As a child, she had no aspirations whatsoever and only told her mother 'When I've finished school, I want to work so Mama would not be miserable'," they said. In distant Cilacap, deep in the Javanese countryside, Ms Ningsih's father Ahmad Kaliman has been deeply shocked by the updates he has received from the trial about how his daughter died. "I didn't know before that my daughter was tortured badly before she was killed. She suffered so much and it makes the pain of her death even worse," he said. "I wish I could go there and punish him myself. I don't care what people say about her job. For us, she is a good girl that tried to help her parents and her family." Since her death they have been struggling to keep Sumarti's seven-year-old son in school. "She was the one who paid for everything, I hope the judge orders her murderer to pay for the costs of Muhamad's education," says her mother, Suratmi. "She cannot be replaced. I still can't accept that she is gone. Every time I remember her, I go to her tomb, and pray," she said, her eyes filled with tears. In the two years since her death nobody from the Indonesian government has visited them. And no-one took the time to tell them that the trial was even on. They learned that from reporters. When the BBC arrived at their home ahead of the verdict, the family were out working in their rice fields. They were surprised to learn this was the day the man who killed their daughter would be convicted. It's in stark contrast to the media circus that took place in Jakarta just a few weeks ago when a wealthy young woman was found guilty of murdering her friend with a cyanide-laced coffee because she was jealous. That trial was broadcast live on all the major news channel and both families were given hours of coverage. But today there are no cameras standing by outside Ahmad and Suratmi's home waiting to hear their story.

['Indonesia']

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Jakarta ||| BBC

["Indonesia"]