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uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44812523

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44812523

Facebook cold case appeal over Yorkshire Dales body

A woman has been found dead in the Yorkshire Dales.

The woman, aged between 25 and 35, was discovered by walkers in a stream near Pen-y-ghent in September 2004. She has never been identified but it is believed she came from South East Asia. North Yorkshire Police has made a new Facebook appeal in Thai, Filipino and English and is asking for the messages to be shared in the UK and abroad. Yorkshire breaking news: Labour MP quits party; Yorkshire steelworkers join Trump protests A post-mortem examination could not establish the cause of the woman's death but suggested she died between 31 August and 13 September 2004. She was aged between 25 and 35 and was 4ft 11ins (1.5m) tall. Police believe she had lived in the UK for at least two years before her death, probably in Lancashire, Cumbria or the West Dales. They said she "could have originally been from countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia". Police have set up a community group on Facebook and are urging people with links to South East Asia to join. Adam Harland, from North Yorkshire Police's Cold Case Review Unit, said: "It has been 14 years since this woman's body was found in the Yorkshire Dales, and despite extensive inquiries in this country and abroad she has not been identified. "It's possible that she was last in contact with others in 2004, and people in the UK may well have been told that she had 'gone back home' around that time."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The woman, aged between 25 and 35, was discovered by walkers in a stream near Pen-y-ghent in September 2004. She has never been identified but it is believed she came from South East Asia. North Yorkshire Police has made a new Facebook appeal in Thai, Filipino and English and is asking for the messages to be shared in the UK and abroad. Yorkshire breaking news: Labour MP quits party; Yorkshire steelworkers join Trump protests A post-mortem examination could not establish the cause of the woman's death but suggested she died between 31 August and 13 September 2004. She was aged between 25 and 35 and was 4ft 11ins (1.5m) tall. Police believe she had lived in the UK for at least two years before her death, probably in Lancashire, Cumbria or the West Dales. They said she "could have originally been from countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia". Police have set up a community group on Facebook and are urging people with links to South East Asia to join. Adam Harland, from North Yorkshire Police's Cold Case Review Unit, said: "It has been 14 years since this woman's body was found in the Yorkshire Dales, and despite extensive inquiries in this country and abroad she has not been identified. "It's possible that she was last in contact with others in 2004, and people in the UK may well have been told that she had 'gone back home' around that time." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The woman, aged between 25 and 35, was discovered by walkers in a stream near Pen-y-ghent in September 2004. She has never been identified but it is believed she came from South East Asia. North Yorkshire Police has made a new Facebook appeal in Thai, Filipino and English and is asking for the messages to be shared in the UK and abroad. Yorkshire breaking news: Labour MP quits party; Yorkshire steelworkers join Trump protests A post-mortem examination could not establish the cause of the woman's death but suggested she died between 31 August and 13 September 2004. She was aged between 25 and 35 and was 4ft 11ins (1.5m) tall. Police believe she had lived in the UK for at least two years before her death, probably in Lancashire, Cumbria or the West Dales. They said she "could have originally been from countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia". Police have set up a community group on Facebook and are urging people with links to South East Asia to join. Adam Harland, from North Yorkshire Police's Cold Case Review Unit, said: "It has been 14 years since this woman's body was found in the Yorkshire Dales, and despite extensive inquiries in this country and abroad she has not been identified. "It's possible that she was last in contact with others in 2004, and people in the UK may well have been told that she had 'gone back home' around that time." ### Summary: A woman has been found dead in the Yorkshire Dales. ### Text: A woman has been found dead in the Yorkshire Dales. ### Summary: A woman has been found dead in the York

world-asia-34600384

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34600384

Korean families part ways after brief reunion in North

Thousands of South Koreans have been reunited with their families in North Korea.

About 390 South Korean travelled to a mountain resort in the North for the three-day reunion. A second group of 250 South Koreans will be at the resort from Saturday to Monday. Thousands of families have been torn apart by the Korean War which ended in 1953 and have had next to no contact. For many, it was the first time they met after decades of separation. And given their age, for some it might well be the last time.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: About 390 South Korean travelled to a mountain resort in the North for the three-day reunion. A second group of 250 South Koreans will be at the resort from Saturday to Monday. Thousands of families have been torn apart by the Korean War which ended in 1953 and have had next to no contact. For many, it was the first time they met after decades of separation. And given their age, for some it might well be the last time. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: About 390 South Korean travelled to a mountain resort in the North for the three-day reunion. A second group of 250 South Koreans will be at the resort from Saturday to Monday. Thousands of families have been torn apart by the Korean War which ended in 1953 and have had next to no contact. For many, it was the first time they met after decades of separation. And given their age, for some it might well be the last time. ### Summary: Thousands of South Koreans have been reunited with their families in North Korea. ### Source: By Yoo Jee-hoSeoul correspondent, BBC News The reunions are a rare chance for families to see

world-europe-42866585

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42866585

Russian SU-27 warplane 'flew 1.5 metres' from US spy plane

A Russian fighter jet has crossed into US airspace, the US Navy has said.

The distance between the SU-27 warplane and the EP-3 spy plane was just 1.5m. The US Navy said that the Russian plane tailed the US aircraft for over two hours. The incident occurred in international airspace. The Russian defence ministry has claimed that its actions were in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace. Forces from both Russia and the Nato alliance operate in the shared airspace, although tensions have increased since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. In a statement, the US Navy said the Russian fighter jets had crossed directly into the American spy plane's flight path. It cautioned that "the Russian military is within its right to operate within international airspace, but they must behave within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent incidents". The Russian defence ministry, on the other hand, said the flight path of its plane was "in accordance with the international rules for the use of airspace". It said that the behaviour of its pilots was not in any way "non-standard" and that their actions were an attempt to "stop [the US plane] from violating the Russian Federation's airspace". The Russian government said once the US plane had moved away from the border, its fighter jet returned to base.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The distance between the SU-27 warplane and the EP-3 spy plane was just 1.5m. The US Navy said that the Russian plane tailed the US aircraft for over two hours. The incident occurred in international airspace. The Russian defence ministry has claimed that its actions were in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace. Forces from both Russia and the Nato alliance operate in the shared airspace, although tensions have increased since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. In a statement, the US Navy said the Russian fighter jets had crossed directly into the American spy plane's flight path. It cautioned that "the Russian military is within its right to operate within international airspace, but they must behave within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent incidents". The Russian defence ministry, on the other hand, said the flight path of its plane was "in accordance with the international rules for the use of airspace". It said that the behaviour of its pilots was not in any way "non-standard" and that their actions were an attempt to "stop [the US plane] from violating the Russian Federation's airspace". The Russian government said once the US plane had moved away from the border, its fighter jet returned to base. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The distance between the SU-27 warplane and the EP-3 spy plane was just 1.5m. The US Navy said that the Russian plane tailed the US aircraft for over two hours. The incident occurred in international airspace. The Russian defence ministry has claimed that its actions were in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace. Forces from both Russia and the Nato alliance operate in the shared airspace, although tensions have increased since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. In a statement, the US Navy said the Russian fighter jets had crossed directly into the American spy plane's flight path. It cautioned that "the Russian military is within its right to operate within international airspace, but they must behave within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent incidents". The Russian defence ministry, on the other hand, said the flight path of its plane was "in accordance with the international rules for the use of airspace". It said that the behaviour of its pilots was not in any way "non-standard" and that their actions were an attempt to "stop [the US plane] from violating the Russian Federation's airspace". The Russian government said once the US plane had moved away from the border, its fighter jet returned to base. ### Summary: A Russian fighter jet has crossed into US airspace, the US Navy has said. ### Text: The Russian military has said that its actions were in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace. ###

uk-northern-ireland-53501390

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-53501390

Coronavirus: 16 clusters of Covid-19 in NI identified

A cluster of cases of coronavirus has been identified in Northern Ireland.

By Louise CullenBBC News NI The PHA said 133 cases have been identified with these clusters, and that six clusters had more than five cases associated with them. The tracing scheme began in May. Clusters are defined as two or more laboratory test-confirmed cases among individuals associated with a key setting. A "key setting" is a workplace, educational establishment or similar setting. Because transmission risk is highest within a household, linked cases within one house are not reported as clusters because they will be identified by contact tracing. The PHA said clusters are to be expected as we move through the pandemic, and that the Test, Trace and Protect programme is in place to ensure people are tested when they have symptoms and their contacts traced quickly if they have a positive result. Identification could 'create stigma' Those contacts can then isolate to prevent further spread. The Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, who sits on the Health Committee in Stormont, had called on the PHA to "reveal the nature" of the clusters. But the PHA said it would not go into the detail of every incident that emerges, "as this could lead to people being identified, create stigma and focus attention on individuals, families or groups, and therefore deter others with symptoms coming forward to be tested." Any clusters with increasing numbers, complexity or sensitive issues are looked at by the Health Protection Team. They will carry out a rapid risk assessment, to decide if an Incident Management Team or Outbreak Control Team needs to be formed. If there is an increased risk to public health, the organisation said the public will be informed. Testing is available to anyone with symptoms of the virus - a raised temperature, a new continuous cough or a change in their sense of taste or smell - by booking online.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Louise CullenBBC News NI The PHA said 133 cases have been identified with these clusters, and that six clusters had more than five cases associated with them. The tracing scheme began in May. Clusters are defined as two or more laboratory test-confirmed cases among individuals associated with a key setting. A "key setting" is a workplace, educational establishment or similar setting. Because transmission risk is highest within a household, linked cases within one house are not reported as clusters because they will be identified by contact tracing. The PHA said clusters are to be expected as we move through the pandemic, and that the Test, Trace and Protect programme is in place to ensure people are tested when they have symptoms and their contacts traced quickly if they have a positive result. Identification could 'create stigma' Those contacts can then isolate to prevent further spread. The Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, who sits on the Health Committee in Stormont, had called on the PHA to "reveal the nature" of the clusters. But the PHA said it would not go into the detail of every incident that emerges, "as this could lead to people being identified, create stigma and focus attention on individuals, families or groups, and therefore deter others with symptoms coming forward to be tested." Any clusters with increasing numbers, complexity or sensitive issues are looked at by the Health Protection Team. They will carry out a rapid risk assessment, to decide if an Incident Management Team or Outbreak Control Team needs to be formed. If there is an increased risk to public health, the organisation said the public will be informed. Testing is available to anyone with symptoms of the virus - a raised temperature, a new continuous cough or a change in their sense of taste or smell - by booking online. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Louise CullenBBC News NI The PHA said 133 cases have been identified with these clusters, and that six clusters had more than five cases associated with them. The tracing scheme began in May. Clusters are defined as two or more laboratory test-confirmed cases among individuals associated with a key setting. A "key setting" is a workplace, educational establishment or similar setting. Because transmission risk is highest within a household, linked cases within one house are not reported as clusters because they will be identified by contact tracing. The PHA said clusters are to be expected as we move through the pandemic, and that the Test, Trace and Protect programme is in place to ensure people are tested when they have symptoms and their contacts traced quickly if they have a positive result. Identification could 'create stigma' Those contacts can then isolate to prevent further spread. The Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, who sits on the Health Committee in Stormont, had called on the PHA to "reveal the nature" of the clusters. But the PHA said it would not go into the detail of every incident that emerges, "as this could lead to people being identified, create stigma and focus attention on individuals, families or groups, and therefore deter others with symptoms coming forward to be tested." Any clusters with increasing numbers, complexity or sensitive issues are looked at by the Health Protection Team. They will carry out a rapid risk assessment, to decide if an Incident Management Team or Outbreak Control Team needs to be formed. If there is an increased risk to public health, the organisation said the public will be informed. Testing is available to anyone with symptoms of the virus - a raised temperature, a new continuous cough or a change in their sense of taste or smell - by booking online. ### Summary: A cluster of cases of coronavirus has been identified in Northern Ireland. ### Next steps: The PHA said it would not go into the detail of every incident that emerges, "as this could lead to people being identified

education-37716005

https://www.bbc.com/news/education-37716005

Why do Finnish pupils succeed with less homework?

Finland is in sixth place for maths and science in the OECD's Pisa tests.

Sean CoughlanEducation correspondent@seanjcoughlanon Twitter The question gets to the heart of a lot of parental angst about hard work and too much pressure on children in school. Parents facing all those kitchen table arguments over homework might wonder about its value if the Finns are getting on just fine without burning the midnight oil. As the OECD think tank says: "One of the most striking facts about Finnish schools is that their students have fewer hours of instruction than students in any other OECD country." Long summer holidays It also touches on another tension between schools and families - the increased cost of summer holidays. While children in England and Wales are still toiling away in school into the middle of July, the Finns have already been on holiday for six weeks, in a summer break that lasts 10 to 11 weeks. And completing this picture of less is more, Finnish children do not in theory have to start school until they are seven - although most will have been in classes from an earlier age. But when it comes to the international Pisa tests, Finland is in sixth place and the UK is 23rd in reading; and Finland is 12th and the UK is 26th in maths. Another set of OECD global rankings last year put Finland in sixth place for maths and science. So what's going on? How do the Finns seem to start later, have fewer lessons and then finish ahead? Finland, as part of its centenary commemorations next year, has a project to share what works in its schools with other countries. Saku Tuominen, director of this HundrEd project, says parents in Finland don't really want longer hours in school. He says there is a "holistic" approach to education, with parents wanting a family-friendly approach. Why Sean wrote this article: We asked readers to send BBC Education correspondent Sean Coughlan their questions on schools. Sean chose four questions, and we asked you to select your favourite, which came from Lukas Milancius, a 16-year-old student. Lukas asked: "How come Finland has shorter days and no homework for students and yet is achieving more?" Lukas explained to us the thinking behind his question: "I want to know why other countries are not adopting this education system. I find myself to be in a difficult situation where I am obliged to do a lot of homework and attend long school days which leaves me with hardly any time for me to do other activities." Respect for teachers There is little homework, compared with UK schools, and there is no culture of extra private tuition. A key concept in the Finnish school system, says Mr Tuominen, is "trust". Parents trust schools to make the right decisions and to deliver a good education within the school day - and schools put trust in the quality of their teachers. Teaching is a high-status job in Finland and teachers are accorded a great deal of professional independence. It's a different philosophy from the system in England, says Mr Tuominen, which he sees as being built around a check-list of tests, league tables, targets and public accountability. He describes the amount of testing as the "tail wagging the dog". But before making any assumptions that the laid-back Finnish approach must be the way forward, you could just as easily look to the educational hot houses of Singapore or South Korea. Their children also do better than those in UK schools, but with an entirely different cultural approach, based on long hours and relentless pressure. 'Long-term planning' This raises the question as to whether school systems, rather than shaping the next generation, simply mirror the society that's already there. And in the case of Finland, Mr Tuominen says the Finnish school system is inseparable from the culture which it serves. He says it's a "socially cohesive", equitable and efficient society, and it gets a consistently reliable school system to match. This might sound as if countries are stuck forever with the school system that they've inherited. But it's worth mentioning that there is nothing inevitable about Finland's success. It's built on the foundations of reforms introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, which turned an ordinary school system into a world leader. Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, picks out this "stability" beyond the electoral cycle as the key difference. "In Finland there's a long-term approach to education policy that means plans remain in place for a significant amount of time, giving them a chance to work," he says. "In England the opposite is true. The government is constantly tinkering with policy and there's an obsession with structure - such as grammar schools and academies - rather than a focus on evidence." But there are no signs of cutting back on days or hours in the UK. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are already above the OECD average for the number of days taught. And in England, this year's Budget in fact promised extra funding for extended days in secondary schools. Pupils in England already get an average of 150 hours extra teaching per year than their Finnish counterparts. Homework works The OECD's education director, Andreas Schleicher, says extra hours are linked to better results. "You teach one hour of science more per week and you will see that reflected in higher average scores," he says. But that doesn't mean it's going to be enough to catch up - because countries such as Finland, he says, can "deliver greater value in learning in fewer hours". There is another big question raised by this balancing act between quantity and quality. If there were shorter hours and longer holidays for schools, what would it mean for working parents and the cost of childcare? There's also bad news on the homework front. Even if the Finns don't need it, research suggests it makes a positive difference. Prof Susan Hallam from the Institute of Education says there is "hard evidence" that homework really does improve how well pupils achieve. "There is no question about that," she says. A study for the Department for Education found students who did two to three hours of homework per night were almost 10 times more likely to achieve five good GCSEs than those who did no homework So back to the late night arguments over unfinished homework. Do you want to get involved with our coverage? Why not send us a question you'd like Sean to investigate? This time we're after your question on universities. Take a look at some of the other questions you've wanted us to answer: Why does the NHS spend on homeopathy? Could the UK take on EU trade deals? Pound fall: 'Should I get my dollars now or should I wait?' Does fracking affect the water supply? If you are reading this page on the BBC News app, you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Sean CoughlanEducation correspondent@seanjcoughlanon Twitter The question gets to the heart of a lot of parental angst about hard work and too much pressure on children in school. Parents facing all those kitchen table arguments over homework might wonder about its value if the Finns are getting on just fine without burning the midnight oil. As the OECD think tank says: "One of the most striking facts about Finnish schools is that their students have fewer hours of instruction than students in any other OECD country." Long summer holidays It also touches on another tension between schools and families - the increased cost of summer holidays. While children in England and Wales are still toiling away in school into the middle of July, the Finns have already been on holiday for six weeks, in a summer break that lasts 10 to 11 weeks. And completing this picture of less is more, Finnish children do not in theory have to start school until they are seven - although most will have been in classes from an earlier age. But when it comes to the international Pisa tests, Finland is in sixth place and the UK is 23rd in reading; and Finland is 12th and the UK is 26th in maths. Another set of OECD global rankings last year put Finland in sixth place for maths and science. So what's going on? How do the Finns seem to start later, have fewer lessons and then finish ahead? Finland, as part of its centenary commemorations next year, has a project to share what works in its schools with other countries. Saku Tuominen, director of this HundrEd project, says parents in Finland don't really want longer hours in school. He says there is a "holistic" approach to education, with parents wanting a family-friendly approach. Why Sean wrote this article: We asked readers to send BBC Education correspondent Sean Coughlan their questions on schools. Sean chose four questions, and we asked you to select your favourite, which came from Lukas Milancius, a 16-year-old student. Lukas asked: "How come Finland has shorter days and no homework for students and yet is achieving more?" Lukas explained to us the thinking behind his question: "I want to know why other countries are not adopting this education system. I find myself to be in a difficult situation where I am obliged to do a lot of homework and attend long school days which leaves me with hardly any time for me to do other activities." Respect for teachers There is little homework, compared with UK schools, and there is no culture of extra private tuition. A key concept in the Finnish school system, says Mr Tuominen, is "trust". Parents trust schools to make the right decisions and to deliver a good education within the school day - and schools put trust in the quality of their teachers. Teaching is a high-status job in Finland and teachers are accorded a great deal of professional independence. It's a different philosophy from the system in England, says Mr Tuominen, which he sees as being built around a check-list of tests, league tables, targets and public accountability. He describes the amount of testing as the "tail wagging the dog". But before making any assumptions that the laid-back Finnish approach must be the way forward, you could just as easily look to the educational hot houses of Singapore or South Korea. Their children also do better than those in UK schools, but with an entirely different cultural approach, based on long hours and relentless pressure. 'Long-term planning' This raises the question as to whether school systems, rather than shaping the next generation, simply mirror the society that's already there. And in the case of Finland, Mr Tuominen says the Finnish school system is inseparable from the culture which it serves. He says it's a "socially cohesive", equitable and efficient society, and it gets a consistently reliable school system to match. This might sound as if countries are stuck forever with the school system that they've inherited. But it's worth mentioning that there is nothing inevitable about Finland's success. It's built on the foundations of reforms introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, which turned an ordinary school system into a world leader. Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, picks out this "stability" beyond the electoral cycle as the key difference. "In Finland there's a long-term approach to education policy that means plans remain in place for a significant amount of time, giving them a chance to work," he says. "In England the opposite is true. The government is constantly tinkering with policy and there's an obsession with structure - such as grammar schools and academies - rather than a focus on evidence." But there are no signs of cutting back on days or hours in the UK. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are already above the OECD average for the number of days taught. And in England, this year's Budget in fact promised extra funding for extended days in secondary schools. Pupils in England ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Sean CoughlanEducation correspondent@seanjcoughlanon Twitter The question gets to the heart of a lot of parental angst about hard work and too much pressure on children in school. Parents facing all those kitchen table arguments over homework might wonder about its value if the Finns are getting on just fine without burning the midnight oil. As the OECD think tank says: "One of the most striking facts about Finnish schools is that their students have fewer hours of instruction than students in any other OECD country." Long summer holidays It also touches on another tension between schools and families - the increased cost of summer holidays. While children in England and Wales are still toiling away in school into the middle of July, the Finns have already been on holiday for six weeks, in a summer break that lasts 10 to 11 weeks. And completing this picture of less is more, Finnish children do not in theory have to start school until they are seven - although most will have been in classes from an earlier age. But when it comes to the international Pisa tests, Finland is in sixth place and the UK is 23rd in reading; and Finland is 12th and the UK is 26th in maths. Another set of OECD global rankings last year put Finland in sixth place for maths and science. So what's going on? How do the Finns seem to start later, have fewer lessons and then finish ahead? Finland, as part of its centenary commemorations next year, has a project to share what works in its schools with other countries. Saku Tuominen, director of this HundrEd project, says parents in Finland don't really want longer hours in school. He says there is a "holistic" approach to education, with parents wanting a family-friendly approach. Why Sean wrote this article: We asked readers to send BBC Education correspondent Sean Coughlan their questions on schools. Sean chose four questions, and we asked you to select your favourite, which came from Lukas Milancius, a 16-year-old student. Lukas asked: "How come Finland has shorter days and no homework for students and yet is achieving more?" Lukas explained to us the thinking behind his question: "I want to know why other countries are not adopting this education system. I find myself to be in a difficult situation where I am obliged to do a lot of homework and attend long school days which leaves me with hardly any time for me to do other activities." Respect for teachers There is little homework, compared with UK schools, and there is no culture of extra private tuition. A key concept in the Finnish school system, says Mr Tuominen, is "trust". Parents trust schools to make the right decisions and to deliver a good education within the school day - and schools put trust in the quality of their teachers. Teaching is a high-status job in Finland and teachers are accorded a great deal of professional independence. It's a different philosophy from the system in England, says Mr Tuominen, which he sees as being built around a check-list of tests, league tables, targets and public accountability. He describes the amount of testing as the "tail wagging the dog". But before making any assumptions that the laid-back Finnish approach must be the way forward, you could just as easily look to the educational hot houses of Singapore or South Korea. Their children also do better than those in UK schools, but with an entirely different cultural approach, based on long hours and relentless pressure. 'Long-term planning' This raises the question as to whether school systems, rather than shaping the next generation, simply mirror the society that's already there. And in the case of Finland, Mr Tuominen says the Finnish school system is inseparable from the culture which it serves. He says it's a "socially cohesive", equitable and efficient society, and it gets a consistently reliable school system to match. This might sound as if countries are stuck forever with the school system that they've inherited. But it's worth mentioning that there is nothing inevitable about Finland's success. It's built on the foundations of reforms introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, which turned an ordinary school system into a world leader. Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, picks out this "stability" beyond the electoral cycle as the key difference. "In Finland there's a long-term approach to education policy that means plans remain in place for a significant amount of time, giving them a chance to work," he says. "In England the opposite is true. The government is constantly tinkering with policy and there's an obsession with structure - such as grammar schools and academies - rather than a focus on evidence." But there are no signs of cutting back on days or hours in the UK. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are already above the OECD average for the number of days taught. And in England, this year's Budget in fact promised extra funding for extended days in secondary schools. Pupils in England ### Summary: Finland is in sixth place for maths and science in the OECD's Pisa tests. ### Next: The UK is in sixth place for maths and science in the OECD's Pisa tests.

uk-england-derbyshire-56799914

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-56799914

Derbyshire woman jailed for sexual assault and abduction of boy

A woman who sexually assaulted a boy has been jailed for six years.

Derby Crown Court heard Debbie Yates "rewarded" the boy with sweets and money in exchange for sexual touching over several months in 2017. The 38-year-old, of Swadlincote Road in Woodville, Derbyshire, was convicted by a jury last month following a trial. Judge Robert Egbuna, sentencing, described her as "both manipulative and deceitful". The court heard Yates had been asked to look after the victim by his mother. Judge Egbuna said: "She trusted you to tend to [his] welfare, but unbeknown to her, you effectively started to groom and sexually assault her child." After being with Yates the victim's behaviour began to change, the court heard, which was noticed by staff at his school as well as the boy's mother. Yates gave the boy sweets and gifts and took him away from his friends to continue a relationship, and also gave him a key to her house. It led to the boy believing he was in love with her, the court heard, after which his attendance at school was affected. Concerns led to Yates being issued with an abduction notice preventing her from seeing the boy in September 2017, but she was found lying in bushes with him three months later. A jury found Yates guilty of three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and child abduction after a trial. As well as a custodial sentence, she was issued with a sexual harm prevention order. 'Immense bravery' Judge Egbuna said Yates was "showering" the boy with sweets and gifts "to gain his trust", adding the abuse "has had a significant impact" on the victim. "You are both manipulative and deceitful," he said. "These are traits that allowed you to groom this young boy." Det Con Claire McKeown, of Derbyshire Police, said: "The young victim showed immense bravery throughout, both in coming forward and for telling the court what had happened to him. "I hope this sentence will be a step towards him moving forward with his life and finding closure." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. Related Internet Links HM Courts & Tribunals Service

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Derby Crown Court heard Debbie Yates "rewarded" the boy with sweets and money in exchange for sexual touching over several months in 2017. The 38-year-old, of Swadlincote Road in Woodville, Derbyshire, was convicted by a jury last month following a trial. Judge Robert Egbuna, sentencing, described her as "both manipulative and deceitful". The court heard Yates had been asked to look after the victim by his mother. Judge Egbuna said: "She trusted you to tend to [his] welfare, but unbeknown to her, you effectively started to groom and sexually assault her child." After being with Yates the victim's behaviour began to change, the court heard, which was noticed by staff at his school as well as the boy's mother. Yates gave the boy sweets and gifts and took him away from his friends to continue a relationship, and also gave him a key to her house. It led to the boy believing he was in love with her, the court heard, after which his attendance at school was affected. Concerns led to Yates being issued with an abduction notice preventing her from seeing the boy in September 2017, but she was found lying in bushes with him three months later. A jury found Yates guilty of three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and child abduction after a trial. As well as a custodial sentence, she was issued with a sexual harm prevention order. 'Immense bravery' Judge Egbuna said Yates was "showering" the boy with sweets and gifts "to gain his trust", adding the abuse "has had a significant impact" on the victim. "You are both manipulative and deceitful," he said. "These are traits that allowed you to groom this young boy." Det Con Claire McKeown, of Derbyshire Police, said: "The young victim showed immense bravery throughout, both in coming forward and for telling the court what had happened to him. "I hope this sentence will be a step towards him moving forward with his life and finding closure." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. Related Internet Links HM Courts & Tribunals Service ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Derby Crown Court heard Debbie Yates "rewarded" the boy with sweets and money in exchange for sexual touching over several months in 2017. The 38-year-old, of Swadlincote Road in Woodville, Derbyshire, was convicted by a jury last month following a trial. Judge Robert Egbuna, sentencing, described her as "both manipulative and deceitful". The court heard Yates had been asked to look after the victim by his mother. Judge Egbuna said: "She trusted you to tend to [his] welfare, but unbeknown to her, you effectively started to groom and sexually assault her child." After being with Yates the victim's behaviour began to change, the court heard, which was noticed by staff at his school as well as the boy's mother. Yates gave the boy sweets and gifts and took him away from his friends to continue a relationship, and also gave him a key to her house. It led to the boy believing he was in love with her, the court heard, after which his attendance at school was affected. Concerns led to Yates being issued with an abduction notice preventing her from seeing the boy in September 2017, but she was found lying in bushes with him three months later. A jury found Yates guilty of three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and child abduction after a trial. As well as a custodial sentence, she was issued with a sexual harm prevention order. 'Immense bravery' Judge Egbuna said Yates was "showering" the boy with sweets and gifts "to gain his trust", adding the abuse "has had a significant impact" on the victim. "You are both manipulative and deceitful," he said. "These are traits that allowed you to groom this young boy." Det Con Claire McKeown, of Derbyshire Police, said: "The young victim showed immense bravery throughout, both in coming forward and for telling the court what had happened to him. "I hope this sentence will be a step towards him moving forward with his life and finding closure." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. Related Internet Links HM Courts & Tribunals Service ### Summary: A woman who sexually assaulted a boy has been jailed for six years. ### Next: A woman who sexually assaulted a boy has been jailed for six years. ### Next: A woman

uk-england-11083576

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-11083576

Volunteers catch speeding drivers in County Durham

A scheme to speed up traffic on roads in County Durham has been rolled out.

The Community Speedwatch scheme is being rolled out across County Durham after it was piloted in a number of areas since last year. Volunteers equipped with speed guns work with police officers and police community support officers to monitor traffic. Speeding drivers who are caught through the scheme cannot be prosecuted but may receive warning letters. Successful initiative A Speedwatch operation can be set up if speeding is identified as an issue by police and the community. It is being used on stretches of road where there is a 30mph or 40mph speed limit. Ch Insp Andy Huddleston said: "Local people are telling us this is an initiative which works very well and that they want to play a greater role in how this equipment can be used. "We are now rolling out training so that volunteers can perform additional checks." Data collected during the operation will be looked at by Durham Police's traffic management specialists who will decide is further measures are needed.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The Community Speedwatch scheme is being rolled out across County Durham after it was piloted in a number of areas since last year. Volunteers equipped with speed guns work with police officers and police community support officers to monitor traffic. Speeding drivers who are caught through the scheme cannot be prosecuted but may receive warning letters. Successful initiative A Speedwatch operation can be set up if speeding is identified as an issue by police and the community. It is being used on stretches of road where there is a 30mph or 40mph speed limit. Ch Insp Andy Huddleston said: "Local people are telling us this is an initiative which works very well and that they want to play a greater role in how this equipment can be used. "We are now rolling out training so that volunteers can perform additional checks." Data collected during the operation will be looked at by Durham Police's traffic management specialists who will decide is further measures are needed. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The Community Speedwatch scheme is being rolled out across County Durham after it was piloted in a number of areas since last year. Volunteers equipped with speed guns work with police officers and police community support officers to monitor traffic. Speeding drivers who are caught through the scheme cannot be prosecuted but may receive warning letters. Successful initiative A Speedwatch operation can be set up if speeding is identified as an issue by police and the community. It is being used on stretches of road where there is a 30mph or 40mph speed limit. Ch Insp Andy Huddleston said: "Local people are telling us this is an initiative which works very well and that they want to play a greater role in how this equipment can be used. "We are now rolling out training so that volunteers can perform additional checks." Data collected during the operation will be looked at by Durham Police's traffic management specialists who will decide is further measures are needed. ### Summary: A scheme to speed up traffic on roads in County Durham has been rolled out. ### Next steps: The scheme is being rolled out across County Durham after it was piloted in a number of areas. ### In

uk-politics-52964429

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-52964429

'No-fault' divorce bill backed by MPs

The government has passed a bill to change divorce laws.

It passed its first hurdle in the Commons by 231 votes to 16 against, following a debate. Currently, in order to start divorce proceedings immediately, one spouse has to allege adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion has taken place. Under the proposed law, they will only have to state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill - which has been passed by the House of Lords - also removes the possibility of contesting the decision to divorce. At the moment, someone wishing to obtain a divorce without the consent of their spouse must live apart from them for five years. Divorce proceedings will still be challengeable on certain grounds including fraud and coercion. Currently fewer than 2% of divorce cases are contested. The bill also introduces a new option, allowing couples to jointly apply for a divorce, where the decision to separate is a mutual one. And it replaces the terms "decree nisi" and "decree absolute" with "conditional order" and "final order". "Petitioners" will also become "applicants". Under the proposals, there must be a minimum six-month period between the lodging of a petition to the divorce being made final. 'Painful process' Opening the debate, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the bill will seek to make separation "less traumatic". He told MPs: "No-one sets out thinking that their marriage is going to end, no-one wants their marriage to break down, none of us are therefore indifferent when a couple's lifelong commitment has sadly deteriorated. "It is a very sad circumstance but the law, I believe, should reduce conflict when it arises. "Where divorce is inevitable, this bill seeks to make the legal process less painful." Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis said he had to put the blame on his partner during his own divorce, saying: "I would have preferred to have had a no-fault divorce. "It's a very painful process." But, raising concerns about the bill, the DUP's Jim Shannon said: "More funding must be allocated to counselling services to provide trained help for those in marriage difficulties and to prioritise saving a marriage." Mr Buckland replied: "It is, I think, the sad experience that by the time a decision to issue a divorce petition has been made then matters have sadly gone beyond that." Labour's shadow justice secretary David Lammy says his party welcomed the bill as it offers a "common-sense approach" and respects the institution of marriage and civil partnerships. He said the new law "will promote conciliations and compromise" and it will reduce legal costs which can reach "eye-watering sums quite unnecessarily". The bill cleared its first hurdle - its second reading - in the House of Commons; despite some Conservatives expressing opposition. In a letter to the Telegraph, MPs including Sir Desmond Swayne, Sir John Hayes and Fiona Bruce urged the government to focus on helping couples reconcile instead of "undermining the commitment of marriage". They said the bill was badly-timed, arguing that many "otherwise durable" marriages were under "intense Covid-related strain". 'Blame game' The move to change divorce laws was partly prompted by the case of Tini Owens - a woman from Worcestershire who wanted to divorce her husband of 40 years. However, because her husband contested the split, the law stated she could only obtain a divorce by living apart from him for five years. Mrs Owens said she was "desperately unhappy" in the marriage but Mr Owens disagreed and said the couple still had a "few years" to enjoy. In 2018, her case was heard and rejected by Supreme Court justices - one of whom said, they had ruled against Mrs Owens with "no enthusiasm whatsoever" and that it was up to Parliament to change the law. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We will always uphold the institution of marriage. But when divorce cannot be avoided, the law must not create conflict between couples that so often harms the children involved. "Our reforms remove the needless 'blame game', while ensuring there is a minimum six-month time frame to allow for reflection and the opportunity to turn back."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: It passed its first hurdle in the Commons by 231 votes to 16 against, following a debate. Currently, in order to start divorce proceedings immediately, one spouse has to allege adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion has taken place. Under the proposed law, they will only have to state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill - which has been passed by the House of Lords - also removes the possibility of contesting the decision to divorce. At the moment, someone wishing to obtain a divorce without the consent of their spouse must live apart from them for five years. Divorce proceedings will still be challengeable on certain grounds including fraud and coercion. Currently fewer than 2% of divorce cases are contested. The bill also introduces a new option, allowing couples to jointly apply for a divorce, where the decision to separate is a mutual one. And it replaces the terms "decree nisi" and "decree absolute" with "conditional order" and "final order". "Petitioners" will also become "applicants". Under the proposals, there must be a minimum six-month period between the lodging of a petition to the divorce being made final. 'Painful process' Opening the debate, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the bill will seek to make separation "less traumatic". He told MPs: "No-one sets out thinking that their marriage is going to end, no-one wants their marriage to break down, none of us are therefore indifferent when a couple's lifelong commitment has sadly deteriorated. "It is a very sad circumstance but the law, I believe, should reduce conflict when it arises. "Where divorce is inevitable, this bill seeks to make the legal process less painful." Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis said he had to put the blame on his partner during his own divorce, saying: "I would have preferred to have had a no-fault divorce. "It's a very painful process." But, raising concerns about the bill, the DUP's Jim Shannon said: "More funding must be allocated to counselling services to provide trained help for those in marriage difficulties and to prioritise saving a marriage." Mr Buckland replied: "It is, I think, the sad experience that by the time a decision to issue a divorce petition has been made then matters have sadly gone beyond that." Labour's shadow justice secretary David Lammy says his party welcomed the bill as it offers a "common-sense approach" and respects the institution of marriage and civil partnerships. He said the new law "will promote conciliations and compromise" and it will reduce legal costs which can reach "eye-watering sums quite unnecessarily". The bill cleared its first hurdle - its second reading - in the House of Commons; despite some Conservatives expressing opposition. In a letter to the Telegraph, MPs including Sir Desmond Swayne, Sir John Hayes and Fiona Bruce urged the government to focus on helping couples reconcile instead of "undermining the commitment of marriage". They said the bill was badly-timed, arguing that many "otherwise durable" marriages were under "intense Covid-related strain". 'Blame game' The move to change divorce laws was partly prompted by the case of Tini Owens - a woman from Worcestershire who wanted to divorce her husband of 40 years. However, because her husband contested the split, the law stated she could only obtain a divorce by living apart from him for five years. Mrs Owens said she was "desperately unhappy" in the marriage but Mr Owens disagreed and said the couple still had a "few years" to enjoy. In 2018, her case was heard and rejected by Supreme Court justices - one of whom said, they had ruled against Mrs Owens with "no enthusiasm whatsoever" and that it was up to Parliament to change the law. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We will always uphold the institution of marriage. But when divorce cannot be avoided, the law must not create conflict between couples that so often harms the children involved. "Our reforms remove the needless 'blame game', while ensuring there is a minimum six-month time frame to allow for reflection and the opportunity to turn back." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: It passed its first hurdle in the Commons by 231 votes to 16 against, following a debate. Currently, in order to start divorce proceedings immediately, one spouse has to allege adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion has taken place. Under the proposed law, they will only have to state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill - which has been passed by the House of Lords - also removes the possibility of contesting the decision to divorce. At the moment, someone wishing to obtain a divorce without the consent of their spouse must live apart from them for five years. Divorce proceedings will still be challengeable on certain grounds including fraud and coercion. Currently fewer than 2% of divorce cases are contested. The bill also introduces a new option, allowing couples to jointly apply for a divorce, where the decision to separate is a mutual one. And it replaces the terms "decree nisi" and "decree absolute" with "conditional order" and "final order". "Petitioners" will also become "applicants". Under the proposals, there must be a minimum six-month period between the lodging of a petition to the divorce being made final. 'Painful process' Opening the debate, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the bill will seek to make separation "less traumatic". He told MPs: "No-one sets out thinking that their marriage is going to end, no-one wants their marriage to break down, none of us are therefore indifferent when a couple's lifelong commitment has sadly deteriorated. "It is a very sad circumstance but the law, I believe, should reduce conflict when it arises. "Where divorce is inevitable, this bill seeks to make the legal process less painful." Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis said he had to put the blame on his partner during his own divorce, saying: "I would have preferred to have had a no-fault divorce. "It's a very painful process." But, raising concerns about the bill, the DUP's Jim Shannon said: "More funding must be allocated to counselling services to provide trained help for those in marriage difficulties and to prioritise saving a marriage." Mr Buckland replied: "It is, I think, the sad experience that by the time a decision to issue a divorce petition has been made then matters have sadly gone beyond that." Labour's shadow justice secretary David Lammy says his party welcomed the bill as it offers a "common-sense approach" and respects the institution of marriage and civil partnerships. He said the new law "will promote conciliations and compromise" and it will reduce legal costs which can reach "eye-watering sums quite unnecessarily". The bill cleared its first hurdle - its second reading - in the House of Commons; despite some Conservatives expressing opposition. In a letter to the Telegraph, MPs including Sir Desmond Swayne, Sir John Hayes and Fiona Bruce urged the government to focus on helping couples reconcile instead of "undermining the commitment of marriage". They said the bill was badly-timed, arguing that many "otherwise durable" marriages were under "intense Covid-related strain". 'Blame game' The move to change divorce laws was partly prompted by the case of Tini Owens - a woman from Worcestershire who wanted to divorce her husband of 40 years. However, because her husband contested the split, the law stated she could only obtain a divorce by living apart from him for five years. Mrs Owens said she was "desperately unhappy" in the marriage but Mr Owens disagreed and said the couple still had a "few years" to enjoy. In 2018, her case was heard and rejected by Supreme Court justices - one of whom said, they had ruled against Mrs Owens with "no enthusiasm whatsoever" and that it was up to Parliament to change the law. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We will always uphold the institution of marriage. But when divorce cannot be avoided, the law must not create conflict between couples that so often harms the children involved. "Our reforms remove the needless 'blame game', while ensuring there is a minimum six-month time frame to allow for reflection and the opportunity to turn back." ### Summary: The government has passed a bill to change divorce laws. ### Spelling and grammar The bill will seek to make the legal process less painful. The bill will also introduce a new option, allowing couples to joint

world-us-canada-46190118

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46190118

California fires: At least 42 die in state's deadliest wildfire

The death toll from the Camp Fire in California has risen to 228, according to the state's fire department.

The remains were found in and around the largely incinerated town of Paradise, in the north of the state. At least 228 people are missing as the Camp Fire continues to rage. Nearly 7,200 structures have been destroyed, and another 15,500 are at risk. The fire has now surpassed the 1933 Griffith Park disaster that killed 31. Speaking at a news conference on Monday evening, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed the number of dead, and the official number of missing. Many more people are said to be unaccounted for. In the south of the state, other wildfires are menacing lives and property. The Woolsey Fire has so far killed two people, damaging beach resorts, including Malibu. More than 300,000 locals have been forced to flee their homes across California. President Donald Trump has declared a "major disaster" in the state, making federal aid available to affected residents. How did people die? Paradise and its surrounding areas bore the brunt of the Camp Fire - the largest blaze - which started in nearby forest on Thursday. Some bodies were found in gutted cars that were overrun by the fast-moving fire, as residents scrambled to evacuate. Sorrell Bobrink, a Paradise resident who managed to drive away with her child, told BBC World Service radio she had first been woken up and alerted by a phone call from a friend. Describing the scene as "exactly like any apocalyptic movie I have ever seen", she said she had not known if she was driving towards death or out of harm's way as the sky blackened. "I had to drive through the fire - it was awful. It was probably the most awful experience I will have in my life," she told the Newsday programme. "It was traumatising, we will be traumatised for a long time. My whole community was traumatised - I can't watch the videos anymore because I actually went through it." Many of the victims are believed to be elderly residents or people with mobility issues who would find evacuating more difficult. Forensic experts are stepping up their search in the ruins of Paradise but officials warn that finding the bodies could take weeks. Cadaver dogs are being brought in by local police to try and locate the dead, and two mobile army morgues will be used to help identify them. The fire has burned more than 111,000 acres (45,000 hectares) and is nearly 25% contained, fire officials say. What about further south? The separate Woolsey Fire started on Thursday near Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64km) north-west of central Los Angeles. It has consumed at least 85,500 acres and destroyed at least 177 buildings, officials say. It is only 10% contained. The smaller Hill Fire, nearby, has scorched 4,530 acres and is 75% contained. Luxury homes in Malibu and other beach communities are among the properties destroyed. The nearby city of Calabasas, home to well-known celebrities, remains under a mandatory evacuation order. Why are the fires so bad? Historically, California's "wildfire season" started in summer and ran into early autumn but experts have warned that the risk is now year-round. The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating what sparked the latest blazes - amid reports electrical companies may have suffered malfunctions near the sources shortly before the fires began. Low humidity, warm Santa Ana winds and dry ground after a rain-free month have produced a prime fire-spreading environment. The state's 40 million-strong population also helps explain the fires' deadliness. That number is almost double what it was in the 1970s, and people are living closer to at-risk forest areas. And then there is climate change. Recent years have produced record-breaking temperatures, earlier springs and less reliable rainfall. Citing the role of a warming climate, Governor Jerry Brown declared: "This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal." Thousands of firefighters, some from across the US, have been brought in to help battle the blazes.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The remains were found in and around the largely incinerated town of Paradise, in the north of the state. At least 228 people are missing as the Camp Fire continues to rage. Nearly 7,200 structures have been destroyed, and another 15,500 are at risk. The fire has now surpassed the 1933 Griffith Park disaster that killed 31. Speaking at a news conference on Monday evening, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed the number of dead, and the official number of missing. Many more people are said to be unaccounted for. In the south of the state, other wildfires are menacing lives and property. The Woolsey Fire has so far killed two people, damaging beach resorts, including Malibu. More than 300,000 locals have been forced to flee their homes across California. President Donald Trump has declared a "major disaster" in the state, making federal aid available to affected residents. How did people die? Paradise and its surrounding areas bore the brunt of the Camp Fire - the largest blaze - which started in nearby forest on Thursday. Some bodies were found in gutted cars that were overrun by the fast-moving fire, as residents scrambled to evacuate. Sorrell Bobrink, a Paradise resident who managed to drive away with her child, told BBC World Service radio she had first been woken up and alerted by a phone call from a friend. Describing the scene as "exactly like any apocalyptic movie I have ever seen", she said she had not known if she was driving towards death or out of harm's way as the sky blackened. "I had to drive through the fire - it was awful. It was probably the most awful experience I will have in my life," she told the Newsday programme. "It was traumatising, we will be traumatised for a long time. My whole community was traumatised - I can't watch the videos anymore because I actually went through it." Many of the victims are believed to be elderly residents or people with mobility issues who would find evacuating more difficult. Forensic experts are stepping up their search in the ruins of Paradise but officials warn that finding the bodies could take weeks. Cadaver dogs are being brought in by local police to try and locate the dead, and two mobile army morgues will be used to help identify them. The fire has burned more than 111,000 acres (45,000 hectares) and is nearly 25% contained, fire officials say. What about further south? The separate Woolsey Fire started on Thursday near Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64km) north-west of central Los Angeles. It has consumed at least 85,500 acres and destroyed at least 177 buildings, officials say. It is only 10% contained. The smaller Hill Fire, nearby, has scorched 4,530 acres and is 75% contained. Luxury homes in Malibu and other beach communities are among the properties destroyed. The nearby city of Calabasas, home to well-known celebrities, remains under a mandatory evacuation order. Why are the fires so bad? Historically, California's "wildfire season" started in summer and ran into early autumn but experts have warned that the risk is now year-round. The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating what sparked the latest blazes - amid reports electrical companies may have suffered malfunctions near the sources shortly before the fires began. Low humidity, warm Santa Ana winds and dry ground after a rain-free month have produced a prime fire-spreading environment. The state's 40 million-strong population also helps explain the fires' deadliness. That number is almost double what it was in the 1970s, and people are living closer to at-risk forest areas. And then there is climate change. Recent years have produced record-breaking temperatures, earlier springs and less reliable rainfall. Citing the role of a warming climate, Governor Jerry Brown declared: "This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal." Thousands of firefighters, some from across the US, have been brought in to help battle the blazes. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The remains were found in and around the largely incinerated town of Paradise, in the north of the state. At least 228 people are missing as the Camp Fire continues to rage. Nearly 7,200 structures have been destroyed, and another 15,500 are at risk. The fire has now surpassed the 1933 Griffith Park disaster that killed 31. Speaking at a news conference on Monday evening, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed the number of dead, and the official number of missing. Many more people are said to be unaccounted for. In the south of the state, other wildfires are menacing lives and property. The Woolsey Fire has so far killed two people, damaging beach resorts, including Malibu. More than 300,000 locals have been forced to flee their homes across California. President Donald Trump has declared a "major disaster" in the state, making federal aid available to affected residents. How did people die? Paradise and its surrounding areas bore the brunt of the Camp Fire - the largest blaze - which started in nearby forest on Thursday. Some bodies were found in gutted cars that were overrun by the fast-moving fire, as residents scrambled to evacuate. Sorrell Bobrink, a Paradise resident who managed to drive away with her child, told BBC World Service radio she had first been woken up and alerted by a phone call from a friend. Describing the scene as "exactly like any apocalyptic movie I have ever seen", she said she had not known if she was driving towards death or out of harm's way as the sky blackened. "I had to drive through the fire - it was awful. It was probably the most awful experience I will have in my life," she told the Newsday programme. "It was traumatising, we will be traumatised for a long time. My whole community was traumatised - I can't watch the videos anymore because I actually went through it." Many of the victims are believed to be elderly residents or people with mobility issues who would find evacuating more difficult. Forensic experts are stepping up their search in the ruins of Paradise but officials warn that finding the bodies could take weeks. Cadaver dogs are being brought in by local police to try and locate the dead, and two mobile army morgues will be used to help identify them. The fire has burned more than 111,000 acres (45,000 hectares) and is nearly 25% contained, fire officials say. What about further south? The separate Woolsey Fire started on Thursday near Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64km) north-west of central Los Angeles. It has consumed at least 85,500 acres and destroyed at least 177 buildings, officials say. It is only 10% contained. The smaller Hill Fire, nearby, has scorched 4,530 acres and is 75% contained. Luxury homes in Malibu and other beach communities are among the properties destroyed. The nearby city of Calabasas, home to well-known celebrities, remains under a mandatory evacuation order. Why are the fires so bad? Historically, California's "wildfire season" started in summer and ran into early autumn but experts have warned that the risk is now year-round. The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating what sparked the latest blazes - amid reports electrical companies may have suffered malfunctions near the sources shortly before the fires began. Low humidity, warm Santa Ana winds and dry ground after a rain-free month have produced a prime fire-spreading environment. The state's 40 million-strong population also helps explain the fires' deadliness. That number is almost double what it was in the 1970s, and people are living closer to at-risk forest areas. And then there is climate change. Recent years have produced record-breaking temperatures, earlier springs and less reliable rainfall. Citing the role of a warming climate, Governor Jerry Brown declared: "This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal." Thousands of firefighters, some from across the US, have been brought in to help battle the blazes. ### Summary: The death toll from the Camp Fire in California has risen to 228, according to the state's fire department. ### Text: The fire has killed at least 228 people, according to the

uk-northern-ireland-32708398

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-32708398

Health minister Simon Hamilton urges nurses to embrace reform

A health minister has said he does not need to be in his job for "one day, 100 days or even 1,000 days" to appreciate the "immense pressure" faced by everyone working in the modern health

Simon Hamilton spent his first day in the post meeting nurses at a conference in the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald. He said nurses were the cornerstone of the health service and praised their dedication. "When we are talking about budgets and shillings and pence, we don't think about people who are every day doing fantastic jobs," he said. "You have a unique role that sees you from the happiest to saddest times of life." Mr Hamilton said he did not need to be in his job for "one day, 100 days or even 1,000 days" to appreciate the "immense pressure" faced by everyone working in the modern health service. "Everybody understands and appreciates that, as our health service moves forward and we face the challenges in Northern Ireland and those faced by health services across the world, that we need to change how we do things - but we need to change how we do things for the better," he said. "We shouldn't be afraid of change, we shouldn't be afraid of reform, we shouldn't be afraid of transformation." He told the nurses and midwives who had gathered for a conference on Tuesday, International Nurses' Day, that they made "a wonderful difference" to the lives of people. "Our health service continues to experience significant pressures yet despite this, nurses ensure dignity and respect for everyone they care for," he said. "They are often the first person a patient sees when they come into contact with the health service and they remain in close contact throughout the patient's journey. The lasting impressions made by nurses underpin the continued respect and belief in our NHS and I thank them for that." Mr Hamilton said that he was "optimistic" that health workers would embrace "the transformation and change and reform that is required to ensure that our citizens get the standard of health and social care that they need".

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Simon Hamilton spent his first day in the post meeting nurses at a conference in the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald. He said nurses were the cornerstone of the health service and praised their dedication. "When we are talking about budgets and shillings and pence, we don't think about people who are every day doing fantastic jobs," he said. "You have a unique role that sees you from the happiest to saddest times of life." Mr Hamilton said he did not need to be in his job for "one day, 100 days or even 1,000 days" to appreciate the "immense pressure" faced by everyone working in the modern health service. "Everybody understands and appreciates that, as our health service moves forward and we face the challenges in Northern Ireland and those faced by health services across the world, that we need to change how we do things - but we need to change how we do things for the better," he said. "We shouldn't be afraid of change, we shouldn't be afraid of reform, we shouldn't be afraid of transformation." He told the nurses and midwives who had gathered for a conference on Tuesday, International Nurses' Day, that they made "a wonderful difference" to the lives of people. "Our health service continues to experience significant pressures yet despite this, nurses ensure dignity and respect for everyone they care for," he said. "They are often the first person a patient sees when they come into contact with the health service and they remain in close contact throughout the patient's journey. The lasting impressions made by nurses underpin the continued respect and belief in our NHS and I thank them for that." Mr Hamilton said that he was "optimistic" that health workers would embrace "the transformation and change and reform that is required to ensure that our citizens get the standard of health and social care that they need". ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Simon Hamilton spent his first day in the post meeting nurses at a conference in the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald. He said nurses were the cornerstone of the health service and praised their dedication. "When we are talking about budgets and shillings and pence, we don't think about people who are every day doing fantastic jobs," he said. "You have a unique role that sees you from the happiest to saddest times of life." Mr Hamilton said he did not need to be in his job for "one day, 100 days or even 1,000 days" to appreciate the "immense pressure" faced by everyone working in the modern health service. "Everybody understands and appreciates that, as our health service moves forward and we face the challenges in Northern Ireland and those faced by health services across the world, that we need to change how we do things - but we need to change how we do things for the better," he said. "We shouldn't be afraid of change, we shouldn't be afraid of reform, we shouldn't be afraid of transformation." He told the nurses and midwives who had gathered for a conference on Tuesday, International Nurses' Day, that they made "a wonderful difference" to the lives of people. "Our health service continues to experience significant pressures yet despite this, nurses ensure dignity and respect for everyone they care for," he said. "They are often the first person a patient sees when they come into contact with the health service and they remain in close contact throughout the patient's journey. The lasting impressions made by nurses underpin the continued respect and belief in our NHS and I thank them for that." Mr Hamilton said that he was "optimistic" that health workers would embrace "the transformation and change and reform that is required to ensure that our citizens get the standard of health and social care that they need". ### Summary: A health minister has said he does not need to be in his job for "one day, 100 days or even 1,000 days" to appreciate the "immense pressure" faced by everyone working in the modern health

uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45208426

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45208426

CCTV bid to protect memorials to murdered Scots soldiers

A memorial to the three Scottish soldiers killed in Northern Ireland has been desecrated 27 times since 2010.

Dougald McCaughey, 23, from Glasgow, and Ayr brothers John, 17, and Joseph McCaig, 18, were shot dead in 1971. Tributes to the Royal Highland Fusiliers at White Brae, Ligoniel and at Ballysillan in Belfast have been desecrated 27 times since 2010. Graffiti and paint have been used to deface the memorials. In a bid to protect them Kris McGurk, director of the Three Scottish Soldiers Campaign for Justice group, wrote to Belfast City Council on Wednesday to request CCTV cameras at the sites. 'Deliberate disrespect' Earlier this week the soldiers' families issued a statement after the latest incident, which involved the theft of a stone flower pot. They claim the memorials are damaged more than any others in the region. The statement said: "To desecrate a memorial is a terrible shame, regardless if the attack is on the memorials or anything placed by them - the principle is the same. "Our boys did not belong to gangs, they did not seek trouble or to hurt anyone, they were sent there to stop two communities from ripping themselves apart and tragically because of this had their lives taken in one of the vilest ways by the people they were there trying to protect. "Even in death, their memory is being caught up in the crossfire of these twisted people, the constant and deliberate disrespect they are shown must stop immediately." On 10 March 1971 the off-duty soldiers, who were stationed at Girdwood barracks, were killed while out on an afternoon pass. It is believed they were lured out of Mooney's bar in the city centre by a group of women who promised to take them to a party. Instead they were taken to White Brae, Squire's Hill, off the Ligoniel Road in North Belfast, where they were shot dead at the side of the road. Their bodies were dumped on top of each other before being discovered by local children at 21:30 that night. At the inquest, the coroner said: "You may think that this was not only murder, but one of the vilest crimes ever heard of in living memory." The men were the fourth, fifth and sixth British soldiers to be killed in Northern Ireland but the first to be killed while off-duty. All three funerals took place in Scotland but on the same day 20,000 people attended a memorial service in Belfast. No-one has ever been convicted of the murders.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Dougald McCaughey, 23, from Glasgow, and Ayr brothers John, 17, and Joseph McCaig, 18, were shot dead in 1971. Tributes to the Royal Highland Fusiliers at White Brae, Ligoniel and at Ballysillan in Belfast have been desecrated 27 times since 2010. Graffiti and paint have been used to deface the memorials. In a bid to protect them Kris McGurk, director of the Three Scottish Soldiers Campaign for Justice group, wrote to Belfast City Council on Wednesday to request CCTV cameras at the sites. 'Deliberate disrespect' Earlier this week the soldiers' families issued a statement after the latest incident, which involved the theft of a stone flower pot. They claim the memorials are damaged more than any others in the region. The statement said: "To desecrate a memorial is a terrible shame, regardless if the attack is on the memorials or anything placed by them - the principle is the same. "Our boys did not belong to gangs, they did not seek trouble or to hurt anyone, they were sent there to stop two communities from ripping themselves apart and tragically because of this had their lives taken in one of the vilest ways by the people they were there trying to protect. "Even in death, their memory is being caught up in the crossfire of these twisted people, the constant and deliberate disrespect they are shown must stop immediately." On 10 March 1971 the off-duty soldiers, who were stationed at Girdwood barracks, were killed while out on an afternoon pass. It is believed they were lured out of Mooney's bar in the city centre by a group of women who promised to take them to a party. Instead they were taken to White Brae, Squire's Hill, off the Ligoniel Road in North Belfast, where they were shot dead at the side of the road. Their bodies were dumped on top of each other before being discovered by local children at 21:30 that night. At the inquest, the coroner said: "You may think that this was not only murder, but one of the vilest crimes ever heard of in living memory." The men were the fourth, fifth and sixth British soldiers to be killed in Northern Ireland but the first to be killed while off-duty. All three funerals took place in Scotland but on the same day 20,000 people attended a memorial service in Belfast. No-one has ever been convicted of the murders. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Dougald McCaughey, 23, from Glasgow, and Ayr brothers John, 17, and Joseph McCaig, 18, were shot dead in 1971. Tributes to the Royal Highland Fusiliers at White Brae, Ligoniel and at Ballysillan in Belfast have been desecrated 27 times since 2010. Graffiti and paint have been used to deface the memorials. In a bid to protect them Kris McGurk, director of the Three Scottish Soldiers Campaign for Justice group, wrote to Belfast City Council on Wednesday to request CCTV cameras at the sites. 'Deliberate disrespect' Earlier this week the soldiers' families issued a statement after the latest incident, which involved the theft of a stone flower pot. They claim the memorials are damaged more than any others in the region. The statement said: "To desecrate a memorial is a terrible shame, regardless if the attack is on the memorials or anything placed by them - the principle is the same. "Our boys did not belong to gangs, they did not seek trouble or to hurt anyone, they were sent there to stop two communities from ripping themselves apart and tragically because of this had their lives taken in one of the vilest ways by the people they were there trying to protect. "Even in death, their memory is being caught up in the crossfire of these twisted people, the constant and deliberate disrespect they are shown must stop immediately." On 10 March 1971 the off-duty soldiers, who were stationed at Girdwood barracks, were killed while out on an afternoon pass. It is believed they were lured out of Mooney's bar in the city centre by a group of women who promised to take them to a party. Instead they were taken to White Brae, Squire's Hill, off the Ligoniel Road in North Belfast, where they were shot dead at the side of the road. Their bodies were dumped on top of each other before being discovered by local children at 21:30 that night. At the inquest, the coroner said: "You may think that this was not only murder, but one of the vilest crimes ever heard of in living memory." The men were the fourth, fifth and sixth British soldiers to be killed in Northern Ireland but the first to be killed while off-duty. All three funerals took place in Scotland but on the same day 20,000 people attended a memorial service in Belfast. No-one has ever been convicted of the murders. ### Summary: A memorial to the three Scottish soldiers killed in Northern Ireland has been desecrated 27 times since 2010. ### Text: A memorial to the three Scottish soldiers killed in Northern Ireland has been

uk-england-tyne-41334252

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-41334252

Birds found in oily substance on North East coast

A group of birds have been found dead in the sea off Amble in Northumberland.

The RSPCA said the source of the liquid is not known but two of the birds have died. The charity has been getting calls since Sunday and has picked birds up from various locations between Amble and Redcar. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it had surveyed the area from the air but could not see a source. Affected birds include guillemots, puffins, razorbills and gulls. RSPCA inspector Jaqui Miller said: "The first ones to come into us were of a good weight and alert but some of the ones coming in over the past day have been less so and very sadly a couple of them have not made it. "We don't know what it is, or where it's coming from, but the birds are covered in it." The birds have been going to vets for treatment before being taken to RSPCA Stapeley Grange in Cheshire. They are being cleaned with washing up liquid which should mean their feathers remain waterproof once released. Anyone finding a bird is asked to contact the RSPCA and not risk injury by attempting to rescue the animals.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The RSPCA said the source of the liquid is not known but two of the birds have died. The charity has been getting calls since Sunday and has picked birds up from various locations between Amble and Redcar. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it had surveyed the area from the air but could not see a source. Affected birds include guillemots, puffins, razorbills and gulls. RSPCA inspector Jaqui Miller said: "The first ones to come into us were of a good weight and alert but some of the ones coming in over the past day have been less so and very sadly a couple of them have not made it. "We don't know what it is, or where it's coming from, but the birds are covered in it." The birds have been going to vets for treatment before being taken to RSPCA Stapeley Grange in Cheshire. They are being cleaned with washing up liquid which should mean their feathers remain waterproof once released. Anyone finding a bird is asked to contact the RSPCA and not risk injury by attempting to rescue the animals. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The RSPCA said the source of the liquid is not known but two of the birds have died. The charity has been getting calls since Sunday and has picked birds up from various locations between Amble and Redcar. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it had surveyed the area from the air but could not see a source. Affected birds include guillemots, puffins, razorbills and gulls. RSPCA inspector Jaqui Miller said: "The first ones to come into us were of a good weight and alert but some of the ones coming in over the past day have been less so and very sadly a couple of them have not made it. "We don't know what it is, or where it's coming from, but the birds are covered in it." The birds have been going to vets for treatment before being taken to RSPCA Stapeley Grange in Cheshire. They are being cleaned with washing up liquid which should mean their feathers remain waterproof once released. Anyone finding a bird is asked to contact the RSPCA and not risk injury by attempting to rescue the animals. ### Summary: A group of birds have been found dead in the sea off Amble in Northumberland. ### Source: The RSPCA has been getting calls from people who have found birds dead in the sea off Amble in Northumber

world-europe-50396037

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50396037

Netherlands forced to slash speed limit to reduce emissions

The Netherlands will be the lowest in Europe in terms of emissions, the government has said.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it was a "rotten measure" but necessary. The existing limit of up to 130km/h will still be permitted at night. The new limit is set to come in next year along with several other measures. Ministers have been grappling with ways of responding to the emissions problem. "No-one likes this," Mr Rutte told a news conference. "But there's really something bigger at stake. We have to stop the Netherlands from coming to a halt and jobs being lost unnecessarily." He said it was the deepest crisis he had ever dealt with in nine years in power and the refugee crisis in 2015-16 bore no comparison. Why are they acting now? The crisis is so severe that big infrastructure projects have been put on hold. A ruling in May by the top court in the Netherlands on nitrogen oxide emissions affected thousands of plans for roads, housing and airports. The Council of State said Dutch rules for granting building and farming permits breached EU law protecting nature from emissions such as ammonia and nitrous oxide. The government wants to build 75,000 homes next year, so for the past week the cabinet has tried to find a solution to cutting the pollutants. Among the options discussed by ministers was a ban on vehicles on Sunday. Drivers will be allowed to revert to the current maximum between 19:00 and 06:00. Only 8%-10% of cars are thought to travel between those times. Even with the lower 100km/h speed limit there could still be emissions problems in areas such as the congested Randstad central-west belt, home to the biggest Dutch cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Bringing the motorway speed limit down to 100km/h will make the Netherlands the lowest in Europe, on a par with Cyprus which has far fewer motorways. The most common maximum speed limit in Europe is 130km/h while in the UK it is 70mph (112 km/h). Although the Dutch measure is being seen as temporary, Mr Rutte said he would not make any promises on limiting it. While ministers want to introduce the reduced speed limit soon, it will have to be co-ordinated and road signs changed. Why farmers will be affected too Last month, farmers reacted angrily to claims that intensive farming was partly to blame for the emissions problem, after a report called for drastic measures to reduce livestock as well as action on the roads. A tractor protest caused the worst-ever morning rush hour in the country as farmers argued they were being victimised. Another of the measures announced on Wednesday is a plan to change livestock feed to include an enzyme that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions from cows. Farmers are also set to be affected by plans next month to cut emissions in protected areas of the country that are part of a European network known as Natura 2000. A project to bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix back to Zandvoort next year was criticised by some environmentalists, who raised concerns about emissions from the race as well as from work to extend the circuit.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it was a "rotten measure" but necessary. The existing limit of up to 130km/h will still be permitted at night. The new limit is set to come in next year along with several other measures. Ministers have been grappling with ways of responding to the emissions problem. "No-one likes this," Mr Rutte told a news conference. "But there's really something bigger at stake. We have to stop the Netherlands from coming to a halt and jobs being lost unnecessarily." He said it was the deepest crisis he had ever dealt with in nine years in power and the refugee crisis in 2015-16 bore no comparison. Why are they acting now? The crisis is so severe that big infrastructure projects have been put on hold. A ruling in May by the top court in the Netherlands on nitrogen oxide emissions affected thousands of plans for roads, housing and airports. The Council of State said Dutch rules for granting building and farming permits breached EU law protecting nature from emissions such as ammonia and nitrous oxide. The government wants to build 75,000 homes next year, so for the past week the cabinet has tried to find a solution to cutting the pollutants. Among the options discussed by ministers was a ban on vehicles on Sunday. Drivers will be allowed to revert to the current maximum between 19:00 and 06:00. Only 8%-10% of cars are thought to travel between those times. Even with the lower 100km/h speed limit there could still be emissions problems in areas such as the congested Randstad central-west belt, home to the biggest Dutch cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Bringing the motorway speed limit down to 100km/h will make the Netherlands the lowest in Europe, on a par with Cyprus which has far fewer motorways. The most common maximum speed limit in Europe is 130km/h while in the UK it is 70mph (112 km/h). Although the Dutch measure is being seen as temporary, Mr Rutte said he would not make any promises on limiting it. While ministers want to introduce the reduced speed limit soon, it will have to be co-ordinated and road signs changed. Why farmers will be affected too Last month, farmers reacted angrily to claims that intensive farming was partly to blame for the emissions problem, after a report called for drastic measures to reduce livestock as well as action on the roads. A tractor protest caused the worst-ever morning rush hour in the country as farmers argued they were being victimised. Another of the measures announced on Wednesday is a plan to change livestock feed to include an enzyme that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions from cows. Farmers are also set to be affected by plans next month to cut emissions in protected areas of the country that are part of a European network known as Natura 2000. A project to bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix back to Zandvoort next year was criticised by some environmentalists, who raised concerns about emissions from the race as well as from work to extend the circuit. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it was a "rotten measure" but necessary. The existing limit of up to 130km/h will still be permitted at night. The new limit is set to come in next year along with several other measures. Ministers have been grappling with ways of responding to the emissions problem. "No-one likes this," Mr Rutte told a news conference. "But there's really something bigger at stake. We have to stop the Netherlands from coming to a halt and jobs being lost unnecessarily." He said it was the deepest crisis he had ever dealt with in nine years in power and the refugee crisis in 2015-16 bore no comparison. Why are they acting now? The crisis is so severe that big infrastructure projects have been put on hold. A ruling in May by the top court in the Netherlands on nitrogen oxide emissions affected thousands of plans for roads, housing and airports. The Council of State said Dutch rules for granting building and farming permits breached EU law protecting nature from emissions such as ammonia and nitrous oxide. The government wants to build 75,000 homes next year, so for the past week the cabinet has tried to find a solution to cutting the pollutants. Among the options discussed by ministers was a ban on vehicles on Sunday. Drivers will be allowed to revert to the current maximum between 19:00 and 06:00. Only 8%-10% of cars are thought to travel between those times. Even with the lower 100km/h speed limit there could still be emissions problems in areas such as the congested Randstad central-west belt, home to the biggest Dutch cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. Bringing the motorway speed limit down to 100km/h will make the Netherlands the lowest in Europe, on a par with Cyprus which has far fewer motorways. The most common maximum speed limit in Europe is 130km/h while in the UK it is 70mph (112 km/h). Although the Dutch measure is being seen as temporary, Mr Rutte said he would not make any promises on limiting it. While ministers want to introduce the reduced speed limit soon, it will have to be co-ordinated and road signs changed. Why farmers will be affected too Last month, farmers reacted angrily to claims that intensive farming was partly to blame for the emissions problem, after a report called for drastic measures to reduce livestock as well as action on the roads. A tractor protest caused the worst-ever morning rush hour in the country as farmers argued they were being victimised. Another of the measures announced on Wednesday is a plan to change livestock feed to include an enzyme that reduces nitrogen oxide emissions from cows. Farmers are also set to be affected by plans next month to cut emissions in protected areas of the country that are part of a European network known as Natura 2000. A project to bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix back to Zandvoort next year was criticised by some environmentalists, who raised concerns about emissions from the race as well as from work to extend the circuit. ### Summary: The Netherlands will be the lowest in Europe in terms of emissions, the government has said. ### Text: The Dutch government has announced a ban on cars on Sunday. The ban will come into force on 1 September

business-49279140

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49279140

What's going on with my holiday flights?

A strike by British Airways pilots has been suspended after the airline made a pay offer.

Possible strike action by staff at firms including British Airways and Ryanair, as well as a number of UK airports, has put hundreds of flights at risk of cancellation. The disruption has led this year's holiday season to be described as a "summer of strikes". Some of the disputes may continue throughout the summer. Ryanair pilots: Strikes planned The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) has set strike dates for UK-based Ryanair pilots in August and September. Pilots will strike across two periods: Balpa has highlighted issues with staff pensions, maternity benefits and the need for a fair, transparent, and consistent pay structure as grounds for the action. Balpa's general secretary's Brian Strutton said: "No pilot wants to spoil the public's travel plans but at the moment it seems we have no choice." Ryanair argues that it recently agreed a 20% salary increase, and says it has "written to Balpa asking them to return to talks". Heathrow workers: Strike planned A strike planned for Tuesday 6 August was suspended after Heathrow made an improved pay offer to workers. Organised by Unite the Union, 4,000 workers had been expected to take part. Unite, the UK and Ireland's largest union, said it would not be revealing details of the offer until its members had voted on the new package. A further 48-hour walkout was scheduled on Friday 23 August and Saturday 24 August, but that has been postponed to allow union members to consider a revised pay offer. There will now be a new ballot for strike action, closing on Monday 2 September. British Airways pilots: Talks ongoing Balpa also represent pilots for British Airways, who are currently locked in a disagreement over pay. British Airways lost an appeal on 31 July aimed at halting planned strike action - opening the way for the pilots to name dates for a potential strike. In July, BA offered pilots a pay increase worth 11.5% over three years, which was accepted by Unite and GMB, but rejected by Balpa. The talks are ongoing, and no dates for strike action have been announced. Gatwick security staff: Talks ongoing Security workers at Gatwick airport suspended strike action on 7 August after receiving a "dramatically improved pay offer". Members of Unite who are employed by ICTS (UK) were due to stage a 48-hour strike starting 6:00am on Saturday 10 August, with a further four day strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday 20 August. Unite says workers are being balloted with the recommendation to accept. Stansted check-in staff: Deal agreed Unite the Union, on behalf of check-in staff at Stansted Airport, agreed a pay deal on 1 August, averting action that could have affected thousands of EasyJet passengers. Unite said that the package amounted to a 13% pay rise for most of the workforce for the year starting April 2019, and recognition of Unite as the trade union for collective bargaining purposes. A strike by check-in staff was due to have started on Friday 2 August. What can I claim if my flight has been affected? If your flight has been cancelled, you should contact your airline to organise what to do next. An airline should offer a refund or a replacement flight (possibly on another carrier) to your destination - whomever is striking. Generally, if you are part way through a journey, and do not want a replacement flight, you are entitled to a flight back to the airport you originally departed from. Those are the minimum requirements for ticket holders. In some cases, passengers may be entitled to additional cash compensation for the inconvenience - but only if you receive notice that your flight is affected less than 14 days before departure. So, if your flight has been significantly delayed or cancelled because airline staff are striking, then this is considered within the airline's control, according to the Civil Aviation Authority - and therefore passengers can claim this extra compensation under EU rules. The amount paid in this additional compensation depends on the length of delay, cancellation, and the distance of the flight. These are explained in detail on the Civil Aviation Authority website. Remember, it is only paid if passengers are informed less than 14 days before they fly. However, if your flight has been cancelled owing to airport (rather than airline) staff striking, it is unlikely you will be able to claim extra compensation as this would be considered "extraordinary circumstances" outside of the airline's control. The CAA adds that the airport is not obliged to pay compensation directly to passengers, and whether the airport gives its customers (the airlines) compensation is a commercial issue between the two parties.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Possible strike action by staff at firms including British Airways and Ryanair, as well as a number of UK airports, has put hundreds of flights at risk of cancellation. The disruption has led this year's holiday season to be described as a "summer of strikes". Some of the disputes may continue throughout the summer. Ryanair pilots: Strikes planned The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) has set strike dates for UK-based Ryanair pilots in August and September. Pilots will strike across two periods: Balpa has highlighted issues with staff pensions, maternity benefits and the need for a fair, transparent, and consistent pay structure as grounds for the action. Balpa's general secretary's Brian Strutton said: "No pilot wants to spoil the public's travel plans but at the moment it seems we have no choice." Ryanair argues that it recently agreed a 20% salary increase, and says it has "written to Balpa asking them to return to talks". Heathrow workers: Strike planned A strike planned for Tuesday 6 August was suspended after Heathrow made an improved pay offer to workers. Organised by Unite the Union, 4,000 workers had been expected to take part. Unite, the UK and Ireland's largest union, said it would not be revealing details of the offer until its members had voted on the new package. A further 48-hour walkout was scheduled on Friday 23 August and Saturday 24 August, but that has been postponed to allow union members to consider a revised pay offer. There will now be a new ballot for strike action, closing on Monday 2 September. British Airways pilots: Talks ongoing Balpa also represent pilots for British Airways, who are currently locked in a disagreement over pay. British Airways lost an appeal on 31 July aimed at halting planned strike action - opening the way for the pilots to name dates for a potential strike. In July, BA offered pilots a pay increase worth 11.5% over three years, which was accepted by Unite and GMB, but rejected by Balpa. The talks are ongoing, and no dates for strike action have been announced. Gatwick security staff: Talks ongoing Security workers at Gatwick airport suspended strike action on 7 August after receiving a "dramatically improved pay offer". Members of Unite who are employed by ICTS (UK) were due to stage a 48-hour strike starting 6:00am on Saturday 10 August, with a further four day strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday 20 August. Unite says workers are being balloted with the recommendation to accept. Stansted check-in staff: Deal agreed Unite the Union, on behalf of check-in staff at Stansted Airport, agreed a pay deal on 1 August, averting action that could have affected thousands of EasyJet passengers. Unite said that the package amounted to a 13% pay rise for most of the workforce for the year starting April 2019, and recognition of Unite as the trade union for collective bargaining purposes. A strike by check-in staff was due to have started on Friday 2 August. What can I claim if my flight has been affected? If your flight has been cancelled, you should contact your airline to organise what to do next. An airline should offer a refund or a replacement flight (possibly on another carrier) to your destination - whomever is striking. Generally, if you are part way through a journey, and do not want a replacement flight, you are entitled to a flight back to the airport you originally departed from. Those are the minimum requirements for ticket holders. In some cases, passengers may be entitled to additional cash compensation for the inconvenience - but only if you receive notice that your flight is affected less than 14 days before departure. So, if your flight has been significantly delayed or cancelled because airline staff are striking, then this is considered within the airline's control, according to the Civil Aviation Authority - and therefore passengers can claim this extra compensation under EU rules. The amount paid in this additional compensation depends on the length of delay, cancellation, and the distance of the flight. These are explained in detail on the Civil Aviation Authority website. Remember, it is only paid if passengers are informed less than 14 days before they fly. However, if your flight has been cancelled owing to airport (rather than airline) staff striking, it is unlikely you will be able to claim extra compensation as this would be considered "extraordinary circumstances" outside of the airline's control. The CAA adds that the airport is not obliged to pay compensation directly to passengers, and whether the airport gives its customers (the airlines) compensation is a commercial issue between the two parties. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Possible strike action by staff at firms including British Airways and Ryanair, as well as a number of UK airports, has put hundreds of flights at risk of cancellation. The disruption has led this year's holiday season to be described as a "summer of strikes". Some of the disputes may continue throughout the summer. Ryanair pilots: Strikes planned The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) has set strike dates for UK-based Ryanair pilots in August and September. Pilots will strike across two periods: Balpa has highlighted issues with staff pensions, maternity benefits and the need for a fair, transparent, and consistent pay structure as grounds for the action. Balpa's general secretary's Brian Strutton said: "No pilot wants to spoil the public's travel plans but at the moment it seems we have no choice." Ryanair argues that it recently agreed a 20% salary increase, and says it has "written to Balpa asking them to return to talks". Heathrow workers: Strike planned A strike planned for Tuesday 6 August was suspended after Heathrow made an improved pay offer to workers. Organised by Unite the Union, 4,000 workers had been expected to take part. Unite, the UK and Ireland's largest union, said it would not be revealing details of the offer until its members had voted on the new package. A further 48-hour walkout was scheduled on Friday 23 August and Saturday 24 August, but that has been postponed to allow union members to consider a revised pay offer. There will now be a new ballot for strike action, closing on Monday 2 September. British Airways pilots: Talks ongoing Balpa also represent pilots for British Airways, who are currently locked in a disagreement over pay. British Airways lost an appeal on 31 July aimed at halting planned strike action - opening the way for the pilots to name dates for a potential strike. In July, BA offered pilots a pay increase worth 11.5% over three years, which was accepted by Unite and GMB, but rejected by Balpa. The talks are ongoing, and no dates for strike action have been announced. Gatwick security staff: Talks ongoing Security workers at Gatwick airport suspended strike action on 7 August after receiving a "dramatically improved pay offer". Members of Unite who are employed by ICTS (UK) were due to stage a 48-hour strike starting 6:00am on Saturday 10 August, with a further four day strike scheduled to begin on Tuesday 20 August. Unite says workers are being balloted with the recommendation to accept. Stansted check-in staff: Deal agreed Unite the Union, on behalf of check-in staff at Stansted Airport, agreed a pay deal on 1 August, averting action that could have affected thousands of EasyJet passengers. Unite said that the package amounted to a 13% pay rise for most of the workforce for the year starting April 2019, and recognition of Unite as the trade union for collective bargaining purposes. A strike by check-in staff was due to have started on Friday 2 August. What can I claim if my flight has been affected? If your flight has been cancelled, you should contact your airline to organise what to do next. An airline should offer a refund or a replacement flight (possibly on another carrier) to your destination - whomever is striking. Generally, if you are part way through a journey, and do not want a replacement flight, you are entitled to a flight back to the airport you originally departed from. Those are the minimum requirements for ticket holders. In some cases, passengers may be entitled to additional cash compensation for the inconvenience - but only if you receive notice that your flight is affected less than 14 days before departure. So, if your flight has been significantly delayed or cancelled because airline staff are striking, then this is considered within the airline's control, according to the Civil Aviation Authority - and therefore passengers can claim this extra compensation under EU rules. The amount paid in this additional compensation depends on the length of delay, cancellation, and the distance of the flight. These are explained in detail on the Civil Aviation Authority website. Remember, it is only paid if passengers are informed less than 14 days before they fly. However, if your flight has been cancelled owing to airport (rather than airline) staff striking, it is unlikely you will be able to claim extra compensation as this would be considered "extraordinary circumstances" outside of the airline's control. The CAA adds that the airport is not obliged to pay compensation directly to passengers, and whether the airport gives its customers (the airlines) compensation is a commercial issue between the two parties. ### Summary: A strike by British Airways pilots has been suspended after the airline made a pay offer. ### Next: A strike by check-in staff at Stansted Airport has been suspended after the airline made a pay

world-us-canada-52415579

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52415579

Coronavirus: US death toll passes 50,000 in world's deadliest outbreak

The US has the highest number of coronavirus deaths in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

More than 3,000 deaths came in the last 24 hours, and there are now over 870,000 confirmed cases nationwide. But the US still has a lower mortality rate than most European nations based on current case counts, as the White House task force has emphasised. The grim news comes as parts of the US reopen after weeks of lockdown. Some hair salons, bowling alleys and other businesses are opening on Friday in Georgia, Alaska and Oklahoma. The US has by far the highest death toll and case count in the world. However, it has a population of 330 million, much higher than other worst affected countries such as Spain and Italy. Dr Deborah Birx, an expert on the White House Covid-19 task force, has said the country has "one of the lowest mortality rates in the entire world". On a per capita basis the current reported US death rate is lower than Spain, Italy, France, Belgium and the UK. A grim report - but not the whole picture The US is top of the grim league table for reported coronavirus deaths, but that's not the whole picture. Part of the reason is population - many countries in Europe have reported more deaths per head of population than the US and Europe as a whole has reported more deaths overall. But beware of comparing huge countries in this way. The picture in New York is very different to the picture in the rest of the US and the same goes for other countries. Italy really has two epidemics - one in the north of the country that overran healthcare and another down south that is much less advanced. Death rates also depend on how you count - France's figures include care homes and Belgium's figures also include suspected Covid cases, making their figures look a lot worse. Recent steep rises in the daily US death toll are also partly due to the inclusion of "probable" virus deaths. The US Centers for Disease Control on 14 April said their case counts would include both confirmed and probable cases and deaths. A probable Covid-19 death is one that meets clinical and epidemiological criteria but has not been confirmed by testing. It is also important to note that many mild Covid-19 cases remain unreported, so the death rate from confirmed cases is not the same as the disease's overall death rate. Testing efforts are key to tracking the actual mortality and spread of the disease. Vice-President Mike Pence, the taskforce leader, said the US has conducted 4.9 million tests thus far, and is working with governors to expand testing. The $484bn economic stimulus bill, passed on Thursday by Congress, includes funding for testing expansion. It is the fourth Covid-19 relief package passed by Washington, and also allocates funds towards hospitals and a small business loan programme. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Friday, saying he wanted to "rush economic relief to our citizens". What's the current situation in the US? The rising death toll comes as several US states are beginning to ease economic restrictions, despite warnings from experts and President Donald Trump. In Georgia, which has one of the fastest re-opening timetables in the country, bowling alleys, spas, hair and nail salons, tattoo parlours and other personal care businesses will be allowed to resume operations. On Monday, Georgia will allow dine-in restaurants and theatres to re-open. During Thursday's task force briefing, Mr Trump said he "wasn't at all happy" with the state's Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, nor were his team of experts. "I want the people in Georgia to be safe," the president said. "And I don't want this thing to flare up, because you're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines." Mr Kemp, after Mr Trump's criticism, has tightened some of the sanitation and social distancing requirements for restaurants. The president is also facing backlash after he suggested injecting disinfectants as a potential coronavirus treatment.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: More than 3,000 deaths came in the last 24 hours, and there are now over 870,000 confirmed cases nationwide. But the US still has a lower mortality rate than most European nations based on current case counts, as the White House task force has emphasised. The grim news comes as parts of the US reopen after weeks of lockdown. Some hair salons, bowling alleys and other businesses are opening on Friday in Georgia, Alaska and Oklahoma. The US has by far the highest death toll and case count in the world. However, it has a population of 330 million, much higher than other worst affected countries such as Spain and Italy. Dr Deborah Birx, an expert on the White House Covid-19 task force, has said the country has "one of the lowest mortality rates in the entire world". On a per capita basis the current reported US death rate is lower than Spain, Italy, France, Belgium and the UK. A grim report - but not the whole picture The US is top of the grim league table for reported coronavirus deaths, but that's not the whole picture. Part of the reason is population - many countries in Europe have reported more deaths per head of population than the US and Europe as a whole has reported more deaths overall. But beware of comparing huge countries in this way. The picture in New York is very different to the picture in the rest of the US and the same goes for other countries. Italy really has two epidemics - one in the north of the country that overran healthcare and another down south that is much less advanced. Death rates also depend on how you count - France's figures include care homes and Belgium's figures also include suspected Covid cases, making their figures look a lot worse. Recent steep rises in the daily US death toll are also partly due to the inclusion of "probable" virus deaths. The US Centers for Disease Control on 14 April said their case counts would include both confirmed and probable cases and deaths. A probable Covid-19 death is one that meets clinical and epidemiological criteria but has not been confirmed by testing. It is also important to note that many mild Covid-19 cases remain unreported, so the death rate from confirmed cases is not the same as the disease's overall death rate. Testing efforts are key to tracking the actual mortality and spread of the disease. Vice-President Mike Pence, the taskforce leader, said the US has conducted 4.9 million tests thus far, and is working with governors to expand testing. The $484bn economic stimulus bill, passed on Thursday by Congress, includes funding for testing expansion. It is the fourth Covid-19 relief package passed by Washington, and also allocates funds towards hospitals and a small business loan programme. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Friday, saying he wanted to "rush economic relief to our citizens". What's the current situation in the US? The rising death toll comes as several US states are beginning to ease economic restrictions, despite warnings from experts and President Donald Trump. In Georgia, which has one of the fastest re-opening timetables in the country, bowling alleys, spas, hair and nail salons, tattoo parlours and other personal care businesses will be allowed to resume operations. On Monday, Georgia will allow dine-in restaurants and theatres to re-open. During Thursday's task force briefing, Mr Trump said he "wasn't at all happy" with the state's Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, nor were his team of experts. "I want the people in Georgia to be safe," the president said. "And I don't want this thing to flare up, because you're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines." Mr Kemp, after Mr Trump's criticism, has tightened some of the sanitation and social distancing requirements for restaurants. The president is also facing backlash after he suggested injecting disinfectants as a potential coronavirus treatment. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: More than 3,000 deaths came in the last 24 hours, and there are now over 870,000 confirmed cases nationwide. But the US still has a lower mortality rate than most European nations based on current case counts, as the White House task force has emphasised. The grim news comes as parts of the US reopen after weeks of lockdown. Some hair salons, bowling alleys and other businesses are opening on Friday in Georgia, Alaska and Oklahoma. The US has by far the highest death toll and case count in the world. However, it has a population of 330 million, much higher than other worst affected countries such as Spain and Italy. Dr Deborah Birx, an expert on the White House Covid-19 task force, has said the country has "one of the lowest mortality rates in the entire world". On a per capita basis the current reported US death rate is lower than Spain, Italy, France, Belgium and the UK. A grim report - but not the whole picture The US is top of the grim league table for reported coronavirus deaths, but that's not the whole picture. Part of the reason is population - many countries in Europe have reported more deaths per head of population than the US and Europe as a whole has reported more deaths overall. But beware of comparing huge countries in this way. The picture in New York is very different to the picture in the rest of the US and the same goes for other countries. Italy really has two epidemics - one in the north of the country that overran healthcare and another down south that is much less advanced. Death rates also depend on how you count - France's figures include care homes and Belgium's figures also include suspected Covid cases, making their figures look a lot worse. Recent steep rises in the daily US death toll are also partly due to the inclusion of "probable" virus deaths. The US Centers for Disease Control on 14 April said their case counts would include both confirmed and probable cases and deaths. A probable Covid-19 death is one that meets clinical and epidemiological criteria but has not been confirmed by testing. It is also important to note that many mild Covid-19 cases remain unreported, so the death rate from confirmed cases is not the same as the disease's overall death rate. Testing efforts are key to tracking the actual mortality and spread of the disease. Vice-President Mike Pence, the taskforce leader, said the US has conducted 4.9 million tests thus far, and is working with governors to expand testing. The $484bn economic stimulus bill, passed on Thursday by Congress, includes funding for testing expansion. It is the fourth Covid-19 relief package passed by Washington, and also allocates funds towards hospitals and a small business loan programme. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Friday, saying he wanted to "rush economic relief to our citizens". What's the current situation in the US? The rising death toll comes as several US states are beginning to ease economic restrictions, despite warnings from experts and President Donald Trump. In Georgia, which has one of the fastest re-opening timetables in the country, bowling alleys, spas, hair and nail salons, tattoo parlours and other personal care businesses will be allowed to resume operations. On Monday, Georgia will allow dine-in restaurants and theatres to re-open. During Thursday's task force briefing, Mr Trump said he "wasn't at all happy" with the state's Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, nor were his team of experts. "I want the people in Georgia to be safe," the president said. "And I don't want this thing to flare up, because you're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines." Mr Kemp, after Mr Trump's criticism, has tightened some of the sanitation and social distancing requirements for restaurants. The president is also facing backlash after he suggested injecting disinfectants as a potential coronavirus treatment. ### Summary: The US has the highest number of coronavirus deaths in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). ### Spelling and grammar The US has the highest number of coronavirus deaths in the

uk-politics-27752530

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27752530

Theresa May and Michael Gove: How the political storm broke

The prime minister has been forced to apologise for a front page of the Times that claimed he was "at war" with his home secretary.

By Chris MasonPolitical correspondent, BBC News Given that the next morning Her Majesty would be heading to parliament to read out the government's "to do list", I imagined I would just be filing something on that for the Today programme, Breakfast television, Radio 2 and 5 live. But it didn't turn out quite like that. It started when the front page of The Times popped into my inbox. Two members of the cabinet, Michael Gove and Theresa May, were "at war" with each other, it claimed. It was known at Westminster they had their differences. But I'll be honest - I thought the headline was a bit of an exaggeration and the quotes were all off the record. At gone 11pm, I didn't expect those around the home secretary and education secretary to return my calls. 'Furious' Not least because, whilst I seem to spend more time speaking to special advisers than I do to my own family, Fiona Cunningham - Mrs May's special adviser - had never returned my calls in more than two years. But, this time, she did. Not only did she talk to me, but what she said astonished me. She was clearly furious. Furious at the front page of the Times. Furious with Mr Gove. In a coalition government, special advisers on one side of the coalition gently pointing out their differences with those on the other is routine and to be expected. But firstly, Ms Cunningham was talking about a fellow Conservative. And, more to the point, she was really putting the boot in. It had now gone midnight. Most of the UK was asleep. But not me, and not Team Gove either. They were working out what on earth to say and, whilst working it out, had discovered that a letter from Mrs May they'd received some hours earlier had found its way online, onto the government's website. It was none too complimentary about Mr Gove. Fast forward another hour or so and Team Gove rang me back. 'Indiscipline' Believe me, when special advisers call you at 1.30am you know you've got a story on your hands. They tried to play down any suggestion of a falling out with the home secretary. But it was a bit late for that. And Downing Street was clearly livid. Following the Queen's speech, the prime minister was out of the country for a few days at the G7 summit in Brussels and then the D-Day commemorations in France. But he instructed the government's most senior civil servant to look into what had happened and less than 24 hours after arriving back in the country, the news about what Mr Cameron was doing to deal with it broke. The prime minister will hope his swift response draws a line under this damaging outbreak of indiscipline at the top of the government. It is an outbreak provoked by a genuine policy disagreement about extremism - and about the future outlook, and leadership, of the Conservative Party when Mr Cameron is no longer in charge.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Chris MasonPolitical correspondent, BBC News Given that the next morning Her Majesty would be heading to parliament to read out the government's "to do list", I imagined I would just be filing something on that for the Today programme, Breakfast television, Radio 2 and 5 live. But it didn't turn out quite like that. It started when the front page of The Times popped into my inbox. Two members of the cabinet, Michael Gove and Theresa May, were "at war" with each other, it claimed. It was known at Westminster they had their differences. But I'll be honest - I thought the headline was a bit of an exaggeration and the quotes were all off the record. At gone 11pm, I didn't expect those around the home secretary and education secretary to return my calls. 'Furious' Not least because, whilst I seem to spend more time speaking to special advisers than I do to my own family, Fiona Cunningham - Mrs May's special adviser - had never returned my calls in more than two years. But, this time, she did. Not only did she talk to me, but what she said astonished me. She was clearly furious. Furious at the front page of the Times. Furious with Mr Gove. In a coalition government, special advisers on one side of the coalition gently pointing out their differences with those on the other is routine and to be expected. But firstly, Ms Cunningham was talking about a fellow Conservative. And, more to the point, she was really putting the boot in. It had now gone midnight. Most of the UK was asleep. But not me, and not Team Gove either. They were working out what on earth to say and, whilst working it out, had discovered that a letter from Mrs May they'd received some hours earlier had found its way online, onto the government's website. It was none too complimentary about Mr Gove. Fast forward another hour or so and Team Gove rang me back. 'Indiscipline' Believe me, when special advisers call you at 1.30am you know you've got a story on your hands. They tried to play down any suggestion of a falling out with the home secretary. But it was a bit late for that. And Downing Street was clearly livid. Following the Queen's speech, the prime minister was out of the country for a few days at the G7 summit in Brussels and then the D-Day commemorations in France. But he instructed the government's most senior civil servant to look into what had happened and less than 24 hours after arriving back in the country, the news about what Mr Cameron was doing to deal with it broke. The prime minister will hope his swift response draws a line under this damaging outbreak of indiscipline at the top of the government. It is an outbreak provoked by a genuine policy disagreement about extremism - and about the future outlook, and leadership, of the Conservative Party when Mr Cameron is no longer in charge. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Chris MasonPolitical correspondent, BBC News Given that the next morning Her Majesty would be heading to parliament to read out the government's "to do list", I imagined I would just be filing something on that for the Today programme, Breakfast television, Radio 2 and 5 live. But it didn't turn out quite like that. It started when the front page of The Times popped into my inbox. Two members of the cabinet, Michael Gove and Theresa May, were "at war" with each other, it claimed. It was known at Westminster they had their differences. But I'll be honest - I thought the headline was a bit of an exaggeration and the quotes were all off the record. At gone 11pm, I didn't expect those around the home secretary and education secretary to return my calls. 'Furious' Not least because, whilst I seem to spend more time speaking to special advisers than I do to my own family, Fiona Cunningham - Mrs May's special adviser - had never returned my calls in more than two years. But, this time, she did. Not only did she talk to me, but what she said astonished me. She was clearly furious. Furious at the front page of the Times. Furious with Mr Gove. In a coalition government, special advisers on one side of the coalition gently pointing out their differences with those on the other is routine and to be expected. But firstly, Ms Cunningham was talking about a fellow Conservative. And, more to the point, she was really putting the boot in. It had now gone midnight. Most of the UK was asleep. But not me, and not Team Gove either. They were working out what on earth to say and, whilst working it out, had discovered that a letter from Mrs May they'd received some hours earlier had found its way online, onto the government's website. It was none too complimentary about Mr Gove. Fast forward another hour or so and Team Gove rang me back. 'Indiscipline' Believe me, when special advisers call you at 1.30am you know you've got a story on your hands. They tried to play down any suggestion of a falling out with the home secretary. But it was a bit late for that. And Downing Street was clearly livid. Following the Queen's speech, the prime minister was out of the country for a few days at the G7 summit in Brussels and then the D-Day commemorations in France. But he instructed the government's most senior civil servant to look into what had happened and less than 24 hours after arriving back in the country, the news about what Mr Cameron was doing to deal with it broke. The prime minister will hope his swift response draws a line under this damaging outbreak of indiscipline at the top of the government. It is an outbreak provoked by a genuine policy disagreement about extremism - and about the future outlook, and leadership, of the Conservative Party when Mr Cameron is no longer in charge. ### Summary: The prime minister has been forced to apologise for a front page of the Times that claimed he was "at war" with his home secretary. ### Source: The Times ### Credit: Chris Mason

uk-politics-54104442

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54104442

Extinction Rebellion camp 'like Glastonbury,' says MP

A protest by Extinction Rebellion against climate change has been banned in Westminster.

Sir David Amess said it was "absolutely ridiculous" to allow the noise and disruption in Parliament Square. A protest by the group, on the square opposite the Palace of Westminster, is in its second week. The demonstrators are calling for the government to take action to prevent climate change. Sir David raised the issue during business questions in the Commons on Thursday. Right to protest He asked the deputy chief whip, Stuart Andrew, standing in for Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, whether demonstrations on the square could be banned. He said: "Returning here last Tuesday I thought I was entering the Glastonbury Festival which I thought had been cancelled. To allow the noise, the disruption, the cost of policing is absolutely ridiculous. "So can we please restore these orders so we no longer have demonstrations on a busy roundabout sandwiched between Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster?" Mr Andrew said that while "of course the right to protest is something we all want to protect," MPs "need to be able to do our job here in Parliament." He added that he would pass Sir David's question on to Mr Rees-Mogg. Earlier this week, Home Secretary Priti Patel said that she refused to allow the "guerrilla tactics" and "anarchy" favoured by Extinction Rebellion. Her comments came after protesters blockaded newspaper printing presses and a number of roads and bridges in Westminster. On Wednesday, the new re-elected Green Party co-leader Sian Berry told the BBC she supported the group's right to protest, saying: "Protest on the streets has an important role to play. It's part of free speech, it's part of making the case to the people who are powerful." Asked if the Green Party represents the political wing of Extinction Rebellion, she said that the party was the "political representatives of a much wider movement." She added: "You cannot separate social justice, racial justice, global justice from environmental and ecological justice. We are the people that can tie all that together into a political programme and take that to the people in power and really have our voices heard when they are making new policies." But her co-leader Jonathan Bartley said he did not always agree with Extinction Rebellion's methods.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Sir David Amess said it was "absolutely ridiculous" to allow the noise and disruption in Parliament Square. A protest by the group, on the square opposite the Palace of Westminster, is in its second week. The demonstrators are calling for the government to take action to prevent climate change. Sir David raised the issue during business questions in the Commons on Thursday. Right to protest He asked the deputy chief whip, Stuart Andrew, standing in for Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, whether demonstrations on the square could be banned. He said: "Returning here last Tuesday I thought I was entering the Glastonbury Festival which I thought had been cancelled. To allow the noise, the disruption, the cost of policing is absolutely ridiculous. "So can we please restore these orders so we no longer have demonstrations on a busy roundabout sandwiched between Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster?" Mr Andrew said that while "of course the right to protest is something we all want to protect," MPs "need to be able to do our job here in Parliament." He added that he would pass Sir David's question on to Mr Rees-Mogg. Earlier this week, Home Secretary Priti Patel said that she refused to allow the "guerrilla tactics" and "anarchy" favoured by Extinction Rebellion. Her comments came after protesters blockaded newspaper printing presses and a number of roads and bridges in Westminster. On Wednesday, the new re-elected Green Party co-leader Sian Berry told the BBC she supported the group's right to protest, saying: "Protest on the streets has an important role to play. It's part of free speech, it's part of making the case to the people who are powerful." Asked if the Green Party represents the political wing of Extinction Rebellion, she said that the party was the "political representatives of a much wider movement." She added: "You cannot separate social justice, racial justice, global justice from environmental and ecological justice. We are the people that can tie all that together into a political programme and take that to the people in power and really have our voices heard when they are making new policies." But her co-leader Jonathan Bartley said he did not always agree with Extinction Rebellion's methods. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Sir David Amess said it was "absolutely ridiculous" to allow the noise and disruption in Parliament Square. A protest by the group, on the square opposite the Palace of Westminster, is in its second week. The demonstrators are calling for the government to take action to prevent climate change. Sir David raised the issue during business questions in the Commons on Thursday. Right to protest He asked the deputy chief whip, Stuart Andrew, standing in for Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, whether demonstrations on the square could be banned. He said: "Returning here last Tuesday I thought I was entering the Glastonbury Festival which I thought had been cancelled. To allow the noise, the disruption, the cost of policing is absolutely ridiculous. "So can we please restore these orders so we no longer have demonstrations on a busy roundabout sandwiched between Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster?" Mr Andrew said that while "of course the right to protest is something we all want to protect," MPs "need to be able to do our job here in Parliament." He added that he would pass Sir David's question on to Mr Rees-Mogg. Earlier this week, Home Secretary Priti Patel said that she refused to allow the "guerrilla tactics" and "anarchy" favoured by Extinction Rebellion. Her comments came after protesters blockaded newspaper printing presses and a number of roads and bridges in Westminster. On Wednesday, the new re-elected Green Party co-leader Sian Berry told the BBC she supported the group's right to protest, saying: "Protest on the streets has an important role to play. It's part of free speech, it's part of making the case to the people who are powerful." Asked if the Green Party represents the political wing of Extinction Rebellion, she said that the party was the "political representatives of a much wider movement." She added: "You cannot separate social justice, racial justice, global justice from environmental and ecological justice. We are the people that can tie all that together into a political programme and take that to the people in power and really have our voices heard when they are making new policies." But her co-leader Jonathan Bartley said he did not always agree with Extinction Rebellion's methods. ### Summary: A protest by Extinction Rebellion against climate change has been banned in Westminster. ### Text: The Home Secretary has said she does not want to allow the "guerrilla tactics" and "anarchy

uk-northern-ireland-21669368

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-21669368

Giant's Causeway resort row: Trust's fear for future over UK sites

The National Trust has lost a legal challenge to a golf resort in Northern Ireland.

Last week, the trust lost its legal bid to block construction of a £100m golf resort in County Antrim. Dame Helen Ghosh, who leads the UK-wide organisation, said the trust does not regret launching the legal challenge. She declined to say if the charity intends to appeal the court's decision. Options The National Trust opposes the development, because of its proximity to the Unesco world heritage site. However the legal challenge provoked controversy, with the MP for the area, Ian Paisley Jr, branding the trust's actions "a disgrace." Dame Helen, a 57-year-old former civil servant took over as director general of the charity in November 2012. She made her first visit to the Giant's Causeway on Tuesday and said the trust was considering its options after losing the judicial review. She told the BBC she did not believe the failed legal challenge had damaged the reputation of the trust. "Indeed, we believe that most of our members, who after all believe in what we believe in, would support our attempts to protect this very special place." The resort, at Runkerry, will be located just over a mile away from the entrance to the Giant's Causeway and had been the subject of one of Northern Ireland's longest running planning disputes. Under the plans, it is set to include an 18-hole golf course, a 120 bedroom hotel and 70 golf lodges. The 365-acre site, will be known as Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa. Protection Stormont's environment minister, Alex Attwood, granted permission for the scheme in February 2012, saying it would boost tourism and the local economy. However, the National Trust argued that he should have consulted Unesco before making his decision and it launched judicial review proceedings at Belfast's High Court. But during the court hearing, lawyers for the Runkerry project team claimed the charity's opposition was based on commercial interests. The Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's best known tourist attraction. The trust has been responsible for the management and protection of the site since 1961. The Giant's Causeway was declared a Unesco world heritage site in 1986.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Last week, the trust lost its legal bid to block construction of a £100m golf resort in County Antrim. Dame Helen Ghosh, who leads the UK-wide organisation, said the trust does not regret launching the legal challenge. She declined to say if the charity intends to appeal the court's decision. Options The National Trust opposes the development, because of its proximity to the Unesco world heritage site. However the legal challenge provoked controversy, with the MP for the area, Ian Paisley Jr, branding the trust's actions "a disgrace." Dame Helen, a 57-year-old former civil servant took over as director general of the charity in November 2012. She made her first visit to the Giant's Causeway on Tuesday and said the trust was considering its options after losing the judicial review. She told the BBC she did not believe the failed legal challenge had damaged the reputation of the trust. "Indeed, we believe that most of our members, who after all believe in what we believe in, would support our attempts to protect this very special place." The resort, at Runkerry, will be located just over a mile away from the entrance to the Giant's Causeway and had been the subject of one of Northern Ireland's longest running planning disputes. Under the plans, it is set to include an 18-hole golf course, a 120 bedroom hotel and 70 golf lodges. The 365-acre site, will be known as Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa. Protection Stormont's environment minister, Alex Attwood, granted permission for the scheme in February 2012, saying it would boost tourism and the local economy. However, the National Trust argued that he should have consulted Unesco before making his decision and it launched judicial review proceedings at Belfast's High Court. But during the court hearing, lawyers for the Runkerry project team claimed the charity's opposition was based on commercial interests. The Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's best known tourist attraction. The trust has been responsible for the management and protection of the site since 1961. The Giant's Causeway was declared a Unesco world heritage site in 1986. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Last week, the trust lost its legal bid to block construction of a £100m golf resort in County Antrim. Dame Helen Ghosh, who leads the UK-wide organisation, said the trust does not regret launching the legal challenge. She declined to say if the charity intends to appeal the court's decision. Options The National Trust opposes the development, because of its proximity to the Unesco world heritage site. However the legal challenge provoked controversy, with the MP for the area, Ian Paisley Jr, branding the trust's actions "a disgrace." Dame Helen, a 57-year-old former civil servant took over as director general of the charity in November 2012. She made her first visit to the Giant's Causeway on Tuesday and said the trust was considering its options after losing the judicial review. She told the BBC she did not believe the failed legal challenge had damaged the reputation of the trust. "Indeed, we believe that most of our members, who after all believe in what we believe in, would support our attempts to protect this very special place." The resort, at Runkerry, will be located just over a mile away from the entrance to the Giant's Causeway and had been the subject of one of Northern Ireland's longest running planning disputes. Under the plans, it is set to include an 18-hole golf course, a 120 bedroom hotel and 70 golf lodges. The 365-acre site, will be known as Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa. Protection Stormont's environment minister, Alex Attwood, granted permission for the scheme in February 2012, saying it would boost tourism and the local economy. However, the National Trust argued that he should have consulted Unesco before making his decision and it launched judicial review proceedings at Belfast's High Court. But during the court hearing, lawyers for the Runkerry project team claimed the charity's opposition was based on commercial interests. The Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's best known tourist attraction. The trust has been responsible for the management and protection of the site since 1961. The Giant's Causeway was declared a Unesco world heritage site in 1986. ### Summary: The National Trust has lost a legal challenge to a golf resort in Northern Ireland. ### Text: The National Trust has lost a legal challenge to a golf resort in Northern Ireland. ### Summary: The National Trust

uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-34475575

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-34475575

Family watch Sheku Bayoh's last moments on CCTV

The family of a man who died in police custody have called for the Lord Advocate to release the CCTV footage of his death.

They are now calling for Scotland's top prosecutor to make the pictures public. The 31-year-old trainee gas engineer died in police custody after being detained following an incident in Kirkcaldy on 3 May. His death is being investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC). The family said Mr Bayoh's mother "still wants to know what her son's last words were" as they reiterated their determination "to seek the truth". Relatives of the father-of-two, including Mr Bayoh's partner Collette Bell and his sister Kadijartu Johnson, have been demanding answers over police conduct and Mr Bayoh's cause of death, and have previously held meetings with the PIRC and Lord Advocate. 'Basis of confidentiality' The family took their case to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, where Labour MSP Claire Baker had organised a cross-party meeting to allow relatives to talk to politicians about the case. It followed a meeting at the Lord Advocate's office, where relatives watched the footage of his final moments, family solicitor Aamer Anwar said. Speaking outside the Scottish Parliament, Mr Anwar said: "Over the last four months the family has learned a great deal about the background of the police officers and what they did to Sheku Bayoh on the morning of 3 May. "This morning, at the Lord Advocate's office, a heartbroken Bayoh family watched the last moments of Sheku's life taken on CCTV and mobile phone. "Whilst they agreed to viewing the CCTV on the basis of confidentiality, the family would now urge the Lord Advocate to publicly release the CCTV." 'Avoid a whitewash' Mr Anwar, speaking 22 weeks on from the death, said the family wanted to "urge politicians of all parties to hear their concerns". "The family knows that the Scottish government has said that they cannot speak due to a live investigation, but they believe silence is not an option if we are to avoid a whitewash," the lawyer said. Mr Anwar said the family remains unconvinced the PIRC will deliver a "robust and impartial inquiry", and they called for parliament to give the Commissioner more powers "to hold Police Scotland to account". He said: "The Bayohs have always said that if Sheku broke the law, then the police had a right to act, but any force used had to be legitimate and proportionate. "He was not a terrorist, he was not brandishing a knife at police officers, he was not carrying a knife when officers attended, nor was he 6ft-plus with superhuman strength. His family state that he did not deserve to die." Family meeting A spokesman for PIRC said the commissioner "continues to work closely with the Lord Advocate to investigate all available lines of inquiry", including gathering further expert opinion in relation to the cause of death. The spokesman added: "The family were offered the opportunity to participate in the process of identifying further expert forensic pathologists, in addition to those already commissioned, to provide an opinion on how Sheku Bayoh died. "They have now nominated three experts, whose details will be shared with the Lord Advocate for his consideration and instruction. "The commissioner is keen that the family are able to openly and honestly communicate with her so that they may achieve a better understanding of the process and progress of the investigation. "She is committed to further dialogue and looks forward to meeting the family again in the near future." A Crown Office spokesman said: "In order to protect the integrity of the investigation we cannot at this stage release the CCTV footage into the public domain. "We will however release the CCTV as soon as this can be done, without prejudicing the investigation." Ch Supt Garry McEwan, of Police Scotland, said: "An independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sheku Bayoh's death is currently being carried out by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and they have submitted an interim report to the Crown Office. "Police Scotland remains committed to co-operating fully with the PIRC's inquiries. I would like to again offer my condolences to Sheku's family and we await the conclusion of the investigation."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: They are now calling for Scotland's top prosecutor to make the pictures public. The 31-year-old trainee gas engineer died in police custody after being detained following an incident in Kirkcaldy on 3 May. His death is being investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC). The family said Mr Bayoh's mother "still wants to know what her son's last words were" as they reiterated their determination "to seek the truth". Relatives of the father-of-two, including Mr Bayoh's partner Collette Bell and his sister Kadijartu Johnson, have been demanding answers over police conduct and Mr Bayoh's cause of death, and have previously held meetings with the PIRC and Lord Advocate. 'Basis of confidentiality' The family took their case to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, where Labour MSP Claire Baker had organised a cross-party meeting to allow relatives to talk to politicians about the case. It followed a meeting at the Lord Advocate's office, where relatives watched the footage of his final moments, family solicitor Aamer Anwar said. Speaking outside the Scottish Parliament, Mr Anwar said: "Over the last four months the family has learned a great deal about the background of the police officers and what they did to Sheku Bayoh on the morning of 3 May. "This morning, at the Lord Advocate's office, a heartbroken Bayoh family watched the last moments of Sheku's life taken on CCTV and mobile phone. "Whilst they agreed to viewing the CCTV on the basis of confidentiality, the family would now urge the Lord Advocate to publicly release the CCTV." 'Avoid a whitewash' Mr Anwar, speaking 22 weeks on from the death, said the family wanted to "urge politicians of all parties to hear their concerns". "The family knows that the Scottish government has said that they cannot speak due to a live investigation, but they believe silence is not an option if we are to avoid a whitewash," the lawyer said. Mr Anwar said the family remains unconvinced the PIRC will deliver a "robust and impartial inquiry", and they called for parliament to give the Commissioner more powers "to hold Police Scotland to account". He said: "The Bayohs have always said that if Sheku broke the law, then the police had a right to act, but any force used had to be legitimate and proportionate. "He was not a terrorist, he was not brandishing a knife at police officers, he was not carrying a knife when officers attended, nor was he 6ft-plus with superhuman strength. His family state that he did not deserve to die." Family meeting A spokesman for PIRC said the commissioner "continues to work closely with the Lord Advocate to investigate all available lines of inquiry", including gathering further expert opinion in relation to the cause of death. The spokesman added: "The family were offered the opportunity to participate in the process of identifying further expert forensic pathologists, in addition to those already commissioned, to provide an opinion on how Sheku Bayoh died. "They have now nominated three experts, whose details will be shared with the Lord Advocate for his consideration and instruction. "The commissioner is keen that the family are able to openly and honestly communicate with her so that they may achieve a better understanding of the process and progress of the investigation. "She is committed to further dialogue and looks forward to meeting the family again in the near future." A Crown Office spokesman said: "In order to protect the integrity of the investigation we cannot at this stage release the CCTV footage into the public domain. "We will however release the CCTV as soon as this can be done, without prejudicing the investigation." Ch Supt Garry McEwan, of Police Scotland, said: "An independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sheku Bayoh's death is currently being carried out by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and they have submitted an interim report to the Crown Office. "Police Scotland remains committed to co-operating fully with the PIRC's inquiries. I would like to again offer my condolences to Sheku's family and we await the conclusion of the investigation." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: They are now calling for Scotland's top prosecutor to make the pictures public. The 31-year-old trainee gas engineer died in police custody after being detained following an incident in Kirkcaldy on 3 May. His death is being investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC). The family said Mr Bayoh's mother "still wants to know what her son's last words were" as they reiterated their determination "to seek the truth". Relatives of the father-of-two, including Mr Bayoh's partner Collette Bell and his sister Kadijartu Johnson, have been demanding answers over police conduct and Mr Bayoh's cause of death, and have previously held meetings with the PIRC and Lord Advocate. 'Basis of confidentiality' The family took their case to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, where Labour MSP Claire Baker had organised a cross-party meeting to allow relatives to talk to politicians about the case. It followed a meeting at the Lord Advocate's office, where relatives watched the footage of his final moments, family solicitor Aamer Anwar said. Speaking outside the Scottish Parliament, Mr Anwar said: "Over the last four months the family has learned a great deal about the background of the police officers and what they did to Sheku Bayoh on the morning of 3 May. "This morning, at the Lord Advocate's office, a heartbroken Bayoh family watched the last moments of Sheku's life taken on CCTV and mobile phone. "Whilst they agreed to viewing the CCTV on the basis of confidentiality, the family would now urge the Lord Advocate to publicly release the CCTV." 'Avoid a whitewash' Mr Anwar, speaking 22 weeks on from the death, said the family wanted to "urge politicians of all parties to hear their concerns". "The family knows that the Scottish government has said that they cannot speak due to a live investigation, but they believe silence is not an option if we are to avoid a whitewash," the lawyer said. Mr Anwar said the family remains unconvinced the PIRC will deliver a "robust and impartial inquiry", and they called for parliament to give the Commissioner more powers "to hold Police Scotland to account". He said: "The Bayohs have always said that if Sheku broke the law, then the police had a right to act, but any force used had to be legitimate and proportionate. "He was not a terrorist, he was not brandishing a knife at police officers, he was not carrying a knife when officers attended, nor was he 6ft-plus with superhuman strength. His family state that he did not deserve to die." Family meeting A spokesman for PIRC said the commissioner "continues to work closely with the Lord Advocate to investigate all available lines of inquiry", including gathering further expert opinion in relation to the cause of death. The spokesman added: "The family were offered the opportunity to participate in the process of identifying further expert forensic pathologists, in addition to those already commissioned, to provide an opinion on how Sheku Bayoh died. "They have now nominated three experts, whose details will be shared with the Lord Advocate for his consideration and instruction. "The commissioner is keen that the family are able to openly and honestly communicate with her so that they may achieve a better understanding of the process and progress of the investigation. "She is committed to further dialogue and looks forward to meeting the family again in the near future." A Crown Office spokesman said: "In order to protect the integrity of the investigation we cannot at this stage release the CCTV footage into the public domain. "We will however release the CCTV as soon as this can be done, without prejudicing the investigation." Ch Supt Garry McEwan, of Police Scotland, said: "An independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sheku Bayoh's death is currently being carried out by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner and they have submitted an interim report to the Crown Office. "Police Scotland remains committed to co-operating fully with the PIRC's inquiries. I would like to again offer my condolences to Sheku's family and we await the conclusion of the investigation." ### Summary: The family of a man who died in police custody have called for the Lord Advocate to release the CCTV footage of his death. ### Text: The family of a man who died in police custody have

uk-england-devon-42786519

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-42786519

Royal North Devon Golf Club course at risk from erosion

A golf course in Devon has been damaged by a storm.

Earlier this month Storm Eleanor ripped 49ft (15m) of land away from behind the eighth tee at the Royal North Devon Golf Club in Westward Ho! General manager Mark Evans said "we could lose the [seventh] green in early February with the high tides predicted with the wrong wind conditions". An adjoining landfill site could also be at risk. More Devon and Cornwall stories The tee marker for the eighth green has been washed on to the beach, which is alongside the 154-year-old course. The seventh green is now within 49ft of the shoreline and boulders are strewn across that part of the low lying links course. The land the golf course is built on is designated as a site of specific scientific interest. Natural England, which controls the land, said it had no plans to improve the sea defences. It said in a statement: "The dunes and shingle ridge are naturally dynamic coastal features and subject to constant change." It also said the golf club can build two new greens, but must relinquish two existing ones within three years if it does so. Nick Laws, from Torridge District Council, said a landfill site that was used for 50 years until 1995 could also be at risk if there is further flooding. "There are hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish which would be at risk," he said. "I can accept that it's a retreat but it has to be a controlled retreat. There is no control. "There has to be a line to say we have to stop it because there will be an environmental disaster." Jane Whittaker, leader of Torridge District Council said a meeting between all of the agencies involved is being set up.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Earlier this month Storm Eleanor ripped 49ft (15m) of land away from behind the eighth tee at the Royal North Devon Golf Club in Westward Ho! General manager Mark Evans said "we could lose the [seventh] green in early February with the high tides predicted with the wrong wind conditions". An adjoining landfill site could also be at risk. More Devon and Cornwall stories The tee marker for the eighth green has been washed on to the beach, which is alongside the 154-year-old course. The seventh green is now within 49ft of the shoreline and boulders are strewn across that part of the low lying links course. The land the golf course is built on is designated as a site of specific scientific interest. Natural England, which controls the land, said it had no plans to improve the sea defences. It said in a statement: "The dunes and shingle ridge are naturally dynamic coastal features and subject to constant change." It also said the golf club can build two new greens, but must relinquish two existing ones within three years if it does so. Nick Laws, from Torridge District Council, said a landfill site that was used for 50 years until 1995 could also be at risk if there is further flooding. "There are hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish which would be at risk," he said. "I can accept that it's a retreat but it has to be a controlled retreat. There is no control. "There has to be a line to say we have to stop it because there will be an environmental disaster." Jane Whittaker, leader of Torridge District Council said a meeting between all of the agencies involved is being set up. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Earlier this month Storm Eleanor ripped 49ft (15m) of land away from behind the eighth tee at the Royal North Devon Golf Club in Westward Ho! General manager Mark Evans said "we could lose the [seventh] green in early February with the high tides predicted with the wrong wind conditions". An adjoining landfill site could also be at risk. More Devon and Cornwall stories The tee marker for the eighth green has been washed on to the beach, which is alongside the 154-year-old course. The seventh green is now within 49ft of the shoreline and boulders are strewn across that part of the low lying links course. The land the golf course is built on is designated as a site of specific scientific interest. Natural England, which controls the land, said it had no plans to improve the sea defences. It said in a statement: "The dunes and shingle ridge are naturally dynamic coastal features and subject to constant change." It also said the golf club can build two new greens, but must relinquish two existing ones within three years if it does so. Nick Laws, from Torridge District Council, said a landfill site that was used for 50 years until 1995 could also be at risk if there is further flooding. "There are hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish which would be at risk," he said. "I can accept that it's a retreat but it has to be a controlled retreat. There is no control. "There has to be a line to say we have to stop it because there will be an environmental disaster." Jane Whittaker, leader of Torridge District Council said a meeting between all of the agencies involved is being set up. ### Summary: A golf course in Devon has been damaged by a storm. ### Text: A golf course in Devon has been damaged by a storm. ### Summary: A golf course in Devon has

uk-wales-politics-33379321

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-33379321

Labour candidates seek Welsh support at Cardiff hustings

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will not take on the Conservatives in the general election.

Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall are hoping to succeed Ed Miliband who resigned after Labour lost the May general election. Immigration, education and child poverty were among the subjects discussed in Cardiff on Sunday. Some of the most lively exchanges were on Labour's failures in the general election campaign. Ms Cooper said the party had been too narrow while Mr Burnham accused their former leader of failing to tackle the myth that Labour was to blame for the financial crisis. Ms Kendall said Labour had fallen into Tory traps and Mr Corbyn called on the party to take on what he called "Conservative greed". Postal vote All have spoken of the need to build on the party's success in Wales, the only UK nation where it holds power. The winner, to be chosen by a postal vote of all Labour party members, will be named in September. Sunday's leadership hustings was followed by one for the deputy leadership. Ben Bradshaw, Stella Creasy, Angela Eagle, Caroline Flint and Tom Watson are the candidates hoping to succeed Harriet Harman. Currently acting leader of the Labour party, Ms Harman will step down in September once the new leader and deputy are confirmed. Analysis from Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor This was a lively affair - particularly, and unsurprisingly, when they debated Labour's failings in the general election campaign. Andy Burnham probably won if there had been a clapometer with his punchy delivery. On immigration, he said the party needed practical solutions so "we do not avoid people's eyes on the doorstep when immigration comes up". Yvette Cooper delivered some lines that went down well, particularly early on when she said the Conservatives decide nationally and then blame locally, and at the end when she said "we know David Cameron has a woman problem - let's give him a bigger one" by electing her as leader. Liz Kendall tried to appeal to Labour members to think about the middle ground saying that if the party goes too far to the left then it'll be in the wilderness for a decade. Jeremy Corbyn clearly appealed to a chunk of the audience with his anti-austerity message. There is a sense of urgency to this hustings that may not exist in other parts of the UK with the assembly election on the horizon. The key question is whether the Labour members at the hustings are thinking about who is most attractive to them or who would be most attractive to wider voters. In other words are they thinking about a Labour leader or a Labour Prime Minister?

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall are hoping to succeed Ed Miliband who resigned after Labour lost the May general election. Immigration, education and child poverty were among the subjects discussed in Cardiff on Sunday. Some of the most lively exchanges were on Labour's failures in the general election campaign. Ms Cooper said the party had been too narrow while Mr Burnham accused their former leader of failing to tackle the myth that Labour was to blame for the financial crisis. Ms Kendall said Labour had fallen into Tory traps and Mr Corbyn called on the party to take on what he called "Conservative greed". Postal vote All have spoken of the need to build on the party's success in Wales, the only UK nation where it holds power. The winner, to be chosen by a postal vote of all Labour party members, will be named in September. Sunday's leadership hustings was followed by one for the deputy leadership. Ben Bradshaw, Stella Creasy, Angela Eagle, Caroline Flint and Tom Watson are the candidates hoping to succeed Harriet Harman. Currently acting leader of the Labour party, Ms Harman will step down in September once the new leader and deputy are confirmed. Analysis from Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor This was a lively affair - particularly, and unsurprisingly, when they debated Labour's failings in the general election campaign. Andy Burnham probably won if there had been a clapometer with his punchy delivery. On immigration, he said the party needed practical solutions so "we do not avoid people's eyes on the doorstep when immigration comes up". Yvette Cooper delivered some lines that went down well, particularly early on when she said the Conservatives decide nationally and then blame locally, and at the end when she said "we know David Cameron has a woman problem - let's give him a bigger one" by electing her as leader. Liz Kendall tried to appeal to Labour members to think about the middle ground saying that if the party goes too far to the left then it'll be in the wilderness for a decade. Jeremy Corbyn clearly appealed to a chunk of the audience with his anti-austerity message. There is a sense of urgency to this hustings that may not exist in other parts of the UK with the assembly election on the horizon. The key question is whether the Labour members at the hustings are thinking about who is most attractive to them or who would be most attractive to wider voters. In other words are they thinking about a Labour leader or a Labour Prime Minister? ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall are hoping to succeed Ed Miliband who resigned after Labour lost the May general election. Immigration, education and child poverty were among the subjects discussed in Cardiff on Sunday. Some of the most lively exchanges were on Labour's failures in the general election campaign. Ms Cooper said the party had been too narrow while Mr Burnham accused their former leader of failing to tackle the myth that Labour was to blame for the financial crisis. Ms Kendall said Labour had fallen into Tory traps and Mr Corbyn called on the party to take on what he called "Conservative greed". Postal vote All have spoken of the need to build on the party's success in Wales, the only UK nation where it holds power. The winner, to be chosen by a postal vote of all Labour party members, will be named in September. Sunday's leadership hustings was followed by one for the deputy leadership. Ben Bradshaw, Stella Creasy, Angela Eagle, Caroline Flint and Tom Watson are the candidates hoping to succeed Harriet Harman. Currently acting leader of the Labour party, Ms Harman will step down in September once the new leader and deputy are confirmed. Analysis from Nick Servini, BBC Wales political editor This was a lively affair - particularly, and unsurprisingly, when they debated Labour's failings in the general election campaign. Andy Burnham probably won if there had been a clapometer with his punchy delivery. On immigration, he said the party needed practical solutions so "we do not avoid people's eyes on the doorstep when immigration comes up". Yvette Cooper delivered some lines that went down well, particularly early on when she said the Conservatives decide nationally and then blame locally, and at the end when she said "we know David Cameron has a woman problem - let's give him a bigger one" by electing her as leader. Liz Kendall tried to appeal to Labour members to think about the middle ground saying that if the party goes too far to the left then it'll be in the wilderness for a decade. Jeremy Corbyn clearly appealed to a chunk of the audience with his anti-austerity message. There is a sense of urgency to this hustings that may not exist in other parts of the UK with the assembly election on the horizon. The key question is whether the Labour members at the hustings are thinking about who is most attractive to them or who would be most attractive to wider voters. In other words are they thinking about a Labour leader or a Labour Prime Minister? ### Summary: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will not take on the Conservatives in the general election. ### Spelling and grammar: The Labour Party's leadership hustings has been held in Cardiff.

uk-35819681

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35819681

Weighing up Britain's defence relationships

The EU has been the bedrock of Britain's defence and national security.

By Jonathan BealeDefence correspondent, BBC News Last month it released a letter, allegedly signed by 13 former generals, admirals and air marshals in support of Britain's EU membership. But it dramatically backfired. One of the generals named, Sir Michael Rose, quickly disowned it and Number 10 was forced to issue an apology. As with much of the EU debate, when it comes to defence and national security there are more opinions than hard facts. This is just an attempt to help navigate some of the issues concerning security and defence. EU referendum: All you need to know Full referendum coverage Nato or EU? Even the most ardent pro-European Union supporter would admit that Nato, rather than the EU, is the bedrock of Britain's defence. It is the Nato alliance that's set the target of spending 2% of the nation's GDP on defence. Within the EU, Britain has been one of the few countries to meet that goal. Most EU states have, until recently, been slashing their defence spending. Nato has taken the lead in military operations and is responsible for the collective defence of Europe. And you don't have to be a member of the EU to be a member of Nato - think of Canada and Norway. Nevertheless it is hard to argue that the EU has no relevance to our national security - beyond the economic security that many British defence companies are citing as a reason to stay. There have also been a number of EU military missions. For instance, EUFOR to keep the peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and EUNAVFOR, a European naval force tackling piracy in the Horn of Africa, which, incidentally, has its headquarters in Northwood. In terms of confronting organised crime there's Europol along with the European Arrest Warrant. The EU has also acted together as a trade bloc to impose sanctions. President Obama might take the credit for the Iran nuclear deal, but the EU too was at the negotiating table. And yet recent history shows there are no guarantees that being part of the EU makes its citizens more safe. For all the talk of co-operation, the attacks in Paris last year highlighted serious weaknesses. Intelligence sharing between France and Belgium, two of the EU's strongest advocates, was clearly inadequate. And the migrant crisis has shown the free movement of people, and the lack of border controls, can carry risks as well as rewards. Allies - EU or the US? Britain's armed forces have shrunk dramatically. It is more dependent on its allies. Indeed it is hard to envisage the UK ever carrying out a large-scale military operation on its own again. Alliances are today more important than ever. In Europe the most important defence relationship is with France. It is the only other EU nation that has a similar sized armed forces and defence budget and the same level of global influence. The relationship is becoming closer. As part of the Lancaster House agreement France and the UK have set up a Joint Expeditionary Force. The two nations are working together on the next generation of combat drone. Though this is all based on a bilateral agreement would it be harder to sustain if Britain turned its back on the EU? But of course the most important bilateral military and intelligence relationship for the UK is with the United States. Britain talks of a "special relationship". America might view it more as "first among equals". With a resurgent Russia the US is looking for a strong, united European response. In a recent interview with the BBC, the head of the US Army in Europe, Lt-Gen Ben Hodges, linked the health of the Nato alliance to that of the EU by warning that: "Anything that undermines the Nato alliance has an impact on us and so if the EU begins to unravel then there can't but help be a knock-on effect for the alliance also." Many Americans see the EU as part of the fabric of Europe. Would Britain lose its influence on both sides of the Atlantic if it left? Would Washington be left asking the question once attributed to Henry Kissinger? "What telephone number do I ring if I want to talk to Europe?"

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Jonathan BealeDefence correspondent, BBC News Last month it released a letter, allegedly signed by 13 former generals, admirals and air marshals in support of Britain's EU membership. But it dramatically backfired. One of the generals named, Sir Michael Rose, quickly disowned it and Number 10 was forced to issue an apology. As with much of the EU debate, when it comes to defence and national security there are more opinions than hard facts. This is just an attempt to help navigate some of the issues concerning security and defence. EU referendum: All you need to know Full referendum coverage Nato or EU? Even the most ardent pro-European Union supporter would admit that Nato, rather than the EU, is the bedrock of Britain's defence. It is the Nato alliance that's set the target of spending 2% of the nation's GDP on defence. Within the EU, Britain has been one of the few countries to meet that goal. Most EU states have, until recently, been slashing their defence spending. Nato has taken the lead in military operations and is responsible for the collective defence of Europe. And you don't have to be a member of the EU to be a member of Nato - think of Canada and Norway. Nevertheless it is hard to argue that the EU has no relevance to our national security - beyond the economic security that many British defence companies are citing as a reason to stay. There have also been a number of EU military missions. For instance, EUFOR to keep the peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and EUNAVFOR, a European naval force tackling piracy in the Horn of Africa, which, incidentally, has its headquarters in Northwood. In terms of confronting organised crime there's Europol along with the European Arrest Warrant. The EU has also acted together as a trade bloc to impose sanctions. President Obama might take the credit for the Iran nuclear deal, but the EU too was at the negotiating table. And yet recent history shows there are no guarantees that being part of the EU makes its citizens more safe. For all the talk of co-operation, the attacks in Paris last year highlighted serious weaknesses. Intelligence sharing between France and Belgium, two of the EU's strongest advocates, was clearly inadequate. And the migrant crisis has shown the free movement of people, and the lack of border controls, can carry risks as well as rewards. Allies - EU or the US? Britain's armed forces have shrunk dramatically. It is more dependent on its allies. Indeed it is hard to envisage the UK ever carrying out a large-scale military operation on its own again. Alliances are today more important than ever. In Europe the most important defence relationship is with France. It is the only other EU nation that has a similar sized armed forces and defence budget and the same level of global influence. The relationship is becoming closer. As part of the Lancaster House agreement France and the UK have set up a Joint Expeditionary Force. The two nations are working together on the next generation of combat drone. Though this is all based on a bilateral agreement would it be harder to sustain if Britain turned its back on the EU? But of course the most important bilateral military and intelligence relationship for the UK is with the United States. Britain talks of a "special relationship". America might view it more as "first among equals". With a resurgent Russia the US is looking for a strong, united European response. In a recent interview with the BBC, the head of the US Army in Europe, Lt-Gen Ben Hodges, linked the health of the Nato alliance to that of the EU by warning that: "Anything that undermines the Nato alliance has an impact on us and so if the EU begins to unravel then there can't but help be a knock-on effect for the alliance also." Many Americans see the EU as part of the fabric of Europe. Would Britain lose its influence on both sides of the Atlantic if it left? Would Washington be left asking the question once attributed to Henry Kissinger? "What telephone number do I ring if I want to talk to Europe?" ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Jonathan BealeDefence correspondent, BBC News Last month it released a letter, allegedly signed by 13 former generals, admirals and air marshals in support of Britain's EU membership. But it dramatically backfired. One of the generals named, Sir Michael Rose, quickly disowned it and Number 10 was forced to issue an apology. As with much of the EU debate, when it comes to defence and national security there are more opinions than hard facts. This is just an attempt to help navigate some of the issues concerning security and defence. EU referendum: All you need to know Full referendum coverage Nato or EU? Even the most ardent pro-European Union supporter would admit that Nato, rather than the EU, is the bedrock of Britain's defence. It is the Nato alliance that's set the target of spending 2% of the nation's GDP on defence. Within the EU, Britain has been one of the few countries to meet that goal. Most EU states have, until recently, been slashing their defence spending. Nato has taken the lead in military operations and is responsible for the collective defence of Europe. And you don't have to be a member of the EU to be a member of Nato - think of Canada and Norway. Nevertheless it is hard to argue that the EU has no relevance to our national security - beyond the economic security that many British defence companies are citing as a reason to stay. There have also been a number of EU military missions. For instance, EUFOR to keep the peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and EUNAVFOR, a European naval force tackling piracy in the Horn of Africa, which, incidentally, has its headquarters in Northwood. In terms of confronting organised crime there's Europol along with the European Arrest Warrant. The EU has also acted together as a trade bloc to impose sanctions. President Obama might take the credit for the Iran nuclear deal, but the EU too was at the negotiating table. And yet recent history shows there are no guarantees that being part of the EU makes its citizens more safe. For all the talk of co-operation, the attacks in Paris last year highlighted serious weaknesses. Intelligence sharing between France and Belgium, two of the EU's strongest advocates, was clearly inadequate. And the migrant crisis has shown the free movement of people, and the lack of border controls, can carry risks as well as rewards. Allies - EU or the US? Britain's armed forces have shrunk dramatically. It is more dependent on its allies. Indeed it is hard to envisage the UK ever carrying out a large-scale military operation on its own again. Alliances are today more important than ever. In Europe the most important defence relationship is with France. It is the only other EU nation that has a similar sized armed forces and defence budget and the same level of global influence. The relationship is becoming closer. As part of the Lancaster House agreement France and the UK have set up a Joint Expeditionary Force. The two nations are working together on the next generation of combat drone. Though this is all based on a bilateral agreement would it be harder to sustain if Britain turned its back on the EU? But of course the most important bilateral military and intelligence relationship for the UK is with the United States. Britain talks of a "special relationship". America might view it more as "first among equals". With a resurgent Russia the US is looking for a strong, united European response. In a recent interview with the BBC, the head of the US Army in Europe, Lt-Gen Ben Hodges, linked the health of the Nato alliance to that of the EU by warning that: "Anything that undermines the Nato alliance has an impact on us and so if the EU begins to unravel then there can't but help be a knock-on effect for the alliance also." Many Americans see the EU as part of the fabric of Europe. Would Britain lose its influence on both sides of the Atlantic if it left? Would Washington be left asking the question once attributed to Henry Kissinger? "What telephone number do I ring if I want to talk to Europe?" ### Summary: The EU has been the bedrock of Britain's defence and national security. The UK is more dependent on its allies than ever before. The most important defence relationship is with France. The most important bilateral

world-europe-43470315

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43470315

German city installs Karl Marx traffic lights

A statue of Karl Marx has been unveiled in Trier, Germany.

The philosopher and author of The Communist Manifesto was born in Trier in western Germany on 5 May 1818, and spent his first 17 years in the city. The new set of traffic lights were unveiled on Monday and see Marx lit up in green and red. "Trier is showing its colours for Marx," Mayor Wolfram Leibe said. A second set of lights will be installed close to Karl Marx's childhood home and museum in the coming weeks, according to the Trier.de website (in German). The anniversary of Marx's birth has caused some controversy in Trier after the city council voted to accept a bronze statue of the philosopher from the Chinese government last year. The sculpture is due to be erected in May, but critics say that honouring Marx ignores the suffering that took place under communist ideology in the 20th Century. You may also be interested in:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The philosopher and author of The Communist Manifesto was born in Trier in western Germany on 5 May 1818, and spent his first 17 years in the city. The new set of traffic lights were unveiled on Monday and see Marx lit up in green and red. "Trier is showing its colours for Marx," Mayor Wolfram Leibe said. A second set of lights will be installed close to Karl Marx's childhood home and museum in the coming weeks, according to the Trier.de website (in German). The anniversary of Marx's birth has caused some controversy in Trier after the city council voted to accept a bronze statue of the philosopher from the Chinese government last year. The sculpture is due to be erected in May, but critics say that honouring Marx ignores the suffering that took place under communist ideology in the 20th Century. You may also be interested in: ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The philosopher and author of The Communist Manifesto was born in Trier in western Germany on 5 May 1818, and spent his first 17 years in the city. The new set of traffic lights were unveiled on Monday and see Marx lit up in green and red. "Trier is showing its colours for Marx," Mayor Wolfram Leibe said. A second set of lights will be installed close to Karl Marx's childhood home and museum in the coming weeks, according to the Trier.de website (in German). The anniversary of Marx's birth has caused some controversy in Trier after the city council voted to accept a bronze statue of the philosopher from the Chinese government last year. The sculpture is due to be erected in May, but critics say that honouring Marx ignores the suffering that took place under communist ideology in the 20th Century. You may also be interested in: ### Summary: A statue of Karl Marx has been unveiled in Trier, Germany. ### Text: The statue of Karl Marx has been unveiled in Trier. ### Summary: A statue of Karl Marx

uk-wales-21423711

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-21423711

London Olympics: People playing sport rises after Games

The number of people playing sport in Wales has increased by more than 30% in the six months after the Olympics.

Swimming and boxing have seen the biggest rises of more than 30% in the six months after the Games, according to Sport Wales. It said 30 new canoeing clubs had been set up to cope with a surge in demand. One of the legacy targets of the 2012 Games was to increase the number of people playing sport around Britain. The latest research follows a BBC Radio Five Live poll last month which suggested around one in five people have been inspired to play sport by the Olympics. Chair of Sport Wales Prof Laura McAllister said: "We were clear in the lead up to the Games that we wanted Welsh success in terms of performance and medals to be mirrored by grassroots participation. "Work began with partners to ensure that any child inspired by our Olympians and Paralympians had every opportunity to get involved, and encouragingly we're now seeing the fruits of that labour." Sports such as gymnastics (25%), hockey (32% of clubs), swimming (39%), cycling (24%), boxing (33%) and athletics (12%) have all reported significant increases in participation, while 30 new canoeing clubs have been set up to cope with the surge in demand spurred by the Games. Debbie Austin, Sport Wales Manager charged with supporting and challenging Wales' governing bodies, said: "Swimming, gymnastics, hockey and cycling are just a few examples of where we're already witnessing the London 2012 legacy in Wales and let's be clear there is no coincidence in the increase in participants here. "The launch of the vision for sport in Wales set a challenge to the sector to become more targeted and focused in their delivery and both Welsh Gymnastics and Swim Wales were among the first governing bodies to respond. "Creating their own vision and ambitions for their sports; they are now reaping the rewards. "Prepared and ready to welcome new members, their structures were stable enough to cater for the demand and as a result they have seen their membership numbers increase." In December, Sport England said the number of people playing sport at least once a week grew by 750,000 in England last year. The impact and success of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games had helped boost numbers, it said.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Swimming and boxing have seen the biggest rises of more than 30% in the six months after the Games, according to Sport Wales. It said 30 new canoeing clubs had been set up to cope with a surge in demand. One of the legacy targets of the 2012 Games was to increase the number of people playing sport around Britain. The latest research follows a BBC Radio Five Live poll last month which suggested around one in five people have been inspired to play sport by the Olympics. Chair of Sport Wales Prof Laura McAllister said: "We were clear in the lead up to the Games that we wanted Welsh success in terms of performance and medals to be mirrored by grassroots participation. "Work began with partners to ensure that any child inspired by our Olympians and Paralympians had every opportunity to get involved, and encouragingly we're now seeing the fruits of that labour." Sports such as gymnastics (25%), hockey (32% of clubs), swimming (39%), cycling (24%), boxing (33%) and athletics (12%) have all reported significant increases in participation, while 30 new canoeing clubs have been set up to cope with the surge in demand spurred by the Games. Debbie Austin, Sport Wales Manager charged with supporting and challenging Wales' governing bodies, said: "Swimming, gymnastics, hockey and cycling are just a few examples of where we're already witnessing the London 2012 legacy in Wales and let's be clear there is no coincidence in the increase in participants here. "The launch of the vision for sport in Wales set a challenge to the sector to become more targeted and focused in their delivery and both Welsh Gymnastics and Swim Wales were among the first governing bodies to respond. "Creating their own vision and ambitions for their sports; they are now reaping the rewards. "Prepared and ready to welcome new members, their structures were stable enough to cater for the demand and as a result they have seen their membership numbers increase." In December, Sport England said the number of people playing sport at least once a week grew by 750,000 in England last year. The impact and success of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games had helped boost numbers, it said. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Swimming and boxing have seen the biggest rises of more than 30% in the six months after the Games, according to Sport Wales. It said 30 new canoeing clubs had been set up to cope with a surge in demand. One of the legacy targets of the 2012 Games was to increase the number of people playing sport around Britain. The latest research follows a BBC Radio Five Live poll last month which suggested around one in five people have been inspired to play sport by the Olympics. Chair of Sport Wales Prof Laura McAllister said: "We were clear in the lead up to the Games that we wanted Welsh success in terms of performance and medals to be mirrored by grassroots participation. "Work began with partners to ensure that any child inspired by our Olympians and Paralympians had every opportunity to get involved, and encouragingly we're now seeing the fruits of that labour." Sports such as gymnastics (25%), hockey (32% of clubs), swimming (39%), cycling (24%), boxing (33%) and athletics (12%) have all reported significant increases in participation, while 30 new canoeing clubs have been set up to cope with the surge in demand spurred by the Games. Debbie Austin, Sport Wales Manager charged with supporting and challenging Wales' governing bodies, said: "Swimming, gymnastics, hockey and cycling are just a few examples of where we're already witnessing the London 2012 legacy in Wales and let's be clear there is no coincidence in the increase in participants here. "The launch of the vision for sport in Wales set a challenge to the sector to become more targeted and focused in their delivery and both Welsh Gymnastics and Swim Wales were among the first governing bodies to respond. "Creating their own vision and ambitions for their sports; they are now reaping the rewards. "Prepared and ready to welcome new members, their structures were stable enough to cater for the demand and as a result they have seen their membership numbers increase." In December, Sport England said the number of people playing sport at least once a week grew by 750,000 in England last year. The impact and success of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games had helped boost numbers, it said. ### Summary: The number of people playing sport in Wales has increased by more than 30% in the six months after the Olympics. ### Source: ### Source: The number of people playing sport in Wales has increased by

business-47612467

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47612467

EasyJet withdraws from proposed Alitalia consortium

Alitalia has been in talks with the Italian government about forming a consortium.

The budget airline had been considering teaming up with Italy's state-controlled railway Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Delta Air Lines of the US. Alitalia was went into administration in May 2017 after workers rejected a plan to cut jobs and salaries. The airline continued to operate, propped up by the government, which has been looking for a buyer. The three parties had entered discussions in February about potentially forming a consortium, although at the time Easyjet said it was not certain whether a transaction for Alitalia would materialise. Delta remains in talks with Ferrovie: "Discussions remain ongoing as Alitalia is a long-standing partner of Delta," a statement from the US airline said. The Italian government has set an end-of-March deadline for the two to come up with a rescue plan for Alitalia. Meanwhile, EasyJet said Italy would remain a big market for the airline. "EasyJet remains committed to Italy, as a key market for the company, where it currently carries 18.5 million passengers every year and employs 1,400 pilots and crew, all on local contracts," the firm said in a statement. "We continue to invest in the three bases in Milan, Naples, Venice, as we have done by basing additional aircraft in Venice and Naples last summer." Rome-based Alitalia has been the recipient of a £789m state loan and has been looking for international partners to keep it in business. Irish budget airline Ryanair had expressed an interest in Alitalia shortly after it entered administration two years ago, but quickly said it was dropping the idea. At the time the Irish airline was struggling to contain the fallout from a pilot shortage, which led to the cancellation of flights for about 700,000 passengers.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The budget airline had been considering teaming up with Italy's state-controlled railway Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Delta Air Lines of the US. Alitalia was went into administration in May 2017 after workers rejected a plan to cut jobs and salaries. The airline continued to operate, propped up by the government, which has been looking for a buyer. The three parties had entered discussions in February about potentially forming a consortium, although at the time Easyjet said it was not certain whether a transaction for Alitalia would materialise. Delta remains in talks with Ferrovie: "Discussions remain ongoing as Alitalia is a long-standing partner of Delta," a statement from the US airline said. The Italian government has set an end-of-March deadline for the two to come up with a rescue plan for Alitalia. Meanwhile, EasyJet said Italy would remain a big market for the airline. "EasyJet remains committed to Italy, as a key market for the company, where it currently carries 18.5 million passengers every year and employs 1,400 pilots and crew, all on local contracts," the firm said in a statement. "We continue to invest in the three bases in Milan, Naples, Venice, as we have done by basing additional aircraft in Venice and Naples last summer." Rome-based Alitalia has been the recipient of a £789m state loan and has been looking for international partners to keep it in business. Irish budget airline Ryanair had expressed an interest in Alitalia shortly after it entered administration two years ago, but quickly said it was dropping the idea. At the time the Irish airline was struggling to contain the fallout from a pilot shortage, which led to the cancellation of flights for about 700,000 passengers. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The budget airline had been considering teaming up with Italy's state-controlled railway Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Delta Air Lines of the US. Alitalia was went into administration in May 2017 after workers rejected a plan to cut jobs and salaries. The airline continued to operate, propped up by the government, which has been looking for a buyer. The three parties had entered discussions in February about potentially forming a consortium, although at the time Easyjet said it was not certain whether a transaction for Alitalia would materialise. Delta remains in talks with Ferrovie: "Discussions remain ongoing as Alitalia is a long-standing partner of Delta," a statement from the US airline said. The Italian government has set an end-of-March deadline for the two to come up with a rescue plan for Alitalia. Meanwhile, EasyJet said Italy would remain a big market for the airline. "EasyJet remains committed to Italy, as a key market for the company, where it currently carries 18.5 million passengers every year and employs 1,400 pilots and crew, all on local contracts," the firm said in a statement. "We continue to invest in the three bases in Milan, Naples, Venice, as we have done by basing additional aircraft in Venice and Naples last summer." Rome-based Alitalia has been the recipient of a £789m state loan and has been looking for international partners to keep it in business. Irish budget airline Ryanair had expressed an interest in Alitalia shortly after it entered administration two years ago, but quickly said it was dropping the idea. At the time the Irish airline was struggling to contain the fallout from a pilot shortage, which led to the cancellation of flights for about 700,000 passengers. ### Summary: Alitalia has been in talks with the Italian government about forming a consortium. ### Source: Alitalia has been in talks with the Italian government about forming a consortium. ### Source:

uk-england-bristol-42322076

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-42322076

'Suffocating poo' woman leaves Southmead Hospital

A woman who was admitted to a hospital in Bristol with an infection has said she would like to be transferred to a specialist unit.

Kelly Yeoman left Southmead Hospital in Bristol two months after complications developed from surgery for suspected endometriosis at another hospital. Her friends had raised almost £11,000 for her to be moved to a specialist unit but the move proved unnecessary. Ms Yeoman hopes she can now use the funds to assist in her recovery. However, her friend Kate Rankin said donors wishing to be reimbursed, could be. 'Massive relief' Ms Yeoman, 34, from Cadbury Heath, posted an update about her treatment at Southmead Hospital last week. "They were able to remove all of the impacted and constipated stool," she said, adding it was a "massive relief". She said her consultant was "very confident that, providing I came off all pain medications and continued laxatives, I would regain full use of my bowels." Ms Yeoman was initially admitted to St Michael's Hospital in August to check for endometriosis. She was later treated at Southmead Hospital when complications developed following the previous surgery. St Michael's said it had not received concerns or questions about her care at their hospital. Ms Yeoman wrote that because she was "now potentially fixed" she would no longer need to be transferred to the specialist unit at St Mark's in London. However, she said she would like to be able to use the donations to fund other care options. These include a private ambulance, overnight care unavailable on the NHS and "any adaptations I may need to make my home safe". A GoFundMe spokesman said: "We've been working with the campaign organiser to make sure donors are aware of the change of use for the funds." Ms Rankin said her friend had since been admitted to a hospital in Bath with an infection.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Kelly Yeoman left Southmead Hospital in Bristol two months after complications developed from surgery for suspected endometriosis at another hospital. Her friends had raised almost £11,000 for her to be moved to a specialist unit but the move proved unnecessary. Ms Yeoman hopes she can now use the funds to assist in her recovery. However, her friend Kate Rankin said donors wishing to be reimbursed, could be. 'Massive relief' Ms Yeoman, 34, from Cadbury Heath, posted an update about her treatment at Southmead Hospital last week. "They were able to remove all of the impacted and constipated stool," she said, adding it was a "massive relief". She said her consultant was "very confident that, providing I came off all pain medications and continued laxatives, I would regain full use of my bowels." Ms Yeoman was initially admitted to St Michael's Hospital in August to check for endometriosis. She was later treated at Southmead Hospital when complications developed following the previous surgery. St Michael's said it had not received concerns or questions about her care at their hospital. Ms Yeoman wrote that because she was "now potentially fixed" she would no longer need to be transferred to the specialist unit at St Mark's in London. However, she said she would like to be able to use the donations to fund other care options. These include a private ambulance, overnight care unavailable on the NHS and "any adaptations I may need to make my home safe". A GoFundMe spokesman said: "We've been working with the campaign organiser to make sure donors are aware of the change of use for the funds." Ms Rankin said her friend had since been admitted to a hospital in Bath with an infection. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Kelly Yeoman left Southmead Hospital in Bristol two months after complications developed from surgery for suspected endometriosis at another hospital. Her friends had raised almost £11,000 for her to be moved to a specialist unit but the move proved unnecessary. Ms Yeoman hopes she can now use the funds to assist in her recovery. However, her friend Kate Rankin said donors wishing to be reimbursed, could be. 'Massive relief' Ms Yeoman, 34, from Cadbury Heath, posted an update about her treatment at Southmead Hospital last week. "They were able to remove all of the impacted and constipated stool," she said, adding it was a "massive relief". She said her consultant was "very confident that, providing I came off all pain medications and continued laxatives, I would regain full use of my bowels." Ms Yeoman was initially admitted to St Michael's Hospital in August to check for endometriosis. She was later treated at Southmead Hospital when complications developed following the previous surgery. St Michael's said it had not received concerns or questions about her care at their hospital. Ms Yeoman wrote that because she was "now potentially fixed" she would no longer need to be transferred to the specialist unit at St Mark's in London. However, she said she would like to be able to use the donations to fund other care options. These include a private ambulance, overnight care unavailable on the NHS and "any adaptations I may need to make my home safe". A GoFundMe spokesman said: "We've been working with the campaign organiser to make sure donors are aware of the change of use for the funds." Ms Rankin said her friend had since been admitted to a hospital in Bath with an infection. ### Summary: A woman who was admitted to a hospital in Bristol with an infection has said she would like to be transferred to a specialist unit. ### Next story: A woman who was admitted to a hospital in Bristol with an

entertainment-arts-20661178

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-20661178

X Factor winner set to be revealed

The X Factor has been voted out of the competition.

Christopher Maloney was voted out of the competition on Saturday night. Judge Nicole Scherzinger is the mentor for both Douglas and Arthur. The viewer's vote alone decided which two contestants would battle it out to be the winner. One Direction, Rihanna and Emeli Sande will perform on the show. Surprise eliminations in the current series have seen popular acts like Union J and Ella Henderson leave the competition. Scherzinger told the BBC's Newsbeat website she plans to work with both her acts when they bring out their own music. Last minute The former Pussycat Doll said Douglas and Arthur had helped make this year's competition. "They've been a huge blessing," she told Newsbeat. "I think it brings so much more credibility and integrity to the show." Arthur has been popular with the judges and fans almost every week. However, his surprise bottom-two placing last month with Ella Henderson became been one of the show's biggest talking points. Douglas, a supermarket worker from Swindon, regularly sings with the gospel choir at his local church and is a big fan of the late Whitney Houston. Leona Lewis is his favourite act from previous series' of X Factor. Arthur, from Saltburn by the Sea, has been gigging in his local area for the last few years He writes his own songs, raps and plays guitar. He only auditioned for this year's show at the last minute after his friend told him he had nothing to lose. Related Internet Links X Factor

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Christopher Maloney was voted out of the competition on Saturday night. Judge Nicole Scherzinger is the mentor for both Douglas and Arthur. The viewer's vote alone decided which two contestants would battle it out to be the winner. One Direction, Rihanna and Emeli Sande will perform on the show. Surprise eliminations in the current series have seen popular acts like Union J and Ella Henderson leave the competition. Scherzinger told the BBC's Newsbeat website she plans to work with both her acts when they bring out their own music. Last minute The former Pussycat Doll said Douglas and Arthur had helped make this year's competition. "They've been a huge blessing," she told Newsbeat. "I think it brings so much more credibility and integrity to the show." Arthur has been popular with the judges and fans almost every week. However, his surprise bottom-two placing last month with Ella Henderson became been one of the show's biggest talking points. Douglas, a supermarket worker from Swindon, regularly sings with the gospel choir at his local church and is a big fan of the late Whitney Houston. Leona Lewis is his favourite act from previous series' of X Factor. Arthur, from Saltburn by the Sea, has been gigging in his local area for the last few years He writes his own songs, raps and plays guitar. He only auditioned for this year's show at the last minute after his friend told him he had nothing to lose. Related Internet Links X Factor ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Christopher Maloney was voted out of the competition on Saturday night. Judge Nicole Scherzinger is the mentor for both Douglas and Arthur. The viewer's vote alone decided which two contestants would battle it out to be the winner. One Direction, Rihanna and Emeli Sande will perform on the show. Surprise eliminations in the current series have seen popular acts like Union J and Ella Henderson leave the competition. Scherzinger told the BBC's Newsbeat website she plans to work with both her acts when they bring out their own music. Last minute The former Pussycat Doll said Douglas and Arthur had helped make this year's competition. "They've been a huge blessing," she told Newsbeat. "I think it brings so much more credibility and integrity to the show." Arthur has been popular with the judges and fans almost every week. However, his surprise bottom-two placing last month with Ella Henderson became been one of the show's biggest talking points. Douglas, a supermarket worker from Swindon, regularly sings with the gospel choir at his local church and is a big fan of the late Whitney Houston. Leona Lewis is his favourite act from previous series' of X Factor. Arthur, from Saltburn by the Sea, has been gigging in his local area for the last few years He writes his own songs, raps and plays guitar. He only auditioned for this year's show at the last minute after his friend told him he had nothing to lose. Related Internet Links X Factor ### Summary: The X Factor has been voted out of the competition. ### Source: By Newsbeat entertainment correspondent Rachel KennedyNewsbeat.com ### Text: The X Factor has been voted out

uk-england-manchester-21135788

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-21135788

Contaminated ecstasy may be behind deaths

A man has died after taking a heart-shaped ecstasy tablet.

A 19-year-old man died at the Royal Oldham Hospital on Sunday and a 28-year-old man died at Wigan Infirmary on Monday. Both had similar symptoms. Police said the deaths may be linked and are investigating if contaminated illegal drugs may be to blame. The drugs are thought to be coloured heart-shaped ecstasy tablets. Toxicology tests are due to take place on the two men to find out how they died. Police said more people may have been admitted to hospital over the past few days with the same symptoms. Hospital help Det Ch Insp Howard Millington from Wigan CID said: "We are very concerned at how these deaths of two apparently fit young men have occurred. "Our main concern is that there may be a contaminated quantity of illegal drugs and if this goes unchecked it could result in further deaths. "The drugs are believed to be ecstasy tablets, heart shaped in purple, green, yellow and blue. "If you are suffering adverse effects after taking one of these tablets I would advise you to go to hospital for a check up. "If you have any information, I would ask you to contact police as soon as possible. We will treat the details you supply with the strictest of confidence."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: A 19-year-old man died at the Royal Oldham Hospital on Sunday and a 28-year-old man died at Wigan Infirmary on Monday. Both had similar symptoms. Police said the deaths may be linked and are investigating if contaminated illegal drugs may be to blame. The drugs are thought to be coloured heart-shaped ecstasy tablets. Toxicology tests are due to take place on the two men to find out how they died. Police said more people may have been admitted to hospital over the past few days with the same symptoms. Hospital help Det Ch Insp Howard Millington from Wigan CID said: "We are very concerned at how these deaths of two apparently fit young men have occurred. "Our main concern is that there may be a contaminated quantity of illegal drugs and if this goes unchecked it could result in further deaths. "The drugs are believed to be ecstasy tablets, heart shaped in purple, green, yellow and blue. "If you are suffering adverse effects after taking one of these tablets I would advise you to go to hospital for a check up. "If you have any information, I would ask you to contact police as soon as possible. We will treat the details you supply with the strictest of confidence." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: A 19-year-old man died at the Royal Oldham Hospital on Sunday and a 28-year-old man died at Wigan Infirmary on Monday. Both had similar symptoms. Police said the deaths may be linked and are investigating if contaminated illegal drugs may be to blame. The drugs are thought to be coloured heart-shaped ecstasy tablets. Toxicology tests are due to take place on the two men to find out how they died. Police said more people may have been admitted to hospital over the past few days with the same symptoms. Hospital help Det Ch Insp Howard Millington from Wigan CID said: "We are very concerned at how these deaths of two apparently fit young men have occurred. "Our main concern is that there may be a contaminated quantity of illegal drugs and if this goes unchecked it could result in further deaths. "The drugs are believed to be ecstasy tablets, heart shaped in purple, green, yellow and blue. "If you are suffering adverse effects after taking one of these tablets I would advise you to go to hospital for a check up. "If you have any information, I would ask you to contact police as soon as possible. We will treat the details you supply with the strictest of confidence." ### Summary: A man has died after taking a heart-shaped ecstasy tablet. ### Next: A man has died after taking a heart-shaped ecstasy tablet. ### Source: A man

uk-wales-40178681

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-40178681

Wales day trips up 24% after warm weather boost

The number of visitors to Wales has increased by more than 30% in the past year, according to the latest figures.

The latest official figures show more than 104.6 million day trips were made between April 2016 and March 2017 - up 24.4% on the year before. The average spend per visit was £42 - up £4 on the previous year and above the UK average. Economy Secretary Ken Skates said tourism to Wales remained positive in "a challenging global market". The Great Britain Day survey showed the amount spent increased from £3.2m to £4.3m, a 34.9% increase compared to the same period beginning in 2015. The most visits were made in May, partly due to the warm weather, with city or large towns being the most popular destination. The Met Office said the weather was generally warmer than the year before. Mr Skates said the Champions League finals in Cardiff last weekend gave Wales a platform to boost tourism. He said: "Our overseas visitors also increased last year and we'll make the most of our chance to sell Wales to the world as the place where fans had a remarkable experience during the Champions League final and which saw Gareth Bale lifting the trophy in his home city."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The latest official figures show more than 104.6 million day trips were made between April 2016 and March 2017 - up 24.4% on the year before. The average spend per visit was £42 - up £4 on the previous year and above the UK average. Economy Secretary Ken Skates said tourism to Wales remained positive in "a challenging global market". The Great Britain Day survey showed the amount spent increased from £3.2m to £4.3m, a 34.9% increase compared to the same period beginning in 2015. The most visits were made in May, partly due to the warm weather, with city or large towns being the most popular destination. The Met Office said the weather was generally warmer than the year before. Mr Skates said the Champions League finals in Cardiff last weekend gave Wales a platform to boost tourism. He said: "Our overseas visitors also increased last year and we'll make the most of our chance to sell Wales to the world as the place where fans had a remarkable experience during the Champions League final and which saw Gareth Bale lifting the trophy in his home city." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The latest official figures show more than 104.6 million day trips were made between April 2016 and March 2017 - up 24.4% on the year before. The average spend per visit was £42 - up £4 on the previous year and above the UK average. Economy Secretary Ken Skates said tourism to Wales remained positive in "a challenging global market". The Great Britain Day survey showed the amount spent increased from £3.2m to £4.3m, a 34.9% increase compared to the same period beginning in 2015. The most visits were made in May, partly due to the warm weather, with city or large towns being the most popular destination. The Met Office said the weather was generally warmer than the year before. Mr Skates said the Champions League finals in Cardiff last weekend gave Wales a platform to boost tourism. He said: "Our overseas visitors also increased last year and we'll make the most of our chance to sell Wales to the world as the place where fans had a remarkable experience during the Champions League final and which saw Gareth Bale lifting the trophy in his home city." ### Summary: The number of visitors to Wales has increased by more than 30% in the past year, according to the latest figures. ### Source: The Great Britain Day survey shows the amount spent on tourism in Wales has increased by

uk-england-cumbria-23125593

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-23125593

Beatrix Potter's scientific pictures on show in Cumbria

A new exhibition of Beatrix Potter's drawings of archaeological finds from the 1890s has been launched.

Beatrix Potter is best-known as the creator of Peter Rabbit, but she was also a keen naturalist. She produced hundreds of scientifically-accurate drawings and watercolours of plants, fungi, animals and archaeological finds. They were bequeathed on her death in 1943 to the Armitt Museum in Ambleside. Previously it has only had a few of the 450 items on show at any time, but the new exhibition will feature many more, and also include memorabilia and information about her skills as a businesswoman and sheep farmer. 'Amazingly bright' Deborah Walsh, from the Armitt Museum, said: "Beatrix Potter had a very keen sense of observation. "She was particularly interested in the study of fungi - and it should probably also be said that very few people were involved in this field at the time. "Mycology was the sort of Cinderella side of botany. "She wrote a paper which was read out at the Linnean Society - the foremost natural history society in the country. "It was accepted, it was read, and then it disappeared. "We don't know what happened to it. She didn't continue with this type of work." The museum will also display Beatrix Potter's drawings of archaeological finds from excavations in central London in the 1890s. These were donated to the museum in the 1930s, when she helped set up an exhibition on Roman finds from the fort near Ambleside. Ms Walsh said that there were enough pictures in the whole collection to keep varying those on display. "The fact that they've been stored away for years means that the colours are amazingly bright", she said. "They are very alive."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Beatrix Potter is best-known as the creator of Peter Rabbit, but she was also a keen naturalist. She produced hundreds of scientifically-accurate drawings and watercolours of plants, fungi, animals and archaeological finds. They were bequeathed on her death in 1943 to the Armitt Museum in Ambleside. Previously it has only had a few of the 450 items on show at any time, but the new exhibition will feature many more, and also include memorabilia and information about her skills as a businesswoman and sheep farmer. 'Amazingly bright' Deborah Walsh, from the Armitt Museum, said: "Beatrix Potter had a very keen sense of observation. "She was particularly interested in the study of fungi - and it should probably also be said that very few people were involved in this field at the time. "Mycology was the sort of Cinderella side of botany. "She wrote a paper which was read out at the Linnean Society - the foremost natural history society in the country. "It was accepted, it was read, and then it disappeared. "We don't know what happened to it. She didn't continue with this type of work." The museum will also display Beatrix Potter's drawings of archaeological finds from excavations in central London in the 1890s. These were donated to the museum in the 1930s, when she helped set up an exhibition on Roman finds from the fort near Ambleside. Ms Walsh said that there were enough pictures in the whole collection to keep varying those on display. "The fact that they've been stored away for years means that the colours are amazingly bright", she said. "They are very alive." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Beatrix Potter is best-known as the creator of Peter Rabbit, but she was also a keen naturalist. She produced hundreds of scientifically-accurate drawings and watercolours of plants, fungi, animals and archaeological finds. They were bequeathed on her death in 1943 to the Armitt Museum in Ambleside. Previously it has only had a few of the 450 items on show at any time, but the new exhibition will feature many more, and also include memorabilia and information about her skills as a businesswoman and sheep farmer. 'Amazingly bright' Deborah Walsh, from the Armitt Museum, said: "Beatrix Potter had a very keen sense of observation. "She was particularly interested in the study of fungi - and it should probably also be said that very few people were involved in this field at the time. "Mycology was the sort of Cinderella side of botany. "She wrote a paper which was read out at the Linnean Society - the foremost natural history society in the country. "It was accepted, it was read, and then it disappeared. "We don't know what happened to it. She didn't continue with this type of work." The museum will also display Beatrix Potter's drawings of archaeological finds from excavations in central London in the 1890s. These were donated to the museum in the 1930s, when she helped set up an exhibition on Roman finds from the fort near Ambleside. Ms Walsh said that there were enough pictures in the whole collection to keep varying those on display. "The fact that they've been stored away for years means that the colours are amazingly bright", she said. "They are very alive." ### Summary: A new exhibition of Beatrix Potter's drawings of archaeological finds from the 1890s has been launched. ### Text: A new exhibition of Beatrix Potter's drawings of arch

uk-42841346

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42841346

All current rape cases to be 'urgently' reviewed over disclosure fears

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched an "improvement plan" to tackle the issue of disclosure of evidence in criminal cases.

Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders warned the review could see "a number of cases" dropped. It comes after the collapse of several rape trials because evidence had not been shared with defence lawyers. BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman said there had been a failure to share digital evidence in each of the cases. Attorney General Jeremy Wright said there was no evidence of "widespread malpractice or dishonesty", but police and prosecutors needed to get to grips with the way they handled electronic evidence. In the lead up to criminal trials, police and prosecutors have a duty to disclose evidence or information that might either help the defence case, or harm the prosecution's case. However, the system has come under scrutiny after the collapse of a number of trials, heightening concerns that evidence is not being disclosed early enough - or that rules are not being followed. Concerns have also been raised that potentially key information taken from mobile phones, computers and social media is not being shared. 'Deep-rooted' problems The Crown Prosecution Service, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing have launched an "improvement plan" to tackle the issue. It will include reviewing training, developing specialist disclosure experts in every police force, and providing all multimedia evidence to the defence digitally. Ms Saunders - the most senior public prosecutor in England and Wales - said the steps would help to deal with "deep-rooted and systemic" disclosure issues which were of "great concern". "Changes in society, such as the vastly increasing use of social media and mobile phone messaging, bring challenges that all parts of the criminal justice system, despite the resourcing challenges, must deal with," she said. "We are taking steps to identify any individual cases of concern as a matter of urgency." Last week, a rape charge against Oxford University student Oliver Mears was dropped on the eve of his trial, after a diary which supported his case was uncovered. And in December, the trial of Liam Allan, who faced 12 counts of rape and sexual assault, was dropped when it emerged evidence on a computer disc - which police had looked through - showed messages from the alleged victim pestering him for "casual sex". Earlier this week, the BBC revealed the number of prosecutions in England and Wales that collapsed because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence had increased by 70% in the last two years. Social media traffic Our correspondent said the review was "unprecedented" despite coming after years of warnings about disclosure issues by lawyers. He said the plan revealed little about how changes would be funded, or about whether there was scope for reviewing past convictions. It also begged the question of why the review was confined to rape and sexual assault cases when many believed problems of disclosure were systemic, he added. On Friday, the trial of three people held on trafficking and prostitution charges was stopped after it was discovered social media evidence had not been disclosed. Attorney General Jeremy Wright said that although he had not seen evidence of malpractice or dishonesty in the prosecution system, in some cases people were "not doing their job properly". "But I think it also shows something else - what we're seeing over the last year or two or three, is a huge increase in the volume of particularly electronic material that features in criminal cases. "There really is no excuse for investigators and prosecutors not getting to grips with social media traffic and text messages," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Police failures Chief Constable Nick Ephgrave, the NPCC lead for criminal justice, said the disclosure of evidence had too often been seen as an "administrative task" finished at the end of a case, and now needed to be firmly embedded in the "investigative mindset". He said problems had been "exacerbated by the rapid expansion of digital material involved in almost every case". "Reviews of recent cases have shown a range of issues leading to failures but there has been no intention by officers to conceal information," he added.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders warned the review could see "a number of cases" dropped. It comes after the collapse of several rape trials because evidence had not been shared with defence lawyers. BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman said there had been a failure to share digital evidence in each of the cases. Attorney General Jeremy Wright said there was no evidence of "widespread malpractice or dishonesty", but police and prosecutors needed to get to grips with the way they handled electronic evidence. In the lead up to criminal trials, police and prosecutors have a duty to disclose evidence or information that might either help the defence case, or harm the prosecution's case. However, the system has come under scrutiny after the collapse of a number of trials, heightening concerns that evidence is not being disclosed early enough - or that rules are not being followed. Concerns have also been raised that potentially key information taken from mobile phones, computers and social media is not being shared. 'Deep-rooted' problems The Crown Prosecution Service, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing have launched an "improvement plan" to tackle the issue. It will include reviewing training, developing specialist disclosure experts in every police force, and providing all multimedia evidence to the defence digitally. Ms Saunders - the most senior public prosecutor in England and Wales - said the steps would help to deal with "deep-rooted and systemic" disclosure issues which were of "great concern". "Changes in society, such as the vastly increasing use of social media and mobile phone messaging, bring challenges that all parts of the criminal justice system, despite the resourcing challenges, must deal with," she said. "We are taking steps to identify any individual cases of concern as a matter of urgency." Last week, a rape charge against Oxford University student Oliver Mears was dropped on the eve of his trial, after a diary which supported his case was uncovered. And in December, the trial of Liam Allan, who faced 12 counts of rape and sexual assault, was dropped when it emerged evidence on a computer disc - which police had looked through - showed messages from the alleged victim pestering him for "casual sex". Earlier this week, the BBC revealed the number of prosecutions in England and Wales that collapsed because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence had increased by 70% in the last two years. Social media traffic Our correspondent said the review was "unprecedented" despite coming after years of warnings about disclosure issues by lawyers. He said the plan revealed little about how changes would be funded, or about whether there was scope for reviewing past convictions. It also begged the question of why the review was confined to rape and sexual assault cases when many believed problems of disclosure were systemic, he added. On Friday, the trial of three people held on trafficking and prostitution charges was stopped after it was discovered social media evidence had not been disclosed. Attorney General Jeremy Wright said that although he had not seen evidence of malpractice or dishonesty in the prosecution system, in some cases people were "not doing their job properly". "But I think it also shows something else - what we're seeing over the last year or two or three, is a huge increase in the volume of particularly electronic material that features in criminal cases. "There really is no excuse for investigators and prosecutors not getting to grips with social media traffic and text messages," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Police failures Chief Constable Nick Ephgrave, the NPCC lead for criminal justice, said the disclosure of evidence had too often been seen as an "administrative task" finished at the end of a case, and now needed to be firmly embedded in the "investigative mindset". He said problems had been "exacerbated by the rapid expansion of digital material involved in almost every case". "Reviews of recent cases have shown a range of issues leading to failures but there has been no intention by officers to conceal information," he added. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders warned the review could see "a number of cases" dropped. It comes after the collapse of several rape trials because evidence had not been shared with defence lawyers. BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman said there had been a failure to share digital evidence in each of the cases. Attorney General Jeremy Wright said there was no evidence of "widespread malpractice or dishonesty", but police and prosecutors needed to get to grips with the way they handled electronic evidence. In the lead up to criminal trials, police and prosecutors have a duty to disclose evidence or information that might either help the defence case, or harm the prosecution's case. However, the system has come under scrutiny after the collapse of a number of trials, heightening concerns that evidence is not being disclosed early enough - or that rules are not being followed. Concerns have also been raised that potentially key information taken from mobile phones, computers and social media is not being shared. 'Deep-rooted' problems The Crown Prosecution Service, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing have launched an "improvement plan" to tackle the issue. It will include reviewing training, developing specialist disclosure experts in every police force, and providing all multimedia evidence to the defence digitally. Ms Saunders - the most senior public prosecutor in England and Wales - said the steps would help to deal with "deep-rooted and systemic" disclosure issues which were of "great concern". "Changes in society, such as the vastly increasing use of social media and mobile phone messaging, bring challenges that all parts of the criminal justice system, despite the resourcing challenges, must deal with," she said. "We are taking steps to identify any individual cases of concern as a matter of urgency." Last week, a rape charge against Oxford University student Oliver Mears was dropped on the eve of his trial, after a diary which supported his case was uncovered. And in December, the trial of Liam Allan, who faced 12 counts of rape and sexual assault, was dropped when it emerged evidence on a computer disc - which police had looked through - showed messages from the alleged victim pestering him for "casual sex". Earlier this week, the BBC revealed the number of prosecutions in England and Wales that collapsed because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence had increased by 70% in the last two years. Social media traffic Our correspondent said the review was "unprecedented" despite coming after years of warnings about disclosure issues by lawyers. He said the plan revealed little about how changes would be funded, or about whether there was scope for reviewing past convictions. It also begged the question of why the review was confined to rape and sexual assault cases when many believed problems of disclosure were systemic, he added. On Friday, the trial of three people held on trafficking and prostitution charges was stopped after it was discovered social media evidence had not been disclosed. Attorney General Jeremy Wright said that although he had not seen evidence of malpractice or dishonesty in the prosecution system, in some cases people were "not doing their job properly". "But I think it also shows something else - what we're seeing over the last year or two or three, is a huge increase in the volume of particularly electronic material that features in criminal cases. "There really is no excuse for investigators and prosecutors not getting to grips with social media traffic and text messages," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Police failures Chief Constable Nick Ephgrave, the NPCC lead for criminal justice, said the disclosure of evidence had too often been seen as an "administrative task" finished at the end of a case, and now needed to be firmly embedded in the "investigative mindset". He said problems had been "exacerbated by the rapid expansion of digital material involved in almost every case". "Reviews of recent cases have shown a range of issues leading to failures but there has been no intention by officers to conceal information," he added. ### Summary: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched an "improvement plan" to tackle the issue of disclosure of evidence in criminal cases. ### Spelling and grammar The Crown Prosecution Service (CP

uk-wales-14558327

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-14558327

Children aged four in Wales' A&Es for drink and drugs

A number of children have been treated in Welsh hospitals for alcohol and drug poisoning in the past three years.

By Kevin LeonardBBC Wales News reporter Figures obtained by BBC Wales suggest at least 1,200 children attend casualty each year because of drink and drugs. Children under 12 are among cases of alcohol and drug poisoning. Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the British Medical Association, said the issue was "increasingly worrying". "I think it's pretty well recognised by health services and health professionals that there's an increasing problem with both alcohol and drug-related incidents with younger and younger people," said Dr Lewis. "We see year-on-year increases with attendances at A&E departments, particularly for alcohol." One young person in casualty as a result of alcohol and drugs was one too many, he said. "It is increasingly worrying. The BMA and the health profession have been advancing for some time the importance of raising the awareness of alcohol in particular," he added. The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, show that more than 800 children have attended casualty in each of the past three years in cases where alcohol is a factor. Hundreds more have been seen after taking drugs, although figures are not necessarily for substance abuse as they may include incidents such as an accidental swallowing of tablets or medication overdose. Legal highs Clive Wolfendale, chief executive of north Wales drug and alcohol agency Cais, said the problem of children regularly drinking to such extremes had taken off around five years ago. "Where kids go first for what might be described as a high is drink, rather than cannabis or opiates or ecstasy or legal highs. The substance of choice is alcohol," he said. "The reasons for that are two-fold. First of all it's the cheapness and availability because, in real terms, it's cheaper that it's ever been." The former North Wales Police deputy chief constable said efforts to prevent the sale of alcohol to children was "easily circumvented" by older people buying it on their behalf. "The second reason [for alcohol's popularity] is the general thrust of marketing," he added. "The drink companies are on social networking sites and there's still a lot of direct advertising going on through sports sponsorship and so on. "It's perceived as a cool thing to do. That's why young people are much more likely to end up in casualty requiring a stomach pump and so on." Welsh Government guidance states that children under 15 should not drink alcohol as there is evidence that it can harm the developing brain, bones and hormones. It also warns that drinking at 15 and older can be hazardous to health. Aneurin Bevan Health Board, a small board which covers the former Gwent area, said the vast majority of cases contained in its figures related to teenage alcohol intoxication and misuse. Drug misuse However, the health board has also dealt with 21 cases of actual alcohol poisoning among children since 2006, including six for children aged 11 and under. It has also treated 39 children for drug poisoning from narcotics/hallucinogens since 2006, including 10 last year. Larger health boards such as Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, which serves Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, Cardiff and Vale, and Betsi Cadwaladr, which covers north Wales, each treat hundreds of children every year in their casualty departments for the effects of drink and drugs. Children's Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, said the figures did not come as a surprise. "The Welsh Government published its latest wellbeing monitor earlier this year which highlighted how people aged under 20 account for almost one in 10 of all referrals for treatment for alcohol problems in Wales," he said. "The long-term dangers of alcohol and drug misuse are well documented, and more and more young people now understand the health risks associated with excessive drinking and are, in fact, choosing to avoid alcohol. "But if we want to successfully combat this problem I think we need to shift society's general attitudes towards alcohol. "There is plenty of information out there to help children and young people make informed decisions but children tend to succumb to peer pressure and often model the behaviour of those around them. "Whilst educating children and young people must remain a top priority, there is also a need for adults involved in a child's life to take responsibility." Welsh Government figures for 2008-09 showed that more than 120 children under the age of 12 in Wales were referred for specialist help for drug and alcohol problems. Figures between health boards may not be directly comparable as differing methods of compiling data have been used.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Kevin LeonardBBC Wales News reporter Figures obtained by BBC Wales suggest at least 1,200 children attend casualty each year because of drink and drugs. Children under 12 are among cases of alcohol and drug poisoning. Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the British Medical Association, said the issue was "increasingly worrying". "I think it's pretty well recognised by health services and health professionals that there's an increasing problem with both alcohol and drug-related incidents with younger and younger people," said Dr Lewis. "We see year-on-year increases with attendances at A&E departments, particularly for alcohol." One young person in casualty as a result of alcohol and drugs was one too many, he said. "It is increasingly worrying. The BMA and the health profession have been advancing for some time the importance of raising the awareness of alcohol in particular," he added. The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, show that more than 800 children have attended casualty in each of the past three years in cases where alcohol is a factor. Hundreds more have been seen after taking drugs, although figures are not necessarily for substance abuse as they may include incidents such as an accidental swallowing of tablets or medication overdose. Legal highs Clive Wolfendale, chief executive of north Wales drug and alcohol agency Cais, said the problem of children regularly drinking to such extremes had taken off around five years ago. "Where kids go first for what might be described as a high is drink, rather than cannabis or opiates or ecstasy or legal highs. The substance of choice is alcohol," he said. "The reasons for that are two-fold. First of all it's the cheapness and availability because, in real terms, it's cheaper that it's ever been." The former North Wales Police deputy chief constable said efforts to prevent the sale of alcohol to children was "easily circumvented" by older people buying it on their behalf. "The second reason [for alcohol's popularity] is the general thrust of marketing," he added. "The drink companies are on social networking sites and there's still a lot of direct advertising going on through sports sponsorship and so on. "It's perceived as a cool thing to do. That's why young people are much more likely to end up in casualty requiring a stomach pump and so on." Welsh Government guidance states that children under 15 should not drink alcohol as there is evidence that it can harm the developing brain, bones and hormones. It also warns that drinking at 15 and older can be hazardous to health. Aneurin Bevan Health Board, a small board which covers the former Gwent area, said the vast majority of cases contained in its figures related to teenage alcohol intoxication and misuse. Drug misuse However, the health board has also dealt with 21 cases of actual alcohol poisoning among children since 2006, including six for children aged 11 and under. It has also treated 39 children for drug poisoning from narcotics/hallucinogens since 2006, including 10 last year. Larger health boards such as Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, which serves Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, Cardiff and Vale, and Betsi Cadwaladr, which covers north Wales, each treat hundreds of children every year in their casualty departments for the effects of drink and drugs. Children's Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, said the figures did not come as a surprise. "The Welsh Government published its latest wellbeing monitor earlier this year which highlighted how people aged under 20 account for almost one in 10 of all referrals for treatment for alcohol problems in Wales," he said. "The long-term dangers of alcohol and drug misuse are well documented, and more and more young people now understand the health risks associated with excessive drinking and are, in fact, choosing to avoid alcohol. "But if we want to successfully combat this problem I think we need to shift society's general attitudes towards alcohol. "There is plenty of information out there to help children and young people make informed decisions but children tend to succumb to peer pressure and often model the behaviour of those around them. "Whilst educating children and young people must remain a top priority, there is also a need for adults involved in a child's life to take responsibility." Welsh Government figures for 2008-09 showed that more than 120 children under the age of 12 in Wales were referred for specialist help for drug and alcohol problems. Figures between health boards may not be directly comparable as differing methods of compiling data have been used. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Kevin LeonardBBC Wales News reporter Figures obtained by BBC Wales suggest at least 1,200 children attend casualty each year because of drink and drugs. Children under 12 are among cases of alcohol and drug poisoning. Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the British Medical Association, said the issue was "increasingly worrying". "I think it's pretty well recognised by health services and health professionals that there's an increasing problem with both alcohol and drug-related incidents with younger and younger people," said Dr Lewis. "We see year-on-year increases with attendances at A&E departments, particularly for alcohol." One young person in casualty as a result of alcohol and drugs was one too many, he said. "It is increasingly worrying. The BMA and the health profession have been advancing for some time the importance of raising the awareness of alcohol in particular," he added. The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, show that more than 800 children have attended casualty in each of the past three years in cases where alcohol is a factor. Hundreds more have been seen after taking drugs, although figures are not necessarily for substance abuse as they may include incidents such as an accidental swallowing of tablets or medication overdose. Legal highs Clive Wolfendale, chief executive of north Wales drug and alcohol agency Cais, said the problem of children regularly drinking to such extremes had taken off around five years ago. "Where kids go first for what might be described as a high is drink, rather than cannabis or opiates or ecstasy or legal highs. The substance of choice is alcohol," he said. "The reasons for that are two-fold. First of all it's the cheapness and availability because, in real terms, it's cheaper that it's ever been." The former North Wales Police deputy chief constable said efforts to prevent the sale of alcohol to children was "easily circumvented" by older people buying it on their behalf. "The second reason [for alcohol's popularity] is the general thrust of marketing," he added. "The drink companies are on social networking sites and there's still a lot of direct advertising going on through sports sponsorship and so on. "It's perceived as a cool thing to do. That's why young people are much more likely to end up in casualty requiring a stomach pump and so on." Welsh Government guidance states that children under 15 should not drink alcohol as there is evidence that it can harm the developing brain, bones and hormones. It also warns that drinking at 15 and older can be hazardous to health. Aneurin Bevan Health Board, a small board which covers the former Gwent area, said the vast majority of cases contained in its figures related to teenage alcohol intoxication and misuse. Drug misuse However, the health board has also dealt with 21 cases of actual alcohol poisoning among children since 2006, including six for children aged 11 and under. It has also treated 39 children for drug poisoning from narcotics/hallucinogens since 2006, including 10 last year. Larger health boards such as Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, which serves Swansea, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot, Cardiff and Vale, and Betsi Cadwaladr, which covers north Wales, each treat hundreds of children every year in their casualty departments for the effects of drink and drugs. Children's Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, said the figures did not come as a surprise. "The Welsh Government published its latest wellbeing monitor earlier this year which highlighted how people aged under 20 account for almost one in 10 of all referrals for treatment for alcohol problems in Wales," he said. "The long-term dangers of alcohol and drug misuse are well documented, and more and more young people now understand the health risks associated with excessive drinking and are, in fact, choosing to avoid alcohol. "But if we want to successfully combat this problem I think we need to shift society's general attitudes towards alcohol. "There is plenty of information out there to help children and young people make informed decisions but children tend to succumb to peer pressure and often model the behaviour of those around them. "Whilst educating children and young people must remain a top priority, there is also a need for adults involved in a child's life to take responsibility." Welsh Government figures for 2008-09 showed that more than 120 children under the age of 12 in Wales were referred for specialist help for drug and alcohol problems. Figures between health boards may not be directly comparable as differing methods of compiling data have been used. ### Summary: A number of children have been treated in Welsh hospitals for alcohol and drug poisoning in the past three years. ### Next steps The Welsh Government has said it is "committed to tackling alcohol mis

technology-49402222

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49402222

Hong Kong protests: Twitter and Facebook remove Chinese accounts

Twitter has said it has removed 936 accounts that were being used to "sow political discord in Hong Kong".

Dave LeeNorth America technology reporter Twitter said it removed 936 accounts it said were being used to “sow political discord in Hong Kong”. The network said the accounts originated in mainland China and were part of a coordinated attempt to undermine the “legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement”. Facebook said it had, after being tipped off by Twitter, removed "seven Pages, three Groups and five Facebook accounts.” "They frequently posted about local political news and issues including topics like the ongoing protests in Hong Kong,” said Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cyber-security policy. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government." In addition to the 936 specific accounts, Twitter said as many as 200,000 other accounts, designed to amplify the misinformation, were “proactively” suspended before becoming "substantially active”. "Based on our intensive investigations,” the firm said in a statement, “we have reliable evidence to support that this is a coordinated state-backed operation. "Specifically, we identified large clusters of accounts behaving in a coordinated manner to amplify messages related to the Hong Kong protests.” It added: "We will continue to be vigilant, learning from this network and proactively enforcing our policies to serve the public conversation.” The move came after Twitter was intensely criticised at the weekend for allowing China’s Xinhua news agency to buy sponsored posts on the network. Twitter said on Monday it would no longer allow such ads. "Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities,” the company said. "Any affected accounts will be free to continue to use Twitter to engage in public conversation, just not our advertising products.” Twitter said the new policy did not, however, apply to "to taxpayer-funded entities, including independent public broadcasters”. Researchers have begun investigating the flagged Twitter accounts. They have noted that some were created as far back as 2007 and had switched activities over the period, while others were less than a year old. "A number of these accounts move through numerous tools and many languages, switching after long breaks," wrote Renee DiResta, a Mozilla fellow in media, misinformation, and trust. "[It] suggests at least some of the old/high-follower ones were purchased, or potentially rented. "But to contrast with the 'Russia playbook', these weren't carefully-aged, well-developed persona accounts that worked narratives or built relationships with influencers." For its part, Facebook has said that about 15,500 accounts had followed one or more of the pages suspected of being "inauthentic" on its platform, and about 2,200 accounts had joined at least one of the flagged Groups. Some have now called on Google to take action of its own to restrict state-backed propaganda uploaded to YouTube. The company told the Reuters news agency in June that state-owned media companies had the same rights as other users to run ads on its platform. The BBC has asked the firm to comment. What are the protests about? Many thousands of Hong Kongers have been protesting since March against a proposed government bill that would have allowed extradition from the territory to the Chinese mainland. Critics of the bill argued that it would undermine the Hong Kong's judicial independence and could be used to target those who speak out against the Chinese government. The bill was suspended in June after a series of large demonstrations. But protests continued and have now morphed into a broader movement demanding democratic reform and an investigation into alleged police brutality during demonstrations. Last week, thousands of protesters flooded Hong Kong Airport's terminal buildings, leading to clashes with police and the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Organisers say 1.7 million people turned out at the latest mass-rally on Sunday. But police put the figure much lower at 128,000, counting only those at an officially sanctioned protest. The Chinese government has hardened its rhetoric following the airport unrest, condemning it as "behaviour that is close to terrorism". Understanding the Hong Kong protests Additional reporting by Leo Kelion

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Dave LeeNorth America technology reporter Twitter said it removed 936 accounts it said were being used to “sow political discord in Hong Kong”. The network said the accounts originated in mainland China and were part of a coordinated attempt to undermine the “legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement”. Facebook said it had, after being tipped off by Twitter, removed "seven Pages, three Groups and five Facebook accounts.” "They frequently posted about local political news and issues including topics like the ongoing protests in Hong Kong,” said Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cyber-security policy. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government." In addition to the 936 specific accounts, Twitter said as many as 200,000 other accounts, designed to amplify the misinformation, were “proactively” suspended before becoming "substantially active”. "Based on our intensive investigations,” the firm said in a statement, “we have reliable evidence to support that this is a coordinated state-backed operation. "Specifically, we identified large clusters of accounts behaving in a coordinated manner to amplify messages related to the Hong Kong protests.” It added: "We will continue to be vigilant, learning from this network and proactively enforcing our policies to serve the public conversation.” The move came after Twitter was intensely criticised at the weekend for allowing China’s Xinhua news agency to buy sponsored posts on the network. Twitter said on Monday it would no longer allow such ads. "Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities,” the company said. "Any affected accounts will be free to continue to use Twitter to engage in public conversation, just not our advertising products.” Twitter said the new policy did not, however, apply to "to taxpayer-funded entities, including independent public broadcasters”. Researchers have begun investigating the flagged Twitter accounts. They have noted that some were created as far back as 2007 and had switched activities over the period, while others were less than a year old. "A number of these accounts move through numerous tools and many languages, switching after long breaks," wrote Renee DiResta, a Mozilla fellow in media, misinformation, and trust. "[It] suggests at least some of the old/high-follower ones were purchased, or potentially rented. "But to contrast with the 'Russia playbook', these weren't carefully-aged, well-developed persona accounts that worked narratives or built relationships with influencers." For its part, Facebook has said that about 15,500 accounts had followed one or more of the pages suspected of being "inauthentic" on its platform, and about 2,200 accounts had joined at least one of the flagged Groups. Some have now called on Google to take action of its own to restrict state-backed propaganda uploaded to YouTube. The company told the Reuters news agency in June that state-owned media companies had the same rights as other users to run ads on its platform. The BBC has asked the firm to comment. What are the protests about? Many thousands of Hong Kongers have been protesting since March against a proposed government bill that would have allowed extradition from the territory to the Chinese mainland. Critics of the bill argued that it would undermine the Hong Kong's judicial independence and could be used to target those who speak out against the Chinese government. The bill was suspended in June after a series of large demonstrations. But protests continued and have now morphed into a broader movement demanding democratic reform and an investigation into alleged police brutality during demonstrations. Last week, thousands of protesters flooded Hong Kong Airport's terminal buildings, leading to clashes with police and the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Organisers say 1.7 million people turned out at the latest mass-rally on Sunday. But police put the figure much lower at 128,000, counting only those at an officially sanctioned protest. The Chinese government has hardened its rhetoric following the airport unrest, condemning it as "behaviour that is close to terrorism". Understanding the Hong Kong protests Additional reporting by Leo Kelion ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Dave LeeNorth America technology reporter Twitter said it removed 936 accounts it said were being used to “sow political discord in Hong Kong”. The network said the accounts originated in mainland China and were part of a coordinated attempt to undermine the “legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement”. Facebook said it had, after being tipped off by Twitter, removed "seven Pages, three Groups and five Facebook accounts.” "They frequently posted about local political news and issues including topics like the ongoing protests in Hong Kong,” said Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cyber-security policy. "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government." In addition to the 936 specific accounts, Twitter said as many as 200,000 other accounts, designed to amplify the misinformation, were “proactively” suspended before becoming "substantially active”. "Based on our intensive investigations,” the firm said in a statement, “we have reliable evidence to support that this is a coordinated state-backed operation. "Specifically, we identified large clusters of accounts behaving in a coordinated manner to amplify messages related to the Hong Kong protests.” It added: "We will continue to be vigilant, learning from this network and proactively enforcing our policies to serve the public conversation.” The move came after Twitter was intensely criticised at the weekend for allowing China’s Xinhua news agency to buy sponsored posts on the network. Twitter said on Monday it would no longer allow such ads. "Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities,” the company said. "Any affected accounts will be free to continue to use Twitter to engage in public conversation, just not our advertising products.” Twitter said the new policy did not, however, apply to "to taxpayer-funded entities, including independent public broadcasters”. Researchers have begun investigating the flagged Twitter accounts. They have noted that some were created as far back as 2007 and had switched activities over the period, while others were less than a year old. "A number of these accounts move through numerous tools and many languages, switching after long breaks," wrote Renee DiResta, a Mozilla fellow in media, misinformation, and trust. "[It] suggests at least some of the old/high-follower ones were purchased, or potentially rented. "But to contrast with the 'Russia playbook', these weren't carefully-aged, well-developed persona accounts that worked narratives or built relationships with influencers." For its part, Facebook has said that about 15,500 accounts had followed one or more of the pages suspected of being "inauthentic" on its platform, and about 2,200 accounts had joined at least one of the flagged Groups. Some have now called on Google to take action of its own to restrict state-backed propaganda uploaded to YouTube. The company told the Reuters news agency in June that state-owned media companies had the same rights as other users to run ads on its platform. The BBC has asked the firm to comment. What are the protests about? Many thousands of Hong Kongers have been protesting since March against a proposed government bill that would have allowed extradition from the territory to the Chinese mainland. Critics of the bill argued that it would undermine the Hong Kong's judicial independence and could be used to target those who speak out against the Chinese government. The bill was suspended in June after a series of large demonstrations. But protests continued and have now morphed into a broader movement demanding democratic reform and an investigation into alleged police brutality during demonstrations. Last week, thousands of protesters flooded Hong Kong Airport's terminal buildings, leading to clashes with police and the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Organisers say 1.7 million people turned out at the latest mass-rally on Sunday. But police put the figure much lower at 128,000, counting only those at an officially sanctioned protest. The Chinese government has hardened its rhetoric following the airport unrest, condemning it as "behaviour that is close to terrorism". Understanding the Hong Kong protests Additional reporting by Leo Kelion ### Summary: Twitter has said it has removed 936 accounts that were being used to "sow political discord in Hong Kong". Twitter said it had removed "seven Pages, three Groups and five Facebook accounts”. The

science-environment-51438317

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51438317

Climate assembly considers flying bananas

The UK's climate change assembly has been asked to choose the right policies as we head towards 2050.

Flying bananas, fashionable indoor fleeces, carbon allowances and synthetic fuels for aircraft were on the agenda for weekend number two of the UK’s climate change assembly. The 110 members of the assembly chosen to reflect a cross section of society raised a vast array of issues. Their task is to give MPs and the government a sense of public priorities as the UK battles to reduce emissions to almost zero by 2050. The indoor fleece question was a surprise. One participant asked whether fast fashion firms should make fashionable indoor clothes that save carbon emissions by actually keeping the wearer warm. The organisers requested that most participant surnames were withheld from this article. Turning up the heat The enquiry is pertinent – the average temperature of a British home rose approximately 5C between 1970 and 2010. A whole generation has grown up considering it a basic human right to inhabit the home in little more than underwear. The trend’s not helpful for a government wanting to reduce emissions from heating. Assembly members grappled in small groups with other contentious climate issues such as transport, farming and food. One expert witness explained the radical idea of personal carbon allowances – that’s when everyone’s given an annual carbon budget to emit CO2. If you overshoot your budget with too much heating, driving and flying, you must buy permits from someone who’s used less than their allowance. It would apply, for instance, to flying. Fairness is key Tracey, a carer from Northern Ireland, liked the idea. She said her group favoured climate schemes that increased fairness. She told me: “It’s going to create more equality for everyone, so if you have lots of money, people are probably going to take lots of flights because you can afford it. But you’ll probably end up paying extra for that.” Asked whether such a revolutionary idea would be acceptable to the public she replied: “Well, it seemed to go down pretty well in there (the assembly).” Chris from Oxford had previously expressed doubts about the urgency of tackling climate change. But he’s happy to contribute to the task of choosing the right policies as we head towards 2050. Synthetic fuels thumbs-down Chris welcomed, for instance, the chance to interrogate some of the proposals on the sort of synthetic fuels proposed by the aviation industry. He said: “Synthetic fuels seemed like a really persuasive solution – but then we heard they’re not ready – just not ready. “Contrast that with something like heat pumps, and they are ready. It’s good to have been able to make the comparison.” Amanda from Kent was delighted by the unexpected discussion on bananas. She said: “It’s an eye-opener all the new things I'm learning - incredible. “Today I was in one of the groups talking about what we buy, with bananas being a big discussion. “If bananas are flown in they’re really bad for carbon footprint but if they’re shipped in there are hardly any (emissions) at all.” 'I'm no environmentalist' The assembly members hold a wide range of views. I asked Marc from Newcastle if he considered himself an environmentalist. Marc laughed: “No, no. I’m the typical person who would change their iPhone every year, car every three years… just pick up what I wanted from the supermarket. “But after all this (information from the assembly) you start questioning. “It’s hard because everyone’s going to want to keep the same standard of living - not make massive changes. But we’ll have to. So it’s going to be interesting how we get to that happy medium. If we educate people properly we could be on to something good.” But can the assembly help produce that something good? Mark from Manchester (not to be confused with Marc) thought that it could, by showing MPs and the government a policy roadmap that the public might accept. He believes a mixture of tax, technology and government rule-making will be needed. 'Put up taxes' “I wouldn't mind taxing, because it’s for the greater good. Regulations need to be in place. Something needs to be set so governments can’t overrule things that have been set in stone.” But does he really think MPs will take notice? He’s cautiously optimistic: “I’ve spoken local MPs about it,” he said. “They were passionate and they’ve visited (the assembly) … so, it’s positive! The next assembly weekend is at the end of the month. It reports to Parliament at the end of April. Follow Roger on Twitter. Correction 13 February 2020: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the average temperature of a British home has risen 6% since the 1970s. It has been corrected to 5C.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Flying bananas, fashionable indoor fleeces, carbon allowances and synthetic fuels for aircraft were on the agenda for weekend number two of the UK’s climate change assembly. The 110 members of the assembly chosen to reflect a cross section of society raised a vast array of issues. Their task is to give MPs and the government a sense of public priorities as the UK battles to reduce emissions to almost zero by 2050. The indoor fleece question was a surprise. One participant asked whether fast fashion firms should make fashionable indoor clothes that save carbon emissions by actually keeping the wearer warm. The organisers requested that most participant surnames were withheld from this article. Turning up the heat The enquiry is pertinent – the average temperature of a British home rose approximately 5C between 1970 and 2010. A whole generation has grown up considering it a basic human right to inhabit the home in little more than underwear. The trend’s not helpful for a government wanting to reduce emissions from heating. Assembly members grappled in small groups with other contentious climate issues such as transport, farming and food. One expert witness explained the radical idea of personal carbon allowances – that’s when everyone’s given an annual carbon budget to emit CO2. If you overshoot your budget with too much heating, driving and flying, you must buy permits from someone who’s used less than their allowance. It would apply, for instance, to flying. Fairness is key Tracey, a carer from Northern Ireland, liked the idea. She said her group favoured climate schemes that increased fairness. She told me: “It’s going to create more equality for everyone, so if you have lots of money, people are probably going to take lots of flights because you can afford it. But you’ll probably end up paying extra for that.” Asked whether such a revolutionary idea would be acceptable to the public she replied: “Well, it seemed to go down pretty well in there (the assembly).” Chris from Oxford had previously expressed doubts about the urgency of tackling climate change. But he’s happy to contribute to the task of choosing the right policies as we head towards 2050. Synthetic fuels thumbs-down Chris welcomed, for instance, the chance to interrogate some of the proposals on the sort of synthetic fuels proposed by the aviation industry. He said: “Synthetic fuels seemed like a really persuasive solution – but then we heard they’re not ready – just not ready. “Contrast that with something like heat pumps, and they are ready. It’s good to have been able to make the comparison.” Amanda from Kent was delighted by the unexpected discussion on bananas. She said: “It’s an eye-opener all the new things I'm learning - incredible. “Today I was in one of the groups talking about what we buy, with bananas being a big discussion. “If bananas are flown in they’re really bad for carbon footprint but if they’re shipped in there are hardly any (emissions) at all.” 'I'm no environmentalist' The assembly members hold a wide range of views. I asked Marc from Newcastle if he considered himself an environmentalist. Marc laughed: “No, no. I’m the typical person who would change their iPhone every year, car every three years… just pick up what I wanted from the supermarket. “But after all this (information from the assembly) you start questioning. “It’s hard because everyone’s going to want to keep the same standard of living - not make massive changes. But we’ll have to. So it’s going to be interesting how we get to that happy medium. If we educate people properly we could be on to something good.” But can the assembly help produce that something good? Mark from Manchester (not to be confused with Marc) thought that it could, by showing MPs and the government a policy roadmap that the public might accept. He believes a mixture of tax, technology and government rule-making will be needed. 'Put up taxes' “I wouldn't mind taxing, because it’s for the greater good. Regulations need to be in place. Something needs to be set so governments can’t overrule things that have been set in stone.” But does he really think MPs will take notice? He’s cautiously optimistic: “I’ve spoken local MPs about it,” he said. “They were passionate and they’ve visited (the assembly) … so, it’s positive! The next assembly weekend is at the end of the month. It reports to Parliament at the end of April. Follow Roger on Twitter. Correction 13 February 2020: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the average temperature of a British home has risen 6% since the 1970s. It has been corrected to 5 ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Flying bananas, fashionable indoor fleeces, carbon allowances and synthetic fuels for aircraft were on the agenda for weekend number two of the UK’s climate change assembly. The 110 members of the assembly chosen to reflect a cross section of society raised a vast array of issues. Their task is to give MPs and the government a sense of public priorities as the UK battles to reduce emissions to almost zero by 2050. The indoor fleece question was a surprise. One participant asked whether fast fashion firms should make fashionable indoor clothes that save carbon emissions by actually keeping the wearer warm. The organisers requested that most participant surnames were withheld from this article. Turning up the heat The enquiry is pertinent – the average temperature of a British home rose approximately 5C between 1970 and 2010. A whole generation has grown up considering it a basic human right to inhabit the home in little more than underwear. The trend’s not helpful for a government wanting to reduce emissions from heating. Assembly members grappled in small groups with other contentious climate issues such as transport, farming and food. One expert witness explained the radical idea of personal carbon allowances – that’s when everyone’s given an annual carbon budget to emit CO2. If you overshoot your budget with too much heating, driving and flying, you must buy permits from someone who’s used less than their allowance. It would apply, for instance, to flying. Fairness is key Tracey, a carer from Northern Ireland, liked the idea. She said her group favoured climate schemes that increased fairness. She told me: “It’s going to create more equality for everyone, so if you have lots of money, people are probably going to take lots of flights because you can afford it. But you’ll probably end up paying extra for that.” Asked whether such a revolutionary idea would be acceptable to the public she replied: “Well, it seemed to go down pretty well in there (the assembly).” Chris from Oxford had previously expressed doubts about the urgency of tackling climate change. But he’s happy to contribute to the task of choosing the right policies as we head towards 2050. Synthetic fuels thumbs-down Chris welcomed, for instance, the chance to interrogate some of the proposals on the sort of synthetic fuels proposed by the aviation industry. He said: “Synthetic fuels seemed like a really persuasive solution – but then we heard they’re not ready – just not ready. “Contrast that with something like heat pumps, and they are ready. It’s good to have been able to make the comparison.” Amanda from Kent was delighted by the unexpected discussion on bananas. She said: “It’s an eye-opener all the new things I'm learning - incredible. “Today I was in one of the groups talking about what we buy, with bananas being a big discussion. “If bananas are flown in they’re really bad for carbon footprint but if they’re shipped in there are hardly any (emissions) at all.” 'I'm no environmentalist' The assembly members hold a wide range of views. I asked Marc from Newcastle if he considered himself an environmentalist. Marc laughed: “No, no. I’m the typical person who would change their iPhone every year, car every three years… just pick up what I wanted from the supermarket. “But after all this (information from the assembly) you start questioning. “It’s hard because everyone’s going to want to keep the same standard of living - not make massive changes. But we’ll have to. So it’s going to be interesting how we get to that happy medium. If we educate people properly we could be on to something good.” But can the assembly help produce that something good? Mark from Manchester (not to be confused with Marc) thought that it could, by showing MPs and the government a policy roadmap that the public might accept. He believes a mixture of tax, technology and government rule-making will be needed. 'Put up taxes' “I wouldn't mind taxing, because it’s for the greater good. Regulations need to be in place. Something needs to be set so governments can’t overrule things that have been set in stone.” But does he really think MPs will take notice? He’s cautiously optimistic: “I’ve spoken local MPs about it,” he said. “They were passionate and they’ve visited (the assembly) … so, it’s positive! The next assembly weekend is at the end of the month. It reports to Parliament at the end of April. Follow Roger on Twitter. Correction 13 February 2020: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the average temperature of a British home has risen 6% since the 1970s. It has been corrected to 5 ### Summary: The UK's climate change assembly has been asked to choose the right policies as we head towards 2050. ### Spelling and grammar The UK's climate change assembly has been asked to choose the right policies as

uk-scotland-glasgow-west-48065073

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-48065073

Solution sought to avoid Coll, Colonsay and Tiree flights disruption

A contract for the air services from Oban to the islands of Tiree, Coll and Colonsay is out to tender.

The local authority has had to re-tender its public obligation service (PSO) flights between Oban and the islands of Colonsay, Coll and Tiree. Islanders fear there will be a gap in provision during the tendering process. The current service is due to end next month and the new contract will not now start until October. Hebridean Air Service, which runs the current service, said: "We are working closely with Argyll and Bute Council to offer an interim solution. "We understand they are currently consulting the island communities over our proposal. "In tandem we are working on our proposal for the long term solution which has been tendered. This service is due to commence 16 October." Argyll and Bute Council said: "The contract for the air services from Oban to the islands of Tiree, Coll and Colonsay is out to tender and we remain committed to working towards a solution." The situation arose in February because the council said the price from the only bidder, Hebridean Air Service, exceeded a new, lower contract ceiling. The flights are used by children to get to school on the mainland and by visiting health professionals.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The local authority has had to re-tender its public obligation service (PSO) flights between Oban and the islands of Colonsay, Coll and Tiree. Islanders fear there will be a gap in provision during the tendering process. The current service is due to end next month and the new contract will not now start until October. Hebridean Air Service, which runs the current service, said: "We are working closely with Argyll and Bute Council to offer an interim solution. "We understand they are currently consulting the island communities over our proposal. "In tandem we are working on our proposal for the long term solution which has been tendered. This service is due to commence 16 October." Argyll and Bute Council said: "The contract for the air services from Oban to the islands of Tiree, Coll and Colonsay is out to tender and we remain committed to working towards a solution." The situation arose in February because the council said the price from the only bidder, Hebridean Air Service, exceeded a new, lower contract ceiling. The flights are used by children to get to school on the mainland and by visiting health professionals. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The local authority has had to re-tender its public obligation service (PSO) flights between Oban and the islands of Colonsay, Coll and Tiree. Islanders fear there will be a gap in provision during the tendering process. The current service is due to end next month and the new contract will not now start until October. Hebridean Air Service, which runs the current service, said: "We are working closely with Argyll and Bute Council to offer an interim solution. "We understand they are currently consulting the island communities over our proposal. "In tandem we are working on our proposal for the long term solution which has been tendered. This service is due to commence 16 October." Argyll and Bute Council said: "The contract for the air services from Oban to the islands of Tiree, Coll and Colonsay is out to tender and we remain committed to working towards a solution." The situation arose in February because the council said the price from the only bidder, Hebridean Air Service, exceeded a new, lower contract ceiling. The flights are used by children to get to school on the mainland and by visiting health professionals. ### Summary: A contract for the air services from Oban to the islands of Tiree, Coll and Colonsay is out to tender. ### Source: The council has said it is working on a proposal for the long term solution.

business-56843149

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56843149

Mind-boggling magnets could unlock plentiful power

A new magnet is being developed to make fusion happen on Earth.

By Ben MorrisTechnology of Business editor "It's every engineer's dream really, to have a project that's technically challenging, which requires you to develop new technology and solutions to hard problems, but that are also simultaneously important for the world to have." Since finishing his research at Oxford University five years ago, he has been working for Tokamak Energy, a UK start-up that has plans to build a fusion reactor. Fusion is the reaction that powers the Sun and the stars. If that power could be harnessed on Earth it would provide a plentiful source of energy, from only a tiny amount of fuel and producing no carbon dioxide. What's not to love? The principle is easy enough to understand. Take hydrogen atoms, add enough heat and pressure and they will fuse together to form helium. During that process some of the hydrogen mass is transformed into heat, which you can use to make electricity. The catch is that to make fusion happen here on Earth, you have to heat hydrogen isotopes to hundreds of millions of degrees, until they become so energetic they break apart into a whirling state of matter called plasma. The challenge has always been to contain that plasma. Stars do it with gravity, but on Earth the most common method is to use powerful magnetic fields to keep the plasma confined. Much of the engineering challenge has come down to building magnets. They have to be powerful enough to contain an insanely hot, whirling mass of matter, but not use so much electricity that your reactor uses more power than it generates. Later this year Dr Bob Mumgaard and his team at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) will test a ground-breaking magnet that they say can make that leap forward. Weighing 10 tonnes, the D-shaped magnet is big enough for a person to step through. Around 300km of a very special electromagnetic tape is wound into that D-shape. The tape itself is a feat of engineering that has taken decades to develop. Thin layers of superconducting rare-earth barium copper oxide (ReBCO) are deposited on a metal tape. When cooled that bundle of tape can conduct electricity extremely efficiently, which is essential as 40,000 amps will pass through it, enough electricity to power a small town. When the fusion industry says cooled it means the tape is chilled to minus 253C, which might sound absurdly cold to you, but in the world of superconducting materials is actually rather warm. "It means the refrigerator that we're using is like a refrigerator that could fit in your kitchen," says Dr Mumgaard, who co-founded CFS and is the chief executive. "The same thing with the previous generation of technology... would need a refrigerator that's the size of your house." CFS is planning a reactor that will house 18 of those magnets, arranged in a ring - a set-up known as a tokamak - and has recently selected a site for the reactor in Massachusetts. "We were the first to really get this magnet beyond just a tabletop, R&D [reseach and development] scale that people had done at some smaller companies and some national labs. "We're all at the scale now where it's what you need to build fusion machines. You don't have to go up from something that is sort of a toy scale to something that is at fusion scale," Dr Mumgaard says. The leap forward in magnet technology is also central to the fusion project at Tokamak Energy in the UK. Dr Brittles has spent the last five years developing that technology and is currently helping to build a demonstrator that will have a series of powerful magnets working together. "It will be an assembly of many, many coils generating forces that are all interacting and pulling on one another forming a balanced set. This has to be controlled or the forces could become imbalanced," he explains. The forces that such magnetic fields can generate are mind-boggling. When operating at full power, Dr Brittles likens the force generated by his magnets to double the pressure at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench. When those magnets are ready, they will go into a spherical tokamak - an apple-shaped fusion reactor. Research suggests such a design will generate more energy for each unit of power it uses, than the more commonly used doughnut-shaped tokamak - the design that CFS and others are using. "The real challenge is commercial fusion. And that's really what's driving us, why we're focusing on the spherical tokamak because of the long-term commercial advantages," says Dr David Kingham, one of the founders of Tokamak Energy and currently executive vice chairman. More Technology of Business "We think our technology will be deployable in a fusion pilot plant in the early 2030s," he says. "I think it will be a global race. There are interesting private ventures in the States. And we will be in a race with them." The promise of a working fusion reactor has been around for decades (and always will be, so the old joke goes). The biggest project is under way in southern France where a consortium of nations are building ITER, a giant reactor that has, so far, cost billions of pounds to build and is running years behind its original schedule. However, more compact designs like those planned by Tokamak Energy and CFS are attracting private investors, who are betting they will be viable commercial propositions. Dr Wal van Lierop founded his venture capital firm, Chrysalix, 20 years ago and, since 2008, has invested tens of millions of dollars in Canadian firm General Fusion. Historically, he says, the fusion industry has struggled to raise finance, in part because so much money has been sunk into ITER, but that is all changing. "I see more money being invested, more interest, and people are starting to realise that this is a very big platform technology and that it is not any longer something that may or may not work by 2050." Dr van Lierop points out that the potential prize is huge. The global electricity market is worth around $3 trillion (£2.15tn) a year and is only likely to get bigger. "If this [fusion] is successful, this will open up the largest industry transition that we have ever seen." Back at the coal face (or perhaps plasma face), Dr Brittles confesses that there is still a lot of engineering work to be done, but he is confident. "We're working hard to tackle lots of challenges that could trip us up at any point. But from where we sit, there's nothing that stands in the way that I think is a showstopper." Follow Technology of Business editor Ben Morris on Twitter.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Ben MorrisTechnology of Business editor "It's every engineer's dream really, to have a project that's technically challenging, which requires you to develop new technology and solutions to hard problems, but that are also simultaneously important for the world to have." Since finishing his research at Oxford University five years ago, he has been working for Tokamak Energy, a UK start-up that has plans to build a fusion reactor. Fusion is the reaction that powers the Sun and the stars. If that power could be harnessed on Earth it would provide a plentiful source of energy, from only a tiny amount of fuel and producing no carbon dioxide. What's not to love? The principle is easy enough to understand. Take hydrogen atoms, add enough heat and pressure and they will fuse together to form helium. During that process some of the hydrogen mass is transformed into heat, which you can use to make electricity. The catch is that to make fusion happen here on Earth, you have to heat hydrogen isotopes to hundreds of millions of degrees, until they become so energetic they break apart into a whirling state of matter called plasma. The challenge has always been to contain that plasma. Stars do it with gravity, but on Earth the most common method is to use powerful magnetic fields to keep the plasma confined. Much of the engineering challenge has come down to building magnets. They have to be powerful enough to contain an insanely hot, whirling mass of matter, but not use so much electricity that your reactor uses more power than it generates. Later this year Dr Bob Mumgaard and his team at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) will test a ground-breaking magnet that they say can make that leap forward. Weighing 10 tonnes, the D-shaped magnet is big enough for a person to step through. Around 300km of a very special electromagnetic tape is wound into that D-shape. The tape itself is a feat of engineering that has taken decades to develop. Thin layers of superconducting rare-earth barium copper oxide (ReBCO) are deposited on a metal tape. When cooled that bundle of tape can conduct electricity extremely efficiently, which is essential as 40,000 amps will pass through it, enough electricity to power a small town. When the fusion industry says cooled it means the tape is chilled to minus 253C, which might sound absurdly cold to you, but in the world of superconducting materials is actually rather warm. "It means the refrigerator that we're using is like a refrigerator that could fit in your kitchen," says Dr Mumgaard, who co-founded CFS and is the chief executive. "The same thing with the previous generation of technology... would need a refrigerator that's the size of your house." CFS is planning a reactor that will house 18 of those magnets, arranged in a ring - a set-up known as a tokamak - and has recently selected a site for the reactor in Massachusetts. "We were the first to really get this magnet beyond just a tabletop, R&D [reseach and development] scale that people had done at some smaller companies and some national labs. "We're all at the scale now where it's what you need to build fusion machines. You don't have to go up from something that is sort of a toy scale to something that is at fusion scale," Dr Mumgaard says. The leap forward in magnet technology is also central to the fusion project at Tokamak Energy in the UK. Dr Brittles has spent the last five years developing that technology and is currently helping to build a demonstrator that will have a series of powerful magnets working together. "It will be an assembly of many, many coils generating forces that are all interacting and pulling on one another forming a balanced set. This has to be controlled or the forces could become imbalanced," he explains. The forces that such magnetic fields can generate are mind-boggling. When operating at full power, Dr Brittles likens the force generated by his magnets to double the pressure at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench. When those magnets are ready, they will go into a spherical tokamak - an apple-shaped fusion reactor. Research suggests such a design will generate more energy for each unit of power it uses, than the more commonly used doughnut-shaped tokamak - the design that CFS and others are using. "The real challenge is commercial fusion. And that's really what's driving us, why we're focusing on the spherical tokamak because of the long-term commercial advantages," says Dr David Kingham, one of the founders of Tokamak Energy and currently executive vice chairman. More Technology of Business "We think our technology will be deployable in a fusion pilot plant in the early 2030s," he says. "I think it will be a global race. There are interesting private ventures in the States. And we will be in a race with them." The promise of a working fusion reactor has been around for decades (and always ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Ben MorrisTechnology of Business editor "It's every engineer's dream really, to have a project that's technically challenging, which requires you to develop new technology and solutions to hard problems, but that are also simultaneously important for the world to have." Since finishing his research at Oxford University five years ago, he has been working for Tokamak Energy, a UK start-up that has plans to build a fusion reactor. Fusion is the reaction that powers the Sun and the stars. If that power could be harnessed on Earth it would provide a plentiful source of energy, from only a tiny amount of fuel and producing no carbon dioxide. What's not to love? The principle is easy enough to understand. Take hydrogen atoms, add enough heat and pressure and they will fuse together to form helium. During that process some of the hydrogen mass is transformed into heat, which you can use to make electricity. The catch is that to make fusion happen here on Earth, you have to heat hydrogen isotopes to hundreds of millions of degrees, until they become so energetic they break apart into a whirling state of matter called plasma. The challenge has always been to contain that plasma. Stars do it with gravity, but on Earth the most common method is to use powerful magnetic fields to keep the plasma confined. Much of the engineering challenge has come down to building magnets. They have to be powerful enough to contain an insanely hot, whirling mass of matter, but not use so much electricity that your reactor uses more power than it generates. Later this year Dr Bob Mumgaard and his team at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) will test a ground-breaking magnet that they say can make that leap forward. Weighing 10 tonnes, the D-shaped magnet is big enough for a person to step through. Around 300km of a very special electromagnetic tape is wound into that D-shape. The tape itself is a feat of engineering that has taken decades to develop. Thin layers of superconducting rare-earth barium copper oxide (ReBCO) are deposited on a metal tape. When cooled that bundle of tape can conduct electricity extremely efficiently, which is essential as 40,000 amps will pass through it, enough electricity to power a small town. When the fusion industry says cooled it means the tape is chilled to minus 253C, which might sound absurdly cold to you, but in the world of superconducting materials is actually rather warm. "It means the refrigerator that we're using is like a refrigerator that could fit in your kitchen," says Dr Mumgaard, who co-founded CFS and is the chief executive. "The same thing with the previous generation of technology... would need a refrigerator that's the size of your house." CFS is planning a reactor that will house 18 of those magnets, arranged in a ring - a set-up known as a tokamak - and has recently selected a site for the reactor in Massachusetts. "We were the first to really get this magnet beyond just a tabletop, R&D [reseach and development] scale that people had done at some smaller companies and some national labs. "We're all at the scale now where it's what you need to build fusion machines. You don't have to go up from something that is sort of a toy scale to something that is at fusion scale," Dr Mumgaard says. The leap forward in magnet technology is also central to the fusion project at Tokamak Energy in the UK. Dr Brittles has spent the last five years developing that technology and is currently helping to build a demonstrator that will have a series of powerful magnets working together. "It will be an assembly of many, many coils generating forces that are all interacting and pulling on one another forming a balanced set. This has to be controlled or the forces could become imbalanced," he explains. The forces that such magnetic fields can generate are mind-boggling. When operating at full power, Dr Brittles likens the force generated by his magnets to double the pressure at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench. When those magnets are ready, they will go into a spherical tokamak - an apple-shaped fusion reactor. Research suggests such a design will generate more energy for each unit of power it uses, than the more commonly used doughnut-shaped tokamak - the design that CFS and others are using. "The real challenge is commercial fusion. And that's really what's driving us, why we're focusing on the spherical tokamak because of the long-term commercial advantages," says Dr David Kingham, one of the founders of Tokamak Energy and currently executive vice chairman. More Technology of Business "We think our technology will be deployable in a fusion pilot plant in the early 2030s," he says. "I think it will be a global race. There are interesting private ventures in the States. And we will be in a race with them." The promise of a working fusion reactor has been around for decades (and always ### Summary: A new magnet is being developed to make fusion happen on Earth. ### Spotlights: The first fusion reactor to be built on Earth will be a tokamak. ### In depth: The

uk-england-23295712

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-23295712

MP Peter Bone's bill targets human sex trafficking

A former MP has launched a campaign to help victims of human trafficking.

Deborah McGurranPolitical editor, East of England In recent weeks he has led the charge for a vote on the EU referendum and tried and failed to have the August Bank Holiday renamed "Margaret Thatcher Day". But there is another cause very dear to Mr Bone's heart which anyone would struggle to disagree with: helping the victims of human trafficking. It all started shortly after he became an MP. "I received a letter from an English prostitute saying she was concerned about the way some foreign nationals were being treated in Northampton," he tells us. "It was a subject I knew nothing about but the more I found out about it, the more horrified I became." He set up an all-party parliamentary group on the subject with former MP Anthony Steenon and now he is piloting a bill through parliament which would provide greater support for those who find themselves victims of this modern form of slavery. 'Repeatedly raped' "Imagine that a 25-year-old woman from a small village in Moldova has been offered an escape from poverty via a job in the UK working as a waitress," he told MPs. "But after arriving in London it becomes clear that there never was a legitimate job opportunity. Her "contact" confiscates her passport and locks her in a room where she is beaten and repeatedly raped, and then sold into slavery as a prostitute." The problem is so great that the government has already doubled to £3m the amount it spends every year on safe houses where women can recover and prepare for life back in the real world. "I find it almost impossible to believe that we can stand by and allow such a scandalous situation to continue for one moment longer," he said. His bill will also put a duty on the authorities to trace and confiscate traffickers' assets, a requirement for large businesses to report on measures that they are taking to eliminate "modern slavery" from their supply chains and a requirement for front-line public servants to receive targeted training relating to human trafficking. Abolition of slavery Mr Bone said the government was taking a much greater interest in the issue and was "moving in the right direction". "The British government must be prepared to stand up to the individuals who perpetrate such evil crimes. They must take the lead on this most crucial of issues, as they did almost 200 years ago (with the abolition of slavery)." And he quoted the words of William Wilberforce who led that campaign: "You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say that you did not know." Cynics will point out that this is a Ten-Minute Rule Bill and will stand hardly any chance of becoming law. At a recent Prime Minister's Questions, David Cameron praised Peter Bone's work, saying: "We are looking at legislative options, and I will be chairing a committee across government to look at what more can be done." It took William Wilberforce the best part of 40 years to get slavery abolished. Let's hope Mr Bone will achieve his aim far sooner.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Deborah McGurranPolitical editor, East of England In recent weeks he has led the charge for a vote on the EU referendum and tried and failed to have the August Bank Holiday renamed "Margaret Thatcher Day". But there is another cause very dear to Mr Bone's heart which anyone would struggle to disagree with: helping the victims of human trafficking. It all started shortly after he became an MP. "I received a letter from an English prostitute saying she was concerned about the way some foreign nationals were being treated in Northampton," he tells us. "It was a subject I knew nothing about but the more I found out about it, the more horrified I became." He set up an all-party parliamentary group on the subject with former MP Anthony Steenon and now he is piloting a bill through parliament which would provide greater support for those who find themselves victims of this modern form of slavery. 'Repeatedly raped' "Imagine that a 25-year-old woman from a small village in Moldova has been offered an escape from poverty via a job in the UK working as a waitress," he told MPs. "But after arriving in London it becomes clear that there never was a legitimate job opportunity. Her "contact" confiscates her passport and locks her in a room where she is beaten and repeatedly raped, and then sold into slavery as a prostitute." The problem is so great that the government has already doubled to £3m the amount it spends every year on safe houses where women can recover and prepare for life back in the real world. "I find it almost impossible to believe that we can stand by and allow such a scandalous situation to continue for one moment longer," he said. His bill will also put a duty on the authorities to trace and confiscate traffickers' assets, a requirement for large businesses to report on measures that they are taking to eliminate "modern slavery" from their supply chains and a requirement for front-line public servants to receive targeted training relating to human trafficking. Abolition of slavery Mr Bone said the government was taking a much greater interest in the issue and was "moving in the right direction". "The British government must be prepared to stand up to the individuals who perpetrate such evil crimes. They must take the lead on this most crucial of issues, as they did almost 200 years ago (with the abolition of slavery)." And he quoted the words of William Wilberforce who led that campaign: "You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say that you did not know." Cynics will point out that this is a Ten-Minute Rule Bill and will stand hardly any chance of becoming law. At a recent Prime Minister's Questions, David Cameron praised Peter Bone's work, saying: "We are looking at legislative options, and I will be chairing a committee across government to look at what more can be done." It took William Wilberforce the best part of 40 years to get slavery abolished. Let's hope Mr Bone will achieve his aim far sooner. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Deborah McGurranPolitical editor, East of England In recent weeks he has led the charge for a vote on the EU referendum and tried and failed to have the August Bank Holiday renamed "Margaret Thatcher Day". But there is another cause very dear to Mr Bone's heart which anyone would struggle to disagree with: helping the victims of human trafficking. It all started shortly after he became an MP. "I received a letter from an English prostitute saying she was concerned about the way some foreign nationals were being treated in Northampton," he tells us. "It was a subject I knew nothing about but the more I found out about it, the more horrified I became." He set up an all-party parliamentary group on the subject with former MP Anthony Steenon and now he is piloting a bill through parliament which would provide greater support for those who find themselves victims of this modern form of slavery. 'Repeatedly raped' "Imagine that a 25-year-old woman from a small village in Moldova has been offered an escape from poverty via a job in the UK working as a waitress," he told MPs. "But after arriving in London it becomes clear that there never was a legitimate job opportunity. Her "contact" confiscates her passport and locks her in a room where she is beaten and repeatedly raped, and then sold into slavery as a prostitute." The problem is so great that the government has already doubled to £3m the amount it spends every year on safe houses where women can recover and prepare for life back in the real world. "I find it almost impossible to believe that we can stand by and allow such a scandalous situation to continue for one moment longer," he said. His bill will also put a duty on the authorities to trace and confiscate traffickers' assets, a requirement for large businesses to report on measures that they are taking to eliminate "modern slavery" from their supply chains and a requirement for front-line public servants to receive targeted training relating to human trafficking. Abolition of slavery Mr Bone said the government was taking a much greater interest in the issue and was "moving in the right direction". "The British government must be prepared to stand up to the individuals who perpetrate such evil crimes. They must take the lead on this most crucial of issues, as they did almost 200 years ago (with the abolition of slavery)." And he quoted the words of William Wilberforce who led that campaign: "You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say that you did not know." Cynics will point out that this is a Ten-Minute Rule Bill and will stand hardly any chance of becoming law. At a recent Prime Minister's Questions, David Cameron praised Peter Bone's work, saying: "We are looking at legislative options, and I will be chairing a committee across government to look at what more can be done." It took William Wilberforce the best part of 40 years to get slavery abolished. Let's hope Mr Bone will achieve his aim far sooner. ### Summary: A former MP has launched a campaign to help victims of human trafficking. ### Text: A former MP has launched a campaign to help victims of human trafficking. ### Summary:

uk-england-49075913

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-49075913

Calea: Patients left 'starving' after firm changes feed system

A woman who has been starved of nutrients for seven years has said she is "effectively being starved".

Lauren Lethbridge has gastro-intestinal failure and relies on bags of nutrients supplied intravenously to stay alive. But the company that produces the feed is facing a backlog after being ordered to change its production system for safety reasons. Calea says it is working "as quickly and safely as possible" to clear the backlog using a new production system. Lauren, 23, of Cranbrook, Kent, has had the condition for seven years and relies on a regular supply of the personalised feed bags for her everyday nutrition. But she received only part of her fortnightly delivery from the Cheshire-based company at the beginning of the month, and last week's never arrived at all. Her mother, Catherine, said: "Patients are effectively being starved. We have discovered... that many Calea patients throughout England and Wales... are consequently becoming incredibly unwell as a result." Lauren said: "It's made me realise just how dependent I am." Analysis by Mark Norman, BBC South East health correspondent Families as far afield as Liverpool and Plymouth have been affected by the supply problems at the firm Calea. After an inspection by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) the firm was told there were "serious concerns" about its procedures and a "significant risk to product safety". The inspectors stress that there was no evidence of contamination in products supplied to patients. Calea, based in Runcorn, is one of only a handful of firms supplying total parenteral nutrition (TPN). It said in a statement: "We have been directed to change the process by which we add trace elements and vitamins to our parenteral nutrition bags, in order to align with latest standard industry practice. "As a result the time taken to produce bags has increased and although we are working as quickly and safely as possible to meet demand, we are sorry that our deliveries have been delayed." The MHRA says the required changes are a "precautionary, but necessary, measure" and no defective products have been found. Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Lauren Lethbridge has gastro-intestinal failure and relies on bags of nutrients supplied intravenously to stay alive. But the company that produces the feed is facing a backlog after being ordered to change its production system for safety reasons. Calea says it is working "as quickly and safely as possible" to clear the backlog using a new production system. Lauren, 23, of Cranbrook, Kent, has had the condition for seven years and relies on a regular supply of the personalised feed bags for her everyday nutrition. But she received only part of her fortnightly delivery from the Cheshire-based company at the beginning of the month, and last week's never arrived at all. Her mother, Catherine, said: "Patients are effectively being starved. We have discovered... that many Calea patients throughout England and Wales... are consequently becoming incredibly unwell as a result." Lauren said: "It's made me realise just how dependent I am." Analysis by Mark Norman, BBC South East health correspondent Families as far afield as Liverpool and Plymouth have been affected by the supply problems at the firm Calea. After an inspection by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) the firm was told there were "serious concerns" about its procedures and a "significant risk to product safety". The inspectors stress that there was no evidence of contamination in products supplied to patients. Calea, based in Runcorn, is one of only a handful of firms supplying total parenteral nutrition (TPN). It said in a statement: "We have been directed to change the process by which we add trace elements and vitamins to our parenteral nutrition bags, in order to align with latest standard industry practice. "As a result the time taken to produce bags has increased and although we are working as quickly and safely as possible to meet demand, we are sorry that our deliveries have been delayed." The MHRA says the required changes are a "precautionary, but necessary, measure" and no defective products have been found. Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Lauren Lethbridge has gastro-intestinal failure and relies on bags of nutrients supplied intravenously to stay alive. But the company that produces the feed is facing a backlog after being ordered to change its production system for safety reasons. Calea says it is working "as quickly and safely as possible" to clear the backlog using a new production system. Lauren, 23, of Cranbrook, Kent, has had the condition for seven years and relies on a regular supply of the personalised feed bags for her everyday nutrition. But she received only part of her fortnightly delivery from the Cheshire-based company at the beginning of the month, and last week's never arrived at all. Her mother, Catherine, said: "Patients are effectively being starved. We have discovered... that many Calea patients throughout England and Wales... are consequently becoming incredibly unwell as a result." Lauren said: "It's made me realise just how dependent I am." Analysis by Mark Norman, BBC South East health correspondent Families as far afield as Liverpool and Plymouth have been affected by the supply problems at the firm Calea. After an inspection by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) the firm was told there were "serious concerns" about its procedures and a "significant risk to product safety". The inspectors stress that there was no evidence of contamination in products supplied to patients. Calea, based in Runcorn, is one of only a handful of firms supplying total parenteral nutrition (TPN). It said in a statement: "We have been directed to change the process by which we add trace elements and vitamins to our parenteral nutrition bags, in order to align with latest standard industry practice. "As a result the time taken to produce bags has increased and although we are working as quickly and safely as possible to meet demand, we are sorry that our deliveries have been delayed." The MHRA says the required changes are a "precautionary, but necessary, measure" and no defective products have been found. Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. ### Summary: A woman who has been starved of nutrients for seven years has said she is "effectively being starved". ### Next steps: The MHRA has said it is working "as quickly and safely as possible"

uk-wales-south-west-wales-10728183

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-10728183

Brynamman Lido sunk by £20,000 repair bill

A pool in Carmarthenshire has been closed for more than a year because of damage to the drains and pump house.

By Nick ParryBBC Wales News The cost of repairs to the Brynamman Lido in Carmarthenshire are put at over £20,000. Volunteers who run the pool throughout the school summer holidays say children in the village are heartbroken. The county council, which owns the site, said the money to repair the pool was not available this year but its ambition is to reopen it in 2011. The pool, built during the depression of the early 1930s by out-of-work voluntary labour, attracts around 2,000 visits each summer. More than 100,000 gallons of water are usually siphoned off from the River Amman to fill it and at the end of the holidays it is drained and mothballed for 10 months of the year. A committee of five volunteers fundraise and run it during the school holidays with the local authority taking care of maintenance and providing lifeguards. But this year the gates will remain closed, with the long periods of freezing weather over the winter blamed for damage to the drains and pump house. Four generations of Jackie Bird's family have used the pool and she said youngsters in the village were desperately disappointed. "It's such a shame because the children of the village are coming up to me and asking when it's going to open and I'm having to tell them it's not - it's heartbreaking," she said. Mrs Bird, who is chairwoman of the volunteers, said they had offered £5,000 from their funds to try and reopen it but had been told the council could not make up the rest. "We are going to do everything possible to make sure it reopens next year," she added. "It's important to keep this open because it's the last open air lido in Wales. "It still has most of its original features - including the turnstiles. To me it reminds me of Hi-De-Hi, it's a step back in time." When the 30x15m pool was built, volunteers used pick-axes, spades, wheelbarrows and trams loaned from nearby collieries to create the pool basin. Many were miners and they were given a packet of 10 Woodbines for a day's work and the non-smokers a bar of chocolate. "My grandfather used it. My father took me since I can remember. My children use it," added Mrs Bird. Carmarthenshire council said when it started to prepare to reopen the pool this year a number of faults were found. A spokesman said it would cost over £20,000 with major work needed to the main drain and the pump house. "We just do not have that in the budget," he added. "We still have an ambition to make sure that the lido reopens. We are going to see what we can do in accessing funds."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Nick ParryBBC Wales News The cost of repairs to the Brynamman Lido in Carmarthenshire are put at over £20,000. Volunteers who run the pool throughout the school summer holidays say children in the village are heartbroken. The county council, which owns the site, said the money to repair the pool was not available this year but its ambition is to reopen it in 2011. The pool, built during the depression of the early 1930s by out-of-work voluntary labour, attracts around 2,000 visits each summer. More than 100,000 gallons of water are usually siphoned off from the River Amman to fill it and at the end of the holidays it is drained and mothballed for 10 months of the year. A committee of five volunteers fundraise and run it during the school holidays with the local authority taking care of maintenance and providing lifeguards. But this year the gates will remain closed, with the long periods of freezing weather over the winter blamed for damage to the drains and pump house. Four generations of Jackie Bird's family have used the pool and she said youngsters in the village were desperately disappointed. "It's such a shame because the children of the village are coming up to me and asking when it's going to open and I'm having to tell them it's not - it's heartbreaking," she said. Mrs Bird, who is chairwoman of the volunteers, said they had offered £5,000 from their funds to try and reopen it but had been told the council could not make up the rest. "We are going to do everything possible to make sure it reopens next year," she added. "It's important to keep this open because it's the last open air lido in Wales. "It still has most of its original features - including the turnstiles. To me it reminds me of Hi-De-Hi, it's a step back in time." When the 30x15m pool was built, volunteers used pick-axes, spades, wheelbarrows and trams loaned from nearby collieries to create the pool basin. Many were miners and they were given a packet of 10 Woodbines for a day's work and the non-smokers a bar of chocolate. "My grandfather used it. My father took me since I can remember. My children use it," added Mrs Bird. Carmarthenshire council said when it started to prepare to reopen the pool this year a number of faults were found. A spokesman said it would cost over £20,000 with major work needed to the main drain and the pump house. "We just do not have that in the budget," he added. "We still have an ambition to make sure that the lido reopens. We are going to see what we can do in accessing funds." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Nick ParryBBC Wales News The cost of repairs to the Brynamman Lido in Carmarthenshire are put at over £20,000. Volunteers who run the pool throughout the school summer holidays say children in the village are heartbroken. The county council, which owns the site, said the money to repair the pool was not available this year but its ambition is to reopen it in 2011. The pool, built during the depression of the early 1930s by out-of-work voluntary labour, attracts around 2,000 visits each summer. More than 100,000 gallons of water are usually siphoned off from the River Amman to fill it and at the end of the holidays it is drained and mothballed for 10 months of the year. A committee of five volunteers fundraise and run it during the school holidays with the local authority taking care of maintenance and providing lifeguards. But this year the gates will remain closed, with the long periods of freezing weather over the winter blamed for damage to the drains and pump house. Four generations of Jackie Bird's family have used the pool and she said youngsters in the village were desperately disappointed. "It's such a shame because the children of the village are coming up to me and asking when it's going to open and I'm having to tell them it's not - it's heartbreaking," she said. Mrs Bird, who is chairwoman of the volunteers, said they had offered £5,000 from their funds to try and reopen it but had been told the council could not make up the rest. "We are going to do everything possible to make sure it reopens next year," she added. "It's important to keep this open because it's the last open air lido in Wales. "It still has most of its original features - including the turnstiles. To me it reminds me of Hi-De-Hi, it's a step back in time." When the 30x15m pool was built, volunteers used pick-axes, spades, wheelbarrows and trams loaned from nearby collieries to create the pool basin. Many were miners and they were given a packet of 10 Woodbines for a day's work and the non-smokers a bar of chocolate. "My grandfather used it. My father took me since I can remember. My children use it," added Mrs Bird. Carmarthenshire council said when it started to prepare to reopen the pool this year a number of faults were found. A spokesman said it would cost over £20,000 with major work needed to the main drain and the pump house. "We just do not have that in the budget," he added. "We still have an ambition to make sure that the lido reopens. We are going to see what we can do in accessing funds." ### Summary: A pool in Carmarthenshire has been closed for more than a year because of damage to the drains and pump house. ### Source: By Nick ParryBBC Wales News ### Credit:

world-us-canada-47128788

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47128788

Why celebrities are being sued over images of themselves

A number of celebrities have been sued for infringement of copyright in the last few years.

By Kelly-Leigh CooperBBC News But in the last couple of years, a new wave of complaints has started flowing from the other side. A number of well-known celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez and model Gigi Hadid, have had lawsuits filed against them for posting paparazzi images on their social media accounts. So what exactly is going on with these copyright disputes? You might think that being the subject of an image means you can use it freely. But according to copyright law, it's the photographer who usually owns an image's rights unless it's been licensed to a third party like their agency or employer. So whether you're a celebrity who has been papped leaving the latest Hollywood hotspot or someone who posed for a friend, the ownership of the photograph typically falls to the person who pressed the button. Neel Chatterjee, a US lawyer who specialises in high-profile intellectual property disputes, says social media has created an "enormous amount of complexity" in the field. He says in part the problem is caused because functions like online re-tweets allow images to proliferate quickly far beyond the control of the copyright holder. In recent lawsuits, photograph agencies have claimed that it's not fair for celebrities to reproduce and distribute their images to their millions of fans without license. Some have even appealed for compensation for loss of earnings. The stakes are made even higher because of the monetary value of some of the social media feeds in question, with some earning up to $1m per sponsored post on platforms like Instagram. Khloe Kardashian was among the first people to be publicly pursued in one of these copyright cases. She was sued for infringement in 2017 after posting a paparazzi photograph of herself visiting a Miami restaurant on her Instagram feed. Xposure Photos, a UK based agency, sought damages of more than $175,000 for the post. They said the image, which had been exclusively licensed to the Daily Mail, was used by Khloe without their permission and their accreditation had been erased. They argued her post, shared to almost 67m followers, constituted "wilful, intentional, and malicious" infringement of their copyright. Kardashian eventually deleted the image and both sides agreed to dismiss the suit last year. But the star has acknowledged the row is an ongoing problem for her and her sisters. She told Twitter fans that it might take longer for her to share images from events because she had to obtain proper permission first. "I have to license my own image which blows my mind," she said in reply to one fan. "They can legally stalk me and harass me and then on top of it all I can't even use the pictures of myself they take LOL," she tweeted to another. Last week, model Gigi Hadid became the latest star to be slapped with a lawsuit over an image she posted of herself. A complaint against the model alleges that her Instagram account "includes at least 50 examples of uncredited photographs of Hadid in public, at press events, or on the runway". It was reported last month that Jennifer Lopez is being sued in a similar case involving an image posted on her Instagram story - a temporary post that disappears after 24 hours. They are several more examples of a similar nature and the problem looks unlikely to go away. The rise of 'copyright trolling' Mr Chatterjee says these cases are becoming known within the industry as "copyright trolling". He believes photo agencies are exploring it as a "new and incremental way" of increasing their revenue streams. "They're going to take a picture outside a nightclub or restaurant whether or no they have a relationship with this famous person or not," he says, when asked if paparazzi should be worried about offending stars. And it's not just celebrities themselves being targeted. A number of so-called "fan accounts" have also reported being aggressively pursued on copyright grounds, with some apparently being shutdown altogether in the process. When some Kardashian fans complained about the problem last year, Kim said her family was even considering hiring their own photographers to try and bypass the problem. "It's just one of those things that offends common sense," Mr Chatterjee says of the copyright law. "If someone's harassing me and takes a photograph of me and I happen to like the picture and want to make use of it, after they harassed me and made money from me - now they can sue me for that?" He also cast doubt on accusations of loss of earnings. "If you look at Kylie Jenner for example," he says. "You know when she promotes something, her distribution is so much broader that anything these agencies would be able to achieve. "In some ways they amp up the iconic nature of some of these images." Do the celebrities have a defence? US National Football League (NFL) star Odell Beckham Jnr is another person embroiled in a legal battle involving paparazzi. The player, who has more than 12 million Instagram followers, accused one agency of extortion last year after allegedly receiving a demand for a $40,000 payment over an image he had shared. Reports regarding the lawsuit said he wanted to defend himself over his "rights to publicity" - conditions within some states' laws which protect a person's right to control how their name or likeness is used commercially. The defence has been used before. In 2014 actress Katherine Heigl sued a US drugstore chain after they used a paparazzi image of her carrying the pharmacy's shopping bags for promotion on social media. That case was eventually dropped, apparently in return for the post's deletion and a confidential donation to a charity. But, as Mr Chatterjee points out, this defence in regards to paparazzi copyright complaints remains complex and largely untested in case law. Of the lawsuits filed against celebrities so far, many have been dismissed or settled before being litigated to resolution. "You'll see people offering to settle for say $10-20,000," he says, "Which seems like a lot of money but in context of litigation costs it's really not that much - especially for these high profile figures." "It's going to take someone like a Kardashian who has tons of money who sees other commercial benefits by litigating these questions. It very well may take someone like that to actually fight this stuff."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Kelly-Leigh CooperBBC News But in the last couple of years, a new wave of complaints has started flowing from the other side. A number of well-known celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez and model Gigi Hadid, have had lawsuits filed against them for posting paparazzi images on their social media accounts. So what exactly is going on with these copyright disputes? You might think that being the subject of an image means you can use it freely. But according to copyright law, it's the photographer who usually owns an image's rights unless it's been licensed to a third party like their agency or employer. So whether you're a celebrity who has been papped leaving the latest Hollywood hotspot or someone who posed for a friend, the ownership of the photograph typically falls to the person who pressed the button. Neel Chatterjee, a US lawyer who specialises in high-profile intellectual property disputes, says social media has created an "enormous amount of complexity" in the field. He says in part the problem is caused because functions like online re-tweets allow images to proliferate quickly far beyond the control of the copyright holder. In recent lawsuits, photograph agencies have claimed that it's not fair for celebrities to reproduce and distribute their images to their millions of fans without license. Some have even appealed for compensation for loss of earnings. The stakes are made even higher because of the monetary value of some of the social media feeds in question, with some earning up to $1m per sponsored post on platforms like Instagram. Khloe Kardashian was among the first people to be publicly pursued in one of these copyright cases. She was sued for infringement in 2017 after posting a paparazzi photograph of herself visiting a Miami restaurant on her Instagram feed. Xposure Photos, a UK based agency, sought damages of more than $175,000 for the post. They said the image, which had been exclusively licensed to the Daily Mail, was used by Khloe without their permission and their accreditation had been erased. They argued her post, shared to almost 67m followers, constituted "wilful, intentional, and malicious" infringement of their copyright. Kardashian eventually deleted the image and both sides agreed to dismiss the suit last year. But the star has acknowledged the row is an ongoing problem for her and her sisters. She told Twitter fans that it might take longer for her to share images from events because she had to obtain proper permission first. "I have to license my own image which blows my mind," she said in reply to one fan. "They can legally stalk me and harass me and then on top of it all I can't even use the pictures of myself they take LOL," she tweeted to another. Last week, model Gigi Hadid became the latest star to be slapped with a lawsuit over an image she posted of herself. A complaint against the model alleges that her Instagram account "includes at least 50 examples of uncredited photographs of Hadid in public, at press events, or on the runway". It was reported last month that Jennifer Lopez is being sued in a similar case involving an image posted on her Instagram story - a temporary post that disappears after 24 hours. They are several more examples of a similar nature and the problem looks unlikely to go away. The rise of 'copyright trolling' Mr Chatterjee says these cases are becoming known within the industry as "copyright trolling". He believes photo agencies are exploring it as a "new and incremental way" of increasing their revenue streams. "They're going to take a picture outside a nightclub or restaurant whether or no they have a relationship with this famous person or not," he says, when asked if paparazzi should be worried about offending stars. And it's not just celebrities themselves being targeted. A number of so-called "fan accounts" have also reported being aggressively pursued on copyright grounds, with some apparently being shutdown altogether in the process. When some Kardashian fans complained about the problem last year, Kim said her family was even considering hiring their own photographers to try and bypass the problem. "It's just one of those things that offends common sense," Mr Chatterjee says of the copyright law. "If someone's harassing me and takes a photograph of me and I happen to like the picture and want to make use of it, after they harassed me and made money from me - now they can sue me for that?" He also cast doubt on accusations of loss of earnings. "If you look at Kylie Jenner for example," he says. "You know when she promotes something, her distribution is so much broader that anything these agencies would be able to achieve. "In some ways they amp up the iconic nature of some of these images." Do the celebrities have a defence? US National Football League (NFL) star Odell Beckham Jnr is another person embroiled in a legal battle involving paparazzi. The player, who has more than 12 million Instagram followers, accused one agency of extortion last year after allegedly receiving a demand ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Kelly-Leigh CooperBBC News But in the last couple of years, a new wave of complaints has started flowing from the other side. A number of well-known celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez and model Gigi Hadid, have had lawsuits filed against them for posting paparazzi images on their social media accounts. So what exactly is going on with these copyright disputes? You might think that being the subject of an image means you can use it freely. But according to copyright law, it's the photographer who usually owns an image's rights unless it's been licensed to a third party like their agency or employer. So whether you're a celebrity who has been papped leaving the latest Hollywood hotspot or someone who posed for a friend, the ownership of the photograph typically falls to the person who pressed the button. Neel Chatterjee, a US lawyer who specialises in high-profile intellectual property disputes, says social media has created an "enormous amount of complexity" in the field. He says in part the problem is caused because functions like online re-tweets allow images to proliferate quickly far beyond the control of the copyright holder. In recent lawsuits, photograph agencies have claimed that it's not fair for celebrities to reproduce and distribute their images to their millions of fans without license. Some have even appealed for compensation for loss of earnings. The stakes are made even higher because of the monetary value of some of the social media feeds in question, with some earning up to $1m per sponsored post on platforms like Instagram. Khloe Kardashian was among the first people to be publicly pursued in one of these copyright cases. She was sued for infringement in 2017 after posting a paparazzi photograph of herself visiting a Miami restaurant on her Instagram feed. Xposure Photos, a UK based agency, sought damages of more than $175,000 for the post. They said the image, which had been exclusively licensed to the Daily Mail, was used by Khloe without their permission and their accreditation had been erased. They argued her post, shared to almost 67m followers, constituted "wilful, intentional, and malicious" infringement of their copyright. Kardashian eventually deleted the image and both sides agreed to dismiss the suit last year. But the star has acknowledged the row is an ongoing problem for her and her sisters. She told Twitter fans that it might take longer for her to share images from events because she had to obtain proper permission first. "I have to license my own image which blows my mind," she said in reply to one fan. "They can legally stalk me and harass me and then on top of it all I can't even use the pictures of myself they take LOL," she tweeted to another. Last week, model Gigi Hadid became the latest star to be slapped with a lawsuit over an image she posted of herself. A complaint against the model alleges that her Instagram account "includes at least 50 examples of uncredited photographs of Hadid in public, at press events, or on the runway". It was reported last month that Jennifer Lopez is being sued in a similar case involving an image posted on her Instagram story - a temporary post that disappears after 24 hours. They are several more examples of a similar nature and the problem looks unlikely to go away. The rise of 'copyright trolling' Mr Chatterjee says these cases are becoming known within the industry as "copyright trolling". He believes photo agencies are exploring it as a "new and incremental way" of increasing their revenue streams. "They're going to take a picture outside a nightclub or restaurant whether or no they have a relationship with this famous person or not," he says, when asked if paparazzi should be worried about offending stars. And it's not just celebrities themselves being targeted. A number of so-called "fan accounts" have also reported being aggressively pursued on copyright grounds, with some apparently being shutdown altogether in the process. When some Kardashian fans complained about the problem last year, Kim said her family was even considering hiring their own photographers to try and bypass the problem. "It's just one of those things that offends common sense," Mr Chatterjee says of the copyright law. "If someone's harassing me and takes a photograph of me and I happen to like the picture and want to make use of it, after they harassed me and made money from me - now they can sue me for that?" He also cast doubt on accusations of loss of earnings. "If you look at Kylie Jenner for example," he says. "You know when she promotes something, her distribution is so much broader that anything these agencies would be able to achieve. "In some ways they amp up the iconic nature of some of these images." Do the celebrities have a defence? US National Football League (NFL) star Odell Beckham Jnr is another person embroiled in a legal battle involving paparazzi. The player, who has more than 12 million Instagram followers, accused one agency of extortion last year after allegedly receiving a demand ### Summary: A number of celebrities have been sued for infringement of copyright in the last few years. ### Spelling and grammar A number of celebrities have been sued for infringement of copy

business-44225091

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44225091

Jaguar Land Rover profits fall as sales slow

Jaguar Land Rover has reported a fall in annual profits for the first time in four years.

Annual pre-tax profits fell to £1.5bn from £1.6bn the year before, and fourth quarter profits almost halved from £676m to £364m. Annual sales grew 1.7%, helped by strong demand in China. But it blamed a sharp fall in UK sales on "consumer uncertainty surrounding diesel models, Brexit and vehicle taxation". UK sales dropped 12.8% to 108,759 cars, while European sales also fell. However, overall car sales in the year to 31 March increased 1.7% to 614,309 cars compared with the previous year. That is a sharp slowdown in growth from 2016/17 when overall sales grew 15.8%. China was a bright spot last year. Sales there jumped 19.9%, while North American and sales grew 4.7%. New tech Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Ralf Speth said: "Strong demand in our key overseas markets has offset the challenging conditions in the UK and other parts of Europe." He said that heavy investment in "new vehicles, manufacturing facilities and next-generation automotive technologies" will continue. In April, the firm said it would shed 1,000 contract staff at two UK factories after uncertainty over Brexit and changes to taxes on diesel cars. Jaguar Land Rover, which is the UK's biggest carmaker, is owned by India's Tata Motors. The Indian car giant said its fourth quarter net profit had halved to 21.25 billion rupees (£233.25m, $310.74m), from 42.96 billion rupees a year earlier, missing analyst expectations. "In the near-term, the challenges of market, technology and geo-political uncertainties are likely to persist," Tata Motors Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said in a statement.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Annual pre-tax profits fell to £1.5bn from £1.6bn the year before, and fourth quarter profits almost halved from £676m to £364m. Annual sales grew 1.7%, helped by strong demand in China. But it blamed a sharp fall in UK sales on "consumer uncertainty surrounding diesel models, Brexit and vehicle taxation". UK sales dropped 12.8% to 108,759 cars, while European sales also fell. However, overall car sales in the year to 31 March increased 1.7% to 614,309 cars compared with the previous year. That is a sharp slowdown in growth from 2016/17 when overall sales grew 15.8%. China was a bright spot last year. Sales there jumped 19.9%, while North American and sales grew 4.7%. New tech Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Ralf Speth said: "Strong demand in our key overseas markets has offset the challenging conditions in the UK and other parts of Europe." He said that heavy investment in "new vehicles, manufacturing facilities and next-generation automotive technologies" will continue. In April, the firm said it would shed 1,000 contract staff at two UK factories after uncertainty over Brexit and changes to taxes on diesel cars. Jaguar Land Rover, which is the UK's biggest carmaker, is owned by India's Tata Motors. The Indian car giant said its fourth quarter net profit had halved to 21.25 billion rupees (£233.25m, $310.74m), from 42.96 billion rupees a year earlier, missing analyst expectations. "In the near-term, the challenges of market, technology and geo-political uncertainties are likely to persist," Tata Motors Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said in a statement. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Annual pre-tax profits fell to £1.5bn from £1.6bn the year before, and fourth quarter profits almost halved from £676m to £364m. Annual sales grew 1.7%, helped by strong demand in China. But it blamed a sharp fall in UK sales on "consumer uncertainty surrounding diesel models, Brexit and vehicle taxation". UK sales dropped 12.8% to 108,759 cars, while European sales also fell. However, overall car sales in the year to 31 March increased 1.7% to 614,309 cars compared with the previous year. That is a sharp slowdown in growth from 2016/17 when overall sales grew 15.8%. China was a bright spot last year. Sales there jumped 19.9%, while North American and sales grew 4.7%. New tech Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Ralf Speth said: "Strong demand in our key overseas markets has offset the challenging conditions in the UK and other parts of Europe." He said that heavy investment in "new vehicles, manufacturing facilities and next-generation automotive technologies" will continue. In April, the firm said it would shed 1,000 contract staff at two UK factories after uncertainty over Brexit and changes to taxes on diesel cars. Jaguar Land Rover, which is the UK's biggest carmaker, is owned by India's Tata Motors. The Indian car giant said its fourth quarter net profit had halved to 21.25 billion rupees (£233.25m, $310.74m), from 42.96 billion rupees a year earlier, missing analyst expectations. "In the near-term, the challenges of market, technology and geo-political uncertainties are likely to persist," Tata Motors Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said in a statement. ### Summary: Jaguar Land Rover has reported a fall in annual profits for the first time in four years. ### Source: Jaguar Land Rover has reported a fall in annual profits for the first time in four years

uk-england-leeds-56138006

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-56138006

Yassar Yaqub: No officers to face charges over M62 police shooting

A report into the death of a man who was shot by police has found no evidence of police misconduct.

Yassar Yaqub, 28, was shot when the Audi car he was travelling in was stopped by West Yorkshire Police on the M62 near Huddersfield in January 2017. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had found no evidence officers behaved in a way that would justify disciplinary proceedings. Its full report will not be published until after an inquest in January 2022. Steve Noonan, the IOPC's director of major investigations, said the report had been shared with Mr Yaqub's family, the West Yorkshire force and the coroner. He said the investigation had been "comprehensive and detailed" and the report "did not indicate that any officer may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings". Mr Noonan said the progress of the investigation had been delayed by the trial of the driver of the Audi, Mohsin Amin, who was jailed in 2018. He said the trial had "restricted our access to a number of key witnesses", which had had "an inevitable impact" on the IOPC investigation. He added that it "would not be appropriate for the IOPC to publish a report or provide further information until the inquest is concluded". Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here. Related Internet Links Independent Office for Police Conduct

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Yassar Yaqub, 28, was shot when the Audi car he was travelling in was stopped by West Yorkshire Police on the M62 near Huddersfield in January 2017. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had found no evidence officers behaved in a way that would justify disciplinary proceedings. Its full report will not be published until after an inquest in January 2022. Steve Noonan, the IOPC's director of major investigations, said the report had been shared with Mr Yaqub's family, the West Yorkshire force and the coroner. He said the investigation had been "comprehensive and detailed" and the report "did not indicate that any officer may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings". Mr Noonan said the progress of the investigation had been delayed by the trial of the driver of the Audi, Mohsin Amin, who was jailed in 2018. He said the trial had "restricted our access to a number of key witnesses", which had had "an inevitable impact" on the IOPC investigation. He added that it "would not be appropriate for the IOPC to publish a report or provide further information until the inquest is concluded". Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here. Related Internet Links Independent Office for Police Conduct ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Yassar Yaqub, 28, was shot when the Audi car he was travelling in was stopped by West Yorkshire Police on the M62 near Huddersfield in January 2017. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had found no evidence officers behaved in a way that would justify disciplinary proceedings. Its full report will not be published until after an inquest in January 2022. Steve Noonan, the IOPC's director of major investigations, said the report had been shared with Mr Yaqub's family, the West Yorkshire force and the coroner. He said the investigation had been "comprehensive and detailed" and the report "did not indicate that any officer may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings". Mr Noonan said the progress of the investigation had been delayed by the trial of the driver of the Audi, Mohsin Amin, who was jailed in 2018. He said the trial had "restricted our access to a number of key witnesses", which had had "an inevitable impact" on the IOPC investigation. He added that it "would not be appropriate for the IOPC to publish a report or provide further information until the inquest is concluded". Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here. Related Internet Links Independent Office for Police Conduct ### Summary: A report into the death of a man who was shot by police has found no evidence of police misconduct. ### Next story: A man has been found guilty of the murder of a man who was shot by police.

uk-wales-55101082

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-55101082

Man injured in hit and run at Royal Glamorgan Hospital

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed in a hospital in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

South Wales Police said the incident happened at Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, at about 10:00 GMT on Friday. The man is in hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, the force said. Anyone who witnessed the incident involving a silver Citroen Saxo has been asked to contact police.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: South Wales Police said the incident happened at Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, at about 10:00 GMT on Friday. The man is in hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, the force said. Anyone who witnessed the incident involving a silver Citroen Saxo has been asked to contact police. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: South Wales Police said the incident happened at Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, at about 10:00 GMT on Friday. The man is in hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, the force said. Anyone who witnessed the incident involving a silver Citroen Saxo has been asked to contact police. ### Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed in a hospital in Rhondda Cynon Taf. ### Text: A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after

uk-england-nottinghamshire-23696070

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-23696070

Grizzled skipper butterfly 'saved' in Nottinghamshire

A butterfly species has been saved in Nottinghamshire.

The grizzled skipper, numbers of which have more than halved in Britain in 40 years, has now revived in the county. The Butterfly Conservation charity, which carried out the work, now hopes to extend it to Leicestershire. It said the project, which involved growing a rose variety the butterflies feed on, was a "great success story". Bill Bacon, chairman of the East Midlands branch of Butterfly Conservation, said: "Nottinghamshire is the northern-most end of this butterfly's range. "There used to be grizzled skippers in Yorkshire, but over the years they have declined." In 1900, the charity says the butterfly was found in a third of UK but it's currently distributed across less than 13%. Mr Bacon said in 2011 just 68 adult butterflies were noted in Nottinghamshire. However, 216 were spotted in 2012 and Mr Bacon believes even more will be sighted this year. He said: "I am confident the grizzled skipper is saved in Nottinghamshire." The butterflies used to thrive on the open, bare ground near railway lines, but the closure of many branch lines in the 1960s meant the routes became overgrown and the species started to disappear. The charity used the grant to fund scrub clearance, in the hope of reuniting the four remaining Nottinghamshire communities at East Leake, Bingham and Saxondale, Langar Airfield and Kilvington. It also laid piles of granite ballast along the routes and grew creeping cinquefoil, a wildflower in the rose family which the butterflies feed on, over the piles. Mr Bacon now hopes a further grant bid will allow the charity to extend the project towards Harby, in Leicestershire, where the species is also under threat. The £66,000 grant was provided by SITA, an environmental company.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The grizzled skipper, numbers of which have more than halved in Britain in 40 years, has now revived in the county. The Butterfly Conservation charity, which carried out the work, now hopes to extend it to Leicestershire. It said the project, which involved growing a rose variety the butterflies feed on, was a "great success story". Bill Bacon, chairman of the East Midlands branch of Butterfly Conservation, said: "Nottinghamshire is the northern-most end of this butterfly's range. "There used to be grizzled skippers in Yorkshire, but over the years they have declined." In 1900, the charity says the butterfly was found in a third of UK but it's currently distributed across less than 13%. Mr Bacon said in 2011 just 68 adult butterflies were noted in Nottinghamshire. However, 216 were spotted in 2012 and Mr Bacon believes even more will be sighted this year. He said: "I am confident the grizzled skipper is saved in Nottinghamshire." The butterflies used to thrive on the open, bare ground near railway lines, but the closure of many branch lines in the 1960s meant the routes became overgrown and the species started to disappear. The charity used the grant to fund scrub clearance, in the hope of reuniting the four remaining Nottinghamshire communities at East Leake, Bingham and Saxondale, Langar Airfield and Kilvington. It also laid piles of granite ballast along the routes and grew creeping cinquefoil, a wildflower in the rose family which the butterflies feed on, over the piles. Mr Bacon now hopes a further grant bid will allow the charity to extend the project towards Harby, in Leicestershire, where the species is also under threat. The £66,000 grant was provided by SITA, an environmental company. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The grizzled skipper, numbers of which have more than halved in Britain in 40 years, has now revived in the county. The Butterfly Conservation charity, which carried out the work, now hopes to extend it to Leicestershire. It said the project, which involved growing a rose variety the butterflies feed on, was a "great success story". Bill Bacon, chairman of the East Midlands branch of Butterfly Conservation, said: "Nottinghamshire is the northern-most end of this butterfly's range. "There used to be grizzled skippers in Yorkshire, but over the years they have declined." In 1900, the charity says the butterfly was found in a third of UK but it's currently distributed across less than 13%. Mr Bacon said in 2011 just 68 adult butterflies were noted in Nottinghamshire. However, 216 were spotted in 2012 and Mr Bacon believes even more will be sighted this year. He said: "I am confident the grizzled skipper is saved in Nottinghamshire." The butterflies used to thrive on the open, bare ground near railway lines, but the closure of many branch lines in the 1960s meant the routes became overgrown and the species started to disappear. The charity used the grant to fund scrub clearance, in the hope of reuniting the four remaining Nottinghamshire communities at East Leake, Bingham and Saxondale, Langar Airfield and Kilvington. It also laid piles of granite ballast along the routes and grew creeping cinquefoil, a wildflower in the rose family which the butterflies feed on, over the piles. Mr Bacon now hopes a further grant bid will allow the charity to extend the project towards Harby, in Leicestershire, where the species is also under threat. The £66,000 grant was provided by SITA, an environmental company. ### Summary: A butterfly species has been saved in Nottinghamshire. ### Text: A butterfly species has been saved in Nottinghamshire. ### Summary: A butterfly species has been

uk-england-bristol-25941763

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-25941763

Avon and Somerset Police to cut more than 134 police officer posts

Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens has said she is "very supportive" of the Constabulary's approach.

The force has to make cuts of £46m which could include closing police stations. Chief Constable Nick Gargan said despite the "shrinking police force" their aim was to "maintain standards". To find £8m in savings over the next year, the force is proposing to lose 134 police officer posts, of which 61 will be police constables. The remainder will come from "every rank up to and including chief superintendent", a force spokesman said. Mr Gargan said it was "a time of rapid but unavoidable change" but their aim was, as far as possible, to "mitigate the impact of successive budget reduction". Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said she was "very supportive of the Constabulary's approach" but would be "closely scrutinising the model". "In reviewing the way they operate they are putting local people first and ensuring policing is responsive to demand," she said. "The programme will deliver savings which are required over the next two years."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The force has to make cuts of £46m which could include closing police stations. Chief Constable Nick Gargan said despite the "shrinking police force" their aim was to "maintain standards". To find £8m in savings over the next year, the force is proposing to lose 134 police officer posts, of which 61 will be police constables. The remainder will come from "every rank up to and including chief superintendent", a force spokesman said. Mr Gargan said it was "a time of rapid but unavoidable change" but their aim was, as far as possible, to "mitigate the impact of successive budget reduction". Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said she was "very supportive of the Constabulary's approach" but would be "closely scrutinising the model". "In reviewing the way they operate they are putting local people first and ensuring policing is responsive to demand," she said. "The programme will deliver savings which are required over the next two years." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The force has to make cuts of £46m which could include closing police stations. Chief Constable Nick Gargan said despite the "shrinking police force" their aim was to "maintain standards". To find £8m in savings over the next year, the force is proposing to lose 134 police officer posts, of which 61 will be police constables. The remainder will come from "every rank up to and including chief superintendent", a force spokesman said. Mr Gargan said it was "a time of rapid but unavoidable change" but their aim was, as far as possible, to "mitigate the impact of successive budget reduction". Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said she was "very supportive of the Constabulary's approach" but would be "closely scrutinising the model". "In reviewing the way they operate they are putting local people first and ensuring policing is responsive to demand," she said. "The programme will deliver savings which are required over the next two years." ### Summary: Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens has said she is "very supportive" of the Constabulary's approach. ### Next steps: The force is proposing to lose 134 police officer posts

world-asia-36759321

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36759321

New Zealand beach bought by crowdfunding is given to public

A New Zealand businessman has donated more than NZ$2.3m (£1.3m, $1.7m) to buy a beach in the Abel Tasman National Park.

Nearly 40,000 people donated almost NZ$2.3m (£1.3m, $1.7m) to buy the Awaroa beach in the Abel Tasman National Park, on the South Island. Campaigners snubbed a businessman who offered them money in exchange for private access to part of the beach. The seven-hectare site will now be run by a national park. The previous owner, businessman Michael Spackman, agreed to sell the beach after the online crowdfunding campaign reached its target in a little more than three weeks. The purchase ensured the beach will remain out of private hands. "It's a great day," campaigner Duane Major told the BBC. "Sometimes you can feel powerless, so for us, it's been a marvellous experience of empowerment. "There's been a real feeling of coming together. People in other countries have recognised what it's been all about too. "We're in an age with various forms of technology that can pull people apart. But in this case it brought people together." New Zealand's government made a small contribution to the crowdfunding campaign, which Mr Major said was started because of "gut instinct". But another offer to contribute by a prominent businessman and philanthropist, who said he would make up any shortfall in exchange for exclusive access to part of the beach for his family, was rejected. The campaign also negotiated with local Maori groups, who had argued the beach should be handed over to them. Mr Major said the Maori community would be involved in the future of the land. While the land is on a remote part on the north coast of the South Island, the land also offers access by air via a nearby airstrip.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Nearly 40,000 people donated almost NZ$2.3m (£1.3m, $1.7m) to buy the Awaroa beach in the Abel Tasman National Park, on the South Island. Campaigners snubbed a businessman who offered them money in exchange for private access to part of the beach. The seven-hectare site will now be run by a national park. The previous owner, businessman Michael Spackman, agreed to sell the beach after the online crowdfunding campaign reached its target in a little more than three weeks. The purchase ensured the beach will remain out of private hands. "It's a great day," campaigner Duane Major told the BBC. "Sometimes you can feel powerless, so for us, it's been a marvellous experience of empowerment. "There's been a real feeling of coming together. People in other countries have recognised what it's been all about too. "We're in an age with various forms of technology that can pull people apart. But in this case it brought people together." New Zealand's government made a small contribution to the crowdfunding campaign, which Mr Major said was started because of "gut instinct". But another offer to contribute by a prominent businessman and philanthropist, who said he would make up any shortfall in exchange for exclusive access to part of the beach for his family, was rejected. The campaign also negotiated with local Maori groups, who had argued the beach should be handed over to them. Mr Major said the Maori community would be involved in the future of the land. While the land is on a remote part on the north coast of the South Island, the land also offers access by air via a nearby airstrip. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Nearly 40,000 people donated almost NZ$2.3m (£1.3m, $1.7m) to buy the Awaroa beach in the Abel Tasman National Park, on the South Island. Campaigners snubbed a businessman who offered them money in exchange for private access to part of the beach. The seven-hectare site will now be run by a national park. The previous owner, businessman Michael Spackman, agreed to sell the beach after the online crowdfunding campaign reached its target in a little more than three weeks. The purchase ensured the beach will remain out of private hands. "It's a great day," campaigner Duane Major told the BBC. "Sometimes you can feel powerless, so for us, it's been a marvellous experience of empowerment. "There's been a real feeling of coming together. People in other countries have recognised what it's been all about too. "We're in an age with various forms of technology that can pull people apart. But in this case it brought people together." New Zealand's government made a small contribution to the crowdfunding campaign, which Mr Major said was started because of "gut instinct". But another offer to contribute by a prominent businessman and philanthropist, who said he would make up any shortfall in exchange for exclusive access to part of the beach for his family, was rejected. The campaign also negotiated with local Maori groups, who had argued the beach should be handed over to them. Mr Major said the Maori community would be involved in the future of the land. While the land is on a remote part on the north coast of the South Island, the land also offers access by air via a nearby airstrip. ### Summary: A New Zealand businessman has donated more than NZ$2.3m (£1.3m, $1.7m) to buy a beach in the Abel Tasman National Park. ### Next ###

uk-wales-south-east-wales-12822683

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12822683

Dyffryn House, Vale of Glamorgan gets £600,000 award

A £6.15m restoration project at Dyffryn Gardens in Cardiff has been awarded a grant.

The work on Grade II* listed Dyffryn House will restore its late-Victorian interiors designed in French Renaissance and English Baroque styles. The grant will also be used to employ an interpretation and learning officer and to train volunteers. The house near St Nicholas has been closed to the public since 1996, but is due to reopen to visitors next year. The three-storey mansion was built by coal tycoon John Cory in 1893 and is considered to be one of the most important houses of its period. It is the centrepiece of the 55 acre Grade I listed Dyffryn Gardens, now run as a tourist attraction by the Vale of Glamorgan council. The gardens currently attract 52,000 visitors a year and are regularly used for events. They also include an arboretum and an observatory run by Cardiff Astronomical Society. The Heritage Lottery Fund previously awarded a total of over £6.15m to restore the gardens' features and landscapes in 1997 and 2005. Dan Clayton Jones, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in Wales, said: "This award is the final piece in the jigsaw of the restoration project at Dyffryn. "The house is one of the most important to have survived from the period and reflects the enormous wealth amassed by John Cory over 100 years ago. "We are delighted that the HLF grant will reopen the house and reunite it once more with the gardens as it was originally designed, creating one fantastic space for visitors to enjoy." The council hopes the reopening of the house will double visitor numbers to the gardens within 10 years. Rhodri Traherne, the council's cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: "Bringing the house back into use as part of the visitor experience at Dyffryn will be a significant development in making this an important heritage destination, benefiting not only Dyffryn but the region as a whole." Staff at the attraction hope to build on the enthusiasm of 25 committed volunteers and more than 300 members of the Friends of Dyffryn Gardens to increase involvement of the local community. People of all ages will be encouraged to volunteer as researchers, flower arrangers, and tour guides in full Edwardian costume. Site curator Geraldine Donovan said a volunteer open day will be held on 5 May for people wanting to get involved. "From the interest expressed so far by both friends and the community, we are confident that we will attract the new house volunteers which are essential to the project's success," she said. The restoration work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012 to be followed by a series of events, activities, exhibitions and school visits.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The work on Grade II* listed Dyffryn House will restore its late-Victorian interiors designed in French Renaissance and English Baroque styles. The grant will also be used to employ an interpretation and learning officer and to train volunteers. The house near St Nicholas has been closed to the public since 1996, but is due to reopen to visitors next year. The three-storey mansion was built by coal tycoon John Cory in 1893 and is considered to be one of the most important houses of its period. It is the centrepiece of the 55 acre Grade I listed Dyffryn Gardens, now run as a tourist attraction by the Vale of Glamorgan council. The gardens currently attract 52,000 visitors a year and are regularly used for events. They also include an arboretum and an observatory run by Cardiff Astronomical Society. The Heritage Lottery Fund previously awarded a total of over £6.15m to restore the gardens' features and landscapes in 1997 and 2005. Dan Clayton Jones, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in Wales, said: "This award is the final piece in the jigsaw of the restoration project at Dyffryn. "The house is one of the most important to have survived from the period and reflects the enormous wealth amassed by John Cory over 100 years ago. "We are delighted that the HLF grant will reopen the house and reunite it once more with the gardens as it was originally designed, creating one fantastic space for visitors to enjoy." The council hopes the reopening of the house will double visitor numbers to the gardens within 10 years. Rhodri Traherne, the council's cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: "Bringing the house back into use as part of the visitor experience at Dyffryn will be a significant development in making this an important heritage destination, benefiting not only Dyffryn but the region as a whole." Staff at the attraction hope to build on the enthusiasm of 25 committed volunteers and more than 300 members of the Friends of Dyffryn Gardens to increase involvement of the local community. People of all ages will be encouraged to volunteer as researchers, flower arrangers, and tour guides in full Edwardian costume. Site curator Geraldine Donovan said a volunteer open day will be held on 5 May for people wanting to get involved. "From the interest expressed so far by both friends and the community, we are confident that we will attract the new house volunteers which are essential to the project's success," she said. The restoration work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012 to be followed by a series of events, activities, exhibitions and school visits. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The work on Grade II* listed Dyffryn House will restore its late-Victorian interiors designed in French Renaissance and English Baroque styles. The grant will also be used to employ an interpretation and learning officer and to train volunteers. The house near St Nicholas has been closed to the public since 1996, but is due to reopen to visitors next year. The three-storey mansion was built by coal tycoon John Cory in 1893 and is considered to be one of the most important houses of its period. It is the centrepiece of the 55 acre Grade I listed Dyffryn Gardens, now run as a tourist attraction by the Vale of Glamorgan council. The gardens currently attract 52,000 visitors a year and are regularly used for events. They also include an arboretum and an observatory run by Cardiff Astronomical Society. The Heritage Lottery Fund previously awarded a total of over £6.15m to restore the gardens' features and landscapes in 1997 and 2005. Dan Clayton Jones, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in Wales, said: "This award is the final piece in the jigsaw of the restoration project at Dyffryn. "The house is one of the most important to have survived from the period and reflects the enormous wealth amassed by John Cory over 100 years ago. "We are delighted that the HLF grant will reopen the house and reunite it once more with the gardens as it was originally designed, creating one fantastic space for visitors to enjoy." The council hopes the reopening of the house will double visitor numbers to the gardens within 10 years. Rhodri Traherne, the council's cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: "Bringing the house back into use as part of the visitor experience at Dyffryn will be a significant development in making this an important heritage destination, benefiting not only Dyffryn but the region as a whole." Staff at the attraction hope to build on the enthusiasm of 25 committed volunteers and more than 300 members of the Friends of Dyffryn Gardens to increase involvement of the local community. People of all ages will be encouraged to volunteer as researchers, flower arrangers, and tour guides in full Edwardian costume. Site curator Geraldine Donovan said a volunteer open day will be held on 5 May for people wanting to get involved. "From the interest expressed so far by both friends and the community, we are confident that we will attract the new house volunteers which are essential to the project's success," she said. The restoration work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012 to be followed by a series of events, activities, exhibitions and school visits. ### Summary: A £6.15m restoration project at Dyffryn Gardens in Cardiff has been awarded a grant. ### Text: A £6.15m restoration project at Dyffryn Gardens

uk-48103017

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48103017

State of the Nation report: Inequality 'entrenched from birth'

The government has been urged to adopt all of the recommendations of the Social Mobility Commission.

Its State of the Nation report covering England, Scotland and Wales, said the situation had remained "virtually stagnant" since 2014. It is calling on ministers to provide additional funding for older teenagers in education and to extend free childcare to more low income families. The government said it would take the recommendations seriously. The findings will come as a setback to Theresa May who promised to tackle the "burning injustice" of social inequality when she entered Downing Street in 2016. However, the following year, all of the commissioners on the Social Mobility Commission - set up in 2010 to monitor and promote social mobility - resigned, saying the government was too focused on Brexit to deal with creating a fairer Britain. 'A catch 22' Law graduate Paris McKenzie, 25, wants to be a solicitor but said there are not enough training contracts in her home city of Nottingham. "I have barely come across any, and I constantly search for them. There are lots in London," she said. But the single mother said she did not "have the means" to move to the capital, where she said she would not have support and would struggle to pick up her son from nursery herself. "It's a catch 22, my opportunities are very limited," she added. Dame Martina Milburn, who has since been appointed as the new chairwoman, said she sensed there was now "a real commitment" from the government. However, she said the biggest concern was not stagnation, but that the problem might actually get worse. "There's still a big shift - if you want to be socially mobile - towards London," she told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. "I think you're three times more likely to move to London if you're from a professional background than if you're from a working class background." Education Secretary Damian Hinds said he welcomed the "thorough" report - the first since the new commissioners were appointed - but stopped short of saying the government would adopt all of its recommendations. The report recommends: The report found those from better-off backgrounds were almost 80% more likely to be in a professional job than their working class peers. It said the proportion of people from professional backgrounds who were in professional jobs was 60% last year. In contrast, only 34% of those from working class backgrounds had professional jobs last year. And both figures had changed only slightly over the past four years. "Being born privileged means you are likely to remain privileged," said Dame Martina, who is also chief executive of the Prince's Trust. "But being born disadvantaged means you may have to overcome a series of barriers to ensure you and your children are not stuck in the same trap." The commission said it welcomed the findings showing that Scotland and Wales were becoming more socially mobile, with a person's socio-economic status less likely to be determined by their parents' socio-economic status than in 2014. It said this was especially encouraging in light of the limited social mobility in Britain as a whole. The Social Mobility Commission said an increasing number of students from low-income families were entering university by the age of 19. That proportion has now reached 26%, compared with 43% of better-off peers. But, five years after graduating, those graduates who had been on free school meals at school were in jobs that earned 11.5% less than other graduates, the report said. It found barriers to getting a top job were there from the start - about a half (52%) of disadvantaged teenagers leave school without basic qualifications and many get stuck in low-paid work. Adult education could help to redress that, said the report, but almost all forms of adult education have been in decline since 2010. There were also longer-term concerns that divisions could worsen as low-paid and low-skilled jobs were more likely to become automated in the future. Professor Diane Reay, from the University of Cambridge told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "The expansion in the labour market is at the bottom - in the low-paid casualised jobs - rather than in the high-paid, more elite jobs. "We need to radically change the hierarchical structure of English society, not just the social class of a few individuals." Paul Gregg, a professor of economic and social policy at the University of Bath, who resigned from the Social Mobility Commission in 2017, told the programme: "It's still the case that Brexit is sucking all the political oxygen in government [from] any kind of social reforms." The education secretary said employment had risen in every UK region under this government; wages were outstripping inflation; the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed; and the proportion of 16 and 17-year-olds in education or apprenticeships was at its highest ever. Easier for the better-off to grab opportunities Career progression and better-paid work is more likely if people move regions - particularly if they go to London, the data shows. Too often provincial towns and cities don't have the employment infrastructure to ensure career progression, notably in professions like law and accountancy. Those from wealthier backgrounds are more likely to be able to make that kind of move, with the resources and support to grab opportunities wherever they may be. Some believe devolving power and prestige to local government and combined authorities is the way to ensure a more even spread of growth and new jobs - and make the country less reliant on London. In England, the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine are initiatives to achieve just that within the wider industrial strategy. But there are concerns that not enough resources are available to achieve significant structural change.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Its State of the Nation report covering England, Scotland and Wales, said the situation had remained "virtually stagnant" since 2014. It is calling on ministers to provide additional funding for older teenagers in education and to extend free childcare to more low income families. The government said it would take the recommendations seriously. The findings will come as a setback to Theresa May who promised to tackle the "burning injustice" of social inequality when she entered Downing Street in 2016. However, the following year, all of the commissioners on the Social Mobility Commission - set up in 2010 to monitor and promote social mobility - resigned, saying the government was too focused on Brexit to deal with creating a fairer Britain. 'A catch 22' Law graduate Paris McKenzie, 25, wants to be a solicitor but said there are not enough training contracts in her home city of Nottingham. "I have barely come across any, and I constantly search for them. There are lots in London," she said. But the single mother said she did not "have the means" to move to the capital, where she said she would not have support and would struggle to pick up her son from nursery herself. "It's a catch 22, my opportunities are very limited," she added. Dame Martina Milburn, who has since been appointed as the new chairwoman, said she sensed there was now "a real commitment" from the government. However, she said the biggest concern was not stagnation, but that the problem might actually get worse. "There's still a big shift - if you want to be socially mobile - towards London," she told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. "I think you're three times more likely to move to London if you're from a professional background than if you're from a working class background." Education Secretary Damian Hinds said he welcomed the "thorough" report - the first since the new commissioners were appointed - but stopped short of saying the government would adopt all of its recommendations. The report recommends: The report found those from better-off backgrounds were almost 80% more likely to be in a professional job than their working class peers. It said the proportion of people from professional backgrounds who were in professional jobs was 60% last year. In contrast, only 34% of those from working class backgrounds had professional jobs last year. And both figures had changed only slightly over the past four years. "Being born privileged means you are likely to remain privileged," said Dame Martina, who is also chief executive of the Prince's Trust. "But being born disadvantaged means you may have to overcome a series of barriers to ensure you and your children are not stuck in the same trap." The commission said it welcomed the findings showing that Scotland and Wales were becoming more socially mobile, with a person's socio-economic status less likely to be determined by their parents' socio-economic status than in 2014. It said this was especially encouraging in light of the limited social mobility in Britain as a whole. The Social Mobility Commission said an increasing number of students from low-income families were entering university by the age of 19. That proportion has now reached 26%, compared with 43% of better-off peers. But, five years after graduating, those graduates who had been on free school meals at school were in jobs that earned 11.5% less than other graduates, the report said. It found barriers to getting a top job were there from the start - about a half (52%) of disadvantaged teenagers leave school without basic qualifications and many get stuck in low-paid work. Adult education could help to redress that, said the report, but almost all forms of adult education have been in decline since 2010. There were also longer-term concerns that divisions could worsen as low-paid and low-skilled jobs were more likely to become automated in the future. Professor Diane Reay, from the University of Cambridge told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "The expansion in the labour market is at the bottom - in the low-paid casualised jobs - rather than in the high-paid, more elite jobs. "We need to radically change the hierarchical structure of English society, not just the social class of a few individuals." Paul Gregg, a professor of economic and social policy at the University of Bath, who resigned from the Social Mobility Commission in 2017, told the programme: "It's still the case that Brexit is sucking all the political oxygen in government [from] any kind of social reforms." The education secretary said employment had risen in every UK region under this government; wages were outstripping inflation; the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed; and the proportion of 16 and 17-year-olds in education or apprenticeships was at its highest ever. Easier for the better-off to grab opportunities Career progression and better-paid work is more likely if people move regions - particularly if they go to London, the data shows. Too often provincial towns and cities don't have the employment infrastructure to ensure career progression, notably in professions like law and accountancy. Those from ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Its State of the Nation report covering England, Scotland and Wales, said the situation had remained "virtually stagnant" since 2014. It is calling on ministers to provide additional funding for older teenagers in education and to extend free childcare to more low income families. The government said it would take the recommendations seriously. The findings will come as a setback to Theresa May who promised to tackle the "burning injustice" of social inequality when she entered Downing Street in 2016. However, the following year, all of the commissioners on the Social Mobility Commission - set up in 2010 to monitor and promote social mobility - resigned, saying the government was too focused on Brexit to deal with creating a fairer Britain. 'A catch 22' Law graduate Paris McKenzie, 25, wants to be a solicitor but said there are not enough training contracts in her home city of Nottingham. "I have barely come across any, and I constantly search for them. There are lots in London," she said. But the single mother said she did not "have the means" to move to the capital, where she said she would not have support and would struggle to pick up her son from nursery herself. "It's a catch 22, my opportunities are very limited," she added. Dame Martina Milburn, who has since been appointed as the new chairwoman, said she sensed there was now "a real commitment" from the government. However, she said the biggest concern was not stagnation, but that the problem might actually get worse. "There's still a big shift - if you want to be socially mobile - towards London," she told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. "I think you're three times more likely to move to London if you're from a professional background than if you're from a working class background." Education Secretary Damian Hinds said he welcomed the "thorough" report - the first since the new commissioners were appointed - but stopped short of saying the government would adopt all of its recommendations. The report recommends: The report found those from better-off backgrounds were almost 80% more likely to be in a professional job than their working class peers. It said the proportion of people from professional backgrounds who were in professional jobs was 60% last year. In contrast, only 34% of those from working class backgrounds had professional jobs last year. And both figures had changed only slightly over the past four years. "Being born privileged means you are likely to remain privileged," said Dame Martina, who is also chief executive of the Prince's Trust. "But being born disadvantaged means you may have to overcome a series of barriers to ensure you and your children are not stuck in the same trap." The commission said it welcomed the findings showing that Scotland and Wales were becoming more socially mobile, with a person's socio-economic status less likely to be determined by their parents' socio-economic status than in 2014. It said this was especially encouraging in light of the limited social mobility in Britain as a whole. The Social Mobility Commission said an increasing number of students from low-income families were entering university by the age of 19. That proportion has now reached 26%, compared with 43% of better-off peers. But, five years after graduating, those graduates who had been on free school meals at school were in jobs that earned 11.5% less than other graduates, the report said. It found barriers to getting a top job were there from the start - about a half (52%) of disadvantaged teenagers leave school without basic qualifications and many get stuck in low-paid work. Adult education could help to redress that, said the report, but almost all forms of adult education have been in decline since 2010. There were also longer-term concerns that divisions could worsen as low-paid and low-skilled jobs were more likely to become automated in the future. Professor Diane Reay, from the University of Cambridge told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "The expansion in the labour market is at the bottom - in the low-paid casualised jobs - rather than in the high-paid, more elite jobs. "We need to radically change the hierarchical structure of English society, not just the social class of a few individuals." Paul Gregg, a professor of economic and social policy at the University of Bath, who resigned from the Social Mobility Commission in 2017, told the programme: "It's still the case that Brexit is sucking all the political oxygen in government [from] any kind of social reforms." The education secretary said employment had risen in every UK region under this government; wages were outstripping inflation; the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed; and the proportion of 16 and 17-year-olds in education or apprenticeships was at its highest ever. Easier for the better-off to grab opportunities Career progression and better-paid work is more likely if people move regions - particularly if they go to London, the data shows. Too often provincial towns and cities don't have the employment infrastructure to ensure career progression, notably in professions like law and accountancy. Those from ### Summary: The government has been urged to adopt all of the recommendations of the Social Mobility Commission. ### Spotlight: The report said the number of people from working class backgrounds who were in professional jobs had increased by

uk-england-essex-26768040

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-26768040

Colchester Hospital faces CQC enforcement action

A hospital in the UK has been put into special measures by the CQC.

The hospital is already at the centre of a police inquiry over alleged cancer waiting time "inaccuracies". In its latest report on the hospital, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it found three patients who had waited more than 100 days for treatment. The hospital said it had "a detailed plan" for improvement. The CQC report, which is based on inspections carried out in August and September last year, said the trust had "failed to identify" the three patients with a longer than 100-day wait and said "these people were placed at significant risk of harm through extensive treatment delays". 'Extremely helpful' The report said three members of staff told inspectors "they felt they had been pressured, bullied or harassed to change the data" to prevent a breach in cancer treatment figures. "We found no evidence for these examples that the appropriate action was taken in respect of the management of bullying and harassment of staff," the CQC report said. Overall, the CQC found action was needed in terms of patient records and the care and welfare of people using its services. Enforcement action has been taken over the assessment and monitoring of service provision. Details of what that action will entail, however, have not been stated but could involve warning notices, fines or prosecution. A hospital spokesman said the original CQC was published last November "and nine days later we were put into special measures by health sector regulator Monitor, on the recommendation of the CQC. "As a consequence of this, we have developed a comprehensive cancer action plan to improve our cancer services, which has been approved by Monitor." The hospital is receiving support from the Royal Marsden which, it says, is proving "extremely helpful".

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The hospital is already at the centre of a police inquiry over alleged cancer waiting time "inaccuracies". In its latest report on the hospital, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it found three patients who had waited more than 100 days for treatment. The hospital said it had "a detailed plan" for improvement. The CQC report, which is based on inspections carried out in August and September last year, said the trust had "failed to identify" the three patients with a longer than 100-day wait and said "these people were placed at significant risk of harm through extensive treatment delays". 'Extremely helpful' The report said three members of staff told inspectors "they felt they had been pressured, bullied or harassed to change the data" to prevent a breach in cancer treatment figures. "We found no evidence for these examples that the appropriate action was taken in respect of the management of bullying and harassment of staff," the CQC report said. Overall, the CQC found action was needed in terms of patient records and the care and welfare of people using its services. Enforcement action has been taken over the assessment and monitoring of service provision. Details of what that action will entail, however, have not been stated but could involve warning notices, fines or prosecution. A hospital spokesman said the original CQC was published last November "and nine days later we were put into special measures by health sector regulator Monitor, on the recommendation of the CQC. "As a consequence of this, we have developed a comprehensive cancer action plan to improve our cancer services, which has been approved by Monitor." The hospital is receiving support from the Royal Marsden which, it says, is proving "extremely helpful". ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The hospital is already at the centre of a police inquiry over alleged cancer waiting time "inaccuracies". In its latest report on the hospital, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it found three patients who had waited more than 100 days for treatment. The hospital said it had "a detailed plan" for improvement. The CQC report, which is based on inspections carried out in August and September last year, said the trust had "failed to identify" the three patients with a longer than 100-day wait and said "these people were placed at significant risk of harm through extensive treatment delays". 'Extremely helpful' The report said three members of staff told inspectors "they felt they had been pressured, bullied or harassed to change the data" to prevent a breach in cancer treatment figures. "We found no evidence for these examples that the appropriate action was taken in respect of the management of bullying and harassment of staff," the CQC report said. Overall, the CQC found action was needed in terms of patient records and the care and welfare of people using its services. Enforcement action has been taken over the assessment and monitoring of service provision. Details of what that action will entail, however, have not been stated but could involve warning notices, fines or prosecution. A hospital spokesman said the original CQC was published last November "and nine days later we were put into special measures by health sector regulator Monitor, on the recommendation of the CQC. "As a consequence of this, we have developed a comprehensive cancer action plan to improve our cancer services, which has been approved by Monitor." The hospital is receiving support from the Royal Marsden which, it says, is proving "extremely helpful". ### Summary: A hospital in the UK has been put into special measures by the CQC. ### Source: The CQC has found action is needed in terms of patient records and the care and welfare of people using its services

business-40271053

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40271053

Thames Water fined £8.55m for failing to stop leaks

Thames Water has been fined £8.55m for failing to meet its leakage reduction target.

Industry regulator Ofwat has fined the company the maximum £8.55m it can levy and said it may take further action. In March, the water firm was ordered to pay a record £20m for polluting the river Thames with 1.9bn litres of raw sewage. Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross said Thames's failure to meet its leakage commitments was "unacceptable". Thames Water said that it had outperformed its target for the past 10 years and reduced leakage by 100m litres a day over the period. "We regrettably missed our 2016/17 leakage reduction target by 47m litres per day, which represents 1.8% of our average daily production," it said. Ofwat said it has opened an investigation to consider whether to take enforcement action in addition to the £8.55m fine. Thames Water said in its annual results on Wednesday that the company had "transformed" its approach to preventing pollution following six offences at six sites in the Thames Valley between 2012 and 2014. The release of untreated effluent made people ill and killed thousands of fish. The water firm said that it caused 315 pollution incidents in 2016 - higher than last year, but below its target of 340 incidents. Full-year pre-tax profit tumbled 86%, from £511.2m to £71.1m, which Thames blamed on a loss associated with complex financial products, increased costs and lower property sales. Chief executive Steve Robertson, who joined in September 2016, said despite the challenges faced during the year, the underlying performance was sound. Thames Water's annual report revealed that he was paid a £54,000 annual bonus despite the gloomy results. The company said the potential bonus was trimmed because of its poor performance. Mr Robertson's total pay was £460,000, including the bonus and a pro-rated £550,000 annual salary after taking on the top job in September last year. Australian group Macquarie sold its remaining 26% stake in Thames Water earlier this year to the Canadian pension fund investor Borealis Infrastructure and the infrastructure investing arm of the Kuwait Investment Authority.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Industry regulator Ofwat has fined the company the maximum £8.55m it can levy and said it may take further action. In March, the water firm was ordered to pay a record £20m for polluting the river Thames with 1.9bn litres of raw sewage. Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross said Thames's failure to meet its leakage commitments was "unacceptable". Thames Water said that it had outperformed its target for the past 10 years and reduced leakage by 100m litres a day over the period. "We regrettably missed our 2016/17 leakage reduction target by 47m litres per day, which represents 1.8% of our average daily production," it said. Ofwat said it has opened an investigation to consider whether to take enforcement action in addition to the £8.55m fine. Thames Water said in its annual results on Wednesday that the company had "transformed" its approach to preventing pollution following six offences at six sites in the Thames Valley between 2012 and 2014. The release of untreated effluent made people ill and killed thousands of fish. The water firm said that it caused 315 pollution incidents in 2016 - higher than last year, but below its target of 340 incidents. Full-year pre-tax profit tumbled 86%, from £511.2m to £71.1m, which Thames blamed on a loss associated with complex financial products, increased costs and lower property sales. Chief executive Steve Robertson, who joined in September 2016, said despite the challenges faced during the year, the underlying performance was sound. Thames Water's annual report revealed that he was paid a £54,000 annual bonus despite the gloomy results. The company said the potential bonus was trimmed because of its poor performance. Mr Robertson's total pay was £460,000, including the bonus and a pro-rated £550,000 annual salary after taking on the top job in September last year. Australian group Macquarie sold its remaining 26% stake in Thames Water earlier this year to the Canadian pension fund investor Borealis Infrastructure and the infrastructure investing arm of the Kuwait Investment Authority. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Industry regulator Ofwat has fined the company the maximum £8.55m it can levy and said it may take further action. In March, the water firm was ordered to pay a record £20m for polluting the river Thames with 1.9bn litres of raw sewage. Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross said Thames's failure to meet its leakage commitments was "unacceptable". Thames Water said that it had outperformed its target for the past 10 years and reduced leakage by 100m litres a day over the period. "We regrettably missed our 2016/17 leakage reduction target by 47m litres per day, which represents 1.8% of our average daily production," it said. Ofwat said it has opened an investigation to consider whether to take enforcement action in addition to the £8.55m fine. Thames Water said in its annual results on Wednesday that the company had "transformed" its approach to preventing pollution following six offences at six sites in the Thames Valley between 2012 and 2014. The release of untreated effluent made people ill and killed thousands of fish. The water firm said that it caused 315 pollution incidents in 2016 - higher than last year, but below its target of 340 incidents. Full-year pre-tax profit tumbled 86%, from £511.2m to £71.1m, which Thames blamed on a loss associated with complex financial products, increased costs and lower property sales. Chief executive Steve Robertson, who joined in September 2016, said despite the challenges faced during the year, the underlying performance was sound. Thames Water's annual report revealed that he was paid a £54,000 annual bonus despite the gloomy results. The company said the potential bonus was trimmed because of its poor performance. Mr Robertson's total pay was £460,000, including the bonus and a pro-rated £550,000 annual salary after taking on the top job in September last year. Australian group Macquarie sold its remaining 26% stake in Thames Water earlier this year to the Canadian pension fund investor Borealis Infrastructure and the infrastructure investing arm of the Kuwait Investment Authority. ### Summary: Thames Water has been fined £8.55m for failing to meet its leakage reduction target. ### Source: Thames Water has been fined £8.55m for failing to meet its leakage

uk-wales-south-west-wales-26018242

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-26018242

Dyfed-Powys Police liaise with CPS over payments to council chiefs

Two councils in Wales have been accused of acting unlawfully in allowing the chief executives of both councils to opt out of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

Carmarthenshire chief executive Mark James and Pembrokeshire's Bryn Parry Jones received cash payments in lieu of employer pension contributions. Both councils defended their pension payment policies as lawful following the Wales Audit Office (WAO) report. However they agreed to look again at how the decisions were made. On Friday, the audit office said that both councils had acted unlawfully in allowing the chief executives to opt out of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to avoid potential tax payments. 'Lawful' More than £27,000 was paid to Mr James under the scheme since 2012 and about £51,011 is expected to have been paid to Mr Jones and another unnamed senior officer by the end of March. Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards wrote to the chief constables of both Dyfed-Powys and South Wales police forces calling for an investigation. In a brief statement on Monday, Dyfed-Powys Police said: "Dyfed-Powys Police can confirm that they are liaising with both the Crown Prosecution Service and an external force in relation to the report issued by the Wales Audit Office last week." After the WAO report was published, Carmarthenshire council said it was pleased the report did not think its pensions policy was unlawful but that its procedural process was flawed. The report said the council had since "rescinded its decision to offer a pay supplement in lieu of pension contributions and announced that no further payments will be made to the chief executive from January 2014". Pembrokeshire council has insisted its pension payment policy was lawful.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Carmarthenshire chief executive Mark James and Pembrokeshire's Bryn Parry Jones received cash payments in lieu of employer pension contributions. Both councils defended their pension payment policies as lawful following the Wales Audit Office (WAO) report. However they agreed to look again at how the decisions were made. On Friday, the audit office said that both councils had acted unlawfully in allowing the chief executives to opt out of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to avoid potential tax payments. 'Lawful' More than £27,000 was paid to Mr James under the scheme since 2012 and about £51,011 is expected to have been paid to Mr Jones and another unnamed senior officer by the end of March. Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards wrote to the chief constables of both Dyfed-Powys and South Wales police forces calling for an investigation. In a brief statement on Monday, Dyfed-Powys Police said: "Dyfed-Powys Police can confirm that they are liaising with both the Crown Prosecution Service and an external force in relation to the report issued by the Wales Audit Office last week." After the WAO report was published, Carmarthenshire council said it was pleased the report did not think its pensions policy was unlawful but that its procedural process was flawed. The report said the council had since "rescinded its decision to offer a pay supplement in lieu of pension contributions and announced that no further payments will be made to the chief executive from January 2014". Pembrokeshire council has insisted its pension payment policy was lawful. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Carmarthenshire chief executive Mark James and Pembrokeshire's Bryn Parry Jones received cash payments in lieu of employer pension contributions. Both councils defended their pension payment policies as lawful following the Wales Audit Office (WAO) report. However they agreed to look again at how the decisions were made. On Friday, the audit office said that both councils had acted unlawfully in allowing the chief executives to opt out of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to avoid potential tax payments. 'Lawful' More than £27,000 was paid to Mr James under the scheme since 2012 and about £51,011 is expected to have been paid to Mr Jones and another unnamed senior officer by the end of March. Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards wrote to the chief constables of both Dyfed-Powys and South Wales police forces calling for an investigation. In a brief statement on Monday, Dyfed-Powys Police said: "Dyfed-Powys Police can confirm that they are liaising with both the Crown Prosecution Service and an external force in relation to the report issued by the Wales Audit Office last week." After the WAO report was published, Carmarthenshire council said it was pleased the report did not think its pensions policy was unlawful but that its procedural process was flawed. The report said the council had since "rescinded its decision to offer a pay supplement in lieu of pension contributions and announced that no further payments will be made to the chief executive from January 2014". Pembrokeshire council has insisted its pension payment policy was lawful. ### Summary: Two councils in Wales have been accused of acting unlawfully in allowing the chief executives of both councils to opt out of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). ### Text: Plaid

uk-england-gloucestershire-40443690

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-40443690

Russell Crowe tweets Russell Crow

A rook has taken over a home in Hollywood.

Russell Crow was rescued from the road by Helen Motteram and now lives in her home as one of the family. When the Gladiator star saw their story online, he took to Twitter to say how "cool" it was and offer "some new songs" for the bird. He tweeted: "Haha cool, what a nice lady Helen is to look after the poor blighter." With crooked feet and unable to fly, the bird was at first mistaken for a crow and named in honour of the actor. Since then, the cheeky rook has taken over Helen's home - sleeping in her bedroom, stealing her phone chargers and hiding her jewellery. But his antics, and jealousy of Helen's husband, have also made him a minor celebrity - with his fame now reaching the Hollywood star himself. Helen said she was "amazed" when she found out Russell Crowe was a fan. "I tweeted Russell about a month ago saying Russell [the rook] would love to hear from him - but I didn't hear back," she said. "I love his films and we named Russell after him so I've going to tweet him back to say he would love to meet him in person or get an autograph." The bird, she said, can "print with his feet" and "hold a pen" so if the actor would like an autograph in exchange, it could be arranged.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Russell Crow was rescued from the road by Helen Motteram and now lives in her home as one of the family. When the Gladiator star saw their story online, he took to Twitter to say how "cool" it was and offer "some new songs" for the bird. He tweeted: "Haha cool, what a nice lady Helen is to look after the poor blighter." With crooked feet and unable to fly, the bird was at first mistaken for a crow and named in honour of the actor. Since then, the cheeky rook has taken over Helen's home - sleeping in her bedroom, stealing her phone chargers and hiding her jewellery. But his antics, and jealousy of Helen's husband, have also made him a minor celebrity - with his fame now reaching the Hollywood star himself. Helen said she was "amazed" when she found out Russell Crowe was a fan. "I tweeted Russell about a month ago saying Russell [the rook] would love to hear from him - but I didn't hear back," she said. "I love his films and we named Russell after him so I've going to tweet him back to say he would love to meet him in person or get an autograph." The bird, she said, can "print with his feet" and "hold a pen" so if the actor would like an autograph in exchange, it could be arranged. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Russell Crow was rescued from the road by Helen Motteram and now lives in her home as one of the family. When the Gladiator star saw their story online, he took to Twitter to say how "cool" it was and offer "some new songs" for the bird. He tweeted: "Haha cool, what a nice lady Helen is to look after the poor blighter." With crooked feet and unable to fly, the bird was at first mistaken for a crow and named in honour of the actor. Since then, the cheeky rook has taken over Helen's home - sleeping in her bedroom, stealing her phone chargers and hiding her jewellery. But his antics, and jealousy of Helen's husband, have also made him a minor celebrity - with his fame now reaching the Hollywood star himself. Helen said she was "amazed" when she found out Russell Crowe was a fan. "I tweeted Russell about a month ago saying Russell [the rook] would love to hear from him - but I didn't hear back," she said. "I love his films and we named Russell after him so I've going to tweet him back to say he would love to meet him in person or get an autograph." The bird, she said, can "print with his feet" and "hold a pen" so if the actor would like an autograph in exchange, it could be arranged. ### Summary: A rook has taken over a home in Hollywood. ### Text: A rook has taken over a home in Hollywood. ### Summary: A rook has taken over a home in Hollywood.

business-56526900

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56526900

Liberty Steel: 'If we lose the plant it will decimate Rotherham'

A steelworker in Rotherham has written to the government to ask for a £170m bailout for his steel businesses.

By Oliver SmithBusiness reporter, BBC News Chris Williamson, a Rotherham steel worker, is contemplating the potential closure of the plant where he's worked for 26 years, and the impact it would have on the community. His dad worked there for four decades, and his brother works in the steel supply chain. Steel is very much a family business. "Rotherham is a steel town, its recognised as a steel town. It's fundamental to Rotherham's image. It's vital. For every one of our jobs, there's another two or three in the supply chain," says Chris, who's also a local rep for the steel union, Community. "If we go by the wayside, who's going to pay our wages here? We get a decent wage but we're in a dangerous industry. Where else are we going to get a job like that? It would just be a domino effect of people suffering. In the end, you'll end up with a town full of shopkeepers and no one to buy anything, because they haven't got the income." Over the decades steel workers like Chris have seen a fair amount of upheaval at the Rotherham plant, and a number of different owners too. First Corus, then Tata, and now Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty Steel, which is battling to secure finance for Rotherham and 11 other sites across the UK, employing 5,000 people. Tonight, it's emerged that Mr Gupta has written to the government, requesting a £170m bailout for his steel businesses. The government won't comment on the request, but says it's monitoring the situation closely. The Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told MPs on Thursday that the government is looking at all options to make sure Liberty Steel does not collapse. Much of the work at Rotherham has ground to a halt, with Chris and many of his colleagues placed on furlough. He's due back at work on 14 April, but it's all very uncertain. 'Nervousness and frustration' "There's nervousness, but also a bit of frustration," he says. "We were aspiring to be a super plant, making a million tons of steel a year. We've got a full order book, and yet here we are, furloughed." Despite his current financial woes, Sanjeev Gupta still has a lot of support from steelworkers across the country, including Chris. "Everybody's a bit bemused by his business models. But when Sanjeev first arrived he was very well received because Tata declared they didn't want us, so we were basically on the scrap heap. Without Sanjeev, we wouldn't be here, so we've got to be thankful for that." He adds: "Just because he's hitting a bit of trouble, we can't just bin him. We've got to take him at his word at the moment, and hopefully we can ride this out." Chris isn't the only one scratching his head about Liberty's financial situation. It's a complicated picture. Finance company Greensill Capital was the main lender to Mr Gupta's sprawling steel empire. It helped speed up cash flow for businesses by paying their invoices immediately, and recovering the money from customers later, for a fee. But it went bust at the beginning of the month, leaving Liberty starved of cash. 'The beating heart of the community' You can't miss the steel plant in Stocksbridge, Rotherham's sister site 12 miles down the road, just outside Sheffield. The building, which has been home to a steelworks since the mid 19th Century, sits at the bottom of the valley, and its dominance goes way beyond its physical presence at the centre of the town. "It's the beating heart of the community," says Tracey Martin, who's owned Samuel's Cafe across the road from the site for the past 20 years. Stocksbridge makes specialist steel products for the aviation industry, which has itself been laid low by the pandemic. Like the Rotherham site, many staff are currently furloughed and it's already affecting local businesses such as Tracey's. At least 50% of her customers are steel workers. "We've seen a big difference to our business already with the workers on furlough," says Tracey. "If the steelworks were to go, it would affect every single business in the town, but it goes far beyond the valley with the supply chain that people don't realise exists. It affects a lot of livelihoods." She's hopeful that the site will be rescued. "Ever since I've owned my cafe, there have been issues with the steel works but luckily, there has always been a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel which keeps them going. We're just hoping that the government or someone can step in temporarily until a new buyer can be found." Tracey says a lot of businesses were already struggling because of Covid, and the "news about the works has topped it off". At its peak in the 1970s, the UK steel industry employed hundreds of thousands of people, a significant number of them in South Yorkshire. One of Tracey's regulars, John, used to work at the plant. He says the steel industry in the area is a shadow of its former self. "When I was an apprentice, there were 9,500 people working in steel around this area. Now it's only around 650. "The products they make here are so highly specialised, for the oil industry and aviation. If it was to go, it would be a huge loss to the country, not just this area," says John. UK steel needs help to compete Many steel analysts would agree. Chris McDonald is a former executive at Tata Steel, and now runs the Materials Processing Institute on Teesside. He says that despite the recent downturn in demand for steel due to the pandemic, the market is now growing again, particularly for the type of specialist steel made at sites such as Rotherham and Stocksbridge. "The fundamentals of the business are still right, so Liberty might just need some support to be able to ride out this dip in the market," says Chris. "Then as that market comes back up we can expect their business to come back up as well." But he says the UK steel industry is falling behind global rivals, particularly in Europe, and that it needs to be put on a sustainable footing with ongoing support. "The government could buy more UK produced steel for infrastructure projects, the way the French government do. Or they could support more equal energy prices, the way the German government do. Either or both of these things could help the UK industry to compete on level terms." Back in Rotherham, despite the current owner's problems, Chris Williamson is also optimistic that the town can continue to make steel for many years to come. "We can spend the next 30 years at least making steel here. We just need a bit of faith. The last 12 years have been like a rollercoaster. But I do think we have got a future." He adds: "Whether it's with Sanjeev, I don't know."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Oliver SmithBusiness reporter, BBC News Chris Williamson, a Rotherham steel worker, is contemplating the potential closure of the plant where he's worked for 26 years, and the impact it would have on the community. His dad worked there for four decades, and his brother works in the steel supply chain. Steel is very much a family business. "Rotherham is a steel town, its recognised as a steel town. It's fundamental to Rotherham's image. It's vital. For every one of our jobs, there's another two or three in the supply chain," says Chris, who's also a local rep for the steel union, Community. "If we go by the wayside, who's going to pay our wages here? We get a decent wage but we're in a dangerous industry. Where else are we going to get a job like that? It would just be a domino effect of people suffering. In the end, you'll end up with a town full of shopkeepers and no one to buy anything, because they haven't got the income." Over the decades steel workers like Chris have seen a fair amount of upheaval at the Rotherham plant, and a number of different owners too. First Corus, then Tata, and now Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty Steel, which is battling to secure finance for Rotherham and 11 other sites across the UK, employing 5,000 people. Tonight, it's emerged that Mr Gupta has written to the government, requesting a £170m bailout for his steel businesses. The government won't comment on the request, but says it's monitoring the situation closely. The Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told MPs on Thursday that the government is looking at all options to make sure Liberty Steel does not collapse. Much of the work at Rotherham has ground to a halt, with Chris and many of his colleagues placed on furlough. He's due back at work on 14 April, but it's all very uncertain. 'Nervousness and frustration' "There's nervousness, but also a bit of frustration," he says. "We were aspiring to be a super plant, making a million tons of steel a year. We've got a full order book, and yet here we are, furloughed." Despite his current financial woes, Sanjeev Gupta still has a lot of support from steelworkers across the country, including Chris. "Everybody's a bit bemused by his business models. But when Sanjeev first arrived he was very well received because Tata declared they didn't want us, so we were basically on the scrap heap. Without Sanjeev, we wouldn't be here, so we've got to be thankful for that." He adds: "Just because he's hitting a bit of trouble, we can't just bin him. We've got to take him at his word at the moment, and hopefully we can ride this out." Chris isn't the only one scratching his head about Liberty's financial situation. It's a complicated picture. Finance company Greensill Capital was the main lender to Mr Gupta's sprawling steel empire. It helped speed up cash flow for businesses by paying their invoices immediately, and recovering the money from customers later, for a fee. But it went bust at the beginning of the month, leaving Liberty starved of cash. 'The beating heart of the community' You can't miss the steel plant in Stocksbridge, Rotherham's sister site 12 miles down the road, just outside Sheffield. The building, which has been home to a steelworks since the mid 19th Century, sits at the bottom of the valley, and its dominance goes way beyond its physical presence at the centre of the town. "It's the beating heart of the community," says Tracey Martin, who's owned Samuel's Cafe across the road from the site for the past 20 years. Stocksbridge makes specialist steel products for the aviation industry, which has itself been laid low by the pandemic. Like the Rotherham site, many staff are currently furloughed and it's already affecting local businesses such as Tracey's. At least 50% of her customers are steel workers. "We've seen a big difference to our business already with the workers on furlough," says Tracey. "If the steelworks were to go, it would affect every single business in the town, but it goes far beyond the valley with the supply chain that people don't realise exists. It affects a lot of livelihoods." She's hopeful that the site will be rescued. "Ever since I've owned my cafe, there have been issues with the steel works but luckily, there has always been a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel which keeps them going. We're just hoping that the government or someone can step in temporarily until a new buyer can be found." Tracey says a lot of businesses were already struggling because of Covid, and the "news about the works ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Oliver SmithBusiness reporter, BBC News Chris Williamson, a Rotherham steel worker, is contemplating the potential closure of the plant where he's worked for 26 years, and the impact it would have on the community. His dad worked there for four decades, and his brother works in the steel supply chain. Steel is very much a family business. "Rotherham is a steel town, its recognised as a steel town. It's fundamental to Rotherham's image. It's vital. For every one of our jobs, there's another two or three in the supply chain," says Chris, who's also a local rep for the steel union, Community. "If we go by the wayside, who's going to pay our wages here? We get a decent wage but we're in a dangerous industry. Where else are we going to get a job like that? It would just be a domino effect of people suffering. In the end, you'll end up with a town full of shopkeepers and no one to buy anything, because they haven't got the income." Over the decades steel workers like Chris have seen a fair amount of upheaval at the Rotherham plant, and a number of different owners too. First Corus, then Tata, and now Sanjeev Gupta's Liberty Steel, which is battling to secure finance for Rotherham and 11 other sites across the UK, employing 5,000 people. Tonight, it's emerged that Mr Gupta has written to the government, requesting a £170m bailout for his steel businesses. The government won't comment on the request, but says it's monitoring the situation closely. The Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told MPs on Thursday that the government is looking at all options to make sure Liberty Steel does not collapse. Much of the work at Rotherham has ground to a halt, with Chris and many of his colleagues placed on furlough. He's due back at work on 14 April, but it's all very uncertain. 'Nervousness and frustration' "There's nervousness, but also a bit of frustration," he says. "We were aspiring to be a super plant, making a million tons of steel a year. We've got a full order book, and yet here we are, furloughed." Despite his current financial woes, Sanjeev Gupta still has a lot of support from steelworkers across the country, including Chris. "Everybody's a bit bemused by his business models. But when Sanjeev first arrived he was very well received because Tata declared they didn't want us, so we were basically on the scrap heap. Without Sanjeev, we wouldn't be here, so we've got to be thankful for that." He adds: "Just because he's hitting a bit of trouble, we can't just bin him. We've got to take him at his word at the moment, and hopefully we can ride this out." Chris isn't the only one scratching his head about Liberty's financial situation. It's a complicated picture. Finance company Greensill Capital was the main lender to Mr Gupta's sprawling steel empire. It helped speed up cash flow for businesses by paying their invoices immediately, and recovering the money from customers later, for a fee. But it went bust at the beginning of the month, leaving Liberty starved of cash. 'The beating heart of the community' You can't miss the steel plant in Stocksbridge, Rotherham's sister site 12 miles down the road, just outside Sheffield. The building, which has been home to a steelworks since the mid 19th Century, sits at the bottom of the valley, and its dominance goes way beyond its physical presence at the centre of the town. "It's the beating heart of the community," says Tracey Martin, who's owned Samuel's Cafe across the road from the site for the past 20 years. Stocksbridge makes specialist steel products for the aviation industry, which has itself been laid low by the pandemic. Like the Rotherham site, many staff are currently furloughed and it's already affecting local businesses such as Tracey's. At least 50% of her customers are steel workers. "We've seen a big difference to our business already with the workers on furlough," says Tracey. "If the steelworks were to go, it would affect every single business in the town, but it goes far beyond the valley with the supply chain that people don't realise exists. It affects a lot of livelihoods." She's hopeful that the site will be rescued. "Ever since I've owned my cafe, there have been issues with the steel works but luckily, there has always been a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel which keeps them going. We're just hoping that the government or someone can step in temporarily until a new buyer can be found." Tracey says a lot of businesses were already struggling because of Covid, and the "news about the works ### Summary: A steelworker in Rotherham has written to the government to ask for a £170m bailout for his steel businesses. ### Spotlight: Sanjeev Gupta has written to the government to

uk-england-essex-42500791

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-42500791

Stansted Airport: Hundreds of passengers stranded overnight

A runway at Stansted Airport has been closed due to snow and ice.

The runway was shut twice on Wednesday to clear snow and ice, leading to almost 60 flights being cancelled. Some passengers took to social media to describe the problems, with some saying it was "chaos". About 100 passengers remained on Thursday morning, but all have now been dealt with by their airline. In a statement, the airport said things are now "back to normal". "Flights are operating on schedule and any passengers who were unable to return home after their flight was cancelled yesterday have been rebooked on to other flights," a spokesman added. Dave Clayton, whose flight from Stansted to Cork was delayed by four and a half hours, said they were not given any information. "There were these flights getting cancelled, people coming back in, people that were supposed to go all over Europe, but the thing with it was that we were given no information," he said. "We were all just stuck there in the departure lounge, hundreds of people all crammed in and having absolutely no information whatsoever, and no-one from any of the airlines there either." On Wednesday night, bosses at Stansted said beds and blankets were handed out to those who were unable to return home and free food and drink was also provided. Many passengers posted online, with some describing the situation as "chaos". Ryanair said it regretted being forced to cancel a "small number of flights" due to "snow-related runway closures". "All affected customers were contacted by email and SMS text message and advised of their rebooking options," it said in a statement. "We sincerely apologise to all customers affected by these weather cancellations and disruptions, which are entirely beyond our control." It said flights were now operating as scheduled with some "minor knock-on delays". EasyJet, which had to cancel eight flights from Stansted, said all passengers due to travel on these flights were given the option of transferring their flight free of charge or getting a refund. "We are continuing to review the situation at the airport and would like to reassure passengers that we are doing everything possible to minimise the disruption," a spokesman said. It has advised passengers due to fly from Stansted on Thursday to check the status of their flights on its website. A yellow weather warning for ice remains in place for most of the UK.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The runway was shut twice on Wednesday to clear snow and ice, leading to almost 60 flights being cancelled. Some passengers took to social media to describe the problems, with some saying it was "chaos". About 100 passengers remained on Thursday morning, but all have now been dealt with by their airline. In a statement, the airport said things are now "back to normal". "Flights are operating on schedule and any passengers who were unable to return home after their flight was cancelled yesterday have been rebooked on to other flights," a spokesman added. Dave Clayton, whose flight from Stansted to Cork was delayed by four and a half hours, said they were not given any information. "There were these flights getting cancelled, people coming back in, people that were supposed to go all over Europe, but the thing with it was that we were given no information," he said. "We were all just stuck there in the departure lounge, hundreds of people all crammed in and having absolutely no information whatsoever, and no-one from any of the airlines there either." On Wednesday night, bosses at Stansted said beds and blankets were handed out to those who were unable to return home and free food and drink was also provided. Many passengers posted online, with some describing the situation as "chaos". Ryanair said it regretted being forced to cancel a "small number of flights" due to "snow-related runway closures". "All affected customers were contacted by email and SMS text message and advised of their rebooking options," it said in a statement. "We sincerely apologise to all customers affected by these weather cancellations and disruptions, which are entirely beyond our control." It said flights were now operating as scheduled with some "minor knock-on delays". EasyJet, which had to cancel eight flights from Stansted, said all passengers due to travel on these flights were given the option of transferring their flight free of charge or getting a refund. "We are continuing to review the situation at the airport and would like to reassure passengers that we are doing everything possible to minimise the disruption," a spokesman said. It has advised passengers due to fly from Stansted on Thursday to check the status of their flights on its website. A yellow weather warning for ice remains in place for most of the UK. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The runway was shut twice on Wednesday to clear snow and ice, leading to almost 60 flights being cancelled. Some passengers took to social media to describe the problems, with some saying it was "chaos". About 100 passengers remained on Thursday morning, but all have now been dealt with by their airline. In a statement, the airport said things are now "back to normal". "Flights are operating on schedule and any passengers who were unable to return home after their flight was cancelled yesterday have been rebooked on to other flights," a spokesman added. Dave Clayton, whose flight from Stansted to Cork was delayed by four and a half hours, said they were not given any information. "There were these flights getting cancelled, people coming back in, people that were supposed to go all over Europe, but the thing with it was that we were given no information," he said. "We were all just stuck there in the departure lounge, hundreds of people all crammed in and having absolutely no information whatsoever, and no-one from any of the airlines there either." On Wednesday night, bosses at Stansted said beds and blankets were handed out to those who were unable to return home and free food and drink was also provided. Many passengers posted online, with some describing the situation as "chaos". Ryanair said it regretted being forced to cancel a "small number of flights" due to "snow-related runway closures". "All affected customers were contacted by email and SMS text message and advised of their rebooking options," it said in a statement. "We sincerely apologise to all customers affected by these weather cancellations and disruptions, which are entirely beyond our control." It said flights were now operating as scheduled with some "minor knock-on delays". EasyJet, which had to cancel eight flights from Stansted, said all passengers due to travel on these flights were given the option of transferring their flight free of charge or getting a refund. "We are continuing to review the situation at the airport and would like to reassure passengers that we are doing everything possible to minimise the disruption," a spokesman said. It has advised passengers due to fly from Stansted on Thursday to check the status of their flights on its website. A yellow weather warning for ice remains in place for most of the UK. ### Summary: A runway at Stansted Airport has been closed due to snow and ice. ### Text: A runway at Stansted Airport has been closed due to snow and ice. ### Summary: A runway

business-37938896

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-37938896

Inflation measure to be changed to include home owning costs

The Bank of England's Consumer Price Index (CPI) has been dropped as a national statistic.

By Simon GompertzPersonal finance correspondent, BBC News The measure, called CPIH, adds changes to the cost of owning a home to other price changes tracked in the Consumer Price Index or CPI. The Office for National Statistics said it would become the preferred measure of inflation from March, 2017. The change is likely to show inflation is higher than currently indicated. However, the Treasury has no plans currently to start using CPIH to uprate benefits, tax thresholds or other payments. Although the Consumer Price Index does include the cost of renting and running a home, it leaves out special costs faced by property owners. CPIH includes what are called the "costs of housing services associated with owning, maintaining and living in one's own home". Rather than tracking the cost of a mortgage, statisticians estimate what it would cost homeowners to rent the property they live in. There is also an element for what we pay in Council Tax. Interest rates The result is usually a higher figure for overall inflation, average annual price rises are 1.2% in the most recent calculation compared with 1% CPI. In the long run, changing the preferred measure could have important implications for incomes and the economy. For one thing, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee sets its base interest rate with reference to a 2% CPI target. So a different inflation measure which was consistently higher could lead to interest rates being kept higher as well. But any change to the Bank's methods seems a long way off, because the CPI target is enshrined in legislation. CPI is used to uprate benefits, those which aren't held back by the current benefits freeze; it is a reference point for lifting tax thresholds; and it is part of the formula for increasing the state pension each year. However, a Treasury spokesperson told BBC News that the government had no plans to change the way upratings were done despite the more exalted status being given to CPIH. The measure has had its ups and downs recently. It was dropped as a national statistic when questions arose over the the reliability of the housing data being used. But improvements have been made and earlier this year the National Statistician, John Pullinger, called for CPIH to become the "focal point" of information provided on inflation.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Simon GompertzPersonal finance correspondent, BBC News The measure, called CPIH, adds changes to the cost of owning a home to other price changes tracked in the Consumer Price Index or CPI. The Office for National Statistics said it would become the preferred measure of inflation from March, 2017. The change is likely to show inflation is higher than currently indicated. However, the Treasury has no plans currently to start using CPIH to uprate benefits, tax thresholds or other payments. Although the Consumer Price Index does include the cost of renting and running a home, it leaves out special costs faced by property owners. CPIH includes what are called the "costs of housing services associated with owning, maintaining and living in one's own home". Rather than tracking the cost of a mortgage, statisticians estimate what it would cost homeowners to rent the property they live in. There is also an element for what we pay in Council Tax. Interest rates The result is usually a higher figure for overall inflation, average annual price rises are 1.2% in the most recent calculation compared with 1% CPI. In the long run, changing the preferred measure could have important implications for incomes and the economy. For one thing, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee sets its base interest rate with reference to a 2% CPI target. So a different inflation measure which was consistently higher could lead to interest rates being kept higher as well. But any change to the Bank's methods seems a long way off, because the CPI target is enshrined in legislation. CPI is used to uprate benefits, those which aren't held back by the current benefits freeze; it is a reference point for lifting tax thresholds; and it is part of the formula for increasing the state pension each year. However, a Treasury spokesperson told BBC News that the government had no plans to change the way upratings were done despite the more exalted status being given to CPIH. The measure has had its ups and downs recently. It was dropped as a national statistic when questions arose over the the reliability of the housing data being used. But improvements have been made and earlier this year the National Statistician, John Pullinger, called for CPIH to become the "focal point" of information provided on inflation. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Simon GompertzPersonal finance correspondent, BBC News The measure, called CPIH, adds changes to the cost of owning a home to other price changes tracked in the Consumer Price Index or CPI. The Office for National Statistics said it would become the preferred measure of inflation from March, 2017. The change is likely to show inflation is higher than currently indicated. However, the Treasury has no plans currently to start using CPIH to uprate benefits, tax thresholds or other payments. Although the Consumer Price Index does include the cost of renting and running a home, it leaves out special costs faced by property owners. CPIH includes what are called the "costs of housing services associated with owning, maintaining and living in one's own home". Rather than tracking the cost of a mortgage, statisticians estimate what it would cost homeowners to rent the property they live in. There is also an element for what we pay in Council Tax. Interest rates The result is usually a higher figure for overall inflation, average annual price rises are 1.2% in the most recent calculation compared with 1% CPI. In the long run, changing the preferred measure could have important implications for incomes and the economy. For one thing, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee sets its base interest rate with reference to a 2% CPI target. So a different inflation measure which was consistently higher could lead to interest rates being kept higher as well. But any change to the Bank's methods seems a long way off, because the CPI target is enshrined in legislation. CPI is used to uprate benefits, those which aren't held back by the current benefits freeze; it is a reference point for lifting tax thresholds; and it is part of the formula for increasing the state pension each year. However, a Treasury spokesperson told BBC News that the government had no plans to change the way upratings were done despite the more exalted status being given to CPIH. The measure has had its ups and downs recently. It was dropped as a national statistic when questions arose over the the reliability of the housing data being used. But improvements have been made and earlier this year the National Statistician, John Pullinger, called for CPIH to become the "focal point" of information provided on inflation. ### Summary: The Bank of England's Consumer Price Index (CPI) has been dropped as a national statistic. ### Source: The Office for National Statistics has said it will become the preferred measure of inflation from March,

uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-30244306

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-30244306

Aberdeen bypass expected ahead of schedule

A £745m bypass of Aberdeen has been given the green light.

The £745m project also includes turning the Balmedie to Tipperty stretch of the A90 a dual carriageway. Work on the bypass was expected to be completed by the spring of 2018. The completion date has now been brought forward to the winter of 2017. Keith Brown, secretary for infrastructure, investment and cities, hailed the news. The 28-mile Aberdeen bypass was given the green light by Scottish ministers in 2009. It was delayed by legal action. 'Tangible benefits' Mr Brown said: "This is unprecedented. "Since overcoming all the legal challenges back in October 2012, we have done all we can to accelerate the procurement and construction. "Following the shortest procurement processes for a contract of this size and complexity - it has been just 23 months since the contract was put to the market - we have now been able to also bring the completion date forward to winter 2017. "Our investment in this project is expected to bring in an additional £6bn to the north east economy and create around 14,000 jobs over the next 30 years, including more than 1,000 jobs for the construction industry. "There will also be tangible benefits for the business community and road users with better journey time reliability and reduced congestion."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The £745m project also includes turning the Balmedie to Tipperty stretch of the A90 a dual carriageway. Work on the bypass was expected to be completed by the spring of 2018. The completion date has now been brought forward to the winter of 2017. Keith Brown, secretary for infrastructure, investment and cities, hailed the news. The 28-mile Aberdeen bypass was given the green light by Scottish ministers in 2009. It was delayed by legal action. 'Tangible benefits' Mr Brown said: "This is unprecedented. "Since overcoming all the legal challenges back in October 2012, we have done all we can to accelerate the procurement and construction. "Following the shortest procurement processes for a contract of this size and complexity - it has been just 23 months since the contract was put to the market - we have now been able to also bring the completion date forward to winter 2017. "Our investment in this project is expected to bring in an additional £6bn to the north east economy and create around 14,000 jobs over the next 30 years, including more than 1,000 jobs for the construction industry. "There will also be tangible benefits for the business community and road users with better journey time reliability and reduced congestion." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The £745m project also includes turning the Balmedie to Tipperty stretch of the A90 a dual carriageway. Work on the bypass was expected to be completed by the spring of 2018. The completion date has now been brought forward to the winter of 2017. Keith Brown, secretary for infrastructure, investment and cities, hailed the news. The 28-mile Aberdeen bypass was given the green light by Scottish ministers in 2009. It was delayed by legal action. 'Tangible benefits' Mr Brown said: "This is unprecedented. "Since overcoming all the legal challenges back in October 2012, we have done all we can to accelerate the procurement and construction. "Following the shortest procurement processes for a contract of this size and complexity - it has been just 23 months since the contract was put to the market - we have now been able to also bring the completion date forward to winter 2017. "Our investment in this project is expected to bring in an additional £6bn to the north east economy and create around 14,000 jobs over the next 30 years, including more than 1,000 jobs for the construction industry. "There will also be tangible benefits for the business community and road users with better journey time reliability and reduced congestion." ### Summary: A £745m bypass of Aberdeen has been given the green light. ### Source: By Alison JohnstoneBBC Scotland News The bypass will be built on the A90, the main road

world-europe-jersey-10747738

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-jersey-10747738

Jersey's interim hospital chief's salary defended

A former hospital chief executive has been appointed to lead a review into the death of a woman who died after a routine operation.

Andrew McLaughlin, who was hired in May on a six-month contract, is being paid £4,600 a week. Deputy Anne Pryke said Mr McLaughlin was an excellent choice for the specialist role. The total cost to taxpayers of employing him, including agency fees, is more than £5,000 per week. Mr McLaughlin pays for his own accommodation and travel. Structure 'strengthened' Management changes were called for earlier this year in a report into the death of 49-year-old Elizabeth Rourke following a routine operation in October 2006. The independent report said systems at the General Hospital were a contributory factor in Mrs Rourke's death. A great deal of consideration was given to the question of taking on an interim MD, the minister said and the decision taken it would be the only quick way for the hospital to deliver change rapidly. She said Mr McLaughlin's appointment had strengthened the current management structure at the hospital.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Andrew McLaughlin, who was hired in May on a six-month contract, is being paid £4,600 a week. Deputy Anne Pryke said Mr McLaughlin was an excellent choice for the specialist role. The total cost to taxpayers of employing him, including agency fees, is more than £5,000 per week. Mr McLaughlin pays for his own accommodation and travel. Structure'strengthened' Management changes were called for earlier this year in a report into the death of 49-year-old Elizabeth Rourke following a routine operation in October 2006. The independent report said systems at the General Hospital were a contributory factor in Mrs Rourke's death. A great deal of consideration was given to the question of taking on an interim MD, the minister said and the decision taken it would be the only quick way for the hospital to deliver change rapidly. She said Mr McLaughlin's appointment had strengthened the current management structure at the hospital. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Andrew McLaughlin, who was hired in May on a six-month contract, is being paid £4,600 a week. Deputy Anne Pryke said Mr McLaughlin was an excellent choice for the specialist role. The total cost to taxpayers of employing him, including agency fees, is more than £5,000 per week. Mr McLaughlin pays for his own accommodation and travel. Structure'strengthened' Management changes were called for earlier this year in a report into the death of 49-year-old Elizabeth Rourke following a routine operation in October 2006. The independent report said systems at the General Hospital were a contributory factor in Mrs Rourke's death. A great deal of consideration was given to the question of taking on an interim MD, the minister said and the decision taken it would be the only quick way for the hospital to deliver change rapidly. She said Mr McLaughlin's appointment had strengthened the current management structure at the hospital. ### Summary: A former hospital chief executive has been appointed to lead a review into the death of a woman who died after a routine operation. ### Source: The minister for health has said a former hospital chief executive has been appointed to lead a review

uk-england-25774554

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-25774554

Hastings beach nude stunt aimed at Spencer Tunick

A group of people have held a photoshoot at Hastings' Jerwood Gallery.

The exhibitionists hope to convince American body artist Spencer Tunick to stage one of his mass nude photoshoots at the East Sussex seaside resort. Hastings, Folkestone and Brighton are fighting for the chance to host the event as part of an arts festival. Participants held placards urging the public to "Vote Hastings". Hannah Corke, 25, said: "I thought it was really funny." "It hasn't been done before. I gave birth five months ago and it's quite liberating to get naked in front of lots of people and get rid of that post-pregnancy fear." 'Lot of camaraderie' Sam Wickham, 43, said: "I gave birth six months ago and I also thought it would be liberating. "My body is probably not in the best shape, but I'm happy to show it off. There was a lot of camaraderie." Hastings' Jerwood Gallery is up against the Georges House Gallery, Folkestone, and Brighton's Royal Pavilion and Museums to host a photoshoot by Tunick as part of Culture24's Connect 10 Museums at Night Festival weekend in May. Gallery director Liz Gilmore said: "Hastings is so celebrated for its special festivals, including Jack in the Green, Pirate's Day and Hastings bonfire. "The culturally-rich and quirky traditions of Hastings and actual site location would make a wonderfully fitting context for this one-off event."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The exhibitionists hope to convince American body artist Spencer Tunick to stage one of his mass nude photoshoots at the East Sussex seaside resort. Hastings, Folkestone and Brighton are fighting for the chance to host the event as part of an arts festival. Participants held placards urging the public to "Vote Hastings". Hannah Corke, 25, said: "I thought it was really funny." "It hasn't been done before. I gave birth five months ago and it's quite liberating to get naked in front of lots of people and get rid of that post-pregnancy fear." 'Lot of camaraderie' Sam Wickham, 43, said: "I gave birth six months ago and I also thought it would be liberating. "My body is probably not in the best shape, but I'm happy to show it off. There was a lot of camaraderie." Hastings' Jerwood Gallery is up against the Georges House Gallery, Folkestone, and Brighton's Royal Pavilion and Museums to host a photoshoot by Tunick as part of Culture24's Connect 10 Museums at Night Festival weekend in May. Gallery director Liz Gilmore said: "Hastings is so celebrated for its special festivals, including Jack in the Green, Pirate's Day and Hastings bonfire. "The culturally-rich and quirky traditions of Hastings and actual site location would make a wonderfully fitting context for this one-off event." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The exhibitionists hope to convince American body artist Spencer Tunick to stage one of his mass nude photoshoots at the East Sussex seaside resort. Hastings, Folkestone and Brighton are fighting for the chance to host the event as part of an arts festival. Participants held placards urging the public to "Vote Hastings". Hannah Corke, 25, said: "I thought it was really funny." "It hasn't been done before. I gave birth five months ago and it's quite liberating to get naked in front of lots of people and get rid of that post-pregnancy fear." 'Lot of camaraderie' Sam Wickham, 43, said: "I gave birth six months ago and I also thought it would be liberating. "My body is probably not in the best shape, but I'm happy to show it off. There was a lot of camaraderie." Hastings' Jerwood Gallery is up against the Georges House Gallery, Folkestone, and Brighton's Royal Pavilion and Museums to host a photoshoot by Tunick as part of Culture24's Connect 10 Museums at Night Festival weekend in May. Gallery director Liz Gilmore said: "Hastings is so celebrated for its special festivals, including Jack in the Green, Pirate's Day and Hastings bonfire. "The culturally-rich and quirky traditions of Hastings and actual site location would make a wonderfully fitting context for this one-off event." ### Summary: A group of people have held a photoshoot at Hastings' Jerwood Gallery. ### Text: A group of people have held a photoshoot at Hastings' Jerwood Gallery. ### Summary

uk-england-humber-54628185

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-54628185

Steven Duffield: Family name Hull boy killed in accident

A 10-year-old boy has died after being struck by a car on a flyover in Hull.

Steven Duffield was with a friend riding the same bike on a flyover on Anlaby Road in Hull when they were struck by a car on Monday. They were both taken to hospital where Steven died. The other boy remains in a critical condition, police said. A tribute from The Vulcan Boxing Club in Hull where Steven was a member said they were "heartbroken". A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences in connection with the crash. Dozens of Steven Duffield's friends attended a balloon release on Tuesday evening at West Park in the city. In a tribute from the Vulcan Boxing Club posted on Facebook says: "It was with great sadness and a heavy heart that I heard of the death of one our members; Steven Duffield on Anlaby Road flyover. "Steven was only 10-years-old and had his whole life in front of him. "He was hugely well thought of by all who knew him. A truly fantastic little boy. "Everyone at the Vulcan Centre sends their condolences to Steven's family. We are heart-broken for you and so sorry for your loss. "There are no words to describe such a tragedy. "Rest In Peace Steven." A fundraising page set up to help Steven's family had raised £2,848 of an original target of £1,500 within a day. Humberside Police has appealed for witnesses or anyone who has dashcam footage from driving in the area at the time to contact the force. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Steven Duffield was with a friend riding the same bike on a flyover on Anlaby Road in Hull when they were struck by a car on Monday. They were both taken to hospital where Steven died. The other boy remains in a critical condition, police said. A tribute from The Vulcan Boxing Club in Hull where Steven was a member said they were "heartbroken". A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences in connection with the crash. Dozens of Steven Duffield's friends attended a balloon release on Tuesday evening at West Park in the city. In a tribute from the Vulcan Boxing Club posted on Facebook says: "It was with great sadness and a heavy heart that I heard of the death of one our members; Steven Duffield on Anlaby Road flyover. "Steven was only 10-years-old and had his whole life in front of him. "He was hugely well thought of by all who knew him. A truly fantastic little boy. "Everyone at the Vulcan Centre sends their condolences to Steven's family. We are heart-broken for you and so sorry for your loss. "There are no words to describe such a tragedy. "Rest In Peace Steven." A fundraising page set up to help Steven's family had raised £2,848 of an original target of £1,500 within a day. Humberside Police has appealed for witnesses or anyone who has dashcam footage from driving in the area at the time to contact the force. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Steven Duffield was with a friend riding the same bike on a flyover on Anlaby Road in Hull when they were struck by a car on Monday. They were both taken to hospital where Steven died. The other boy remains in a critical condition, police said. A tribute from The Vulcan Boxing Club in Hull where Steven was a member said they were "heartbroken". A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences in connection with the crash. Dozens of Steven Duffield's friends attended a balloon release on Tuesday evening at West Park in the city. In a tribute from the Vulcan Boxing Club posted on Facebook says: "It was with great sadness and a heavy heart that I heard of the death of one our members; Steven Duffield on Anlaby Road flyover. "Steven was only 10-years-old and had his whole life in front of him. "He was hugely well thought of by all who knew him. A truly fantastic little boy. "Everyone at the Vulcan Centre sends their condolences to Steven's family. We are heart-broken for you and so sorry for your loss. "There are no words to describe such a tragedy. "Rest In Peace Steven." A fundraising page set up to help Steven's family had raised £2,848 of an original target of £1,500 within a day. Humberside Police has appealed for witnesses or anyone who has dashcam footage from driving in the area at the time to contact the force. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here. ### Summary: A 10-year-old boy has died after being struck by a car on a flyover in Hull. ### Source: A man has been arrested on suspicion of driving offences in connection with the death of

world-asia-pacific-12673461

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-12673461

China imposes Tibet travel restrictions

China has ordered foreign tourists not to travel to Tibet during the anniversary of the Tibetan uprising.

The top Chinese official for Tibet said travel by foreign tourists would be limited, citing safety reasons such as overcrowding and cold weather. In March 2008, Tibet witnessed a wave of violent anti-China protests - the worst unrest there for 20 years. Beijing blamed the unrest on followers of the Dalai Lama, who it said were seeking to separate Tibet from China. These latest travel restrictions highlight the authorities continued sensitivity over Tibet, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing. Foreigners require special permits to visit the mountainous region - but travel agencies say they have been ordered not to allow foreign tourists into Tibet around the time of the anniversary at the end of the month. In March 2008, anti-government riots broke out in the capital Lhasa and spread to other Tibetan communities across western China. China responded to the unrest with a massive military crackdown. China said at least 18 people were killed during the unrest. Tibetan rights groups say about 140 people were killed. China does not allow foreign journalists unrestricted access to Tibet or restive areas surrounding it, making it extremely difficult to verify reports from the region. The Dalai Lama has said he does not want independence for Tibet, only meaningful autonomy. He has accused China of "cultural genocide", by seeking to change the ethnic mix of Tibet and erode Tibetan culture, language and religion with a massive influx of ethnic Han Chinese and a system of "patriotic re-education". The Dalai Lama - who fled China amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule more than 50 years ago - is the head of Tibet's government-in-exile. He is routinely vilified by the Chinese authorities.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The top Chinese official for Tibet said travel by foreign tourists would be limited, citing safety reasons such as overcrowding and cold weather. In March 2008, Tibet witnessed a wave of violent anti-China protests - the worst unrest there for 20 years. Beijing blamed the unrest on followers of the Dalai Lama, who it said were seeking to separate Tibet from China. These latest travel restrictions highlight the authorities continued sensitivity over Tibet, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing. Foreigners require special permits to visit the mountainous region - but travel agencies say they have been ordered not to allow foreign tourists into Tibet around the time of the anniversary at the end of the month. In March 2008, anti-government riots broke out in the capital Lhasa and spread to other Tibetan communities across western China. China responded to the unrest with a massive military crackdown. China said at least 18 people were killed during the unrest. Tibetan rights groups say about 140 people were killed. China does not allow foreign journalists unrestricted access to Tibet or restive areas surrounding it, making it extremely difficult to verify reports from the region. The Dalai Lama has said he does not want independence for Tibet, only meaningful autonomy. He has accused China of "cultural genocide", by seeking to change the ethnic mix of Tibet and erode Tibetan culture, language and religion with a massive influx of ethnic Han Chinese and a system of "patriotic re-education". The Dalai Lama - who fled China amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule more than 50 years ago - is the head of Tibet's government-in-exile. He is routinely vilified by the Chinese authorities. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The top Chinese official for Tibet said travel by foreign tourists would be limited, citing safety reasons such as overcrowding and cold weather. In March 2008, Tibet witnessed a wave of violent anti-China protests - the worst unrest there for 20 years. Beijing blamed the unrest on followers of the Dalai Lama, who it said were seeking to separate Tibet from China. These latest travel restrictions highlight the authorities continued sensitivity over Tibet, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing. Foreigners require special permits to visit the mountainous region - but travel agencies say they have been ordered not to allow foreign tourists into Tibet around the time of the anniversary at the end of the month. In March 2008, anti-government riots broke out in the capital Lhasa and spread to other Tibetan communities across western China. China responded to the unrest with a massive military crackdown. China said at least 18 people were killed during the unrest. Tibetan rights groups say about 140 people were killed. China does not allow foreign journalists unrestricted access to Tibet or restive areas surrounding it, making it extremely difficult to verify reports from the region. The Dalai Lama has said he does not want independence for Tibet, only meaningful autonomy. He has accused China of "cultural genocide", by seeking to change the ethnic mix of Tibet and erode Tibetan culture, language and religion with a massive influx of ethnic Han Chinese and a system of "patriotic re-education". The Dalai Lama - who fled China amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule more than 50 years ago - is the head of Tibet's government-in-exile. He is routinely vilified by the Chinese authorities. ### Summary: China has ordered foreign tourists not to travel to Tibet during the anniversary of the Tibetan uprising. ### Text: The Dalai Lama has said he does not want independence for Tibet, only meaning

business-49564467

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49564467

‘No-one asks new dads how they’re feeling at work’

A father of two who suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of his son has called for more support for men in the workplace.

By Virginia HarrisonBBC News It was a tough introduction to parenting for the 33-year-old who spent those early days at home on paternity leave. Severely sleep deprived, he returned to his job in human resources five weeks after the birth. "I was in a fairly frequent state of worry, worry about my partner at home with a screaming baby. I had a job to do that was quite stressful," the Brisbane, Australia-based father says. A few months later he felt the full grip of anxiety and depression take hold. Mr Edwards later discovered he was one of the numerous men who suffer from mental illness that arises after the birth of a child. Advocacy group Postpartum Support International says in the US, one in seven mothers, and one in 10 fathers, will experience postpartum (after birth) depression. The group says those rates are broadly reflected across the developed world. In the UK, research by parenting group the NCT found that more than a third of new dads were worried about their mental health, citing factors including added financial responsibility and lack of sleep. For Mr Edwards, his struggle was made more difficult by responsibilities at work. He remembers staring at the computer screen, feeling constantly agitated and struggling to concentrate. "I was expected to just get back on the horse and fulfil my pre-dad life at work," the father of two says. It's a story familiar to many women. Mothers remain the dominant caregivers and have long wrestled with how to balance careers and family. But many fathers are showing signs of strain in the workplace as obligations outside their jobs grow. 'Anxiety is rising' Amy Beacom, founder of the Centre for Parental Leave Leadership, works with companies like Microsoft and energy firm Phillips 66 to provide coaching and training tied to parental leave. She says the pressures commonly felt by mothers are increasingly weighing on fathers who no longer just need to "bring home the pay cheque". "Now they are expected to be at home too and their stress levels are rising, their postpartum depression levels are rising, and their anxiety is rising. That has very real effects in the workplace," Ms Beacom says. Her US-based organisation wants companies to conduct mental health screening during the perinatal period, which runs from pregnancy to one year after birth, for mothers and fathers. "We're doing it for the mums and we're pushing it for the dads," she says. Shifting landscape Those kinds of screenings may be some way off but companies are taking other steps to support dads at work. "Men are more involved in their kids' lives more than ever before. But what hasn't changed is the number of hours that men are working," says Kiri Stejko, chief services officer at Parents at Work. The consultancy provides workplace training to clients in Australia, the UK and Hong Kong to help parents juggle career, family and wellbeing. She works with firms including Deloitte and HSBC, and says employers want to make the issue not just about women and babies, but about families and parents. At a practical level, that means extending programmes previously targeted towards women, like leave to care for a new baby or flexible work arrangements. Many men want to work more flexibly, Ms Stejko says, but find it is "not really accepted yet". Some men feel there's a stigma tied to pulling back from work and asking for help can seem too risky to their career. It's a concern observed by father of five Alex Laguna, who set up the website BetterDads. Initially a platform to support men going through divorce, the site now also touches on wider issues of work and family. Mr Laguna says men often struggle to step away from their jobs, hung up on worries over how it will look to "other men we work with". "It's really very nerve-wracking to say no to work," the Sydney dad says. The 44-year-old, who also runs a lighting company, says his generation hasn't had many role models on how to balance family and work in the way that is now expected. "We're the first to go through it, we're faced with a lot of challenges." Starting conversations Experts welcome efforts by companies to support working dads while calling for more to be done to build awareness. Terri Smith, chief executive of not-for-profit group Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia, says many people aren't aware that perinatal mental illness affects men - and therefore can't offer support. She says the first step is recognising it is "a real illness" and starting discussions about it in the workplace. Mark Williams from Bridgend in Wales suffered from depression after the traumatic birth of his son, and found returning to work as a sales and marketing trainer so difficult that he had to resign. He founded the charity Fathers Reaching Out and campaigns to raise awareness in the UK. "It is not just depression, men could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or anxiety," he says. "You may already be mentally suffering at home, and all of a sudden, bang, two weeks after the birth, it is time to go back to work." He says managers and health professionals need to ask new fathers how they are feeling and be prepared to provide support. Mr Edwards agrees, and thinks he would have benefited from his boss simply checking in on him after he returned to work. "I would get a lot of how's everything going at home, how's your partner going? But nothing about me," he says. The public sector worker says he's in a much better place now and wants to help others. "Showing the new dad that looking after themselves is really important, because how I felt through those dark few months… it wasn't pleasant and I know it had an impact on my work as well."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Virginia HarrisonBBC News It was a tough introduction to parenting for the 33-year-old who spent those early days at home on paternity leave. Severely sleep deprived, he returned to his job in human resources five weeks after the birth. "I was in a fairly frequent state of worry, worry about my partner at home with a screaming baby. I had a job to do that was quite stressful," the Brisbane, Australia-based father says. A few months later he felt the full grip of anxiety and depression take hold. Mr Edwards later discovered he was one of the numerous men who suffer from mental illness that arises after the birth of a child. Advocacy group Postpartum Support International says in the US, one in seven mothers, and one in 10 fathers, will experience postpartum (after birth) depression. The group says those rates are broadly reflected across the developed world. In the UK, research by parenting group the NCT found that more than a third of new dads were worried about their mental health, citing factors including added financial responsibility and lack of sleep. For Mr Edwards, his struggle was made more difficult by responsibilities at work. He remembers staring at the computer screen, feeling constantly agitated and struggling to concentrate. "I was expected to just get back on the horse and fulfil my pre-dad life at work," the father of two says. It's a story familiar to many women. Mothers remain the dominant caregivers and have long wrestled with how to balance careers and family. But many fathers are showing signs of strain in the workplace as obligations outside their jobs grow. 'Anxiety is rising' Amy Beacom, founder of the Centre for Parental Leave Leadership, works with companies like Microsoft and energy firm Phillips 66 to provide coaching and training tied to parental leave. She says the pressures commonly felt by mothers are increasingly weighing on fathers who no longer just need to "bring home the pay cheque". "Now they are expected to be at home too and their stress levels are rising, their postpartum depression levels are rising, and their anxiety is rising. That has very real effects in the workplace," Ms Beacom says. Her US-based organisation wants companies to conduct mental health screening during the perinatal period, which runs from pregnancy to one year after birth, for mothers and fathers. "We're doing it for the mums and we're pushing it for the dads," she says. Shifting landscape Those kinds of screenings may be some way off but companies are taking other steps to support dads at work. "Men are more involved in their kids' lives more than ever before. But what hasn't changed is the number of hours that men are working," says Kiri Stejko, chief services officer at Parents at Work. The consultancy provides workplace training to clients in Australia, the UK and Hong Kong to help parents juggle career, family and wellbeing. She works with firms including Deloitte and HSBC, and says employers want to make the issue not just about women and babies, but about families and parents. At a practical level, that means extending programmes previously targeted towards women, like leave to care for a new baby or flexible work arrangements. Many men want to work more flexibly, Ms Stejko says, but find it is "not really accepted yet". Some men feel there's a stigma tied to pulling back from work and asking for help can seem too risky to their career. It's a concern observed by father of five Alex Laguna, who set up the website BetterDads. Initially a platform to support men going through divorce, the site now also touches on wider issues of work and family. Mr Laguna says men often struggle to step away from their jobs, hung up on worries over how it will look to "other men we work with". "It's really very nerve-wracking to say no to work," the Sydney dad says. The 44-year-old, who also runs a lighting company, says his generation hasn't had many role models on how to balance family and work in the way that is now expected. "We're the first to go through it, we're faced with a lot of challenges." Starting conversations Experts welcome efforts by companies to support working dads while calling for more to be done to build awareness. Terri Smith, chief executive of not-for-profit group Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia, says many people aren't aware that perinatal mental illness affects men - and therefore can't offer support. She says the first step is recognising it is "a real illness" and starting discussions about it in the workplace. Mark Williams from Bridgend in Wales suffered from depression after the traumatic birth of his son, and found returning to work as a sales and marketing trainer so difficult that he had to resign. He founded the charity Fathers Reaching Out and campaigns to raise awareness in the UK. "It is not just depression, men could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or anxiety," he says. " ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Virginia HarrisonBBC News It was a tough introduction to parenting for the 33-year-old who spent those early days at home on paternity leave. Severely sleep deprived, he returned to his job in human resources five weeks after the birth. "I was in a fairly frequent state of worry, worry about my partner at home with a screaming baby. I had a job to do that was quite stressful," the Brisbane, Australia-based father says. A few months later he felt the full grip of anxiety and depression take hold. Mr Edwards later discovered he was one of the numerous men who suffer from mental illness that arises after the birth of a child. Advocacy group Postpartum Support International says in the US, one in seven mothers, and one in 10 fathers, will experience postpartum (after birth) depression. The group says those rates are broadly reflected across the developed world. In the UK, research by parenting group the NCT found that more than a third of new dads were worried about their mental health, citing factors including added financial responsibility and lack of sleep. For Mr Edwards, his struggle was made more difficult by responsibilities at work. He remembers staring at the computer screen, feeling constantly agitated and struggling to concentrate. "I was expected to just get back on the horse and fulfil my pre-dad life at work," the father of two says. It's a story familiar to many women. Mothers remain the dominant caregivers and have long wrestled with how to balance careers and family. But many fathers are showing signs of strain in the workplace as obligations outside their jobs grow. 'Anxiety is rising' Amy Beacom, founder of the Centre for Parental Leave Leadership, works with companies like Microsoft and energy firm Phillips 66 to provide coaching and training tied to parental leave. She says the pressures commonly felt by mothers are increasingly weighing on fathers who no longer just need to "bring home the pay cheque". "Now they are expected to be at home too and their stress levels are rising, their postpartum depression levels are rising, and their anxiety is rising. That has very real effects in the workplace," Ms Beacom says. Her US-based organisation wants companies to conduct mental health screening during the perinatal period, which runs from pregnancy to one year after birth, for mothers and fathers. "We're doing it for the mums and we're pushing it for the dads," she says. Shifting landscape Those kinds of screenings may be some way off but companies are taking other steps to support dads at work. "Men are more involved in their kids' lives more than ever before. But what hasn't changed is the number of hours that men are working," says Kiri Stejko, chief services officer at Parents at Work. The consultancy provides workplace training to clients in Australia, the UK and Hong Kong to help parents juggle career, family and wellbeing. She works with firms including Deloitte and HSBC, and says employers want to make the issue not just about women and babies, but about families and parents. At a practical level, that means extending programmes previously targeted towards women, like leave to care for a new baby or flexible work arrangements. Many men want to work more flexibly, Ms Stejko says, but find it is "not really accepted yet". Some men feel there's a stigma tied to pulling back from work and asking for help can seem too risky to their career. It's a concern observed by father of five Alex Laguna, who set up the website BetterDads. Initially a platform to support men going through divorce, the site now also touches on wider issues of work and family. Mr Laguna says men often struggle to step away from their jobs, hung up on worries over how it will look to "other men we work with". "It's really very nerve-wracking to say no to work," the Sydney dad says. The 44-year-old, who also runs a lighting company, says his generation hasn't had many role models on how to balance family and work in the way that is now expected. "We're the first to go through it, we're faced with a lot of challenges." Starting conversations Experts welcome efforts by companies to support working dads while calling for more to be done to build awareness. Terri Smith, chief executive of not-for-profit group Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia, says many people aren't aware that perinatal mental illness affects men - and therefore can't offer support. She says the first step is recognising it is "a real illness" and starting discussions about it in the workplace. Mark Williams from Bridgend in Wales suffered from depression after the traumatic birth of his son, and found returning to work as a sales and marketing trainer so difficult that he had to resign. He founded the charity Fathers Reaching Out and campaigns to raise awareness in the UK. "It is not just depression, men could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or anxiety," he says. " ### Summary: A father of two who suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of his son has called for more support for men in the workplace. ### Next: The father of two has called for more support for men in the

world-us-canada-32726392

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32726392

Harriet Tubman recruited to appear on $20 bill after vote

A woman has been chosen to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.

Move over, former US President Andrew Jackson. Voters of an online poll have chosen famous abolitionist Harriet Tubman to replace him on the $20 bill. A grassroots campaign is pushing the US Department of the Treasury to put a woman on American currency. It comes before the 100th anniversary of a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. All seven bills currently in circulation in the US feature a man's face. The Woman on 20s campaign surveyed 600,000 people over 10 weeks and Tubman emerged as the winner. On Tuesday, Woman on 20s presented a petition to President Barack Obama encouraging him to urge Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew to make the change. Other leading women in the survey included former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, civil rights activist Rosa Parks and leader of the Cherokee nation Wilma Mankiller. "Our paper bills are like pocket monuments to great figures in our history," said Women On 20s executive director Susan Ades Stone in a statement on Tuesday. "Our work won't be done until we're holding a Harriet $20 bill in our hands in time for the centennial of women's suffrage in 2020." Tubman is known as the "conductor" of the Underground Railroad that allowed many slaves to escape to freedom in the 1850s. Women appear on three banknotes in Sweden. In Australia, there's an equal number of men and women on its banknotes.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Move over, former US President Andrew Jackson. Voters of an online poll have chosen famous abolitionist Harriet Tubman to replace him on the $20 bill. A grassroots campaign is pushing the US Department of the Treasury to put a woman on American currency. It comes before the 100th anniversary of a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. All seven bills currently in circulation in the US feature a man's face. The Woman on 20s campaign surveyed 600,000 people over 10 weeks and Tubman emerged as the winner. On Tuesday, Woman on 20s presented a petition to President Barack Obama encouraging him to urge Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew to make the change. Other leading women in the survey included former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, civil rights activist Rosa Parks and leader of the Cherokee nation Wilma Mankiller. "Our paper bills are like pocket monuments to great figures in our history," said Women On 20s executive director Susan Ades Stone in a statement on Tuesday. "Our work won't be done until we're holding a Harriet $20 bill in our hands in time for the centennial of women's suffrage in 2020." Tubman is known as the "conductor" of the Underground Railroad that allowed many slaves to escape to freedom in the 1850s. Women appear on three banknotes in Sweden. In Australia, there's an equal number of men and women on its banknotes. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Move over, former US President Andrew Jackson. Voters of an online poll have chosen famous abolitionist Harriet Tubman to replace him on the $20 bill. A grassroots campaign is pushing the US Department of the Treasury to put a woman on American currency. It comes before the 100th anniversary of a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. All seven bills currently in circulation in the US feature a man's face. The Woman on 20s campaign surveyed 600,000 people over 10 weeks and Tubman emerged as the winner. On Tuesday, Woman on 20s presented a petition to President Barack Obama encouraging him to urge Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew to make the change. Other leading women in the survey included former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, civil rights activist Rosa Parks and leader of the Cherokee nation Wilma Mankiller. "Our paper bills are like pocket monuments to great figures in our history," said Women On 20s executive director Susan Ades Stone in a statement on Tuesday. "Our work won't be done until we're holding a Harriet $20 bill in our hands in time for the centennial of women's suffrage in 2020." Tubman is known as the "conductor" of the Underground Railroad that allowed many slaves to escape to freedom in the 1850s. Women appear on three banknotes in Sweden. In Australia, there's an equal number of men and women on its banknotes. ### Summary: A woman has been chosen to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. ### Text: A woman has been chosen to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. ### Summary: A woman has

business-47148178

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47148178

Spotify splashes out millions of dollars on podcasts

Spotify has announced that it has acquired podcast studio Gimlet Media.

The music streaming service has bought Gimlet Media, behind a string of popular podcasts including Reply All, and podcast publishing platform Anchor. The Swedish firm has also pledged to spend $400-$500m (£308m) this year on further podcast-related acquisitions. Midia Research music analyst Zach Fuller said Spotify was trying to become the "Netflix of audio". He said the move was aimed at putting it ahead of music streaming rivals like Apple Music and Tidal, as well as allowing it to earn more from advertisers. "Going into podcasts, a longer form of content, allows Spotify to keep listeners for a longer period of time, which mean they can earn more from advertisers, and advertisers will only be too happy to pay because they're happy to have a new digital player that isn't Google or Facebook," he told the BBC. "Podcasts are less costly to produce than paying major record labels for rights to use songs on their platform, which they still have to do," he added. Spotify said it wanted Gimlet for its podcast studio, while it said Anchor, which allows individuals and companies to create and publish podcasts, would bring a growing number of new content creators. Separately, Spotify announced that it had achieved its first quarterly profit, and for the first time in the firm's history, its operating income, net income, and free cash flow were all positive. The latest forecasts from consultancy PwC show that online audio advertising for traditional AM/FM radio broadcasters will grow by 7.8% between 2017 to 2022, and it is expected to be worth $2.2bn by 2020. And around a fifth of people in the US, UK, Canada and Australia aged between 20-34 cohort listen to podcasts, separate figures suggest. "Advertisers are now looking in the digital advertising landscape and almost all the growth is taken up by Google and Facebook. "If Spotify can demonstrate that podcast advertising provides a meaningful return on advertisers' investment, then they will reap the benefits of that," said Mr Fuller.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The music streaming service has bought Gimlet Media, behind a string of popular podcasts including Reply All, and podcast publishing platform Anchor. The Swedish firm has also pledged to spend $400-$500m (£308m) this year on further podcast-related acquisitions. Midia Research music analyst Zach Fuller said Spotify was trying to become the "Netflix of audio". He said the move was aimed at putting it ahead of music streaming rivals like Apple Music and Tidal, as well as allowing it to earn more from advertisers. "Going into podcasts, a longer form of content, allows Spotify to keep listeners for a longer period of time, which mean they can earn more from advertisers, and advertisers will only be too happy to pay because they're happy to have a new digital player that isn't Google or Facebook," he told the BBC. "Podcasts are less costly to produce than paying major record labels for rights to use songs on their platform, which they still have to do," he added. Spotify said it wanted Gimlet for its podcast studio, while it said Anchor, which allows individuals and companies to create and publish podcasts, would bring a growing number of new content creators. Separately, Spotify announced that it had achieved its first quarterly profit, and for the first time in the firm's history, its operating income, net income, and free cash flow were all positive. The latest forecasts from consultancy PwC show that online audio advertising for traditional AM/FM radio broadcasters will grow by 7.8% between 2017 to 2022, and it is expected to be worth $2.2bn by 2020. And around a fifth of people in the US, UK, Canada and Australia aged between 20-34 cohort listen to podcasts, separate figures suggest. "Advertisers are now looking in the digital advertising landscape and almost all the growth is taken up by Google and Facebook. "If Spotify can demonstrate that podcast advertising provides a meaningful return on advertisers' investment, then they will reap the benefits of that," said Mr Fuller. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The music streaming service has bought Gimlet Media, behind a string of popular podcasts including Reply All, and podcast publishing platform Anchor. The Swedish firm has also pledged to spend $400-$500m (£308m) this year on further podcast-related acquisitions. Midia Research music analyst Zach Fuller said Spotify was trying to become the "Netflix of audio". He said the move was aimed at putting it ahead of music streaming rivals like Apple Music and Tidal, as well as allowing it to earn more from advertisers. "Going into podcasts, a longer form of content, allows Spotify to keep listeners for a longer period of time, which mean they can earn more from advertisers, and advertisers will only be too happy to pay because they're happy to have a new digital player that isn't Google or Facebook," he told the BBC. "Podcasts are less costly to produce than paying major record labels for rights to use songs on their platform, which they still have to do," he added. Spotify said it wanted Gimlet for its podcast studio, while it said Anchor, which allows individuals and companies to create and publish podcasts, would bring a growing number of new content creators. Separately, Spotify announced that it had achieved its first quarterly profit, and for the first time in the firm's history, its operating income, net income, and free cash flow were all positive. The latest forecasts from consultancy PwC show that online audio advertising for traditional AM/FM radio broadcasters will grow by 7.8% between 2017 to 2022, and it is expected to be worth $2.2bn by 2020. And around a fifth of people in the US, UK, Canada and Australia aged between 20-34 cohort listen to podcasts, separate figures suggest. "Advertisers are now looking in the digital advertising landscape and almost all the growth is taken up by Google and Facebook. "If Spotify can demonstrate that podcast advertising provides a meaningful return on advertisers' investment, then they will reap the benefits of that," said Mr Fuller. ### Summary: Spotify has announced that it has acquired podcast studio Gimlet Media. ### Text: The Swedish firm has also pledged to spend $400-$500m (£308m)

entertainment-arts-20493426

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-20493426

Sir Elton John dedicates Beijing show to Ai Weiwei

A Chinese singer has dedicated a song to the Chinese government's stance on democracy.

At the concert on Sunday, the 65-year-old said the performance honoured Ai's "spirit and talent". The noted sculptor, an outspoken critic of the Chinese government's stance on democracy, was detained for nearly three months without charge last year. According to audience members, a murmur of shock rippled through the crowd at the tribute. The Associated Press reported the reaction was in recognition that Ai remains a sensitive subject for the Chinese government, which exercises strict control over live performances. Artists must submit detailed lists of songs, casts and crew members when seeking approval to stage concerts in the country. Ai met Sir Elton ahead of the concert at the Wukesong Arena. He wrote on his Twitter feed, which has 180,000 followers despite being banned in China, "I super like him". There was no mention of the singer's dedication to Ai in Chinese media reports, which are state-controlled. Sir Elton performed in Shanghai on Friday and will do shows in South Korea and Kuala Lumpur later this week as part of a world tour. In 2008, Icelandic singer Bjork caused controversy among fans in China by shouting "Tibet, Tibet" at the end of a concert in Shanghai. It followed a performance of her song Declare Independence, which lead to even more scrutiny over government controls within the live music field. Talk of Tibetan independence is considered taboo in China, which has ruled the territory since 1951.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: At the concert on Sunday, the 65-year-old said the performance honoured Ai's "spirit and talent". The noted sculptor, an outspoken critic of the Chinese government's stance on democracy, was detained for nearly three months without charge last year. According to audience members, a murmur of shock rippled through the crowd at the tribute. The Associated Press reported the reaction was in recognition that Ai remains a sensitive subject for the Chinese government, which exercises strict control over live performances. Artists must submit detailed lists of songs, casts and crew members when seeking approval to stage concerts in the country. Ai met Sir Elton ahead of the concert at the Wukesong Arena. He wrote on his Twitter feed, which has 180,000 followers despite being banned in China, "I super like him". There was no mention of the singer's dedication to Ai in Chinese media reports, which are state-controlled. Sir Elton performed in Shanghai on Friday and will do shows in South Korea and Kuala Lumpur later this week as part of a world tour. In 2008, Icelandic singer Bjork caused controversy among fans in China by shouting "Tibet, Tibet" at the end of a concert in Shanghai. It followed a performance of her song Declare Independence, which lead to even more scrutiny over government controls within the live music field. Talk of Tibetan independence is considered taboo in China, which has ruled the territory since 1951. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: At the concert on Sunday, the 65-year-old said the performance honoured Ai's "spirit and talent". The noted sculptor, an outspoken critic of the Chinese government's stance on democracy, was detained for nearly three months without charge last year. According to audience members, a murmur of shock rippled through the crowd at the tribute. The Associated Press reported the reaction was in recognition that Ai remains a sensitive subject for the Chinese government, which exercises strict control over live performances. Artists must submit detailed lists of songs, casts and crew members when seeking approval to stage concerts in the country. Ai met Sir Elton ahead of the concert at the Wukesong Arena. He wrote on his Twitter feed, which has 180,000 followers despite being banned in China, "I super like him". There was no mention of the singer's dedication to Ai in Chinese media reports, which are state-controlled. Sir Elton performed in Shanghai on Friday and will do shows in South Korea and Kuala Lumpur later this week as part of a world tour. In 2008, Icelandic singer Bjork caused controversy among fans in China by shouting "Tibet, Tibet" at the end of a concert in Shanghai. It followed a performance of her song Declare Independence, which lead to even more scrutiny over government controls within the live music field. Talk of Tibetan independence is considered taboo in China, which has ruled the territory since 1951. ### Summary: A Chinese singer has dedicated a song to the Chinese government's stance on democracy. ### Source: Chinese singer Bjork has dedicated a song to the Chinese government's stance on democracy. ###

uk-wales-50303472

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-50303472

Climate change: Plans to double Swansea's green space

A plan to create a national park in Wales has been announced.

By Steffan MessengerBBC Wales environment correspondent The aim is to help with issues such as flooding, while boosting wildlife and residents' wellbeing. It comes amid calls to develop a series of "urban national parks" across Wales. Town and city councils have been invited to an environmental conference to learn more about the idea. At the event in Cardiff they will hear from those behind London's efforts to become the world's first National Park City. The idea is that local communities, businesses and public bodies work together to join up existing areas of greenery so wildlife can move through them, as well as creating more. It is a different approach to the traditional national parks in rural beauty spots, which have an authority to oversee their work and can influence planning decisions. David Clubb, of environmental partnership Afallen, which has organised the conference, said there had been a lot of interest. "I'd like to see each of the towns and cities in attendance go back and work with other organisations on developing their own ideas for how their own national park would work," he said. "This is not a one size fits all approach... We need to work with local people who understand their area like no-one else does, to create all of these wonderful ecological hotspots across Wales." Swansea council, working with NRW, is preparing to publish its strategy for more "green infrastructure", following months of public consultation. Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea council's cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: "[It will use] a combination of street-level features like street trees and rain gardens as well as vegetation on buildings, including green roofs and green walls." Fran Rolfe, sustainable places officer at NRW, said it was an "important opportunity to regenerate this city for wildlife and wellbeing". "We did a huge amount of community engagement to really make sure we knew what they wanted to see. [It shows] the market and developers that people actually want this stuff." She will work with local businesses and community groups to help guide their efforts - which could include vertical wall gardens, urban allotments and more trees. Already two major housing associations have pledged to take part, with Coastal Group planning a green roof on their office block in the city centre. Gareth Davies, executive director of growth and new business, said it was looking at replacing the artificial grass on its terrace with plants, vegetable plots and bee hives. "When the government announces a climate emergency we have to take that seriously - we have to move forward with some proper action and this is part of that." Claire Tristham, director of development at Pobl, the largest provider of affordable homes in Wales, said it would also be providing more greenery in its developments. "I think in the past we would have thought we were doing really well if we had some trees, but now it's about understanding which species we're planting and what effect that will have on biodiversity, while also providing areas that can hold water or offer space for children to play."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Steffan MessengerBBC Wales environment correspondent The aim is to help with issues such as flooding, while boosting wildlife and residents' wellbeing. It comes amid calls to develop a series of "urban national parks" across Wales. Town and city councils have been invited to an environmental conference to learn more about the idea. At the event in Cardiff they will hear from those behind London's efforts to become the world's first National Park City. The idea is that local communities, businesses and public bodies work together to join up existing areas of greenery so wildlife can move through them, as well as creating more. It is a different approach to the traditional national parks in rural beauty spots, which have an authority to oversee their work and can influence planning decisions. David Clubb, of environmental partnership Afallen, which has organised the conference, said there had been a lot of interest. "I'd like to see each of the towns and cities in attendance go back and work with other organisations on developing their own ideas for how their own national park would work," he said. "This is not a one size fits all approach... We need to work with local people who understand their area like no-one else does, to create all of these wonderful ecological hotspots across Wales." Swansea council, working with NRW, is preparing to publish its strategy for more "green infrastructure", following months of public consultation. Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea council's cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: "[It will use] a combination of street-level features like street trees and rain gardens as well as vegetation on buildings, including green roofs and green walls." Fran Rolfe, sustainable places officer at NRW, said it was an "important opportunity to regenerate this city for wildlife and wellbeing". "We did a huge amount of community engagement to really make sure we knew what they wanted to see. [It shows] the market and developers that people actually want this stuff." She will work with local businesses and community groups to help guide their efforts - which could include vertical wall gardens, urban allotments and more trees. Already two major housing associations have pledged to take part, with Coastal Group planning a green roof on their office block in the city centre. Gareth Davies, executive director of growth and new business, said it was looking at replacing the artificial grass on its terrace with plants, vegetable plots and bee hives. "When the government announces a climate emergency we have to take that seriously - we have to move forward with some proper action and this is part of that." Claire Tristham, director of development at Pobl, the largest provider of affordable homes in Wales, said it would also be providing more greenery in its developments. "I think in the past we would have thought we were doing really well if we had some trees, but now it's about understanding which species we're planting and what effect that will have on biodiversity, while also providing areas that can hold water or offer space for children to play." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Steffan MessengerBBC Wales environment correspondent The aim is to help with issues such as flooding, while boosting wildlife and residents' wellbeing. It comes amid calls to develop a series of "urban national parks" across Wales. Town and city councils have been invited to an environmental conference to learn more about the idea. At the event in Cardiff they will hear from those behind London's efforts to become the world's first National Park City. The idea is that local communities, businesses and public bodies work together to join up existing areas of greenery so wildlife can move through them, as well as creating more. It is a different approach to the traditional national parks in rural beauty spots, which have an authority to oversee their work and can influence planning decisions. David Clubb, of environmental partnership Afallen, which has organised the conference, said there had been a lot of interest. "I'd like to see each of the towns and cities in attendance go back and work with other organisations on developing their own ideas for how their own national park would work," he said. "This is not a one size fits all approach... We need to work with local people who understand their area like no-one else does, to create all of these wonderful ecological hotspots across Wales." Swansea council, working with NRW, is preparing to publish its strategy for more "green infrastructure", following months of public consultation. Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea council's cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: "[It will use] a combination of street-level features like street trees and rain gardens as well as vegetation on buildings, including green roofs and green walls." Fran Rolfe, sustainable places officer at NRW, said it was an "important opportunity to regenerate this city for wildlife and wellbeing". "We did a huge amount of community engagement to really make sure we knew what they wanted to see. [It shows] the market and developers that people actually want this stuff." She will work with local businesses and community groups to help guide their efforts - which could include vertical wall gardens, urban allotments and more trees. Already two major housing associations have pledged to take part, with Coastal Group planning a green roof on their office block in the city centre. Gareth Davies, executive director of growth and new business, said it was looking at replacing the artificial grass on its terrace with plants, vegetable plots and bee hives. "When the government announces a climate emergency we have to take that seriously - we have to move forward with some proper action and this is part of that." Claire Tristham, director of development at Pobl, the largest provider of affordable homes in Wales, said it would also be providing more greenery in its developments. "I think in the past we would have thought we were doing really well if we had some trees, but now it's about understanding which species we're planting and what effect that will have on biodiversity, while also providing areas that can hold water or offer space for children to play." ### Summary: A plan to create a national park in Wales has been announced. ### Next steps: The plan to create a national park in Wales has been announced. ### In depth: A plan to create a national park in

uk-scotland-glasgow-west-44728525

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-44728525

Protest over Glasgow council 'turning away' homeless

Glasgow City Council has failed to offer temporary accommodation to people who have been homeless.

Government figures show the council repeatedly failed to offer temporary accommodation to those asking for help. Shelter Scotland, which organised the rally, said the failures were "shocking and completely unacceptable". Glasgow City Council said there was "significant pressure" on its supply of homeless accommodation at the moment. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, people have the right to temporary accommodation while a local authority is considering their homelessness application. The Scottish government maintains records of when councils have failed to offer this, with figures submitted by the local authorities themselves. Of the 3,200 reports of applicants not being offered temporary accommodation in Scotland in the 2017-18 financial year, 3,025 were in Glasgow. One household can make multiple applications to the council, so it is unclear how many people were affected. Graeme Brown, director of housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, said staff had been "inundated by people saying they had nowhere to go and that the council had turned them away". He said: "Glasgow City Council should hang its head in shame. It is shocking and completely unacceptable that on more than 3,000 occasions last year, the city denied homeless applicants their rights by breaking the law. "It cannot be right that one of the UK's largest councils can act unlawfully in this way and treat some of the most vulnerable people in our society with such disregard." 'Significant pressures' Mr Brown claimed that the council was "gatekeeping" homelessness services, something he said there was "no excuse" for. However, a spokesman for Glasgow City Council denied this was the case, saying the authority had to "manage" its available resources. He said: "There are significant pressures on our homelessness accommodation service at present and, as Shelter is aware, we are working with the Scottish Housing Regulator and our range of partners in the third and housing sectors to address them. "The council is not gatekeeping resources, but has to manage on a daily basis the availability of emergency, temporary and supported accommodation against needs. "We ensure that all available accommodation is used to meet the needs of people who present as homeless. On the occasions when we are unable to meet immediate need, having exhausted all options, we ensure that we provide help as soon as we possibly can."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Government figures show the council repeatedly failed to offer temporary accommodation to those asking for help. Shelter Scotland, which organised the rally, said the failures were "shocking and completely unacceptable". Glasgow City Council said there was "significant pressure" on its supply of homeless accommodation at the moment. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, people have the right to temporary accommodation while a local authority is considering their homelessness application. The Scottish government maintains records of when councils have failed to offer this, with figures submitted by the local authorities themselves. Of the 3,200 reports of applicants not being offered temporary accommodation in Scotland in the 2017-18 financial year, 3,025 were in Glasgow. One household can make multiple applications to the council, so it is unclear how many people were affected. Graeme Brown, director of housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, said staff had been "inundated by people saying they had nowhere to go and that the council had turned them away". He said: "Glasgow City Council should hang its head in shame. It is shocking and completely unacceptable that on more than 3,000 occasions last year, the city denied homeless applicants their rights by breaking the law. "It cannot be right that one of the UK's largest councils can act unlawfully in this way and treat some of the most vulnerable people in our society with such disregard." 'Significant pressures' Mr Brown claimed that the council was "gatekeeping" homelessness services, something he said there was "no excuse" for. However, a spokesman for Glasgow City Council denied this was the case, saying the authority had to "manage" its available resources. He said: "There are significant pressures on our homelessness accommodation service at present and, as Shelter is aware, we are working with the Scottish Housing Regulator and our range of partners in the third and housing sectors to address them. "The council is not gatekeeping resources, but has to manage on a daily basis the availability of emergency, temporary and supported accommodation against needs. "We ensure that all available accommodation is used to meet the needs of people who present as homeless. On the occasions when we are unable to meet immediate need, having exhausted all options, we ensure that we provide help as soon as we possibly can." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Government figures show the council repeatedly failed to offer temporary accommodation to those asking for help. Shelter Scotland, which organised the rally, said the failures were "shocking and completely unacceptable". Glasgow City Council said there was "significant pressure" on its supply of homeless accommodation at the moment. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, people have the right to temporary accommodation while a local authority is considering their homelessness application. The Scottish government maintains records of when councils have failed to offer this, with figures submitted by the local authorities themselves. Of the 3,200 reports of applicants not being offered temporary accommodation in Scotland in the 2017-18 financial year, 3,025 were in Glasgow. One household can make multiple applications to the council, so it is unclear how many people were affected. Graeme Brown, director of housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, said staff had been "inundated by people saying they had nowhere to go and that the council had turned them away". He said: "Glasgow City Council should hang its head in shame. It is shocking and completely unacceptable that on more than 3,000 occasions last year, the city denied homeless applicants their rights by breaking the law. "It cannot be right that one of the UK's largest councils can act unlawfully in this way and treat some of the most vulnerable people in our society with such disregard." 'Significant pressures' Mr Brown claimed that the council was "gatekeeping" homelessness services, something he said there was "no excuse" for. However, a spokesman for Glasgow City Council denied this was the case, saying the authority had to "manage" its available resources. He said: "There are significant pressures on our homelessness accommodation service at present and, as Shelter is aware, we are working with the Scottish Housing Regulator and our range of partners in the third and housing sectors to address them. "The council is not gatekeeping resources, but has to manage on a daily basis the availability of emergency, temporary and supported accommodation against needs. "We ensure that all available accommodation is used to meet the needs of people who present as homeless. On the occasions when we are unable to meet immediate need, having exhausted all options, we ensure that we provide help as soon as we possibly can." ### Summary: Glasgow City Council has failed to offer temporary accommodation to people who have been homeless. ### Text: Glasgow City Council has failed to offer temporary accommodation to people who have been homeless. ### Summary:

uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-19659904

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-19659904

Delaney Brown murder: Second arrest over cyclist death

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the death of a man who was struck by a silver BMW.

Officers investigating the death of Delaney Brown arrested a 16-year-old youth on Wednesday. The teenager has since been released on bail. Mr Brown was killed when he was struck by a silver BMW 1 in Vincent Road on 5 September. An 18-year-old man arrested on 8 September was also bailed. Det Ch Insp Steve Collin from the Major Crime Unit said he still needed witnesses to come forward. "People clearly have information about who was driving the silver BMW that was used to kill Delaney, they now need to do the right thing and speak to the police," he said.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Officers investigating the death of Delaney Brown arrested a 16-year-old youth on Wednesday. The teenager has since been released on bail. Mr Brown was killed when he was struck by a silver BMW 1 in Vincent Road on 5 September. An 18-year-old man arrested on 8 September was also bailed. Det Ch Insp Steve Collin from the Major Crime Unit said he still needed witnesses to come forward. "People clearly have information about who was driving the silver BMW that was used to kill Delaney, they now need to do the right thing and speak to the police," he said. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Officers investigating the death of Delaney Brown arrested a 16-year-old youth on Wednesday. The teenager has since been released on bail. Mr Brown was killed when he was struck by a silver BMW 1 in Vincent Road on 5 September. An 18-year-old man arrested on 8 September was also bailed. Det Ch Insp Steve Collin from the Major Crime Unit said he still needed witnesses to come forward. "People clearly have information about who was driving the silver BMW that was used to kill Delaney, they now need to do the right thing and speak to the police," he said. ### Summary: A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the death of a man who was struck by a silver BMW. ### Text: A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the death of

world-europe-guernsey-11911615

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-guernsey-11911615

Electricity demand reaches all-time high in Guernsey

Guernsey has broken its record for electricity consumption.

Steve Morris, engineering director, said: "We normally expect to hit record levels in the early evening. "However the schools being off and people working from home has obviously had an effect on consumption, especially heating." He said it broke the previous record of 84 mega watts set on 12 January. Mr Morris said the total amount of electricity supplied to the island also reached a record level. He said: "We supplied a new record of 1.567million kilowatt hours over the 24 hours, the previous record being 1.532million also on 12 January this year. "High energy demand predominantly coincides with cold weather, and this is largely due to the increasing popularity of storage electric heating in Guernsey. "There is every chance that we will exceed this record again if there is a further spell of cold weather later in the winter." The company said 61% of the generation was done on island with the rest coming via the cable link with France.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Steve Morris, engineering director, said: "We normally expect to hit record levels in the early evening. "However the schools being off and people working from home has obviously had an effect on consumption, especially heating." He said it broke the previous record of 84 mega watts set on 12 January. Mr Morris said the total amount of electricity supplied to the island also reached a record level. He said: "We supplied a new record of 1.567million kilowatt hours over the 24 hours, the previous record being 1.532million also on 12 January this year. "High energy demand predominantly coincides with cold weather, and this is largely due to the increasing popularity of storage electric heating in Guernsey. "There is every chance that we will exceed this record again if there is a further spell of cold weather later in the winter." The company said 61% of the generation was done on island with the rest coming via the cable link with France. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Steve Morris, engineering director, said: "We normally expect to hit record levels in the early evening. "However the schools being off and people working from home has obviously had an effect on consumption, especially heating." He said it broke the previous record of 84 mega watts set on 12 January. Mr Morris said the total amount of electricity supplied to the island also reached a record level. He said: "We supplied a new record of 1.567million kilowatt hours over the 24 hours, the previous record being 1.532million also on 12 January this year. "High energy demand predominantly coincides with cold weather, and this is largely due to the increasing popularity of storage electric heating in Guernsey. "There is every chance that we will exceed this record again if there is a further spell of cold weather later in the winter." The company said 61% of the generation was done on island with the rest coming via the cable link with France. ### Summary: Guernsey has broken its record for electricity consumption. ### Source: By Dan CarterGuernsey News ### Next story: Guernsey breaks electricity consumption record ### Next story: Guernsey breaks

entertainment-arts-25076912

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-25076912

Millions tune in for Doctor Who 50th anniversary show

The Doctor Who special has been named the world's largest ever simulcast of a TV drama.

At its peak, the show was watched by 10.61 million viewers, with an average of 10.2 million across the 75-minute running time. It comfortably beat X Factor on ITV, which was seen by 7.7 million people. But Strictly Come Dancing was Saturday night's most popular show, peaking at 11.7 million viewers (10.6m average). 'Beautiful reinvention' The Day of the Doctor was broadcast in 94 countries at the same time as it aired on BBC One on Saturday night - earning it a Guinness World Record as "the world's largest ever simulcast of a TV drama". Featuring three Doctors - Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt - it delved deep into the character's psyche over 75 minutes. Amid the special effects and multiple time zones, critics were particularly impressed with the interplay between the actors. The Telegraph's Ben Lawrence wrote: "Tennant is edgy and mercurial, likely to turn on a pin. Smith is gentler, with a boyish eccentricity and other-worldly strangeness. They sparred terrifically with a fair amount of trademark humour. "Smith's Doctor teased Tennant's about his 'sand shoes' and his weight. 'Ooh. That is proper skinny. Hello matchstick man!' "And yet they were both skilled enough to convince the viewer that they were one and the same person, both sharing a compassion, an acute intelligence and a formidable nose for danger." In a five star review, the Mirror's Jon Cooper singled out writer Steven Moffat as the real star. "He's put something together here that not only gives hardcore fans a beautiful reinvention of their favourite show but also gives casual viewers a stonking story and a reminder why we all love this show so much," he wrote. "This had labour of love stamped throughout it," agreed Simon Brew on the Den Of Geek website. "It felt like a real treat, a gift to Who fandom, but more importantly, a strong episode in its own right." Opening with the show's original credit sequence from 1963, the special featured the Daleks and the return of rubber suited, shape-shifting aliens the Zygons, who first appeared in 1975. But the principal villain was potentially the Doctor himself. Moffat's story played with the idea, introduced when the science-fiction show re-launched in 2005, that the Doctor was the "last of the Time Lords". It transpired that Hurt's version of the Doctor had committed mass genocide in order to halt a "Great Time War" - and the 75-minute episode saw him fighting to come to terms with that decision, aided by two future versions of himself. There were also cameos from former star Tom Baker, and Peter Capaldi, who replaces Smith later this year. "The last few minutes affected me quite deeply," wrote Neil Perryman on the Guardian's website. He conceded that some of the details "didn't make a lot of sense on first viewing" but added: "I don't care - I'll be watching it again this evening". Speaking immediately after the broadcast, star Matt Smith said: "I think what's really clever about it is that what he [Moffat] has managed to do is change the mythology of the character - which, after 50 years, is an achievement." Aside from the emotional drama, the episode was filled with comedic moments - including a proposal, a marriage and "a machine that goes ding". "Is there a lot of this in the future?" John Hurt asked as David Tennant kissed Queen Elizabeth I. "There is a bit, yes," deadpanned Matt Smith. The UK viewing figures are the science fiction programme's highest since the 2010 Christmas Special. They do not take into account people who taped the show, or watched it later on iPlayer - and are therefore likely to rise once consolidated figures become available. Accepting the show's Guinness World Record, Moffat said: "For years the Doctor has been stopping everyone else from conquering the world. Now, just to show off, he's gone and done it himself!" Tim Davie, from BBC Worldwide, said: "We knew we were attempting something unprecedented in broadcast history, not only because Doctor Who is a drama, unlike a live feed event such as a World Cup football match or a royal wedding, but because we had to deliver the episode in advance to the four corners of the world so that it could be dubbed and subtitled into 15 different languages. "If there was any doubt that Doctor Who is one of the world's biggest TV shows, this award should put that argument to rest". The global broadcast included 3D screenings in more than 1,500 cinemas in 94 countries - from Russia to Ethiopia. They attracted hundreds of fans in fancy dress, including bow ties, fezzes and Dalek outfits. A gala event at the BFI in London was attended by Smith, Hurt, Moffat and their co-star Jenna Coleman. They received a huge cheer as the end credits rolled, while Tom Baker's surprise cameo also received a large round of applause.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: At its peak, the show was watched by 10.61 million viewers, with an average of 10.2 million across the 75-minute running time. It comfortably beat X Factor on ITV, which was seen by 7.7 million people. But Strictly Come Dancing was Saturday night's most popular show, peaking at 11.7 million viewers (10.6m average). 'Beautiful reinvention' The Day of the Doctor was broadcast in 94 countries at the same time as it aired on BBC One on Saturday night - earning it a Guinness World Record as "the world's largest ever simulcast of a TV drama". Featuring three Doctors - Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt - it delved deep into the character's psyche over 75 minutes. Amid the special effects and multiple time zones, critics were particularly impressed with the interplay between the actors. The Telegraph's Ben Lawrence wrote: "Tennant is edgy and mercurial, likely to turn on a pin. Smith is gentler, with a boyish eccentricity and other-worldly strangeness. They sparred terrifically with a fair amount of trademark humour. "Smith's Doctor teased Tennant's about his'sand shoes' and his weight. 'Ooh. That is proper skinny. Hello matchstick man!' "And yet they were both skilled enough to convince the viewer that they were one and the same person, both sharing a compassion, an acute intelligence and a formidable nose for danger." In a five star review, the Mirror's Jon Cooper singled out writer Steven Moffat as the real star. "He's put something together here that not only gives hardcore fans a beautiful reinvention of their favourite show but also gives casual viewers a stonking story and a reminder why we all love this show so much," he wrote. "This had labour of love stamped throughout it," agreed Simon Brew on the Den Of Geek website. "It felt like a real treat, a gift to Who fandom, but more importantly, a strong episode in its own right." Opening with the show's original credit sequence from 1963, the special featured the Daleks and the return of rubber suited, shape-shifting aliens the Zygons, who first appeared in 1975. But the principal villain was potentially the Doctor himself. Moffat's story played with the idea, introduced when the science-fiction show re-launched in 2005, that the Doctor was the "last of the Time Lords". It transpired that Hurt's version of the Doctor had committed mass genocide in order to halt a "Great Time War" - and the 75-minute episode saw him fighting to come to terms with that decision, aided by two future versions of himself. There were also cameos from former star Tom Baker, and Peter Capaldi, who replaces Smith later this year. "The last few minutes affected me quite deeply," wrote Neil Perryman on the Guardian's website. He conceded that some of the details "didn't make a lot of sense on first viewing" but added: "I don't care - I'll be watching it again this evening". Speaking immediately after the broadcast, star Matt Smith said: "I think what's really clever about it is that what he [Moffat] has managed to do is change the mythology of the character - which, after 50 years, is an achievement." Aside from the emotional drama, the episode was filled with comedic moments - including a proposal, a marriage and "a machine that goes ding". "Is there a lot of this in the future?" John Hurt asked as David Tennant kissed Queen Elizabeth I. "There is a bit, yes," deadpanned Matt Smith. The UK viewing figures are the science fiction programme's highest since the 2010 Christmas Special. They do not take into account people who taped the show, or watched it later on iPlayer - and are therefore likely to rise once consolidated figures become available. Accepting the show's Guinness World Record, Moffat said: "For years the Doctor has been stopping everyone else from conquering the world. Now, just to show off, he's gone and done it himself!" Tim Davie, from BBC Worldwide, said: "We knew we were attempting something unprecedented in broadcast history, not only because Doctor Who is a drama, unlike a live feed event such as a World Cup football match or a royal wedding, but because we had to deliver the episode in advance to the four corners of the world so that it could be dubbed and subtitled into 15 different languages. "If there was any doubt that Doctor Who is one of the world's biggest TV shows, this award should put that argument to rest". The global broadcast included 3D screenings in more than 1,500 cinemas in 94 countries - from Russia to Ethiopia. They attracted hundreds of fans in fancy dress, including bow ties, fezzes and Dalek outfits. A gala event at the BFI in London was attended by Smith, Hurt, Moffat and their co-star Jenna Coleman. They received ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: At its peak, the show was watched by 10.61 million viewers, with an average of 10.2 million across the 75-minute running time. It comfortably beat X Factor on ITV, which was seen by 7.7 million people. But Strictly Come Dancing was Saturday night's most popular show, peaking at 11.7 million viewers (10.6m average). 'Beautiful reinvention' The Day of the Doctor was broadcast in 94 countries at the same time as it aired on BBC One on Saturday night - earning it a Guinness World Record as "the world's largest ever simulcast of a TV drama". Featuring three Doctors - Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt - it delved deep into the character's psyche over 75 minutes. Amid the special effects and multiple time zones, critics were particularly impressed with the interplay between the actors. The Telegraph's Ben Lawrence wrote: "Tennant is edgy and mercurial, likely to turn on a pin. Smith is gentler, with a boyish eccentricity and other-worldly strangeness. They sparred terrifically with a fair amount of trademark humour. "Smith's Doctor teased Tennant's about his'sand shoes' and his weight. 'Ooh. That is proper skinny. Hello matchstick man!' "And yet they were both skilled enough to convince the viewer that they were one and the same person, both sharing a compassion, an acute intelligence and a formidable nose for danger." In a five star review, the Mirror's Jon Cooper singled out writer Steven Moffat as the real star. "He's put something together here that not only gives hardcore fans a beautiful reinvention of their favourite show but also gives casual viewers a stonking story and a reminder why we all love this show so much," he wrote. "This had labour of love stamped throughout it," agreed Simon Brew on the Den Of Geek website. "It felt like a real treat, a gift to Who fandom, but more importantly, a strong episode in its own right." Opening with the show's original credit sequence from 1963, the special featured the Daleks and the return of rubber suited, shape-shifting aliens the Zygons, who first appeared in 1975. But the principal villain was potentially the Doctor himself. Moffat's story played with the idea, introduced when the science-fiction show re-launched in 2005, that the Doctor was the "last of the Time Lords". It transpired that Hurt's version of the Doctor had committed mass genocide in order to halt a "Great Time War" - and the 75-minute episode saw him fighting to come to terms with that decision, aided by two future versions of himself. There were also cameos from former star Tom Baker, and Peter Capaldi, who replaces Smith later this year. "The last few minutes affected me quite deeply," wrote Neil Perryman on the Guardian's website. He conceded that some of the details "didn't make a lot of sense on first viewing" but added: "I don't care - I'll be watching it again this evening". Speaking immediately after the broadcast, star Matt Smith said: "I think what's really clever about it is that what he [Moffat] has managed to do is change the mythology of the character - which, after 50 years, is an achievement." Aside from the emotional drama, the episode was filled with comedic moments - including a proposal, a marriage and "a machine that goes ding". "Is there a lot of this in the future?" John Hurt asked as David Tennant kissed Queen Elizabeth I. "There is a bit, yes," deadpanned Matt Smith. The UK viewing figures are the science fiction programme's highest since the 2010 Christmas Special. They do not take into account people who taped the show, or watched it later on iPlayer - and are therefore likely to rise once consolidated figures become available. Accepting the show's Guinness World Record, Moffat said: "For years the Doctor has been stopping everyone else from conquering the world. Now, just to show off, he's gone and done it himself!" Tim Davie, from BBC Worldwide, said: "We knew we were attempting something unprecedented in broadcast history, not only because Doctor Who is a drama, unlike a live feed event such as a World Cup football match or a royal wedding, but because we had to deliver the episode in advance to the four corners of the world so that it could be dubbed and subtitled into 15 different languages. "If there was any doubt that Doctor Who is one of the world's biggest TV shows, this award should put that argument to rest". The global broadcast included 3D screenings in more than 1,500 cinemas in 94 countries - from Russia to Ethiopia. They attracted hundreds of fans in fancy dress, including bow ties, fezzes and Dalek outfits. A gala event at the BFI in London was attended by Smith, Hurt, Moffat and their co-star Jenna Coleman. They received ### Summary: The Doctor Who special has been named the world's largest ever simulcast of a TV drama. ### Next: The Doctor Who special has been named the world's largest ever simulcast of a TV drama.

business-50159963

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50159963

Tesla shares surge after unexpected profit

Tesla has reported a quarterly profit, but said it was "highly confident" it would deliver more than 360,000 vehicles this year.

The firm also reported an unexpected profit of $143m (£110.7m) for the three months to 30 September. That beat forecasts, but was down more than 50% from a year earlier. Shares in the electric carmaker jumped by more than 17% in after-hours trade to about $300 apiece. Tesla has struggled with years of losses, fuelling investor doubts and casting a shadow over the shares in recent years. The firm has yet to turn an annual profit, although it recorded positive results in the final two quarters of 2018. Last year, the company took aggressive steps to slash expense, cutting thousands of jobs and reining in other spending. In the most recent quarter, operating expenses fell about 15% year-on-year to $930m, lifting the firm's bottom line, despite a modest decline in revenue. In Wednesday's earnings release, the company said it expected to remain profitable in the future with "possible temporary exceptions" around the launch of new products. The firm said it was "highly confident" it would deliver more than 360,000 vehicles this year - in line with previous estimates. The company is betting on major success in China, the world's biggest car market. Sales there had been hurt by tariffs triggered by the US-China trade war. Tesla said trial production had already started at its factory in Shanghai, the first wholly foreign-owned plant in the country. However, it still needs additional government sign-off before full production gets underway, it said. "We have cleared initial milestones toward our manufacturing license and are working towards finalising the license and meeting other governmental requirements," it said.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The firm also reported an unexpected profit of $143m (£110.7m) for the three months to 30 September. That beat forecasts, but was down more than 50% from a year earlier. Shares in the electric carmaker jumped by more than 17% in after-hours trade to about $300 apiece. Tesla has struggled with years of losses, fuelling investor doubts and casting a shadow over the shares in recent years. The firm has yet to turn an annual profit, although it recorded positive results in the final two quarters of 2018. Last year, the company took aggressive steps to slash expense, cutting thousands of jobs and reining in other spending. In the most recent quarter, operating expenses fell about 15% year-on-year to $930m, lifting the firm's bottom line, despite a modest decline in revenue. In Wednesday's earnings release, the company said it expected to remain profitable in the future with "possible temporary exceptions" around the launch of new products. The firm said it was "highly confident" it would deliver more than 360,000 vehicles this year - in line with previous estimates. The company is betting on major success in China, the world's biggest car market. Sales there had been hurt by tariffs triggered by the US-China trade war. Tesla said trial production had already started at its factory in Shanghai, the first wholly foreign-owned plant in the country. However, it still needs additional government sign-off before full production gets underway, it said. "We have cleared initial milestones toward our manufacturing license and are working towards finalising the license and meeting other governmental requirements," it said. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The firm also reported an unexpected profit of $143m (£110.7m) for the three months to 30 September. That beat forecasts, but was down more than 50% from a year earlier. Shares in the electric carmaker jumped by more than 17% in after-hours trade to about $300 apiece. Tesla has struggled with years of losses, fuelling investor doubts and casting a shadow over the shares in recent years. The firm has yet to turn an annual profit, although it recorded positive results in the final two quarters of 2018. Last year, the company took aggressive steps to slash expense, cutting thousands of jobs and reining in other spending. In the most recent quarter, operating expenses fell about 15% year-on-year to $930m, lifting the firm's bottom line, despite a modest decline in revenue. In Wednesday's earnings release, the company said it expected to remain profitable in the future with "possible temporary exceptions" around the launch of new products. The firm said it was "highly confident" it would deliver more than 360,000 vehicles this year - in line with previous estimates. The company is betting on major success in China, the world's biggest car market. Sales there had been hurt by tariffs triggered by the US-China trade war. Tesla said trial production had already started at its factory in Shanghai, the first wholly foreign-owned plant in the country. However, it still needs additional government sign-off before full production gets underway, it said. "We have cleared initial milestones toward our manufacturing license and are working towards finalising the license and meeting other governmental requirements," it said. ### Summary: Tesla has reported a quarterly profit, but said it was "highly confident" it would deliver more than 360,000 vehicles this year. ### Text: Tesla has reported a quarter

uk-england-cumbria-44997743

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-44997743

Northern: Cancelled services resume after timetable chaos

A train company has said it has cancelled 18% of its services on the TransPennine route.

Northern removed 168 services last month to try to relieve chaos caused by the timetable's introduction in May. The train company said 30 services were cancelled on Monday as of 16:00 BST, with nine due to a signal failure. But the Northern Fail app, run by a passenger, said 53 trains were fully or partially cancelled by 10:00. Services in Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire partially resumed on Monday while all trains on the Lakes Line in Cumbria are being reinstated by Northern. The remaining 25% of its cancelled services will not restart until September. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has written to the prime minister asking her to personally intervene over the "chaos" caused by Northern this summer. Downing Street said Theresa May understands the "anger and frustration" of rail travellers and believes the continuing delays are unacceptable. Passengers who encountered delays and cancellations earlier took to social media to highlight their plight. David Jenkins tweeted: "First train for 2 months and they cancel it two mins after it's meant to arrive." Commuter Dominic Abraham-Newman, from Patricroft in Greater Manchester, said: "By 7am on the Liverpool to Crewe line, two trains were delayed and one cancelled. "It took me triple the time to get to work this morning as trains are also being sent to Manchester Piccadilly instead of Manchester Victoria. "Enough is enough, they need to lose their franchise and bring it in-house or give Andy Burnham's team the responsibility to deal with this debacle". Paul Boden, who travels from Padgate, Warrington to Manchester Oxford Road each day said his train "was cancelled without warning" and the next one was "chaotic and overcrowded". And David John Gautrey said: "The service is exactly the same. "Got to newly revamped Lime Street Station to get the 8:45 train to Wavertree Tech Park. Guess what? Train cancelled. "Northern Rail suck, it was better when they had bus replacement service." The Trains.im website, which uses open rail data, reported 18% of services on the TransPennine route were either cancelled or more than 30 minutes late on Monday morning. On south TransPennine routes, half of services were either late or cancelled and 40% of services between Preston and Scotland were running late. Over the summer thousands of passengers have applied for compensation from Northern, which made the first pay-outs last week. Northern, which has faced calls for it to be stripped of its franchise, says a "more gradual" reintroduction of its timetable will ensure a more stable and reliable service. Northern said some of those cancellations have been because of signalling problems which is the responsibility of Network Rail. The firm also blamed "other infrastructure problems". David Brown, managing director at Northern said the cancellations since 4 June had been an attempt to alleviate "significant disruption" caused by the nationwide introduction of the new timetable in May. He said: "Whilst we are ready to reintroduce all 168 daily services, given the need to drive further improvements across Manchester, we have agreed to a more gradual reintroduction of our services." He said it had been "working hard" to ensure customers "experience stable and reliable journeys today". "Whilst we have experienced a few local operational issues, as we do every day, so far the vast majority of services are running to plan," he said. "As at 4pm we have had to cancel 30 services - of around 1,500 we would have operated across our entire network - with nine of these relating to issues with lineside equipment." Services reintroduced on Monday: At the scene Dave Guest, BBC News at Preston Railway Station On Preston station this morning there was some scepticism among delay-weary travellers as to whether Northern has finally sorted things out. One frustrated commuter told us her train from Lytham never materialised adding: "First day of the new timetable and it's out of the window." Indeed the departure boards did show a number of cancellations and delays, though not nearly as many as in previous weeks. Another traveller told us hopefully: "Maybe the recent trouble has just been a blip." Mayor Andy Burnham said: "People could have legitimately expected, when fewer trains were running, that at least the ones that were running would be on time, well they haven't been. The emergency timetable didn't solve anything. "And then on Saturday night, nine o'clock an email lands saying Northern will cancel 47 services tomorrow so we can get trains in the right place for Monday morning. "Even if trains do run better today it's because there were no services yesterday. "Speak to any commuter in the north west of England and they will tell you that Northern services were poor for a long time before the new timetable came in and they haven't got much better in the two months since." Asked if Transport Secretary Chris Grayling should lose his job, Mr Burnham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yes, ultimately, because he's just not doing enough." Last month, Mr Grayling defended his handling of the saga and announced an inquiry into what went wrong. Rail trouble timeline A government spokesman said: "The Rail North Partnership has accepted the rail industry's recommendation to phase in services from Monday when 75% of the Northern train services removed during the interim timetable will be reintroduced. "This is in addition to further adjustments to timetables to improve reliability, so that passengers can better plan ahead." He added that Mr Burnham sits on the board of Transport for the North "which jointly manages the Northern franchise through the Rail North Partnership". In May, what was billed as the biggest ever overhaul of rail timetables led to significant and widespread rail disruption. The timetable change - for Northern as well as Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) lines - was aimed at improving punctuality and boosting capacity, but instead led to a huge number of train services being cancelled or severely delayed. Northern and GTR had to remove hundreds of trains in a temporary timetable change to deal with the chaos on the rail network. Services to be reintroduced in September:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Northern removed 168 services last month to try to relieve chaos caused by the timetable's introduction in May. The train company said 30 services were cancelled on Monday as of 16:00 BST, with nine due to a signal failure. But the Northern Fail app, run by a passenger, said 53 trains were fully or partially cancelled by 10:00. Services in Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire partially resumed on Monday while all trains on the Lakes Line in Cumbria are being reinstated by Northern. The remaining 25% of its cancelled services will not restart until September. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has written to the prime minister asking her to personally intervene over the "chaos" caused by Northern this summer. Downing Street said Theresa May understands the "anger and frustration" of rail travellers and believes the continuing delays are unacceptable. Passengers who encountered delays and cancellations earlier took to social media to highlight their plight. David Jenkins tweeted: "First train for 2 months and they cancel it two mins after it's meant to arrive." Commuter Dominic Abraham-Newman, from Patricroft in Greater Manchester, said: "By 7am on the Liverpool to Crewe line, two trains were delayed and one cancelled. "It took me triple the time to get to work this morning as trains are also being sent to Manchester Piccadilly instead of Manchester Victoria. "Enough is enough, they need to lose their franchise and bring it in-house or give Andy Burnham's team the responsibility to deal with this debacle". Paul Boden, who travels from Padgate, Warrington to Manchester Oxford Road each day said his train "was cancelled without warning" and the next one was "chaotic and overcrowded". And David John Gautrey said: "The service is exactly the same. "Got to newly revamped Lime Street Station to get the 8:45 train to Wavertree Tech Park. Guess what? Train cancelled. "Northern Rail suck, it was better when they had bus replacement service." The Trains.im website, which uses open rail data, reported 18% of services on the TransPennine route were either cancelled or more than 30 minutes late on Monday morning. On south TransPennine routes, half of services were either late or cancelled and 40% of services between Preston and Scotland were running late. Over the summer thousands of passengers have applied for compensation from Northern, which made the first pay-outs last week. Northern, which has faced calls for it to be stripped of its franchise, says a "more gradual" reintroduction of its timetable will ensure a more stable and reliable service. Northern said some of those cancellations have been because of signalling problems which is the responsibility of Network Rail. The firm also blamed "other infrastructure problems". David Brown, managing director at Northern said the cancellations since 4 June had been an attempt to alleviate "significant disruption" caused by the nationwide introduction of the new timetable in May. He said: "Whilst we are ready to reintroduce all 168 daily services, given the need to drive further improvements across Manchester, we have agreed to a more gradual reintroduction of our services." He said it had been "working hard" to ensure customers "experience stable and reliable journeys today". "Whilst we have experienced a few local operational issues, as we do every day, so far the vast majority of services are running to plan," he said. "As at 4pm we have had to cancel 30 services - of around 1,500 we would have operated across our entire network - with nine of these relating to issues with lineside equipment." Services reintroduced on Monday: At the scene Dave Guest, BBC News at Preston Railway Station On Preston station this morning there was some scepticism among delay-weary travellers as to whether Northern has finally sorted things out. One frustrated commuter told us her train from Lytham never materialised adding: "First day of the new timetable and it's out of the window." Indeed the departure boards did show a number of cancellations and delays, though not nearly as many as in previous weeks. Another traveller told us hopefully: "Maybe the recent trouble has just been a blip." Mayor Andy Burnham said: "People could have legitimately expected, when fewer trains were running, that at least the ones that were running would be on time, well they haven't been. The emergency timetable didn't solve anything. "And then on Saturday night, nine o'clock an email lands saying Northern will cancel 47 services tomorrow so we can get trains in the right place for Monday morning. "Even if trains do run better today it's because there were no services yesterday. "Speak to any commuter in the north west of England and they will tell you that Northern services were poor for a long time before the new timetable came in and they haven't got much better in the two months since." Asked if Transport Secretary Chris Grayling should lose his job, Mr Burnham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yes, ultimately ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Northern removed 168 services last month to try to relieve chaos caused by the timetable's introduction in May. The train company said 30 services were cancelled on Monday as of 16:00 BST, with nine due to a signal failure. But the Northern Fail app, run by a passenger, said 53 trains were fully or partially cancelled by 10:00. Services in Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire partially resumed on Monday while all trains on the Lakes Line in Cumbria are being reinstated by Northern. The remaining 25% of its cancelled services will not restart until September. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has written to the prime minister asking her to personally intervene over the "chaos" caused by Northern this summer. Downing Street said Theresa May understands the "anger and frustration" of rail travellers and believes the continuing delays are unacceptable. Passengers who encountered delays and cancellations earlier took to social media to highlight their plight. David Jenkins tweeted: "First train for 2 months and they cancel it two mins after it's meant to arrive." Commuter Dominic Abraham-Newman, from Patricroft in Greater Manchester, said: "By 7am on the Liverpool to Crewe line, two trains were delayed and one cancelled. "It took me triple the time to get to work this morning as trains are also being sent to Manchester Piccadilly instead of Manchester Victoria. "Enough is enough, they need to lose their franchise and bring it in-house or give Andy Burnham's team the responsibility to deal with this debacle". Paul Boden, who travels from Padgate, Warrington to Manchester Oxford Road each day said his train "was cancelled without warning" and the next one was "chaotic and overcrowded". And David John Gautrey said: "The service is exactly the same. "Got to newly revamped Lime Street Station to get the 8:45 train to Wavertree Tech Park. Guess what? Train cancelled. "Northern Rail suck, it was better when they had bus replacement service." The Trains.im website, which uses open rail data, reported 18% of services on the TransPennine route were either cancelled or more than 30 minutes late on Monday morning. On south TransPennine routes, half of services were either late or cancelled and 40% of services between Preston and Scotland were running late. Over the summer thousands of passengers have applied for compensation from Northern, which made the first pay-outs last week. Northern, which has faced calls for it to be stripped of its franchise, says a "more gradual" reintroduction of its timetable will ensure a more stable and reliable service. Northern said some of those cancellations have been because of signalling problems which is the responsibility of Network Rail. The firm also blamed "other infrastructure problems". David Brown, managing director at Northern said the cancellations since 4 June had been an attempt to alleviate "significant disruption" caused by the nationwide introduction of the new timetable in May. He said: "Whilst we are ready to reintroduce all 168 daily services, given the need to drive further improvements across Manchester, we have agreed to a more gradual reintroduction of our services." He said it had been "working hard" to ensure customers "experience stable and reliable journeys today". "Whilst we have experienced a few local operational issues, as we do every day, so far the vast majority of services are running to plan," he said. "As at 4pm we have had to cancel 30 services - of around 1,500 we would have operated across our entire network - with nine of these relating to issues with lineside equipment." Services reintroduced on Monday: At the scene Dave Guest, BBC News at Preston Railway Station On Preston station this morning there was some scepticism among delay-weary travellers as to whether Northern has finally sorted things out. One frustrated commuter told us her train from Lytham never materialised adding: "First day of the new timetable and it's out of the window." Indeed the departure boards did show a number of cancellations and delays, though not nearly as many as in previous weeks. Another traveller told us hopefully: "Maybe the recent trouble has just been a blip." Mayor Andy Burnham said: "People could have legitimately expected, when fewer trains were running, that at least the ones that were running would be on time, well they haven't been. The emergency timetable didn't solve anything. "And then on Saturday night, nine o'clock an email lands saying Northern will cancel 47 services tomorrow so we can get trains in the right place for Monday morning. "Even if trains do run better today it's because there were no services yesterday. "Speak to any commuter in the north west of England and they will tell you that Northern services were poor for a long time before the new timetable came in and they haven't got much better in the two months since." Asked if Transport Secretary Chris Grayling should lose his job, Mr Burnham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yes, ultimately ### Summary: A train company has said it has cancelled 18% of its services on the TransPennine route. ### Spotlight Northern Rail has been forced to cancel trains on the TransPennine route because of a

uk-wales-46407175

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-46407175

Trains to get back on track in after disruption, TfW says

A fleet of trains in Wales has been damaged by storms.

The effect of storms on ageing trains meant a third of the fleet of 127 on Wales' rail network were put out of action earlier this month. But after a "mammoth" push to repair them, operator Transport for Wales said services are set to return to normal. Chief executive James Price said it was looking into what had gone wrong. Transport for Wales (TfW)'s contractor Keolis-Amey took over the Wales and Borders service from Arriva in October but within weeks it was faced with cancelling a number of services. But on Friday it said "the picture is expected to improve over the next two weeks, starting on Monday when services on the Wrexham-Bidston line will be restored to normal. "After unprecedented levels of damage to trains caused disruption across the network, Transport for Wales engineers have worked almost 1,000 hours of overtime over the last four weeks to return damaged trains to the tracks," it said in a statement. "The number of available trains in the fleet has increased by more than 10% in the last four days after the mammoth engineering push, and the number of trains reporting new faults is starting to fall. "While the current stormy conditions are still creating difficult conditions for rail services, the picture is still expected to improve." 'Prevent it happening again' Network Rail and Transport for Wales have launched a joint investigation to understand why this autumn's weather caused so much damage to the fleet. TfW said an £800m investment in new trains meant services would be better able to cope with autumn weather conditions. The first trains will be introduced in north Wales as early as next year. Mr Price said: "Our main focus now is on understanding what went wrong, and doing everything in our power to prevent it happening again." On Thursday, he said the fleet had not been maintained "quite as well as it could have been" before the new franchise started. But former operator Arriva defended itself against criticism of its maintenance record on Friday, saying it it went "above and beyond" in its contractual obligations.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The effect of storms on ageing trains meant a third of the fleet of 127 on Wales' rail network were put out of action earlier this month. But after a "mammoth" push to repair them, operator Transport for Wales said services are set to return to normal. Chief executive James Price said it was looking into what had gone wrong. Transport for Wales (TfW)'s contractor Keolis-Amey took over the Wales and Borders service from Arriva in October but within weeks it was faced with cancelling a number of services. But on Friday it said "the picture is expected to improve over the next two weeks, starting on Monday when services on the Wrexham-Bidston line will be restored to normal. "After unprecedented levels of damage to trains caused disruption across the network, Transport for Wales engineers have worked almost 1,000 hours of overtime over the last four weeks to return damaged trains to the tracks," it said in a statement. "The number of available trains in the fleet has increased by more than 10% in the last four days after the mammoth engineering push, and the number of trains reporting new faults is starting to fall. "While the current stormy conditions are still creating difficult conditions for rail services, the picture is still expected to improve." 'Prevent it happening again' Network Rail and Transport for Wales have launched a joint investigation to understand why this autumn's weather caused so much damage to the fleet. TfW said an £800m investment in new trains meant services would be better able to cope with autumn weather conditions. The first trains will be introduced in north Wales as early as next year. Mr Price said: "Our main focus now is on understanding what went wrong, and doing everything in our power to prevent it happening again." On Thursday, he said the fleet had not been maintained "quite as well as it could have been" before the new franchise started. But former operator Arriva defended itself against criticism of its maintenance record on Friday, saying it it went "above and beyond" in its contractual obligations. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The effect of storms on ageing trains meant a third of the fleet of 127 on Wales' rail network were put out of action earlier this month. But after a "mammoth" push to repair them, operator Transport for Wales said services are set to return to normal. Chief executive James Price said it was looking into what had gone wrong. Transport for Wales (TfW)'s contractor Keolis-Amey took over the Wales and Borders service from Arriva in October but within weeks it was faced with cancelling a number of services. But on Friday it said "the picture is expected to improve over the next two weeks, starting on Monday when services on the Wrexham-Bidston line will be restored to normal. "After unprecedented levels of damage to trains caused disruption across the network, Transport for Wales engineers have worked almost 1,000 hours of overtime over the last four weeks to return damaged trains to the tracks," it said in a statement. "The number of available trains in the fleet has increased by more than 10% in the last four days after the mammoth engineering push, and the number of trains reporting new faults is starting to fall. "While the current stormy conditions are still creating difficult conditions for rail services, the picture is still expected to improve." 'Prevent it happening again' Network Rail and Transport for Wales have launched a joint investigation to understand why this autumn's weather caused so much damage to the fleet. TfW said an £800m investment in new trains meant services would be better able to cope with autumn weather conditions. The first trains will be introduced in north Wales as early as next year. Mr Price said: "Our main focus now is on understanding what went wrong, and doing everything in our power to prevent it happening again." On Thursday, he said the fleet had not been maintained "quite as well as it could have been" before the new franchise started. But former operator Arriva defended itself against criticism of its maintenance record on Friday, saying it it went "above and beyond" in its contractual obligations. ### Summary: A fleet of trains in Wales has been damaged by storms. ### Next story: A fleet of trains in Wales has been damaged by storms. ### Next story: A fleet of trains in Wales

uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-50794964

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-50794964

Faulty valve leaves thousands without water in Bedfordshire

A water main in Leighton Buzzard has been fixed, Anglian Water has said.

At its peak about 12,000 properties in Leighton Buzzard, Toddington, Hockliffe and surrounding areas were affected. Up to 2,000 homes in Bedfordshire are still without water and residents have been queuing for up to 45 minutes at a nearby supermarket for bottles. Anglian Water handed out the bottles and was working to restore supplies. Local resident Maria Power said: "The situation is disgraceful it should have been resolved by now." "I'm angry at the water company that they are going to leave people without water for nearly 48 hours," she told the PA news agency. 'Air pocket' The valve was fixed on Saturday evening but properties in Leighton Linslade are still without water because of air in the system, Anglian Water said. The firm apologised and warned that water was unlikely to return to the areas until Monday afternoon. One resident said shops in the area had run out of bottled water. Anglian Water said customers who were in its "priority list", such as elderly people or families with young children, had been delivered bottled water. It said engineers were installing an overland pipe to bypass the airlocked water main. Regan Harris, from the company, said: "Most of our customers will be coming back to water soon. "There is an area on the northern part of Leighton Buzzard where people may be without water for a little while longer due to an air pocket." Conservative MP for Leighton Buzzard Andrew Selous said queues have "dropped down and everyone got their allocation". Mr Selous tweeted that "many customers supportive given what a complex issue Anglian Water dealing with."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: At its peak about 12,000 properties in Leighton Buzzard, Toddington, Hockliffe and surrounding areas were affected. Up to 2,000 homes in Bedfordshire are still without water and residents have been queuing for up to 45 minutes at a nearby supermarket for bottles. Anglian Water handed out the bottles and was working to restore supplies. Local resident Maria Power said: "The situation is disgraceful it should have been resolved by now." "I'm angry at the water company that they are going to leave people without water for nearly 48 hours," she told the PA news agency. 'Air pocket' The valve was fixed on Saturday evening but properties in Leighton Linslade are still without water because of air in the system, Anglian Water said. The firm apologised and warned that water was unlikely to return to the areas until Monday afternoon. One resident said shops in the area had run out of bottled water. Anglian Water said customers who were in its "priority list", such as elderly people or families with young children, had been delivered bottled water. It said engineers were installing an overland pipe to bypass the airlocked water main. Regan Harris, from the company, said: "Most of our customers will be coming back to water soon. "There is an area on the northern part of Leighton Buzzard where people may be without water for a little while longer due to an air pocket." Conservative MP for Leighton Buzzard Andrew Selous said queues have "dropped down and everyone got their allocation". Mr Selous tweeted that "many customers supportive given what a complex issue Anglian Water dealing with." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: At its peak about 12,000 properties in Leighton Buzzard, Toddington, Hockliffe and surrounding areas were affected. Up to 2,000 homes in Bedfordshire are still without water and residents have been queuing for up to 45 minutes at a nearby supermarket for bottles. Anglian Water handed out the bottles and was working to restore supplies. Local resident Maria Power said: "The situation is disgraceful it should have been resolved by now." "I'm angry at the water company that they are going to leave people without water for nearly 48 hours," she told the PA news agency. 'Air pocket' The valve was fixed on Saturday evening but properties in Leighton Linslade are still without water because of air in the system, Anglian Water said. The firm apologised and warned that water was unlikely to return to the areas until Monday afternoon. One resident said shops in the area had run out of bottled water. Anglian Water said customers who were in its "priority list", such as elderly people or families with young children, had been delivered bottled water. It said engineers were installing an overland pipe to bypass the airlocked water main. Regan Harris, from the company, said: "Most of our customers will be coming back to water soon. "There is an area on the northern part of Leighton Buzzard where people may be without water for a little while longer due to an air pocket." Conservative MP for Leighton Buzzard Andrew Selous said queues have "dropped down and everyone got their allocation". Mr Selous tweeted that "many customers supportive given what a complex issue Anglian Water dealing with." ### Summary: A water main in Leighton Buzzard has been fixed, Anglian Water has said. ### Next steps: The water company has apologised for the situation. ### In this story: A water

uk-england-wiltshire-46046984

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-46046984

Electrification of Great Western Mainline to Swindon completed

A £2.8bn upgrade to the Great Western mainline has been scrapped.

Modernisation of the Great Western mainline has been extended to Swindon. Network Rail said it will allow "more frequent services, thousands more seats and quicker journeys" from next year. The work to electrify the line between Didcot Parkway and Swindon is part of a wider plan to modernise the Great Western mainline. The full route to Cardiff is due to be finished in 2019. Mark Langman, from Network Rail, said: "Electrification reaching Swindon is a significant milestone as we continue to deliver the biggest upgrade to the Great Western mainline since it was built by Brunel more than 175 years ago. "It will provide a major boost for the town and its economy as well as transforming rail journeys with improved journeys and thousands more seats available for passengers. The £2.8bn scheme linking London and south Wales has been plagued with problems, including delays and spiralling costs. It was also set to include the main line to Oxford, Bath and Bristol, but some parts were "deferred" in 2016 following rising costs. In July last year the government announced the planned upgrade of the line between Swansea and Cardiff had been scrapped altogether.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Modernisation of the Great Western mainline has been extended to Swindon. Network Rail said it will allow "more frequent services, thousands more seats and quicker journeys" from next year. The work to electrify the line between Didcot Parkway and Swindon is part of a wider plan to modernise the Great Western mainline. The full route to Cardiff is due to be finished in 2019. Mark Langman, from Network Rail, said: "Electrification reaching Swindon is a significant milestone as we continue to deliver the biggest upgrade to the Great Western mainline since it was built by Brunel more than 175 years ago. "It will provide a major boost for the town and its economy as well as transforming rail journeys with improved journeys and thousands more seats available for passengers. The £2.8bn scheme linking London and south Wales has been plagued with problems, including delays and spiralling costs. It was also set to include the main line to Oxford, Bath and Bristol, but some parts were "deferred" in 2016 following rising costs. In July last year the government announced the planned upgrade of the line between Swansea and Cardiff had been scrapped altogether. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Modernisation of the Great Western mainline has been extended to Swindon. Network Rail said it will allow "more frequent services, thousands more seats and quicker journeys" from next year. The work to electrify the line between Didcot Parkway and Swindon is part of a wider plan to modernise the Great Western mainline. The full route to Cardiff is due to be finished in 2019. Mark Langman, from Network Rail, said: "Electrification reaching Swindon is a significant milestone as we continue to deliver the biggest upgrade to the Great Western mainline since it was built by Brunel more than 175 years ago. "It will provide a major boost for the town and its economy as well as transforming rail journeys with improved journeys and thousands more seats available for passengers. The £2.8bn scheme linking London and south Wales has been plagued with problems, including delays and spiralling costs. It was also set to include the main line to Oxford, Bath and Bristol, but some parts were "deferred" in 2016 following rising costs. In July last year the government announced the planned upgrade of the line between Swansea and Cardiff had been scrapped altogether. ### Summary: A £2.8bn upgrade to the Great Western mainline has been scrapped. ### Source: The Great Western Mainline will be upgraded to electrify the line between Didcot Parkway and Swindon.

business-39522265

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39522265

German Mittelstand wants 'soft Brexit'

The head of the BVMW, the German business lobby, has said a hard Brexit would be "worst result" for the UK.

By Joe MillerBerlin The boss of the BVMW, which represents more than 270,000 SMEs, told the BBC "a hard Brexit would harm both sides". Mario Ohoven added that negotiations should be "guided by economic sense and not by political ideologues". The remarks diverge from the position taken by other leading German voices. In September last year, the head of the BDI, a powerful German business lobby whose members are larger companies, told the BBC it was "better to have a hard Brexit that works". German politicians have almost unanimously underlined that the UK cannot have unfettered access to the single market unless it allows for the free movement of EU citizens. In her letter to the EU last week, Theresa May said the UK would "not seek membership of the single market" in the upcoming negotiations. 'Worst result' But Mr Ohoven emphasised that the close economic ties between the UK and the German Mittelstand - which makes up the bulk of the country's economy - meant a Brexit deal without single market access would be damaging to both countries. "Germany exported goods worth 89bn euros to the UK alone in 2015, almost half of it was exported by 150,000 German SMEs," he said, adding that many more companies traded indirectly with the British market, as well as relying on UK research and development. "In the end, a soft Brexit should be reached. It is important that the UK stays in the single market, or that the UK joins an agreement similar to the the EFTA (European Free Trade Association), similar to Norway or Iceland. "The worst result would be if the EU and the UK did not reach an agreement in time," he added. That sentiment was echoed by Dirk Rothweiler, the chief executive of First Sensor, a Mittelstand firm that makes almost 7m euros a year from sales to the UK market. Dr Rothweiler, whose company in the east of Berlin provides highly specialised sensor chips for products such as premature baby incubators and autonomous vehicles, said pragmatism was "what the industry was interested in". "It would be very desirable not to have trade barriers, and if so to have the least possible amount of trade barriers in both directions" 'No winners' The BVMW's Mario Ohoven emphasised that all four freedoms of the EU - the free movement of goods, capital, services and people - were important to the businesses he represents, at which almost 6% of employees are from elsewhere in the EU. "We shouldn't forget that 750,000 jobs in Germany depend on the trade with the United Kingdom", he added. Mr Ohoven dismissed the idea that a "hard Brexit", with the UK no longer in the single market, could benefit some SMEs who may face less international competition. "The German Mittelstand does not believe in the world economy as a fixed size cake, in which every country has to fight against the other countries to increase its share. "A hard Brexit, or an increase in protectionism, will only lead to a decrease of the cake as a whole," he warned. "I want to be very clear here - Brexit knows no winners, all sides will lose."

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Joe MillerBerlin The boss of the BVMW, which represents more than 270,000 SMEs, told the BBC "a hard Brexit would harm both sides". Mario Ohoven added that negotiations should be "guided by economic sense and not by political ideologues". The remarks diverge from the position taken by other leading German voices. In September last year, the head of the BDI, a powerful German business lobby whose members are larger companies, told the BBC it was "better to have a hard Brexit that works". German politicians have almost unanimously underlined that the UK cannot have unfettered access to the single market unless it allows for the free movement of EU citizens. In her letter to the EU last week, Theresa May said the UK would "not seek membership of the single market" in the upcoming negotiations. 'Worst result' But Mr Ohoven emphasised that the close economic ties between the UK and the German Mittelstand - which makes up the bulk of the country's economy - meant a Brexit deal without single market access would be damaging to both countries. "Germany exported goods worth 89bn euros to the UK alone in 2015, almost half of it was exported by 150,000 German SMEs," he said, adding that many more companies traded indirectly with the British market, as well as relying on UK research and development. "In the end, a soft Brexit should be reached. It is important that the UK stays in the single market, or that the UK joins an agreement similar to the the EFTA (European Free Trade Association), similar to Norway or Iceland. "The worst result would be if the EU and the UK did not reach an agreement in time," he added. That sentiment was echoed by Dirk Rothweiler, the chief executive of First Sensor, a Mittelstand firm that makes almost 7m euros a year from sales to the UK market. Dr Rothweiler, whose company in the east of Berlin provides highly specialised sensor chips for products such as premature baby incubators and autonomous vehicles, said pragmatism was "what the industry was interested in". "It would be very desirable not to have trade barriers, and if so to have the least possible amount of trade barriers in both directions" 'No winners' The BVMW's Mario Ohoven emphasised that all four freedoms of the EU - the free movement of goods, capital, services and people - were important to the businesses he represents, at which almost 6% of employees are from elsewhere in the EU. "We shouldn't forget that 750,000 jobs in Germany depend on the trade with the United Kingdom", he added. Mr Ohoven dismissed the idea that a "hard Brexit", with the UK no longer in the single market, could benefit some SMEs who may face less international competition. "The German Mittelstand does not believe in the world economy as a fixed size cake, in which every country has to fight against the other countries to increase its share. "A hard Brexit, or an increase in protectionism, will only lead to a decrease of the cake as a whole," he warned. "I want to be very clear here - Brexit knows no winners, all sides will lose." ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Joe MillerBerlin The boss of the BVMW, which represents more than 270,000 SMEs, told the BBC "a hard Brexit would harm both sides". Mario Ohoven added that negotiations should be "guided by economic sense and not by political ideologues". The remarks diverge from the position taken by other leading German voices. In September last year, the head of the BDI, a powerful German business lobby whose members are larger companies, told the BBC it was "better to have a hard Brexit that works". German politicians have almost unanimously underlined that the UK cannot have unfettered access to the single market unless it allows for the free movement of EU citizens. In her letter to the EU last week, Theresa May said the UK would "not seek membership of the single market" in the upcoming negotiations. 'Worst result' But Mr Ohoven emphasised that the close economic ties between the UK and the German Mittelstand - which makes up the bulk of the country's economy - meant a Brexit deal without single market access would be damaging to both countries. "Germany exported goods worth 89bn euros to the UK alone in 2015, almost half of it was exported by 150,000 German SMEs," he said, adding that many more companies traded indirectly with the British market, as well as relying on UK research and development. "In the end, a soft Brexit should be reached. It is important that the UK stays in the single market, or that the UK joins an agreement similar to the the EFTA (European Free Trade Association), similar to Norway or Iceland. "The worst result would be if the EU and the UK did not reach an agreement in time," he added. That sentiment was echoed by Dirk Rothweiler, the chief executive of First Sensor, a Mittelstand firm that makes almost 7m euros a year from sales to the UK market. Dr Rothweiler, whose company in the east of Berlin provides highly specialised sensor chips for products such as premature baby incubators and autonomous vehicles, said pragmatism was "what the industry was interested in". "It would be very desirable not to have trade barriers, and if so to have the least possible amount of trade barriers in both directions" 'No winners' The BVMW's Mario Ohoven emphasised that all four freedoms of the EU - the free movement of goods, capital, services and people - were important to the businesses he represents, at which almost 6% of employees are from elsewhere in the EU. "We shouldn't forget that 750,000 jobs in Germany depend on the trade with the United Kingdom", he added. Mr Ohoven dismissed the idea that a "hard Brexit", with the UK no longer in the single market, could benefit some SMEs who may face less international competition. "The German Mittelstand does not believe in the world economy as a fixed size cake, in which every country has to fight against the other countries to increase its share. "A hard Brexit, or an increase in protectionism, will only lead to a decrease of the cake as a whole," he warned. "I want to be very clear here - Brexit knows no winners, all sides will lose." ### Summary: The head of the BVMW, the German business lobby, has said a hard Brexit would be "worst result" for the UK. ### Text: The head of the BVMW, the German

science-environment-28852980

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28852980

Greenland ice sheet losses double

The amount of ice being dumped into the sea by the Antarctic ice sheet has doubled since 2009, according to a new study.

By Jonathan AmosScience correspondent, BBC News Added to the discharges coming from Antarctica, it means Earth's two big ice sheets are now dumping roughly 500 cu km of ice in the oceans annually. "The contribution of both ice sheets together to sea level rise has doubled since 2009," said Angelika Humbert from Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute. "To us, that's an incredible number," she told BBC News. In its report to The Cryosphere journal, the AWI team does not actually calculate a sea-level rise equivalent number, but if this volume is considered to be all ice (a small part will be snow) then the contribution is likely to be on the order of just over a millimetre per year. This is the latest study to use the precision altimetry data being gathered by the European Space Agency's CryoSat platform. The satellite was launched in 2010 with a sophisticated radar instrument specifically designed to measure the shape of the polar ice sheets. The AWI group, led by senior researcher Veit Helm, has taken just over two years' worth of data centred on 2012/2013 to build what are called digital elevation models (DEMs) of Greenland and Antarctica, and to asses their evolution. These models incorporate a total of 14 million individual height measurements for Greenland and another 200 million for Antarctica. When compared with similar data-sets assembled by the US space agency's IceSat mission between 2003 and 2009, the scientists are able then to calculate changes in ice volume beyond just the CryoSat snapshot. Negative shifts are the result of surface melting and ice discharge; positive trends are the consequence of precipitation - snowfall. Greenland is experiencing the biggest reductions in elevation currently, losing about 375 cu km a year (plus or minus 24 cu km per year), with most of the action occurring at the west and south-east coast of the island. Significant thinning is seen also in the North East Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS). "This has three outlet glaciers and one of these, the Zachariae Isstrom, has retreated quite a bit and some volume loss has already been reported. But we see now that this volume loss is really propagating to upper areas, much further into the interior of the ice sheet than has been recorded before," explained Prof Humbert. In Antarctica, the annual volume loss is about 128 cu km per year (plus or minus 83 cu km per year). As other studies have found, this is concentrated in the continent's western sector, in the area of the Amundsen Sea Embayment. Big glaciers here, such as Thwaites and Pine Island, are thinning and retreating at a rapid rate. Some thickening is seen also, such as in Dronning Maud Land, where colossal snowfalls have been reported. But this accumulation does not offset the losses occurring in West Antarctica. A British-led group recently reported its own Antarctica DEM, using a different algorithm to process the numbers in the CryoSat data. The AWI outcomes look very similar, and the German team has transferred the exact same approach to Greenland so it can have confidence in comparing the two ice sheets. The losses also look consistent with the analysis coming out of the American Grace mission, which uses a different type of satellite to monitor gravity changes in the polar regions - to, in essence, weigh the amount of ice being dumped into the sea. Prof Andy Shepherd, who was part of the British group that reported its findings in May, commented: "This is yet another exciting result from CryoSat, thanks to the team at AWI, charting yet more new ground by providing the first complete survey of ice volume changes in Greenland. "However, the increased ice losses that have been detected are a worrying reminder that the polar ice sheets are still experiencing dramatic changes, and will inevitably raise concerns about future global sea-level rise," the Leeds University researcher said. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Jonathan AmosScience correspondent, BBC News Added to the discharges coming from Antarctica, it means Earth's two big ice sheets are now dumping roughly 500 cu km of ice in the oceans annually. "The contribution of both ice sheets together to sea level rise has doubled since 2009," said Angelika Humbert from Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute. "To us, that's an incredible number," she told BBC News. In its report to The Cryosphere journal, the AWI team does not actually calculate a sea-level rise equivalent number, but if this volume is considered to be all ice (a small part will be snow) then the contribution is likely to be on the order of just over a millimetre per year. This is the latest study to use the precision altimetry data being gathered by the European Space Agency's CryoSat platform. The satellite was launched in 2010 with a sophisticated radar instrument specifically designed to measure the shape of the polar ice sheets. The AWI group, led by senior researcher Veit Helm, has taken just over two years' worth of data centred on 2012/2013 to build what are called digital elevation models (DEMs) of Greenland and Antarctica, and to asses their evolution. These models incorporate a total of 14 million individual height measurements for Greenland and another 200 million for Antarctica. When compared with similar data-sets assembled by the US space agency's IceSat mission between 2003 and 2009, the scientists are able then to calculate changes in ice volume beyond just the CryoSat snapshot. Negative shifts are the result of surface melting and ice discharge; positive trends are the consequence of precipitation - snowfall. Greenland is experiencing the biggest reductions in elevation currently, losing about 375 cu km a year (plus or minus 24 cu km per year), with most of the action occurring at the west and south-east coast of the island. Significant thinning is seen also in the North East Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS). "This has three outlet glaciers and one of these, the Zachariae Isstrom, has retreated quite a bit and some volume loss has already been reported. But we see now that this volume loss is really propagating to upper areas, much further into the interior of the ice sheet than has been recorded before," explained Prof Humbert. In Antarctica, the annual volume loss is about 128 cu km per year (plus or minus 83 cu km per year). As other studies have found, this is concentrated in the continent's western sector, in the area of the Amundsen Sea Embayment. Big glaciers here, such as Thwaites and Pine Island, are thinning and retreating at a rapid rate. Some thickening is seen also, such as in Dronning Maud Land, where colossal snowfalls have been reported. But this accumulation does not offset the losses occurring in West Antarctica. A British-led group recently reported its own Antarctica DEM, using a different algorithm to process the numbers in the CryoSat data. The AWI outcomes look very similar, and the German team has transferred the exact same approach to Greenland so it can have confidence in comparing the two ice sheets. The losses also look consistent with the analysis coming out of the American Grace mission, which uses a different type of satellite to monitor gravity changes in the polar regions - to, in essence, weigh the amount of ice being dumped into the sea. Prof Andy Shepherd, who was part of the British group that reported its findings in May, commented: "This is yet another exciting result from CryoSat, thanks to the team at AWI, charting yet more new ground by providing the first complete survey of ice volume changes in Greenland. "However, the increased ice losses that have been detected are a worrying reminder that the polar ice sheets are still experiencing dramatic changes, and will inevitably raise concerns about future global sea-level rise," the Leeds University researcher said. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Jonathan AmosScience correspondent, BBC News Added to the discharges coming from Antarctica, it means Earth's two big ice sheets are now dumping roughly 500 cu km of ice in the oceans annually. "The contribution of both ice sheets together to sea level rise has doubled since 2009," said Angelika Humbert from Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute. "To us, that's an incredible number," she told BBC News. In its report to The Cryosphere journal, the AWI team does not actually calculate a sea-level rise equivalent number, but if this volume is considered to be all ice (a small part will be snow) then the contribution is likely to be on the order of just over a millimetre per year. This is the latest study to use the precision altimetry data being gathered by the European Space Agency's CryoSat platform. The satellite was launched in 2010 with a sophisticated radar instrument specifically designed to measure the shape of the polar ice sheets. The AWI group, led by senior researcher Veit Helm, has taken just over two years' worth of data centred on 2012/2013 to build what are called digital elevation models (DEMs) of Greenland and Antarctica, and to asses their evolution. These models incorporate a total of 14 million individual height measurements for Greenland and another 200 million for Antarctica. When compared with similar data-sets assembled by the US space agency's IceSat mission between 2003 and 2009, the scientists are able then to calculate changes in ice volume beyond just the CryoSat snapshot. Negative shifts are the result of surface melting and ice discharge; positive trends are the consequence of precipitation - snowfall. Greenland is experiencing the biggest reductions in elevation currently, losing about 375 cu km a year (plus or minus 24 cu km per year), with most of the action occurring at the west and south-east coast of the island. Significant thinning is seen also in the North East Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS). "This has three outlet glaciers and one of these, the Zachariae Isstrom, has retreated quite a bit and some volume loss has already been reported. But we see now that this volume loss is really propagating to upper areas, much further into the interior of the ice sheet than has been recorded before," explained Prof Humbert. In Antarctica, the annual volume loss is about 128 cu km per year (plus or minus 83 cu km per year). As other studies have found, this is concentrated in the continent's western sector, in the area of the Amundsen Sea Embayment. Big glaciers here, such as Thwaites and Pine Island, are thinning and retreating at a rapid rate. Some thickening is seen also, such as in Dronning Maud Land, where colossal snowfalls have been reported. But this accumulation does not offset the losses occurring in West Antarctica. A British-led group recently reported its own Antarctica DEM, using a different algorithm to process the numbers in the CryoSat data. The AWI outcomes look very similar, and the German team has transferred the exact same approach to Greenland so it can have confidence in comparing the two ice sheets. The losses also look consistent with the analysis coming out of the American Grace mission, which uses a different type of satellite to monitor gravity changes in the polar regions - to, in essence, weigh the amount of ice being dumped into the sea. Prof Andy Shepherd, who was part of the British group that reported its findings in May, commented: "This is yet another exciting result from CryoSat, thanks to the team at AWI, charting yet more new ground by providing the first complete survey of ice volume changes in Greenland. "However, the increased ice losses that have been detected are a worrying reminder that the polar ice sheets are still experiencing dramatic changes, and will inevitably raise concerns about future global sea-level rise," the Leeds University researcher said. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos ### Summary: The amount of ice being dumped into the sea by the Antarctic ice sheet has doubled since 2009, according to a new study. ### Spacing: ### No-text Summary:

uk-england-lincolnshire-45497274

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-45497274

Gainsborough councillor was drugs supply gang member

A woman who ran a drugs operation from a Lincoln property has been convicted of conspiracy to supply drugs.

Sharon Hopkinson, 45, who also ran the White Hart Hotel in Gainsborough, was involved in a large-scale drugs operation run from a Lincoln property. She, along with three other people, were convicted at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Gainsborough Town Council confirmed she was a serving member. More from Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Police said the conspiracy centred around a property on Bailgate in Lincoln, which was used to prepare "significant quantities of Class A drugs". Large quantities of heroin and cocaine were found. Officers also discovered cutting agents, a hydraulic press and heat sealing equipment, which detectives said were used to bulk out the drugs to maximise profits. 'Sophisticated operation' The offences took place between April 2015 and July 2016. "This was a sophisticated operation, with all parties entering into an agreement to play their part in the distribution of Class A drugs," Insp Jo Fortune said. According to local news reports, the White Hart Hotel had its alcohol licence revoked in May 2016 while Hopkinson was in charge over concerns about drug use on the premises. Those convicted on Tuesday were: Four other people admitted conspiracy to supply drugs before or during the trial. They are all due to be sentenced at a later date.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Sharon Hopkinson, 45, who also ran the White Hart Hotel in Gainsborough, was involved in a large-scale drugs operation run from a Lincoln property. She, along with three other people, were convicted at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Gainsborough Town Council confirmed she was a serving member. More from Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Police said the conspiracy centred around a property on Bailgate in Lincoln, which was used to prepare "significant quantities of Class A drugs". Large quantities of heroin and cocaine were found. Officers also discovered cutting agents, a hydraulic press and heat sealing equipment, which detectives said were used to bulk out the drugs to maximise profits. 'Sophisticated operation' The offences took place between April 2015 and July 2016. "This was a sophisticated operation, with all parties entering into an agreement to play their part in the distribution of Class A drugs," Insp Jo Fortune said. According to local news reports, the White Hart Hotel had its alcohol licence revoked in May 2016 while Hopkinson was in charge over concerns about drug use on the premises. Those convicted on Tuesday were: Four other people admitted conspiracy to supply drugs before or during the trial. They are all due to be sentenced at a later date. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Sharon Hopkinson, 45, who also ran the White Hart Hotel in Gainsborough, was involved in a large-scale drugs operation run from a Lincoln property. She, along with three other people, were convicted at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Gainsborough Town Council confirmed she was a serving member. More from Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Police said the conspiracy centred around a property on Bailgate in Lincoln, which was used to prepare "significant quantities of Class A drugs". Large quantities of heroin and cocaine were found. Officers also discovered cutting agents, a hydraulic press and heat sealing equipment, which detectives said were used to bulk out the drugs to maximise profits. 'Sophisticated operation' The offences took place between April 2015 and July 2016. "This was a sophisticated operation, with all parties entering into an agreement to play their part in the distribution of Class A drugs," Insp Jo Fortune said. According to local news reports, the White Hart Hotel had its alcohol licence revoked in May 2016 while Hopkinson was in charge over concerns about drug use on the premises. Those convicted on Tuesday were: Four other people admitted conspiracy to supply drugs before or during the trial. They are all due to be sentenced at a later date. ### Summary: A woman who ran a drugs operation from a Lincoln property has been convicted of conspiracy to supply drugs. ### Spelling and grammar A woman who ran a drugs operation from a Lincoln property has been convicted

uk-england-24112067

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-24112067

Muslim woman must remove veil to give trial evidence

A woman who wore a niqab to court has been jailed for contempt of court.

Judge Peter Murphy made the ruling at Blackfriars Crown Court in London where the woman is due to stand trial accused of intimidating a witness. The 22-year-old woman, from Hackney, has refused to remove her niqab and reveal her face in front of any man. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing. The judge's ruling means that if the woman, who started wearing a veil in May 2012, refuses to comply during her trial she could be jailed for contempt of court. The only part of a niqab-wearer's face that is visible is a narrow section across the eyes. The judge said he would offer the woman a screen to shield her from public view while giving evidence but that she had to be seen by him, the jury and lawyers. At other times during the trial the woman will be allowed to keep her face covered while sitting in the dock. 'Elephant in courtroom' In the ruling Judge Murphy said: "The ability of the jury to see the defendant for the purposes of evaluating her evidence is crucial." Referring to the woman as "D", he said he had "no reason to doubt the sincerity of her belief" and his decision would have been the same if she had worn the niqab for years. He said that "the niqab has become the elephant in the courtroom" and there was widespread anxiety among judges over how to tackle the issue. He added he hoped "Parliament or a higher court will provide a definite answer to the issue soon". Judge Murphy said: "If judges in different cases in different places took differing approaches [to the niqab] the result would be judicial anarchy." The woman's defence barrister Susan Meek had argued the woman's human right to express her faith through her attire would be breached if she was ordered to remove her veil. When asked if there would be an appeal against the decision, the woman's lawyer said she and her client would "consider our options". At a previous hearing, the issue of her identity was resolved when the woman removed her veil in private for a female police officer. Judge Murphy's ruling comes as Liberal Democrat Home Office minister Jeremy Browne said he was "uneasy" about restricting freedoms and called for a national debate on the state's role in stopping veils being imposed on girls. Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said he believed it was "vital" defendants' faces were visible at "all times" and said he "regretted" the judge's decision. He added: "We will be complaining to the Office of Judicial Complaints and also be asking senior legal officers to make visibility throughout court hearings mandatory, and not subject to judges' discretion." The woman's trial over alleged witness intimidation is due to begin at Blackfriars Crown Court on 4 November.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Judge Peter Murphy made the ruling at Blackfriars Crown Court in London where the woman is due to stand trial accused of intimidating a witness. The 22-year-old woman, from Hackney, has refused to remove her niqab and reveal her face in front of any man. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing. The judge's ruling means that if the woman, who started wearing a veil in May 2012, refuses to comply during her trial she could be jailed for contempt of court. The only part of a niqab-wearer's face that is visible is a narrow section across the eyes. The judge said he would offer the woman a screen to shield her from public view while giving evidence but that she had to be seen by him, the jury and lawyers. At other times during the trial the woman will be allowed to keep her face covered while sitting in the dock. 'Elephant in courtroom' In the ruling Judge Murphy said: "The ability of the jury to see the defendant for the purposes of evaluating her evidence is crucial." Referring to the woman as "D", he said he had "no reason to doubt the sincerity of her belief" and his decision would have been the same if she had worn the niqab for years. He said that "the niqab has become the elephant in the courtroom" and there was widespread anxiety among judges over how to tackle the issue. He added he hoped "Parliament or a higher court will provide a definite answer to the issue soon". Judge Murphy said: "If judges in different cases in different places took differing approaches [to the niqab] the result would be judicial anarchy." The woman's defence barrister Susan Meek had argued the woman's human right to express her faith through her attire would be breached if she was ordered to remove her veil. When asked if there would be an appeal against the decision, the woman's lawyer said she and her client would "consider our options". At a previous hearing, the issue of her identity was resolved when the woman removed her veil in private for a female police officer. Judge Murphy's ruling comes as Liberal Democrat Home Office minister Jeremy Browne said he was "uneasy" about restricting freedoms and called for a national debate on the state's role in stopping veils being imposed on girls. Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said he believed it was "vital" defendants' faces were visible at "all times" and said he "regretted" the judge's decision. He added: "We will be complaining to the Office of Judicial Complaints and also be asking senior legal officers to make visibility throughout court hearings mandatory, and not subject to judges' discretion." The woman's trial over alleged witness intimidation is due to begin at Blackfriars Crown Court on 4 November. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Judge Peter Murphy made the ruling at Blackfriars Crown Court in London where the woman is due to stand trial accused of intimidating a witness. The 22-year-old woman, from Hackney, has refused to remove her niqab and reveal her face in front of any man. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing. The judge's ruling means that if the woman, who started wearing a veil in May 2012, refuses to comply during her trial she could be jailed for contempt of court. The only part of a niqab-wearer's face that is visible is a narrow section across the eyes. The judge said he would offer the woman a screen to shield her from public view while giving evidence but that she had to be seen by him, the jury and lawyers. At other times during the trial the woman will be allowed to keep her face covered while sitting in the dock. 'Elephant in courtroom' In the ruling Judge Murphy said: "The ability of the jury to see the defendant for the purposes of evaluating her evidence is crucial." Referring to the woman as "D", he said he had "no reason to doubt the sincerity of her belief" and his decision would have been the same if she had worn the niqab for years. He said that "the niqab has become the elephant in the courtroom" and there was widespread anxiety among judges over how to tackle the issue. He added he hoped "Parliament or a higher court will provide a definite answer to the issue soon". Judge Murphy said: "If judges in different cases in different places took differing approaches [to the niqab] the result would be judicial anarchy." The woman's defence barrister Susan Meek had argued the woman's human right to express her faith through her attire would be breached if she was ordered to remove her veil. When asked if there would be an appeal against the decision, the woman's lawyer said she and her client would "consider our options". At a previous hearing, the issue of her identity was resolved when the woman removed her veil in private for a female police officer. Judge Murphy's ruling comes as Liberal Democrat Home Office minister Jeremy Browne said he was "uneasy" about restricting freedoms and called for a national debate on the state's role in stopping veils being imposed on girls. Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, said he believed it was "vital" defendants' faces were visible at "all times" and said he "regretted" the judge's decision. He added: "We will be complaining to the Office of Judicial Complaints and also be asking senior legal officers to make visibility throughout court hearings mandatory, and not subject to judges' discretion." The woman's trial over alleged witness intimidation is due to begin at Blackfriars Crown Court on 4 November. ### Summary: A woman who wore a niqab to court has been jailed for contempt of court. ### Source: A woman who wore a niqab to court has been jailed for contempt of court. ###

uk-england-derbyshire-21769686

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-21769686

Derby death blaze: Mick Philpott denies starting fire

A man who killed his wife and two children in a fire at his home has told the court he was "distraught" after the fire.

Mick Philpott, 56, denies any involvement in starting the fire at his Derby home last May. He said he and his children had received death threats after the family appeared on ITV's Jeremy Kyle Show. Mr Philpott and two others deny six counts of manslaughter. His wife Mairead Philpott, 31, and Paul Mosley 46, are accused of starting the fire in a bid to frame Mr Philpott's former mistress Lisa Willis, 29, who was involved in a custody battle over the four children she shared with him. 'Silent calls' On the first day of the defence case Mick Philpott told the court that Amanda Cousins, the sister of Ms Willis, had threatened to kill his wife and their children after the Philpotts had turned up at her home. He said he and his wife had also received silent calls from a withheld number in the weeks leading up to the fire. Talking about his regret at appearing on TV, he told Nottingham Crown Court he needed a bigger house as the family was growing, but people were disgusted at him having two lovers and 11 children. Until February 2012, Mr Philpott lived in a four-bedroom house with his wife Mairead and their six children as well as Ms Willis with her five children. "The children and myself got death threats. We were called rats; the scum of the earth," he told the court. 'Inseparable bond' Jurors heard that a "large number of people" had keys to the house and the door was usually left unlocked. He told the court that benefits paid to his wife and Ms Willis were paid into his account but he left his bank cards out for both women to use. "They never had to ask for money," he said. Mr Philpott said he had no idea that Ms Willis was going to leave him. Asked about their relationship, he said: "At that particular time I thought that me and Lisa had this bond that was inseparable." He said he had discussed it with his wife because she was "concerned" about it. Mr Philpott told the court that he was spending a lot of time with his wife and slept in the evenings with Ms Willis. Divorce plea He said he had asked his wife for a divorce "three to four times" so he could marry Ms Willis. He said: "It was a well known fact by everybody that Lisa wanted me to herself. But Mairead wouldn't leave me, she wasn't going anywhere." Jurors heard that he and his wife regularly discussed with Ms Willis what would happen should there be a split. "We always said that if we ever split up we would never stop each other from seeing the children," he said. Asked how Mr and Mrs Philpott's children felt when Ms Willis Left, Mr Philpott said they were "distraught". "They were so upset, so distraught. It was horrible," he said. He told the court that he had taken some tablets with brandy after Ms Willis left. "Was this a suicide attempt?" Mr Orchard asked him. "No, it was self-pity," Mr Philpott replied. Mr Philpott also denied prosecution witness claims that he ever mentioned fire, burning or petrol in the weeks before the fatal blaze. Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, perished in the fire at their house in Victory Road, in Allenton. Their brother Duwayne, 13, died two days later at Birmingham Children's Hospital. The trial continues.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Mick Philpott, 56, denies any involvement in starting the fire at his Derby home last May. He said he and his children had received death threats after the family appeared on ITV's Jeremy Kyle Show. Mr Philpott and two others deny six counts of manslaughter. His wife Mairead Philpott, 31, and Paul Mosley 46, are accused of starting the fire in a bid to frame Mr Philpott's former mistress Lisa Willis, 29, who was involved in a custody battle over the four children she shared with him. 'Silent calls' On the first day of the defence case Mick Philpott told the court that Amanda Cousins, the sister of Ms Willis, had threatened to kill his wife and their children after the Philpotts had turned up at her home. He said he and his wife had also received silent calls from a withheld number in the weeks leading up to the fire. Talking about his regret at appearing on TV, he told Nottingham Crown Court he needed a bigger house as the family was growing, but people were disgusted at him having two lovers and 11 children. Until February 2012, Mr Philpott lived in a four-bedroom house with his wife Mairead and their six children as well as Ms Willis with her five children. "The children and myself got death threats. We were called rats; the scum of the earth," he told the court. 'Inseparable bond' Jurors heard that a "large number of people" had keys to the house and the door was usually left unlocked. He told the court that benefits paid to his wife and Ms Willis were paid into his account but he left his bank cards out for both women to use. "They never had to ask for money," he said. Mr Philpott said he had no idea that Ms Willis was going to leave him. Asked about their relationship, he said: "At that particular time I thought that me and Lisa had this bond that was inseparable." He said he had discussed it with his wife because she was "concerned" about it. Mr Philpott told the court that he was spending a lot of time with his wife and slept in the evenings with Ms Willis. Divorce plea He said he had asked his wife for a divorce "three to four times" so he could marry Ms Willis. He said: "It was a well known fact by everybody that Lisa wanted me to herself. But Mairead wouldn't leave me, she wasn't going anywhere." Jurors heard that he and his wife regularly discussed with Ms Willis what would happen should there be a split. "We always said that if we ever split up we would never stop each other from seeing the children," he said. Asked how Mr and Mrs Philpott's children felt when Ms Willis Left, Mr Philpott said they were "distraught". "They were so upset, so distraught. It was horrible," he said. He told the court that he had taken some tablets with brandy after Ms Willis left. "Was this a suicide attempt?" Mr Orchard asked him. "No, it was self-pity," Mr Philpott replied. Mr Philpott also denied prosecution witness claims that he ever mentioned fire, burning or petrol in the weeks before the fatal blaze. Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, perished in the fire at their house in Victory Road, in Allenton. Their brother Duwayne, 13, died two days later at Birmingham Children's Hospital. The trial continues. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Mick Philpott, 56, denies any involvement in starting the fire at his Derby home last May. He said he and his children had received death threats after the family appeared on ITV's Jeremy Kyle Show. Mr Philpott and two others deny six counts of manslaughter. His wife Mairead Philpott, 31, and Paul Mosley 46, are accused of starting the fire in a bid to frame Mr Philpott's former mistress Lisa Willis, 29, who was involved in a custody battle over the four children she shared with him. 'Silent calls' On the first day of the defence case Mick Philpott told the court that Amanda Cousins, the sister of Ms Willis, had threatened to kill his wife and their children after the Philpotts had turned up at her home. He said he and his wife had also received silent calls from a withheld number in the weeks leading up to the fire. Talking about his regret at appearing on TV, he told Nottingham Crown Court he needed a bigger house as the family was growing, but people were disgusted at him having two lovers and 11 children. Until February 2012, Mr Philpott lived in a four-bedroom house with his wife Mairead and their six children as well as Ms Willis with her five children. "The children and myself got death threats. We were called rats; the scum of the earth," he told the court. 'Inseparable bond' Jurors heard that a "large number of people" had keys to the house and the door was usually left unlocked. He told the court that benefits paid to his wife and Ms Willis were paid into his account but he left his bank cards out for both women to use. "They never had to ask for money," he said. Mr Philpott said he had no idea that Ms Willis was going to leave him. Asked about their relationship, he said: "At that particular time I thought that me and Lisa had this bond that was inseparable." He said he had discussed it with his wife because she was "concerned" about it. Mr Philpott told the court that he was spending a lot of time with his wife and slept in the evenings with Ms Willis. Divorce plea He said he had asked his wife for a divorce "three to four times" so he could marry Ms Willis. He said: "It was a well known fact by everybody that Lisa wanted me to herself. But Mairead wouldn't leave me, she wasn't going anywhere." Jurors heard that he and his wife regularly discussed with Ms Willis what would happen should there be a split. "We always said that if we ever split up we would never stop each other from seeing the children," he said. Asked how Mr and Mrs Philpott's children felt when Ms Willis Left, Mr Philpott said they were "distraught". "They were so upset, so distraught. It was horrible," he said. He told the court that he had taken some tablets with brandy after Ms Willis left. "Was this a suicide attempt?" Mr Orchard asked him. "No, it was self-pity," Mr Philpott replied. Mr Philpott also denied prosecution witness claims that he ever mentioned fire, burning or petrol in the weeks before the fatal blaze. Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, perished in the fire at their house in Victory Road, in Allenton. Their brother Duwayne, 13, died two days later at Birmingham Children's Hospital. The trial continues. ### Summary: A man who killed his wife and two children in a fire at his home has told the court he was "distraught" after the fire. ### Text: A man who killed his wife and two children in a fire

uk-wales-politics-43895350

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-43895350

Brexit bill deal a significant achievement, says Theresa May

The UK Government has agreed to a new deal with the Scottish Government on the Brexit bill.

Theresa May said the deal on changes to her government's EU (Withdrawal) Bill provided "legal certainty" and respects "the devolution settlements". But she told MPs it was "disappointing" that the Scottish Government had rejected the latest offer. The agreed amendment was tabled in the House of Lords later. Under the new proposal, the majority of 64 Welsh Assembly powers currently operated by the European Union in Brussels will transfer to Cardiff after Brexit. The rest - 24 powers in all - will be held in Westminster for a period of up to seven years so that UK-wide systems can be created for matters such as food labelling. The deal includes a political agreement - not a legal one - that the UK Government will seek the assembly's consent before changing any of those powers held in London. During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mrs May said: "It's a significant achievement, it will provide legal certainty, increase the powers of the devolved governments and respect the devolution settlements. "We've made considerable changes to the bill to reflect issues by members and by the devolved administrations. "It is indeed disappointing that the Scottish Government have not yet felt able to add their agreement to the new amendments and we sincerely hope that they will reconsider their position," she said. In a statement to AMs, Wales' Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said the agreement "soundly defends" the Welsh Assembly's powers. He said the deal "represents very substantial progress on where we were just a few weeks ago" although "the outcome is not perfect". Mr Drakeford pledged to continue to work with the Scottish Government and UK ministers "to see if any further helpful refinements to the current agreements can be made". 'Imaginative' Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood was highly critical of the agreement, saying: "Our leverage has gone, leadership lost, and parliament weakened. This is a Labour-Tory stitch-up like no other." "When he sells this parliament and my country's democracy to Westminster he can excuse my lack of conciliatory tone." But Conservative AM David Melding said he thought "we're now seeing the fruits of a very imaginative compromise, which will respect the results of the referendum and strengthen the British constitution." The deal was also welcomed by UKIP Wales Leader Neil Hamilton who congratulated Mr Drakeford "on his achievement and I think it bodes well for the future." A formal vote on the agreement is expected in the Senedd in May. With only Plaid Cymru AMs expressing outright criticism, it is highly likely to be passed.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Theresa May said the deal on changes to her government's EU (Withdrawal) Bill provided "legal certainty" and respects "the devolution settlements". But she told MPs it was "disappointing" that the Scottish Government had rejected the latest offer. The agreed amendment was tabled in the House of Lords later. Under the new proposal, the majority of 64 Welsh Assembly powers currently operated by the European Union in Brussels will transfer to Cardiff after Brexit. The rest - 24 powers in all - will be held in Westminster for a period of up to seven years so that UK-wide systems can be created for matters such as food labelling. The deal includes a political agreement - not a legal one - that the UK Government will seek the assembly's consent before changing any of those powers held in London. During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mrs May said: "It's a significant achievement, it will provide legal certainty, increase the powers of the devolved governments and respect the devolution settlements. "We've made considerable changes to the bill to reflect issues by members and by the devolved administrations. "It is indeed disappointing that the Scottish Government have not yet felt able to add their agreement to the new amendments and we sincerely hope that they will reconsider their position," she said. In a statement to AMs, Wales' Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said the agreement "soundly defends" the Welsh Assembly's powers. He said the deal "represents very substantial progress on where we were just a few weeks ago" although "the outcome is not perfect". Mr Drakeford pledged to continue to work with the Scottish Government and UK ministers "to see if any further helpful refinements to the current agreements can be made". 'Imaginative' Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood was highly critical of the agreement, saying: "Our leverage has gone, leadership lost, and parliament weakened. This is a Labour-Tory stitch-up like no other." "When he sells this parliament and my country's democracy to Westminster he can excuse my lack of conciliatory tone." But Conservative AM David Melding said he thought "we're now seeing the fruits of a very imaginative compromise, which will respect the results of the referendum and strengthen the British constitution." The deal was also welcomed by UKIP Wales Leader Neil Hamilton who congratulated Mr Drakeford "on his achievement and I think it bodes well for the future." A formal vote on the agreement is expected in the Senedd in May. With only Plaid Cymru AMs expressing outright criticism, it is highly likely to be passed. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Theresa May said the deal on changes to her government's EU (Withdrawal) Bill provided "legal certainty" and respects "the devolution settlements". But she told MPs it was "disappointing" that the Scottish Government had rejected the latest offer. The agreed amendment was tabled in the House of Lords later. Under the new proposal, the majority of 64 Welsh Assembly powers currently operated by the European Union in Brussels will transfer to Cardiff after Brexit. The rest - 24 powers in all - will be held in Westminster for a period of up to seven years so that UK-wide systems can be created for matters such as food labelling. The deal includes a political agreement - not a legal one - that the UK Government will seek the assembly's consent before changing any of those powers held in London. During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mrs May said: "It's a significant achievement, it will provide legal certainty, increase the powers of the devolved governments and respect the devolution settlements. "We've made considerable changes to the bill to reflect issues by members and by the devolved administrations. "It is indeed disappointing that the Scottish Government have not yet felt able to add their agreement to the new amendments and we sincerely hope that they will reconsider their position," she said. In a statement to AMs, Wales' Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said the agreement "soundly defends" the Welsh Assembly's powers. He said the deal "represents very substantial progress on where we were just a few weeks ago" although "the outcome is not perfect". Mr Drakeford pledged to continue to work with the Scottish Government and UK ministers "to see if any further helpful refinements to the current agreements can be made". 'Imaginative' Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood was highly critical of the agreement, saying: "Our leverage has gone, leadership lost, and parliament weakened. This is a Labour-Tory stitch-up like no other." "When he sells this parliament and my country's democracy to Westminster he can excuse my lack of conciliatory tone." But Conservative AM David Melding said he thought "we're now seeing the fruits of a very imaginative compromise, which will respect the results of the referendum and strengthen the British constitution." The deal was also welcomed by UKIP Wales Leader Neil Hamilton who congratulated Mr Drakeford "on his achievement and I think it bodes well for the future." A formal vote on the agreement is expected in the Senedd in May. With only Plaid Cymru AMs expressing outright criticism, it is highly likely to be passed. ### Summary: The UK Government has agreed to a new deal with the Scottish Government on the Brexit bill. ### Text: The UK Government has agreed to a new deal with the Scottish Government on the Brexit bill. ###

uk-england-nottinghamshire-52053865

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-52053865

Coronavirus: Doctor finds bicycle stolen after night shift

A man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing a bicycle from a hospital.

Dan Harvey noticed his transport home was missing when he finished a nine-hour night shift on an intensive care unit in Nottingham. It had been locked in a staff area of the Queen's Medical Centre. After sharing details of the theft on social media, Mr Harvey had dozens of offers to replace the bicycle. Mr Harvey, 44, said he finished his shift at 02:00 GMT on Thursday and soon realised the bicycle he used for commuting had been taken. It had been secured with a combination padlock in a bicycle park that required a hospital staff ID to access. "There were many bikes stolen from the compound at the same time," he said. After reporting his bicycle as stolen, Mr Harvey had to get a taxi home. He said: "I use the bike as a mechanism to clear my head, have a pedal and try to get a bit of perspective. "I often can't sleep immediately after I've been at work anyway - you need some time to unwind from the tension. "I think it's fair to say this didn't really help unwind - it rather added to it." Mr Harvey said stealing a bicycle from a hospital was "despicable", especially at a time like this. However, since the theft he has had "loads and loads" of messages from people on Facebook and Twitter offering to replace it. "The idea that there's all that support out there is really kind," he said. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed they are investigating reports of multiple bike thefts from the hospital. Supt Mathew Healey said: "The bikes belong to key workers and it is disgraceful that people would take something belonging to people battling coronavirus on the front-line." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Dan Harvey noticed his transport home was missing when he finished a nine-hour night shift on an intensive care unit in Nottingham. It had been locked in a staff area of the Queen's Medical Centre. After sharing details of the theft on social media, Mr Harvey had dozens of offers to replace the bicycle. Mr Harvey, 44, said he finished his shift at 02:00 GMT on Thursday and soon realised the bicycle he used for commuting had been taken. It had been secured with a combination padlock in a bicycle park that required a hospital staff ID to access. "There were many bikes stolen from the compound at the same time," he said. After reporting his bicycle as stolen, Mr Harvey had to get a taxi home. He said: "I use the bike as a mechanism to clear my head, have a pedal and try to get a bit of perspective. "I often can't sleep immediately after I've been at work anyway - you need some time to unwind from the tension. "I think it's fair to say this didn't really help unwind - it rather added to it." Mr Harvey said stealing a bicycle from a hospital was "despicable", especially at a time like this. However, since the theft he has had "loads and loads" of messages from people on Facebook and Twitter offering to replace it. "The idea that there's all that support out there is really kind," he said. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed they are investigating reports of multiple bike thefts from the hospital. Supt Mathew Healey said: "The bikes belong to key workers and it is disgraceful that people would take something belonging to people battling coronavirus on the front-line." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Dan Harvey noticed his transport home was missing when he finished a nine-hour night shift on an intensive care unit in Nottingham. It had been locked in a staff area of the Queen's Medical Centre. After sharing details of the theft on social media, Mr Harvey had dozens of offers to replace the bicycle. Mr Harvey, 44, said he finished his shift at 02:00 GMT on Thursday and soon realised the bicycle he used for commuting had been taken. It had been secured with a combination padlock in a bicycle park that required a hospital staff ID to access. "There were many bikes stolen from the compound at the same time," he said. After reporting his bicycle as stolen, Mr Harvey had to get a taxi home. He said: "I use the bike as a mechanism to clear my head, have a pedal and try to get a bit of perspective. "I often can't sleep immediately after I've been at work anyway - you need some time to unwind from the tension. "I think it's fair to say this didn't really help unwind - it rather added to it." Mr Harvey said stealing a bicycle from a hospital was "despicable", especially at a time like this. However, since the theft he has had "loads and loads" of messages from people on Facebook and Twitter offering to replace it. "The idea that there's all that support out there is really kind," he said. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed they are investigating reports of multiple bike thefts from the hospital. Supt Mathew Healey said: "The bikes belong to key workers and it is disgraceful that people would take something belonging to people battling coronavirus on the front-line." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. ### Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing a bicycle from a hospital. ### Text: A man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing a bicycle from a hospital. ### Summary

uk-england-devon-33559883

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-33559883

Devon community hospitals to cut number of beds

A hospital in Devon has been closed after a patient died.

Health chiefs confirmed the overall number of beds in east Devon would be cut from 174 to 163. Campaigners said it was a "horribly sad day" for three hospitals that would lose all overnight inpatient beds. The group behind the decision said no community hospitals would close and said the changes would "improve the resilience of care". 'Much-cherished' Overnight inpatient units at Ottery St Mary, Axminster and Crediton will be redistributed to Sidmouth, Seaton and Honiton. Dr David Jenner, chairman of the eastern locality of NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said he understood some people would be disappointed. He said: "Over the last few years the hospital provider Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has had to temporarily close some community hospital inpatient units due to staffing issues. Consolidating from 10 to seven units means we will have much more robust staffing at our hospitals in the future." Claire Wright, Devon County Council member for Ottery St Mary, said: "It means people will not be able to go to recuperate at a much-cherished local hospital." The CCG will set up "health hubs" at Axminster, Ottery St Mary and Seaton while Ottery St Mary hospital will have 15 overnight stroke rehabilitation beds. The timescale for implementing the changes will be decided following a Devon County Council meeting in September.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Health chiefs confirmed the overall number of beds in east Devon would be cut from 174 to 163. Campaigners said it was a "horribly sad day" for three hospitals that would lose all overnight inpatient beds. The group behind the decision said no community hospitals would close and said the changes would "improve the resilience of care". 'Much-cherished' Overnight inpatient units at Ottery St Mary, Axminster and Crediton will be redistributed to Sidmouth, Seaton and Honiton. Dr David Jenner, chairman of the eastern locality of NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said he understood some people would be disappointed. He said: "Over the last few years the hospital provider Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has had to temporarily close some community hospital inpatient units due to staffing issues. Consolidating from 10 to seven units means we will have much more robust staffing at our hospitals in the future." Claire Wright, Devon County Council member for Ottery St Mary, said: "It means people will not be able to go to recuperate at a much-cherished local hospital." The CCG will set up "health hubs" at Axminster, Ottery St Mary and Seaton while Ottery St Mary hospital will have 15 overnight stroke rehabilitation beds. The timescale for implementing the changes will be decided following a Devon County Council meeting in September. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Health chiefs confirmed the overall number of beds in east Devon would be cut from 174 to 163. Campaigners said it was a "horribly sad day" for three hospitals that would lose all overnight inpatient beds. The group behind the decision said no community hospitals would close and said the changes would "improve the resilience of care". 'Much-cherished' Overnight inpatient units at Ottery St Mary, Axminster and Crediton will be redistributed to Sidmouth, Seaton and Honiton. Dr David Jenner, chairman of the eastern locality of NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said he understood some people would be disappointed. He said: "Over the last few years the hospital provider Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has had to temporarily close some community hospital inpatient units due to staffing issues. Consolidating from 10 to seven units means we will have much more robust staffing at our hospitals in the future." Claire Wright, Devon County Council member for Ottery St Mary, said: "It means people will not be able to go to recuperate at a much-cherished local hospital." The CCG will set up "health hubs" at Axminster, Ottery St Mary and Seaton while Ottery St Mary hospital will have 15 overnight stroke rehabilitation beds. The timescale for implementing the changes will be decided following a Devon County Council meeting in September. ### Summary: A hospital in Devon has been closed after a patient died. ### Next steps: The NHS has announced plans to close a hospital in Devon. ### In this next story: A hospital in Devon

blogs-trending-44807371

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-44807371

World Cup: Does Croatians' #GloryToUkraine message help or hinder?

Croatia's win against Russia in the World Cup has been hailed as a "glory to Ukraine".

By Sherie Ryder and Katherine ZevelevaBBC UGC & Social News and BBC Monitoring National pride, the Russian spy poisoning case, and the Ukraine crisis all had a role in fans' feelings as Croatia defeated England in Wednesday night's semi-final. Meanwhile, some Ukrainians who have been boycotting the World Cup in Russia, are now torn on whether to watch Sunday's game. Shortly after Croatia defeated Russia on penalties in the quarter finals, defender Domagoj Vida and coach Ognjen Vukojevic - who have each played for FC Dynamo Kiev - dedicated their win to Ukraine on YouTube from their changing room. The clip has been viewed more than 3.5 million times since it was posted on 7 July. A hashtag - #GloryToUkraine - followed, bringing mixed reaction on social media. Ukrainian TV executive Oleksandr Tkachenko praised the players on Facebook, saying it was "nice they stopped the hosts of this strange World Cup". Fifa reviewed the video and issued a warning to the players. Ognjen Vukojevic was fined $15,000 (£11,360) and sent home by Croatia. Then Vida appeared to do the same thing again. He has since apologised in a live interview with Rossiya 24 state television after the semi-final. You might also like: Ahead of the match against England, some Russian Twitter users said they would refuse to cheer for Croatia. Some Russian supporters have made it clear they want anyone to win except Croatia. Konstantin Knyrik of Russian news agency NewsFront tweeted: "I don't even want to watch the 'Novichok' team playing against the 'Glory to Ukraine' team, let alone to cheer for one of them! Too bad they can't both lose." However, Igo Stokor, a blogger in Kiev, claimed the pro-Ukrainian slogan helped the Croatians against England. The head of Ukraine's football governing body, Andriy Pavelko, agreed that "luck comes to those who love and respect Ukraine". Sergiy Karazy, a journalist in Kiev, has steered the debate to Sunday, asking in jest whether to continue the World Cup boycott or to install a big screen in Maidan, Kiev's Independence Square. The question now is what will the support be like during the final, since Russian supporters in the stadium appeared to boo Vida's every touch of the ball against England. One pro-Kremlin Twitter user joked that if Vida could pray for supporters in the final, God would have a few words in his ear, then 40 million people would cheer.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Sherie Ryder and Katherine ZevelevaBBC UGC & Social News and BBC Monitoring National pride, the Russian spy poisoning case, and the Ukraine crisis all had a role in fans' feelings as Croatia defeated England in Wednesday night's semi-final. Meanwhile, some Ukrainians who have been boycotting the World Cup in Russia, are now torn on whether to watch Sunday's game. Shortly after Croatia defeated Russia on penalties in the quarter finals, defender Domagoj Vida and coach Ognjen Vukojevic - who have each played for FC Dynamo Kiev - dedicated their win to Ukraine on YouTube from their changing room. The clip has been viewed more than 3.5 million times since it was posted on 7 July. A hashtag - #GloryToUkraine - followed, bringing mixed reaction on social media. Ukrainian TV executive Oleksandr Tkachenko praised the players on Facebook, saying it was "nice they stopped the hosts of this strange World Cup". Fifa reviewed the video and issued a warning to the players. Ognjen Vukojevic was fined $15,000 (£11,360) and sent home by Croatia. Then Vida appeared to do the same thing again. He has since apologised in a live interview with Rossiya 24 state television after the semi-final. You might also like: Ahead of the match against England, some Russian Twitter users said they would refuse to cheer for Croatia. Some Russian supporters have made it clear they want anyone to win except Croatia. Konstantin Knyrik of Russian news agency NewsFront tweeted: "I don't even want to watch the 'Novichok' team playing against the 'Glory to Ukraine' team, let alone to cheer for one of them! Too bad they can't both lose." However, Igo Stokor, a blogger in Kiev, claimed the pro-Ukrainian slogan helped the Croatians against England. The head of Ukraine's football governing body, Andriy Pavelko, agreed that "luck comes to those who love and respect Ukraine". Sergiy Karazy, a journalist in Kiev, has steered the debate to Sunday, asking in jest whether to continue the World Cup boycott or to install a big screen in Maidan, Kiev's Independence Square. The question now is what will the support be like during the final, since Russian supporters in the stadium appeared to boo Vida's every touch of the ball against England. One pro-Kremlin Twitter user joked that if Vida could pray for supporters in the final, God would have a few words in his ear, then 40 million people would cheer. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Sherie Ryder and Katherine ZevelevaBBC UGC & Social News and BBC Monitoring National pride, the Russian spy poisoning case, and the Ukraine crisis all had a role in fans' feelings as Croatia defeated England in Wednesday night's semi-final. Meanwhile, some Ukrainians who have been boycotting the World Cup in Russia, are now torn on whether to watch Sunday's game. Shortly after Croatia defeated Russia on penalties in the quarter finals, defender Domagoj Vida and coach Ognjen Vukojevic - who have each played for FC Dynamo Kiev - dedicated their win to Ukraine on YouTube from their changing room. The clip has been viewed more than 3.5 million times since it was posted on 7 July. A hashtag - #GloryToUkraine - followed, bringing mixed reaction on social media. Ukrainian TV executive Oleksandr Tkachenko praised the players on Facebook, saying it was "nice they stopped the hosts of this strange World Cup". Fifa reviewed the video and issued a warning to the players. Ognjen Vukojevic was fined $15,000 (£11,360) and sent home by Croatia. Then Vida appeared to do the same thing again. He has since apologised in a live interview with Rossiya 24 state television after the semi-final. You might also like: Ahead of the match against England, some Russian Twitter users said they would refuse to cheer for Croatia. Some Russian supporters have made it clear they want anyone to win except Croatia. Konstantin Knyrik of Russian news agency NewsFront tweeted: "I don't even want to watch the 'Novichok' team playing against the 'Glory to Ukraine' team, let alone to cheer for one of them! Too bad they can't both lose." However, Igo Stokor, a blogger in Kiev, claimed the pro-Ukrainian slogan helped the Croatians against England. The head of Ukraine's football governing body, Andriy Pavelko, agreed that "luck comes to those who love and respect Ukraine". Sergiy Karazy, a journalist in Kiev, has steered the debate to Sunday, asking in jest whether to continue the World Cup boycott or to install a big screen in Maidan, Kiev's Independence Square. The question now is what will the support be like during the final, since Russian supporters in the stadium appeared to boo Vida's every touch of the ball against England. One pro-Kremlin Twitter user joked that if Vida could pray for supporters in the final, God would have a few words in his ear, then 40 million people would cheer. ### Summary: Croatia's win against Russia in the World Cup has been hailed as a "glory to Ukraine". ### Next: A Ukrainian football fan has said he will watch the World Cup final against Russia. ###

world-europe-jersey-55177113

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-jersey-55177113

Pedestrian killed in Jersey taxi crash named

A man has died after a car crash in Jersey.

Norman Dean, 48, was injured in a serious crash on Mont les Vaux in St Brelade at about 20:19 GMT on Sunday. He was taken to hospital following the collision with a black Mercedes, where he died shortly after. The States of Jersey Police said investigations were "ongoing" and officers shared their "thoughts and condolences" with the victim's family "at this very sad time".

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Norman Dean, 48, was injured in a serious crash on Mont les Vaux in St Brelade at about 20:19 GMT on Sunday. He was taken to hospital following the collision with a black Mercedes, where he died shortly after. The States of Jersey Police said investigations were "ongoing" and officers shared their "thoughts and condolences" with the victim's family "at this very sad time". ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Norman Dean, 48, was injured in a serious crash on Mont les Vaux in St Brelade at about 20:19 GMT on Sunday. He was taken to hospital following the collision with a black Mercedes, where he died shortly after. The States of Jersey Police said investigations were "ongoing" and officers shared their "thoughts and condolences" with the victim's family "at this very sad time". ### Summary: A man has died after a car crash in Jersey. ### Next: A man has died after a car crash in Jersey. ### Source: A man has died after a car crash in Jersey. ###

uk-england-gloucestershire-37634012

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-37634012

MP calls for jail terms for stalking to be doubled

A bill to make stalking a "horrible, violating crime" has been passed by the House of Commons.

Mr Chalk told MPs the maximum five years was "wholly inadequate" as it was a "horrible, violating crime" that "shatters lives". He added: "All too often it's a gateway to serious violence." The bill was adopted by the House without any opposition and will now get a second reading on 28 October. 'Horrific ordeal' In the Commons on Wednesday, the Cheltenham MP said he had been inspired to act by constituent Dr Eleanor Aston, who he said had suffered "a horrific ordeal" for seven years at the hands of a former patient. Mr Chalk called stalking a "horrible, violating crime" that "shatters lives". He added: "Despite it being such a violating, intrusive crime, despite it having the capacity to do such significant physical and mental harm, it's still being treated as a minor offence. That won't do." MPs heard that Dr Aston's stalker, Raymond Knight, had turned up at her surgery more than 100 times, posted "foul items" though her letterbox, followed her on patient visits, slashed her tyres and sent threatening emails. MPs heard that after being jailed for a first time, Knight resumed his activities once he had been released from prison, when Dr Aston received packages at home and at work. Knight sent one saying he knew where Dr Aston's children went to school, another package stated, "guess who's back". When police arrested Knight again, they found he had searched online for the term "how long after a person disappears are they assumed dead". The judge who sentenced Knight for a second time last year admitted he was dangerous, expressing his own frustration he could not hand Knight a longer sentence, MPs heard. The Conservative politician also said the five-year maximum sentence for someone pleading guilty would in practice serve between 18 and 20 months. The bill will need the support of Government to become law.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Mr Chalk told MPs the maximum five years was "wholly inadequate" as it was a "horrible, violating crime" that "shatters lives". He added: "All too often it's a gateway to serious violence." The bill was adopted by the House without any opposition and will now get a second reading on 28 October. 'Horrific ordeal' In the Commons on Wednesday, the Cheltenham MP said he had been inspired to act by constituent Dr Eleanor Aston, who he said had suffered "a horrific ordeal" for seven years at the hands of a former patient. Mr Chalk called stalking a "horrible, violating crime" that "shatters lives". He added: "Despite it being such a violating, intrusive crime, despite it having the capacity to do such significant physical and mental harm, it's still being treated as a minor offence. That won't do." MPs heard that Dr Aston's stalker, Raymond Knight, had turned up at her surgery more than 100 times, posted "foul items" though her letterbox, followed her on patient visits, slashed her tyres and sent threatening emails. MPs heard that after being jailed for a first time, Knight resumed his activities once he had been released from prison, when Dr Aston received packages at home and at work. Knight sent one saying he knew where Dr Aston's children went to school, another package stated, "guess who's back". When police arrested Knight again, they found he had searched online for the term "how long after a person disappears are they assumed dead". The judge who sentenced Knight for a second time last year admitted he was dangerous, expressing his own frustration he could not hand Knight a longer sentence, MPs heard. The Conservative politician also said the five-year maximum sentence for someone pleading guilty would in practice serve between 18 and 20 months. The bill will need the support of Government to become law. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Mr Chalk told MPs the maximum five years was "wholly inadequate" as it was a "horrible, violating crime" that "shatters lives". He added: "All too often it's a gateway to serious violence." The bill was adopted by the House without any opposition and will now get a second reading on 28 October. 'Horrific ordeal' In the Commons on Wednesday, the Cheltenham MP said he had been inspired to act by constituent Dr Eleanor Aston, who he said had suffered "a horrific ordeal" for seven years at the hands of a former patient. Mr Chalk called stalking a "horrible, violating crime" that "shatters lives". He added: "Despite it being such a violating, intrusive crime, despite it having the capacity to do such significant physical and mental harm, it's still being treated as a minor offence. That won't do." MPs heard that Dr Aston's stalker, Raymond Knight, had turned up at her surgery more than 100 times, posted "foul items" though her letterbox, followed her on patient visits, slashed her tyres and sent threatening emails. MPs heard that after being jailed for a first time, Knight resumed his activities once he had been released from prison, when Dr Aston received packages at home and at work. Knight sent one saying he knew where Dr Aston's children went to school, another package stated, "guess who's back". When police arrested Knight again, they found he had searched online for the term "how long after a person disappears are they assumed dead". The judge who sentenced Knight for a second time last year admitted he was dangerous, expressing his own frustration he could not hand Knight a longer sentence, MPs heard. The Conservative politician also said the five-year maximum sentence for someone pleading guilty would in practice serve between 18 and 20 months. The bill will need the support of Government to become law. ### Summary: A bill to make stalking a "horrible, violating crime" has been passed by the House of Commons. ### Text: A bill to make stalking a "horrible, violating crime" has been

business-45516677

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45516677

Beetle: Volkswagen's iconic car comes to the end of the road

Volkswagen has announced that it will stop producing the Beetle in the US.

The German company said output would end at its plant in Mexico next July after production of celebration models. The Beetle has its roots in Nazi Germany with the creation of a "people's car", but went on to star in a series of successful Disney films as a vehicle called Herbie. But sales, particularly in the key US market, have fallen in recent years. Consumers in the US have increasingly turned to larger cars such as crossovers and sports utility vehicles. Volkswagen, in the wake of the diesel emissions scandal and huge investment in electric vehicles, says it will look to slim down its model range with a greater focus on family and electric cars. The company say the final Beetle models will be available in both coupe and convertible styles. "The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetle's many devoted fans," said Hinrich Woebcken, chief executive of Volkswagen Group of America. The Beetle was originally designed in the 1930s by legendary engineer Ferdinand Porsche - a name now synonymous with fast cars - at the behest of Adolf Hitler, who wanted to see a cheap and practical mass-produced car made available to the German people. But the outbreak of war would stall its production, as military necessity took precedence. The plant would be severely damaged, then fell into the hands of allied forces - who were eventually to play a large part in its recommissioning. Production began to take off in the late 1940s, and by 1955 a million of the cars were driving on German roads. The design would find international fame in the 1960s and '70s in films featuring Herbie the Love Bug, a racing car with a mind of its own. It was also popular with the 1960s counter-culture types who extolled the Beetle's small, practical, but aesthetic qualities. Production of the Beetle has ceased and then been revived several times over the decades, with the last of the original design rolling out of VW's Mexican factory in 2003. The "New Beetle" redesign, which was based on VW's Golf, stormed the US market in the late 1990s, selling more than 80,000 in 1999. The company is already thought to have reviewed a possible model revamp and options for electric versions in recent years, before deciding on its abandonment. But Mr Woebcken didn't completely rule out that the model could one day be resurrected: "Never say never." Volkswagen sold 11,151 Beetles during the first eight months of 2018, down 2.2% from the same period a year earlier. US consumers looking for a small Volkswagen vehicle overwhelmingly prefer the Jetta sedan, or the Tiguan compact sport utility vehicle.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The German company said output would end at its plant in Mexico next July after production of celebration models. The Beetle has its roots in Nazi Germany with the creation of a "people's car", but went on to star in a series of successful Disney films as a vehicle called Herbie. But sales, particularly in the key US market, have fallen in recent years. Consumers in the US have increasingly turned to larger cars such as crossovers and sports utility vehicles. Volkswagen, in the wake of the diesel emissions scandal and huge investment in electric vehicles, says it will look to slim down its model range with a greater focus on family and electric cars. The company say the final Beetle models will be available in both coupe and convertible styles. "The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetle's many devoted fans," said Hinrich Woebcken, chief executive of Volkswagen Group of America. The Beetle was originally designed in the 1930s by legendary engineer Ferdinand Porsche - a name now synonymous with fast cars - at the behest of Adolf Hitler, who wanted to see a cheap and practical mass-produced car made available to the German people. But the outbreak of war would stall its production, as military necessity took precedence. The plant would be severely damaged, then fell into the hands of allied forces - who were eventually to play a large part in its recommissioning. Production began to take off in the late 1940s, and by 1955 a million of the cars were driving on German roads. The design would find international fame in the 1960s and '70s in films featuring Herbie the Love Bug, a racing car with a mind of its own. It was also popular with the 1960s counter-culture types who extolled the Beetle's small, practical, but aesthetic qualities. Production of the Beetle has ceased and then been revived several times over the decades, with the last of the original design rolling out of VW's Mexican factory in 2003. The "New Beetle" redesign, which was based on VW's Golf, stormed the US market in the late 1990s, selling more than 80,000 in 1999. The company is already thought to have reviewed a possible model revamp and options for electric versions in recent years, before deciding on its abandonment. But Mr Woebcken didn't completely rule out that the model could one day be resurrected: "Never say never." Volkswagen sold 11,151 Beetles during the first eight months of 2018, down 2.2% from the same period a year earlier. US consumers looking for a small Volkswagen vehicle overwhelmingly prefer the Jetta sedan, or the Tiguan compact sport utility vehicle. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The German company said output would end at its plant in Mexico next July after production of celebration models. The Beetle has its roots in Nazi Germany with the creation of a "people's car", but went on to star in a series of successful Disney films as a vehicle called Herbie. But sales, particularly in the key US market, have fallen in recent years. Consumers in the US have increasingly turned to larger cars such as crossovers and sports utility vehicles. Volkswagen, in the wake of the diesel emissions scandal and huge investment in electric vehicles, says it will look to slim down its model range with a greater focus on family and electric cars. The company say the final Beetle models will be available in both coupe and convertible styles. "The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetle's many devoted fans," said Hinrich Woebcken, chief executive of Volkswagen Group of America. The Beetle was originally designed in the 1930s by legendary engineer Ferdinand Porsche - a name now synonymous with fast cars - at the behest of Adolf Hitler, who wanted to see a cheap and practical mass-produced car made available to the German people. But the outbreak of war would stall its production, as military necessity took precedence. The plant would be severely damaged, then fell into the hands of allied forces - who were eventually to play a large part in its recommissioning. Production began to take off in the late 1940s, and by 1955 a million of the cars were driving on German roads. The design would find international fame in the 1960s and '70s in films featuring Herbie the Love Bug, a racing car with a mind of its own. It was also popular with the 1960s counter-culture types who extolled the Beetle's small, practical, but aesthetic qualities. Production of the Beetle has ceased and then been revived several times over the decades, with the last of the original design rolling out of VW's Mexican factory in 2003. The "New Beetle" redesign, which was based on VW's Golf, stormed the US market in the late 1990s, selling more than 80,000 in 1999. The company is already thought to have reviewed a possible model revamp and options for electric versions in recent years, before deciding on its abandonment. But Mr Woebcken didn't completely rule out that the model could one day be resurrected: "Never say never." Volkswagen sold 11,151 Beetles during the first eight months of 2018, down 2.2% from the same period a year earlier. US consumers looking for a small Volkswagen vehicle overwhelmingly prefer the Jetta sedan, or the Tiguan compact sport utility vehicle. ### Summary: Volkswagen has announced that it will stop producing the Beetle in the US. ### Source: Volkswagen Group of America has announced that it will stop producing the Beetle in the US. ### Source:

uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46069656

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46069656

Views sought on proposed Scottish smacking ban

A bill to ban smacking children has been introduced by the Scottish parliament.

A committee of MSPs is asking for the public's views on whether smacking children should become illegal. The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill has been introduced by Green MSP John Finnie. The Scottish parliament's equalities and human rights committee wants to know what people think about the bill, which is backed by the government. It would remove the defence of "justifiable assault" in Scots law, which allows parents to use physical punishment on children. A public consultation on the issue last year received more than 650 responses, with about 75% being in favour of the ban. The Scottish Police Federation, Barnardo's Scotland, the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland and the NSPCC back outlawing smacking. But the campaign group Be Reasonable Scotland, supported by the Christian Institute and the Family Education Trust, argues a ban will "criminalise parents". The committee's convener, Ruth Maguire, said: "This Bill has aroused strong views. There are passionately held beliefs on both sides of this argument, from those who think that physical punishment violates a child's human rights, to those who feel parents should have a right to smack their children. "As the proposed law starts making its way through the Parliamentary process, we are keen to hear from people in Scotland who have a view on this subject. "This will help us as we carry out our role as parliamentarians and inform our consideration of the proposals." A spokesman for Be Reasonable Scotland said: "More than 140 countries around the world continue to respect parents' freedom, and responsibility, to discipline their children appropriately. "This Bill could see them in the dock for simply tapping their kids on the back of the hand or pulling them away from the side of the road." He added: "Children rightly enjoy strong protections from assault. It is highly irresponsible and deeply misleading to suggest otherwise." The consultation closes on January 25.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: A committee of MSPs is asking for the public's views on whether smacking children should become illegal. The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill has been introduced by Green MSP John Finnie. The Scottish parliament's equalities and human rights committee wants to know what people think about the bill, which is backed by the government. It would remove the defence of "justifiable assault" in Scots law, which allows parents to use physical punishment on children. A public consultation on the issue last year received more than 650 responses, with about 75% being in favour of the ban. The Scottish Police Federation, Barnardo's Scotland, the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland and the NSPCC back outlawing smacking. But the campaign group Be Reasonable Scotland, supported by the Christian Institute and the Family Education Trust, argues a ban will "criminalise parents". The committee's convener, Ruth Maguire, said: "This Bill has aroused strong views. There are passionately held beliefs on both sides of this argument, from those who think that physical punishment violates a child's human rights, to those who feel parents should have a right to smack their children. "As the proposed law starts making its way through the Parliamentary process, we are keen to hear from people in Scotland who have a view on this subject. "This will help us as we carry out our role as parliamentarians and inform our consideration of the proposals." A spokesman for Be Reasonable Scotland said: "More than 140 countries around the world continue to respect parents' freedom, and responsibility, to discipline their children appropriately. "This Bill could see them in the dock for simply tapping their kids on the back of the hand or pulling them away from the side of the road." He added: "Children rightly enjoy strong protections from assault. It is highly irresponsible and deeply misleading to suggest otherwise." The consultation closes on January 25. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: A committee of MSPs is asking for the public's views on whether smacking children should become illegal. The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill has been introduced by Green MSP John Finnie. The Scottish parliament's equalities and human rights committee wants to know what people think about the bill, which is backed by the government. It would remove the defence of "justifiable assault" in Scots law, which allows parents to use physical punishment on children. A public consultation on the issue last year received more than 650 responses, with about 75% being in favour of the ban. The Scottish Police Federation, Barnardo's Scotland, the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland and the NSPCC back outlawing smacking. But the campaign group Be Reasonable Scotland, supported by the Christian Institute and the Family Education Trust, argues a ban will "criminalise parents". The committee's convener, Ruth Maguire, said: "This Bill has aroused strong views. There are passionately held beliefs on both sides of this argument, from those who think that physical punishment violates a child's human rights, to those who feel parents should have a right to smack their children. "As the proposed law starts making its way through the Parliamentary process, we are keen to hear from people in Scotland who have a view on this subject. "This will help us as we carry out our role as parliamentarians and inform our consideration of the proposals." A spokesman for Be Reasonable Scotland said: "More than 140 countries around the world continue to respect parents' freedom, and responsibility, to discipline their children appropriately. "This Bill could see them in the dock for simply tapping their kids on the back of the hand or pulling them away from the side of the road." He added: "Children rightly enjoy strong protections from assault. It is highly irresponsible and deeply misleading to suggest otherwise." The consultation closes on January 25. ### Summary: A bill to ban smacking children has been introduced by the Scottish parliament. ### Text: The Scottish parliament's equalities and human rights committee wants to know what people think about the bill. ### Summary:

science-environment-26324244

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26324244

The strange case of the 'time travel' murder

A woman who had been murdered in London had been murdered by a man who had been murdered by a man who had been murdered by a woman.

It was a real-life mystery that could have come straight from the pages of a modern-day detective novel. A woman had been brutally murdered in London and biological material had been found under her fingernails, possibly indicating that she might have scratched her attacker just before she died. A sample of the material was analysed and results compared with the National DNA database and quickly came back with a positive match. The problem was, the "hit" identified a woman who had herself been murdered - a full three weeks before the death of her alleged "victim". The killings had taken place in different areas of the capital and were being investigated by separate teams of detectives. With no sign of a connection between the two women and nothing to suggest they had ever met, the most "likely" scenario was that the samples had been mixed-up or contaminated at the one obvious place that they had come together - the forensic laboratory. A complaint was made by the senior investigating officer. It was 1997 and I was the national account manager for the Forensic Science Service at the time, so it was my responsibility to find out if a mistake had been made at the laboratory. My first thought was that perhaps the second victim's fingernail clipping had been mislabelled and had actually come from the first victim all along. As soon as I started to look at the samples, I could see this wasn't the case. The victim had painted her nails with a distinctive leopard skin pattern and the cuttings that had been taken bore the exact same pattern. There was no doubt that they were the correct ones. I then checked through the laboratory records to see if there was any way the samples could have been accidentally mixed-up. This too turned out to be a non-starter as the two sets of samples had never been out of the lab's exhibit store at the same time. In any event, several weeks had passed between the analysis of the first and second clippings and different members of staff had been involved. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, I decided to look more closely at how the clippings themselves had come to be collected and discovered that both bodies had undergone an autopsy at the same mortuary, though they had arrived there several weeks apart. Forensic autopsies - those carried out in the case of murder or suspicious death - are far more detailed and involved than standard, non-criminal autopsies. Among other examinations, blood and organ samples are collected for toxicological testing, stomach contents are collected and analysed and fingernails are scraped and clipped. It was while I was examining the mortuary records that I came across a possible answer. It transpired that the body of the first murder victim had been kept in the freezer for several weeks while the police carried out their initial investigation. It had been removed from the freezer to allow the pathologist to take additional nail clippings the day before the body of the second murder victim had arrived at the mortuary. The following day, the same pair of scissors had been used to cut the nails of the second murder victim. Although the scissors had been cleaned between uses, I couldn't help but wonder whether sufficient genetic material had survived the cleaning process to transfer onto the second victim's nails and then produce a DNA profile in the subsequent analysis. I had started my career in forensic science during the late 1970s and back then, the idea of being able to identify someone from a few tiny drops of blood seemed like something out of science fiction. In those early days, we rarely wore protective clothing at crime scenes or worried about potential contamination because there was no method to analyse any biological material that was as small as the eye could see. Today, everyone entering a crime scene has to don a new, clean paper over-suit and overshoes as well as gloves since DNA retrieval techniques are now so sensitive that simply lightly touching an object - such as a door knob or knife handle - can leave enough of a trace to carry out a successful DNA analysis. In 1997, the time of the mystery murder, DNA profiling was only a few years old and, as I was about to discover, the technology was improving so quickly that previously unforeseen problems were beginning to occur. I arranged for the nail scissors from the mortuary to be analysed and discovered not two but three separate DNA profiles were present. Further examination found DNA contamination on several other mortuary instruments but it was only ever going to present a problem when it came to fingernail scissors. The autopsy knives, for example, were found to have traces of DNA of several different people on them, but because incisions were never sampled for DNA, cross contamination was not an issue. I immediately sent out an urgent memo to all coroners, mortuaries and forensic pathologists in the country, highlighting the problem and suggesting that, in the future, all nail clippings should be taken with disposable scissors and that the scissors should then be placed in the evidence bag with the nail clippings to confirm they had only been used once. It's a system that remains in place to this day. Modern DNA analysis is now so sensitive that contamination is a major issue, with the potential to send criminal investigations spiralling off in the wrong direction. In Germany in 2007, traces of DNA belonging to an unknown female were found at the scene of the murder of a police officer. When run through the German database, identical DNA was found to have been present at the scene of five other murders in Germany and France, along with several burglaries and car thefts. In total, the woman's DNA was found at 40 separate crime scenes. The German authorities spent two years and thousands of hours searching for the culprit, only to discover that the DNA had in fact been present on the swabs the crime scene investigators had been using to collect their samples. The swabs had been accidentally contaminated by a woman working at the factory that produced them. For years DNA has been seen as the ultimate crime-fighting weapon with successful convictions arising from ever smaller traces, but in many ways DNA analysis has become a victim of its own success. Now that we have the ability to create a DNA profile from just a few human cells, traces can be found almost everywhere. But as we are all depositing DNA everywhere we go, the significance of finding and analysing these traces will become increasingly open to interpretation unless there is sufficient DNA material present to eliminate the possibility of secondary contact or cross-contamination, or additional evidence supporting direct involvement in the crime. Dr Mike Silverman is the author of Written In Blood, a history of forensic science.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: It was a real-life mystery that could have come straight from the pages of a modern-day detective novel. A woman had been brutally murdered in London and biological material had been found under her fingernails, possibly indicating that she might have scratched her attacker just before she died. A sample of the material was analysed and results compared with the National DNA database and quickly came back with a positive match. The problem was, the "hit" identified a woman who had herself been murdered - a full three weeks before the death of her alleged "victim". The killings had taken place in different areas of the capital and were being investigated by separate teams of detectives. With no sign of a connection between the two women and nothing to suggest they had ever met, the most "likely" scenario was that the samples had been mixed-up or contaminated at the one obvious place that they had come together - the forensic laboratory. A complaint was made by the senior investigating officer. It was 1997 and I was the national account manager for the Forensic Science Service at the time, so it was my responsibility to find out if a mistake had been made at the laboratory. My first thought was that perhaps the second victim's fingernail clipping had been mislabelled and had actually come from the first victim all along. As soon as I started to look at the samples, I could see this wasn't the case. The victim had painted her nails with a distinctive leopard skin pattern and the cuttings that had been taken bore the exact same pattern. There was no doubt that they were the correct ones. I then checked through the laboratory records to see if there was any way the samples could have been accidentally mixed-up. This too turned out to be a non-starter as the two sets of samples had never been out of the lab's exhibit store at the same time. In any event, several weeks had passed between the analysis of the first and second clippings and different members of staff had been involved. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, I decided to look more closely at how the clippings themselves had come to be collected and discovered that both bodies had undergone an autopsy at the same mortuary, though they had arrived there several weeks apart. Forensic autopsies - those carried out in the case of murder or suspicious death - are far more detailed and involved than standard, non-criminal autopsies. Among other examinations, blood and organ samples are collected for toxicological testing, stomach contents are collected and analysed and fingernails are scraped and clipped. It was while I was examining the mortuary records that I came across a possible answer. It transpired that the body of the first murder victim had been kept in the freezer for several weeks while the police carried out their initial investigation. It had been removed from the freezer to allow the pathologist to take additional nail clippings the day before the body of the second murder victim had arrived at the mortuary. The following day, the same pair of scissors had been used to cut the nails of the second murder victim. Although the scissors had been cleaned between uses, I couldn't help but wonder whether sufficient genetic material had survived the cleaning process to transfer onto the second victim's nails and then produce a DNA profile in the subsequent analysis. I had started my career in forensic science during the late 1970s and back then, the idea of being able to identify someone from a few tiny drops of blood seemed like something out of science fiction. In those early days, we rarely wore protective clothing at crime scenes or worried about potential contamination because there was no method to analyse any biological material that was as small as the eye could see. Today, everyone entering a crime scene has to don a new, clean paper over-suit and overshoes as well as gloves since DNA retrieval techniques are now so sensitive that simply lightly touching an object - such as a door knob or knife handle - can leave enough of a trace to carry out a successful DNA analysis. In 1997, the time of the mystery murder, DNA profiling was only a few years old and, as I was about to discover, the technology was improving so quickly that previously unforeseen problems were beginning to occur. I arranged for the nail scissors from the mortuary to be analysed and discovered not two but three separate DNA profiles were present. Further examination found DNA contamination on several other mortuary instruments but it was only ever going to present a problem when it came to fingernail scissors. The autopsy knives, for example, were found to have traces of DNA of several different people on them, but because incisions were never sampled for DNA, cross contamination was not an issue. I immediately sent out an urgent memo to all coroners, mortuaries and forensic pathologists in the country, highlighting the problem and suggesting that, in the future, all nail clippings should be taken with disposable scissors and that the scissors should then be placed in the evidence bag with the nail clippings to confirm they had only been used once. It ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: It was a real-life mystery that could have come straight from the pages of a modern-day detective novel. A woman had been brutally murdered in London and biological material had been found under her fingernails, possibly indicating that she might have scratched her attacker just before she died. A sample of the material was analysed and results compared with the National DNA database and quickly came back with a positive match. The problem was, the "hit" identified a woman who had herself been murdered - a full three weeks before the death of her alleged "victim". The killings had taken place in different areas of the capital and were being investigated by separate teams of detectives. With no sign of a connection between the two women and nothing to suggest they had ever met, the most "likely" scenario was that the samples had been mixed-up or contaminated at the one obvious place that they had come together - the forensic laboratory. A complaint was made by the senior investigating officer. It was 1997 and I was the national account manager for the Forensic Science Service at the time, so it was my responsibility to find out if a mistake had been made at the laboratory. My first thought was that perhaps the second victim's fingernail clipping had been mislabelled and had actually come from the first victim all along. As soon as I started to look at the samples, I could see this wasn't the case. The victim had painted her nails with a distinctive leopard skin pattern and the cuttings that had been taken bore the exact same pattern. There was no doubt that they were the correct ones. I then checked through the laboratory records to see if there was any way the samples could have been accidentally mixed-up. This too turned out to be a non-starter as the two sets of samples had never been out of the lab's exhibit store at the same time. In any event, several weeks had passed between the analysis of the first and second clippings and different members of staff had been involved. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, I decided to look more closely at how the clippings themselves had come to be collected and discovered that both bodies had undergone an autopsy at the same mortuary, though they had arrived there several weeks apart. Forensic autopsies - those carried out in the case of murder or suspicious death - are far more detailed and involved than standard, non-criminal autopsies. Among other examinations, blood and organ samples are collected for toxicological testing, stomach contents are collected and analysed and fingernails are scraped and clipped. It was while I was examining the mortuary records that I came across a possible answer. It transpired that the body of the first murder victim had been kept in the freezer for several weeks while the police carried out their initial investigation. It had been removed from the freezer to allow the pathologist to take additional nail clippings the day before the body of the second murder victim had arrived at the mortuary. The following day, the same pair of scissors had been used to cut the nails of the second murder victim. Although the scissors had been cleaned between uses, I couldn't help but wonder whether sufficient genetic material had survived the cleaning process to transfer onto the second victim's nails and then produce a DNA profile in the subsequent analysis. I had started my career in forensic science during the late 1970s and back then, the idea of being able to identify someone from a few tiny drops of blood seemed like something out of science fiction. In those early days, we rarely wore protective clothing at crime scenes or worried about potential contamination because there was no method to analyse any biological material that was as small as the eye could see. Today, everyone entering a crime scene has to don a new, clean paper over-suit and overshoes as well as gloves since DNA retrieval techniques are now so sensitive that simply lightly touching an object - such as a door knob or knife handle - can leave enough of a trace to carry out a successful DNA analysis. In 1997, the time of the mystery murder, DNA profiling was only a few years old and, as I was about to discover, the technology was improving so quickly that previously unforeseen problems were beginning to occur. I arranged for the nail scissors from the mortuary to be analysed and discovered not two but three separate DNA profiles were present. Further examination found DNA contamination on several other mortuary instruments but it was only ever going to present a problem when it came to fingernail scissors. The autopsy knives, for example, were found to have traces of DNA of several different people on them, but because incisions were never sampled for DNA, cross contamination was not an issue. I immediately sent out an urgent memo to all coroners, mortuaries and forensic pathologists in the country, highlighting the problem and suggesting that, in the future, all nail clippings should be taken with disposable scissors and that the scissors should then be placed in the evidence bag with the nail clippings to confirm they had only been used once. It ### Summary: A woman who had been murdered in London had been murdered by a man who had been murdered by a man who had been murdered by a woman. ### Text: A woman who had been murdered in London had

entertainment-arts-46603857

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46603857

Lady Gaga and A Star is Born snubbed by London critics

The Favourite has been nominated for the best film of the year at the London Critics' Circle film awards.

Despite being shortlisted for five Golden Globes, Lady Gaga's A Star is Born remake failed to make the cut. Oscar-tipped royal romp The Favourite landed 10 nominations for the awards, to be presented in London in January. Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz get two nominations each for the film, set during Queen Anne's 18th century reign. Yorgos Lanthimos's dark period comedy received twice as many nominations overall as its nearest competition. When the Golden Globe nominations were announced earlier this month, The Favourite and A Star is Born both received five nominations. But UK critics were evidently less impressed by Bradley Cooper's musical remake than their counterparts from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The Favourite, out in the UK on 1 January, is up for film of the year and British/Irish film of the year as well as the best director and best screenplay awards. Colman, who plays Queen Anne, is up for actress of the year, while Weisz is nominated for best supporting actress for her role as her advisor Sarah Churchill. Both stars are also up for British/Irish actress of the year alongside Emily Blunt, Jessie Buckley and Claire Foy. Christian Bale and Rupert Everett also get dual acting nominations for playing Dick Cheney and Oscar Wilde in Vice and The Happy Prince respectively. Richard E Grant and Daniel Kaluuya are also cited in two categories, the former for his Oscar-tipped performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me? and the latter for his supporting roles in Widows and Black Panther. Everett, meanwhile, receives a third nomination, his direction of The Happy Prince earning him consideration for the Circle's breakthrough British/Irish filmmaker prize. The Happy Prince gets five nominations overall, as does Cold War, Roma and You Were Never Really Here. Space race drama First Man and Steve McQueen's heist thriller Widows both get four nominations apiece. Two female film-makers are up for the director of the year prize: Debra Granik for Leave No Trace, and Lynne Ramsay for You Were Never Really Here. Pedro Almodovar will receive an honorary prize when the 39th London Critics' Circle film awards are presented on 20 January. The Spanish director said he was "thrilled to receive this special honour" and was looking forward to attending the ceremony next month. Previous recipients of the Dilys Powell award for excellence in film include Sir Kenneth Branagh, the late Nicolas Roeg and this year's honouree, actress Kate Winslet. A full list of nominations can be found on the Critics' Circle website. Colman was crowned best actress at the Venice Film Festival and the British Independent Film Awards for her work in The Favourite. The Bafta-winning star - who will be seen this Christmas in Les Miserables and heard in Watership Down - is expected to be Oscar-nominated next month for her "priceless" performance. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Despite being shortlisted for five Golden Globes, Lady Gaga's A Star is Born remake failed to make the cut. Oscar-tipped royal romp The Favourite landed 10 nominations for the awards, to be presented in London in January. Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz get two nominations each for the film, set during Queen Anne's 18th century reign. Yorgos Lanthimos's dark period comedy received twice as many nominations overall as its nearest competition. When the Golden Globe nominations were announced earlier this month, The Favourite and A Star is Born both received five nominations. But UK critics were evidently less impressed by Bradley Cooper's musical remake than their counterparts from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The Favourite, out in the UK on 1 January, is up for film of the year and British/Irish film of the year as well as the best director and best screenplay awards. Colman, who plays Queen Anne, is up for actress of the year, while Weisz is nominated for best supporting actress for her role as her advisor Sarah Churchill. Both stars are also up for British/Irish actress of the year alongside Emily Blunt, Jessie Buckley and Claire Foy. Christian Bale and Rupert Everett also get dual acting nominations for playing Dick Cheney and Oscar Wilde in Vice and The Happy Prince respectively. Richard E Grant and Daniel Kaluuya are also cited in two categories, the former for his Oscar-tipped performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me? and the latter for his supporting roles in Widows and Black Panther. Everett, meanwhile, receives a third nomination, his direction of The Happy Prince earning him consideration for the Circle's breakthrough British/Irish filmmaker prize. The Happy Prince gets five nominations overall, as does Cold War, Roma and You Were Never Really Here. Space race drama First Man and Steve McQueen's heist thriller Widows both get four nominations apiece. Two female film-makers are up for the director of the year prize: Debra Granik for Leave No Trace, and Lynne Ramsay for You Were Never Really Here. Pedro Almodovar will receive an honorary prize when the 39th London Critics' Circle film awards are presented on 20 January. The Spanish director said he was "thrilled to receive this special honour" and was looking forward to attending the ceremony next month. Previous recipients of the Dilys Powell award for excellence in film include Sir Kenneth Branagh, the late Nicolas Roeg and this year's honouree, actress Kate Winslet. A full list of nominations can be found on the Critics' Circle website. Colman was crowned best actress at the Venice Film Festival and the British Independent Film Awards for her work in The Favourite. The Bafta-winning star - who will be seen this Christmas in Les Miserables and heard in Watership Down - is expected to be Oscar-nominated next month for her "priceless" performance. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Despite being shortlisted for five Golden Globes, Lady Gaga's A Star is Born remake failed to make the cut. Oscar-tipped royal romp The Favourite landed 10 nominations for the awards, to be presented in London in January. Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz get two nominations each for the film, set during Queen Anne's 18th century reign. Yorgos Lanthimos's dark period comedy received twice as many nominations overall as its nearest competition. When the Golden Globe nominations were announced earlier this month, The Favourite and A Star is Born both received five nominations. But UK critics were evidently less impressed by Bradley Cooper's musical remake than their counterparts from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The Favourite, out in the UK on 1 January, is up for film of the year and British/Irish film of the year as well as the best director and best screenplay awards. Colman, who plays Queen Anne, is up for actress of the year, while Weisz is nominated for best supporting actress for her role as her advisor Sarah Churchill. Both stars are also up for British/Irish actress of the year alongside Emily Blunt, Jessie Buckley and Claire Foy. Christian Bale and Rupert Everett also get dual acting nominations for playing Dick Cheney and Oscar Wilde in Vice and The Happy Prince respectively. Richard E Grant and Daniel Kaluuya are also cited in two categories, the former for his Oscar-tipped performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me? and the latter for his supporting roles in Widows and Black Panther. Everett, meanwhile, receives a third nomination, his direction of The Happy Prince earning him consideration for the Circle's breakthrough British/Irish filmmaker prize. The Happy Prince gets five nominations overall, as does Cold War, Roma and You Were Never Really Here. Space race drama First Man and Steve McQueen's heist thriller Widows both get four nominations apiece. Two female film-makers are up for the director of the year prize: Debra Granik for Leave No Trace, and Lynne Ramsay for You Were Never Really Here. Pedro Almodovar will receive an honorary prize when the 39th London Critics' Circle film awards are presented on 20 January. The Spanish director said he was "thrilled to receive this special honour" and was looking forward to attending the ceremony next month. Previous recipients of the Dilys Powell award for excellence in film include Sir Kenneth Branagh, the late Nicolas Roeg and this year's honouree, actress Kate Winslet. A full list of nominations can be found on the Critics' Circle website. Colman was crowned best actress at the Venice Film Festival and the British Independent Film Awards for her work in The Favourite. The Bafta-winning star - who will be seen this Christmas in Les Miserables and heard in Watership Down - is expected to be Oscar-nominated next month for her "priceless" performance. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. ### Summary: The Favourite has been nominated for the best film of the year at the London Critics' Circle film awards. ### Source: The Favourite has been nominated for the best film of the year at the London

world-africa-30068326

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30068326

Algerian President Bouteflika leaves French hospital

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been admitted to a private hospital in the south-eastern French town of Grenoble.

The elderly leader, who suffered a stroke last year, was admitted for treatment in Grenoble on Thursday. The reason for his admittance remains unknown. The Algerian government has not commented on the issue. The 77-year-old, who has led the country since 1999, has rarely been seen in public since his re-election to a fourth term in April. High security The French regional newspaper Le Dauphine Libere said on Friday that Mr Bouteflika had been admitted to the cardiology unit of a private clinic in the south-eastern French town. The paper reported that an entire floor of the clinic had been booked out to ensure maximum security. President Bouteflika is a veteran of the Algeria's war of independence from France, which ended in 1962. He was elected president in 1999, following the country's bloody civil war in the 1990s. His most recent election victory in 2014 was criticised by opposition parties, who said the polls were flawed and that Mr Bouteflika was unfit to run because of his health problems. Mr Bouteflika was taken to hospital in Paris in 2005 due to a stomach ulcer, sparking concerns about his health.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The elderly leader, who suffered a stroke last year, was admitted for treatment in Grenoble on Thursday. The reason for his admittance remains unknown. The Algerian government has not commented on the issue. The 77-year-old, who has led the country since 1999, has rarely been seen in public since his re-election to a fourth term in April. High security The French regional newspaper Le Dauphine Libere said on Friday that Mr Bouteflika had been admitted to the cardiology unit of a private clinic in the south-eastern French town. The paper reported that an entire floor of the clinic had been booked out to ensure maximum security. President Bouteflika is a veteran of the Algeria's war of independence from France, which ended in 1962. He was elected president in 1999, following the country's bloody civil war in the 1990s. His most recent election victory in 2014 was criticised by opposition parties, who said the polls were flawed and that Mr Bouteflika was unfit to run because of his health problems. Mr Bouteflika was taken to hospital in Paris in 2005 due to a stomach ulcer, sparking concerns about his health. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The elderly leader, who suffered a stroke last year, was admitted for treatment in Grenoble on Thursday. The reason for his admittance remains unknown. The Algerian government has not commented on the issue. The 77-year-old, who has led the country since 1999, has rarely been seen in public since his re-election to a fourth term in April. High security The French regional newspaper Le Dauphine Libere said on Friday that Mr Bouteflika had been admitted to the cardiology unit of a private clinic in the south-eastern French town. The paper reported that an entire floor of the clinic had been booked out to ensure maximum security. President Bouteflika is a veteran of the Algeria's war of independence from France, which ended in 1962. He was elected president in 1999, following the country's bloody civil war in the 1990s. His most recent election victory in 2014 was criticised by opposition parties, who said the polls were flawed and that Mr Bouteflika was unfit to run because of his health problems. Mr Bouteflika was taken to hospital in Paris in 2005 due to a stomach ulcer, sparking concerns about his health. ### Summary: Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has been admitted to a private hospital in the south-eastern French town of Grenoble. ### Source: Algerian President Abdelaziz Boutefli

uk-england-dorset-54467595

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-54467595

Man sentenced for rubbing Lidl napkins with licked fingers

A man has been ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work after he licked his fingers and "purposefully" rubbed them on to a product.

Benjamin Best went into a Lidl store in St Andrews Road, Dorset, licked his fingers and "purposefully" rubbed them on to a product, police said. He pleaded guilty to intending to cause public alarm and contaminating or interfering with goods. At Weymouth Magistrates' Court, the 20-year-old, from Bridport, was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £90, and courts costs of £85. Best must also attend rehabilitation appointments for up to 15 days, and his unpaid work must be carried out within the next 12 months. He was not a confirmed Covid-19 case at the time of the incident.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Benjamin Best went into a Lidl store in St Andrews Road, Dorset, licked his fingers and "purposefully" rubbed them on to a product, police said. He pleaded guilty to intending to cause public alarm and contaminating or interfering with goods. At Weymouth Magistrates' Court, the 20-year-old, from Bridport, was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £90, and courts costs of £85. Best must also attend rehabilitation appointments for up to 15 days, and his unpaid work must be carried out within the next 12 months. He was not a confirmed Covid-19 case at the time of the incident. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Benjamin Best went into a Lidl store in St Andrews Road, Dorset, licked his fingers and "purposefully" rubbed them on to a product, police said. He pleaded guilty to intending to cause public alarm and contaminating or interfering with goods. At Weymouth Magistrates' Court, the 20-year-old, from Bridport, was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £90, and courts costs of £85. Best must also attend rehabilitation appointments for up to 15 days, and his unpaid work must be carried out within the next 12 months. He was not a confirmed Covid-19 case at the time of the incident. ### Summary: A man has been ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work after he licked his fingers and "purposefully" rubbed them on to a product. ### Text: A man has been ordered

uk-england-lincolnshire-48929743

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-48929743

Wainfleet flooding: Norfolk County Council to hold inquiry

A review into the flooding in Lincolnshire has been launched.

About 600 houses were evacuated in Wainfleet when the River Steeping burst its banks on 12 June. A Norfolk County Council spokesman confirmed the authority was in "early discussions" about conducting a review into the floods. The investigation could begin next week and run until November. RAF helicopters were drafted in to drop bags of ballast in a £1m operation to fill a breach in the riverbank after the equivalent of two months' rain fell in two days. Some residents are not expected to return to their homes for months, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillor Colin Davie, of Lincolnshire County Council, said a review by the authority itself would have "thrown up some issues". "We felt that it was right to have that relationship properly scrutinised independently," he said. "Norfolk will conduct a proper investigation and they will produce a report that will come to our scrutiny process." On Friday, Conservative MP Matt Warman told a public meeting that the government had "failed" the town's residents.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: About 600 houses were evacuated in Wainfleet when the River Steeping burst its banks on 12 June. A Norfolk County Council spokesman confirmed the authority was in "early discussions" about conducting a review into the floods. The investigation could begin next week and run until November. RAF helicopters were drafted in to drop bags of ballast in a £1m operation to fill a breach in the riverbank after the equivalent of two months' rain fell in two days. Some residents are not expected to return to their homes for months, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillor Colin Davie, of Lincolnshire County Council, said a review by the authority itself would have "thrown up some issues". "We felt that it was right to have that relationship properly scrutinised independently," he said. "Norfolk will conduct a proper investigation and they will produce a report that will come to our scrutiny process." On Friday, Conservative MP Matt Warman told a public meeting that the government had "failed" the town's residents. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: About 600 houses were evacuated in Wainfleet when the River Steeping burst its banks on 12 June. A Norfolk County Council spokesman confirmed the authority was in "early discussions" about conducting a review into the floods. The investigation could begin next week and run until November. RAF helicopters were drafted in to drop bags of ballast in a £1m operation to fill a breach in the riverbank after the equivalent of two months' rain fell in two days. Some residents are not expected to return to their homes for months, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillor Colin Davie, of Lincolnshire County Council, said a review by the authority itself would have "thrown up some issues". "We felt that it was right to have that relationship properly scrutinised independently," he said. "Norfolk will conduct a proper investigation and they will produce a report that will come to our scrutiny process." On Friday, Conservative MP Matt Warman told a public meeting that the government had "failed" the town's residents. ### Summary: A review into the flooding in Lincolnshire has been launched. ### Source: By Joe ThomasBBC News The review will look at the response to the floods and the impact on residents. It will also look at the impact

magazine-22039903

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22039903

Why evacuate for an earthquake no-one can feel?

A group of Italian scientists have been convicted of manslaughter for failing to properly communicate the risk of a major earthquake in L'Aquila.

By Dany MitzmanL'Aquila, Italy "Everyone knows, you can't predict an earthquake." Anne Thornley-Bennett, who lives in the Italian town of Barga, categorically believes this. So why, on 31 January, did she decide to evacuate when the local council sent out warnings of a major quake? "We received dozens of phone calls and text messages, one of which just said, 'Evacuate'. We just went along with the mania," she sighs. "If it had only been my husband and me, I don't think we'd have taken the advice. We'd have just stayed on the bottom floor in our sleeping bags as we'd done the previous nights. But when you've got little ones... well, if anything did happen, you'd never forgive yourself." Barga is situated in the picturesque but seismically shaky Garfagnana region of Tuscany. For a week they had been experiencing constant tremors and aftershocks. "It was pretty scary because you could hear the earth groan. One day the kids were even evacuated from school without their coats." She laughs, implying that only a real emergency would see Italian children being sent outside coatless in winter. Garfagnana experienced a huge 6.5 magnitude quake in 1920, yet the local authorities and population have never panicked like this before. One mayor's decision to evacuate a town centre on 31 January spread fear to the surrounding municipalities, where thousands of residents ended up being advised to sleep in their cars or in schools transformed into emergency shelters. Hospitals and care homes were emptied. In the end, nothing happened. The following day, everyone went home. Italy never used to worry quite so much about little tremors. The change appears to be the direct result of last year's conviction of seven members of Italy's High Risk Commission - six of whom were scientists - for manslaughter. They were found guilty of failing to properly communicate the risk of a major earthquake in L'Aquila. The case has produced its own kind of aftershock. "Alarmism? It's the poisoned fruit of the L'Aquila sentence," says Franco Gabrielli, the head of the Civil Protection Department, the day after the Garfagnana evacuations. His spokesperson Francesca Maffini says it's inevitable that scientists are now erring on the side of caution. "It's not the verdict itself, it's the very fact they were put on trial," she says. "If the risk is between zero and 40%, today they'll tell us it's 40, even if they think it's closer to zero. They're protecting themselves, which is perfectly understandable." Prof Stefano Gresta, president of the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV), acknowledges the convictions had a big impact. "We are more aware that our role as scientists must be exclusively limited to our results and interpretations," he says. But he also thinks something went wrong on 31 January in Barga with the way the scientific tremor prognosis was communicated between the various levels of decision-makers. The escalation of events that night stemmed from a single tweet sent by a council, advising residents to "sleep away from home". In the past, information was interpreted and filtered by the likes of the High Risk Commission, the Civil Protection Department and local and regional councils. Today you can get it directly from source through smartphone apps with names like Terremoti Italia (Italy Earthquakes) and Hai sentito il terremoto? (Translation: did you feel the earthquake?) Keane, an Irish expat artist and journalist (with only one name) who has lived in Barga for 28 years, thinks this is making people obsessive. "Some apps tell you every time there's a tremor, including the small ones that humans can't even feel. Mine says there were 15 today in Italy, two in this area. You get constant beeps in your pocket and in the end it becomes a psychosis," he says. It's a phenomenon that worries Gresta. He does not consider alarmism and sleeping in cars to be the solution, and would prefer to see changes in construction. "There needs to be greater awareness of the vulnerability of the houses we live in and the buildings we work in and, where appropriate, they should be made safer," he says. But this will cost councils and homeowners money. And Thornley-Bennett says people in Barga who chose to evacuate did not really mind. "We met lots of people we knew and the kids played with their friends. At about 2am, council staff turned up with hundreds of white plastic chairs so we could all sit around and chat. In the morning, we took the children off for breakfast in their pyjamas and then we went home." Although frightened by the tremors themselves, on that particular night her children had the time of their lives. You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Dany MitzmanL'Aquila, Italy "Everyone knows, you can't predict an earthquake." Anne Thornley-Bennett, who lives in the Italian town of Barga, categorically believes this. So why, on 31 January, did she decide to evacuate when the local council sent out warnings of a major quake? "We received dozens of phone calls and text messages, one of which just said, 'Evacuate'. We just went along with the mania," she sighs. "If it had only been my husband and me, I don't think we'd have taken the advice. We'd have just stayed on the bottom floor in our sleeping bags as we'd done the previous nights. But when you've got little ones... well, if anything did happen, you'd never forgive yourself." Barga is situated in the picturesque but seismically shaky Garfagnana region of Tuscany. For a week they had been experiencing constant tremors and aftershocks. "It was pretty scary because you could hear the earth groan. One day the kids were even evacuated from school without their coats." She laughs, implying that only a real emergency would see Italian children being sent outside coatless in winter. Garfagnana experienced a huge 6.5 magnitude quake in 1920, yet the local authorities and population have never panicked like this before. One mayor's decision to evacuate a town centre on 31 January spread fear to the surrounding municipalities, where thousands of residents ended up being advised to sleep in their cars or in schools transformed into emergency shelters. Hospitals and care homes were emptied. In the end, nothing happened. The following day, everyone went home. Italy never used to worry quite so much about little tremors. The change appears to be the direct result of last year's conviction of seven members of Italy's High Risk Commission - six of whom were scientists - for manslaughter. They were found guilty of failing to properly communicate the risk of a major earthquake in L'Aquila. The case has produced its own kind of aftershock. "Alarmism? It's the poisoned fruit of the L'Aquila sentence," says Franco Gabrielli, the head of the Civil Protection Department, the day after the Garfagnana evacuations. His spokesperson Francesca Maffini says it's inevitable that scientists are now erring on the side of caution. "It's not the verdict itself, it's the very fact they were put on trial," she says. "If the risk is between zero and 40%, today they'll tell us it's 40, even if they think it's closer to zero. They're protecting themselves, which is perfectly understandable." Prof Stefano Gresta, president of the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV), acknowledges the convictions had a big impact. "We are more aware that our role as scientists must be exclusively limited to our results and interpretations," he says. But he also thinks something went wrong on 31 January in Barga with the way the scientific tremor prognosis was communicated between the various levels of decision-makers. The escalation of events that night stemmed from a single tweet sent by a council, advising residents to "sleep away from home". In the past, information was interpreted and filtered by the likes of the High Risk Commission, the Civil Protection Department and local and regional councils. Today you can get it directly from source through smartphone apps with names like Terremoti Italia (Italy Earthquakes) and Hai sentito il terremoto? (Translation: did you feel the earthquake?) Keane, an Irish expat artist and journalist (with only one name) who has lived in Barga for 28 years, thinks this is making people obsessive. "Some apps tell you every time there's a tremor, including the small ones that humans can't even feel. Mine says there were 15 today in Italy, two in this area. You get constant beeps in your pocket and in the end it becomes a psychosis," he says. It's a phenomenon that worries Gresta. He does not consider alarmism and sleeping in cars to be the solution, and would prefer to see changes in construction. "There needs to be greater awareness of the vulnerability of the houses we live in and the buildings we work in and, where appropriate, they should be made safer," he says. But this will cost councils and homeowners money. And Thornley-Bennett says people in Barga who chose to evacuate did not really mind. "We met lots of people we knew and the kids played with their friends. At about 2am, council staff turned up with hundreds of white plastic chairs so we could all sit around and chat. In the morning, we took the children off for breakfast in their pyjamas and then we went home." Although frightened by the tremors themselves, on that particular night her children had the time of their lives. You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Dany MitzmanL'Aquila, Italy "Everyone knows, you can't predict an earthquake." Anne Thornley-Bennett, who lives in the Italian town of Barga, categorically believes this. So why, on 31 January, did she decide to evacuate when the local council sent out warnings of a major quake? "We received dozens of phone calls and text messages, one of which just said, 'Evacuate'. We just went along with the mania," she sighs. "If it had only been my husband and me, I don't think we'd have taken the advice. We'd have just stayed on the bottom floor in our sleeping bags as we'd done the previous nights. But when you've got little ones... well, if anything did happen, you'd never forgive yourself." Barga is situated in the picturesque but seismically shaky Garfagnana region of Tuscany. For a week they had been experiencing constant tremors and aftershocks. "It was pretty scary because you could hear the earth groan. One day the kids were even evacuated from school without their coats." She laughs, implying that only a real emergency would see Italian children being sent outside coatless in winter. Garfagnana experienced a huge 6.5 magnitude quake in 1920, yet the local authorities and population have never panicked like this before. One mayor's decision to evacuate a town centre on 31 January spread fear to the surrounding municipalities, where thousands of residents ended up being advised to sleep in their cars or in schools transformed into emergency shelters. Hospitals and care homes were emptied. In the end, nothing happened. The following day, everyone went home. Italy never used to worry quite so much about little tremors. The change appears to be the direct result of last year's conviction of seven members of Italy's High Risk Commission - six of whom were scientists - for manslaughter. They were found guilty of failing to properly communicate the risk of a major earthquake in L'Aquila. The case has produced its own kind of aftershock. "Alarmism? It's the poisoned fruit of the L'Aquila sentence," says Franco Gabrielli, the head of the Civil Protection Department, the day after the Garfagnana evacuations. His spokesperson Francesca Maffini says it's inevitable that scientists are now erring on the side of caution. "It's not the verdict itself, it's the very fact they were put on trial," she says. "If the risk is between zero and 40%, today they'll tell us it's 40, even if they think it's closer to zero. They're protecting themselves, which is perfectly understandable." Prof Stefano Gresta, president of the National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV), acknowledges the convictions had a big impact. "We are more aware that our role as scientists must be exclusively limited to our results and interpretations," he says. But he also thinks something went wrong on 31 January in Barga with the way the scientific tremor prognosis was communicated between the various levels of decision-makers. The escalation of events that night stemmed from a single tweet sent by a council, advising residents to "sleep away from home". In the past, information was interpreted and filtered by the likes of the High Risk Commission, the Civil Protection Department and local and regional councils. Today you can get it directly from source through smartphone apps with names like Terremoti Italia (Italy Earthquakes) and Hai sentito il terremoto? (Translation: did you feel the earthquake?) Keane, an Irish expat artist and journalist (with only one name) who has lived in Barga for 28 years, thinks this is making people obsessive. "Some apps tell you every time there's a tremor, including the small ones that humans can't even feel. Mine says there were 15 today in Italy, two in this area. You get constant beeps in your pocket and in the end it becomes a psychosis," he says. It's a phenomenon that worries Gresta. He does not consider alarmism and sleeping in cars to be the solution, and would prefer to see changes in construction. "There needs to be greater awareness of the vulnerability of the houses we live in and the buildings we work in and, where appropriate, they should be made safer," he says. But this will cost councils and homeowners money. And Thornley-Bennett says people in Barga who chose to evacuate did not really mind. "We met lots of people we knew and the kids played with their friends. At about 2am, council staff turned up with hundreds of white plastic chairs so we could all sit around and chat. In the morning, we took the children off for breakfast in their pyjamas and then we went home." Although frightened by the tremors themselves, on that particular night her children had the time of their lives. You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook ### Summary: A group of Italian scientists have been convicted of manslaughter for failing to properly communicate the risk of a major earthquake in L'Aquila. ### Source: By Dany MitzmanB

uk-48822950

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48822950

Cliff Richard and Paul Gambaccini launch sex offence anonymity campaign

A group of people who have been accused of sexual offences have called for a change in the law to allow them to be named in the press.

Police raided Sir Cliff's home in 2014 during an investigation into a sexual assault claim. He was never arrested. The star said the media coverage of the raid left his reputation "in tatters". But the group Rape Crisis said false allegations were rare and there were "no grounds" to change the law. Currently, alleged victims of sexual offences receive lifelong anonymity under UK law but there is no law against naming a suspect. The College of Policing guidelines advise officers not to name those arrested or suspected of any crime "save in exceptional circumstances where there is a legitimate policing purpose to do so". Once a person is charged, they are routinely named by police. Sir Cliff is one of several well-known figures backing the campaign group Falsely Accused Individuals for Reform (Fair). The group's parliamentary petition calls for a change in the law so those suspected of sexual offences have anonymity until they are charged, unless there are exceptional circumstances. It reached 10,000 signatures on Monday afternoon, which means the government will respond. It needs 100,000 signatures to be considered for a debate in Parliament. Speaking to reporters at the launch event in Victoria Tower Gardens, alongside BBC radio DJ Paul Gambaccini, Sir Cliff said: "We have both been through the mill. When you know you didn't do it, you feel you're in a hole you can't get out of." He said: "People can be evil enough to tell a lie about an innocent person," adding that "no smoke without fire" was a "stupid saying". Sir Cliff successfully sued the BBC for breach of privacy over its coverage of the police raid on his house, which it filmed from a helicopter. At the campaign launch By BBC News reporter Becky Morton The launch outside Parliament started surprisingly low-key, with the media initially outnumbering the rest of the audience - including a handful of Cliff Richard fans, in London for the singer's show that evening. But there was a rumble of excitement as Sir Cliff arrived to make his speech. Both he and Paul Gambaccini spoke passionately about the impact on themselves and their families of being named in the press They also made clear the campaign was not only about themselves but also the hundreds of others going through what Gambaccini described as "torment". The growing crowd that gathered to watch appeared broadly supportive, although there was a brief disturbance as a member of the public called for police to be held accountable for their actions in such cases. There were also shouts of support from Sir Cliff's fans, who the singer thanked for continuing to stand by him. "My fans have more sense than I thought," he told the crowd. The pair were equally passionate in their defence when questioned about whether the change could hinder other genuine victims coming forward, against a background of low rape convictions. Sir Cliff insisted what they were calling for was a "compromise" that would help "readjust the balance" he argued was currently stacked against the accused. The BBC's legal correspondent Clive Coleman said the debate was a "finely-balanced issue for the criminal justice system and has been kicking around for quite a long time". "But now there is a real motor, if you like, with this petition and these very high profile individuals," he said. Earlier on Monday Mr Gambaccini warned of a "false allegation crisis". The BBC DJ was arrested over sexual abuse allegations in 2013 but the case was dropped a year later. Mr Gambaccini told Radio 4's Today programme: "There are actually two crises - one is a sex abuse crisis and the other is a false allegation crisis. When you solicit more accusations, most of them turn out to be false." Mr Gambaccini said under the changes the group wants, further victims would be able to report their abuse when the person was charged. Charity Rape Crisis said false allegations of rape, sexual abuse and other sexual offences were rare but had "disproportionate media focus on them". Katie Russell, national spokesperson for Rape Crisis England and Wales, said giving suspects of sexual offences different treatment to suspects of other offences would "inevitably reinforce the public misconception... that those suspected of sexual offences are more likely to have been falsely accused". Meanwhile in an open letter, Sarah Green and Rachel Krys from the End Violence Against Women Coalition asked Sir Cliff and the group to reconsider its call, calling it "grossly misdirected". They said the harm that falsely-accused people feel is "not of the fact of being named but of terrible media representation of sexual violence cases, accompanied by a collective failure to uphold the presumption of innocence". Professor Claire Mcgourlay, from the criminal justice centre at the University of Manchester, told the BBC News channel she could see both sides of the debate, but added if "there is anonymity in sexual offence cases, then I don't see how we should be distinguishing between these case and other cases". Both defendants and complainants in rape cases were granted anonymity in 1976, but Parliament repealed anonymity for defendants 12 years later. It was argued then that comparison should be made not between a rape defendant and alleged victim, but between a rape defendant and a defendant charged with another serious crime. Anonymity has since been extended to those alleged to be victims of other sexual offences, not just rape.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Police raided Sir Cliff's home in 2014 during an investigation into a sexual assault claim. He was never arrested. The star said the media coverage of the raid left his reputation "in tatters". But the group Rape Crisis said false allegations were rare and there were "no grounds" to change the law. Currently, alleged victims of sexual offences receive lifelong anonymity under UK law but there is no law against naming a suspect. The College of Policing guidelines advise officers not to name those arrested or suspected of any crime "save in exceptional circumstances where there is a legitimate policing purpose to do so". Once a person is charged, they are routinely named by police. Sir Cliff is one of several well-known figures backing the campaign group Falsely Accused Individuals for Reform (Fair). The group's parliamentary petition calls for a change in the law so those suspected of sexual offences have anonymity until they are charged, unless there are exceptional circumstances. It reached 10,000 signatures on Monday afternoon, which means the government will respond. It needs 100,000 signatures to be considered for a debate in Parliament. Speaking to reporters at the launch event in Victoria Tower Gardens, alongside BBC radio DJ Paul Gambaccini, Sir Cliff said: "We have both been through the mill. When you know you didn't do it, you feel you're in a hole you can't get out of." He said: "People can be evil enough to tell a lie about an innocent person," adding that "no smoke without fire" was a "stupid saying". Sir Cliff successfully sued the BBC for breach of privacy over its coverage of the police raid on his house, which it filmed from a helicopter. At the campaign launch By BBC News reporter Becky Morton The launch outside Parliament started surprisingly low-key, with the media initially outnumbering the rest of the audience - including a handful of Cliff Richard fans, in London for the singer's show that evening. But there was a rumble of excitement as Sir Cliff arrived to make his speech. Both he and Paul Gambaccini spoke passionately about the impact on themselves and their families of being named in the press They also made clear the campaign was not only about themselves but also the hundreds of others going through what Gambaccini described as "torment". The growing crowd that gathered to watch appeared broadly supportive, although there was a brief disturbance as a member of the public called for police to be held accountable for their actions in such cases. There were also shouts of support from Sir Cliff's fans, who the singer thanked for continuing to stand by him. "My fans have more sense than I thought," he told the crowd. The pair were equally passionate in their defence when questioned about whether the change could hinder other genuine victims coming forward, against a background of low rape convictions. Sir Cliff insisted what they were calling for was a "compromise" that would help "readjust the balance" he argued was currently stacked against the accused. The BBC's legal correspondent Clive Coleman said the debate was a "finely-balanced issue for the criminal justice system and has been kicking around for quite a long time". "But now there is a real motor, if you like, with this petition and these very high profile individuals," he said. Earlier on Monday Mr Gambaccini warned of a "false allegation crisis". The BBC DJ was arrested over sexual abuse allegations in 2013 but the case was dropped a year later. Mr Gambaccini told Radio 4's Today programme: "There are actually two crises - one is a sex abuse crisis and the other is a false allegation crisis. When you solicit more accusations, most of them turn out to be false." Mr Gambaccini said under the changes the group wants, further victims would be able to report their abuse when the person was charged. Charity Rape Crisis said false allegations of rape, sexual abuse and other sexual offences were rare but had "disproportionate media focus on them". Katie Russell, national spokesperson for Rape Crisis England and Wales, said giving suspects of sexual offences different treatment to suspects of other offences would "inevitably reinforce the public misconception... that those suspected of sexual offences are more likely to have been falsely accused". Meanwhile in an open letter, Sarah Green and Rachel Krys from the End Violence Against Women Coalition asked Sir Cliff and the group to reconsider its call, calling it "grossly misdirected". They said the harm that falsely-accused people feel is "not of the fact of being named but of terrible media representation of sexual violence cases, accompanied by a collective failure to uphold the presumption of innocence". Professor Claire Mcgourlay, from the criminal justice centre at the University of Manchester, told the BBC News channel she could see both sides of the debate, but added if "there is anonymity in sexual offence cases, then I don't see how we should be distinguishing between these case and other cases". Both defendants and complainants in rape cases were granted anonymity in 1976, but Parliament repealed anonymity for defendants 12 years later. It was argued then that comparison should be made ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: Police raided Sir Cliff's home in 2014 during an investigation into a sexual assault claim. He was never arrested. The star said the media coverage of the raid left his reputation "in tatters". But the group Rape Crisis said false allegations were rare and there were "no grounds" to change the law. Currently, alleged victims of sexual offences receive lifelong anonymity under UK law but there is no law against naming a suspect. The College of Policing guidelines advise officers not to name those arrested or suspected of any crime "save in exceptional circumstances where there is a legitimate policing purpose to do so". Once a person is charged, they are routinely named by police. Sir Cliff is one of several well-known figures backing the campaign group Falsely Accused Individuals for Reform (Fair). The group's parliamentary petition calls for a change in the law so those suspected of sexual offences have anonymity until they are charged, unless there are exceptional circumstances. It reached 10,000 signatures on Monday afternoon, which means the government will respond. It needs 100,000 signatures to be considered for a debate in Parliament. Speaking to reporters at the launch event in Victoria Tower Gardens, alongside BBC radio DJ Paul Gambaccini, Sir Cliff said: "We have both been through the mill. When you know you didn't do it, you feel you're in a hole you can't get out of." He said: "People can be evil enough to tell a lie about an innocent person," adding that "no smoke without fire" was a "stupid saying". Sir Cliff successfully sued the BBC for breach of privacy over its coverage of the police raid on his house, which it filmed from a helicopter. At the campaign launch By BBC News reporter Becky Morton The launch outside Parliament started surprisingly low-key, with the media initially outnumbering the rest of the audience - including a handful of Cliff Richard fans, in London for the singer's show that evening. But there was a rumble of excitement as Sir Cliff arrived to make his speech. Both he and Paul Gambaccini spoke passionately about the impact on themselves and their families of being named in the press They also made clear the campaign was not only about themselves but also the hundreds of others going through what Gambaccini described as "torment". The growing crowd that gathered to watch appeared broadly supportive, although there was a brief disturbance as a member of the public called for police to be held accountable for their actions in such cases. There were also shouts of support from Sir Cliff's fans, who the singer thanked for continuing to stand by him. "My fans have more sense than I thought," he told the crowd. The pair were equally passionate in their defence when questioned about whether the change could hinder other genuine victims coming forward, against a background of low rape convictions. Sir Cliff insisted what they were calling for was a "compromise" that would help "readjust the balance" he argued was currently stacked against the accused. The BBC's legal correspondent Clive Coleman said the debate was a "finely-balanced issue for the criminal justice system and has been kicking around for quite a long time". "But now there is a real motor, if you like, with this petition and these very high profile individuals," he said. Earlier on Monday Mr Gambaccini warned of a "false allegation crisis". The BBC DJ was arrested over sexual abuse allegations in 2013 but the case was dropped a year later. Mr Gambaccini told Radio 4's Today programme: "There are actually two crises - one is a sex abuse crisis and the other is a false allegation crisis. When you solicit more accusations, most of them turn out to be false." Mr Gambaccini said under the changes the group wants, further victims would be able to report their abuse when the person was charged. Charity Rape Crisis said false allegations of rape, sexual abuse and other sexual offences were rare but had "disproportionate media focus on them". Katie Russell, national spokesperson for Rape Crisis England and Wales, said giving suspects of sexual offences different treatment to suspects of other offences would "inevitably reinforce the public misconception... that those suspected of sexual offences are more likely to have been falsely accused". Meanwhile in an open letter, Sarah Green and Rachel Krys from the End Violence Against Women Coalition asked Sir Cliff and the group to reconsider its call, calling it "grossly misdirected". They said the harm that falsely-accused people feel is "not of the fact of being named but of terrible media representation of sexual violence cases, accompanied by a collective failure to uphold the presumption of innocence". Professor Claire Mcgourlay, from the criminal justice centre at the University of Manchester, told the BBC News channel she could see both sides of the debate, but added if "there is anonymity in sexual offence cases, then I don't see how we should be distinguishing between these case and other cases". Both defendants and complainants in rape cases were granted anonymity in 1976, but Parliament repealed anonymity for defendants 12 years later. It was argued then that comparison should be made ### Summary: A group of people who have been accused of sexual offences have called for a change in the law to allow them to be named in the press. ### Text: The group Falsely Accused Individuals for Reform (

science-environment-24332346

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24332346

What have we learned from Fukushima?

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan was not an unavoidable natural disaster.

By Rupert Wingfield-HayesBBC News Firstly, Fukushima was not an unavoidable natural disaster. For many outside Japan it is easy to draw the conclusion that Fukushima is unique, as very few places experience such huge earthquakes and tsunamis as Japan. So, the logic goes, there are no real lessons to be learned for other countries. Much the same was said after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine in 1986. Chernobyl was a bad design, a similar accident could not happen in Japan, which has Western-designed reactors. But it did. Prof Kiyoshi Kurokawa chaired the Japanese parliamentary inquiry in to the Fukushima disaster and his conclusions are devastating. It was, he told me: "Man-made, and made in Japan." Tatsujiro Suzuki, the deputy head of Japan's Atomic Energy Commission, has also been damning. "There were studies which showed a one-in-1,000-year probability of the Fukushima coast being hit by a 10m tsunami," he said. "Unfortunately, those studies were dismissed. The nuclear industry didn't think it would happen, so they didn't prepare for it," he said. For me, this is the most revealing and shocking part of the Fukushima story. When the earthquake and tsunami hit on 11 March 2011 there was no plan for how to deal with such a large and complex disaster. How was this allowed to happen? Prof Kurokawa blames what he calls "regulatory capture", a process by which the nuclear power industry "captured" the bureaucracy that was supposed to regulate it. Put crudely, the "poachers" and the "gamekeepers" were far too close. Many senior bureaucrats from Japan's Nuclear Industry Safety Agency would take lucrative jobs in the nuclear industry after leaving government. The result was a nuclear industry imbued with a culture of arrogance, secrecy and complacency. Lessons learned after Chernobyl and Three Mile Island in the US were not implemented here. When disaster struck, Japan was woefully ill-prepared. 'Too trusting' An investigation by Japan's NHK broadcaster last year found that simple equipment, things like mobile generators and battery packs that could have helped prevent the meltdowns, were sitting at a depot just 25 miles (40km) from the Fukushima plant. After the tsunami knocked out the plant's electrical system there was still time to bring in the back-up equipment. Army helicopters were on standby. But there was no plan. Chaos ensued. A senior company official in charge of logistics was asked by the NHK team why he had not dispatched the equipment. "We had a very long list of things they needed. We had no way to prioritise which should go first," he said. And so the back-up equipment stayed in the depot, and the reactor cores melted down. Nor was there any evacuation plan. In the little town of Namie, five miles (8km) north of the plant, Hirohisa Suzuki was clearing up debris from the quake when the order came to leave. "People were just told to head north west," he told me, "but that was exactly the same direction the radiation cloud was moving. Some people were evacuated to an area where the radiation was even higher than here." In retrospect, Mr Suzuki agrees the whole town was far too trusting. They were told the plant was safe, so no-one had ever asked whether there was a disaster plan. Two and a half years later, Mr Suzuki and the 26,000 people who lived in Namie are still nuclear refugees as radiation in parts of the town is still too high for residents to return. His family's 150-year-old miso and soy sauce business may never reopen. This is the other thing I have learned: cleaning up a nuclear disaster is extremely difficult. That may sound obvious, but just how complex only becomes apparent when you see how it is done. Out of bounds In the large town of Minamisoma, 19 miles (30km) north of the plant, they are cleaning virtually every house. I watch a team of men using high-power sprayers to clean the roof of a farmhouse, surrounded by plastic sheets to catch the waste water, which is then pumped into a nearby tanker. Another team of men is removing topsoil from the garden and putting it in huge plastic bags. The garden is then covered in a 2in (5cm) layer of fresh sand. Behind the house, shrubs and bamboo are being cut down and bagged. It will take a team of 20 men two days to finish this one house. But much of Fukushima prefecture is covered in densely-forested mountains. How do you clean forest? The answer is you cannot. So large areas may have to be declared out of bounds for decades. Finally, there is the waste. Already the clean-up is generating huge quantities. I was taken to a "temporary" dump deep in the mountains near the little town of Kawauchi. This single dump contains 50,000 cubic metres of waste. Kawauchi alone already has four dumps this size, and it is building a fifth. Just how temporary these dumps really are is another question Japan's government is unable to answer. The radiation in the dumps will gradually fall. In 30 years it will be half the level it is today. But the Caesium 137 and Strontium 90 will not be gone completely for 300 years. Finally let me end by quoting again Tatsujiro Suzuki, the deputy head of Japan's Atomic Energy Commission. I asked him why, if the nuclear industry knows there is a possibility of a disaster, does it continue to tell the public nuclear power is safe? "We need to be prepared for the worst case. We need to tell the public this is the worst case. But if we tell the worst case, the public says ,'Don't build the reactor near here.' So that was the dilemma. And if you want to continue building nuclear power plants you have to keep telling people the reactors should be safe. But now that myth is gone." BBC News: The Editors features the BBC's on-air specialists asking questions which reveal deeper truths about their areas of expertise. It was first broadcast on BBC One on Monday 30 September. Watch it again on iPlayer or on BBC World News.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Rupert Wingfield-HayesBBC News Firstly, Fukushima was not an unavoidable natural disaster. For many outside Japan it is easy to draw the conclusion that Fukushima is unique, as very few places experience such huge earthquakes and tsunamis as Japan. So, the logic goes, there are no real lessons to be learned for other countries. Much the same was said after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine in 1986. Chernobyl was a bad design, a similar accident could not happen in Japan, which has Western-designed reactors. But it did. Prof Kiyoshi Kurokawa chaired the Japanese parliamentary inquiry in to the Fukushima disaster and his conclusions are devastating. It was, he told me: "Man-made, and made in Japan." Tatsujiro Suzuki, the deputy head of Japan's Atomic Energy Commission, has also been damning. "There were studies which showed a one-in-1,000-year probability of the Fukushima coast being hit by a 10m tsunami," he said. "Unfortunately, those studies were dismissed. The nuclear industry didn't think it would happen, so they didn't prepare for it," he said. For me, this is the most revealing and shocking part of the Fukushima story. When the earthquake and tsunami hit on 11 March 2011 there was no plan for how to deal with such a large and complex disaster. How was this allowed to happen? Prof Kurokawa blames what he calls "regulatory capture", a process by which the nuclear power industry "captured" the bureaucracy that was supposed to regulate it. Put crudely, the "poachers" and the "gamekeepers" were far too close. Many senior bureaucrats from Japan's Nuclear Industry Safety Agency would take lucrative jobs in the nuclear industry after leaving government. The result was a nuclear industry imbued with a culture of arrogance, secrecy and complacency. Lessons learned after Chernobyl and Three Mile Island in the US were not implemented here. When disaster struck, Japan was woefully ill-prepared. 'Too trusting' An investigation by Japan's NHK broadcaster last year found that simple equipment, things like mobile generators and battery packs that could have helped prevent the meltdowns, were sitting at a depot just 25 miles (40km) from the Fukushima plant. After the tsunami knocked out the plant's electrical system there was still time to bring in the back-up equipment. Army helicopters were on standby. But there was no plan. Chaos ensued. A senior company official in charge of logistics was asked by the NHK team why he had not dispatched the equipment. "We had a very long list of things they needed. We had no way to prioritise which should go first," he said. And so the back-up equipment stayed in the depot, and the reactor cores melted down. Nor was there any evacuation plan. In the little town of Namie, five miles (8km) north of the plant, Hirohisa Suzuki was clearing up debris from the quake when the order came to leave. "People were just told to head north west," he told me, "but that was exactly the same direction the radiation cloud was moving. Some people were evacuated to an area where the radiation was even higher than here." In retrospect, Mr Suzuki agrees the whole town was far too trusting. They were told the plant was safe, so no-one had ever asked whether there was a disaster plan. Two and a half years later, Mr Suzuki and the 26,000 people who lived in Namie are still nuclear refugees as radiation in parts of the town is still too high for residents to return. His family's 150-year-old miso and soy sauce business may never reopen. This is the other thing I have learned: cleaning up a nuclear disaster is extremely difficult. That may sound obvious, but just how complex only becomes apparent when you see how it is done. Out of bounds In the large town of Minamisoma, 19 miles (30km) north of the plant, they are cleaning virtually every house. I watch a team of men using high-power sprayers to clean the roof of a farmhouse, surrounded by plastic sheets to catch the waste water, which is then pumped into a nearby tanker. Another team of men is removing topsoil from the garden and putting it in huge plastic bags. The garden is then covered in a 2in (5cm) layer of fresh sand. Behind the house, shrubs and bamboo are being cut down and bagged. It will take a team of 20 men two days to finish this one house. But much of Fukushima prefecture is covered in densely-forested mountains. How do you clean forest? The answer is you cannot. So large areas may have to be declared out of bounds for decades. Finally, there is the waste. Already the clean-up is generating huge quantities. I was taken to a "temporary" dump deep in the mountains near the little town of Kawauchi. This single dump contains 50,000 cubic ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Rupert Wingfield-HayesBBC News Firstly, Fukushima was not an unavoidable natural disaster. For many outside Japan it is easy to draw the conclusion that Fukushima is unique, as very few places experience such huge earthquakes and tsunamis as Japan. So, the logic goes, there are no real lessons to be learned for other countries. Much the same was said after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine in 1986. Chernobyl was a bad design, a similar accident could not happen in Japan, which has Western-designed reactors. But it did. Prof Kiyoshi Kurokawa chaired the Japanese parliamentary inquiry in to the Fukushima disaster and his conclusions are devastating. It was, he told me: "Man-made, and made in Japan." Tatsujiro Suzuki, the deputy head of Japan's Atomic Energy Commission, has also been damning. "There were studies which showed a one-in-1,000-year probability of the Fukushima coast being hit by a 10m tsunami," he said. "Unfortunately, those studies were dismissed. The nuclear industry didn't think it would happen, so they didn't prepare for it," he said. For me, this is the most revealing and shocking part of the Fukushima story. When the earthquake and tsunami hit on 11 March 2011 there was no plan for how to deal with such a large and complex disaster. How was this allowed to happen? Prof Kurokawa blames what he calls "regulatory capture", a process by which the nuclear power industry "captured" the bureaucracy that was supposed to regulate it. Put crudely, the "poachers" and the "gamekeepers" were far too close. Many senior bureaucrats from Japan's Nuclear Industry Safety Agency would take lucrative jobs in the nuclear industry after leaving government. The result was a nuclear industry imbued with a culture of arrogance, secrecy and complacency. Lessons learned after Chernobyl and Three Mile Island in the US were not implemented here. When disaster struck, Japan was woefully ill-prepared. 'Too trusting' An investigation by Japan's NHK broadcaster last year found that simple equipment, things like mobile generators and battery packs that could have helped prevent the meltdowns, were sitting at a depot just 25 miles (40km) from the Fukushima plant. After the tsunami knocked out the plant's electrical system there was still time to bring in the back-up equipment. Army helicopters were on standby. But there was no plan. Chaos ensued. A senior company official in charge of logistics was asked by the NHK team why he had not dispatched the equipment. "We had a very long list of things they needed. We had no way to prioritise which should go first," he said. And so the back-up equipment stayed in the depot, and the reactor cores melted down. Nor was there any evacuation plan. In the little town of Namie, five miles (8km) north of the plant, Hirohisa Suzuki was clearing up debris from the quake when the order came to leave. "People were just told to head north west," he told me, "but that was exactly the same direction the radiation cloud was moving. Some people were evacuated to an area where the radiation was even higher than here." In retrospect, Mr Suzuki agrees the whole town was far too trusting. They were told the plant was safe, so no-one had ever asked whether there was a disaster plan. Two and a half years later, Mr Suzuki and the 26,000 people who lived in Namie are still nuclear refugees as radiation in parts of the town is still too high for residents to return. His family's 150-year-old miso and soy sauce business may never reopen. This is the other thing I have learned: cleaning up a nuclear disaster is extremely difficult. That may sound obvious, but just how complex only becomes apparent when you see how it is done. Out of bounds In the large town of Minamisoma, 19 miles (30km) north of the plant, they are cleaning virtually every house. I watch a team of men using high-power sprayers to clean the roof of a farmhouse, surrounded by plastic sheets to catch the waste water, which is then pumped into a nearby tanker. Another team of men is removing topsoil from the garden and putting it in huge plastic bags. The garden is then covered in a 2in (5cm) layer of fresh sand. Behind the house, shrubs and bamboo are being cut down and bagged. It will take a team of 20 men two days to finish this one house. But much of Fukushima prefecture is covered in densely-forested mountains. How do you clean forest? The answer is you cannot. So large areas may have to be declared out of bounds for decades. Finally, there is the waste. Already the clean-up is generating huge quantities. I was taken to a "temporary" dump deep in the mountains near the little town of Kawauchi. This single dump contains 50,000 cubic ### Summary: The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan was not an unavoidable natural disaster. ### Source: By Rupert Wingfield-HayesBBC News ### Credits:

business-41940505

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-41940505

Broadband and landline users to get automatic compensation

Customers who have contracts with BT, Sky, Talk Talk, Virgin Media and Zen Internet will be able to get compensation if their landline or broadband is not working on the day it was promised.

By Brian MilliganPersonal Finance reporter From 2019 they will get £8 a day if a fault is not fixed, paid as a refund through their bill. This is less than the £10 that was proposed when Ofcom began its consultation earlier this year. Providers will also have to pay £5 a day if their broadband or landline is not working on the day it was promised. If an engineer misses an appointment, they will have to give £25 in compensation. Ofcom has estimated as many as 2.6 million people could benefit from the new rules. £142m pay-outs The agreement covers consumers who have contracts with BT, Sky, Talk Talk, Virgin Media and Zen Internet - which make up around 90% of telecoms customers in the UK. Plusnet and EE are expected to join the scheme at a later date. How compensation will work "Waiting too long for your landline or broadband to be fixed is frustrating enough, without having to fight for compensation," said Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom's consumer group director. "So providers will have to pay money back automatically, whenever repairs or installations don't happen on time, or an engineer doesn't turn up. "People will get the money they deserve, while providers will want to work harder to improve their service." Ofcom said the scheme would not come in to operation until early 2019, because of the complexity of the changes. It said that billing systems and online accounts would need to be altered, and staff would need to be re-trained. Help In total, customers can expect to get £142m in pay-outs every year, according to Ofcom's estimates. At the moment telecoms users can get compensation in theory, but only around 15% of those who complain manage to get a refund. Even then most only get small amounts, said Ofcom. Anyone wanting to obtain compensation under the current arrangements can find help on the Ofcom website. Which? said that those providers who have not already joined the automatic compensation scheme should do so.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Brian MilliganPersonal Finance reporter From 2019 they will get £8 a day if a fault is not fixed, paid as a refund through their bill. This is less than the £10 that was proposed when Ofcom began its consultation earlier this year. Providers will also have to pay £5 a day if their broadband or landline is not working on the day it was promised. If an engineer misses an appointment, they will have to give £25 in compensation. Ofcom has estimated as many as 2.6 million people could benefit from the new rules. £142m pay-outs The agreement covers consumers who have contracts with BT, Sky, Talk Talk, Virgin Media and Zen Internet - which make up around 90% of telecoms customers in the UK. Plusnet and EE are expected to join the scheme at a later date. How compensation will work "Waiting too long for your landline or broadband to be fixed is frustrating enough, without having to fight for compensation," said Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom's consumer group director. "So providers will have to pay money back automatically, whenever repairs or installations don't happen on time, or an engineer doesn't turn up. "People will get the money they deserve, while providers will want to work harder to improve their service." Ofcom said the scheme would not come in to operation until early 2019, because of the complexity of the changes. It said that billing systems and online accounts would need to be altered, and staff would need to be re-trained. Help In total, customers can expect to get £142m in pay-outs every year, according to Ofcom's estimates. At the moment telecoms users can get compensation in theory, but only around 15% of those who complain manage to get a refund. Even then most only get small amounts, said Ofcom. Anyone wanting to obtain compensation under the current arrangements can find help on the Ofcom website. Which? said that those providers who have not already joined the automatic compensation scheme should do so. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Brian MilliganPersonal Finance reporter From 2019 they will get £8 a day if a fault is not fixed, paid as a refund through their bill. This is less than the £10 that was proposed when Ofcom began its consultation earlier this year. Providers will also have to pay £5 a day if their broadband or landline is not working on the day it was promised. If an engineer misses an appointment, they will have to give £25 in compensation. Ofcom has estimated as many as 2.6 million people could benefit from the new rules. £142m pay-outs The agreement covers consumers who have contracts with BT, Sky, Talk Talk, Virgin Media and Zen Internet - which make up around 90% of telecoms customers in the UK. Plusnet and EE are expected to join the scheme at a later date. How compensation will work "Waiting too long for your landline or broadband to be fixed is frustrating enough, without having to fight for compensation," said Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom's consumer group director. "So providers will have to pay money back automatically, whenever repairs or installations don't happen on time, or an engineer doesn't turn up. "People will get the money they deserve, while providers will want to work harder to improve their service." Ofcom said the scheme would not come in to operation until early 2019, because of the complexity of the changes. It said that billing systems and online accounts would need to be altered, and staff would need to be re-trained. Help In total, customers can expect to get £142m in pay-outs every year, according to Ofcom's estimates. At the moment telecoms users can get compensation in theory, but only around 15% of those who complain manage to get a refund. Even then most only get small amounts, said Ofcom. Anyone wanting to obtain compensation under the current arrangements can find help on the Ofcom website. Which? said that those providers who have not already joined the automatic compensation scheme should do so. ### Summary: Customers who have contracts with BT, Sky, Talk Talk, Virgin Media and Zen Internet will be able to get compensation if their landline or broadband is not working on the day it was promised. ###

uk-england-cumbria-46493845

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-46493845

Festive runners take on the Lake District fells

A Christmas pudding run has been organised by the Brathay Trust.

The 10km event - dubbed the Christmas Pudding Run as finishers are presented with one at the end - was organised by the Brathay Trust. Runners followed an undulating route through the Great Langdale Valley, starting and ending at Sticklebarn. All 1,000 places for Saturday's race, which "appeals to all who enjoy the fun side of running", were snapped up. Among those taking part was Lib Dem MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron, who tweeted from the starting line: "All set for some festive fell running." He also posted a picture at the end of the run saying he was "off to the pub". The Brathay Trust, which was founded in 1946, aims to improve the lives and development of young people. You may also like:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The 10km event - dubbed the Christmas Pudding Run as finishers are presented with one at the end - was organised by the Brathay Trust. Runners followed an undulating route through the Great Langdale Valley, starting and ending at Sticklebarn. All 1,000 places for Saturday's race, which "appeals to all who enjoy the fun side of running", were snapped up. Among those taking part was Lib Dem MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron, who tweeted from the starting line: "All set for some festive fell running." He also posted a picture at the end of the run saying he was "off to the pub". The Brathay Trust, which was founded in 1946, aims to improve the lives and development of young people. You may also like: ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The 10km event - dubbed the Christmas Pudding Run as finishers are presented with one at the end - was organised by the Brathay Trust. Runners followed an undulating route through the Great Langdale Valley, starting and ending at Sticklebarn. All 1,000 places for Saturday's race, which "appeals to all who enjoy the fun side of running", were snapped up. Among those taking part was Lib Dem MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron, who tweeted from the starting line: "All set for some festive fell running." He also posted a picture at the end of the run saying he was "off to the pub". The Brathay Trust, which was founded in 1946, aims to improve the lives and development of young people. You may also like: ### Summary: A Christmas pudding run has been organised by the Brathay Trust. ### Source: A Christmas pudding run has been organised by the Brathay Trust. ### Notes: The run

world-middle-east-46708695

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46708695

Egypt police 'kill 40 militants' in raids after tourist bus blast

Police have killed 30 militants in Egypt's North Sinai province, the interior ministry has said.

The raids killed "40 terrorists" in Giza and North Sinai on Saturday morning, according to a statement from the ministry. It said the militants were planning a series of attacks on tourist sites, churches and military personnel. The raids followed Friday's roadside bomb attack on a tour bus in Giza. No group has yet said it was behind the blast, which killed three Vietnamese tourists and an Egyptian tour guide, but Islamist militants have targeted tourists in Egypt in the past. Police killed 30 militants during two early morning raids in Giza, while the remaining 10 were killed in El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, the interior ministry said. "A group of terrorists were planning to carry out a series of aggressive attacks targeting state institutions, particularly economic ones, as well as tourism... and Christian places of worship," the ministry statement said. It added that police had seized bomb-making materials, ammunition and a large number of weapons during the raids. Security is already tight in Egypt, with the tourist season at its height and the country's main Christian minority, the Copts, preparing to celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7 January. What do we know of Friday's attack? The roadside bomb went off at about 18:15 (16:45 GMT) on Maryoutiya Street in Giza's Haram district as the bus carrying 14 Vietnamese tourists was passing, according to official accounts. Four people were killed and eleven others were injured in the incident, which is the first affecting foreign tourists in Egypt in more than a year. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has said the bus deviated from its planned route without alerting security forces, although the driver has denied this. How has tourism fared in Egypt in recent years? Tourism is a mainstay of Egypt's economy. It peaked in 2010, when the country saw more than 14 million visitors, but fell sharply after the turmoil of the Arab Spring the following year. Worse was to come after militants bombed a Russian passenger jet in 2015 as it left Sharm el Sheikh, killing 224 people. The following year just 5.3 million tourists visited, according to the World Bank. However, the sector has since recovered and 8.3 million people visited in 2017, the Financial Times reports.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The raids killed "40 terrorists" in Giza and North Sinai on Saturday morning, according to a statement from the ministry. It said the militants were planning a series of attacks on tourist sites, churches and military personnel. The raids followed Friday's roadside bomb attack on a tour bus in Giza. No group has yet said it was behind the blast, which killed three Vietnamese tourists and an Egyptian tour guide, but Islamist militants have targeted tourists in Egypt in the past. Police killed 30 militants during two early morning raids in Giza, while the remaining 10 were killed in El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, the interior ministry said. "A group of terrorists were planning to carry out a series of aggressive attacks targeting state institutions, particularly economic ones, as well as tourism... and Christian places of worship," the ministry statement said. It added that police had seized bomb-making materials, ammunition and a large number of weapons during the raids. Security is already tight in Egypt, with the tourist season at its height and the country's main Christian minority, the Copts, preparing to celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7 January. What do we know of Friday's attack? The roadside bomb went off at about 18:15 (16:45 GMT) on Maryoutiya Street in Giza's Haram district as the bus carrying 14 Vietnamese tourists was passing, according to official accounts. Four people were killed and eleven others were injured in the incident, which is the first affecting foreign tourists in Egypt in more than a year. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has said the bus deviated from its planned route without alerting security forces, although the driver has denied this. How has tourism fared in Egypt in recent years? Tourism is a mainstay of Egypt's economy. It peaked in 2010, when the country saw more than 14 million visitors, but fell sharply after the turmoil of the Arab Spring the following year. Worse was to come after militants bombed a Russian passenger jet in 2015 as it left Sharm el Sheikh, killing 224 people. The following year just 5.3 million tourists visited, according to the World Bank. However, the sector has since recovered and 8.3 million people visited in 2017, the Financial Times reports. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: The raids killed "40 terrorists" in Giza and North Sinai on Saturday morning, according to a statement from the ministry. It said the militants were planning a series of attacks on tourist sites, churches and military personnel. The raids followed Friday's roadside bomb attack on a tour bus in Giza. No group has yet said it was behind the blast, which killed three Vietnamese tourists and an Egyptian tour guide, but Islamist militants have targeted tourists in Egypt in the past. Police killed 30 militants during two early morning raids in Giza, while the remaining 10 were killed in El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, the interior ministry said. "A group of terrorists were planning to carry out a series of aggressive attacks targeting state institutions, particularly economic ones, as well as tourism... and Christian places of worship," the ministry statement said. It added that police had seized bomb-making materials, ammunition and a large number of weapons during the raids. Security is already tight in Egypt, with the tourist season at its height and the country's main Christian minority, the Copts, preparing to celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7 January. What do we know of Friday's attack? The roadside bomb went off at about 18:15 (16:45 GMT) on Maryoutiya Street in Giza's Haram district as the bus carrying 14 Vietnamese tourists was passing, according to official accounts. Four people were killed and eleven others were injured in the incident, which is the first affecting foreign tourists in Egypt in more than a year. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has said the bus deviated from its planned route without alerting security forces, although the driver has denied this. How has tourism fared in Egypt in recent years? Tourism is a mainstay of Egypt's economy. It peaked in 2010, when the country saw more than 14 million visitors, but fell sharply after the turmoil of the Arab Spring the following year. Worse was to come after militants bombed a Russian passenger jet in 2015 as it left Sharm el Sheikh, killing 224 people. The following year just 5.3 million tourists visited, according to the World Bank. However, the sector has since recovered and 8.3 million people visited in 2017, the Financial Times reports. ### Summary: Police have killed 30 militants in Egypt's North Sinai province, the interior ministry has said. ### Source: The interior ministry has said that police have killed 30 militants in Egypt'

business-18793964

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-18793964

Skills key to our cities' survival, history suggests

The last 110 years has seen a general shift of prosperity and population from north to south, as the UK has moved from manufacturing to service industries in the aftermath of the industrial revolution.

By Matthew WallBusiness reporter, BBC News The report - City Outlook 1901 from think tank Centre for Cities - has found that seven out of eight of the best-performing towns and cities today had above-average skills levels in 1901. Conversely, four-fifths of economically challenged cities in 2012 were in the bottom 20 for skills levels in the year Queen Victoria died. It also found that investment in infrastructure, such as roads and railways, is crucial to cities' long-term economic success. Places such as Warrington, Preston, Norwich, and Swindon, have enjoyed the biggest positive change since 1901, says the report, whereas Grimsby, Liverpool, Bradford and Hastings have suffered the biggest reversal of fortune. Infrastructure The research shows that short-term cuts in expenditure on education and infrastructure could result in much bigger bills for government in the medium to long term, the think tank argues. Alexandra Jones, Centre for Cities chief executive, says: "History tells us that failure to invest in city economies has long-term effects for the UK economy. "The research shows that skills and transport in particular can shape the economic health of a city. "Ensuring the education system prepares children for the world of work when they leave school is vital for those children and for the future health of the UK economy." Industrial revolution The last 110 years has seen a general shift of prosperity and population from north to south, as the UK has moved from manufacturing to service industries in the aftermath of the industrial revolution. But in 1901, manufacturing, with its reliance on low-skilled workers in textiles, metals and mining, still dominated the landscape. More than three-quarters of the population lived in towns and cities. Nearly a fifth lived in London, which even then accounted for 20% of gross domestic product, twice that of the entire North West. Bradford and Hull were in the top 10 of the UK's largest cities, reflecting their importance as industrial manufacturing towns. As manufacturing declined, their relative importance dwindled, while new transport systems, particularly the railways, brought prosperity and growth to professional service towns in the south, such as Bournemouth. Thriving ports like Liverpool - once described as "the second city of the Empire" by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli - ceded power and influence. By 2011, it was ranked in the 20% worst-performing cities in the UK. Economic hardship Populations in the industrial North and Midlands fell from the 1930s onwards, almost exactly mirrored by a rise in populations in the South East and East. Even in 1901, Burnley, one of the major Lancashire mill towns, was suffering from post-industrial fall-out, with nearly 13% of its population claiming benefits as a result of economic hardship. A decade later, the southern town of Southend could boast the UK's highest proportion of people (34.4%) in high-wage occupations. While old industries declined, unable to cope with global competition, new industries, such as car manufacturing, sprang up. They successfully exploited technological innovation and put down roots in cities such as Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Highly-skilled Cities cannot escape their history, the think-tank argues, nor should they try. Many are inextricably linked with specific industries: Sheffield with steel and cutlery, for example; Stoke with ceramics; Burnley with textiles; Northampton with shoes and boots. And this association has often informed their futures. Sheffield now has an expertise in precision medical instruments, for example. Cambridge's centuries-long association with its university has contributed to its reputation for highly-skilled technology and bio-sciences companies. So policymakers and government need to work with the grain of a city's history when planning investment, the authors argue. Bucking the trend Some northern towns, such as Preston and Warrington, have managed to buck the macro-economic trend, thanks to investment in roads, railways and new homes, according to the study. Skilled workers - the key to economic success - were able to move more freely between towns and so help grow formerly struggling local economies. In short, cities that have adapted best to a changing economy over the last century have been those prepared to invest in skills, infrastructure and enterprise. Cities rise and fall. But with the right support and investment, this report shows, they can rise again.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Matthew WallBusiness reporter, BBC News The report - City Outlook 1901 from think tank Centre for Cities - has found that seven out of eight of the best-performing towns and cities today had above-average skills levels in 1901. Conversely, four-fifths of economically challenged cities in 2012 were in the bottom 20 for skills levels in the year Queen Victoria died. It also found that investment in infrastructure, such as roads and railways, is crucial to cities' long-term economic success. Places such as Warrington, Preston, Norwich, and Swindon, have enjoyed the biggest positive change since 1901, says the report, whereas Grimsby, Liverpool, Bradford and Hastings have suffered the biggest reversal of fortune. Infrastructure The research shows that short-term cuts in expenditure on education and infrastructure could result in much bigger bills for government in the medium to long term, the think tank argues. Alexandra Jones, Centre for Cities chief executive, says: "History tells us that failure to invest in city economies has long-term effects for the UK economy. "The research shows that skills and transport in particular can shape the economic health of a city. "Ensuring the education system prepares children for the world of work when they leave school is vital for those children and for the future health of the UK economy." Industrial revolution The last 110 years has seen a general shift of prosperity and population from north to south, as the UK has moved from manufacturing to service industries in the aftermath of the industrial revolution. But in 1901, manufacturing, with its reliance on low-skilled workers in textiles, metals and mining, still dominated the landscape. More than three-quarters of the population lived in towns and cities. Nearly a fifth lived in London, which even then accounted for 20% of gross domestic product, twice that of the entire North West. Bradford and Hull were in the top 10 of the UK's largest cities, reflecting their importance as industrial manufacturing towns. As manufacturing declined, their relative importance dwindled, while new transport systems, particularly the railways, brought prosperity and growth to professional service towns in the south, such as Bournemouth. Thriving ports like Liverpool - once described as "the second city of the Empire" by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli - ceded power and influence. By 2011, it was ranked in the 20% worst-performing cities in the UK. Economic hardship Populations in the industrial North and Midlands fell from the 1930s onwards, almost exactly mirrored by a rise in populations in the South East and East. Even in 1901, Burnley, one of the major Lancashire mill towns, was suffering from post-industrial fall-out, with nearly 13% of its population claiming benefits as a result of economic hardship. A decade later, the southern town of Southend could boast the UK's highest proportion of people (34.4%) in high-wage occupations. While old industries declined, unable to cope with global competition, new industries, such as car manufacturing, sprang up. They successfully exploited technological innovation and put down roots in cities such as Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Highly-skilled Cities cannot escape their history, the think-tank argues, nor should they try. Many are inextricably linked with specific industries: Sheffield with steel and cutlery, for example; Stoke with ceramics; Burnley with textiles; Northampton with shoes and boots. And this association has often informed their futures. Sheffield now has an expertise in precision medical instruments, for example. Cambridge's centuries-long association with its university has contributed to its reputation for highly-skilled technology and bio-sciences companies. So policymakers and government need to work with the grain of a city's history when planning investment, the authors argue. Bucking the trend Some northern towns, such as Preston and Warrington, have managed to buck the macro-economic trend, thanks to investment in roads, railways and new homes, according to the study. Skilled workers - the key to economic success - were able to move more freely between towns and so help grow formerly struggling local economies. In short, cities that have adapted best to a changing economy over the last century have been those prepared to invest in skills, infrastructure and enterprise. Cities rise and fall. But with the right support and investment, this report shows, they can rise again. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Matthew WallBusiness reporter, BBC News The report - City Outlook 1901 from think tank Centre for Cities - has found that seven out of eight of the best-performing towns and cities today had above-average skills levels in 1901. Conversely, four-fifths of economically challenged cities in 2012 were in the bottom 20 for skills levels in the year Queen Victoria died. It also found that investment in infrastructure, such as roads and railways, is crucial to cities' long-term economic success. Places such as Warrington, Preston, Norwich, and Swindon, have enjoyed the biggest positive change since 1901, says the report, whereas Grimsby, Liverpool, Bradford and Hastings have suffered the biggest reversal of fortune. Infrastructure The research shows that short-term cuts in expenditure on education and infrastructure could result in much bigger bills for government in the medium to long term, the think tank argues. Alexandra Jones, Centre for Cities chief executive, says: "History tells us that failure to invest in city economies has long-term effects for the UK economy. "The research shows that skills and transport in particular can shape the economic health of a city. "Ensuring the education system prepares children for the world of work when they leave school is vital for those children and for the future health of the UK economy." Industrial revolution The last 110 years has seen a general shift of prosperity and population from north to south, as the UK has moved from manufacturing to service industries in the aftermath of the industrial revolution. But in 1901, manufacturing, with its reliance on low-skilled workers in textiles, metals and mining, still dominated the landscape. More than three-quarters of the population lived in towns and cities. Nearly a fifth lived in London, which even then accounted for 20% of gross domestic product, twice that of the entire North West. Bradford and Hull were in the top 10 of the UK's largest cities, reflecting their importance as industrial manufacturing towns. As manufacturing declined, their relative importance dwindled, while new transport systems, particularly the railways, brought prosperity and growth to professional service towns in the south, such as Bournemouth. Thriving ports like Liverpool - once described as "the second city of the Empire" by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli - ceded power and influence. By 2011, it was ranked in the 20% worst-performing cities in the UK. Economic hardship Populations in the industrial North and Midlands fell from the 1930s onwards, almost exactly mirrored by a rise in populations in the South East and East. Even in 1901, Burnley, one of the major Lancashire mill towns, was suffering from post-industrial fall-out, with nearly 13% of its population claiming benefits as a result of economic hardship. A decade later, the southern town of Southend could boast the UK's highest proportion of people (34.4%) in high-wage occupations. While old industries declined, unable to cope with global competition, new industries, such as car manufacturing, sprang up. They successfully exploited technological innovation and put down roots in cities such as Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Highly-skilled Cities cannot escape their history, the think-tank argues, nor should they try. Many are inextricably linked with specific industries: Sheffield with steel and cutlery, for example; Stoke with ceramics; Burnley with textiles; Northampton with shoes and boots. And this association has often informed their futures. Sheffield now has an expertise in precision medical instruments, for example. Cambridge's centuries-long association with its university has contributed to its reputation for highly-skilled technology and bio-sciences companies. So policymakers and government need to work with the grain of a city's history when planning investment, the authors argue. Bucking the trend Some northern towns, such as Preston and Warrington, have managed to buck the macro-economic trend, thanks to investment in roads, railways and new homes, according to the study. Skilled workers - the key to economic success - were able to move more freely between towns and so help grow formerly struggling local economies. In short, cities that have adapted best to a changing economy over the last century have been those prepared to invest in skills, infrastructure and enterprise. Cities rise and fall. But with the right support and investment, this report shows, they can rise again. ### Summary: The last 110 years has seen a general shift of prosperity and population from north to south, as the UK has moved from manufacturing to service industries in the aftermath of the industrial revolution. ### Source:

uk-northern-ireland-55582956

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55582956

Noah Donohoe mother seeks thorough investigation into his death

A mother of a boy who died in a storm drain in Northern Ireland has asked for an investigation into his death.

By Kevin SharkeyBBC News NI The body of the 14-year-old schoolboy body was found in a storm drain in north Belfast last summer. Fiona Donohoe was speaking as hundreds of people joined a cavalcade of cars to Stormont on Thursday evening in support of her family. She placed a message on the gates of Stormont asking for answers. Ms Donohoe said she appreciated those who attended to support Noah and added that she was looking for "the truth". She said: "All I want is for an investigation, a thorough investigation for my son, for every child in Northern Ireland. "Every parent should know their child should be able to go out and come home safely." Asked if she was happy with the police investigation into her son's death, Ms Donohoe said: "I am not at liberty to say that, anything about that. All I'm looking for, like any parent that's standing here now, is justice, answers." A Coroner's hearing, examining the disappearance and death of the schoolboy, has been told there is no evidence that he was attacked, or that any other person was involved. A post-mortem examination found Noah died as a result of drowning. The next pre-inquest hearing into his death has been scheduled for later this month.

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Kevin SharkeyBBC News NI The body of the 14-year-old schoolboy body was found in a storm drain in north Belfast last summer. Fiona Donohoe was speaking as hundreds of people joined a cavalcade of cars to Stormont on Thursday evening in support of her family. She placed a message on the gates of Stormont asking for answers. Ms Donohoe said she appreciated those who attended to support Noah and added that she was looking for "the truth". She said: "All I want is for an investigation, a thorough investigation for my son, for every child in Northern Ireland. "Every parent should know their child should be able to go out and come home safely." Asked if she was happy with the police investigation into her son's death, Ms Donohoe said: "I am not at liberty to say that, anything about that. All I'm looking for, like any parent that's standing here now, is justice, answers." A Coroner's hearing, examining the disappearance and death of the schoolboy, has been told there is no evidence that he was attacked, or that any other person was involved. A post-mortem examination found Noah died as a result of drowning. The next pre-inquest hearing into his death has been scheduled for later this month. ### Summary:

Summarize the following text. ### Text: By Kevin SharkeyBBC News NI The body of the 14-year-old schoolboy body was found in a storm drain in north Belfast last summer. Fiona Donohoe was speaking as hundreds of people joined a cavalcade of cars to Stormont on Thursday evening in support of her family. She placed a message on the gates of Stormont asking for answers. Ms Donohoe said she appreciated those who attended to support Noah and added that she was looking for "the truth". She said: "All I want is for an investigation, a thorough investigation for my son, for every child in Northern Ireland. "Every parent should know their child should be able to go out and come home safely." Asked if she was happy with the police investigation into her son's death, Ms Donohoe said: "I am not at liberty to say that, anything about that. All I'm looking for, like any parent that's standing here now, is justice, answers." A Coroner's hearing, examining the disappearance and death of the schoolboy, has been told there is no evidence that he was attacked, or that any other person was involved. A post-mortem examination found Noah died as a result of drowning. The next pre-inquest hearing into his death has been scheduled for later this month. ### Summary: A mother of a boy who died in a storm drain in Northern Ireland has asked for an investigation into his death. ### Next story: A mother of a boy who died in a storm drain in Northern Ireland has asked for