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The bracket clock from 1690 was made by Thomas Tompion - named by the auctioneer as "Father Time". The clock had been found on the Belper estate of a man linked to the mining industry. It was bought by an anonymous UK buyer for £230,000 when it went under the hammer on Friday. Auctioneer, Charles Hanson, said: "It's a truly magnificent and historically important object which thoroughly deserves to achieve this sale figure. "It is a particularly fine example of Tompion's work - work which has stood the test of time. "Tompion was an inventor as well as a maker of clocks of the finest quality. "He developed an unrivalled reputation worldwide and his work is still admired to this day. I call him Father Time." Latest news from the East Midlands Who was Thomas Tompion? The son of a Bedfordshire blacksmith, he was friends with mathematician and scientist Robert Hooke, which is thought to be the key to Tompion's success as it opened doors to the latest technology. When the Royal Observatory was established in 1676, King Charles II selected Tompion to create two identical clocks which were fixed in the Octagon room, with both clocks needing to be wound only once a year. They proved very accurate and were instrumental in achieving the correct calculations needed for astronomical observations. Tompion also made some of the first watches with balance springs and created the standard mechanism pattern used in English watches throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. His workshop built about 5,500 watches and 650 clocks which are renowned for their ingenious design and robust construction. Tompion's other works included mathematical instruments and sundials, one of which can be seen at Hampton Court Palace. He died in 1713, aged 74, and is buried at Westminster Abbey Source: Royal Collection Trust Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| The Sooty glove puppet had been expected to sell for anything up to £3,000 and auctioneers said there had been "interest from around the world". However, the toy was bought on Monday by a bidder in the room for £14,500. The anonymous buyer said the puppet would now go to the north of England, into their "large collection of TV puppets and memorabilia". 'Instant hit' Derbyshire's Hansons Auctioneers also held the previous record for selling a similar Sooty puppet to presenter of the Sooty Show, Richard Cadell, for £3,100 in 2008. More stories from East Midlands Live Sooty was invented in 1948 by Harry Corbett when he bought the toy in Blackpool for 7s 6d (about £11.50 in today's money) to entertain his children on holiday. Their act was turned into a TV show in 1952 after the pair entered and won the BBC's Talent Night programme. Five years later, Mr Corbett gave the original puppet to his friend and Blackpool-based musician Arthur Abbot, also known as Art Johnson. In a letter sent with it, he wrote: "I have great pleasure in sending you one of the Sootys which I have used on television. "Actually, he was in a programme where he got rather messed up, and he has since been washed." The Sooty puppet more recently belonged to Mr Abbot's son, Dr Steven Abbott, from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. He said: "I loved watching The Sooty Show with my sister, Lorraine, when I was a child. "He was given to my father two years before I was born and when my sister was 16 months old. We knew he was a genuine Sooty from the TV show but were allowed to play with him." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Spaceflight writer Phill Parker is selling his lifelong collection, which consists of nearly 200 lots. It includes an astronaut's drink tube - filled with grapefruit and pineapple juice - and a MIR international space suit. Mr Parker said the items were a record of the "first golden age of space exploration". Also for sale are autographs from Russian and US astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, as well as the Apollo 15 flight plan and parts from an Apollo computer. Mr Parker, who has written spaceflight articles for numerous magazines and journals, said: "As I approach my 72nd birthday, I believe it's time to ensure my collection of historic spaceflight hardware items and paper documents will continue to be utilised to record the first golden age of space exploration by auctioning to interested parties." He said he has interviewed most of the Apollo moon astronauts including Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Gene Cernan, and Charlie Duke. Mr Parker, from Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, added: "I hope to live long enough to witness a return of human beings to the Moon's surface and I have my fingers crossed for a manned landing on Mars." The Phill Parker Collection of Space Exploration Memorabilia will be sold at Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbyshire, on 3 September. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| The set of more than 50 rings covers eras from Alexander the Great to Middle Ages via the height of the Roman Empire. The "museum standard" items are believed to have been bought at sales across England in the 1950s. Hansons Auctioneers said it could be "the biggest collection of ancient rings ever seen outside a museum". The current owner, who has asked not to be named, said their grandfather, who lived in Leicester, travelled around England as part of his job. They said: "He was a quiet man and never said if any of the rings were found on site when they were working but I do know he bought many of them at auctions, some up north. "After he died, we put the rings away for many years but now we've decided to sell them as we'd very much like other people to enjoy them." The group includes everything from Viking rings in twisted gold to medieval rings with a single gem stone but Hansons said the Greek and Roman rings are particularly rare. One is a 4th-1st Century BC East Greek Hellenistic gold ring with cabochon garnets, which has an estimate of £3,500-£4,500. Another is a Roman gold ring from the 2nd Century AD with a carnelian engraved bust of Vibia Sabina, the wife of Emperor Hadrian, with an estimate of £2,200-£2,600. James Brenchley, from Hansons, said: "The sheer quantity was incredible. "These rings are between 2,200 and 1,800 years old and many are exceptional and extremely rare. Each one is unique and many demonstrate extraordinary craftsmanship. "This is possibly the biggest collection of ancient rings ever seen outside a museum." The collection will be sold by Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire on June 28. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| It was made in Burton, Staffordshire, in 1895, but visited fairs across the Midlands and, apart from a few coats of paint, is in its original condition. The 18ft (5.4m) ride, which retired at Nottingham's Goose Fair in 1979, can carry nine children. Auctioneers in Derbyshire had hoped it would fetch about £100,000. Charles Hanson, of Hansons Auctioneers, said: "The ride will be hopping across the Channel to a buyer in France. "[The carousel] is an example of British craftsmanship as its best, exemplified by the magnificent carved detail in each of the horses and peacocks created to delight children when Queen Victoria was still on the throne. "It's an important, very early and unique carousel which captures the essence of the Victorian fairground." The ride was made by George Orton, Sons and Spooner of Swan Works, in Burton, for Fred Westrope but was taken to fairs by the Meakin family. It travelled to fairs in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and later passed to Jimmy Fantom, whose family ran it for 46 years. Mr Hanson said after its final appearance at the Goose Fair, George and Joyce Mander restored it to its former glory and took it along to steam rallies and vintage fairs. It has been in storage in the back of a lorry for about 30 years.	A 300-year-old timepiece made by England's most famous clockmaker has sold at auction for hundreds of thousands of pounds. An original puppet used on a children's TV show in the 1950s has sold for a record price at auction. Rare space exploration memorabilia, including items from Nasa's Apollo missions, are being sold at auction. A "incredible" collection of ancient rings, collected by a gas engineer then stored away, is to go under the hammer. A "unique" hand-cranked Victorian merry-go-round that spent 30 years in the back of a lorry has been sold for £35,000 at auction to a French buyer.
Ex-foreign secretaries Jack Straw and Margaret Beckett argue that Australian Carol Mills should face MPs in a hearing before taking up the role. Commons Speaker John Bercow chose Ms Mills for the post, but some MPs have said her experience is insufficient. Meanwhile, plans are in place to help run the Commons until the row is over. Labour's Mr Straw and Mrs Beckett are backing a campaign by another senior MP, Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative chairman of the Commons Public Administration Committee, for Ms Mills to face further scrutiny by MPs. Mr Jenkin has written to the Times, calling it "inexplicable" that Mr Bercow's deputy Speakers had not helped in the selection. He also called for a hearing with MPs before Ms Mills is appointed. And Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith has suggested that no decision should be delayed "until the House has had an opportunity to consider it". The appointment of the clerk, Parliament's most senior official, is made by the Queen on the recommendation of Downing Street. This follows a recruitment process run by a panel of six senior MPs chaired by the Speaker. 'Controversy' A Downing Street spokesman said it was not a government appointment and the process was a matter for the Speaker. The prime minister has not yet forwarded Ms Mills's name to the Queen. A source close to Mr Bercow has called the recruitment process, which included two interviews, "fair and transparent". The Commons clerk, paid £200,000 a year, acts as the chief executive of the House and is responsible for the running of the property, and 2,000 staff on site. He or she also serves as a senior constitutional adviser to senior politicians, including the prime minister. Ms Mills is currently head of the Department of Parliamentary Services of the Australian Senate, controlling administration, buildings, catering and human resources. Former Speaker Baroness Boothroyd has claimed she would be "totally out of her depth" if asked to oversee UK parliamentary procedure. Mr Straw told the Guardian: "Given the controversy, and without making any observations about the relative merits of the candidate, I think that such pre-appointment scrutiny would be a good way of resolving this." Mrs Beckett said: "These days you cannot make an appointment like this without select committee scrutiny." In his letter to The Times, Mr Jenkins said Ms Mills had been chosen by "a panel entirely of the Speaker's own choosing", adding: "It is inexplicable that all three of the deputy Speakers, who like the Speaker himself are also elected by the House, and have the most relevant experience, were excluded." What does the clerk of the Commons do? Sitting in front of the Speaker, the clerk is the senior adviser to the Commons on matters of procedure and business He or she is also the chief executive of the House of Commons Service, looking after maintenance and services such as catering and administration, which employs 2,000 people The clerk signs contracts on the House's behalf and "holds" all of its property, meaning that, in strict legal terms, they are the "owner" of Big Ben The current row comes after Commons clerk Sir Robert Rogers announced his retirement after a 42-year career in Parliament. But sources close to Mr Bercow insisted that Ms Mills had been chosen by a panel - not just the Speaker - of people who had made the decision "based on experience and skills". In a statement, Ms Mills said that "many people in Australia and the United Kingdom, including senior parliamentarians and parliamentary officers" had encouraged her to apply for the clerk's role. \|\|\|\|\| By Susan HulmeBBC parliamentary correspondent A panel chaired by Mr Bercow picked Australian Carol Mills to be the next clerk of the House of Commons. Some Conservative MPs and ex-Speaker Baroness Boothroyd have raised doubts about her suitability. But the government effectively ruled out challenging the choice, saying it would be "extraordinary" to do so. Sir Robert Rogers has retired as Commons clerk - the principal constitutional adviser to the House - after a 42-year career in Parliament. 'Wrong choice' The £200,000-a-year role also involves overseeing some 2,000 Commons Service staff. But the Commons Commission, a panel of six senior MPs chaired by Mr Bercow, has chosen Ms Mills as its preferred candidate. She currently heads the Parliamentary Services Department in the Australian Senate, which looks after administration and the running of buildings. Her senior colleague, the clerk of the Australian Senate, has said officials there viewed her potential UK appointment with "disbelief and dismay" because Ms Mills did not have the constitutional knowledge or expertise to replace Sir Robert. An investigation is also being carried out into the way Ms Mills's department used CCTV cameras to monitor the office of a senator. Conservative MP Michael Fabricant, a former vice-chairman of his party, questioned whether it was right to appoint a clerk who was "under investigation for a serious breach of parliamentary privilege". He said: "I believe the Speaker has made the wrong choice... I also think there needs to be an inquiry into the circumstances of why Sir Robert Rogers retired early and the manner in which John Bercow chairs the House of Commons Commission." Mr Fabricant added: "The House of Commons Commission is chaired - and dominated - by the Speaker. It is not run in a consensual way, as are most boards." On Monday, Lady Boothroyd told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "I'm very sorry for Ms Mills. She's totally out of her depth, She has no experience. She has no knowledge of the constitutional role of a parliamentary clerk and I wouldn't wish that on the House of Commons." Some Conservative MPs fear Mr Bercow wants to install a more compliant candidate, after a series of reported clashes with Sir Robert Rogers. However, a spokesman for House of Commons leader William Hague said it would be "pretty extraordinary" if Downing Street were to reject the panel's chosen candidate. Opponents of Ms Mills's appointment are still looking to see if it is constitutionally possible to change the outcome, but it is now most likely that the Speaker's choice will be approved. A source close to Mr Bercow called the recruitment process, which included two interviews, "fair and transparent". \|\|\|\|\| Sir Robert Rogers, the Clerk of the Commons, is retiring in August after a 42-year career in Parliament. The MP said Mr Bercow had used a four-letter expletive against Sir Robert "at least once, in front of others". But Mr Bercow replied: "I will ignore that last observation which suffered from the disadvantage of being wrong." The MP made the claim during Commons tributes to Sir Robert. Mr Fabricant said: "We don't know why he's chosen to retire early." But Mr Fabricant said he would not have been "encouraged" to stay by Speaker Bercow's deployment of the expletive, which he spelled out to MPs. Mr Fabricant's comment came after a series of tributes were paid to the outgoing clerk.	Two former cabinet ministers have called for further scrutiny of the proposed appointment of the new House of Commons clerk amid a continuing row. Speaker John Bercow's choice to take over as Parliament's most senior official is almost certain to get the job, despite protests. Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has suggested that a senior Commons official is retiring in part because Speaker John Bercow swore at him. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Lincoln Drill Hall, which hosted concerts, shows and community events, closed last March during the first lockdown. The city council also voted to stop its £187,000 annual grant. It has now been taken over by Lincoln College Group (LCG) and will continue to host live performances, as well as conferences and exhibitions. The hall, which was built in 1890 to accommodate military training, has played host to scores of famous names over the years, including punk bands Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers. Comedians Russell Howard and Marcus Brigstocke have also performed there. LCG's commercial managing director James Foster said: "We're hugely excited about becoming the guardians of a real cultural jewel for the arts and live entertainment. "We are also really looking forward to investing in the building and what it has to offer," he said. The Drill Hall, previously run by the Lincoln Arts Trust, is expected to reopen in December with a production of Aladdin. Chair of the trust, Phil Hamlyn Williams, said it was "time to look forward to a new chapter". However, he said: "Some very lovely things happened inside the Drill Hall, and those lovely things only happened because of the talented team of people who worked there. "I want to thank them for all they did and to remember with great sadness that, with the coming of Covid, they had to lose their jobs." More news and stories from Lincolnshire Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. Related Internet Links Lincoln Drill Hall \|\|\|\|\| Lincoln Drill Hall, which hosted concerts, comedy shows and community events, closed its doors in March due to lockdown. In August, the city council voted unanimously to end the £187,000 yearly grant to the venue. Phil Hamlyn Williams, chair of trustees, said he was "desperately sad". "We've got 19 lovely people who've worked together for a long time, and are now facing a bleak future," he said. "I'm afraid it is the virus - so many arts venues across the country have closed. "We were kept sort of alive by the furlough scheme but with it coming to an end at the end of October that was curtains." Mr Hamlyn Williams said the city council, which refurbished the building in the early-2000s, was also in an impossible position when it decided to withdraw funding. "They knew back then it could only survive with public subsidy, and as local government finances have been squeezed, it just doesn't work any more," he said. However, he added he was hopeful a new use for the building, which first opened in 1890, could be found that would include arts and culture. More news and stories from Lincolnshire Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Lincoln City councillors voted unanimously to end the £187,000 yearly grant to Lincoln Drill Hall from April. More than 5,000 people had signed a petition urging them to continue supporting the centre which stages theatre, music concerts, comedy shows, community workshops and classes. However, the council said it was not financially viable in the long-term. Phil Hamlyn Williams, chair of trustees at Lincoln Drill Hall, said he understood the council was in a difficult financial position. "I just feel desperately, desperately sad, it's heartbreaking, it's an institution that has done so much good for the city." He said his main priority would be to speak to the centre's 18 staff. The council's executive were told by officers the Drill Hall's current business model was unsustainable before the coronavirus pandemic. It also remained unclear what the effect of the pandemic would have and for it continue to operate on its current business model significant additional funding would be needed. This would impact on the council's ability to balance its own budget, as annual savings of between £1m and £1.5m would be needed in future years. Ric Metcalfe, the council's leader, said it had been a very "difficult decision" to make. "I hope people will understand that this situation we find ourselves in is not of the council's making." Mr Hamlyn Williams said the decision meant the venue could not continue in its current form. He said government support schemes for arts venues affected by the pandemic would require them to show they were financially stable in the long-term. "Without the council funding I can't see how we can do that," he said. Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.	An arts venue hit by the pandemic and a loss of funding has been saved from permanent closure by a takeover. An arts venue will shut as a result of the pandemic and loss of funding, with the loss of 19 jobs. The decision to end council funding for an arts centre is "heartbreaking", according to the venue's trustees.
Melisa Birkinshaw, 22, was told she is "extremely likely" to be jailed for perverting the course of justice. She helped Tyrone Andrew after he stabbed Reagan Asbury, 19, in the neck outside Walsall Town Hall in 2017. Birkinshaw, of Cavendish Court, Derby, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court and will be sentenced on 12 July. Andrew fled to Amsterdam but was later jailed for 14 years after being found guilty of manslaughter. Birkinshaw admitted doing acts intending to pervert the course of justice between October and December 2017 by permitting her bank account to receive cash intended for Andrew, and giving money and a phone to him in Holland. Prosecutor Antonie Muller told Judge Simon Drew QC two other defendants had already been jailed for perverting the course of justice. "Once Andrew had made his quick escape to Amsterdam, she [Birkinshaw] provided him with a phone and a lot of cash, permitting his further movement thereafter," Mr Muller said. Birkinshaw was frightened of Andrew and had "got herself way out of her depth" when she agreed to help him, defence lawyer William Bennett told the court. Judge Drew told Birkinshaw: "A custodial sentence is extremely likely but I shall make a final decision on 12 July." Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. \|\|\|\|\| Tyrone Andrew stabbed 19-year-old Reagan Asbury during a fight at the event in Walsall Town Hall in October. The 22-year-old claimed he acted in self-defence when he knifed Mr Asbury in the neck. After a five-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Andrew, of St Helen's Street, Derby, was cleared of murder, but convicted of manslaughter. Passing sentence at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Simon Drew QC said the stabbing of Mr Asbury was a "deliberate and focused" blow aimed at an obviously unarmed victim. The judge added that the victim was also facing away from Andrew, who had stabbed another man moments earlier. Andrew claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack when he stabbed Mr Asbury, who was from Pelsall. The convicted drug dealer, who also had convictions for wounding involving a knife, told the court he feared for his life when being caught amongst a "horde" of white men during the disorder. Jurors heard fans began to throw tables and chairs in the VIP area of the venue at the end of an IBF lightweight bout involving Derby-based Myron Mills and Walsall fighter Luke Paddock. The violent clashes at the Town Hall, including the moment where Andrew stabbed Mr Asbury in the neck, were caught on four CCTV cameras. Prosecutor Michael Burrows QC told the court the footage showed Andrew "stealthily" jogging towards Mr Asbury from behind "like an animal stalking its prey". Andrew fled the country the following day, flying to Holland and then travelling on to Barcelona in Spain from where he was extradited in December. He told the court he found the knife at the venue and was cleared of carrying an offensive weapon. In a tribute, Elysia Asbury described her brother as "a remarkable human being" who "loved life". Two other men from Derby, Ryandeep Sidhu, 22, of Lidgate Close, and Declan Kemp-Francis, 24, of Dickens Close, were each jailed for 30 months for perverting the course of justice. A fourth defendant, Lavelle Patrice, was cleared of violent disorder. \|\|\|\|\| Reagan Asbury, 19, from Pelsall, died from a neck wound when a fight broke out on 14 October at an IBF Youth Lightweight event at Walsall Town Hall. Tyrone Andrew's barrister also told Birmingham Crown Court the 21-year-old had feared for his life and suffered a knife wound when trouble erupted. Mr Andrew, of St Helens Street in Derby, denies murder. The prosecution has described the attack as a "callous and calculated" killing. During the four-week trial, jurors were shown footage of the fatal stabbing which had been captured on four CCTV cameras. Prosecutors allege Mr Andrew stabbed Mr Asbury after tracking him "like an animal stalking its prey" during violent clashes following the fight. In closing speeches, Michael Burrows QC, prosecuting, said Mr Asbury presented no real or imminent threat to anyone when he was stabbed. The prosecutor said Mr Andrew had stabbed Mr Asbury "in the neck deliberately with great force with murderous intent". "This was a callous and calculated murder, which you have seen with your own eyes from the shocking CCTV," he added. Defence QC James Wood asked the jury to consider what would have happened if Mr Andrew, who is of mixed race, had been caught while being "driven out of town" by a "horde" of white men. He added: "We suggest, from what went before, he would likely be dead. "And above all - with his heritage - what would he believe is likely to happen?" Mr Wood said his client's actions were "in reasonable self-defence". The jury is expected to retire later this week. \|\|\|\|\| Reagan Asbury, 19, sustained a neck wound in violent clashes after an IBF youth world title fight last October. Tyrone Andrew, 21, is accused of killing Mr Asbury after trouble erupted on VIP tables at Walsall Town Hall. The defendant, from St Helens Street, Derby, denies murder. Prosecutor Michael Burrows QC said CCTV evidence would show Mr Andrew stabbing three men and trying to stab a fourth. He was with supporters backing Derby-based Myron Mills in the lightweight bout against Walsall fighter Luke Paddock, Birmingham Crown Court heard. 'Flash of the blade' Referring to the video footage, prosecutor Mr Burrows said Derby supporters left the town hall first. He said Mr Andrew "stood his ground as some of the Walsall supporters advanced towards him". In the next 20 seconds, the prosecutor said, Mr Andrew attacked two men before fatally stabbing Mr Asbury. "From time to time you will see the flash of the blade of the knife in Tyrone Andrew's right hand," he said. Mr Burrows said Tyrone Andrew "jogged up behind" Mr Asbury "stealthily, like an animal stalking its prey". He told jurors they would see Mr Andrew raise his right hand and strike Mr Reagan, who sustained a single stab wound to his neck. The day after the stabbing, the court heard, the defendant flew to Holland and went on to Barcelona, from where he was extradited, the court heard. Mr Burrows said: "In short, the prosecution say Tyrone Andrew knew he had done wrong and fled the country. "I understand his case is that he did not intend to cause serious injury and that he was acting in self-defence or defence of his friends." Three other defendants are also on trial. Ryandeep Sidhu, 22, of Lidgate Close, Derby, has denied assisting an offender by taking possession of the knife used to kill Mr Asbury. Declan Kemp-Francis, 23, of Dickens Square, Sunny Hill, Derby, denies charges of violent disorder and assisting an offender by allegedly helping Mr Andrew back to his home. Lavelle Patrice, 22, of Havenwood Grove, Littleover, Derby, also denies violent disorder. He is alleged to have thrown an object towards Mr Asbury as he was stabbed. The trial continues.	A woman has admitted taking cash and a mobile phone to Holland to help an on-the-run killer who stabbed a teenager during a mass brawl at a boxing event. A boxing fan who killed a rival supporter after a bout has been sentenced to 14 years in jail. A man accused of murdering a boxing fan was the victim of a racist attack, his barrister has claimed. A boxing fan tracked a rival supporter "like an animal stalking its prey" before stabbing him to death, a court has heard. Tributes have been paid to a 19-year-old man who died after "large-scale disorder" broke out at a boxing event.
By Steven McIntoshNewsbeat reporter Noel is nominated for best solo artist and best album, but his brother Liam has fared less well. He's in the running for villain of the year. He faces competition in the category from David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Liam's band Beady Eye, who formed after Oasis split in 2009, are also nominated for worst band at the ceremony, which takes place on 29 February. One Direction, Muse and Coldplay are also shortlisted for the award. Noel Gallagher has already been revealed as the winner of this year's Godlike Genius prize. He is also nominated for hero of the year, alongside Noel Fielding, Alex Turner, Matt Bellamy and Dave Grohl. 'Very happy' PJ Harvey's Let England Shake, which won the Mercury Music Prize last year, is nominated for best album. It faces competition from The Horrors, The Vaccines and Arctic Monkeys - who have seven nominations in total. The Sheffield band are also up for best album and best live band. Drummer Matt Helders said it was "good to be recognised" at the event. "We're up for all the big ones - we're very happy," he said. "We had a lot of fun making Suck It And See and it's great to be up for best live band." The group are up against Bombay Bicycle Club, The Horrors, Kasabian and Muse for the best British band trophy. Bombay Bicycle Club face Hurts, Lana Del Rey, Florence + The Machine and Arctic Monkeys for the best track honour. Azealia Banks, who signed a major label record deal earlier this month, is nominated for dancefloor anthem for her single 212. She faces competition from Katy B, Foster The People, Justice and Metronomy. There are also categories for best TV show, best film and best festival - where Glastonbury takes on T In The Park, Reading and Leeds, V and Bestival. Comedian Jack Whitehall will host this year's ceremony, which will feature live performances by The Vaccines and Kasabian. The 2012 NME awards take place on 29 February at Brixton Academy. \|\|\|\|\| The former Oasis star follows acts like The Clash, Paul Weller and New Order in winning the gong. He picks up the award as Blur prepare to collect this year's outstanding contribution to music prize at the Brit Awards next month. Noel Gallagher, 44, already has the Brits title having won it in 2007 as a member of Oasis. The guitarist, who launched his solo career fronting The High Flying Birds in 2011, will pick up his prize at the NME Awards on 29 February at London's O2 Academy Brixton. "I would like to thank NME for bestowing upon me such a great accolade," said Noel Gallagher. "I have dreamt of this moment since I was 43 years old. "I accept that I am now a genius, just like God." Noel Gallagher wrote Oasis hits including chart-toppers Don't Look Back In Anger, Some Might Say and Go Let It Out. He quit the band in 2009 after falling out with brother Liam. His debut solo album made it to number one in the album chart. NME editor Krissi Murison said: "For the best part of two decades, the voice of one man has dominated the pages of NME more than any other. That man is Noel Gallagher. "Opinionated, intelligent, passionate and always hilarious - Noel walks and talks it better than any other musician out there, and it's just one of the reasons why the British public loves him so dearly. "No individual has written as many sing-out-loud classics as Noel. His songwriting has defined a generation." \|\|\|\|\| Interview by Natalie JamiesonNewsbeat reporter The Florence And The Machine singer said: "You're doing these amazing things but there are sacrifices to be made for that and you work incredibly hard. "It gets very draining but I'm doing my absolute dream job and I wouldn't want to do anything else." Florence And The Machine's latest album Ceremonials topped the UK album chart in November. "The highs and the lows come with the same package - touring and travelling and being away from home." Album showcase The nominations for this year's Brit awards were announced last week, but Florence says she doesn't let such ceremonies faze her. "It's very nice to be recognised. It's always really fun," she said. "They are terrifying to start with. If you see them as something fun and a celebration then that's okay, I think you shouldn't put yourself under too much pressure." The singer says she now feels more confident as an artist than she did when her debut album Lungs was released in 2009. "You have to figure out what makes you feel right. That's what the last couple of years have been about, how I feel comfortable and how I feel as a performer. "People can tell you what to do and what not to do, but until you start making your own mistakes, that's the only way." The 25-year-old is due to play a series of gigs in the UK in March. "I'm really looking forward to the UK tour. I can't wait to get back to see the inside of some English venues," she said. "It's going to be very much about the music and showcasing it in the best way possible. "We want to make it true to the record but almost bigger, and more expensive and experiment with things." \|\|\|\|\| The former Oasis guitarist will also take his band, the High Flying Birds, to Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow, London and Birmingham. The group will play songs from their debut album, as well as a selection of other Noel Gallagher tracks. Tickets go on sale on Friday 28 October and are on pre-sale on his website this Wednesday. Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds will also play gigs in Dublin on 17 February and in Paris on 6 March. The band is currently playing a number of dates around the UK. The guitarist and singer's debut album, released last week, has gone straight in at number one in the official album chart beating Matt Cardle's debut effort. Speaking at a press conference in July, Gallagher confirmed he would be playing Oasis tracks on his solo tour. "They're my songs and I wrote them all by myself," he said. "I'm proud of them and what they mean to other people. "You've got to be on stage and see what the reaction is of the crowd when you play Don't Look Back in Anger." Noel Gallagher is releasing a second album next year, which was recorded at the same time as his debut solo record. The High Flying Birds features Jeremy Stacey on drums, Mikey Rowe on keyboards and Mark Neary on double bass. The 44-year-old started writing material after Oasis split up in 2009. The Noel Gallagher dates are as follows: Manchester, MEN Arena - 13 February 2012 Belfast, Odyssey Arena - 16 Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena - 23 Glasgow, SECC Hall 4 - 24 London, The O2 - 26 Birmingham, NIA - 1 March \|\|\|\|\| The ex-Oasis guitarist will play gigs in Dublin, Edinburgh and London in October. The Dublin gig will mark Gallagher's first with his new live band High Flying Birds. Tickets for the shows go on general sale on Friday 5 August with the guitarist already confirming that he will play Oasis tracks on the tour. Oasis' songs He made the announcement at a press conference promoting his debut album last month. Gallagher said: "They're my songs and I wrote them all by myself. I'm proud of them and what they mean to other people. "You've got to be on stage and see what the reaction is of the crowd when you play Don't Look Back in Anger." Gallagher said the 10 tracks on his first solo album Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds would not be enough to fill up a full set list, meaning he would have to play Oasis songs on tour. His brother Liam refuses to play Oasis songs with his solo band, Beady Eye. "Unfortunately those songs are like drugs to me," said Noel. "I don't think I'd ever do a gig without playing them. That would be crazy. "That would be like Paul McCartney doing the O2 and just playing Wings stuff." Noel's first single The Death Of You & Me is released on 21 August. It's taken from his debut solo album of the same name due for release on 17 October. The tour dates are: Dublin's Olympia Theatre - 23 October Edinburgh Usher Hall - 27 London Hammersmith Apollo - 29	Noel and Liam Gallagher are among the nominees for this year's NME Awards. Noel Gallagher is to be honoured with the godlike genius prize at this year's NME Awards. Florence Welch says she finds it "draining" being a performer. Noel Gallagher has announced a six-date solo tour of the UK starting in Manchester next February. Noel Gallagher has announced dates for his first solo UK tour since confirming details of his debut solo album. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The proposed legislation was drawn up following terrorist attacks in 2017 including the Manchester Arena bombing. It would require owners and operators to put in place measures to keep the public safe from a terrorist attack. But a consultation to canvass opinion has been put on hold, the inquiry into the arena attack has heard. The principal purpose of the proposed legislation would be to impose a duty on those responsible for the public's safety when they are in a publicly-accessible location, the inquiry heard. Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, 29, who was killed in the bombing, is campaigning for Martyn's Law, which among other things is calling for venues and local authorities to have action plans against such attacks. The government's "protect duty" plan, which builds on Martyn's Law, had been intended to go to consultation this spring. Shaun Hipgrave, who works as a director in the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) within the Home Office, described the delay as "frustrating" but added "there's no point doing a consultation if we don't get a meaningful response". A counter-terror policing chief told the inquiry the legal duty to protect the public in crowded public places would be "transformational". Lucy D'Orsi, deputy assistant commissioner at National Counter Terrorism Police HQ, said she did "not think that it should be discretionary as to whether protective security is considered by a business or a site or an operator". "I firmly believe that a protect duty would be transformational for the UK and it would be as impactive as to protective security as GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation] has been for data handling," she said. Mrs Murray has called for the government to speed up the consultation and earlier told the inquiry she felt it was "absurd" there was legislation for how many toilets a venue must have and how food must be prepared but nothing that holds venues to having basic security in place. Twenty-two people were killed and hundreds more injured when Salman Abedi detonated the bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017. The public inquiry is examining the background to the attack and if any opportunities to prevent the attack were missed. The inquiry continues. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk \|\|\|\|\| Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett died in the attack, wants to bring in legislation to step up security in crowded public spaces and venues. The government backed the plans but work has stalled due to Covid-19. Ms Murray told the public inquiry into the bombing that "the stakes are too high" for further delay. "We just cannot wait for Covid-19 to end and then do the consultation because we don't how long Covid-19 is going to be with us," she said. Ms Murray said an "additional worry" was the uncertainty about how many people will have been radicalised online during lockdown. Mr Hett, 29, was one of 22 people killed in the suicide bombing in May 2017, which left hundreds more injured. Sir John Saunders, chairman of the inquiry, praised Ms Murray for her efforts, "We think it is wonderful that you are doing so much to make something constructive come out of this tragedy by campaigning to introduce Martyn's Law to save others from suffering in the way you and other families have," he said. "I know other families are also working to make other positive outcomes for the benefit of others as their response to the tragedy they have suffered." Ms Murray told the inquiry she was inspired to take action after going to a concert in Manchester in December 2018, where she decided to take her smallest handbag to make the "bag search easy". But she said she was shocked to discover she was able to walk straight in without being searched. "I was foolish; I assumed that since the Arena attack security in public areas is now a common thing and I was shocked that it wasn't," she said. Among her plans are the introduction of free counter-terror training for event staff, assessments of locations to see how vulnerable they are, and the need for venues and local authorities to have counter-terror action plans. She said there were more than 650,000 crowded spaces, including street markets, bus stations and churches. The inquiry heard Ms Murray had a 25-minute phone call with Home Secretary Priti Patel, who she said expressed support for Martyn's Law. Ms Murray said: "When the next attack happens, if the government haven't acted, if something happens and people are killed, the families of those people who died may ask the question - why hasn't something been done if nothing's been carried out?" The inquiry continues. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk \|\|\|\|\| Tom Rigby, who works for Showsec, also said he would not expect any of his team to have checked the mezzanine level where bomber Salman Abedi hid. Abedi had waited in a CCTV blind spot. Mr Rigby said it was "practice for a long time" not to check that area. Twenty-two people were killed and many more were injured as they left an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017. The inquiry heard there had been an assessment of the risk that terrorism posed to members of Showsec security staff, but no counter terrorism risk assessment carried out in relation to the audience of an event. 'All good' The court was shown an email Mr Rigby sent in January 2017 to a colleague at Showsec responsible for health and safety. Mr Rigby had said: "Maybe it's the new format but it doesn't look extensive enough to be correct." His colleague replied six days later, simply saying: "All good, Tom". As part of their duties on event days, Showsec staff patrolled the City Room area of the arena, including looking for suspicious characters, and filled in pre-egress (exit) sheets that listed the "entire City Room area including McDonald's and JD Williams entrance". Bosses at the venue operator SMG have told the hearing they thought its list was clear about checking the whole of the City Room, including the raised mezzanine level where Abedi hid for almost an hour before the attack. Mr Rigby, giving evidence via videolink, said: "That was not my understanding." Counsel to the inquiry Paul Greaney QC asked: "Where did you gain that understanding?" He replied: "It was what I was taught when I was training to be head of security. "It's been a practice for a very long time... that's what I was taught, it was the way I know it to be." He also told the court he had been unaware there was a CCTV blind spot until he heard about it in the inquiry. The inquiry at Manchester Magistrates' Court is expected to last until next spring. Meanwhile, a British Transport Police PCSO who was awarded for his bravery in the aftermath of the arena attack has died. Jon Morrey, who recently gave evidence to the inquiry, was among the first responders who went into the foyer after the attack, and helped those who were injured. Ch Supt Allan Gregory of British Transport Police said: "Our deepest condolences are with the family, friends and colleagues of former British Transport Police PCSO Jon Morrey BEM, who very sadly passed away earlier this week. "We will all be thinking of his loved ones throughout this difficult time." Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk \|\|\|\|\| Venue operator SMG and security provider Showsec had opposing views on whose responsibility it was to patrol an upstairs area of the City Room, an inquiry into the blast heard. Twenty-two people died in May 2017 with hundreds more injured. Abedi remained out of sight from CCTV before he struck, the inquiry was told. Bosses at SMG thought Showsec staff would physically walk up the stairs - to the location where Abedi was hiding - before concertgoers were due to leave. But Showsec employees believed their patrol duties ended at the bottom of the steps, the inquiry heard. Showsec's then head of security at the arena Tom Bailey said it was never his understanding, and neither was it practice, for its staff to patrol that area, including looking for suspicious characters. Although check sheets listed the "Entire City Room area including McDonald's and JD Williams entrance," the inquiry heard. Asked about the apparent misunderstanding between the two organisations, Mr Bailey said: "I think one party thought one thing and the other party thought another." He described the working relationship with SMG and Showsec as "very, very close". Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders asked him: "With the staff you had on 22 May did you have a reasonable prospect of stopping a bomber who came into the City Room and never came near the doors?" "No," said Mr Bailey. The inquiry continues. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk \|\|\|\|\| Miriam Stone, SMG's head of events, told the inquiry into the attack there was no specific assessment done for the Ariana Grande concert or consideration given to the terrorism risk. She said while there were flaws with the written documentation, "we did assess the risk". The 2017 suicide bomb killed 22 people. Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the public inquiry, asked Ms Stone, who was one of the duty managers on the night of the attack, if the assessments were done to ensure a "box was ticked". She replied: "I think we had got to the point where that is pretty much how it got used." On Tuesday, Ms Stone's boss James Allen told the inquiry SMG put the arena's terrorism risk level at low despite the national threat level being "severe". She also told the inquiry suspicions raised about bomber Salman Abedi should have been passed to the control room. She said it would have taken "a minute or two" to shut the exit doors leading to where the bomb was detonated. Abedi hid in the mezzanine area, which was a CCTV blindspot, for nearly an hour before the bombing. Arena security provider Showsec earlier told the inquiry staff did not believe they were expected to check the raised mezzanine level of the City Room, although check sheets listed the "entire City Room area". Ms Stone said: "It had never occurred to me until the evidence that anybody would read it any other way. "It's all one room. I would expect all of it to be checked." 'Suspicious looking man' Mr Greaney QC asked Ms Stone if the venue did enough at the time to prevent someone doing harm getting into the City Room. She replied: "Well somebody did, so no." Speaking about steward Mohammed Agha, who was told about a suspicious looking man with a rucksack but did not pass this on to his supervisor, she said: "I don't want to cast any aspersions on him but I don't think it would have been difficult to contact someone from that position." When asked about steward Kyle Lawler, who was told by Mr Agha about the man but said the radio was too busy to contact control, she said it did not accord with her own experience. She said "the radios are really quite quiet" at the end of concerts. The inquiry heard Ms Stone was concerned about terrorism and helped devise a training exercise in December 2014 which rehearsed for an attack inside the arena's City Room, where the attack took place. The inquiry continues. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk \|\|\|\|\| And on the night SMG put the arena's terrorism risk level at low despite the national threat level being "severe", the inquiry into the attack heard. It also heard the firm asked for a threat level review after the 2015 Paris attack in case "the horror... befell one of our venues". The 2017 suicide bomb killed 22 people. A lawyer acting on behalf of some of the bereaved families accused SMG of not paying for adequate security. James Allen, arena manager, told the inquiry into the blast that he did not believe SMG had been "penny-pinching" on security prior to the terror attack. When asked by John Cooper QC if the arena risk level should have been classed as higher given the national threat being severe, Mr Allen replied "Yes, possibly". 'You skimp' The arena manager also conceded there would have been cost implications if the venue's risk level had been elevated. "SMG were far more interested in trying to get efficiency than making sure their security operation was fit for purpose," Mr Cooper said. "You're penny pinchers, you skimp, you don't pay for security properly and you put people's lives at risk". Mr Allen rejected the assertions. Adam Payter who is also representing some of the bereaved families, asked Mr Allen about documents written by Miriam Stone, the head of events at SMG. The inquiry heard that due to the introduction of the National Living Wage in April 2016, she was asked by Mr Allen to save a proportion of the rising costs and make savings of £250 per event on staffing costs. "Rather than considering increasing staff you were considering making budgetary savings?" Mr Payter said. Mr Allen replied "Yes, potentially yes". The inquiry was shown an email sent from John Sharkey, the executive vice president of SMG Europe the day after the 2015 Paris Bataclan attack, to the general managers of SMG arenas in the UK. Mr Allen told the inquiry that since the bombing, the arena appointed its own in-house security adviser who is "one of the best" and is sharing his expertise with other concert arenas. The inquiry continues. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk	Plans to introduce a new law to improve safety and security at public venues and spaces has been delayed due to Covid-19, an inquiry has heard. The mother of a Manchester Arena bomb victim has urged the government to move forward with its promised consultation on "Martyn's Law". The head of security at Manchester Arena on the night of a terror attack there had raised concerns four months earlier that risk assessments for the venue were not "extensive enough", an inquiry heard. Staff were not expected to check an area at Manchester Arena where Salman Abedi hid for nearly an hour before the venue bombing, a security boss said. Risk assessments carried out by the Manchester Arena operators were "flawed" and "pretty much box ticking", an inquiry has heard. The operators of Manchester Arena where 22 were killed in a terror attack have denied accusations of "penny pinching" and putting people's lives at risk.
By Chris FoxxTechnology reporter The company is launching a Suggested Videos feed that curates a sequence of clips, interspersed with adverts. Videos that keep people watching for longer will earn a greater share of the revenue from these ads, with Facebook keeping 45% for itself. Facebook says its users clock up four billion video views daily. One expert said it posed a threat to YouTube. "Facebook is aggressively moving into the video space," said Eleni Marouli, advertising analyst at IHS consultancy. "In December 2014, Facebook surpassed YouTube in views for the first time, and we predict YouTube will lose share from next year onwards." In June, US broadcaster HBO announced it would stream some of its programmes on Facebook. Offering a cash incentive could encourage more publishers to upload on the platform. While YouTube gives content creators 55% of the revenue from ads displayed before their videos, Facebook will split the 55% it is offering between several creators. "It's not an unusual, or generous model," said Ms Marouli. "But we could see a monetisation battle between Facebook and YouTube, to entice creators onto the platform." Facebook made $3.3bn (£2.1bn) in ad revenue in the first quarter of 2015, 73% of it from mobile ads. "Facebook is very adaptable," said Ms Marouli. "In 2012, they had zero mobile-ad revenue. In two years, they've raised that to over 60% of their ad income. "Based on our forecasts, by 2018 Facebook will have 25% of online video ad revenue in Europe, and more in the US," said Ms Marouli. What kind of video does well on Facebook? Andrew Webb, duty editor of the BBC Shorts 15-second news video service, has these tips: Facebook says it is testing the Suggested Videos feed for iPhone users in the US and that the revenue-sharing arrangement will not begin immediately. While YouTube allows most users to monetise their videos, Facebook says it is working with a group of media companies and chosen individuals for the time being. One likely concern for video creators is that it is more difficult to search for videos on Facebook than YouTube at the moment. But Ms Marouli said money might still be a deciding factor. "The big players don't need tech companies like Facebook and YouTube to get their content out," she told the BBC. "If they aren't happy with the deal on offer, they could pull out completely, like Channel 4 did with YouTube." \|\|\|\|\| BBC TrendingWhat's popular and why If you went on Facebook over the weekend you may have seen friends' profile pictures turned multi-coloured. Maybe you even tinted your own pic. A rainbow filter tool was introduced by the company after last week's landmark Supreme Court decision which cleared the way for same-sex marriage across the US. But in some areas of the world the response to the initiative was less than enthusiastic - and even downright hostile. In Russia, several filters were created which splash the colours of national flags rather than rainbow banners across a picture. One such app has been downloaded more than 4,000 times. "Our response to the rainbow world ‪#‏Proudtoberussian," said one typical comment by Moscow resident Elena Starkova. Russia has controversial laws which ban providing information about homosexuality to people under age 18, and a recent poll showed that more than 80% of Russians oppose legalising same-sex marriage. Despite this, some Russians backlashed against the backlash. Anna Koterlnikova, who had changed her profile pic to a rainbow flag, commented: "Sorry! I'm straight and Russian but I'm not a homophobe!" In the Middle East, many social media users also came out strongly against the rainbow flag. "It's a message that it hurts me," said Egyptian Twitter user Sharif Najm, while Rami Isa from Syria tweeted: "Damn you and your marriage. You have distorted our innocent childhood [symbol], we used to like the rainbow." Ahmad Abd-Rabbuh, an Egyptian political science professor, said that gay marriage "is not in harmony with society and culture." "I know that I will make many of my friends angry," he commented. In Egypt, around 2,000 tweets mentioned the rainbow motif, most of them critical. Some users even went so far as to sarcastically blame a weekend storm on users who turned their profile pics multi-coloured. But not all reaction was negative. Egyptian TV presenter Muna Iraqi commented: "[I support people's] right to live and love freely, without any persecution." Of course, it also should be noted that same-sex marriage is by no means universally popular in the US - about two-fifths of Americans oppose it, according to the Pew Research Center. "I'm 100% against gay marriage," one American tweeted. "I have gay friends and they're great ppl; it's not personal. But U.S. can't decide. Should be state-by-state." And some transsexual activists continued their criticism of Facebook - which sponsors San Francisco's gay pride parade - for its "real name" policy, an issue we've previously covered on BBC Trending. Reporting by Olga Bugorkova and Ghada Tantawi Blog by Mike Wendling Next story: What should social networks do about hate speech? Extreme racist comments posted on the discussion website Reddit in the wake of the Charleston church shooting have once again raised questions about freedom of speech and the internet. How far should social networks go in censoring hate speech? READ MORE You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, and find us on Facebook. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending. \|\|\|\|\| By Leo KelionTechnology desk editor The alerts prevent the videos from automatically playing in feeds unless they are clicked, unlike other clips. The site is also preventing graphic videos and photos from being shown to any user who has identified themself as being under 18 years old. It follows pressure for the move from its own safety advisers. But one psychologist said the measure still did not do enough to protect young, vulnerable members of the social network. Among the first posts to be affected are uploaded files containing video footage of policeman Ahmed Merabet being shot dead in Paris by a terrorist involved in last week's Charlie Hebdo attacks. Murder videos Facebook has faced repeated criticism over recent years for allowing violent and graphic images that it deems to be of public interest or concern to remain on its pages. The US firm's guidelines ban material "shared for sadistic pleasure or to celebrate or glorify violence". However, it allows news reports and other documentary images depicting beheadings and other types of murder to remain online despite the potential for distress. The firm permits children as young as 13 years old to be members. But some even younger children circumvent this age limit by providing false details when joining up. Last August, controversy over images showing people's heads placed on spikes in Syria prompted the Family Online Safety Institute (Fosi) - a member of Facebook's safety advisory board - to demand the social network change its practices. Stephen Balkam, the charity's chief executive, told the BBC he wanted cover pages to be placed over graphic material to prevent people from seeing distressing images without warning, and an age-gate system implemented to make it harder for under-18s to find the material. Work in progress Facebook has now confirmed it began rolling out such a scheme in December. It applies to graphic material reported to the firm by its users that is judged to have been posted in an irresponsible manner. "When people share things on Facebook, we expect that they will share it responsibly, including choosing who will see that content," a spokeswoman told the BBC. "We also ask that people warn their audience about what they are about to see if it includes graphic violence. "In instances when people report graphic content to us that should include warnings or is not appropriate for people under the age of 18, we may add a warning for adults and prevent young people from viewing the content." The spokeswoman added that the firm's engineers were still looking to further improve the scheme. She said this might include adding warnings to relevant YouTube videos, which is not currently possible, as well as placing alerts over distressing photographs that were still available to adults. Mr Balkam said he was "delighted" by Facebook's move. "I also think that it has walked a very fine line between protection of users and protection of free expression, and I think it has got it just about right," he added. Facebook had briefly experimented with adding a more basic form of warning sign to clips of decapitations in October 2013 after Prime Minister David Cameron said: "It's irresponsible of Facebook to post beheading videos, especially without a warning." Clips showing decapitations taking place were later banned altogether. 'Good step' News of the social network's latest move was welcomed by Childnet International, a London-based charity that is another member of Facebook's safety advisory panel. "It's a good step to try and help protect people from this content, and we are glad that there is 18 age-gating," said the organisation's chief executive Will Gardner. "There always has to be the recognition that people don't always sign up with their accurate age, and we have to be aware of that. But it's important that there are steps taken to protect people from seeing harmful and disturbing content that they don't want to see." However, Dr Arthur Cassidy - a psychologist who runs a branch of the Yellow Ribbon Program suicide-prevention charity - said Facebook should implement an outright ban on clips and pictures of extreme violence. He noted that large numbers of children used the service and said it was likely that many would try to work around the new restrictions. "At the end of the day warning messages will not prevent young people from seeing upsetting and psychologically damaging material," he said. "We know if we say, 'Do not do it,' that they will still do it - they will want to look and view material, irrespective of how grotesque it is. "And it has the potential to influence maladaptive behaviour in those who might have the potential to become aggressors themselves." \|\|\|\|\| By Leo KelionTechnology desk editor Its revamped community standards now include a separate section on "dangerous organisations" and give more details about what types of nudity it allows to be posted. The US firm said it hoped the new guidelines would provide "clarity". One of its safety advisers praised the move but said that it was "frustrating" other steps had not been taken. Facebook says about 1.4 billion people use its service at least once a month Confused users The new guide will replace the old one on the firm's website, and will be sent to users who complain about others' posts. Monika Bicket, Facebook's global head of content policy, said the rewrite was intended to address confusion about why some takedown requests were rejected. "We [would] send them a message saying we're not removing it because it doesn't violate our standards, and they would write in and say I'm confused about this, so we would certainly hear that kind of feedback," she told the BBC. "And people had questions about what we meant when we said we don't allow bullying, or exactly what our policy was on terrorism. "[For example] we now make clear that not only do we not allow terrorist organisations or their members within the Facebook community, but we also don't permit praise or support for terror groups or their acts or their leaders, which wasn't something that was detailed before." Ms Bicket stressed, however, that the policies themselves had not changed. Buttocks ban The new version of the guidelines runs to nearly 2,500 words, nearly three times as long as before. The section on nudity, in particular, is much more detailed than the vague talk of "limitations" that featured previously. Facebook now states that images "focusing in on fully exposed buttocks" are banned, as are "images of female breasts if they include the nipple". It adds that the restrictions extend to digitally-created content, unless posts are for educational or satirical purposes. Likewise, text-based descriptions of sexual acts that contain "vivid detail" are forbidden. However, Facebook adds that it will "always allow photos of women actively engaged in breastfeeding or showing breasts with post-mastectomy scarring". Other sections with new details include: Graphic violence The changes have been welcomed by the Family Online Safety Institute (Fosi), one of five independent organisations that make up Facebook's safety advisory board. "I think it's great that Facebook has revamped its community standards page to make it both more readable and accessible," the body's chief executive Stephen Balkam told the BBC. "I wish more social media sites and apps would follow suit." But he expressed concern that Facebook was still not doing enough to protect youngsters from seeing disturbing videos. While Facebook's new guidelines state that users should "warn their audience about what they are about to see if it includes graphic violence", it provides no way for members to add cover pages to clips to prevent them from auto-playing. In January, after months of pressure from Fosi and others, Facebook revealed it had introduced a way for its own staff to add such "interstitial" warnings. They have been used over clips showing the murder of a French policeman in the Charlie Hebdo attacks among other material. However, Facebook only adds the alerts if it has received a complaint, rather than letting the original posters do so. "It is frustrating that after all this time, Facebook users are still not able to put up interstitials on violent or controversial images and videos," said Mr Balkam. "Facebook has done the right thing to place interstitials themselves once a user has reported an image or extreme content, but my hope is that they will bring this to ordinary users sooner rather than later." Facebook has acknowledged the point. "We are always looking to provide more tools for people to use themselves," responded Ms Bicket. "Right now we are not in a position to provide those tools to people, but we are always looking at ways to do better."	Facebook is to start paying some video creators for uploading their clips to the platform. It was wildly popular, but not everybody likes Facebook's pro-gay marriage photo filter - it's prompted a backlash in Russia and across the Arab world. Facebook has begun placing warnings over videos posted to its site, stating their contents might "shock, offend and upset" if viewed. Facebook is providing the public with more information about what material is banned on the social network. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The 25-year-old will shortly record her role in Neverland, a prequel to the classic story by JM Barrie. Anna Friel, Bob Hoskins and Charles Dance will appear in the flesh in the two-part film for Sky Movies. Rhys Ifans will portray Hook, here the mentor of a gang of young pickpockets who are transported to Neverland after stealing a magical treasure. Described as "a bold new take on the original mythology", Neverland will be screened on Sky Movies Premiere later this year. Knightley is currently treading the boards in London's West End, playing a schoolteacher in a revival of 1934 play The Children's Hour. \|\|\|\|\| Danny DeVito and Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha were among the audience as the 25-year-old took her bows at London's Comedy theatre. Knightley is appearing with US Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss in The Children's Hour, by Lillian Hellman. The 1934 play tells of teachers accused of having an illicit lesbian affair. Knightley received mixed reviews when she made her West End debut in 2009 in an updated version of Moliere's The Misanthrope. Writing about that production, Charles Spencer in the Telegraph said: "She got through it with her dignity intact, but often seemed strained and nervous". This time, however, he said the actress "displays confidence throughout before rising in the final act to dramatic heights that are shattering in their intensity". The critic also praised Moss for "a fascinatingly conflicted performance that is as subtle as it is strong". According to Michael Billington in the Guardian, Knightley and Moss "prove as potent a combination on stage as at the box office". "Ian Rickson's atmospheric, slow-burning and ultimately enthralling production proves far more compelling that I expected," his three-star review continued. Yet The Daily Mail's Quentin Letts expressed reservations, comparing Knightley to "one of those plucky amateur jockeys in the Grand National". "Miss Knightley tries," he writes. "By God, she tries. She turns in a performance of which many a journeyman thesp would be proud. "But is she a real leading lady? Is she a genuine stage star? Not quite." The Children's Hour, which also features Oscar-winning actress Ellen Burstyn and veteran comedienne Carol Kane, has been filmed twice. The second version, released as The Loudest Whisper in the UK, starred Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner. It was last staged in London at the National Theatre, with Dame Harriet Walter and Clare Higgins as the teachers, and Emily Watson as the pupil who accuses them. In the latest production, that part is played by Rada-trained Bryony Hannah, singled out for praise by the critics. "Hannah is memorably sly and horrible as the young troublemaker," writes Spencer, while Letts calls her "a fantastic find". The Children's Hour continues at the Comedy until 30 April. Knightley can also be seen this week in the film Never Let Me Go, based on Kazuo Ishiguro's novel.	British actress Keira Knightley is to provide the voice of Tinker Bell the fairy in a new Peter Pan film. Keira Knightley's return to the West End has drawn respectable reviews, with one critic saying the British actress has now "won her theatrical spurs". around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The Met Office yellow warnings for snow and ice cover several areas of the UK, while a separate warning for ice is in place for southern England. "Treacherous driving conditions" are hampering some southern areas, it said. Highways England said delays had hit the M3, A303 and A34 in Hampshire and Wiltshire. It later added work was continuing through the night to clear the M3 westbound. Snow at a depth of 19cm (7.5in) was recorded at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, the Met Office said. Hundreds of schools across Wales and southern parts of England were closed for the day due to the conditions. At Bristol Airport most of the day's flights were cancelled. The airport advised passengers to check flight information with their airline but said they expected a normal service on Saturday. London City Airport also cancelled or diverted several flights on Friday evening because of heavy snowfall. The airport added it expected to the runway to be "open as normal" on Saturday morning but any concerned passengers should "check their flight status in advance" with their airline. Highways England said there was only one lane open from junction 6 to junction 7 on the M3 westbound near Basingstoke, due to three stranded HGVs. It said work was under way to recover those vehicles and clear the snow, with Hampshire Police co-ordinating traffic in single file through the clearance work. It warned that surrounding roads were also "treacherous". Ian Crowder was stuck on the A339 for several hours as he travelled home from his last day working for the AA in Basingstoke. "It's very picturesque, I'm sure, but being here in the traffic, stationary for nearly five hours now, is not a huge amount of fun," he said. "The traffic is beginning to move again. The snow seems to be gathering pace but it looks as if we might be on our way very soon." Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital made an appeal for nursing staff within walking distance to help, as it faced staffing issues due to the gridlock. Drivers in Surrey and Kent also face delays, with the A31, A3 and A21 among the major roads affected. Salt-spreaders covered 80,000 miles of England's motorways and major A roads through Thursday night to keep traffic moving, Highways England said. Flight disruption at airports in Cardiff and Bristol affected rugby fans heading to Paris ahead of Friday's France v Wales Six Nations opener, with ex-Wales captain Sam Warburton among those caught up in the chaos. On the trains, Transport for Wales said services were now running as normal after some disruption in the morning, while Great Western Railway - which earlier warned of disruption until 12:00 - said a near-normal service had resumed. Some Eurostar services were also cancelled on Friday. The match between Port Vale and Tranmere Rovers was the first of the weekend's English League fixtures to be postponed because of a frozen pitch, while five Scottish League One and Two matches were also postponed. Several of Saturday's matches will be subject to pitch inspections in the morning but fans heading for matches can check for the latest updates on postponements on the BBC Sport website. In Bath the Corridor shopping centre was closed on Friday after two separate roof collapses due to snow. The weather meant few shoppers were around and no-one hurt. In East Ham, east London, a baby girl was found abandoned in a shopping bag in park in near-freezing temperatures on Thursday evening. Ovidijus Zvaliauskas found the baby with his mother, who was walking her dog. He told BBC News it was so cold the baby had frost on her head. "There's no words for it. It's terrible," he said. The newborn girl was taken to hospital and is said to be in a stable condition. Medical staff have been calling her Roman, as the play area she was found was situated just off Roman Road. South-west England was worst affected on Thursday night, with snow depths of 12cm (5in) recorded in Bodmin, the Met Office said. Parts of Cumbria saw 8cm of snow, while there was 7cm recorded in Inverness-shire and 5cm in Powys. Temperatures fell to their lowest level this winter, with Braemar, Aberdeenshire, dropping to -15.4C (6F) in the early hours of Friday. This is the lowest in the UK since 2012 - when temperatures fell to -15.6C in Holbeach, Lincolnshire. The cold start to the day saw hundreds of school closures in different parts of the UK. More than 500 schools were shut in Wales, with about 200 in Berkshire, 250 in Wiltshire and 300 in Buckinghamshire also closed. What's the forecast? BBC weather presenter Stav Danaos said travel disruption is likely throughout Friday night and into Saturday due to lying snow and ice. It will remain cold on Saturday but wintry showers will become increasingly confined to the eastern coast of the UK, leaving some spells of sunshine. What warnings are in place? There are yellow warnings for snow and ice covering northern Scotland, most of Northern Ireland, the eastern coast of England and the west coast of Wales until 12:00 GMT on Saturday. They warn of some snow showers, with heavier accumulations of up to 5cm possible in northern Scotland and up to 10cm over higher ground. There is also a yellow warning for snow, covering parts of south-east England, between 16:00 GMT and midnight on Friday, with accumulations of 2-3cm likely and up to 7cm possible over higher ground. A separate warning for ice is in place for southern England until 11:00 GMT on Saturday, as Friday's snow gradually eases during the evening. Yellow warnings are issued for low level impacts including some disruption to travel. People should check the latest forecast and check how they might be impacted. You can read the Met Office guide to its warnings here or watch our handy breakdown. You must enable JavaScript to view this content. Compare the temperature where you are with more than 50 cities around the world, including some of the hottest and coldest inhabited places. Enter your location or postcode in the search box to see your result. Find a location Your location This temperature comparison tool uses three hourly forecast figures. For more detailed hourly UK forecasts go to BBC Weather. If you can't see the calculator, tap here. How have you been affected by the bad weather? Tell us your story by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: \|\|\|\|\| Disruption continued into the afternoon as teams worked to clear the airfield. The runway reopened at 16:30 GMT. Almost all of Friday's 130 flights to and from Bristol have been cancelled. A spokesman thanked passengers for their patience and advised they should check flight information with their tour operators. Wales rugby fans heading to Paris for Friday's Six Nations fixture were among those caught up in the disruption. A BBC reporter at the airport said dozens of people were waiting for information in the departure lounge. An airport spokesman said: "We anticipate operating as normal on Saturday but please contact your airline for updates on the status of your flight." Louise Weston, from Westbury-on-Trym, was forced to cancel her holiday to Barcelona due to the disruption. She described it as "incredibly frustrating", adding: "It's something we'd been looking forward to but you can't control the weather and I wouldn't want to be on a flight that wasn't safe. "We are lucky that we'd booked a package so we'll get a refund at least and can make other plans." Sarah Trevelyan, 43, from Henleaze said she was "very disappointed" to have to abandon her "much-anticipated holiday". Jenni Need, from Bristol, and her husband were stranded in Venice, where they had spent their honeymoon. They were due to fly home on Thursday night but their EasyJet flight was cancelled as was their rescheduled flight this morning. "My partner got on the phone to EasyJet because we were adamant we weren't going and queuing in the airport again," she said. "He managed to reschedule it a second time until hopefully Sunday. "We're stuck here in a hotel room, no euros now we've spent all our money, twiddling our thumbs waiting for Sunday. We're trying to make the best of a really bad situation." Information about the cancelled flights can be found on the airport's website. British Airways also cancelled dozens of flights from Heathrow Airport on Friday morning due to the weather conditions. The Met Office said 14cm of snow fell in Dunkeswell, Devon, while 3 to 5cm fell across Somerset. Hundreds of schools across the west country were also closed due to the snow. \|\|\|\|\| By Dulcie LeeBBC News But while commuters frantically clawed at the ice on their windscreens, many took to the web to ask all manner of snow-related questions. Here are the answers to some of the most-searched. How do I efficiently de-ice my car? When it comes to de-icing your car, patience is a virtue. For starters, don't do what this driver did and leave only a tiny gap in their snow-covered windscreen before driving off. When you use the car's heater to defrost the windows, increase the heat gradually or it'll create extra mist. Brush off the snow from the car's exterior, including the front grille. Don't use boiling water to de-ice windscreens - hot water can crack the glass, and the water will only freeze again on the screen or on the ground where you are standing. Instead, spray the windscreen with plenty of de-icer and use a scraper to remove the frost from the entire screen. A squirt of WD-40 can also prevent door locks freezing up. If they do, heat your key with a lighter to melt the ice. But if you fancy a more extreme solution, you could take the approach Russians used to de-ice their airplanes: find leftover jet fighter engines and use them to blast hot air at the affected areas. (Results not guaranteed.) How can I boost my immune system in the winter weather? Sadly, rounding off your lunch of crisps and chocolate with a fizzy vitamin C tablet isn't a surefire way to stave off the office cold. It mainly comes down to - no surprises here - eating well, sleeping properly, and exercising enough. The NHS recommends eating plenty of fruit and veg, as well as a hearty breakfast to set you up for the day. Milk and dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are also great sources of protein, vitamins and calcium. At what temperature does snow fall? Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't have to be below zero to snow. You can start wishing for a snow day as soon as the temperature drops below 2°C. According to the Met Office, most of the UK's heaviest snowfalls tend to be when the temperature sits between 0°C and 2°C. Any hotter than that and the snowflakes will melt and fall as sleet or rain. Why does salt melt ice? Gritters may have been out in force - but the "grit" they've been laying is actually rock salt. Salt lowers the freezing point of water, so it stops ice forming and causes existing ice or snow to melt. How should I drive in snow and icy conditions? In a word, carefully. Stopping distances are greater in snow and ice. Allow extra time, plan your journey, wear warm clothes, and make sure your phone is properly charged. Stock up on chocolate, biscuits and hot drinks, in case you get stuck. After de-icing your car, use second gear to pull away, lifting the clutch gently to avoid wheel spin. Stay in a higher gear for better control as you pick up speed. Maintain the right speed for the conditions - not too fast so that you risk losing control, but not so slow that you risk losing momentum when you need it. Why do schools close when it snows? If your school has declared a snow day, you've got your head teacher to thank. They are usually the ones who decide whether to close the school. The decision is based on the welfare of children, taking into account whether: If the weather is fine in the morning, but scheduled to get worse later in the day, the school may decide to close for the whole day. What actually is snow? Most people know it's white and cold and falls from the sky. But what actually is it? As the Met Office explains, snow forms when tiny ice crystals in clouds stick together, becoming snowflakes. If enough of these crystals stick together, they'll become heavy enough to fall to the ground. As the snowflakes drift down from the sky, those falling through moist air that is slightly warmer than 0°C will melt at the edges and stick together, producing big flakes. This type of snow is "wet" and makes for good snowmen. "Dry snow", which is ideal for snow sports, comes from snowflakes that fall through cold, dry air, producing small, powdery flakes. \|\|\|\|\| The newborn was discovered in East Ham, east London, when a woman walking her dog heard the baby crying in a play area off Roman Road at 22:15 GMT. The child was taken to hospital and is said to be in a stable condition. Detectives say they are growing "increasingly concerned" for the mother, who may be "in need of urgent medical attention". Hospital staff have been calling the baby Roman after the road where she was found. The child was discovered in a shopping bag in a white towel on the floor next to a park bench and had not been hidden, the Metropolitan Police said. Ovidijus Zvaliauskas, who found the baby, said it was "terrible" adding he had "no words" for the mother who abandoned the baby. He said: "My mum was walking the dog and she heard a noise coming out from the bag. "She rang me up because she was too scared to approach the bag." Mr Zvaliauskas said when he saw it was a baby inside he rang for an ambulance and the police. Officers have urged the mother to contact police, her local hospital, a GP or the London Ambulance Service (LAS). In a direct appeal to the mother, Insp Shane Clarke said: "It is really important that we know that you are safe. "I would also urge anyone who has information that could help us to reunite this baby with her mother to come forward." \|\|\|\|\| The warning comes after a temperature of -15.4C (4.28F) was recorded in Braemar in Aberdeenshire overnight - the lowest in Scotland since 2010. A Met Office warning for snow and ice is in place until 12:00 on Saturday. The freezing temperatures have also resulted in a number of school closures across the Highlands for a third day. The council said Bonar Bridge Nursery, Bonar Bridge Primary, Durness Primary, Gairloch Nursery, Gairloch Primary, Gledfield Primary, Gledfield Primary Nursery, Kinlochbervie High School, Kinlochbervie Primary, Poolewe Primary, Poolewe Primary Nursery, Rosehall Primary, Scourie Primary and Scourie Primary Nursery had all been shut because of the weather. Moray Council has also said Aberlour Primary, Glenlivet Primary, Knockando Primary and Tomintoul Primary schools would shut early because of adverse weather. The yellow weather warning currently covers central Scotland, Tayside, Fife, Grampian, Highland, Orkney and Shetland, south-west Scotland and Lothian. Drivers have been advised to charge mobile phones, and plan their journey and alternative routes, and listen to media broadcasts or visit the Traffic Scotland website. Aurora Borealis Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Stein Connolly, from Traffic Scotland, said 145 gritters had been deployed across Scotland to make the roads safer. He added: "There are some flurries of snow, mostly up the north-west of Scotland, but with temperatures last night down to -15C, we're still seeing temperatures at the moment sitting around -8C to -10C and that is right throughout the whole of Scotland." However, the crisp conditions did provide clear skies, with people across the country reporting sightings of the Aurora Borealis. Alan Tough from Elgin caught the light show on camera at Duffus Castle in Moray, while Claire Allison from Ayrshire captured the spectacle at Ayr beach. \|\|\|\|\| Social media will become clogged up with endless, monotonous, snow photos. Plus, if you do get a few days off school or college - you'll need to know the best way to look after your cat or dog. Here's an essential guide to prepare for the weather. How to make your Instagram snaps stand out from the crowd Colour, light and composition - those are the main things you have to remember when taking this year's snow snaps. That's according to Gideon Knight, who was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2016. "You need something in the foreground that stands out against the snow, something with good colours," he says. "If I saw a gull sitting a field it would be difficult, but if there's something with more colour - a robin for example - the red in its breast will stand out really well." Or, he says, you can also achieve this by changing your background. "If it's still snowing and you want to get a shot of some snowdrops, a good trick is to use something dark in the background like a holly bush. "This way the white snow shows up really well against it." Snow pics can often appear duller because your phone camera tries to over-compensate for so much whiteness. Gideon suggests using your phone to turn up the brightness or over-expose the photo, "which will give a crisp, white colour - like the one you see with your eyes". When it comes to composition, Gideon says: "One of the best rules for photography is the rule of thirds, which means you section your image up into a three-by-three grid and compose your image along the lines. "If you have something in the foreground on the right, it's often good to have something balancing it on the left of the image in the background." How to drive without skidding If you have to drive in icy conditions, there's always a risk of skidding. And while we're all taught what to do if we skid in our driving lessons, it's easy to panic and forget the essentials. Luckily, there are only three main things to remember, says Lorne Mitchener from Thruxton Motorsport Centre. Firstly, take your foot off the gas as soon as soon as you feel your car start to slide. The second thing is not to hit the brakes. "You don't want to get the car locked up and put it into a bigger slide," says Lorne. "Thirdly, work the steering," he says. "Follow the car. If the car wants to go left, turn the wheel to the left. "Pause, and the turn it back. If it doesn't work the first time, do it again. "As soon as the car's going back in the direction, you want, that's your cue - you can get back on the throttle, but gently." How to make sure your pets are safe Obviously, you need to make sure your pet has somewhere warm and dry to go after they've been playing outside in the snow. But you should also check their paws for snow - as it can harden into balls of ice between the pads. You should also remember that grit and salt on the roads can be irritable or poisonous to your pet's skin, and the RSPCA suggests washing your dog after being in the snow. But when it comes to putting a coat on your dog, the RSPCA's recommendation is that only older or ill dogs need coats. They add that you shouldn't force it on if your dog doesn't want to wear one. And your pet will use more energy to keep warm - so it's a good idea to give them a bit of extra food. A version of this article entitled: "How to take the perfect snow snap" appeared on 11 December 2017. Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. \|\|\|\|\| Hundreds of schools have shut, transport has been disrupted, and people have been told to prepare to change any travel plans. People whose journey to work is difficult should be aware of their rights if they want to take the day off. Do I still get paid? In most cases you are not automatically entitled to pay if you are unable to get to work because of travel disruption or bad weather. If your employer normally provides your travel to work and this has been cancelled because of the bad weather you should still be paid, according to the employment advice and conciliation service Acas. It is a good idea for employees to remind themselves of their contract. Some jobs may also have a specific clause written in, or have a collective agreement in place, which means an employer will pay staff who cannot get to work owing to circumstances beyond their control. Some employers might also make discretionary, informal arrangements. For example, they may let employees work from home, or agree that the time can be made up at a later date. Schools are shut so I have to stay at home. Will I be reprimanded? No, all employees have the right to take unpaid time off to deal with emergency situations for their children or other dependants. Lawyers suggest that a school being shut at short notice is likely to be considered an emergency. Strictly, the day would be unpaid but some employers are more forgiving. Acas advises you talk to your employer as soon as you can to explain that you need to take time off and the likely length of the absence. It says one option is that you jointly agree to take the day as annual leave so you do not miss out on pay. Does that mean I can be forced to take the day as holiday, even if I do not have children? Only with sufficient warning. The law states that you must be given a warning period of "at least" double the length of annual leave you are being asked to take. So, if your employer wants you to take one day's annual leave, for example, they would need to give you two days' notice. There is an exception - when the workplace has been closed owing to the weather. In those circumstances an employer cannot demand staff take the time as annual leave. Workers are also entitled to be paid. The employer can still ask you to work from home, or ask you to go to another workplace that is open if the business has one, according to government advice website Gov.uk. Colleagues always say we get sent home when the office gets too cold. Is that true? No. The Health and Safety Executive recommends a minimum temperature of 16C for offices where the work is deskbound and fairly sedentary. If the work requires physical effort, the minimum recommended temperature is 13C. These temperatures are not a legal requirement but your employer has a duty to provide a "reasonable" temperature in the workplace. If low temperatures make it unsafe for workers, then Acas says you should be allowed to wear warmer clothing, take extra breaks to make hot drinks and also be allowed to bring in extra heating options such as portable heaters. However, if you are vulnerable in any way, such as being pregnant, then you may be sent home to protect your health, and this would usually be on full pay. \|\|\|\|\| The man broke his leg and had to be helped off the mountain by Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, the RAF and the coastguard on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, dozens of schools and some roads were closed, with some crashes reported on Wednesday. A Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice has been extended until Friday. John Grisdale, a volunteer with the mountain rescue team, said the man and two friends were climbing on the Trinity Face when they were hit by an avalanche. He said the fact one of them had suffered only minor injuries was "very lucky" due to dangerous levels of fresh snow on steep faces. Mr Grisdale explained that avalanches were common in north Wales during periods of heavy snow and high wind, due to accumulations of snow becoming unstable. "Take good account of the weather - even experienced mountaineers can get in trouble if they are out when conditions are so unstable," Mr Grisdale said. More than 100 schools remained closed in Flintshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Carmarthenshire, Wrexham and Powys on Wednesday. Traffic data firm Inrix warned of "hazardous driving conditions" due to ice on the A470 between Penderyn and Hirwaun in Rhondda Cynon Taff on Wednesday evening. And Traffic Wales said conditions were "poor" along sections of the A55 near Bangor, Gwynedd. The Met Office said temperatures could plummet to -9C on Wednesday night, with a chance of freezing, patchy fog. Thursday could see increasing winds alongside outbreaks of some snow in the afternoon, while Friday will have more sleet and snow before a dry afternoon. A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place between 13:00 GMT Thursday and 21:00 on Friday. Police said they received reports of crashes on the A55 in Flintshire on Wednesday. And Gwent Police said that a car had overturned in Rhymney in Caerphilly county, but there had been "no major injuries". Driving conditions on the A55 between junctions 27 for St Asaph and 33 for Northop were particularly bad due to snow, North Wales Police said. And there were long delays on the A55 westbound at junction 35, Dobbs Hill, Flintshire, due to a crash. In Carmarthenshire, Rehoboth Road near Trimsaran closed in both directions between the B4308 Trimsaran Road to the B4309 Five Roads due to ice. BBC Wales reporter Mari Grug posted a video of her car being towed by a tractor in the deep snow in Uwch-y-Garreg, near Forge in Machynlleth. She wrote alongside the post: "The only way for some of us to get to work today." On Tuesday, snow ploughs were dispatched to the A44 near Aberystwyth and cars became trapped on the road. Schools across north Wales were also forced to close. \|\|\|\|\| In very bad conditions avoid driving unless essential. But if you must drive, here's how to make sure you and your car are as prepared as possible and what to do if you are caught out in bad weather. Prepare yourself Allow extra time - get up earlier to allow time to de-ice the car and allow much longer for journeys. Plan journeys around major roads, which are more likely to be cleared. Avoid shortcuts on minor roads. Wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes to drive in. Don't forget your coat, hat, gloves, sturdy boots, a blanket to keep you warm in case you do get stuck or have to leave your car. Take some food, chocolate, biscuits, water and a hot drink if you can. Always carry a fully charged mobile, and some old bits of carpet, or cat litter, to put under the tyres when stuck and a shovel to clear snow. Prepare your car Consider buying winter tyres, which offer extra grip, especially if you live in an area which regularly experiences snow. Many garages offer relatively inexpensive winter tyre fitting services, and mobile tyre fitters are also available. If you stick with standard tyres, make sure they're inflated at the right pressure and that each one has at least 3mm of tread. Car batteries run down more quickly in winter. Make sure you do a regular long journey to top it up, or use a trickle-charger to keep it performing well. Modern engines are more robust than older ones. All the same, depress the clutch when starting as this will reduce drag on the engine and preserve the battery. Keep screenwash topped up and use a proper anti-freeze at the right concentration to prevent ice forming. A squirt of WD-40 can prevent door locks freezing up. If they do, heat your key with a lighter to melt the ice. Keep your fuel tank topped up - that way if you are caught out, you'll have enough fuel to make it home or run the engine to keep warm. However, if you do get stuck, make sure snow does not block the exhaust as noxious fumes can leak into the vehicle. Driving in snow and ice Clear all snow and ice from the windscreen, windows and the roof of the car before driving off. Don't use water to de-ice windscreens - hot water can crack the glass, and the water will only freeze again on the screen or on the ground where you are standing. Use second gear to pull away, lifting the clutch gently to avoid wheel spin. Stay in a higher gear for better control as you pick up speed. Many automatic cars have a 'snow' mode feature for the gearbox, while some manufacturers suggest the manual '2' setting on an automatic to set off. Maintain the right speed for the conditions - not too fast so that you risk losing control, but not so slow that you risk losing momentum when you need it Brake, steer and accelerate as smoothly as possible. Only use the brake if you cannot steer out of trouble. Stopping distances are up to ten times greater in snow and ice. Leave even more space behind the car in front than you usually would. Drive so that you do not rely on your brakes to be able to stop. A four-wheel-drive vehicle will offer much greater traction on snow and ice, but good tyres are essential for optimal performance and drivers should still take care when braking. Most modern cars have anti-lock brakes, but in very slippery conditions they will not perform in the same way, so do not rely on them. On motorways stay in the lane clearest of snow, ice and slush. Keep within the clear tyre tracks if you can. What to do if you get stuck If you are stuck, the Institute of Advanced Motorists recommends that you turn your wheels from side to side to push the snow out of the way. Do not try to keep moving if the wheels spin - it will only dig you in deeper. Use a shovel to clear snow out of the way. Pour cat litter, sand or gravel in front of the wheels to help get traction. Shift from forward to reverse and back again. Give a light touch on the accelerator until the vehicle gets going. If you can't move your car, you can stay warm by running the engine. However, it is vital that the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow as highly toxic carbon monoxide gas could enter the car. If there is any risk the fumes can come into the car, do not run the engine. Even if it is safe, do not run the engine for more than 10 or 15 minutes in each hour. Stay in or close to your car. In heavy snow it is easy to get disorientated and lost or separated from your vehicle. If necessary, you can hang a piece of brightly coloured cloth on your car to let others know you are there.	Travel by road, rail and air has been disrupted by snow and ice, with weather warnings issued for Friday and overnight. Thousands of passengers were left "frustrated" and "disappointed" after heavy snow caused Bristol Airport to shut. Wintry weather has grounded flights, closed hundreds of schools, and caused travel chaos across the UK. A baby girl has been found abandoned in a shopping bag in a park in near freezing overnight temperatures. Police have advised drivers across much of Scotland to "travel with caution" amid treacherous conditions due to freezing temperatures. Brace yourself, we're in for another few days of snow - if the forecasts are right there'll probably be the usual mix of travel disruption and missing work or school. It may not be a return of the Beast from the East, but snow and ice is now causing considerable disruption in the UK. A climber had to be airlifted off Snowdon after he was hit by an avalanche as snow brought disruption for a second day across Wales. Driving in severe winter weather poses many challenges. Flights were affected and some schools closed on Wednesday due to snow and ice in parts of Northern Ireland.
Ian Saunders, Wales director of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said people were buying alcohol from supermarkets and staying at home. He said tax was also a problem, comprising two-thirds of a pint's cost. Camra said in a new report that 18 pubs a week were closing in the UK, up from 12 last year. It was published ahead of a House of Commons debate on Thursday on the beer duty escalator under which beer duty is automatically increased by 2% above inflation. "I think what's happening is people are looking to buy from supermarkets and drinking at home and ignoring their local boozer," Mr Saunders, of Conwy, told BBC Radio Wales. He said beer prices were going up faster than the price of inflation so customers could not afford to go to pubs. "We need to stop the price differential between supermarkets and the pubs increasing all the time, which at the moment it is," he said. The Treasury has said the government "hugely values the economic contribution made by pubs and breweries". It says a range of tax measures that will help the alcohol industry - and pubs in particular - have been introduced, including reductions in corporation tax and employer national insurance contributions. The British Beer and Pub Association said earlier this month that around 117 million fewer pints were drunk compared with the same period a year ago. Sales of beer in pubs fell by 4.8%, with 51 million fewer pints poured, while supermarkets and off-licence sales were also down, by 6.5%. \|\|\|\|\| Figures from the real ale lobby group show 11 breweries opened in Wales over 12 months, with six of them in pubs. Wales spokesman Ian Saunders said: "The interest in real ale is there and people are also very mindful of purchasing local products." Last year a report showed 375 pubs closed in Wales from 2007-10. Launching the 40th edition of its Good Beer Guide, Camra revealed that Wales now boasts 52 breweries, helping to push the UK total to 1,009, the highest number for 70 years. Wales regional director Mr Saunders said the increase in people's loyalty to locally produced products such as food was starting to spill over in to what they drink, bringing an opportunity for small, local, brewers. He said: "It is a growing trend. I'm hoping that its the way forward. Although alcohol sales in pubs are declining, the real ale percentage of that is on the increase. "When I first moved to Wales, there were very local breweries and a lot of people I knew drank no real ale at all. "Since local breweries have started, people have stayed loyal to them, because they are Welsh. "Because of the interest in them, that has encouraged a few people to start their own microbreweries. "Some free houses have decided to do their own beer. That's even more local." Pubs sold off by pub chains against a background of continued closures offered opportunities for entrepreneurial landlords keen to offer a range of beers different from those of the big breweries, he said. He said: "If that is bought by a private individual, they are free to do what they want." However, lone microbreweries were unlikely to have the money to set themselves up in a pub from the outset, he said. He praised four rival breweries in north Wales who have joined forces to help reopen a pub dating back to the 1920s in Conwy. The Albion, which opened in January, is the idea of London-based Welsh businessman Arthur Ellis who bought the building last year and invited four microbreweries to sell their beers alongside each other. The new guide also features the campaign's UK pub of the year, the Bridge End Inn at Ruabon near Wrexham. The small community pub, which reopened three years ago, became the first Welsh winner of the award. In July last year, figures released by the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign, a coalition of groups that want the smoking ban to be amended, claimed 80 of the 375 pub closures in Wales from 2007-2010 were in the north. \|\|\|\|\| By Gemma RyallBBC Wales News Now he says they are lucky to have seven. That number is likely to continue to dwindle after two more pubs in his Valleys community of Tonypandy closed. They were being sold at auction on Wednesday, along with 11 other pubs from around south-east Wales, including the historic Cow and Snuffers pub and The Neville in Cardiff. It reveals the "sorry state" of the pub industry for Mr Davies, who has run his pub, The Clydach Vale Hotel, for more than 20 years. "It's terrible and these are sad times for everyone," he said. "In my opinion, it all comes from the smoking ban [introduced in Wales in 2007]. We really noticed a huge difference. Our customers just stopped coming. "People in the valleys don't want a gastro pub - they want somewhere they can come and have a drink, a smoke and chat. "I'm lucky - I've just finished paying off my pub's mortgage. If I hadn't, I think we'd be closed now. Two more pubs have closed here and I know of others that are struggling. "Once these pubs are gone, they usually just become derelict and it affects everyone. People who have been meeting for years have to stay at home and for many, particularly older people, it becomes very lonely." Pubs demolished It is not just a problem in the Valleys. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, 156 pubs closed across Wales in 2009 alone. Licensed property specialists Sidney Phillips currently has around 120 freehold pubs for sale in Wales, ranging from rural watering holes to city establishments. Its latest auction included the De Winton and Ivor Hael pubs in Tonypandy, the New Broden in Porthcawl, the Blaenogwr in Nantymoel, Bridgend county, Raffles in Pontypridd and the Cow and Snuffers in Cardiff, which dates back to 1812. Only five were bought in the auction but a Sidney Phillips spokeswoman said the others would now be sold privately and a few already had offers. Iain Loe, research and information manager at the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said the worry was that many of the pubs being sold would not be re-opened again. "We're very sad when these pubs are sold as they're often not bought by someone who wants to carry on running them as pubs," he said. "In rural areas some pubs are turned into holiday homes and, in more urban areas, they could be turned into flats or other community facilities where they don't need to change the planning consent. "Of course, lots of pubs have big car parks and, as long as the pub isn't a listed building, a developer could buy it, knock it down and build lots of houses on the plot instead. There's no protection against that." He said a "combination of several factors" had led to the decline of the pub industry across the UK, including the fact that more people are not going out during the current economic downturn and, instead, buying cheap alcohol in supermarkets. He said the smoking ban had led to the more traditional punters staying at home, while high business rates, rents and overheads and the increase in excise duty were crippling many landlords. "Some pubs are diversifying to survive," said Mr Loe. "Lots do food and other ideas include integrating the local shop or post office in the pub in rural areas. The post office has also started a service where people's parcels can be dropped off at their local pub if they're not at home. "Some pubs cook meals for local schools and there's also the idea of offering discount lunchtime meals for OAPs and taking on services like meals-on-wheels." One such pub which is trying to diversify to ensure it is successful is the Creigiau Inn in Creigiau near Cardiff. Landlady Abi Osborne and her husband took over the pub three years ago. "We decided to take it on as it's my village pub and I was convinced we could turn it around and make it work," she said. Coffee machine "We cleaned it up and started doing good pub food. We have extended the hours, we serve food and do offers, such as buying two meals and a bottle of wine for £20. "We also have a quiz night and invested in a coffee machine so we now have regular groups that meet each week for coffee, including mums who often pop in before the school run. I think the smoking ban helps with things like that. "We're getting there and you've got to be committed and in it for the long haul, with the right customers and staff. But it really is essential to diversify these days." Elsewhere, The Raven Inn in Llanarmon yn Iâl, Mold, Flintshire, is also branching out, with a post office opening in the pub. The community has run the inn since August 2009 and it is manned by volunteers, with any profit made being used to fund village community projects. "The pub is a vital place for the whole community," added Mr Loe. "The way pubs are closing at such a rapid rate, we're in danger of having communities without any local facilities, just a collection of houses. That would be awful for everyone."	High taxes and cheap supermarket prices for alcohol have led to an increase in the rate at which pubs are closing, say a leading campaign group. The number of microbreweries in Wales is set to carry on rising as the pub industry deals with continued closures, says the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra). A few years ago, Rhondda landlord Colin Davies was one of about 30 members of his local pub association. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
By Catherine SmythBBC News NI The Department of Health set out its plans on Thursday. They include prioritising patient care, urgently discharging all medically fit patients and reconfiguring hospital services. There have been 32 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and three more deaths. It brings the total in Northern Ireland to 241 confirmed cases and 10 deaths. The plans follow comments from Health Minister Robin Swann on Thursday that he does not "know what the health service will look like in a week's time". On Wednesday, NI's chief medical officer briefed Stormont that there are many thousands of cases in Northern Ireland and that the virus is more widespread than statistics indicate. As a result of the outbreak, NHS resources have been redirected to treating infected patients with many procedures and appointments cancelled. The Royal College of Surgeons is now advising members that due to Covid-19 some surgeries will be treated differently to protect patients and staff, with some patients possibly being treated with antibiotics rather than surgery. On Thursday, the Department of Health's Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly outlined the health service surge plans in a letter to health trust chief executives. The letter includes more measures to concentrate resources on essential patient care as well as for all spare capacity in residential, nursing and domiciliary care to be used. Mr Pengelly said it was recognised that, in some cases, this could mean other services are temporarily reduced, as the focus is on providing essential services and helping those at risk access the best treatment. "It is therefore suggested that clinicians should begin to categorise patients into priority groups," he added. "The lowest prioritisation would be where treatment can be delayed for two to three months with no predicted negative outcome. "Urgent and emergency treatments should continue to be given top priority." The letter also addressed the provision of personal protection equipment (PPE), the supply of ventilators and other respiratory equipment, testing, and staff accommodation. It states that staff affected by the 14-day household isolation policy should be offered - on an entirely voluntary basis - the alternative option of staying in hotel accommodation while they continue to work. This should be organised locally by the trusts, it added. Earlier, Health Minister Robin Swann told Stormont's health committee that he could not give a commitment on when the health service would return to normal. Mr Swann and the chief medical officer Michael McBride joined the meeting by Skype. SDLP MLA Colin McGrath asked Mr Swann for reassurance that any service reconfiguration was “temporary” and that the health service would be “able to return to its former format". The minister told him he was being “perfectly blunt” and that “I don’t know where we’ll be". He explained that surge plans were in place, but that the health service was down to a number of procedures and elective surgeries that he would never have envisaged as health minister. "To give any sort of commitment now that we will return 100% to where we were two months ago - I can't give it. I won't give it, because I can't stand over it," Mr Swann added. Ventilators 'on their way' Northern Ireland's chief medical officer Michael McBride also spoke to the committee and confirmed that testing will be increased next week to more than 1,100 tests a day, with plans to ramp that up at a national level in the coming weeks. He said they need to ensure the quality control of testing kits obtained from the private sector. Mr Swann also told the committee there are 650 ventilators "currently on their way at this minute in time" to Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, Dr Laurence Dorman, from the Royal College of General Practitioners NI, told the committee that "GPs are frightened". He added: "I am frightened, I am a father, a husband and I would not ask my GP colleagues to do something I would not do myself." Dr Dorman was speaking about Covid centres, which are being set up across Northern Ireland as a means of assessing patients who may have coronavirus. He said that the centres "are essential", would be located at "essential trust premises or out of hours" and will enable the "use of disinfecting procedures at scale". \|\|\|\|\| You won't be able see your family member or friends, except in very limited circumstances. And those very few visitors who are allowed must not visit if feeling unwell, especially if they have a high temperatures or a new persistent cough. Children are not allowed to visit at all. There are conditions for those who are allowed to visit. These are the only exceptions to the visiting ban allowed by the Health and Social Care Board. Paediatrics Any children admitted can be accompanied by one parent of carer at a time. Maternity You can be accompanied by one birthing partner. There will be no visits at all in ante-natal or post-natal wards. You will not be allowed to bring someone with you for a scan either. Neo-natal and paediatric intensive care One parent may visit at a time - the duration of that visit is to be agreed by the Ward Sister or Charge Nurse. Critical care areas One visitor may be allowed into adult intensive care, coronary care and high dependency units. Again, the duration of that visit is to be agreed by the Ward Sister or Charge Nurse, up to a maximum of one hour. Palliative care One visitor will be allowed with a person who is dying. The duration will be agreed in advance, normally up to an hour. Is this limited to hospitals? It is the immediate policy for all hospitals, but the Board is encouraging that it is adopted for other settings like nursing and care homes and hospices. Virtual 'visiting' The Health and Social Care Board is encouraging people to arrange virtual visiting, with video call. It says staff can help set patients up with the free wi-fi that is available on all sites. \|\|\|\|\| At Stormont's daily briefing, Dr McBride warned that the spread of coronavirus is a lot wider than statistics indicate. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that seven people with the virus have died in Northern Ireland. Dr McBride said there will be more deaths to come. Asked if the current lack of testing may be creating a false sense of security among the public, he said: “A test at a point in time is just that. "It may indeed reinforce behaviours that we don’t wish to see. “As we open up the Covid-19 centres, that does provide other opportunities for us to track the spread of the virus within the community, but we must prioritise those who are sick and critical care staff.” Dr McBride said the health service would have the capacity to carry out 1,000 tests a day from next week. Dr McBride said the first priority is that personal protective equipment (PPE) gets to "those staff in the front line" and re-emphasised the importance of adhering to hand hygiene and social distancing practices. "Don't look back in two weeks' time and think we should have done more," he added. Meanwhile, the NI Health and Social Care Board has appealed to retired GPs who want to help during the Covid-19 pandemic to contact them. It is part of a wider appeal announced last Friday by the Department of Health to recruit former health professionals. There will be a range of roles available to GPs, including telephone triage. The board wants retired GPs to get send their contact details to gprevalidation@hscni.net - they will then be contacted with registration information and help. 'Volunteer army' Retired doctor, Brian Patterson told BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra programme that "the times are such, that there are things we can possibly help with". "We've got to also recognise that we're not not in the first flush of youth and slightly more vulnerable than most," Dr Patterson said. "That said, there's a variety of roles we can do. Some are clinical roles and some are non-clinical roles. "Taking and making phone calls, the triaging; we can do a lot of work with prescriptions, we can do a lot of work with laboratory results to free up the GPs of today." Health Minister Robin Swann said the executive is pushing ahead with plans for a "volunteer army", not just for the health service, but for the wider battle against Covid-19. He said more than 30 local firms have come forward to help make ventilators, while more than 40 have volunteered to make personal protective equipment. Mr Swann also said a new mobile app will be launched to advise the public on whether they have coronavirus symptoms. Meanwhile, a new centre in Derry to assess people with suspected coronavirus will operate at the out-of-hours Western Urgent Care building at Altnagelvin Hospital. Dr Tom Black from the British Medical Association said it was hoped 13 such centres would be operating within a week. The centre at Altnagelvin Hospital will be the "middle ground" for the moderate to severe cases, Dr Black said. Another GP, Dr Nichola Herron, stressed that the building is not a coronavirus testing centre and said there were "absolutely no testing facilities" there. People have been encouraged to phone their GP as usual. They will then advise whether you should attend an assessment centre. \|\|\|\|\| By Reality Check teamBBC News We've been looking at some of the most widespread claims being shared online, and what the science really says. 1. Garlic Lots of posts that recommend eating garlic to prevent infection are being shared on Facebook. The WHO (World Health Organization) says that while it is "a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties", there's no evidence that eating garlic can protect people from the new coronavirus. In lots of cases, these kinds of remedies aren't harmful in themselves, as long as they aren't preventing you from following evidence-based medical advice. But they have the potential to be. The South China Morning Post reported a story of a woman who had to receive hospital treatment for a severely inflamed throat after consuming 1.5kg of raw garlic. We know, in general, that eating fruit and vegetables and drinking water can be good for staying healthy. However, there is no evidence specific foods will help fight this particular virus. 2. 'Miracle minerals' YouTuber Jordan Sather, who has many thousands of followers across different platforms, has been claiming that a "miracle mineral supplement", called MMS, can "wipe out" coronavirus. It contains chlorine dioxide - a bleaching agent. Sather and others promoted the substance even before the coronavirus outbreak, and in January he tweeted that, "not only is chlorine dioxide (aka MMS) an effective cancer cell killer, it can wipe out coronavirus too". Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned about the dangers to health of drinking MMS. Health authorities in other countries have also issued alerts about it. The FDA says it "is not aware of any research showing that these products are safe or effective for treating any illness". It warns that drinking them can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and symptoms of severe dehydration. 3. Home-made hand sanitiser There have been many reports of shortages of hand sanitiser gel, as washing your hands is one key way to prevent spread of the virus. As reports of the shortages emerged in Italy, so did recipes for home-made gel on social media. But these recipes, alleged dupes for one of the country's most popular brands, were for a disinfectant better suited for cleaning surfaces and, as scientists pointed out, not suitable for use on skin. Alcohol-based hand gels usually also contain emollients, which make them gentler on skin, on top of their 60-70% alcohol content. Professor Sally Bloomfield, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says she does not believe you could make an effective product for sanitising hands at home - even vodka only contains 40% alcohol. For cleaning surfaces, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most common household disinfectants should be effective. 4. Drinkable silver The use of colloidal silver was promoted on US televangelist Jim Bakker's show. Colloidal silver is tiny particles of the metal suspended in liquid. A guest on the show claimed the solution kills some strains of coronavirus within 12 hours (while admitting it hadn't yet been tested on Covid-19). The idea that it could be an effective treatment for coronavirus has been widely shared on Facebook, particularly by "medical freedom" groups which are deeply suspicious of mainstream medical advice. Proponents of colloidal silver claim it can treat all kinds of health conditions, act as an antiseptic, and state it helps the immune system. There are some occasional uses of silver in healthcare, for example in bandages applied to wounds, but that doesn't mean it's effective to consume. There's clear advice from the US health authorities that there's no evidence this type of silver solution is effective for any health condition. More importantly, it could cause serious side effects including kidney damage, seizures and argyria - a condition that makes your skin turn blue. They say that, unlike iron or zinc, silver is not a metal that has any function in the human body. Some of those promoting the substance for general health on social media have found their posts now generate a pop-up warning from Facebook's fact-checking service. 5. Drinking water every 15 minutes One post, copied and pasted by multiple Facebook accounts, quotes a "Japanese doctor" who recommends drinking water every 15 minutes to flush out any virus that might have entered the mouth. A version in Arabic has been shared more than 250,000 times. Professor Trudie Lang at the University of Oxford says there is "no biological mechanism" that would support the idea that you can just wash a respiratory virus down into your stomach and kill it. Infections like coronaviruses enter the body via the respiratory tract when you breathe in. Some of them might go into your mouth, but even constantly drinking water isn't going to prevent you from catching the virus. Nonetheless, drinking water and staying hydrated is generally good medical advice. 6. Heat and avoiding ice cream There are lots of variations of the advice suggesting heat kills the virus, from recommending drinking hot water to taking hot baths, or using hairdryers. One post, copied and pasted by dozens of social media users in different countries - and falsely attributed to Unicef - claims that drinking hot water and exposure to the sun will kill the virus, and says ice cream is to be avoided. Charlotte Gornitzka, who works for Unicef on coronavirus misinformation, says: "A recent erroneous online message...purporting to be a Unicef communication appears to indicate that avoiding ice cream and other cold foods can help prevent the onset of the disease. This is, of course, wholly untrue." We know the flu virus doesn't survive well outside the body during the summer, but we don't yet know how heat impacts the new coronavirus. Trying to heat your body or expose yourself to the sun - presumably to make it inhospitable to the virus - is completely ineffective, according to Prof Bloomfield. Once the virus is in your body, there's no way of killing it - your body just has to fight it off. Outside the body, "to actively kill the virus you need temperatures of around 60 degrees [Celsius]", says Professor Bloomfield - far hotter than any bath. Washing bed linen or towels at 60C is a good idea, as this can kill any viruses in the fabric. But it's not a good option for washing your skin. And having a hot bath or drinking hot liquids won't change your actual body temperature, which remains stable unless you are already ill. Additional research by BBC Monitoring Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter	General hospital visiting will end, with very limited exceptions, according to the next stage of health service plans to deal with the Covid-19 surge. The Department of Health in Northern Ireland said on Thursday that visiting in hospitals would end, as part of plans to deal with the Covid-19 surge. There are "many thousands" of Covid-19 cases across Northern Ireland, Michael McBride, the chief medical officer, has said. Tighter restrictions have been brought in across the UK to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Social distancing remains a key part of the UK's strategy for keeping people safe and preventing the spread of Covid-19. Coronavirus is emerging in more countries around the world and there's currently no known cure. Unfortunately that hasn't stopped a slew of health advice, ranging from useless but relatively harmless, to downright dangerous. The coronavirus death toll in Northern Ireland has reached seven, health officials have confirmed.
There were 285 killings by a knife or sharp instrument in the 12 months ending March 2018, Office for National Statistics analysis shows. The ONS says one in four (71) of all victims (285) were men aged 18-24. The figures also show 25% of victims were black - the highest proportion since data was first collected in 1997. The figures show a 45% increase in the number of victims aged 16-24 and a 23% increase in those aged 25-34. While gun crime was lower than 10 years ago, it was at its highest for a decade in four English counties - West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Cheshire. Analysis By home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw The figures on homicide do not generally vary hugely from year-to-year, which is why the steep increase in fatal stabbings to an all-time high is particularly striking. It provides further evidence that knife crime is arguably the greatest law enforcement challenge facing the Home Office, police and communities across England and Wales. Ministers have blamed much of the rise in serious violence on disputes between drug gangs. The figures provide some support for this with a slight increase in drug-related killings: 44% now compared with 40% in 2008. In the past two years, 58% of suspects and 35% of victims were dealers or users. However, drugs are unlikely to account for the entire rise in cases of murder and manslaughter which, as a proportion of population, is back to levels it was a decade ago but not as high as in the early 2000s. Homicide rates across the UK Home Office, Scottish Government, PSNI. Map built with Carto \|\|\|\|\| West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Cheshire police handled more incidents than in any year since 2007-08. Overall gun crime in England and Wales is lower than 10 years ago, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. More than one in five victims of firearms offences, excluding air weapons, was aged under 20. Police believe that firearms crimes in some areas are linked to "county lines", where gangs move drug-dealing operations outside big cities to smaller towns. The figures, released on Thursday, come alongside statistics showing fatal stabbings at their highest level since records began in 1946. The ONS analysis for individual police forces covers the year to the end of March 2018 and showed 6,521 firearms offences, a 2% rise and the fourth increase in a row. However, previously released national figures for England and Wales showed a decrease in firearm offences in the year to September 2018, although these are not broken down by individual force. The ONS said levels of firearm offences are "41% lower than their peak in the year ending March 2006" when there were 11,088 offences. West Yorkshire Police dealt with 481 incidents of firearms offences, a rise of 10% on the previous year and more than double the figure recorded four years earlier. Bedfordshire Police handled 106 incidents and Cambridgeshire recorded 84. Cheshire recorded 81 offences, a rise of 14% on the previous year. West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Tim Kingsman said: "We've seen a rise in the availability of firearms for use by criminals." He said police went on 896 firearms operations in 2018, equivalent to two or three a day. In Wiltshire the number of firearms offences, excluding air weapons, increased almost fourfold in one year. There were 39 firearms offences in 2017-18, up from 10 in 2016-17, but lower than 2007-08 when there were 49 offences. Wiltshire Assistant Chief Constable Gavin Williams said: "It is important to keep these figures in context - we still have one of the lowest number of firearms offences in the country. "Incidents of firearms out in our communities are very rare - these are often linked to other offences such as county line drug gangs." Cambridgeshire Police said in a statement: "Firearms offences tend to be linked to organised crime groups and will not be tolerated in Cambridgeshire. "We are reviewing this data to understand the increase, which equates to 22 offences and the total number remains well below the national average." Det Ch Insp Duncan Young of Bedfordshire Police said tackling violent crime, including the use of firearms, was a "key priority". "We recognise that this is understandably a cause for concern for our communities, and we would like to reassure them that we are working hard to combat gun crime and rid our county of dangerous weapons." Knife crime at highest level on record Violent crime rises 19% A week in the life of a murder detective 'A gun tore us apart as a family' Paul Foster died after being shot in chest in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity. Almost six years on, his wife Amanda, a mother of four from Luton, said the pain of loss was something she felt every day. Mr Foster, also known as Big Shyne, was shot on the Lewsey Farm estate on 9 April 2013. "It has torn us apart as individuals and as a family," Mrs Foster said. She said she was "shocked, but not shocked" by recent rises in gun crime in Bedfordshire. "Whether it is guns or knives, young people have somehow decided that using a weapon is cool, and obviously it is not," she said. Norfolk, Suffolk saw gun offences drop more than 50% in a year, along with Dyfed-Powys. Three regions - the South West, North West and West Midlands - recorded an overall rise. The Home Office said it had provided £144m for armed policing. \|\|\|\|\| The Metropolitan Police said officers were committed to a "relentless pursuit of those who choose to be violent". The figures include murders, manslaughters and self-defence killings. If you cannot see the interactive click or tap here Note: Numbers may change as investigations progress and charges are brought or dropped. Overall, 57% of deaths in London were as a result of stabbings. Most killings in London involved knives BBC Research. Map built using Carto Produced by David Brown, Tom Housden, Wesley Stephenson, Thomas Mackintosh, Debie Loizou, Alexander Ivanov, Steven Connor \|\|\|\|\| Knife crime and robbery also increased in the 12 months to September 2017 compared with the previous year, the Office for National Statistics said. About 5.3 million crimes were recorded in all in that 12-month period, up 14%. However, the separate Crime Survey, based on people's experiences, suggests crime continues to fall. This survey, based on interviews with 35,000 households in England and Wales, includes crimes that people do not report to police. The latest police figures for the 12 months to September from 44 forces show: There were 37,443 knife crimes and 6,694 gun crime offences recorded in the year to September. The number of offences involving a knife or a sharp instrument had been falling since 2011 but started rising again over the past three years, the ONS said. This contrasts with the Crime Survey which found that most crimes either fell or were at a similar level. However the ONS says higher-harm violent offences, such as knife crime occur in relatively low volumes, and also tend to be concentrated in cities and are therefore not "well-measured" by the Crime Survey. Excluding the Hillsborough stadium deaths and last year's terror attacks from the data, 57 more people were killed or murdered than the previous year - the highest total since 2008-9. The 96 cases of manslaughter from Hillsborough stadium in 1989 were only included in crime figures in 2016, after an inquest ruled that the football fans had been unlawfully killed. Analysis: By BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw Although there's likely to be a dispute about the accuracy of the police crime figures because they hinge, to some extent, on the way forces log offences, how pro-active they are and the willingness of victims to come forward, they clearly demonstrate a rapidly rising caseload. For example, recorded sexual offences and violent crimes have more than doubled in three years. At the same time, the number of police officers has continued to fall: in the 12 months to last September, down 930 to 121,929. The Home Office says that's the lowest figure since comparable records began in 1996. That combination - rising crime, declining police numbers - is creating enormous strain for forces. But it's unclear whether the smaller police workforce is contributing to the growth in violent crime, particularly what the ONS says are the "genuine" increases in knife crime and firearm offences. There were also increases in vehicle-related theft offences, which were up 18% to 443,577, and burglary, which rose by 8% to 433,110, police data showed. Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said the figures were "truly shocking" and should "put an end to government complacency on crime". "The Tories are failing in a basic duty to protect the public," she added. 'Smoke and mirrors' The Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, David Jamieson, said his force had lost more than 2,000 uniformed officers since 2010 and his budget had been cut by 25%. "Any sensible person can see if you take away a quarter of the budget, you can't carry on protecting the public in the same way," he told BBC News. He anticipates having to lose a further 150 officers this year. Police Federation of England and Wales General Secretary Andy Fittes said: "The reality is there are around 21,000 fewer officers than there were in 2010 and they are having to deal with an ever-increasing number of crimes." "To say crime has fallen is smoke and mirrors," he added. He added that police officers have "numerous other roles" not covered in today's statistics - such as counter-terrorism, sex offender management, policing football matches and missing person searches. 'Redouble efforts' A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said: "The independent Office for National Statistics is clear that overall, traditional crime is continuing to fall. "It is now down by almost 40% since 2010." Policing Minister Nick Hurd also said crime had fallen but added the government was "very concerned" about the "uptick in the most serious violent crime". He said the government would "redouble efforts" to bear down on the increased through legislation and tougher police enforcement. And also to try to steer young people away from "a culture of violence".	The number of fatal stabbings in England and Wales last year was the highest since records began in 1946, official figures show. Gun crime in four English counties was at its highest for a decade in 2017-18. The number of killings in London in 2018 has risen to its highest level for a decade. The number of violent crimes and sex offences recorded by police in England and Wales has risen sharply over the past year, figures suggest.
The research by the University of Liverpool found that the seabirds fed in nine areas earmarked for tidal, wind or wave power developments. Fifteen gannets were tagged and tracked by GPS for the study and further work is planned on the issue. The research was carried out with the help of the Alderney Wildlife Trust and the British Trust for Ornithology. It was funded by the Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy. More trackers Viola Ross-Smith, Research Ecologist with the British Trust for Ornithology, said it was difficult to say what would happen following the publication of the research. She said: "All the study shows is that gannets are crossing areas where renewable energy developments are proposed." She added: "It's not particularly a surprise to know they visit these sites." Ms Ross-Smith said further investigations were planned, possibly involving more trackers attached to more birds. She said the latest research had been based on between three and five days' worth of tagging. Roland Gauvain, manager of the Alderney Wildlife Trust, said the results of the research were exciting. He said the study showed gannets were travelling further and further to collect food and were seen to be following fishing boats. 'Wide foraging range' He added that the impact of the research on renewable energy around Alderney could turn out to be positive or negative. Mr Gauvain said that future changes in fishing practices could have more of an effect on local sea birds. He said evidence had shown that tidal farms attracted shellfish, which in turn attracted more birds. Nicola Soames, of the University of Liverpool, said it was unclear how Alderney's gannets would deal with changes to their environment. She said: "Because they have such a wide foraging range they'll maybe have to adapt and just move to other areas." Previous research indicated there were more than 7,000 gannets in and around Alderney. \|\|\|\|\| On Friday Alderney Renewable Energy agreed deals to develop seabed machines around the island and for a cable link between France, Britain and the island. Mat Desforges, from Commerce and Employment's Renewable Energy Team, said Guernsey stood to gain. He said any progress made benefited all those working in the industry. Mr Desforges said: "It's good news for Alderney, it's good news for us - there's a lot of focus in Britain on solving the technical challenges the marine environment is a harsh environment." He said Alderney was looking at research and development of the technology while Guernsey, along with Sark and Jersey, was taking a different approach. Mr Desforges said: "Our plan is to have a commercial scale farm at an appropriate time, which a good few years away yet, it's difficult to put an exact time on it. "We'll watch with real interest how Alderney progresses this, at the moment it's an agreement to progress... but let's really hope it develops into something more concrete because we'll all stand to benefit in this big challenge, rather than a race." \|\|\|\|\| The first was for the development of tidal arrays in Alderney's waters. The second involves the development of an electricity interconnector cable between France, Alderney and Britain. Paul Clark, chief executive officer, said it was a move towards the creation off Alderney of one of Europe's largest tidal stream developments. Alderney Renewable Energy (ARE) was set up in 2004 and holds an exclusive licence to commercially develop tidal and wave power around the coast of the northern most of the Channel Islands. The first agreement was signed with French industrial group DCNS and the second with ARE, its partner Transmission Capital and the French grid operator RTE. ARE said the electricity interconnector cable between France, Alderney and Britain would enable the export of up to four gigawatts of tidal power from Alderney. It said the cable, known as the FABLink, could also be used as a power trading link between the two countries. The agreements were signed at the Anglo-French summit held in Paris, with the French Industry Minister Eric Besson and the UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey signing on the behalf of their governments. Mr Davey said: "We are determined to promote the potential of marine energies. We welcome the plan for a tidal turbine farm off Alderney in the Channel Islands." He said: "We believe this project could encourage the emergence of industrial co-operation between France and the UK, while opening up new international prospects. "We acknowledge the importance of developing new electricity interconnectors between our two countries in order to strengthen further the linking of our grids, improve the security of our energy supplies and facilitate the integration of intermittent energy sources." \|\|\|\|\| Global Positioning System (GPS) tags were attached to the tail feathers of 23 gannets breeding on Les Etacs rock, just off the island's west coast. They revealed one bird making a 340km (211m) round-trip and others making two journeys to England within three days. Les Etacs is home to 2% of the world's population of northern gannets. The research project is being run by Liverpool University with the support of the Alderney Wildlife Trust (AWT) and the British Trust for Ornithology. Roland Gauvain, AWT's manager, said: "We're learning a lot of new information by doing this. "You can't tell these details unless you're prepared to get in a boat and chase gannets," he said. "It's not practical. People don't do it." Mr Gauvain said the birds were "going over to the UK, fishing and resting on the water overnight and then returning the following day while the partner probably goes out and feeds". 'Remote locations' The tags were placed on the birds' tail feathers rather than the legs so as not to interfere with their ability to dive for fish at high speed. They were attached to 23 birds on 6 June and after three days researchers were able to retrieve 17. A similar study has been conducted on breeding gannets at Les Sept Iles off Brittany. Results from these projects have revealed that the two populations' routes do not overlap. Mr Gauvain said: "The Channel Island colony is really concentrating on the Channel Islands and across to the English coastline due north of us, whereas the French colony is concentrating out towards the Atlantic and the middle of the Channel and further along the English coast." He said Les Etacs had been an ideal place to conduct the research, as it lies just a few hundred metres from Alderney and is therefore more accessible to researchers. "Being that close to a mainland site is very unusual. Gannets like remote locations... so predators such as humans and rats can't access them." Les Etacs is protected by a strong current known locally as The Race and is home to more than 7,000 breeding pairs. The project was funded by the Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy, which is hoping the birds' behaviour will reveal more about the movements of fish populations in the Channel. "They're feeding over large areas and not just in areas that might be developed for marine renewables by Alderney but also by Guernsey, Jersey, France and Britain," Mr Gauvain said. The AWT hopes to conduct a further three-year research project at the Alderney gannetry in 2012 and the information gathered is likely to inform the designation of any Marine Protected Areas in the region.	Alderney's population of gannets could be adversely affected by renewable energy developments, a study has found. Deals signed by Alderney with the UK and France are a win for all the Channel Islands, according to a member of Guernsey's renewable energy team. Two agreements have been signed aimed at creating one of the most significant tidal power sites in Europe, Alderney Renewable Energy has announced. Research into the feeding habits of Alderney's gannets has revealed they make frequent, long-distance journeys around the Channel in search of food. Gannets on Alderney's Les Etac rock have been electronically tagged as part of a wildlife survey in the Channel Islands. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The Tour's Grand Depart takes place in Yorkshire on 5 and 6 July before the race moves to Cambridge and London. The roles of the volunteer Tour Makers will be similar to those of the Games Makers at the London Olympics. Over 20,000 people volunteered for the Yorkshire stages alone, tourist organisation Welcome to Yorkshire said. 'Atmosphere and buzz' Gary Verity, Welcome to Yorkshire's chief executive, said the response to the call for Tour Makers had been "unbelievable". "Whatever role a Tour Maker plays and wherever that is, they can say for years to come, 'I was there and I helped make it happen'," he added. Volunteers' roles will include directing spectators to the race from railway and bus stations and acting as marshals along the race route. They will also be expected to ensure the safety of riders by indicating hazards and obstacles as well as helping pedestrians to safely cross the race route. Vijay Dayalji, 28, from Bradford, said being chosen was "amazing". "I'm looking forward to meeting people, seeing the riders zoom past and being part of the atmosphere and the buzz." \|\|\|\|\| By Matt SlaterBBC Yorkshire Tour de France correspondent An internal review has looked at the contract to provide barriers, communications, first aid and other aspects of the major public event. The document recommends Manchester-based WRG should be given the contract. But the company's bid is priced at £4.5m - an increase of £2.3m on the amount in the original budget. World's biggest "The estimate did not fully understand the scope of the event and therefore the quantity of resources has significantly increased," the report states. "It did not take into account the requirement to transport resources around Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Rochdale, and due to the distances and rural locations involved the rates have increased." The 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart starts in Leeds on 5 July with a stage that runs to Harrogate. The second leg sees the race move from York to Sheffield on 6 July, before the entourage moves south to Cambridge, Essex and London the following day. The report was prepared by Leeds City Council and TdF Hub 2014 Ltd, the company set up to coordinate the organisation of the opening three days of the world's biggest bike race. It has a total budget of £27m, which has come from the various local authorities in Yorkshire, Transport for London and central government, via the Department for Media, Culture and Sport. Leeds City Council's contribution is £3.6m. TdF Hub is chaired by former Rugby Football League boss Sir Rodney Walker, who told the BBC he could "absolutely guarantee" the total amount of the WRG contract would not be £4.5m, as it was a worst-case scenario figure and savings had already been identified. "We're confident we're going to deliver not only the largest event Yorkshire has ever staged, but we're going to deliver it on budget," he said. "This is a free event that could attract three million people for the two Yorkshire stages alone - I challenge you to find better value for money than that." Uncomfortable revelation Organisers for the event have stressed that the report, which is on the Leeds City Council website, is simply part of the procurement process and an example of transparent government. They are also at pains to point out the £27m budget includes £2m of contingency funding for exactly this type of possible overspend. The report itself suggests almost £1m can be saved in 'value engineering' - asking each authority to reassess its needs in terms of barriers, signage, temporary toilets and so on - while a further £120,000 could come from the local authorities in Barnsley, Derbyshire and Rochdale, which so far have not contributed. WRG's initial quote of £5.4m has already been reduced by £900,000. But the admission that the initial estimate "did not fully understand the scope of the event" or "take into account the distances involved" is an uncomfortable revelation for organisers, coming as it does on the same day TdF Hub has released its own upbeat assessment of readiness for the event. In the second of three planned updates, TdF Hub says planning for staging what is often described as the world's largest annual sports event is on schedule. It also says Yorkshire is well placed to gain the majority of economic benefits from the Grand Depart that should total more than £100m. Helen Grant, Sport and Tourism Minister, said: "The government is right behind the Tour de France in the UK and is investing up to £10m to help stage the biggest road race in the world. "I am sure spectators will come out in force to watch the action and I am pleased plans are on track to deliver a fantastic Yorkshire Grand Depart and third stage from Cambridge to London." \|\|\|\|\| The first stage, the Grand Départ, is from Leeds to Harrogate on 5 July. The second stage is from York to Sheffield the day after. Today is the last day to volunteer to help in the Yorkshire stages. Tourist board Welcome to Yorkshire said only 10,000 volunteers were needed, but enthusiasm had exceeded expectations. Peter Dodd, director of Welcome to Yorkshire, said the volunteers would have a similar role to the London 2012 Olympic Games Makers. "The tour Makers will welcome people to Yorkshire," he said. "They'll be on hand at key public locations, transportation sites and spectator venues." 'Stunning route' Ollie Shaw from North Yorkshire was one of the first to volunteer. He has cycled part of the first stage from York to Ripon, which takes in the Yorkshire Dales. "It's a stunning route, it'll be distracting to cyclists to look at the scenery," Mr Shaw said. "I've watched the Tour for the last 20 years and visited France to watch it last year. I'm also a proud Yorkshireman so I want people who come next year to think, 'Wow, what a place'." Stage one of the Tour de France The Leeds to Harrogate leg of the race is to start on the Headrow in Leeds and will head north out of the city north towards Harewood through Skipton, Hawes, Leyburn and Ripon - a distance of 118 miles (190 km). See map The second stage travels from York through Keighley, Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield and High Bradfield before arriving at Sheffield Arena 124 miles (200 km) later. See map The race will continue from Cambridge to London on Monday 7, prior to the French stages from 8 until 27 July. Welcome to Yorkshire said 50 road signs were planned along stage one from Leeds to Harrogate, so people could follow the route "for years to come". The last time the race was in the UK was 2007, when it started in London. \|\|\|\|\| Tourism authority Welcome to Yorkshire said the volunteers, called Le Tour Makers, would line the route of the Grand Depart, which will be announced on Thursday. Leeds will host the start of the race on 5 July 2014. The event will spend two days in Yorkshire. Former Leeds Mayor Keith Loudon said it was a "once in a lifetime opportunity". 'Spectacular' Cyclist Peter Addison-Child, from Farsley in Leeds, is one of the thousands who have applied to help. He said: "If it's standing by the roadside just keeping things clear... I don't mind. "The Tour's a massive event in Europe and now we're going to see in this country how big it is as well." Welcome to Yorkshire described the level of interest as a "brilliant response". Mark Cavendish, who in 2011 became the first British rider in the history of the Tour to win the green jersey for the best sprinter, said he had backed Yorkshire's bid. "To be able to race the biggest bike race in the world in your home country is pretty spectacular. "My mother was born in Harrogate so I've been there many times, I've ridden my bike there and it's a great place to ride a bike." \|\|\|\|\| Tourist authority Welcome to Yorkshire (WtY) said the idea was based on the 70,000 "Games Makers" who helped run the London Olympics. WtY chief executive Gary Verity said that 2,500 people had already volunteered via their website. Leeds will host the start of the race, the Grand Départ, on 5 July 2014. The event will spend two days in Yorkshire. Mr Verity said he hoped the volunteers, called Le Tour Makers, would line the route as the race made its way through Yorkshire. He added: "We need several thousand marshals to help the Grand Départ go smoothly and welcome the millions of visitors who will come to Yorkshire." WtY claimed the event would be worth well over £100m to the Yorkshire economy. \|\|\|\|\| The 7 July stage begins on Gonville Place and takes riders past King's College and villages south of the city. The race enters Essex near Saffron Walden taking in Chelmsford and Epping Forest before heading to London. The UK part of the race starts in Leeds on 5 July and ends in London on 7 July. After starting out near Parker's Piece in the centre of Cambridge, the peloton will ride through Regent Street and Sidney Street and past St Johns, Trinity and King's colleges before leaving Cambridge via Trumpington Road. 'British icons' Riders will then travel along the A1301 through a number of villages including Trumpington, Great Shelford and Hinxton. Councillor Tim Bick, leader of Cambridge City Council, said: "It's with real pride that the cycling capital of the UK will welcome the world's elite sporting cyclists. "The route will enable local people to see the peloton - including our British icons - in both intimate and grand settings as it snakes through the city." Once in Essex, the riders will take in parts of Uttlesford, Braintree, Chelmsford and Epping Forest. Councillor Ann Naylor, from Essex County Council, said: "We're delighted to be able to say 'bienvenue' from Essex to a global audience of up to 3.5 billion people next July. " Councils will release details of road closures and diversions nearer the time.	A 12,000-strong force of volunteers has been selected to help out during the UK stages of the Tour de France in July, race organisers have announced. The organisers of the Tour de France's launch in England this summer have underestimated the potential cost of the event by £2.3m, a report claims. More than 20,000 people have volunteered for Yorkshire's leg of the Tour de France in July - double the number needed. Nearly 8,000 people have now signed up to help out on the Yorkshire leg of the Tour de France in 2014. Thousands of volunteers are being recruited to help out on the Yorkshire leg of the Tour de France in 2014. The historic colleges of Cambridge, the "cycle capital of the UK", will form the backdrop for riders on the third stage of the 2014 Tour de France next year, organisers have revealed. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The changes have been dubbed the most radical in the history of the health service - and have certainly proved controversial. At one point, the overhaul threatened to tear apart the coalition and ministers had to take the unprecedented step of halting the progression of legislation through parliament after criticism from MPs and health unions. The bill underpinning the changes gained Royal Assent in March 2012 and after a year of planning the changes are finally taking place. \|\|\|\|\| Primary care trusts and strategic health authorities are being scrapped and replaced by the NHS Commissioning Board and 211 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). Along with councils, which are getting responsibility for public health, they will determine what services are provided. Constructed around these organisations is a complex infrastructure designed to ensure the NHS is properly accountable, coordinated and regulated. There are two main regulators - the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Monitor. The CQC will be in charge of ensuring services meet the required quality standards, while Monitor will be more focused on finance and competition. And each local authority area will have its own Healthwatch body representing patients. Meanwhile, councils have had to set up health and wellbeing boards that include representatives from CCGs, hospitals and patient groups as well as councillors. They have the job of ensuring services are integrated and co-ordinated across the NHS, social care and public health sectors. There are also strict rules regarding CCGs. They will need to have a written constitution and a governing body, composed of a nurse, lay people and a hospital specialist. And the NHS Commissioning Board has a series of regional offices (to provide oversight on the ground) and strategic networks (to provide expert advice to CCGs in areas such as dementia, heart disease and cancer).	The government's NHS shake-up in England comes into force on 1 April. The entire infrastructure of the NHS in England is being revamped on 1 April. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
By Jennifer HarbyBBC News "It was tragic, what happened to us. We were hit and sunk in half an hour. We didn't have long enough to get off." Chris Howe suffered 27% burns when three Argentine bombs hit his ship. Two exploded. Among the dead were Mr Howe's close colleagues - one of them a teenager of just 18. "Seventeen men died in the ship, one died from drowning and the ship's first lieutenant died while leaving the vessel," he said. Mr Howe was 25 years old and had 10 years' service to his name when The Falklands War broke out. He had grown up in the Navy, having joined as a teenager straight from school. The conflict loomed suddenly for those aboard the Coventry. Three hundred crew members on the UK warship were completing training exercises in the Mediterranean and on Gibraltar, expecting to go home for Easter, when war was declared on 2 April. "It was a war we weren't prepared for," Mr Howe said. "We were training to fight against the Soviets." Indeed, the Coventry's captain - David Hart Dyke, the father of comedian Miranda Hart - was socialising with one of the Argentine captains just a few weeks before war broke out. Throughout their two-week journey across the South Atlantic, Mr Howe and the rest of the crew believed the conflict would be resolved by politicians. Nevertheless, morale was high when the Coventry reached the total exclusion zone - the first British ship to do so. A senior Petty Officer electronic warfare specialist and intelligence officer within the operations department, Mr Howe's focus was on compiling information about an enemy on which the British forces were poorly briefed. The walls of his office filled with maps and charts, he researched what craft and weapons the Argentines had available. As hostilities began, the crew's battle training kicked in. Mr Howe believes the average age of those on board the the Type 42 Destroyer was about 25. Some were teenagers, others were men in their 40s with wives and children. He himself had a wife and two sons, aged four and 10 months, watching anxiously for news from their quarters in Gosport, Hampshire. On 5 May, the Coventry's fellow destroyer HMS Sheffield was sunk. "We could see it smoking on the horizon," Mr Howe said. "Once the Sheffield was hit, we knew this was serious. That really did make us feel very vulnerable - who would be next?" The Coventry was highly effective for the first few weeks of the war, taking out seven enemy planes. It was protected by a fleet of Sea Harriers, as well as its on-board guns. However, on 25 May the Harriers were otherwise engaged. "It was the Argentinean National Day so we knew we were going to be targeted," Mr Howe said. "It was a lovely day - unfortunately. The enemy had very good visuals." The Coventry's radars were not able to detect planes flying over land accurately. There were just eight miles between the ship's position and Pebble Island and, as the Argentine Skyhawks - flying at up to 500mph - became visible, the crew had about 30 seconds to respond. Three bombs hit the ship and two exploded. Mr Howe was in the operations room and was knocked unconscious by the blast. "When I came round, my left arm was on fire and I had to use my hand to put it out," he said. "I was trapped in some wires and I had little or no clothing - it had all been burnt off. One of my shipmates helped me out." The ship had already turned 45 degrees and the remaining crew were scrambling to get off. Mr Howe met the captain, who gave him a jersey to wear, and they slid down the side of the ship into the water. "I was in a lot of pain and shock," he said. "But I was a good swimmer and I made it to a life raft. The crew didn't recognise me I was so badly burned." Mr Howe was airlifted for treatment on board the SS Uganda, a hospital ship. "I lost all the skin off my back and I had drips in both arms. My face was badly burned and I was blind for a couple of days," he said. "They said I looked like a Hammer Horror movie." Back at home, Mr Howe's wife learned his condition was critical. "She had a worrying 24 hours but I did make it," he said. After six weeks he returned home and, over time, the traces of his injuries have faded. "I was quite a mess but it's healed very nicely," he said. "I still have a load of scaring but I lead a normal life." Mr Howe went on to serve in the Navy for 26 years, making warrant officer and was even appointed an MBE. He now lives Helpringham, near Sleaford, Lincolnshire but travels to Coventry each year for the anniversary of the sinking. And it is in Coventry, at Holy Trinity Church, in the heart of the city, that a memorial plaque bears the names of the 19 men lost in the ship's destruction. In this ancient place some of the survivors of the ship that bore the city's name gather to pay their respects to the dead. Mr Howe chairs the HMS Coventry Association and is among those present for an annual service held in the church, where a wreath is laid and the association's standard is paraded. Some of the names on the memorial were men who were known personally to him. "Below the operations room was the computer room and sadly all of the men in there died," he said. "I also lost two of my own guys. One of them was only 18." October will see Mr Howe and some of his former shipmates take a special trip to the Falklands to hold a memorial service over the site of the sunken ship. For many, it will be the first time they have journeyed to the area since the tragedy. "It will be a unique pilgrimage for most of us - an emotional but important one," he said. He feels fortunate that, for him, the mental scars lasted only a few months. "Some of the guys can't talk about that night," he said. "A few of them will never talk about it but every year you get somebody new who wants to. I sit and listen to them and try to help." \|\|\|\|\| I'm following a crunching gravel path leading up over a headland. To one side stretches a sweeping curve of white sand, backed by tussocky dunes, the coarse grass mixed with a low-growing plant bearing tartly sweet red berries that the locals call diddle-dee. But it's the sound that startles. Overlaying the booming ocean is a comical honking noise coming from thousands of Magellanic penguins. One, guarding its burrow beside the path, stretches its neck up at me, then lets out an ear-splitting, wing-waggling bray of displeasure. I can see why these penguins are known locally as jackasses. The beach, also dotted with waddling clusters of Gentoo penguins, looks tempting, but between me and the birds stretches a barbed-wire fence marked with signs warning of danger. This is Yorke Bay, just outside Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands. Once a popular leisure beach, it was here, at 04:30 on the morning of 2 April 1982, that Argentine naval commandos landed, marking the start of a full-scale invasion. By the time British forces retook Stanley 74 days later, 907 people had lost their lives, most of them Argentine conscripts. During the occupation, one of the Argentine military's first actions was to lay tens of thousands of land mines across the uncultivated countryside to slow a British counter-attack - especially a seaborne attack via the beaches around Stanley, including Yorke Bay. Fortunately, the landmines aren't a problem for the penguins - at least, not the little Magellanics and Gentoos of Yorke Bay. "They don't seem to be heavy enough to set them off," says Esther Bertram, chief executive officer of Falklands Conservation. Behind their fences, shielded from human encroachment, the penguins have had decades of peace and quiet in their minefield. Native flora has regrown around them. "Natural systems have returned to not quite a pristine state, but a state where you've reached climax communities in certain parts," says Paul Brickle, director of the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute. "The mines are horrible things, and very difficult to remove - you essentially have to get on your hands and knees to do that, remove bits of earth and dunes, and disrupt the ecosystem. There's a bit of a trade-off in thinking: what are the benefits of having them removed?" he asks. Initially at least, not everyone in the islands' tiny, close-knit population of 3,000 was supportive. "Falkland Islanders weren't enthused by the idea, to put it bluntly," says Barry Elsby, a member of the Falklands Legislative Assembly. "We would rather have left the minefields as they were. They are all clearly marked, clearly fenced. No civilian has ever been injured. We said to the British government, 'Don't spend the money here, go to some other country where they have a much greater need to free up farming land.'" "Unfortunately," Elsby adds, "the British government have signed up to the Ottawa convention, which puts a duty on them to do this." The 1997 Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty compels signatories - which include the UK - to clear minefields in territory under their control. So whatever the locals - and the penguins - thought, the mines had to go. Since 2009 the British government has spent tens of millions of pounds on mine-clearance in the Falklands. Guy Marot of the Falkland Islands Demining Programme Office oversees a team of largely Zimbabwean operatives, highly valued for their long experience of demining in their home country and further afield. He takes me out to one of the clearance sites. In a setting of wide open moorland, battling gales and driving rain, demining specialist Innocent Mudzamiri, fully kitted out with protective clothing and visor, explains how he approaches his job, lying prone in the boggy peat, painstakingly clearing dirt from around devices that could blow up in his face. "It's just caution. You have to do it gently, so that you don't disturb the mine," he says. "Your mind must be free - no thinking of home, or thinking whatever, but just concentrate." So far, Mudzamiri and his colleagues have cleared more than seven million square metres of mostly rough countryside. But now, Phase 5 of the demining programme is seeing sensitive sites of environmental concern, such as Yorke Bay, come up for clearance. The Falkland Islands Government is part of the way through drawing up an environmental impact assessment, examining the risks and benefits from demining wildlife-rich sites. Find out more Yorke Bay is particularly difficult, since in 1982 mines were placed on top of the sand dunes, but, over 35 years, the dunes have changed shape and shifted with the wind. Even with the detailed charts handed over by Argentina to the UK after the war, it's impossible now to know where the mines might be - they could have drifted far from their original position or become buried deep below the surface. The deminers are facing having to dig up the entire beach, perhaps with armoured machinery, and sift it all. The idea is to do that during the winter, while the penguins are out at sea. But their habitat, and the wider ecosystem, could be entirely destroyed. Another potential hazard is tourism, a key driver of the Falklands economy. About 50,000 people visit the islands annually, most of them day-trippers from cruise ships plying the waters around South America and Antarctica. Each time a cruise ship docks, hundreds of passengers at a time come ashore to see the wildlife. If Yorke Bay is reopened, its easy-to-reach location - barely 10 minutes' drive from Stanley - could make it a magnet for tourist traffic. Another source of worry comes from the locals. Most beaches in the Falklands are on private land. But Yorke Bay is publicly owned - and opening it up could revive its pre-war status as one of Stanley's most popular getaways. There are already concerns about quad-biking and livestock grazing on public land outside the Yorke Bay fences. Whether the rejuvenated land within the minefield could be protected when the fences come down remains uncertain. In 2010 Marot oversaw the clearance of Surf Bay, another beach near Stanley, which held 1,800 mines. Today, as locals ramble over dunes and on to its sandy beach to walk their dogs, it's hard to discern the damage that was done. "The re-establishment is remarkable," says Marot. "The processes used at the time included blowing up the anti-tank mines in situ. The holes here were 10m deep in some places - this was a moonscape. But then we put all the sand back on top, and tried to do it in a way that would allow nature to eventually recover completely, which is what you see now." So the Falklands is facing a head-on clash between the obligation to clear mines and the imperative for environmental conservation. Meanwhile the honking jackasses behind the Yorke Bay fences are thriving, ironically because of one of the worst things humanity can do - start a war. @matthewteller Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. \|\|\|\|\| Nineteen sailors were killed and a further 30 injured when the Type 42 destroyer took a direct hit during the Falklands War on 25 May 1982. As the ship sank in just 20 minutes, it took with it many documents and equipment which were of "importance to the security of the United Kingdom", said Clive Gale. He was part of a 39-strong Royal Navy team which carried out a number of dives on sunken ships, including HMS Coventry, over a four-month period beginning in the autumn of 1982. Recalling the HMS Coventry search, he said: "We were very conscious that we were diving on a war grave and the casualties that went down with the ship. "We actually visited their grave and that stays with you." Carrying out Operation Blackleg was a physically demanding and dangerous mission for those involved, with some dives lasting for up to eight hours. "We were 8,000 miles from any kind of rescue facility," Mr Gale added. "There was still hostilities with Argentina and to cap it all there was a 500lb (227kg) unexploded bomb in the wreck somewhere. "The whole mission was fraught with near misses. "Cutting into a steel structure underwater traps oxygen and if you hit it with a spark it explodes quite violently. "One chap lost the front plate out of his helmet and nearly drowned. "I was knocked unconscious and had to be pulled back into the bell by a colleague of mine." Mr Gale admits the mission, 300ft (91m) under the ocean's surface, was to "recover or destroy certain items". But some things brought back from HMS Coventry, like the cross of nails, were not on the official list. "I took off the big brass plaque while somebody else recovered the bell and the cross of nails was found," he continued. "All these things that were really personal to the ship's company were then presented to Coventry Cathedral after we'd finished the job."	Petty Officer Chris Howe was on board HMS Coventry on 25 May 1982, the night it was sunk during the Falklands War with the loss of 19 crew. He suffered the worst physical injuries of any surviving member and tells BBC News what he remembers of those last moments on board. The minefields laid in the Falkland Islands were intended to kill or maim British soldiers, but over the last 35 years they have become de facto nature reserves for penguins. For better or worse, however, the time has now come for their home to be demined, reports Matthew Teller. A naval diver who searched the wreck of HMS Coventry after it was sunk during the Falklands has described how he was told to ensure secret information from the ship did not get into the wrong hands. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Madame Koo, House of Smith and Florita's, on Collingwood Street, and The Empress, at The Side, were issued with 48-hour closure notices on Monday. South Tyneside Magistrates' Court has now ruled that The Empress should be shut for 14 days. A decision on the Collingwood Street bars will be made on 28 December. Northumbria Police said: "The decision to pursue these orders was not taken lightly, but when we receive intelligence that drugs are being supplied in pubs, bars and nightclubs we have to take action." Eleven people who were arrested on Monday on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs have now been bailed pending further enquiries. Related Internet Links Northumbria Police \|\|\|\|\| Madame Koo, House of Smith and Florita's, on Collingwood Street, and The Empress, at nearby The Side, were issued with 48-hour closure notices on Monday. An application for three-month closure orders will be heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. Eleven people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Related Internet Links Northumbria Police	Four bars in Newcastle city centre closed by police amid drug dealing concerns will not be able to re-open until after Christmas. Four bars in Newcastle city centre have been closed amid drug dealing concerns.
The 9ft (2.75m) statue has been given to the city council to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Gandhi's birth. In an open letter, the students demanded the council acknowledges his "vile comments" and issues an apology. A council spokeswoman said the statue was intended "to spread a message of peace, love and harmony". The letter - which refers to the social media hashtag #GandhiMustFall - stated the anti-colonialist had referred to Africans as "savages", "uncivilised" and "dirty", comments which were "well documented throughout his earlier correspondence and writings". It added Gandhi was being "used as a propaganda tool... by the current Indian government", adding: "We demand that Manchester City Council refuse to be complicit in this, especially given the city's history of anti-racist action." It also demanded the council "redistribute" any funds used to "instead commemorate a black anti-racist activist with connections to Manchester, such as Olive Morris or Steve Biko". Was Mahatma Gandhi racist? He was born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to an elite family in India in 1869 and moved to South Africa in 1893, where he was struck by the ill treatment of Indian immigrants. Biographer and grandson Rajmohan Gandhi said he was undoubtedly "at times ignorant and prejudiced about South Africa's blacks", but the "imperfect Gandhi was more radical and progressive than most contemporary compatriots". Other authors have argued over his legacy in recent times - Ramachandra Guha wrote that "to speak of comprehensive equality for coloured people was premature in early 20th Century South Africa", while Ashwin Desai describes him as a man who "supported more taxes on impoverished African people and turned a blind eye to the brutality of the Empire on Africans". BBC News' Soutik Biswas: Was Mahatma Gandhi a racist? An authority spokeswoman said there would be "no cost to the council for the statue", which went through the "necessary planning process" in August without objection. It is currently in storage ahead of a planned unveiling in Manchester next month. She said that while the council was "aware there is some debate about Gandhi's life", most people would see the statue, which was given to the city by the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD), "in the context in which it was intended - to spread a message of peace, love and harmony". A spokesman for the SRMD said it was "non-political and is not aligned with any national government". The organisation welcomed "a searching public discussion of the past [but] it is misleading to fixate on comments made in Gandhi's early life", he said. "Gandhi inspired African leaders, including Nelson Mandela, [and] this call is an extreme and limited interpretation [of him]. "Mahatma Gandhi is a citizen of the world and an icon of peace. The Manchester statue will celebrate the universal power of his message." The group behind the letter has been approached for comment. \|\|\|\|\| Soutik BiswasDelhi correspondent But Gandhi was hardly a foe of the West. He counted three white men - Henry Salt, John Ruskin and Leo Tolstoy - as his mentors, wept when London was bombed during World War Two, and even hired Indians to fight in World War One. He also spent nearly two decades - 1893 to 1914 - of his formative years in a foreign land - South Africa - where much of his time was spent as a lawyer and an activist. Gandhi arrived in a deeply divided and inequitable South Africa, carved up into separate colonies, ruled by British expatriates and Afrikaners of Dutch descent. It was populated also by native Africans and Indian indentured labourers and professionals. In this "strange scenario", writes historian and author Ramachandra Guha, Gandhi acquired, honed and practised his four major callings - freedom fighter, social reformer, religious pluralist and prophet. He led protests against racial laws, reached out to different communities, forged friendships with dissident Jews and Christians and mobilised expatriate traders. Guha has recently published Gandhi Before India, his magisterial new book on how South Africa changed the "earnest naive lawyer" to a "smart, sagacious and focused thinker-activist". I spoke to him on how much Gandhi remained relevant in today's world: You write Gandhi's ideas have survived. Can you give us some recent examples? In India, the most important and influential of Gandhi's ideas is one we affirm everyday without recognising it comes from him - our constitutional commitment to linguistic pluralism and diversity. That we are not (or not yet) a Hindu Pakistan is also owed in some part to his legacy. It is true that in their practice many politicians repudiate Gandhi. Yet outside politics, in the sphere of social activism for example, he remains an inspiration. The work of [social activists like] Ela Bhatt and Sewa or of Abhay and Rani Bang, is moderately well known; there are hundreds of such individuals and groups, who work away from the public gaze, in the fields of rural health care, women's empowerment, environmental restoration, all inspired in lesser or greater degree by Gandhi. But if Gandhi's ideas have indeed survived, are they relevant in today's age? If so, how? In my view, four aspects of Gandhi's legacy remain relevant, not just to India, but to the world. First, non-violent resistance to unjust laws and/or authoritarian governments. Second, the promotion of inter-faith understanding and religious tolerance. Third, an economic model that does not rape or pillage nature. Fourth, courtesy in public debate and transparency in one's public dealings. A curious testimony to Gandhi's continuing relevance is the continuing vehemence of the attacks on him by radicals of left and right. Hindutvawadis [hardline Hindus] detest him - as some of the commentary on blogs and Twitter reveals. So do the Indian Maoists. The British Marxist writer Perry Anderson, who in a 50-year-long career never previously showed any interest in India, has just penned a venomous attack on Gandhi - whose continuing worldwide influence he apparently cannot fathom (and certainly cannot understand). How do you explain his glaring inconsistencies - saint and consummate politician, foe of the West and lack of bitterness against the ruling race, Hindu patriarch and upholder of human rights, practitioner of non-violence who hired Indians to serve in World War One? Or was he simply a confused man? Gandhi lived a long life, wrote a great deal, and was actively involved in politics and social action for more than five decades. It is therefore easy to quote Gandhi against himself (as it is with other prolific writers such as Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw). On such matters as caste and gender equality, he gradually evolved, shedding conservative views for more progressive ones. That said, there remain intellectual inconsistencies to be explained and personal fads (of diet, celibacy, etc) to be analysed - and Gandhi Before India and its sequel (still in the making) seek to do just that. Do you think if Gandhi did not move out of the "conservative, static world" of his birthplace into a country still in the process of being made, he would not have become the great leader that he eventually did? If Gandhi had succeeded as a lawyer in Rajkot or Bombay, we would not be having this conversation. Had he lived in India, his clients would have been middle-class Hindus, and mostly Gujaratis at that. He was saved from professional failure (and conservative habits and views) by the invitation from South Africa. There, since his clients faced social discrimination from the white racist regime, he also began a parallel career as an activist. Ironically, it was only in the diaspora that he came to appreciate the linguistic and religious heterogeneity of his own homeland. Gandhi became a thinker and leader rather than a mere professional in South Africa; and it was here that he became more truly Indian as well. You describe Gandhi's South African campaigns as an early example of "diasporic nationalism". Do you think diasporic nationalism has become rather controversial now as it is often identified with right-wing Indian nationalism? The Indians in South Africa came from a variety of class backgrounds. The struggles Gandhi led a hundred years ago first drew support from merchants, but later it was workers and hawkers who sustained it. On the other hand, the Indian diaspora you refer to, based in the United States, is middle and upper class. And a solid source of support for Hindutva (Hinduness). It is not clear whether economic privilege explains political reaction, however, or whether there are more complex psychological processes at work here. You say Gandhi returned to India in 1915 fully formed and primed to carry out his different callings on a wider social and historical scale. At the same time, you say Gandhi around that time was essentially a community leader, who represented the interests of about 100,000 Indians in South Africa. So how did Gandhi transcend this? Gandhi never intended to permanently stay overseas. He came back in 1901 to try afresh at the Bombay Bar. Going back to South Africa a year later, he still hoped that when the rights of Indians in the Transvaal were secured he could return home. In the event he stayed on till 1914, but for some time prior to that, had been urged by his closest friend Pranjivan Mehta to make a political career in India. In retrospect, perhaps he (and we) were lucky that he stayed on as long as he did, since it allowed him to develop his social and political ideas, and emerge as an independent leader in his own right. \|\|\|\|\| Soutik BiswasDelhi correspondent But was India's greatest leader also a racist? The authors of a controversial new book on Gandhi's life and work in South Africa certainly believe so. South African academics Ashwin Desai and Goolam Vahed spent seven years exploring the complex story of a man who lived in their country for more than two decades - 1893 to 1914 - and campaigned for the rights of Indian people there. In The South African Gandhi: Stretcher-Bearer of Empire, Desai and Vahed write that during his stay in Africa, Gandhi kept the Indian struggle "separate from that of Africans and coloureds even though the latter were also denied political rights on the basis of colour and could also lay claim to being British subjects". They write that Gandhi's political strategies - fighting to repeal unjust laws or freedom of movement or trade - carved out an exclusivist Indian identity "that relied on him taking up 'Indian' issues in ways that cut Indians off from Africans, while his attitudes paralleled those of whites in the early years". Gandhi, the authors write, was indifferent to the plight of the indentured, and believed that state power should remain in white hands, and called black Africans Kaffirs, a derogatory term, for a larger part of his stay in the country. Racial segregation In 1893, Gandhi wrote to the Natal parliament saying that a "general belief seems to prevail in the Colony that the Indians are a little better, if at all, than savages or the Natives of Africa". In 1904, he wrote to a health officer in Johannesburg that the council "must withdraw Kaffirs" from an unsanitary slum called the "Coolie Location" where a large number of Africans lived alongside Indians. "About the mixing of the Kaffirs with the Indians, I must confess I feel most strongly." The same year he wrote that unlike the African, the Indian had no "war-dances, nor does he drink Kaffir beer". When Durban was hit by a plague in 1905, Gandhi wrote that the problem would persist as long as Indians and Africans were being "herded together indiscriminately at the hospital". This, in itself, say historians, is not entirely new and revelatory. Also, some South Africans have always accused the man who led India to independence of working with the British colonial government to promote racial segregation. In April, a man was arrested in connection with vandalising a statue of Gandhi. A hashtag #Ghandimustfall (sic) has gained circulation on social media. Gandhi's biographer and grandson, Rajmohan Gandhi, says the younger Gandhi - he arrived in South Africa as a 24-year-old briefless lawyer - was undoubtedly "at times ignorant and prejudiced about South Africa's blacks". He believes Gandhi's "struggle for Indian rights in South Africa paved the way for the struggle of black rights". He argues that "Gandhi too was an imperfect human being", but the "imperfect Gandhi was more radical and progressive than most contemporary compatriots". Ramachandra Guha, writer of the magisterial Gandhi Before India, writes that "to speak of comprehensive equality for coloured people was premature in early 20th Century South Africa". Attacking Gandhi for racism, wrote another commentator, "takes a simplistic view of a complex life". The authors of the new book disagree. "Gandhi believed in the Aryan brotherhood. This involved whites and Indians higher up than Africans on the civilised scale. To that extent he was a racist. To the extent that he wrote Africans out of history or was keen to join with whites in their subjugation he was a racist," Ashwin Desai told me. "To the extent that he accepted white minority power but was keen to be a junior partner, he was a racist. Thank God he did not succeed in this as we would have been culpable in the horrors of apartheid. "But if Gandhi was part of the racist common sense of the time then how does this qualify him to be a person that is seen as part of the pantheon of South African liberation heroes? You cannot have Gandhi as an accomplice of colonial subjugation in South Africa and then also defend his liberation credentials in South Africa." 'Blind eye' Desai also rejects the assertion that Gandhi paved the way for the local struggle for black rights - "in one sentence," he says, "you are writing out the history of African resistance to colonialism that unfolded much before Gandhi even arrived". In his book, Guha writes what a friend in Cape Town once told him about Gandhi. "You gave us a lawyer, we gave you back a Mahatma [Great Soul]". Ashwin Desai thinks this is a "ridiculous assertion" about a man who "supported more taxes on impoverished African people and turned a blind eye to the brutality of the Empire on Africans". The authors of the new book are not the first to challenge the conventional Indian historiography on Gandhi. Historian Patrick French wrote tellingly in 2013 that "Gandhi's blanking of Africans is the black hole at the heart of his saintly mythology". More than a century after he left Africa, there has been a resurrection of Gandhi in South Africa. Despite their reservations about the 'man of Empire', Desai and Vahed acknowledge that Gandhi "did raise universal demands for equality and dignity". But even the greatest men are flawed. And Gandhi was possibly no exception. \|\|\|\|\| The group behind the 9ft (2.75m) bronze statue said it wanted to gift it to Manchester to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth on 2 October. Shrimad Rajchandra Mission (SRMD) said the city demonstrated Ghandi's "values of non-violence and compassion" following the 2017 Arena attack. If approved, the statue would be unveiled in November. Shrimad Rajchandra Mission is a worldwide spiritual movement based in India. A spokesman said the group was inspired by the people of Manchester for their "strength, decency and community" in the aftermath of the bomb attack which killed 22 people and left hundreds injured. The organisation has previously held a peace event in the city and an exhibition about Gandhi at Manchester Central Library. The statue is to be crafted by Indian artist Ram V Sutar. Mohandas Gandhi - who was given the title Mahatma to reflect his status as a revered person - visited Manchester briefly on his way to visit mill workers in Lancashire in 1931. In the UK, there are two Gandhi statues in London along with one each in Cardiff, Birmingham and Leicester.	Manchester should reject a statue of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi because of his "well-documented anti-black racism", student activists have said. "I think it would be a good idea," said Indian independence hero Mohandas Gandhi famously when asked by a British journalist about what he thought about modern civilisation. Mahatma Gandhi has been variously described as an anti-colonial protester, a religious thinker, a pragmatist, a radical who used non-violence effectively to fight for causes, a canny politician and a whimsical Hindu patriarch. Plans have been submitted to erect a statue of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi outside Manchester Cathedral. A statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the famed Indian independence leader, has been removed from a university campus in Ghana's capital, Accra.
Travellers arriving at the airport - one of the world's busiest - hoping to catch flights were met with blocked check-in desks, mass sit-ins and, later in the day, riot police. Protesters appeared to use luggage trolleys to build barriers, preventing people from reaching their flights. Umbrellas - which have become a symbol of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement - were also used to block CCTV cameras monitoring the airport. Some protesters wore eye bandages in solidarity with an injured protester, and held banners criticising the deepening crackdown. Others held signs apologising to passengers for the inconvenience caused. But travellers appeared to get irate, as they struggled to reach their flights on time. Below, a woman attempts to pass her luggage on to security. Hong Kong airport officials eventually announced that all check-ins would be suspended. Just before midnight local time (17:00 GMT) riot police stormed the airport. They were pictured using tear gas and batons in an attempt to disperse the protesters. Some protesters fought back during the clashes. One man was also injured during a scuffle with demonstrators after he was accused of being an undercover police officer for mainland China. All images copyright \|\|\|\|\| Squads of riot police arrived shortly before midnight after thousands of demonstrators again flooded the terminal buildings during the day. Flight departures were brought to a standstill amid scuffles. At least three men were mobbed inside the airport by protesters. They were said to be holding identity cards showing they were police officers from mainland China. Hong Kong police have admitted deploying officers disguised as anti-government protesters during the unrest in the city. But the editor of China's Global Times newspaper said one of those attacked was one of his reporters who was merely doing his job. Why the protests? The airport, one of the world's busiest, has been the site of daily protests since Friday. It has become the latest focus of mass political unrest in Hong Kong that began 10 weeks ago and shows no signs of abating. The wider anti-government protests started in June in response to a proposed extradition bill, which has now been suspended, but have evolved into a more demanding pro-democracy movement. They are being fuelled by fears that the freedoms Hong Kong enjoys as a special administrative region of China are being eroded. The city's leader, Carrie Lam, earlier issued a fresh warning to protesters. Ms Lam said Hong Kong had "reached [a] dangerous situation" and that violence during protests would push it "down a path of no return". Meanwhile, Chinese state media have published images of convoys of military police gathering in the border city of Shenzhen, says the BBC's Stephen McDonell, who is in Hong Kong. The official Xinhua news agency said "mobsters" had created "an atmosphere of terror" on Hong Kong's streets. Fear of infiltrators The BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Hong Kong airport The activists are on edge knowing that China has vowed to punish them and that riot police are just outside the terminal. Fear of infiltrators is everywhere. Suspected undercover officers were mobbed and sometimes beaten. An attempt by a police delegation to get them out turned into a furious confrontation. There were cheers as protesters disabled the airport security cameras. But after this, what next? This protest movement has proved nimble and inventive, capable of bringing one of Asia's biggest transport hubs to a standstill. But the Hong Kong government has ignored their demands and at some point, surely, it will try to drive them out. What happened inside the airport? Despite the latest warnings from officials, crowds gathered at the airport again on Tuesday. Protesters used luggage trolleys to build barriers and staged a mass sit-down, bringing chaos to the departures area. Some travellers were clearly distressed and angered by the disruption. Hong Kong airport officials then announced that all checking-in for flights was suspended from 16:30 local time (10:30 GMT). In a statement on the airport's website, passengers were advised to leave the terminal buildings "as soon as possible". On Wednesday, the Airport Authority said it had obtained an injunction to restrain protesters who obstruct or interfere with operations. In a statement, it said people would be "restrained from attending or participating in any demonstration... other than in the area designated by the Airport Authority". It was not clear how the injunction would be enforced. Monday's disruption had already led to hundreds of flight cancellations at the airport. Some airlines, including flagship airline Cathay Pacific, cancelled dozens of flights on Tuesday before the latest closures were announced. Some protesters held signs apologising to passengers for the inconvenience caused by their demonstrations. Others wore eye bandages in solidarity with an injured protester and brandished slogans criticising the police's deepening crackdown. Later, amid tense scenes, there were sporadic clashes between police and protesters outside the airport. The police, wearing riot gear and brandishing truncheons, used pepper spray against some protesters as they briefly entered the terminal buildings to help evacuate an injured man. In one video posted to social media, a policeman is seen frantically drawing his gun at protesters after being attacked with his own truncheon. Protesters had boxed him into a corner after prying the baton from his hands during a violent skirmish. After collapsing to the ground, the policeman was eventually dragged to safety by his fellow officers. Wall Street journalist Mike Bird, who posted the footage to Twitter, wrote that he was "astonished" nobody was killed on Tuesday night. Many of the protesters had left the airport late on Tuesday, as they did on Monday before returning in numbers. What has been the reaction? Ms Lam addressed the latest violence at a hostile press conference on Tuesday. "Take a minute to think, look at our city, our home - do you all really want to see it pushed into an abyss?" she said, at times appearing close to tears. Her comments echoed similar remarks by an official from the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong, who said on Monday that the city would slide "into a bottomless abyss if the terror atrocities are allowed to continue". Local journalists unleashed a barrage of questions in Cantonese and English toward Ms Lam, many condemning her response to the unrest. She told members of the media she was "heartbroken" by reports of serious injuries at last weekend's protests, but appeared to defend the police from claims they used disproportionate force, saying they were acting under "extremely difficult circumstances". Later, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that US intelligence had informed him of a border deployment by Chinese troops, adding: "Everyone should be calm and safe." Speaking to reporters, he described the situation as "tricky" and said he hoped it would end peacefully. "I hope it works out for everybody, including China. I hope it works out peacefully. I hope nobody gets hurt. I hope nobody gets killed," he said. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, urged authorities to exercise restraint during protests - amid criticism of the police response. "Officials can be seen firing tear gas canisters into crowded, enclosed areas and directly at individual protesters on multiple occasions, creating a considerable risk of death or serious injury," she said in a statement that called for an investigation. The comments came after ugly footage emerged of confrontations on Sunday. A number of people, including a police officer, were injured in the clashes. Are you at Hong Kong airport? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: \|\|\|\|\| Some officers disguised themselves as "different characters", a spokesman said, adding that the "decoy operation" had targeted "extreme violent rioters". It comes after video surfaced showing suspected undercover officers making arrests during Sunday's clashes. Protesters have called for an inquiry into the actions of the police. Hong Kong's mass demonstrations and unrest show no sign of abating, more than two months after they were sparked by a controversial extradition bill that has since been suspended. On Monday, protesters occupied Hong Kong's international airport forcing the cancellation of flights. Authorities say operations are now resuming at the airport, but some airlines have further cancelled hundreds of flights on Tuesday. On Monday, in a news conference that was at times heated, Deputy Police Commissioner Tang Ping-Keung defended the use of the "decoy officers". "I can say that during the time when our police officers were disguised... they [did not] provoke anything." he said. "We won't ask them to stir up trouble." "Our operation... is targeting extreme violent rioters," he added. Mr Tang said police were responding to protesters who had used slings and hurled petrol bombs. What else did police say? Assistant Police Commissioner Mak Chin-ho, who also faced a volley of questions about Sunday's violent scenes, said there was no evidence to suggest a woman had been shot by a police projectile. Images of the woman, who was bleeding heavily from her eye, were shared widely on social media over the weekend. On Monday, protesters at the city's international airport wore bandages over their eyes in response to the incident. There were confrontations in several central districts on Sunday and police used rubber bullets and tear gas in an attempt to disperse demonstrators. Video also showed officers storming enclosed railway stations before firing tear gas inside and beating people with batons. A number of people, including a police officer, were injured in the clashes. Mr Mak also defended the use of pepper ball rounds at close range, saying officers made a "split-second" decision to fire on protesters who had tried to flee. Beijing officials strongly condemned Sunday's violence and linked violent protesters to "terrorism". What else is happening? The city's international airport cancelled all departures on Monday, as thousands of protesters occupied it and caused disruption. More than 160 flights were cancelled and officials blamed "seriously disrupted" operations. As rumours spread that police planned to move in on protesters in the evening, thousands opted to leave on foot at about midnight. Early on Tuesday, the airport said operations had resumed but warned flights would still be affected. Flagship carrier Cathay Pacific said more than 200 inbound and outbound flights were cancelled on Tuesday- with the airline blaming the "public assembly taking place". Around 50 protesters remained camped in the terminals on Tuesday morning, while more than 100 passengers were spotted queuing up at a ticket counter, Reuters news agency reported. One passenger, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the BBC they had been left stranded at the airport with "no food and no drinking water". "We have been completely abandoned by the airport staff," they said. "People are sleeping on conveyor belts and hard floors." Separately, Hong Kong police have also unveiled a water cannon vehicle as a new tool to combat the protests. Why are there protests in Hong Kong? Demonstrations started in June in opposition to a proposed extradition bill, which would have allowed suspected criminals to be sent to mainland China for trial. Critics said it would undermine Hong Kong's legal freedoms, and could be used to silence political dissidents. Although the government has now suspended the bill, demonstrators want it to be fully withdrawn. Their demands have broadened to include calls for an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality, and an amnesty for all arrested protesters. Hong Kong is part of China but its citizens have more autonomy than those on the mainland. It has a free press and judicial independence under the so-called "one country, two systems" approach - freedoms which activists fear are being increasingly eroded. \|\|\|\|\| The chief executive sparked months of protests last year after proposing a law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. She warned protesters not to push Hong Kong into an "abyss" as the rallies grew into a mass democracy movement even after the bill was withdrawn. The city's first female leader went on to back the controversial national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing in June. A long-serving civil servant Ms Lam, a Roman Catholic, was born into a working-class family in Hong Kong. The 63-year-old is often described as a "workaholic", regularly sleeping just three or four hours a night. She began her career in the civil service, joining as a fresh graduate from the University of Hong Kong in 1980. Two years later she was sent to the University of Cambridge to study for a diploma in Development Studies. It's here she also met her future husband, the mathematician Lam Siu-por. In 2004, Ms Lam was appointed as Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, a top role representing the city in the UK. She returned to Hong Kong in 2006 and climbed up the ranks as an unassuming bureaucrat, known for her strong work ethic and drive. The following year Ms Lam gave up her British nationality in order to serve as secretary for development. Her husband and two children retained their British passports. Ms Lam's husband resides in the UK along with one of their sons. The other lives in mainland China. The first female leader The former civil servant was sworn into office as chief executive by Chinese President Xi Jinping on 1 July 2017, the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Beijing. In her acceptance speech she said: "Hong Kong, our home is suffering from quite a serious divisiveness and has accumulated a lot of frustrations. My priority will be to heal the divide." She reportedly never backs down in a political battle, threatening to resign if she does not get her way. This tough stance has earned her the nickname the "good fighter" . But her election was controversial in Hong Kong where the chief executive is not directly elected but chosen by a committee of 1,200 people who are said to represent the city. She was the candidate favoured by Beijing and won with a total of 777 votes, a number that became one of her nicknames. Political crisis Ms Lam's time in office has been marred by the controversial extradition bill she proposed in 2019. She argued it was necessary to protect the city against criminals. But many in the territory feared the law could be used to target political opponents of the Chinese state. The bill triggered months of sometimes violent protests that grew into a broader movement for democracy including universal suffrage, a demand that was at the heart of the city's earlier 2014 Umbrella Movement. Ms Lam became a lightening rod for the demonstrations with many calling for her resignation. In a leaked audio recording of a private meeting last September she was heard blaming herself for igniting the political crisis and telling business leaders she would quit if she could. She later denied ever offering to resign. Even after the chief executive eventually withdrew the bill the protests continued, petering out earlier this year as the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Shortly after, Beijing proposed a controversial security law for Hong Kong that was swiftly imposed by June. Protesters decried the legislation, calling it the "end of Hong Kong", and with it Ms Lam who they view as "China's puppet". The law also triggered criticism from countries including the US and UK for eroding the freedoms guaranteed to Hong Kong when it was returned to China in 1997. But Ms Lam has defended the legislation, saying it was not all "doom and gloom". "Compared with the national security laws of other countries, it is a rather mild law," she has said. "Its scope is not as broad as that in other countries and even China."	Another day of pro-democracy protests has been held at Hong Kong International Airport, leading to flight disruptions and violent clashes between demonstrators and police. Hong Kong International Airport saw chaotic scenes on a second consecutive day of massive anti-government protests that have paralysed one of Asia's key transport hubs. Hong Kong police have admitted deploying officers disguised as anti-government protesters during mass unrest that rocked the city on Sunday. Carrie Lam, a skilled bureaucrat handpicked by Beijing to lead Hong Kong, has become one of the most divisive figures in the politically turbulent city.
He has proposed lowering the 10% electoral threshold, which currently prevents Kurdish and other smaller parties from entering parliament. He says towns will be able to use their Kurdish rather than Turkish names, and education in Kurdish will be broadened. However, Kurdish politicians said the reforms were insufficient. The ending of the ban on women wearing headscarves in public service has been a longstanding goal of Mr Erdogan's AK Party. The ban has been one of the most contentious laws in Turkey - pitting supporters of Turkey's secular constitution against those who favour Islamic rights. Mr Erdogan and his party have been accused of rolling back the secular state and trying to promote Islamic values. The headscarf ban will be removed for public servants, but remains for judges, prosecutors, police officers and members of the armed forces. "This is a historic moment, an important stage," Mr Erdogan said. Kurdish language The reforms are a long-awaited move to improve the rights of Turkey's Kurds, who are thought to make up about 20% of the population. They are seen as a vital part of efforts to end the three-decade conflict between the government and Kurdish rebels, which has cost more than 40,000 lives. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) armed rebel group recently suspended its withdrawal from Turkey, which was a measure agreed with the government, because of a perceived failure by the government to make political concessions to the Kurds. Mr Erdogan said the law under which only parties which get 10% of the national vote can take up parliamentary seats could be replaced by a 5% threshold, or even abolished completely. The law has in the past prevented the main Kurdish party, Peace and Democracy (BDP), from campaigning for parliament - though its members have often run as independents and clubbed together as MPs. Parties would only have to win 3% to qualify for public funding - as opposed to 7% currently. Mr Erdogan also said teaching in Kurdish - and other non-Turkish languages - will be allowed in private schools; though it is still restricted in state schools. And he said towns would be allowed officially to take their native-language names. This is thought likely to lead to the Turkish-named city of Tunceli being given its Kurdish name, Dersim. Other measures in the "democratisation package" included: But the co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Gulten Kısanak, said: "This package do not... fulfil Turkey's needs for democratisation." And BDP MP Sirri Sakik said the package did not address what were seen as judicial injustices. "The anti-terror courts are still working. Around 1,000 Kurds will not be released from prisons. "Little changes are presented as favours to the Kurds. Mother tongue can only be thought at private schools? My language is God's gift to me, how can it be limited?" Mr Erdogan also announced concessions to other minority groups, including Christians. He announced plans to return land belonging to the Syriac Christian Mor Gabriel Monastery, which had been seized by the state. The prime minister did not announce some expected measures, like concessions to the Alevi Muslim minority and the Greek Orthodox Church, but he declared: "This package is not a first and will not be the last of such reforms." \|\|\|\|\| The PKK accused the Turkish government of failing to move towards "democratisation and the resolution of the Kurdish problem", the Firat news agency reported. The PKK had started the withdrawal earlier this year, under a peace plan. The 30-year Kurdish conflict has left more than 40,000 people dead. The PKK said the ceasefire it announced in March would remain in force. But it urged Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government to "take action in line with the project of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan", the jailed PKK commander who negotiated the peace deal. Ankara insists on a full PKK withdrawal for peace talks to progress. Under the deal, Turkey is expected to improve Kurdish rights, such as by scrapping a controversial anti-terrorism law and allowing Kurdish children to be educated in their own language. The anti-terrorism law has been used to jail thousands of people for alleged links to the PKK. 'Irresponsible attitude' The PKK took up arms in 1984 with the aim of creating a Kurdish state in south-eastern Turkey, but it has now moderated its goal to regional autonomy. It has been designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and European Union. Kurds are believed to make up about a fifth of Turkey's population. The PKK statement accused Ankara of "an irresponsible attitude" towards the peace process "by giving no answer to the steps of the Kurdish liberation movement". It also accused Turkey of building new military posts and dams in Kurdish areas, of failing to release PKK prisoners or scrap the anti-terrorism law and of not consulting Kurds about the democratisation plans. On the Kurdish language issue, it said it saw "no evidence" of any Turkish commitment to providing education in Kurdish children's mother tongue. \|\|\|\|\| By Mahmut HamsiciBBC Turkish, northern Iraq Devrim, a PKK fighter, joined the organisation in the mid-1990s. After a long period spent in the mountains of Turkey, she pulled back to Iraqi Kurdistan two months ago as part of the PKK's withdrawal from Turkish soil. The deserted mountains of Iraq's Behdinan region, running along Turkey's south-eastern border, are now home to PKK camps and groups of fighters like Devrim. After three decades and more than 40,000 deaths, a new peace process was launched in March. As part of this process, the PKK - regarded as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and US - declared a ceasefire and started its withdrawal in May. 'No reciprocation' Speaking before the group announced the suspension of its withdrawal on Monday, Devrim expressed her frustrations. "We had mixed feelings while we were withdrawing. We had worries like: We are withdrawing but is the government sincere or not?" Devrim tells me. Her worries deepened, she said, when the government took no reciprocal steps, and instead accused the PKK of not withdrawing properly. In another part of Iraqi Kurdistan, in the Qandil mountains, considered the base of the PKK, the organisation's de facto leader Cemil Bayik says the process is sliding into collapse and accuses the Turkish government of failing to take steps of its own. "We released the prisoners in our hands without asking for anything in return. We declared a ceasefire without asking for anything in return. We took practical steps towards ending the war, and withdrawing from the north to the south. We completed the first phase of the process successfully," he complains. "However, when the time came for the Turkish state to take steps - that is in the second phase - the Turkish state did not take any steps and started making excuses." However, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan turns the blame back on the PKK. "The promises made to withdraw from Turkish soil have not been fulfilled. Only 20% have left Turkey, and they are mostly women, elderly people, children," he said recently. 'No mother tongue' On Monday Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag dismissed the rebels' move, and said Turkey would take its own moves towards peace. "Whatever the terror organisation does is up to them. But Turkey will do whatever needs to be done," he said. The government has said it is working on a package of democratic reforms, but it has not yet brought them to parliament. The PKK's Cemil Bayik defends the withdrawal, saying no date was set in the agreement for its completion. He also criticises the government's "democratisation package" - claiming that the government has prepared it without talking to the Kurdish side - and the failure to establish the Kurdish language as a Turkish "mother tongue". The PKK wants to see progress on a range of measures to maintain confidence in the peace process, including: an end to construction of new gendarmeries and dams in Kurdish areas; an improvement in the prison conditions of leader Abdullah Ocalan; and releasing thousands of imprisoned Kurdish politicians. Mr Bayik blames the government: "They are preparing for war, not peace. Indeed, they are preparing for a big war. We know this. They want to strike a big blow." He says Mr Erdogan's government is not committed to solving the Kurdish question, but simply "wants to gain time in order to win municipal elections and follow that up with wins in parliamentary and presidential elections". The PKK has suspended withdrawal but pledges to maintain a ceasefire for now. Pessimism spreading Turkish government officials, meanwhile, say the process continues and that it is the PKK creating tension. But pessimism is spreading. Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, said their hopes for the process had decreased 90% since it started. As the process is based on talks between the imprisoned Ocalan and governmental officials, there is no third party, no public agreement, and the process is full of obscurities. But it seems clear that the process has hit a crisis. Back in the PKK camps in northern Iraq, PKK fighters are waiting to see what happens next. When asked if they are ready to start fighting again, they all answer the same. One, named Engin, says: "Of course. We are a military organisation... if we are not left any other solution, we are ready to fight." But, as his colleague Devrim says, there is still hope. "Hope exists until the last moment... Everything can change even in 24 hours." She said it just depended on the government making "a serious and sincere approach". \|\|\|\|\| The group, which has Marxist-Leninist roots, was formed in the late 1970s and launched an armed struggle against the Turkish government in 1984, calling for an independent Kurdish state within Turkey. Fighting flared up again after a two-year-old ceasefire ended in July 2015. Now the PKK is being targeted in a bigger Turkish security crackdown, following the botched July 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by mutinous Turkish officers. The PKK's struggle is also part of the turmoil in Iraq and Syria, where Turkey is trying to assert its influence on a battlefield with many rival forces. What are the PKK's ambitions in Turkey? In a BBC interview in April the PKK's military leader Cemil Bayik said "we don't want to separate from Turkey and set up a state". "We want to live within the borders of Turkey on our own land freely... The struggle will continue until the Kurds' innate rights are accepted," he said. Turkey continues to accuse the PKK of "trying to create a separate state in Turkey". More than 40,000 people have died in the conflict. It reached a peak in the mid-1990s, when thousands of villages were destroyed in the largely Kurdish south-east and east of Turkey. Hundreds of thousands of Kurds fled to cities in other parts of the country. In the 1990s, the PKK rolled back on its demands for an independent state, calling instead for more autonomy for the Kurds. Who are the Kurds? The spotlight is now on Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition party, People's Democracy (HDP), whose joint leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag were arrested early on 4 November. The Turkish government said they had failed to appear for questioning about alleged links to the PKK - which they deny. Turkey accuses them of spreading PKK propaganda. Ten other MPs were also arrested. Acting with emergency powers, introduced after the coup attempt, the Turkish authorities have also detained the joint mayors of Diyarbakir, a mainly Kurdish city. The Kurds' main media outlets have also been shut down. The HDP, the main pro-Kurdish party, is a broad coalition of groups including liberal and left-wing ethnic Turks. The party denies Turkey's claim that it is allied to the PKK. It entered parliament for the first time last year, winning 59 seats, making it the second-biggest opposition party. What is happening in the Turkey-PKK conflict? South-eastern Turkey has been wracked by violence since the ceasefire with the PKK collapsed. Hours after the HDP politicians were arrested, a car bomb went off outside a police station in Diyarbakir. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said it had killed eight people, including two policemen - and he blamed the PKK. The Turkish air force regularly carries out air strikes against PKK bases in mountainous northern Iraq. The Turkish government has ruled out any negotiations until the group completely disarms. There have been many PKK attacks on Turkish security forces in the south-east. In August 2016 a PKK car bomb in Cizre killed 11 policemen and injured 78. Hundreds of people have died in more than a year of clashes in Turkey's Kurdish-majority region. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU and US. Human rights groups say many civilians have died during Turkey's anti-PKK offensive in the south-east. Turkey has imposed curfews and used heavy armour in urban areas in its fight with the rebels. Tears and destruction amid Turkey PKK crackdown What about the fighting in Iraq and Syria? Turkey has twin concerns about the Iraqi-Kurdish push to oust so-called Islamic State (IS) from Mosul. President Erdogan's AK Party, strongly rooted in Sunni Islam, does not want Iraqi Shia forces to spread their influence up to Turkey's borders and beyond. Nor does Turkey want the armed Kurdish groups to join up along its borders, bolstering the PKK cause. Turkey retains an army base at Bashiqa, not far from Mosul, and has trained a local militia force - the Ninevah Guards - consisting of Sunni Arabs, Turkmens and Kurds. In war-torn Syria, Turkey views the Popular Protection Units (YPG) - a Kurdish force fighting IS - as linked to the PKK. Turkey is allied to the US in Nato - but the US also supports the YPG in its anti-IS struggle. Turkey-Iraq tensions over Mosul offensive Turkey v Syria's Kurds v Islamic State In July 2015, a suicide bombing blamed on IS killed 32 people in the mainly Kurdish town of Suruc, just inside Turkey, near war-ravaged Kobane in Syria. Kurdish groups accused the Turkish government of not doing enough to thwart IS operations. A Turkish military operation in August-September 2016, in support of allied Syrian rebels, ousted IS from border towns. Are there any peace initiatives? The PKK suffered a major blow in 1999 when its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, was arrested and jailed for treason. In March 2013, he called a ceasefire and urged PKK forces to withdraw from Turkey. But that ceasefire broke down in July 2015. PKK leader holds key to Turkish-Kurdish peace It was not the first time a truce had been declared. Shortly after Ocalan's arrest, the PKK introduced a five-year unilateral ceasefire and tried to change its image and widen its appeal. It called for a role in Turkey's politics, more cultural rights for the country's estimated 15 million Kurds and the release of imprisoned PKK members. Turkey refused to negotiate with it and offered only a limited amnesty to its members. Between 2009 and 2011, high-level secret talks took place between the PKK and the Turkish government in Oslo, Norway, but they collapsed after a clash in June 2011, in which 14 Turkish soldiers were killed.	Turkey's PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced major political reforms, including new Kurdish rights and a reversal of the headscarf ban. The rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) says it has halted its withdrawal from Turkey, a website linked to the armed militant group reports. The Kurdish rebel PKK's announcement that it is ending its withdrawal from Turkey casts doubt on a peace process that many had hoped was the best chance yet of ending a 30-year conflict. Mahmut Hamsici, of BBC Turkish, reports from PKK camps in northern Iraq. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been a thorn in Turkey's side for decades. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The application is made up of detailed plans for 238 homes and outline permission for 437 houses, to be built on the western edge of Bridgwater. Due to costs of a required road junction only 48 homes are affordable - below the council's 30% pledge. Sedgemoor District Council's planners approved the application on Tuesday. 'Complete nightmare' The vote went through with 10 votes for and five against with no abstentions. Labour's Li Gibson said: "There is absolutely no social housing on this site. "I think the traffic is going to be a complete nightmare - it already is in this area. "It's going to create thousands of cars going in and out of this site, which will create more pollution." She also highlighted the "lack of sustainability" and no use of solar panels on the homes. Conservative Liz Perry added: "The main roundabout on the Quantock Road is absolutely gridlocked at peak times with traffic, all the way down to the NDR road - and not just with Hinkley Point traffic. "I don't think a road that size can take more traffic." Councillors were also told Somerset County Council was "satisfied" the A39 Quantock Road can take additional traffic caused by the development and the new junction would be fit for purpose. The affordable homes were cut due to other obligations to build a new road junction and school by the developers, Cavanna Homes and Martin Grant Holdings. 'Prevent unwelcome development' Chairman of the development committee, Conservative Bob Filmer said: "I have an element of concern in the reduction of affordable housing. "But we've heard the explanation, and sites can only generate a certain amount of local benefit." Mike Smith, senior development manager at Cavanna Homes, said the homes would help meet housing numbers "while preventing speculative, unwelcome development". The other developer said the plans had been developed over a number of years in consultation with the local community and Wemdon Parish Council. The homes will be built on the north side of the A38, opposite the cemetery. The primary school for 420 pupils will be built near a new access road close to Greenway Farm. \|\|\|\|\| The European Court of Justice ruling means all development proposals need be checked over whether they drive up pollutants going into watercourses. In Somerset, further curbs are possible as the Somerset Levels and Moors is already in a fragile state. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said one housing development decision had already been postponed. 'Urban areas' The case ruling, known as Dutch N, concerns nitrogen and phosphates which are in fertilisers, and the limits placed on them to stop them from polluting the wider environment. High nitrogen and phosphate levels in water can result in toxic algal blooms and can also deplete oxygen levels, resulting in fish and other organisms dying. Natural England has written to all four district councils in the county, highlighting the impact on the Somerset Levels and Moors, as phosphate levels are already high. During a Somerset West and Taunton planning committee meeting last week, a decision over the construction of 76 homes at Comeytrowe was delayed. Portfolio holder for planning policy and transport, Mike Rigby, said: "This new advice from Natural England, following the Dutch N court case, will have a significant impact on the near-term development of the district. "We are working closely with other councils in Somerset to address the potential impact of new development on the internationally recognised nature conservation value of the Somerset Levels and Moors." Mendip and Sedgemoor district councils are taking similar steps, but neither could say how many homes would be delayed or affected. "The urban areas of Sedgemoor - in terms of Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, are not linked to the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar catchment via any hydrological pathways, and therefore it is not expected that there will be an immediate issue in terms of our strategic growth in these locations," a Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman said. "Discussions are continuing with Wessex Water, Natural England and our ecologists to better define the impact area and to consider the implications in other parts of the district." South Somerset District Council has yet to comment publicly on Natural England's letter or the Dutch N case. \|\|\|\|\| The Bridgwater project's price tag could increase by £10m or more, a Somerset County Council report shows. Due to be completed in 2024, the flood defences aim to protect 10,000 homes from floods for the next 100 years. Estimated costs rose from £60m to £70m after "getting firmer information on costs", Sedgemoor District Council's corporate director said. Brian Smedley, Bridgwater Town Council leader, said the council had not yet been told what the extra costs are. He wanted to ensure the project remained of a high standard so it could meet the needs of 11,000 Bridgwater homes and businesses and "to safeguard vital rail and road links". Councillor Leigh Redman, of the county council's Labour group, called for the plans to move forward as quickly as possible "to prevent any further increase in costs". Doug Bamsey, corporate director of the district council, said added costs were due to improving downstream flood defences and raising river banks. 'Balance benefits' He argued the price hike is "not extraordinary" and said "we have to have a robust scheme". Mr Bamsey admitted the cost "might go up more, but equally the benefits are going up. You have to balance the benefits." Bridgwater's council has been calling for a bypass to the town and Mr Redman said he still hoped this could be incorporated in the barrage. The barrier will be built near Express Park, in north Bridgwater, and could provide sufficient water storage to handle a repeat of the flood crisis of 2014. When finished, the structure will be 20m (65ft) high and 55m (180ft) wide, with a central pier and two piers supporting either side.	A 675-home housing estate and primary school have been approved despite concerns over traffic and sustainability. A landmark ruling over water pollution is delaying housing and business developments, according to planners. The cost of a tidal barrier being built in Somerset is likely to rise by millions of pounds.
Scores of people on board the Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the infection. The carrier is currently docked in Guam. "We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die," Captain Brett Crozier wrote in a letter to the Pentagon. Captain Crozier recommended quarantining almost the entire crew. In the letter Captain Crozier said that with large numbers of sailors living in confined spaces on the carrier isolating sick individuals was impossible. The coronavirus' spread was now "ongoing and accelerating", he warned, in the letter dated 30 March. "Decisive action is needed," he said. "Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed US nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure. This is a necessary risk." It is not clear how many crew members on the Theodore Roosevelt have the coronavirus. The San Francisco Chronicle, which first reported on the letter, said at least 100 sailors were infected. Speaking to Reuters news agency, a US Navy spokesman said the service was "moving quickly to take all necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt". What's the situation in the US? On Tuesday the coronavirus death toll in the US passed the figure reported in China, where the outbreak began. At least 3,400 have died. The number of recorded cases stands at over 175,000, more than any other country, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University. New York state has seen the largest number of infections and its governor, Andrew Cuomo, warned the peak was still to come. "We're still going up the mountain. the main battle is on the top of the mountain," he said. Field hospitals are being built in Central Park and other New York landmarks to help ease the pressure on the city's health system. \|\|\|\|\| Nick BryantNew York correspondent@NickBryantNYon Twitter In the midst of this planetary pandemic, nobody wants to meet any more at the "Crossroads of the World". A city known for its infectious energy, a city that likes to boast it never even has to sleep, has been forced into hibernation. With more cases than any other American conurbation, this city is once again Ground Zero, a term no New Yorker ever wanted applied here again. With manic suddenness, our world has been turned upside down, just as it was on September 11th. Nations, like individuals, reveal themselves at times of crisis. In emergencies of this immense magnitude, it soon becomes evident whether a sitting president is equal to the moment. So what have we learnt about the United States as it confronts this national and global catastrophe? Will lawmakers on Capitol Hill, who have been in a form of legislative lockdown for years now, a paralysis borne of partisanship, rise to the challenge? And what of the man who now sits behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, who has cloaked himself in the mantle of "wartime president"? Of the three questions, the last one is the least interesting, largely because Donald Trump's response has been so predictable. He has not changed. He has not grown. He has not admitted errors. He has shown little humility. Instead, his critics say, all the hallmarks of his presidency have been on agitated display: his boasts - he has awarded himself a 10 out of 10 for his handling of the crisis. The politicisation of what should be the apolitical - he toured the Centers for Disease Control wearing a campaign cap emblazoned with the slogan "Keep America Great". His truth-twisting: he now claims to have fully appreciated the scale of the pandemic early on, despite dismissing and downplaying the threat for weeks. His attacks on the "fake news" media, including a personal assault on a White House reporter who asked what was his message to frightened Americans: "I tell them you are a terrible reporter." His mocking of Senator Mitt Romney, the only Republican who voted at the end of the impeachment trial for his removal from office, for going into isolation. His continued attacks on government institutions in the forefront of confronting the crisis - "the Deep State Department" is how he described the State Department from his presidential podium the morning after it issued its most extreme travel advisory urging Americans to refrain from all international travel. His obsession with ratings, or in this instance, confirmed case numbers - he stopped a cruise ship docking on the West Coast, noting: "I like the numbers where they are. I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault." His compulsion for hype - declaring the combination of hydroxycholoroquine and azithromycin "one of the biggest game-changers in the history of medicine," even as medical officials warn against offering false hope. His lack of empathy. Rather than soothing words for relatives of those who have died, or words of encouragement and appreciation for those in the medical trenches, Trump's daily White House briefings commonly start with a shower of self-congratulation. After Trump has spoken, Mike Pence, his loyal deputy, usually delivers a paean of praise to the president. His appeal to xenophobia that has always been the sine qua non of his political business model - repeatedly he describes the disease as the "Chinese virus". Just as he scapegoated China and Mexican immigrants for decimating America's industrial heartland ahead of the 2016 presidential election, he is blaming Beijing for the coronavirus outbreak in an attempt to win re-election. My judgement is that his attempt at economic stewardship has been more convincing than his mastery of public health. A lesson from financial shocks of the past, most notably the meltdown in 2008, is to "go big" early on. That he has tried to do. But here, as well, there are shades of his showman self. He seems to have rounded on the initial figure of a trillion dollars for the stimulus package because it sounds like such a gargantuan number - a fiscal eighth wonder of the world. Trump favours simple solutions to complex problems. He closed America's border to those who had travelled to China, a sensible move in hindsight. However, the coronavirus outbreak has required the kind of multi-pronged approach and long-term thinking that seems beyond him. This has always been a presidency of the here and now. It is not well equipped to deal with a public health and economic emergency that will dominate the rest of his presidency, whether he only gets to spend the next 10 months in the White House or another five years. The Trump presidency has so often been about creating favourable optics even in the absence of real progress - his nuclear summitry with the North Korean despot Kim Jong-un offers a case in point. But such tactics do not work as well in a national emergency. What have we learnt of the United States? First of all, we have seen the enduring goodness of this country. As with 9/11, we have marvelled at the selflessness and bravery of its first responders - the nurses, doctors, medical support staff and ambulance drivers who have turned up to the work with the same sense of public spiritedness shown by the firefighters who rushed towards the flaming Twin Towers. We've witnessed the ingenuity and creativity of schools that have transitioned to remote, online teaching without missing a beat. We've seen a can-do spirit that has kept stores open, shelves stocked and food being delivered. In other words, most Americans have shown precisely the same virtues we have seen in every country brought to a halt by the virus. As for the American exceptionalism on display, much of it has been of the negative kind that makes it hard not to put head in hands. The lines outside gun stores. The spike in online sales of firearms - Ammo.com has seen a 70% increase in sales. The panic buying of AR-15s. Some Christian fundamentalists have rejected the epidemiology of this pandemic. To prove there was no virus, a pastor in Arkansas boasted his parishioners were prepared to lick the floor of his church. Once again, those who live in developed nations have been left to ponder why the world's richest country does not have a system of universal healthcare. Ten years after the passage of Obamacare, more than 26 million Americans do not have health insurance. Rather than a coming together, the crisis has demonstrated how for decades Americans have conducted a political version of social distancing: the herd-like clustering of conservatives and liberals into like-minded communities caused by the allergic reaction to compatriots holding opposing political views. Once again, we have seen the familiar two Americas divide, the usual knee-jerk tribalism. Republicans have been twice as likely as Democrats to view coronavirus coverage as exaggerated. Three-quarters of Republicans say they trust the information coming from the president, whereas the figure among Democrats is just 8%. As the Reverend Josh King told the Washington Post despairingly: "In your more politically conservative regions, closing is not interpreted as caring for you. It's interpreted as liberalism." Even on 13 March, when the CDC projected that up to 214 millions could be infected, Sean Davis, the co-founder of the right-wing website, The Federalist, tweeted: "Corporate political media hate you, they hate the country, and they will stop at nothing to reclaim power to rule over you. If that means destroying the economy via a panic they helped incite, all while running interference for the communist country that started it, so be it." The latest Gallup polling shows the split: 94% of Republicans approve of his handling of the crisis, compared with 27% of Democrats. But overall, six out of ten Americans approve, pushing his approval rating up again to 49%, matching the highest score of his presidency. As with previous crises, such as 9/11, Americans tend to rally around the presidency, although Donald Trump remains a deeply polarising figure. After the attacks of September 11th, George W Bush's approval rating was over 90. The political geography of America, with its red and blue state separatism, has even affected how voters are being physically exposed to the virus. Democrats tend to congregate in the cities, whose dense populations have made them hotspots. Republicans tend to live in more sparsely populated rural areas, which so far have not been so badly hit. Thus, the polarisation continues amidst the pandemic. Rather than to the Trump White House, much of "Blue America" has looked for leadership to its state capitals: Democratic governors such as Andrew Cuomo in New York (who Trump tweeted should "do more"), Gavin Newsom in California (whom Trump has praised) and Jay Inslee in Washington state (whom the president called a "snake" during his visit to the CDC). For American liberals, Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has become the subversive hero of the hour. Offering an antidote to this post-truth presidency, Fauci sticks to scientific facts. After repeatedly contradicting Donald Trump over the seriousness of the outbreak, he is on his way to being viewed with the same affection and reverence as the liberal Supreme Court jurist Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Surely the coronavirus outbreak will eventually lead to an end momentarily to the gridlock on Capitol Hill. Legislators have no other choice but to legislate given the enormity of the economic crisis and the spectre of a 21st Century Great Depression. However, the first two attempts to pass a stimulus package failed amidst the usual partisan acrimony and brinksmanship. Republicans and Democrats are arguing over whether to include expansions of paid leave and unemployment benefits, and what the Democrats are calling a slush fund for corporate America that could be open to abuse. Once again, Capitol Hill's dysfunction has been shown to be both systemic and endemic. Given the scale of the public health and economic crisis, the hope would be of a return to the patriotic bipartisanship that prevailed during much of the Fifties and early Sixties, which produced some of the major post-war reforms such as the construction of the interstate highway system and the landmark civil rights acts. History, after all, shows that US politicians co-operate most effectively in the face of a common enemy, whether it was the Soviet Union during the Cold War or al-Qaeda in the initial months after 9/11. But the early response of lawmakers on Capitol Hill is far from encouraging. And if there is cross-party co-operation - as there will surely be in the end - it will not be the product of patriotic bipartisanship but rather freak-out bipartisanship, the legislative equivalent of panic buying. The paradox here, as lawmakers face-off, is that crises erase philosophical lines. As in 2008, ideological conservatives have overnight become operational liberals. Those who ordinarily detest government have come in this emergency to depend on it. Corporate America, which is generally phobic towards federal intervention, is now desperate for government bailouts. Trickle-down supply siders have become Keynesian big spenders, such is their desire for government stimulus spending funded by the taxpayer. Even universal basic income, a fringe idea popularised by the Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, has gone mainstream. The US government intends to give $1,200 payments to every American. In this call to national action, we have been reminded of how the federal government has been run down over the past 40 years partly because of an anti-government onslaught that started with Ronald Reagan. In 2018, the team responsible for pandemic response on the National Security Council at the White House was disbanded. The failure to carry out adequate testing, the key to containing outbreaks early on, is linked to a funding shortfall at the Department of Health and Human Services. As with the attacks of 11 September 2001, warnings within government were repeatedly ignored. In recent years, there have been numerous exercises to test the country's preparedness for a pandemic - one of which involved a respiratory virus originating from China - that identified exactly the areas of vulnerability now being exposed. As with Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has struggled. As ever, there are tensions between federal agencies and the states. The institutional decline of government that led so many Americans to pin their faith in an individual, Donald Trump, is again plain to see, whether in the shortage of masks and protective gowns or the dearth of early testing. Consequently, America's claim to global pre-eminence looks less convincing by the day. While in previous crises, the world's most powerful superpower might have mobilised a global response, nobody expects that of the United States anymore. The neo-isolationism of three years of America Firstism has created a geopolitical form of social distancing, and this crisis has reminded us of the oceanic divide that has opened up even with Washington's closest allies. Take the European travel ban, which Trump announced during his Oval Office address to the nation without warning the countries affected. The European Union complained, in an unusually robust public statement, the decision was "taken unilaterally and without consultation". Nor has the United States offered a model for how to deal with this crisis. South Korea, with its massive testing programme, and Japan have been exemplars. China, too, has shown the advantages of its authoritarianism system in enforcing a strict lockdown, which is especially worrying when the western liberal order looks so wobbly. Hopefully, nobody will forget how officials in China tried to cover up the virus for weeks and silenced whistleblowers, showing the country's ugly autocratic side even as the outbreak was spreading. But whereas Beijing managed to build a new hospital in just 10 days, the Pentagon will take weeks to move a naval hospital ship from its port in Virginia to New York harbour. Politically, there will be so many ramifications. It is worth remembering, for example, that the Tea Party was as much a reaction to what was called the "big government conservatism" of George W Bush in response to the financial crisis as it was to the pigmentation of Barack Obama. The official history of the Tea Party movement states it came into existence on 3 October, 2008, when Bush signed into law TARP, the Troubled Asset Relief Programme which saved the failing banks. Tea-Partiers viewed that as an unacceptable encroachment of government power. Likewise, it is worth bearing in mind that the two major convulsions of the 21st Century, the destruction of the Twin Towers and the collapse of Lehman Brothers, both ended up having a polarising effect on US politics. The fragile bipartisan 9/11 consensus was shattered by the Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq. The financial crisis fuelled the rise of the Tea Party and further radicalised the Republican Party. What will be the impact on the presidential election? Judging by the Lazarus-like revival of Joe Biden, the signs are that Democrats are voting for normal. Clearly, a significant majority is not in the mood for the political revolution promised by Bernie Sanders. A 78-year-old whose candidacy was almost derailed in its early stages because he was so tactile looks again like a strong candidate in these socially distant times. Many Americans are yearning for precisely the kind of empathy and personal warmth that Biden offers. Even before the coronavirus took hold, he had made recovery his theme, a narrative in accord with his life story. Many also want a presidency they could have on in the background. A less histrionic figure in the Oval Office. Soft jazz rather than heavy metal. A return to some kind of normalcy. But who would make any predictions? Only a few weeks ago, when the chaos of the Iowa caucuses seemed like a major story, we were prophesying Biden's political demise. Besides, normalcy is not something we can expect to see for months, maybe even for years. Rather, the coronavirus could dramatically reshape American politics, much like the other massive historical convulsions of the past 100 years. The Great Depression led to the New Deal, and its massive extension of federal power, through welfare programmes such as Social Security. It also made the Democrats, the champions of government, politically dominant. From 1932 onwards, the party won five consecutive presidential elections. World War II, among other social changes, gave impetus to the struggle for black equality, as African-American infantrymen who fought fascism on the same battlefields as white GIs demanded the same menu of civil rights on their return home. The attacks of 11 September made many Americans more wary of mass immigration and religious pluralism. The Great Recession undermined faith in the American Dream. How America changes as a result of coronavirus will be determined by how America responds. Liberals may be hoping the outbreak will highlight the need for universal healthcare, a New Deal-style revival of government, the return of a more fact-based polity and a stronger response to global warming, another planetary crisis which has the potential to paralyse and overwhelm so much of the world. Conservatives may conclude the private sector rather than government is better equipped to deal with crises, amplifying their anti-government rhetoric, that gun controls should be further relaxed so that Americans can better protect themselves, and that individual liberties should not be constrained by nanny states. Every day on my way to work, I pass the 9/11 memorial where the Twin Towers once stood, and watch people laying their flowers and muttering their quiet prayers. Many is the time I have wondered whether I would ever cover a more world-altering event. As I look out of my window on a quiet and eerie city that feels more like Gotham than New York, I fear we may be confronting it now. You can follow Nick on Twitter Correction 6 August 2020: This article has been amended following a complaint to the BBC's Executive Complaints Unit.	The captain of a US aircraft carrier carrying more than 4,000 crew has called for urgent help to halt a coronavirus outbreak on his ship. Social distancing remains a key part of the UK's strategy for keeping people safe and preventing the spread of Covid-19. There are no fresh flowers at the 9/11 Memorial any more. An American altar usually decorated with roses, carnations and postcard-sized Stars and Stripes is sequestered behind a makeshift plastic railing. Broadway, the "Great White Way", is dark. The subway system is a ghost train. Staten Island ferries keep cutting through the choppy waters of New York harbour, passing Lady Liberty on the way in and out of Lower Manhattan, but hardly any passengers are on board. Times Square, normally such a roiling mass, is almost devoid of people.
By John CampbellBBC News NI Economics & Business Editor The organisation will be split in two with its landlord arm becoming an independent mutual organisation. This will enable it to borrow money and start building houses again. The Housing Executive, which is Northern Ireland's public housing authority, has not built houses for about 20 years. Instead, social housing has been built by housing associations. The shake-up was announced by Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, who said change is needed to increase the supply of social homes. "We need to build and allocate more social homes to meet growing need. "We need housing sectors beyond social housing to provide affordable and suitable homes." Investment needed She said giving the landlord arm of the executive borrowing powers would initially allow it to improve its existing properties. "A 2018 analysis found that the landlord side needed to invest around £7.1bn in these 85,000 homes over the next 30 years if these are to remain decent homes for our households and families. £3bn of this investment was required over the next 11 years. "The Housing Executive can only afford about half of this requirement." The chair of the Housing Executive, Professor Peter Roberts, told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra that the organisation had waited for more than eight years for Tuesday's announcement. He said it was "absolutely necessary and very welcome". "We have some really poor homes, because what we have is an estate which was built very rapidly in the 1970s and it was very necessary to do that because we were dealing first of all with a growing population and secondly we were having to clear unfit homes at that point in time. "We have got the problem of homes which are unpopular, but we have also got the problem of homes which actually do not meet modern standards and we need to bring them up to standard. "It is well known that we have actually said that something in the order of 30% to 40% of our stock is in need of major works or replacement. "My colleagues may criticise me, but I would say that probably 10% of our stock it is a bit like motor cars that are involved in accidents and the insurance deem them beyond economic repair - I would say 8,500 homes we would be better off replacing them.. .with a home that does meet modern standards." Plea to prioritise areas of need Justin Cartwright from the Chartered Institute of Housing said the reform plans were likely to meet with approval across the sector. "It makes no sense to have a landlord with 85,000 homes that can't build on its own land." He said the structure of the proposed change was also important. "By talking about a mutual structure it will promote tenants being involved in the delivery of their housing service." The minister's plan also includes a review of the Housing Executive house sales policy. She said that having policies of trying to increase social housing while also selling social houses at a discount means "we have one policy that is in direct conflict with another". There is also a commitment to prioritise the areas of highest housing need which the minister said included "north and west Belfast and Derry City". Aside from the social housing reforms the minister says she wants to legislate to give renters in the private sector greater protections. \|\|\|\|\| By Enda McClaffertyBBC News NI Political Correspondent The 2.75% hike - coming into effect in April - will result in an average weekly increase of £1.79. Tenants are to be informed of the rise this month. It comes as the executive warned it may have to start "de-investing" in half its portfolio. The de-investment could result in the "gradual loss of 43,000 social homes", it told the new minister responsible for housing. That figure represents a third of its social supply and over 5% of all homes in Northern Ireland. Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said: "This small increase represents a first step towards the executive's commitment in 'New Decade, New Approach', to a long term trajectory for Housing Executive rent which is sufficient to support the sustainable future for its stock which is also affordable for tenants. "This is an urgent priority not just for me but for the executive. This is about revitalising the way in which we provide and deliver public housing in the future." A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) said it was facing a significant funding shortfall, "largely due to our low rents - exacerbated by four years of a rent freeze - that are insufficient to support all of our activities and costs". What is the Northern Ireland Housing Executive? The Housing Executive was established in 1971, previously social housing had been the responsibility of councils but the executive was charged with addressing long-standing concerns about the provision and standards of homes across Northern Ireland. The government body aims to provide affordable independent living, and works with communities and housing associations to improve the physical and social regeneration of local neighbourhoods. It also deals with community safety and anti-social behaviour issues. The details of the rent rise are contained in a first-day briefing to Ms Hargey, obtained by the BBC through a freedom of information request. It sets out how the NIHE needs £7.1bn over the next 30 years with £3bn needed over the first 11 years to deal with the backlog of work. The document warns: "This is currently unachievable as the NIHE generates insufficient income via rent to properly sustain itself. "After operating costs it is only able to afford about half of the investment it requires." The NIHE spokesperson added that if it's funding position was not resolved, "a two-tier social housing sector will develop in Northern Ireland, where housing associations are able to maintain modern standards of accommodation and we are not. "This will have an extremely detrimental impact on addressing the rising level of social housing need in NI."	The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is to undergo the biggest shake-up in its 50-year history. Housing Executive rents are to rise for the first time in five years as the organisation faces a significant shortfall in funding, BBC News NI has learned.
Mark EastonHome editor@BBCMarkEastonon Twitter There will be arguments about the wisdom of holding an election in November, the lack of information, the fact that many details were only available online, concerns about politicisation of the police, the vast constituencies, the shortage of high-profile candidates and on and on. Those were contributory factors, but I suspect the real flaw was something more fundamental - the voters were never persuaded they needed an elected police and crime commissioner. The creation of PCCs was the centrepiece of Conservative proposals to reform the police in England and Wales. "Giving people democratic control over policing priorities is a huge step forward in empowering communities," the party manifesto claimed in 2010. The coalition's Programme for Government retained the idea, arguing for radical reform of the criminal justice system, with directly elected individuals to make the police "much more accountable to the public they serve". Earlier this year I met Gordon Wasserman, now Lord Wasserman, who was the architect of the Conservative party's PCC policy. A Canadian by birth, it was his experience of US law enforcement, particularly in New York and Philadelphia, which shaped his ideas. "I want people to see their police commissioner in the street and say 'Hi Commissioner! How are you doing?'" he told me. When I suggested to him that this sounded rather un-British behaviour and that most people wouldn't even recognise their MP or council leader in the street, Lord Wasserman dismissed my scepticism. However, I had reason to recall our conversation when I was in Lancashire recently, talking to local people about the PCC elections. "It's an American idea," one man told me. "Over there they vote for everything. They even vote for their sewage man. We don't do that here." There is a perfectly good case to be made for greater accountability of the police. The old police authorities were, in some cases, less than inspiring - "unaccountable and invisible" as the 2010 Tory manifesto put it. Recent allegations of police corruption and institutional cover-up help make a case for more scrutiny, and all three major political parties at Westminster have talked about a need for reform of police governance. One can understand how some policy wonks and politicians became enthusiasts for extending democracy into policing - part of a wider agenda of community empowerment, localism and transparent governance. But it was a vision that never really escaped the rarefied world of Westminster think tanks. The public were not excited by the language of democratic empowerment - they were much more interested in someone stopping kids creating mischief and local dogs turning pavements into obstacle courses. With both recorded crime and people's experience of crime and anti-social behaviour at their lowest levels in decades, the issue has slipped down the list of public concerns. Confidence in how the police are doing their job has been rising in recent years - the latest official figures suggest 62% of people agree with the statement "police and local councils are dealing with the crime issues that matter in the local area", up from 57%. Neighbourhood policing has been a great success in most areas and there seems little evidence of profound frustration that police priorities are seriously awry. As a consequence, getting the public out to vote for a highly-paid and relatively remote politician, to tackle a democratic deficit they weren't persuaded they had, was always going to be a hard sell. It wasn't just that the weather was a bit chilly or that the candidates all seemed to be saying the same thing. It was that the electorate had not been convinced there was a need to change the system. As a man in Lancashire put it to me: "If it ain't broke, why fix it?" \|\|\|\|\| Mark EastonHome editor@BBCMarkEastonon Twitter The introduction of directly-elected commissioners was hailed by its Conservative architects as a vital step in "giving people democratic control over policing priorities". But there are questions as to whether our democracy is really going to deliver on this promise. The Electoral Reform Society (ERS), along with 20 PCC candidates, has now written to the Home Secretary Theresa May warning of an impending disaster. "These elections are in serious danger of descending into a farce," said Katie Ghose, chief executive of the ERS. "If the home secretary is serious about people having a say she needs to listen to the warnings coming from all sides and take action now." The signatories warn that turn-out in the elections, due to be held on 15 November, may well be the lowest in modern political history. Last month the ERS projected that only 18.5% of voters would participate. Among the ERS demands is for the government to pledge "never to hold a major election in the winter again". The Home Office hopes public excitement about the opportunity voters are being offered to hold the police accountable may build in the coming weeks. But in a speech earlier this month, the new Policing Minister Damian Green hinted at government concern about voter apathy. "I know that I have a job to engage the public with the policy of PCCs over the next eight weeks in order to persuade people to get out and vote," he said. "I personally, together with other ministers, will be going around the country to talk to as many people about the benefits police and crime commissioners can bring and why they should go out and vote." At the moment, though, it seems doubtful this exercise will be held up as a model of how to empower local communities. The PCC areas are huge. Some commissioners will represent the interests of millions of people - an electorate far greater than any MP. If turn-out really is as low as predicted, what does it mean for democratic legitimacy? In a tight vote, some candidates may claim a mandate based on support from less than one in 10 of the local population. I don't think it is the paucity of leaflets and national marketing that explains lack of public interest in PCC elections. Nor can the likely low turn-out just be blamed on autumnal chill and drizzle. There is a more fundamental question - does the public really want the responsibility of selecting the best person to set police priorities in their area? Among the fervent few who organise fringe events at party conferences, the democratic deficit represented by "unaccountable police authorities" may inspire tub-thumping rhetoric. But I have to say it has not been a subject much discussed at my bus stop. People are worried about crime, of course. But in a developed democracy like ours, one gets the sense that voters expect others to worry about the minutiae of public service delivery. They realise, perhaps, that policing is a complex business and it is questionable whether the electorate believes it is well placed to judge who has the best ideas on resource allocation for, say, domestic violence against rural crime. I may be wrong. When the arguments over police priorities start to be played out in the letters pages of local newspapers, on the doorsteps and in the pubs, perhaps we will get the thoughtful and realistic debate government ministers clearly hope to inspire. But there is a concern that, actually, public discussion will be dominated by familiar simplistic refrains - the answer to crime is "bobbies on the beat" or "zero-tolerance" or simply "more police". (See my previous blog on whether bobbies on the beat really cut crime.) Speaking to PCC candidates, Damian Green recently made the point that "manifestos need to be credible, evidence-led and show innovative thinking". And on Thursday Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) did its bit to try and prevent the elections turning into an arms-race of impractical promises. It raises the questions it suspects voters are likely to ask and then provides the best evidence on what works to cut crime. Q: Shouldn't we just have more bobbies on the beat? A: Just having more people or responding more quickly to calls from the public does not necessarily reduce crime or reassure people. Patrolling on foot can reduce crime where it is targeted in crime hotspots. Q: What about zero tolerance - isn't that how they reduced crime in New York? A: The New York police chief at the time has said that zero tolerance does not describe what happened, and that community policing and an organisational focus on crime reduction and quality of life issues were key. Q: Shouldn't we just employ more police to cut crime? A: A recent review of the literature commissioned by HMIC concluded that there was not enough evidence to say that higher numbers of police officers was the direct cause of lower levels of crime, although extra officers have the potential to cut some forms of recorded crime. Q: Doesn't fear of being caught stop the criminals? A: Recent survey research from the UK showed that the risk of being caught and punished was linked to lower levels of reported traffic offending (like speeding) but not other minor crime. For prolific offenders, the fear of being caught can reduce crime when combined with support interventions. This idea is to help inform a more nuanced and sophisticated debate about police and crime. The HMIC sums up its conclusion saying that "focusing action on crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots, repeat victims, and prolific or high volume offenders is, therefore, an effective way to allocate resources for crime reduction". It also makes the point that police officers charging around trying to look tough may well prove counter-productive. "By treating people equally, making decisions fairly, explaining them and being respectful, the police can encourage people to cooperate with them and not break the law." I wonder, though, whether voters will brave the wind and the wet on 15 November to register their support for candidates who say they don't support more "bobbies on the beat", that zero tolerance is a myth, that resources should be skewed towards the poorer high-crime areas and that they want their officers to be nicer to people.	And so the inquest begins. Why were the people of England and Wales so emphatically indifferent to being given the power to elect their police and crime commissioners (PCC)? With less than 50 days to go until elections for the new police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales, there is growing anxiety that one of the government's flagship criminal justice reforms resembles a slow-motion car crash. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Five police officers were injured in the confrontation. It started on Friday night in the town of Villa Union and ended after a multiple car chase in Aguaje, a few kilometres away - both in Mazatlán. The region has seen fierce in-fighting in the powerful Sinaloa drugs cartel since the arrest of its leader, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, last year. This was one of the worst clashes in the south of Sinaloa in recent months, local media reported. The gunmen had just killed two men from a rival gang when they were surprised by a large contingent of police who happened to be in the neighbourhood. They alerted army troops in the area, who chased the alleged gang members and caught up with them in Aguaje de Costilla. The security forces seized some 20 weapons and three pick-up trucks from the gang. Violence in the region has gone up by 76% in the first five months of the year compared with the same period in 2016, according to the Home Office. Guzmán was arrested in January 2016, six months after escaping through a tunnel from the high-security Altiplano penitentiary near the capital, Mexico City. He was extradited to the United States a year later to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Guzmán - whose nickname means "Shorty" - is believed to have amassed a billion-dollar fortune through the drugs trade after setting up the Sinaloa Cartel in the late 1980s. In May, award-winning journalist Javier Valdez became a high-profile victim of the violence in Sinaloa. Mr Valdez was acclaimed for reporting on the drugs trade in Sinaloa and the involvement of politicians and police. He was killed in the state capital, Culiacán, where he lived and worked. His death prompted protests in many Mexican cities. \|\|\|\|\| The assault in the northern state of Sinaloa involved grenades and assault rifles. The attackers succeeded in freeing a wounded drugs suspect who had been captured earlier and was being taken to hospital, officials say. At least 10 people were injured. Sinaloa is the stronghold of the drugs gang formerly headed by Joaquin Guzman. Nicknamed "El Chapo", he was recaptured in January. Officials believe the ambush may have been organised by his sons, who are believed to have taken over the running of the cartel. "Up this point we are not certain about this group, but it is very probable that it was the sons of Chapo," said local military commander Gen Alfonso Duarte. Who is "El Chapo" Guzman? BBC Mexico correspondent Juan Paullier said that the soldiers were travelling in the early hours of Friday in two vehicles escorting a Red Cross ambulance when they were attacked. Up to 60 gunmen set upon the vehicles, beating the soldiers and freeing a drugs suspect who was being taken to hospital. Officials say the suspect freed by the gunman has been identified as Julio Oscar Ortiz Vega, also known as "El Kevin". The gunmen stole the ambulance and a military truck burst into flames during the assault. Mexican authorities believe the sons of Guzman have been involved in other violent episodes in recent weeks. In August, one of them was kidnapped by a rival group. Another son, Ivan, is also said to be involved in cartel activities. Officials say Guzman's brother, Aureliano Guzman Loera, also known as "El Guano", is struggling for control of drug production against the Beltran Leyva drug cartel in the remote area. Guzman was arrested in January after six months on the run following his escape through a tunnel in his jail cell. He had already escaped a maximum security facility once before, spending 13 years at large. A Mexican judge is considering the case to have Guzman extradited to the US. But Guzman is expected to appeal against any decision to extradite him and his lawyers say the process could take years to come to a conclusion. \|\|\|\|\| Unidentified attackers opened fire on him on Monday in Culiacan city in the north-western state of Sinaloa, where he lived and worked. Valdez, 50, received the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in 2011 for his work. He is one of several journalists who have been killed in Mexico this year. Read more: Murdered journalist on risks of reporting in Mexico Valdez was shot dead on the street near the premises of the Mexican news weekly he had founded, Ríodoce. During his career spanning nearly three decades, Valdez wrote extensively on drug-trafficking and organised crime in Mexico, including the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel. The cartel is believed to be responsible for an estimated 25% of all illegal drugs that enter the US via Mexico. Its former head Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was recaptured in 2016, following two jail breaks, and was extradited to the US in January. Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto condemned the killing, calling it an "outrageous crime", and added that his government remained committed to press freedom. Sinaloa state attorney general Juan Jose Rios said the death was being investigated, and Valdez's family and colleagues would be protected. "Above all else we are interested in Javier's family," he told reporters. The CPJ's Mexico representative, Jan-Albert Hootsen, said Valdez's killing was "an attack on journalism, all journalists throughout Mexico". Mexican news outlets Animal Político and Tercera Vía are going on strike on Wednesday to protest against the murder, and the ongoing risks to reporters. Tercera Vía said on its website [in Spanish]: "The only thing we are going to cover and publish are the activities related to the murder of Javier Valdez." Last week, Mexico appointed a new prosecutor to investigate crimes against freedom of expression - including the killing of journalists. Valdez and his publication had been threatened long before his shooting. He told the freedom of expression organisation Index on Censorship last month that a hand grenade had been thrown into Ríodoce's offices in 2009, "although it only caused material damages". "I've had phone calls telling me to stop investigating certain murders or drug bosses. I've had to suppress important information because they could have my family killed if I mention it. "Sources of mine have been killed or disappeared… The government couldn't care less. They do nothing to protect you. There have been many cases and this keeps happening." Speaking at a launch of his book last year, he said being a journalist "is like being on a blacklist" and that gangs "will decide what day they are going to kill you". In March, after journalist Miroslava Breach was shot dead, Valdez was quoted as saying "No to silence" and "Let them kill us all". Like Valdez, Breach had reported on organised crime, drug-trafficking and corruption. Other Mexican journalists killed this year include freelancers Maximino Rodríguez and Cecilio Pineda Birto, according to the CPJ. The CPJ says at least 40 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 1992. \|\|\|\|\| Guzman is being held in a maximum security prison in New York after he was extradited last month. The notorious kingpin escaped twice from prison in Mexico, once in a laundry basket and most recently through a tunnel in his cell. His lawyers say he has been denied marital visits and is largely kept in solitary confinement. The claims arose at a federal court in Brooklyn at a hearing for Guzman, who has pleaded not guilty to charges that he ran the world's largest drug-trafficking organisation during a decades-long career. He faces life in prison if convicted. Guzman's wife Emma Coronel, a 27-year-old former beauty queen and mother of his twins, flew from Mexico to attend the hearing. His lawyers said it was first time Ms Coronel had seen her husband since his surprise extradition two weeks ago. Guzman, 59, is reportedly on 23-hour lockdown in a special unit of the Manhattan Correctional Center. "We understand the need for security but we think it has gone above and beyond," said Michelle Gelernt, one of his court-appointed lawyers. District Judge Brian Cogan pointed out that the "history of the defendant is somewhat unusual" - a reference to his past escapes - and said the Federal Bureau of Prisons should decide what conditions Guzman faced and who he could see. Guzman's Sinaloa cartel allegedly smuggled hundreds of tonnes of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamines to the US while waging war with other gangs. The cartel is accused of carrying out thousands of murders and kidnappings, and bribing officials. Guzman - widely known by his nickname El Chapo, which means "Shorty" - is believed to have amassed a billion-dollar fortune through the drugs trade. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto had initially resisted extraditing him to the US, insisting that he should face justice at home. But after Guzman was recaptured in January 2016, Pena Nieto changed his mind on extradition and ordered officials to speed up the process. \|\|\|\|\| By Joshua NevettBBC News For Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, whose feats of escapology were matched only by his drug-smuggling acumen, it was a trademark yet ultimately futile manoeuvre. The 17 Mexican marines raiding his ranch nearby would catch him soon enough. Six months earlier, he had humiliated Mexican authorities by fleeing Mexico's most secure prison, his second jailbreak in two decades. This time he would not slip through their fingers, although those who caught him were left in no doubt how angry he was to have been arrested. "You are all going to die," he warned police in the hours after his capture in Los Mochis, north-west Mexico, on 8 January 2016. Three years on, Guzmán has been handed a life sentence, plus 30 years, after being found guilty of international drug smuggling in a lurid three-month trial that exposed his criminal empire. At his sentencing in New York, Guzmán said he had received an unfair trial and his treatment in solitary confinement was tantamount to torture. "We're never going to see his like again," Douglas Century, the author of the book Hunting El Chapo, told the BBC. Guzmán was the oldest of seven children born into a poor family in the rural community of La Tuna in Sinaloa state, north-west Mexico. His parents - Emilio Guzmán Bustillos and María Consuelo Loera Pérez - earned their living from farming. His father was officially a cattle rancher but is believed to have been an opium poppy farmer, Malcolm Beith writes in his book, The Last Narco. Guzmán's enterprising spirit was apparent from a young age. He would support his family by selling oranges to peasant farmers for a few pesos. His penchant for the spoils of wealth didn't go unnoticed, either. In a Vice News podcast, Guzmán's younger sister Bernarda said he would wear fake gold jewellery when visiting family members. "Even as a little child, he had ambitions," his mother told filmmakers in 2014. She recalled he had "a lot of paper money" which he would count and recount. His first foray into organised crime came at the age of 15, when he cultivated his own marijuana plantation with his cousins. Then, he adopted the nickname "El Chapo" - Mexican slang for "Shorty". But his ambitions belied his diminutive stature (he is only 5ft 6ins, or 1.64m). In his late teens, Guzmán left La Tuna to seek his fortune in drug smuggling. "He always fought for a better life," his mother said. That better life would come at a cost, paid for by illegal drugs and years of bloodshed. From his beginnings as a hitman, Guzmán's rise through the ranks of the criminal underworld was swift. Former cartel kingpin Héctor "El Güero" Palma gave Guzmán his first break in Guadalajara in the late 1970s, when he oversaw a shipment of drugs from the Sierra Madre mountains. Guzmán was ambitious and eager to increase the quantities of drugs being transported, according to Mr Beith's book, The Last Narco. He was also "no-nonsense" and would execute employees himself if deliveries were late, Mr Beith said. Guzmán's reputation for ruthless efficiency was duly noted. In the 1980s he was introduced to Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo - known as the Godfather of the Guadalajara cartel - who put him in charge of handling logistics. When Félix Gallardo was arrested in 1989, his cartel's drug trafficking territories were divided among different factions, later known as The Federation. Guzmán was a beneficiary, setting up his own Sinaloa cartel with other traffickers in north-west Mexico. In the 1990s, he honed his operation, pioneering the use of sophisticated underground tunnels to move drugs across the border. "He was the go-to guy," David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in Miami, told the BBC. "When the United States started shutting down ports of entry in the Atlantic and Pacific in the 1990s, drugs had to go through Mexico. And if it had to go through Mexico, it had to go through El Chapo." He invested his proceeds wisely, not only expanding his enterprise, but building infrastructure that benefited locals in Sinaloa too. This cemented his popularity. "You are Santa Claus. And everybody likes Santa Claus," Eduardo Medina Mora, Mexico's former ambassador in Washington, told the New Yorker in 2014. Over time, Guzmán's cartel became one of the biggest traffickers of drugs to the US and in 2009, he entered Forbes' list of the world's richest men at number 701, with an estimated worth of $1bn (£709m). As his wealth and empire grew, so too did scrutiny from law enforcement. "The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have been after him for decades," Mr Weinstein said. In 1993, a Roman Catholic cardinal was shot dead in a turf war with rival drug smugglers. Guzmán was among those blamed and a bounty was placed on his head by the Mexican government. His moustachioed face, previously unknown to the public, started appearing in newspapers and on TV screens. Within weeks, he was arrested in Guatemala and he was later sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of conspiracy, drug trafficking and bribery. A prison psychological profile described him as "egocentric, narcissistic, shrewd, persistent, tenacious, meticulous, discriminating, and secretive", according to the New Yorker. In prison, he enjoyed a life of luxury, smuggling in lovers, prostitutes and Viagra, according to reports in Mexico. Eight years behind bars was enough for Guzmán. In January 2001, he broke out of a top-security jail, Puente Grande. He did so, as the myth goes, in a laundry cart. What's more likely, multiple journalists and authors argue, is that he simply walked out of the door with the help of corrupt guards. Guzmán controlled the prison to such an extent he escaped in police uniform, Mexican journalist Anabel Hernández wrote in her book, Narcoland. Guzmán would spend the next decade evading authorities and consolidating his power as Mexico's pre-eminent drug smuggler. In that period, he always seemed to be one step ahead of would-be captors and rival cartels. "He's a micro-manager," said Mr Century, who co-authored his book with Andrew Hogan, the undercover DEA agent who caught Guzmán in 2014. "In the text messages we have, he's in the weeds of every single minor facet of his drug operation." Sex was his other preoccupation, Mr Century said. "He had more mistresses than you can probably fathom. This was his existence: having sex with strange women and micro-managing every detail of his operation." After 13 years on the run, Guzmán was captured by Mexican marines called in by Mr Hogan in February 2014. Guzmán's second prison break, in July 2015, was arguably even more fantastical than the first. This time, his accomplices used GPS to burrow a 1.5km (one mile) tunnel that led directly underneath his cell in Altiplano prison in central Mexico. The escape was elaborate and carefully planned. The tunnel had ventilation, lighting and stairs and the exit was hidden by a construction site. Mexican TV stations later aired footage that showed that guards failed to act when loud hammering was heard from inside Guzmán's cell. Guzmán had embarrassed Mexico's government for the second time, leaving then-President Enrique Peña Nieto "deeply troubled" and "outraged". His freedom, however, was short-lived. In January 2016, Guzmán was tracked down to a house in an affluent part of Los Mochis in northern Sinaloa. Five of Guzmán's guards were killed in the raid by Mexican marines and he managed to flee out of a manhole, but was caught in a car while leaving town. One year later, he was extradited to the US. His Achilles' heel, Mr Century told the BBC, was his narcissism. He was reaching out to actors and directors to commission screenplays about his life, Mr Century said. His communication with actors and producers gifted Mexico's attorney general a new line of investigation. "When he escaped from prison in 2015, he probably could have run away to the mountains and just lived," Mr Century said. Instead, Guzmán made the unprecedented move of granting an exclusive interview to Hollywood actor Sean Penn in October 2015. It was a decision that may have cost him his freedom. "I have a fleet of submarines, airplanes, trucks and boats," he said in the interview published in Rolling Stone magazine. After his capture it was speculated - though never formally confirmed - that Mexican authorities found Guzmán by tracking Penn. "He contacted actresses and producers, which was part of one line of investigation," said Mexico's attorney general, Arely Gómez. Facing a life sentence at a "supermax" prison in the US, Guzmán's fleet is of no use to him now. Over his 30-year criminal career, he is believed to have earned more than $14bn (£11bn) in cash proceeds from narcotics sales, the US Department of Justice said. So far, the value of Guzmán's assets has proven difficult to verify. Forbes even removed him from its billionaire rankings over verification concerns. The $14bn figure is too high, Bruce Bagley, a Mexican drug cartel expert, argued. He told Forbes that most Mexican drug lords plough their revenues into "operations and protection", estimating that "El Chapo probably makes well below a billion per year". Mr Weinstein said the $14bn figure was not unrealistic, but doubted the full amount would be recovered. Some of his assets were mentioned during his 11-week trial in New York. A former cartel member told the court Guzmán bought homes in every state in Mexico. Miguel Angel Martinez said Guzmán was so wealthy, he had a private zoo, a $10m beach house and yacht he named after himself ("Chapito"), the court heard. The most jaw-dropping revelations, however, were not about his wealth. BBC reporter Tara McKelvey covered the trial, which started in November 2018. She said the courtroom "looked like a real-life movie", the jurors watching intently as they would a Netflix show. His beauty queen wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro, she said, "looked bored most of the time" - even when Guzmán's former mistress testified. While Coronel remained placid, the trial's astonishing moments shocked others. One witness, for example, told the court Guzmán buried a man alive. Another told of a rival narco chief who refused to shake Guzmán's hand - and paid for it with his life. Court papers also accused him of drugging and raping girls as young as 13, calling them his "vitamins". The scale of his drug trafficking operation was laid bare, too. Assistant US Attorney Adam Fels alleged that Guzmán had sent the equivalent of more than a line of cocaine for every single person in the US in just four shipments. And to protect his businesses, a bribe of $100m (£77m) was paid to former President Peña Nieto when he took office in 2012, it was alleged in court. Mr Peña Nieto strenuously denies the allegation. When Guzmán's guilty verdict was read aloud, his mouth was "agape" and he looked "vaguely stunned", the New York Times reported. In a trial that attracted podcasters, screenwriters and true-crime obsessives, some observers said the media attention trivialised the proceedings. The intention was quite the contrary, our correspondent said. The trial was meant to be a public spectacle to show what El Chapo and his henchmen had done and to send a warning to others, she said. The title of Mr Beith's book, The Last Narco, suggests Guzmán is one of a dying breed of ultra-violent drug barons as bloodthirsty as they are shrewd. Yet, while Guzmán is likely to die behind bars, Mexico's drug-smuggling problem is likely to outlive him. In his Rolling Stone interview, Guzmán said it was false to assume drug trafficking would cease "the day I don't exist". For all his supposed vanity and self-confidence, not even Guzmán can claim to be the last narco.	Mexican police say they have killed 19 gunmen in a shootout in the northern state of Sinaloa. The sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman are suspected of launching an ambush on a military convoy in Mexico that left five soldiers dead, officials say. Mexican journalist Javier Valdez, known for his award-winning coverage of the drug trade, has been shot dead. Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has complained in court about his conditions of custody in a US jail. Caked in filth, the world's most powerful drug baron hauled himself from a manhole. In the seven days since Mexican security forces recaptured Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, a wealth of new information has surfaced about the country's most wanted drugs lord. Here is the most eye-catching.
More trees will be planted in Broadgate and a traffic-free zone will be introduced as part of a £7m redesign which will also alter some subways. The changes were approved at a city council meeting on Tuesday following consultations with residents. Coventry is due to host some of the Olympic football games at the Ricoh Arena. \|\|\|\|\| As part of planned improvements in time for the Olympic Games in 2012, junctions outside the council house, Bull Yard and old Grammar School will be altered. The traffic lights will be removed in a bid to declutter the city centre and enable free-flowing traffic. BBC Coventry & Warwickshire has been receiving reactions from the public. Mal Mutton, who chairs the Coventry 2012 panel, said: "The plans involve us improving some of the connections to the city centre and giving the streets and pavements back to the people." Views from the public range from approval for the appearance of the proposed junction to fears about pedestrian safety and traffic congestion. Coventry will host Olympic football at the Ricoh Arena for the games in addition to creating the Godiva Awakes project. \|\|\|\|\| The square, which has changed several times over the years, will be modified following a close consultation with the city's residents. It will involve more trees and grass, a traffic-free zone and will make the statue of Lady Godiva more prominent. Coventry's Ricoh Arena will be hosting Olympic football games and will be known as the City of Coventry Stadium. Councillor John Mutton, leader of Coventry City Council, said: "We know how important Broadgate is to everyone so we have taken our time to get the plan just right - and I think it will be fantastic. "Local people told us they wanted it to be traffic free, so it will be. There was also a call for us to make it as green as possible, so we have included as many trees as we can, which will be planted in the ground rather than in movable pots. "And just round the corner we have re-worked our plan to de-clutter in front of the stunning Holy Trinity Church, so we it will now have grass in front of the flower beds." More greenery The main square will be covered in two shades of granite, accompanied by trees and benches for people to meet and congregate. In response to the public call for more greenery in the square, sections outside Holy Trinity Church will also be laid with grass. Councillor Mutton added: "The new square will have lots of seating and we will arrange it sensibly so it is set up to enable people to be sociable and to talk to each other. "At the moment lots of the seats in the city centre turn their back on each other so it is hard to talk to anyone. People like to sit in Broadgate, for a chat or to watch the world go by so we wanted to encourage that by thinking carefully about the seating." Coventry City Council still wants to hear views on what trees should be planted and what type of events should be held once the transformation is complete. The development is part of a £7m plan that also includes filling in two subways and improving the route to the railway station.	Proposals to redesign part of Coventry city centre ahead of the 2012 Olympics have been approved. Coventry City Council has revealed plans to remove traffic lights on junctions in the city centre. Coventry City Council has announced the final plans for the redevelopment of Broadgate in readiness for the Olympics. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
By Nick TriggleHealth correspondent, BBC News Eight leading charities, including Age UK and Carers UK, have joined together to highlight the plight they face under the umbrella of Carers Week. Feedback from 3,400 carers showed those providing the most intensive care often ended up with health problems themselves. The government said there was now extra funding to allow carers' breaks. It is estimated that one in six carers either give up work or reduce their hours to look after elderly friends and relatives or younger adults with disabilities. The charities said it demonstrated the hidden effect of the squeeze on council-run social care support. The numbers of elderly and younger adults getting help from councils has fallen in recent years. And the coalition of charities said it was the 6.4m unpaid carers who were being left to take up the strain. Delayed diagnosis It asked carers what impact caring and the lack of support had on their health. Most of the responses to the self-selected poll were from those heavily involved in caring for someone, often providing support on a daily basis. Eight in 10 said their responsibilities had caused them health problems, including everything from back pain to insomnia. And two fifths said they had delayed seeking medical help with some reporting that had had serious consequences, such as delayed cancer diagnoses and damage to lungs. The coalition said carers should be offered regular health checks and there needed to be better information and support available. Carers Week manager Helen Clarke said: "It's a scandal that carers can't get the time or support they need to look after themselves which could be jeopardising their health as a result. "Carers are feeling the strain of a woefully underfunded system and still we're seeing more cuts. "Unpaid carers save the Government a fortune - £119 billion a year - yet they're let down in return. It is time for urgent action to tackle the crisis in social care." This is just the latest research to highlight the problems facing the social care system. Councils themselves acknowledge they are struggling to meet demand. Last week a survey of social care chiefs showed that cuts were still being made despite the government pumping extra money into the system. Sarah Pickup, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: "It could not be clearer that there is a desperate need for politicians from all parties to quickly find an answer to how we, as a nation, are going to adequately fund social care services in the future." Ministers have promised the system will be reformed. A Department of Health spokesperson said £400m of additional NHS funding had been allocated until 2015 to pay for carers' breaks. She added: "We know how important it is for carers to be able to take a break from their caring responsibilities, to protect their own physical and mental health. "We also want to place the rights of carers on a much firmer footing, so that the law recognises carers' rights and their role in caring for others." A social care white paper is expected to be published in England in the coming weeks, but there are fears the trickiest issue - how to fund it - will be put off. \|\|\|\|\| Under the proposals, local authorities would be legally obliged to offer support to such carers. Some 1.25 million people spend 50 hours a week or more caring for family members who are unable to cope alone. Proposals are due to be published "within the next few weeks" after recommendations by the Law Commission. It has been suggested these could include carers' rights to respite breaks and to education and training. 'Big sacrifices' Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said the move would make a "huge difference" to carers' lives. He told the BBC: "Carers make big sacrifices in undertaking the support of a family member, they often give up their health and their wealth as part of this. Many feel the need to quit work as a consequence of it as well. "What we're trying to do is make sure in future neither the NHS or local councils overlook the family members who are providing the backbone of care and support in our country, and they actually look out for them and provide them with the support when they need it." Mr Burstow said the government wanted to expand the network of existing carer centres and services around the country. He added: "We want to make sure people have access to a break from their caring responsibilities. "That could be as practical as having a respite care service provided for the person they're caring for, or even access to a computer so they can keep in touch with the rest of their family and have a life beyond their caring responsibilities." Reform plans BBC political correspondent Tim Reid says what is not yet clear is how the proposals would be paid for, given that funding is a divisive issue. Mr Burstow said the plans were about using money earlier to provide support to enable families to care for their relatives for longer. The independent Dilnot Commission last year made wider recommendations on how to reform the funding of care and support. It put forward the idea of introducing a cap on lifetime care costs of £35,000, which could be included in a forthcoming White Paper. The Treasury is thought to have concerns about the cost to the public purse of reforming the system. By 2026, the estimated additional annual cost of £1.7bn is likely to rise to £3.6bn because of the ageing population. A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "The way that carers are treated, and the support they receive, will be central to the government's plans to reform the social care system that will be published in a White Paper soon." Wales and Northern Ireland both have means-tested social care systems which are similar to that in England. Scotland provides free personal care, but in recent years has tightened the eligibility criteria. \|\|\|\|\| By Nick TriggleHealth correspondent, BBC News A review published last year suggested care costs should be capped, but this would cost an extra £1.7bn a year. The Nuffield Trust analysis believes this sum could be found from within existing public sector spending. The think-tank said tax rises could be used too. But it questioned whether that would be appropriate in the current financial climate and said if they were to be introduced they should be targeted at elderly people. The report comes as the government is still finalising its plans for reforming the way people pay for care in their own homes and in care homes. A White Paper is expected to be published next month. Controversy One of the proposals under consideration is the idea of introducing a cap on lifetime care costs of between £35,000 and £50,000. This was put forward by the Dilnot Commission, which was set up by the government to look into the issue. Funding is the most controversial element of the changes, with the Treasury thought to have concerns about the cost to the public purse of reforming the system. By 2026, the estimated additional annual cost of £1.7bn is likely to rise to £3.6bn because of the ageing population. But the Nuffield Trust said it was feasible to look at redistributing current spending to cover the bill. It pointed out that about £140bn a year is spent on elderly people across the NHS, welfare and social care sectors. Just 6% of this currently goes on social care. The Nuffield Trust said the extra cost could be plugged through a variety of measures. For example, it cited a £1.5bn underspend in the NHS last year. Money could also be saved by means-testing benefits such as winter fuel payments, travel concessions and free TV licences. Report author Anita Charlesworth said it was important that the government had an open debate with the public about priorities. "The government currently spends some £140bn a year on older people. "If you were starting with a blank sheet of paper is this the best balance of spending to ensure quality of life, dignity and respect in older age?" Michelle Mitchell, of Age UK, agreed, saying an "honest debate" was needed and she urged ministers to have "courage and conviction" in their attempts to reform the system. The government said it would be publishing its plans soon. \|\|\|\|\| Carers UK says many families are being pushed to breaking point because they are unable to get local authority help. It says as well as investing in social care, ministers should encourage private care firms to offer more jobs to form a "new care economy". Its survey of 4,000 carers found 31% had given up work or cut hours in order to care for their relatives. 'Crisis' The charity said ifa growth was achieved in the care market , it would benefit families, employers and the economy in a "triple win". Chief executive Helena Herklots said: "Instead of seeing growing care needs as a demographic problem we need to reshape our economy, workplaces and services to fit the needs of modern families. "The current crisis in care means that [the] government cannot escape the need to invest in chronically underfunded social care services. "But whether you are an individual buying your own care or a local council commissioning social care services - it is in all our interests to cultivate a vibrant care market." The charity said a growing number of family members have been forced to give up work to care for ill or disabled loved ones because they were "unable to get the reliable or affordable support to juggle work and care". That costs the public purse £1.3bn a year in carers' benefits and lost taxes, according to a recent study by the London School of Economics. Carers UK argues that a "new care economy" would help meet the needs of an ageing population and deliver substantial economic gains. The government is about to publish plans on the future of care for older and disabled people, but has not yet commented on the charity's suggestions.	The UK's "army of unpaid carers" is being "let down" by the failing social care system, campaigners warn. Ministers are planning to grant legal rights for the first time to people in England who spend hours caring for elderly or disabled relatives. The funding gap for reforming social care in England could be plugged by raiding the NHS surplus or restricting access to benefits such as the winter fuel allowance, experts say. A charity representing carers has called for a new strategy to kick-start more jobs in the care industry. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
David Bailey, chairman of the British Medical Association in Wales, said morale had taken a "hit" as a result. The Welsh Government said it was following advice on introducing a 12-week gap between doses. All four chief medical officers in the UK have backed the move. They have supported the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which said the focus should be on giving at-risk people the first dose of whichever vaccine they receive. A second vaccine is being rolled out in Wales from Monday. The use of the new Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine comes after some medics and more vulnerable people started to receive the first of their Pfizer-BioNTec jabs in Wales. Pfizer has said it has tested the vaccine's efficacy only when the two vaccines were given up to 21 days apart. But the chief medical officers said the "great majority" of initial protection came from the first jab. Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the vaccination plan would "ensure that more at-risk people are able to get protection from a vaccine in the coming weeks and months, reducing deaths and starting to ease pressure on our NHS". Dr Bailey said there was concern among staff that a 12 week gap between receiving two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could lead to "sacrificing some immunity" because trials had involved up to a six week gap between doses. "They're not convinced, they're not certain that they're being adequately protected," he said. "There are concerns for everybody working in the health service because of the huge increase in the prevalence and the transmissibility of the Covid virus at the moment, so there's a real concern there is a very high risk of catching it." Related Internet Links British Medical Association in Wales \|\|\|\|\| Dr Gillian Richardson, the doctor leading the rollout described getting the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to people across Wales as a "huge task". She originally said there would be 40,000 doses but the Welsh Government later said it expected to reach that figure by the second week of January. Meanwhile Public Health Wales said 35,335 people had had the Pfizer jab. When asked how long the rollout of the latest vaccine would take, Dr Richardson told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast: "We can only give it at the rate at which it arrives, so some of that is not predictable with some of the international players in the vaccine manufacturing world but of course with Oxford we have a lot more control. "So, by the time the Oxford-AstraZeneca is manufactured using a good steady flow, we'll be able to give you some of those predictions, but just now what we can say is we are doing those that are most vulnerable first, and we will get to everybody in their turn - please bear with us." She also said it was "excellent news" the two doses could be administered up to 12 weeks apart, meaning more people could get their first jab sooner. She urged people to follow Wales' coronavirus restrictions as they celebrate new year: "Please for everybody - take extra care. "That 'hands, face, space' message is really important, especially tonight, celebrate safely and enjoy yourself safely. "It's going to be a while before we see vaccine turn the corner on those hospitalisations." Dr Helen Alefounder, a GP in Colwyn Bay, Conwy county, said she had not been told what date she would be administering the jab from, but planning was in full swing. Residents in Wales vaccinated by heath board, to 27 December 5,487Aneurin Bevan 4,604Betsi Cadwaladr 5,706Cardiff & Vale 4,789Cwm Taf Morgannwg 5,276 + 3,250Hywel Dda and Powys 5,285Swansea Bay She said: "It's not just as simple as somebody turning up and having a vaccination, it's everything else that has to be considered with it. "Logistically it's a huge, huge ask. "However, we do it every year for flu, so we really have a good background knowledge of everything that we need to do and everything we need to provide. "It's just simple things like making sure that there's places for people to park and making sure that you can maintain social distancing and making sure that you can allow people time to sit afterwards after their vaccine in case of reactions." Situation 'extremely serious' Health boards across Wales are warning that despite the hope offered by the Covid vaccines, hospitals are under relentless pressure in this latest wave of infections. On Thursday, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board announced it would cease all non-urgent surgery and outpatient appointments in January. It follows similar decisions to halt non-urgent treatment at the Swansea Bay and Aneurin Bevan health boards earlier in December. "This is to redeploy staff in support of urgent and emergency care, including critical care," said Steve Curry, the chief operating officer of Cardiff and Vale. The board said it had also opened a new "surge facility" at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. "The additional Lakeside Wing bed capacity will be used to support demand in the coming weeks," added Mr Curry. The medical director at neighbouring Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said all its sites "remain under significant pressure with unprecedented demand". "This is extremely challenging for out staff," said Nick Lyons. "We currently have more than 600 suspected, confirmed or recovering Covid-19 patients in our hospitals and ITUs across our sites are over capacity. The situation is extremely serious." Dr Dai Samuel, a consultant hepatologist at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has been working on Covid wards during the pandemic. He said the rollout of a second vaccine was good news, but urged people to still follow restrictions: "The position with the vaccine is very good but we are in an acute situation. "It's very difficult across the NHS. We are teetering on the brink. A few days of bad luck can bring us to our knees. It's very challenging. "I just say [to people], carry on listening to what you have been told for months." More than 35,000 people have now received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Wales, including people such as healthcare workers who work in Wales but live over the border in England. Almost 13,000 of these vaccines were given in the past week. Plaid Cymru has called on the Welsh Government to ask the UK government to publish evidence to justify increasing the period between the two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from 21 days to 12 weeks. In a letter to the Health Minister Vaughan Gething, the party's health spokesman Rhun ap Iorwerth said the "sudden switch" represented "a very significant departure" from previous guidelines. He added there were "very real concerns" that a longer delay between doses "could significantly decrease the effectiveness of the vaccine". The Welsh Conservatives criticised the speed of the rollout. Health spokesman Andrew RT Davies said: "Three weeks ago, the first Covid-19 vaccine was given in Wales, and since that time we have sadly seen confusion and hope drop away. "Many people over 80 in Wales were desperately waiting for their appointment to do their bit and have the vaccine but as we quickly learnt they would have to wait longer," he said. \|\|\|\|\| The UK will give both parts of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines 12 weeks apart, having initially planned to leave 21 days between the Pfizer jabs. The British Medical Association said cancelling patients booked in for their second doses was "grossly unfair". But the chief medical officers said getting more people vaccinated with the first jab "is much more preferable". The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first jab approved in the UK, and 944,539 people have had their first jab. The first person to get the jab on 8 December, Margaret Keenan, has already had her second jab. Pfizer has said it has tested the vaccine's efficacy only when the two vaccines were given up to 21 days apart. But the chief medical officers said the "great majority" of initial protection came from the first jab. "The second vaccine dose is likely to be very important for duration of protection, and at an appropriate dose interval may further increase vaccine efficacy," they said. "In the short term, the additional increase of vaccine efficacy from the second dose is likely to be modest; the great majority of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine." It comes as: The decision to delay the second dose has, understandably, caused concern. There is some evidence regulators say - at least for the Oxford vaccine - that it will actually boost immunity. But for those who are due to get a second dose soon it will undoubtedly be upsetting that they now have to wait. But the move is about practicalities. The UK is in the middle of a public health crisis and despite the fact that millions of doses are pre-ordered, there is concern the supply of the vaccine will not be as smooth as everyone would ideally want. There is a global demand for these vaccines and there are bound to be times when supply does not meet demand. So the logic of the move is that by spreading this thin resource the most widely, it will have the greatest benefit - not only to the vulnerable but to everyone. Lives have been put on hold and livelihoods lost. This is the quickest way back to some degree of normality. Even if it does leave some of the vaccinated susceptible to infection, it should in theory at least protect them from serious illness. Given where we are now, the argument is that that is a price worth paying. As well as approving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on Wednesday - the second approved for use in the UK - regulators also said that doctors could wait longer between the two courses. This means more people will get the first jab sooner, even if they have to wait longer for their second jab. Experts advising the government, including the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said the focus should be on giving at-risk people the first dose of whichever vaccine they receive. Defending the move, the UK's four chief medical officers - including England's Prof Chris Whitty - said in a statement released on New Year's Eve: "In terms of protecting priority groups, a model where we can vaccinate twice the number of people in the next two to three months is obviously much more preferable." They said they recognised that rescheduling second appointments was "operationally very difficult" and would "distress patients who were looking forward to being fully immunised". However, they said that for every 1,000 patients booked in for a second dose, which will "gain marginally on protection from severe disease", that would mean 1,000 more people missing out on "substantial initial protection". The chief medics said that, while one million people had already been vaccinated, approximately 30 million UK patients and health and social care workers eligible in the first phase "remain totally unprotected and many are distressed or anxious about the wait for their turn". They added that the JCVI was "confident" 12 weeks was a reasonable interval between doses "to achieve good longer-term protection". "We have to follow public health principles and act at speed if we are to beat this pandemic which is running rampant in our communities, and we believe the public will understand and thank us for this decisive action." Earlier, the BMA's Dr Richard Vautrey said GPs were unhappy they were being asked to cancel appointments that had already been made for second doses. He said the BMA would support practices who honour the existing appointments for the follow-up vaccination, calling for the government to do the same. \|\|\|\|\| The latest figures from Public Health Wales (PHW) takes the total number of deaths to 3,046. It follows the publishing of thousands more delayed case results. PHW said planned IT maintenance meant there was a "significant under-reporting" between 9 and 15 December but anyone who tested positive had been contacted in the usual way. Nine of the deaths were in the Aneurin Bevan health board area, which covers the old Gwent region and Caerphilly county. Eight deaths were in the Swansea Bay health board area, with seven deaths in the Cardiff and Vale health board area. There were six more deaths in the Cwm Taf health board area, which covers Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf, and a further five in the Hywel Dda health board area in west Wales. A total of 120,432 positive cases have been confirmed since the start of the pandemic. The case rate for Wales has jumped to 592.3 cases per 100,000 for the past seven days, up from 530.2 on Thursday. The new cases include 459 in Cardiff, 254 in Rhondda Cynon Taf, 248 in Newport and 247 in Bridgend. The seven day rolling case rate remains highest in Merthyr Tydfil at 1,233.3, followed by Bridgend on 1,028.2 and Blaenau Gwent on 929. A total of 19,645 tests were carried out on Friday. More than 1.1 million tests have now been carried out in Wales. Why are figures lower in Powys? Acute patients from Powys are usually treated across the border at hospitals in England, so deaths of Powys residents usually only appear in registrations reported later by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Those ONS figures - which are higher - also count both confirmed and suspected cases of Covid, as well as deaths in all settings, including care homes, hospices and people's own homes. The most recent weekly figures are the highest since May. PHW reports new deaths daily, but these are usually from previous days. Find out how the pandemic has affected your area and how it compares with the national average: A modern browser with JavaScript and a stable internet connection are required to view this interactive. How many cases and deaths in your area? Enter a full UK postcode or council name to find out If you can't see the look-up click here. The postcode search has been updated to replace data for health boards in Scotland with data for local councils. In England, data for county councils has been replaced with data for district councils. Figures for boroughs and unitary authorities remain unchanged. \|\|\|\|\| Senior doctor Prof Andrew Goddard said the virus's highly infectious new variant was spreading nationwide. Case numbers were "mild" compared with where he expected them to be next week, he said, with doctors "really worried". It comes as a further 57,725 people have tested positive for Covid - a new daily high. This is the fifth day in a row new daily cases have been over 50,000 and brings the total number of cases to 2,599,789. Another 445 deaths, of people who had tested positive within the previous 28 days, were reported on Saturday - bringing the total number of deaths to 74,570, according to government figures. The UK-wide total for people in hospital with Covid has already passed the spring peak. Half of the major hospital trusts in England are said to be dealing with more Covid-19 patients than at the worst point of the first wave in April, with the NHS facing its "busiest winter ever". Prof Goddard, of the Royal College of Physicians, told BBC Breakfast: "There's no doubt that Christmas is going to have a big impact, the new variant is also going to have a big impact, we know that is more infectious, more transmissible, so I think the large numbers that we're seeing in the South East, in London, in south Wales, is now going to be reflected over the next month, two months even, over the rest of the country." He said: "It seems very likely that we are going to see more and more cases, wherever people work in the UK, and we need to be prepared for that." Pressure has been so great on hospitals in London and south-east England that some patients have been moved out of the area. London's weekly rate of coronavirus cases is 858 per 100,000 people, double the UK figure. Dominic Harrison, director of public health for Blackburn and Darwen, said a decision on a new lockdown had to be decided "in the next week" - instead of waiting for the North to get to the same rates as the capital "and 'call it late' which has been our pattern of response too often". The most recent UK-wide statistics, from 28 December, showed there were 23,823 people in hospital with Covid. That was already significantly higher than the spring peak, which saw 21,683 in hospital on 12 April. Only English hospitals have released figures for the final three days of December - and these show that a further 2,302 Covid patients were occupying hospital beds on 31 December. London's Nightingale emergency hospital is ready to admit patients, the NHS has said, while other sites currently not in use are being readied. Coronavirus across the UK National public health bodies. Map made with Carto Prof Goddard said it was vital the public did not "let their guard down" and continued to follow government guidelines, including wearing a face mask, maintaining social distancing and washing hands. "Until the vaccination hits and does its job - that's what our best defence is going to be," he said. Dr Ami Jones, an intensive care consultant in Wales, told BBC Breakfast that "hospitals are absolutely bursting", adding that a quarter of her staff were currently off sick or self-isolating, making managing patients even more challenging. "When we see the daily figures - we know that will sting us in about 10-12 days' time in the hospital," she said. "We are not even at day 10 post-Christmas yet and it's already exceedingly busy. "We are going to get to the point where we physically don't have the staff to look after people safely anymore." Dr Jones also urged the public to "please just obey the rules", adding: "Stop mixing with other households because it is spreading like wildfire - and we haven't got much more space in the hospitals left." Do you work in a hospital? Have you recently been treated in a hospital, or due to be treated? Email your experiences: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. \|\|\|\|\| It follows concerns raised by some politicians over the speed of Welsh vaccine rollout. Initial figures on how many people have received the first Pfizer-BioNTech jab show Wales is slightly behind those vaccinated elsewhere in the UK. Mr Gething said there were likely to be "small differences between nations". "Comparisons are naturally being made on the number of vaccinations administered by the four nations of the UK," he said in a ministerial statement to Senedd members. "Whilst I recognise the data indicates there are other nations ahead of us, the national data presented at this very early stage of the vaccination roll out should be considered provisional and a snapshot of ongoing activity." He said there would be "lags" in data being entered, and local factors affecting vaccinations. "For example the vaccination centre in Cardiff and the Vale was unable to operate for two days because of a virus outbreak linked to the site," he added. More than 35,000 people have now received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Wales, including healthcare workers who work in Wales but live over the border in England. Almost 13,000 of these vaccines were given in the past week. The number of vaccinations in Wales up until 27 December account for 1.12% of the Welsh population. In England, 1.4% have received a jab, while in Scotland it is 1.7%, and 1.6% in Northern Ireland. The Welsh Conservative health spokesman Andrew RT Davies flagged his concerns about the vaccine delivery programme on Thursday. "Three weeks ago, the first Covid-19 vaccine was given in Wales, and since that time we have sadly seen confusion and hope drop away," he said. "Many people over 80 in Wales were desperately waiting for their appointment to do their bit and have the vaccine but as we quickly learnt they would have to wait longer," he said. But the health minister said daily vaccination rates were "increasing across Wales". "Looking ahead, all health boards are preparing for significant expansion in capacity from the beginning of January," added Mr Gething. He said the new Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine approved earlier this week would be available from some GPs in Wales from Monday. "This is only the very beginning of what will be a programme spanning many months," he said. "Whilst the urgency and priority required is clear to all, we must also have some patience and allow the NHS to do what it does so well. "My focus, and that of the NHS, is on delivering the vaccine programme quickly but also effectively, safely and equitably." The Welsh Government has also confirmed it will be following the latest advice from medical advisers on introducing a 12-week gap between the two doses of vaccines needed, for both types of approved jabs. All four chief medical officers in the UK have supported the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which said the focus should be on giving at-risk people the first dose of whichever vaccine they receive. "It will ensure that more at-risk people are able to get protection from a vaccine in the coming weeks and months, reducing deaths and starting to ease pressure on our NHS," said Mr Gething. Plaid Cymru has called on the Welsh Government to ask the UK government to publish evidence to justify increasing the period for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. In a letter to Mr Gething, the party's health spokesman Rhun ap Iorwerth said the "sudden switch" represented "a very significant departure" from previous guidelines. He added there were "very real concerns" that a longer delay between doses "could significantly decrease the effectiveness of the vaccine".	Health workers are "not certain that they are being adequately protected" with a longer gap between receiving two doses of the Covid vaccine, a doctors' leader has said. Wales will get 22,000 doses next week of the second approved Covid vaccine, the Welsh Government has said. The UK's chief medical officers have defended the Covid vaccination plan, after criticism from a doctors' union. A further 35 people have died with Covid-19 and another 3,065 people have tested positive in Wales. Hospitals across the UK are being told to prepare to face the same Covid pressures as the NHS in London and south-east England. The Covid vaccine programme is at the "very beginning" and vaccination rates are increasing, Wales' Health Minister Vaughan Gething has insisted.
Dame Hilary's The Mirror & the Light is up against Bernardine Evaristo's Booker Prize-winning Girl, Woman, Other. Angie Cruz, Maggie O'Farrell, Natalie Haynes and Jenny Offill are also nominated for the £30,000 prize. But there is no room for Margaret Atwood's The Testaments, which shared the 2019 Booker Prize with Evaristo. In the running The winner is due to be announced on 9 September at an award ceremony in London. The ceremony was originally due to take place on 3 June, but has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Baroness Martha Lane Fox, who chaired the judging panel, said: "We are all living in challenging, sad and complex times so incredible stories provide hope, a moment of escape and a point of connection now more than ever." The award is in its 25th year and was formerly known as the Orange Prize and Baileys Prize. Past winners include Eimear McBride, Ali Smith, Zadie Smith and Andrea Levy. To be eligible for the 2020 prize, the book must have been written in English by a woman and published in the UK between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| The Mirror and the Light, says Allison Pearson in the Telegraph, is "an epic work of historical fiction". "Does it merit another Booker [Prize]? Yes it does," says the London Evening Standard's critic of Mantel's latest. According to the Daily Mail's Anthony Cummins, however, the 912-page tome might have benefited from some editing. "Even the most insatiable Tudor junkie might be forgiven a drooping eyelid," he opines of a book he calls "by far the most dense" of the trilogy. Mantel's series charts the life of Cromwell, a blacksmith's son who rose from obscurity to become one of Henry VIII's most trusted advisors. The saga began with 2009's Wolf Hall and continued with 2012's Bring Up the Bodies. Both went on to win the Man Booker Prize. Beginning with Anne Boleyn's 1536 execution, The Mirror and the Light continues Cromwell's story up to his own execution four years later. The result, writes Johanna Thomas-Corr in The Times, "might well be the best of the trilogy simply because there is more of it." "As before, Mantel immerses us with extraordinary skill in the teeming Tudor world," writes Pearson. The author, she says, "has written an epic of English history that does what The Aeneid did for the Romans and War and Peace for the Russians." According to the Standard's Melanie McDonagh, Mantel's "remarkable" achievement is to have turned "one of the biggest bastards in English history... into a living, sympathetic, almost admirable, human being." Her latest, writes The Guardian's Alexandra Harris, is "a novel of epic proportions, every bit as thrilling, propulsive, darkly comic and stupendously intelligent as its predecessors." The Mirror and the Light will be published in the UK by Fourth Estate on 5 March. The previous instalments in Mantel's trilogy were both adapted for television and the stage. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| An American Marriage by US writer Tayari Jones scooped the prize at the London awards on Wednesday. The book was described by former US President Barack Obama as a "moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple". Jones wins £30,000 and the "Bessie" - a limited edition bronze figurine. Chair of the judges, professor Kate Williams, said: "This is an exquisitely intimate portrait of a marriage shattered by racial injustice. "It is a story of love, loss and loyalty, the resilience of the human spirit painted on a big political canvas - that shines a light on today's America." She added: "We all loved this brilliant book." In 2018, US chat show host Oprah Winfrey announced Jones' fourth novel as her latest book club pick, saying "it's one of those books I could not put down". Jones fended off competition from five other shortlisted authors, including two former Booker prize winners Anna Burns and Pat Barker. Previous winners of the award have included Zadie Smith and last year's successful author, Kamila Shamsie. The event at Bedford Square Gardens were hosted by novelist and Women's Prize founder-director, Kate Mosse and also saw Helen Rogers named as the winner of the Women's Prize/Grazia First Chapter Competition for unpublished writers. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.	The final book in Dame Hilary Mantel's celebrated trilogy about the life of Thomas Cromwell has been shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. Reviewers have hailed Hilary Mantel's finale to her Thomas Cromwell trilogy as "magnificent" and "a masterpiece" ahead of its publication next week. A book about the wrongful conviction of a young black American man has won the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction.
Education Minister Kirsty Williams has proposed the rise for teachers on the main pay scale. She also proposed increasing starting salaries for new teachers by 8.48%, and a 2.75% increase for head teachers, deputy and assistant heads and unqualified teachers. But a teaching union said the proposals did not address a "real-terms decline" in pay. It would mean an overall increase of 3.1% for the teachers' pay bill in Wales. The starting salary for new teachers would be over £27,000. A new statutory five-point pay scale would also be introduced, so new teachers would advance to the maximum of the main pay range in four years - a year quicker than has previously been the case. An eight-week consultation will be carried out before the final pay deal is agreed. The proposals follow the publication of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB) report. The Welsh Government said the minister had accepted in principle all of the report's main recommendations and has also proposed further enhancements to ensure teachers in Wales receive the same increase as those in England. The proposals would also see an end to performance-related pay progression and the reintroduction of national pay scales. This is the second year the education minister has received advice on teacher pay from the IWPRB. Ms Williams said: "These proposed changes will help enable the development of a distinct national system that is fairer and more transparent for all teachers in Wales. "This is only the second year since these powers were devolved and it is already clear that the approach here in Wales is developing very differently to that adopted previously." She said the Welsh Government had a "determination to promote teaching as a profession of choice for graduates and career changers". "I believe these changes to pay and conditions will continue to attract high quality teachers to the profession in Wales," she said. The teachers' union NASUWT said the proposals "still fall short of what is needed to redress the year on year real-terms decline in teachers' pay since 2010". Head teachers' union NAHT Cymru said an "unfunded pay rise" meant "an anxious summer for school leaders in Wales as they decide what or who they have to cut to afford pay increases for their staff - or if they even need to lose some people to pay the rest more." National Education Union Cymru said the increase to starting salaries would make teaching more attractive to graduates but added: "The prospect of salaries tapering off as they progress through the profession means that progress made in recruiting teachers might not be sustained in retaining them." \|\|\|\|\| In recent years numbers training to become secondary school teachers in Wales have fallen, with some schools struggling to fill posts. But figures from the higher education admissions service Ucas show numbers applying increased during the pandemic. Jack Worth, of the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER,) said it was seen as a stable career by many. A report said Welsh schools were facing a "substantial and growing challenge" attracting teachers to roles before the pandemic. But as of 15 June, 2,350 applications had been made for teacher training courses in Wales, a 6.8% rise compared to the same period last year, Ucas figures show. Numbers applying for training to become secondary school teachers have increased by 19% this year. While not all those who apply may go on to train to teach in Wales, with individuals able to submit multiple applications, the NFER said it was "likely to lead" to an increase in trainees. Mr Worth said with many industries struggling during lockdown and fewer opportunities, people were being attracted to teaching as a career choice. "I think that recent graduates may have had a range of options, but now some of those have dried up, and teaching is now more of a front runner," he said. "There's always pupils there to teach, so it's kind of recession proof. "In a relatively strong labour market, there are increasing difficulties recruiting and retaining teachers, but during Covid, and post Covid we are in a different world." Unions and experts have warned of a crisis facing schools, with too few new teachers qualifying and many leaving the profession in recent years. Welsh Government targets for recruiting trainee teachers have been missed every year between 2014 and 2018. The NFER report, which examined data prior to the effects of the lockdown, points to serious shortages of secondary school teachers in subjects including maths, foreign languages, and sciences. But it says numbers applying for initial teacher training for normally popular subjects, including English and Geography, had fallen below half the target in 2018-2019. The report states that 6.5% of high school teaching posts were vacant in 2018-2019, up from 5.2% in 2010-2011, with some subjects getting fewer than 10 applications for a job in 2018-2019. Mr Worth said: "With pupil numbers projected to increase over the next five years, a continued decline in teacher numbers could lead to increasing pupil-teacher ratios, and potentially teacher shortages." He said with schools in rural and deprived areas struggling to fill vacancies, a targeted approach to attract and retain high-quality teachers was needed. "Unless these disparities are alleviated, existing inequalities in educational outcomes between students from different backgrounds may worsen," he said. Average number of applicants per advert 6.6for secondary school posts in 2018-19 12.7in 2011-12 3.9applicants per Welsh high school teacher vacancy in 2018-19 7.5for Geography posts in 2018-19 7.3for English teaching jobs in 2018-19 The report says: The Welsh Government aims to have 5,300 Welsh medium teachers by 2021. But Welsh medium schools had the worst recruitment rates, with an average of four applicants per secondary school post, and eight for primary posts. And with the numbers applying to train to teach in Welsh falling between 2011-2012 and 2018-2019, Mr Worth said it would appear it was "struggling to deliver" this. 'Placement worries' Newly qualified teacher Celyn Thomas, 22, from Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, said: "I think teaching through the medium of Welsh is really important for me. "There are lots of teachers training but not so many do it in Welsh. "I did my undergraduate degree in religious education and my PGCE [postgraduate certificate in education] at the University of Wales Trinity St David, both in the medium of Welsh." Miss Thomas, who starts her first job as a Welsh medium religious education teacher in September, added it had been a challenge having her second placement cut short during lockdown and moving straight to online learning. "Usually we would be on a placement with our mentor there to help us every day. Everything was on email and group chats and we couldn't go to the library so we read all the books online," she said. "I'm so excited about being back in the classroom and building relationships with the staff and pupils - that's the basis of all of it. "I've wanted to teach since I can remember. I want to help people and to pass on my knowledge." While the rise in applications for teacher training appears positive, Mr Worth said there were concerns some schools may stop students having face-to-face experience with pupils come September. Student placements in schools stopped on 16 March 2020, when strict social distancing measures came into force, and changes have been made to help newly qualified teachers get jobs come the new term. But Welsh Government guidance to schools said they had a "responsibility to deliver" placements, which were "fundamental to successfully ensuring student teachers receive high-quality training". "We therefore strongly encourage schools within ITE [initial teacher education] partnerships to continue hosting student teachers encourage schools," it reads. "ITE students have the potential to play a unique and significant role in supporting schools during this time." \|\|\|\|\| By George HerdBBC News The Welsh Government wanted to see 1,621 new students start in 2018. But there was a shortfall of nearly 600 applicants, with 1,065 starting an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course. The Welsh Government said teacher vacancy rates remain "comparatively low", though it was "not complacent" and recognised there were some local recruitment issues. According to Statistics for Wales, the largest shortfall was in recruiting potential secondary school teachers. A target of 851 students had been set for the sector, but just 480 enrolled for the 2018-19 academic year - a shortfall of 44%. The recruitment rate was down a further 9% on the previous year. While entries for primary school teaching performed better, they still missed their target by 22%. The Welsh Government wanted to see 750 individuals signing-up for the primary sector training, but only 585 enrolled. "We are extremely concerned about the reduction in the number of trainee teachers year after year," stressed Rebecca Williams, deputy general secretary of the Welsh teaching union UCAC. "Part of the problem is that there has been complacency about workforce planning over many years - a hangover from a period when there were plenty of teachers in the system, and plenty more coming through. "This has not been the case for many years, and the government has been slow to get to grips with the implications." The union said there were worrying shortfalls in recruiting for certain subjects in Wales, and a growing concern for Welsh-medium provision. The 2018 figures revealed just 75 students applied to train to teach in Welsh in the secondary sector. Another issue highlighted by the latest report is the number of students studying to become a teacher in England, with just over 60% of all ITE students from north Wales enrolled on courses across the border. Prior qualifications to begin a course in England are marginally lower - for example, in Wales you must have a minimum of a B grade or equivalent in GCSE maths - in England, it is a C grade. However, Statistics for Wales said this did not necessarily lead to a teacher shortage issue in Wales, as "many return to their home country to start teaching". There were warnings in previous years that problems in recruiting teachers was bordering on a crisis, and these latest figures suggest it's getting worse. A campaign to attract people to the profession and incentives to study some subjects seem to have had little impact on the overall figures, at least up to 2018-19. New teacher training courses started in September 2019, but we'll have to wait until the next round of data to see what impact those changes may have had. The drop in numbers of those training in Welsh - steeper than the overall reduction - will be a particular worry. And the numbers choosing to study in England raises questions about the higher grades required for ITE in Wales - some see that as a barrier. The Covid-19 crisis could impact recruitment for this year and next in different ways. On the one hand, applicants may be put off taking up places in September, but it has also highlighted the key role of the profession and it may be attractive as a relatively secure career path. But we won't be able to gauge the impact of the current situation on the data for some time yet. The latest figures follow a series of reviews on recruiting and retaining teachers in Wales. It has seen an advisory panel of experts established by education minister Kirsty Williams, and some fundamental shifts in how would-be teachers can access the profession. For example, from this year, students have been able to enrol with the Open University for paid training programmes in a school that sponsors them, or take a part-time flexible route into the classroom. A new programme of training was introduced last September, with new university partnerships to deliver the courses, overseen by the Education Workforce Council. The council regulates the profession in Wales and was also asked to take responsibility for the 'Discover Teaching' recruitment project in October 2018. Officials are currently working to "update and develop content" for the project, which provides online tools and job searches for those considering a teaching role. Responding, Welsh Government officials said: "In late 2019, we published a new and widely welcomed Workforce Development Plan to support teaching, to attract and retain high-quality individuals, including Welsh-medium teachers. "Our new ITE programmes support and attract students to become a teacher in Wales and is part of our strategy to improve recruitment and retention of teachers." They said initial feedback on recruitment for new courses in September 2020 indicated some subjects, in particular science-related, had not been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with student applications levels increasing. The government also said it had introduced several initiatives to encourage more Welsh medium teachers to enter the profession, especially in the secondary sector.	Teachers in Wales could receive a pay rise of 3.75% More people are applying to train as teachers as they reconsider careers in lockdown, researchers have said. Targets for recruiting trainee teachers in Wales were missed for the fifth year in row, the latest figures have shown.
William Hare plans to invest £10m at its site in Risca, Caerphilly, with an additional £350,000 provided by the Welsh Government. The company plans to create the new jobs over two years at the site, which currently has 23 employees. Economy Minister Ken Skates said the company would expand facilities, improve manufacturing capabilities and create apprenticeships. The company, which provides engineered steel for construction projects, currently employs 1,700 people worldwide. Mr Skates said: "As a government, we have demonstrated over many years how we are a steadfast supporter of the steel industry and today's announcement is proof of that". The company's chief executive David Hodgkiss said: "The acquisition and investment of the Risca facility will continue to improve productivity, meeting our clients' needs through creating local jobs and supporting other businesses in the area." \|\|\|\|\| By Brian MeechanBBC Wales business correspondent Tata is "mothballing" rather than closing the plant as it searches for a new buyer. BBC Wales understands that Liberty Steel, which has a base in Newport, has been looking at taking over the plant. US company, Big River Steel, would like to use the site but only with another company operating it. Tata Steel announced plans to shut the plant in September putting up to 380 jobs at risk. But the workers at the site - which makes electrical steel used in power transmission and the car industry - will be redeployed to other parts of the business, including Port Talbot. No compulsory redundancies are expected and a spokesman said workers have been told it was bringing the consultation process to a close. "We have been working hard to identify alternative jobs at Tata Steel for employees at the Orb business and we remain committed to finding jobs for all those wanting to stay with the company," he said. "Following discussions with trade union representatives, we have agreed to mothball the site for a period of time, rather than closing it. This ensures the plant is properly maintained over the coming period." Economy Minister Ken Skates called the closure decision "very disappointing news". "The Welsh Government will do everything it can to support individuals, the community and the supply chain affected by this announcement," he added. If Liberty were to buy the factory then it would operate it. It already has a plant in Newport making steel for the construction and automotive industries and has bought around 10 sites from Tata in recent years. Liberty admitted an interest in Orb when the decision to sell it was made last year. It is less clear how Big River Steel's involvement would work in practice. The company started in Arkansas in 2014 and describes itself as a technology company which "just happen to make steel." It employs 525 people and, like Orb, it is already involved in electrical steel and has an eye on the electric car market. There has been a factory at the Newport site, close to the city's iconic transporter bridge, since 1898. But Orb has not been in profit for four years. It was put up for sale in May 2018, with Tata wanting to concentrate on its core steel business. For half a century it was owned by Lysaght before eventually becoming part of British Steel and then European Electrical Steels in 1991. It became part of Tata's Cogent division in 2001. Tata estimates it would cost £50m to upgrade the Orb works to allow it to produce the type of electrical steel that would be used in electric cars. The Welsh and UK governments may be willing to invest in it if a new buyer can be found. Meanwhile, Tata unions are attending a works council meeting in the Netherlands, over plans to cut 3,000 jobs across its European operations. These are believed to involve around 1,000 jobs in the UK, which employs more than 8,000 workers. Although the numbers working in the iron and steel industry has shrunk quite dramatically since the 1970s, the proportion of the UK workforce from Wales is now nearly half. \|\|\|\|\| The site burns hundreds of thousands of tonnes of coal every month. Extinction Rebellion said it was "madness" to ship coal from one side of the world to the other, particularly in the wake of the Australian bushfires. Tata said it was committed to finding alternatives to coal and hoped to be carbon free by 2050. The steelworks' three primary sources for coal are Australia, which is 9,000 miles away (14,484 km), Brazil - 5,400 miles away (8,690 km), and Russia - 3,700 miles (5,954 km) away. When the Welsh Government declared a climate emergency last year it said it was committed to achieving a "carbon neutral public sector by 2030", and coordinating action to help other parts of the economy move away from fossil fuels. An Extinction Rebellion spokesman said: "We cannot continue burning coal full stop. "We cannot be shipping it from one side of the world to the other. That is absolute madness. That needs to stop." Friends of the Earth Cymru director, Haf Elgar, said: ''We're facing climate breakdown, and the tragic bushfires in Australia are a clear signal that we must keep fossil fuels in the ground. "The Welsh Government has declared a climate emergency and Wales needs to get to net zero emissions as fast as possible. "We have a global responsibility and that means not burning coal from Australia, Brazil, Russia or anywhere else, as well as not extracting more coal from Wales." Despite the bushfire crisis, attributed by many to climate change, the Australian Government has remained committed to its fossil fuel industry. The continent is one of the largest coal producers on the planet. The high quality of the coal makes it among the most efficient to use, which is why it is highly prized by steel makers. A Tata spokesman said: "We are committed to innovation in breakthrough technologies and nurturing ongoing projects which have the potential to change the way steel is produced. "We are doing this in partnership with our customers, industrial partners, governments and other industries." A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We fully recognise the importance and challenges of decarbonising industrial processes and are working hard to help energy intensive businesses reduce emissions whilst maintaining a competitive industrial base." \|\|\|\|\| The company wants to focus on higher-value products, it said, adding there would be no plant closures. About two thirds of the job cuts will be office-based, it added. The announcement comes after a merger with German rival Thyssenkrupp was blocked during the summer. Bosses had hoped the deal could reduce costs. "Today we are highlighting important proposals towards building a financially strong and sustainable European business," said Henrik Adam, chief executive of Tata Steel in Europe. "We plan to change how we work together to enable better cooperation and faster decision-making. This will help us become self-sustaining and cash positive in the face of unprecedented severe market conditions, enabling us to lead the way towards a carbon-neutral future." The business employs about 20,000 people and is owned by India's Tata. Port Talbot steelworks employs just under half of Tata's 8,385-strong workforce in the UK. Wales' economy minister Ken Skates said: "I am seeking an urgent conversation with Tata to establish what this means for workers in Wales and how we can support those affected by this announcement." Last week, Chinese firm Jingye agreed to invest £1.2bn in British Steel as it signed a deal to rescue the UK steelmaker. It also said it would seek to "preserve thousands of jobs in a key foundation industry for the UK" but did not put a number on how many would be saved. British Steel employs about 4,000 people in Scunthorpe and Teesside. It has been kept running by the government via the Official Receiver since May when the company went into liquidation.	More than 100 jobs are to be created at a steel fabrication company. Two companies have expressed an interest in Tata's Orb steelworks in Newport. Environmental campaigners have said it is "complete lunacy" that coal imported from Australia is being used by Tata's Port Talbot steelworks. Tata Steel plans to cut as many as 3,000 jobs across its European business in another bid to come to terms with a "severe" international steel market.
The Infant Cremation Commission, chaired by Lord Bonomy, made 64 recommendations, including an urgent review of cremation practices. They include a statutory definition of ashes and regulation of cremation of babies of less than 24 weeks gestation. The Scottish government has established a national investigation team to look into all the families allegations. Public health minister Michael Matheson told the Scottish Parliament the team would be headed by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini Independent inspector He said: "What the commission's report tells us is that there are variable practices across the country and in many cases, in the past, the interests of the baby and the bereaved family have not always been put first. "The Infant Cremation Commission has made important recommendations to ensure that never again will any parent have to experience the pain of not knowing what happened to their baby's ashes. "However, I am acutely aware that, for many parents, questions remain about what happened in the past and that some still want their individual cases looked at." Patrick McGuire, from Thompsons Solicitors, who represents more than 200 families affected by the baby ashes scandal, said: "This announcement from the minister is very welcome. "It's what the families that I represent have been asking for. Dame Elish Angiolini did an excellent job investigating malpractice at Mortonhall crematorium and we have no doubt that she will do the same with her recently announced National Investigation Unit. "The families are particularly pleased that she will look closely at each individual case and as far as possible give every family the answers they are looking for. "We are also reassured that those people across Scotland who are identified as being responsible for this scandal will now be properly held to account. " 'Further uncertainty' Lord Bonomy's report also said better records were needed in hospitals, funeral parlours and crematoria. It recommended a national code of practice for infant and baby cremations and said an independent inspector should be appointed to monitor working practices at crematoria. The report came after the discovery that the ashes of hundreds of babies were disposed of without their parents' knowledge. The problem first emerged at Mortonhall in Edinburgh, but there were also cases in Aberdeen, Fife and Glasgow. Families have been told they may never find out what happened to their babies' remains. In Aberdeen earlier this month, a "serious allegation" concerning the "joint cremation of babies and adults" was made about Hazlehead Crematorium. New council chief executive Angela Scott said the findings of an earlier independent audit would now have to be reconsidered. The council apologised for the "further uncertainty". Aberdeen City Council announced earlier this year that it had changed its procedures, including using baby trays, so ashes could now be recovered. Some staff in the past refused to use the trays on health and safety grounds, claiming there was an increased risk of being burned when removing them. The Institute of Cemetery and Cremation Management, which was represented on the commission, said defining what constituted ashes was fundamental to improving the cremation of babies. Chief executive Tim Morris said imposing new laws would remove different interpretations that existed across Scotland about the cremation practices appropriate for babies. Urgent steps The report stated: "Death always evokes grief. To some, it brings release and, to their families, relief from the distress of observing a loved one in decline and pain. "For others, the grief and distress of suffering untimely bereavement can seem unbearable. That is particularly so for many who suffer the loss of a longed-for and much-loved baby at, or before, birth or in the early months of life. "To learn later of uncertainty about the existence and disposal of their babies' ashes has compounded the grief, caused further distress to many, and given rise to mixed emotions in others. "That highlights the importance of taking steps urgently to ensure that future cremations of babies are handled with sensitivity that has due regard to the duty to lay their remains to rest as and where their families wish." Lord Bonomy was asked to look at cremation practices across the whole country. More than 250 families are thought to have been affected by the issue at Mortonhall. Former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini reported on the situation there. She concluded that some parents would never know the final resting place of their babies because the remains had been buried without their knowledge. Sue Bruce, Edinburgh City Council's chief executive, said: "We welcome Lord Bonomy's report, which makes some very constructive recommendations. "Our own Mortonhall working group has held several positive meetings and produced an action plan, which will be discussed by the council next week. "We will continue to work closely with the Scottish government to ensure that our actions are consistent with the recommendations of Lord Bonomy." \|\|\|\|\| New council chief executive Angela Scott said the findings of an earlier independent audit would now have to be reconsidered. It comes amid scrutiny of crematoria across Scotland and the issue of baby ashes. The council apologised for the "further uncertainty". A lawyer representing affected families described the latest allegations as "absolutely appalling." In a statement, the council chief executive said: "Aberdeen City Council has endeavoured to be open and transparent about its own procedures at Hazlehead Crematorium. "I have received a serious allegation regarding practices at Hazlehead Crematorium. "The allegation relates to the joint cremation of babies and adults. "In light of the allegation I now have to reconsider the findings of our independent audit which were published last year and I have advised Lord Bonomy's Infant Cremation Commission of this development." She added: "I fully understand that public interest in this matter will be very high. I will, of course, share relevant information once I have it. "On behalf of Aberdeen City Council, I want to take this opportunity to apologise for the further uncertainty that today's announcement creates. "I also want to take the opportunity to reassure members of the public that they will continue to receive a kind and caring service at Hazlehead Crematorium. "I would ask anyone with any concerns to contact us directly by completing the online form or calling 01224 522255." 'Cause anguish' Council leader Jenny Laing said: "The chief executive has indicated that she requires time to carry out a full and thorough investigation into this allegation. "Until we are in possession of all the facts it would be inappropriate to comment further. "This will understandably cause anguish among the community and be particularly difficult for bereaved families but we, as a council, will assist them in any way we can." Police Scotland said it was not involved with the allegation. Patrick Mcguire, from Thompsons Solicitors who are representing many of the families affected, said: "These latest allegations involving Hazlehead are absolutely appalling. "The families I represent are almost broken by this news. Any suggestion that infants and adults have been cremated together must be rigorously investigated. "At almost every stage Aberdeen City have tried to block or evade attempts by the parents to find out what happened to their babies remains. This has got to stop now. The council have to be completely open and honest and do the decent thing by these families by telling them the truth." Paul Wells, one of parents involved, said: "To think that something like this could have happened to my son Scott, well it's the worst possible scenario. We have dreaded something like this, it's more than someone not doing their job properly." 'Seeking reassurances' A spokesman for the Scottish government described the latest allegation concerning Hazlehead as "concerning" and said it was right that it was now being "thoroughly investigated" by the council. He added: "We are seeking reassurances from the council that these practices are no longer taking place at the crematorium." Lord Bonomy, chairman of the Infant Cremation Commission, is expected to submit his recommendations on polices and practices at crematoriums across Scotland to the Scottish government later this week. Aberdeen City Council revealed last month it had changed its processes for the cremation of children. The council said that, since last November, ashes have been recovered in all cases and returned to the parents. BBC Scotland revealed last year that no ashes had been offered to the families of infants cremated at Hazlehead Crematorium over a five-year period. \|\|\|\|\| The work of the infant cremation commission, chaired by Lord Bonomy, will be published on Tuesday. Health minister, Michael Matheson, will give the government's response to its recommendations in a statement to parliament that day. The families of more than 250 dead babies were affected by the scandal at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh. A report looking specifically at the Mortonhall scandal, by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini, concluded that some parents would never know the final resting place of their babies because the remains been buried without their knowledge. Some other local authorities have also been implicated, and Lord Bonomy was asked to look at practices at crematoria across Scotland. The minister thanked Lord Bonomy for his work, and added: "This is an issue, first highlighted at Mortonhall, that has caused a considerable amount of concern across the country and it is right that it has been examined in such detail." Mr Matheson also thanked those affected by the tragedy for their patience during the investigations. "I sincerely hope they feel that their views have been taken into account throughout this process and I look forward to continuing to work with them going forward," he said. \|\|\|\|\| Michael Matheson said the matter would be considered once Lord Bonomy's report into infant cremation practices across Scotland had been published, The report is expected to be released at the end of the month. It follows the publication of a separate report into Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh on Wednesday. The Mortonhall report, by former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini, found staff at the crematorium had been burying babies' ashes in secret for decades. The report said the hundreds of parents affected by the scandal had not been told that ashes were left after their babies were cremated because it was believed by staff to have been "too distressing" for them. Dame Elish described the practice as a "great tragedy" that left some parents facing a "lifetime of uncertainty" over where their babies had been laid to rest. Similar practices are believed to have been carried out at other crematoria in Scotland. Several relatives of young babies who were cremated at Mortonhall between 1967 and 2011 have called for a full public inquiry to be carried out. In a ministerial statement at Holyrood in the wake of Dame Elish's report, Mr Matheson said a decision would not be made until the Infant Cremation Commission led by Lord Bonomy had reported. 'Necessary legislation' He said: "We must ensure that all affected parents receive the same level of investigation as happened for the 253 families affected at Mortonhall. "I know some parents have reiterated their call for a public inquiry. I would like to reassure these parents: I hear that call. "We have never ruled out a public inquiry. We have always said we would reflect on that once we have received the reports from Dame Angiolini and Lord Bonomy. That is what we will do." Mr Matheson also said the Scottish government would "not hesitate to bring forward the necessary legislation and take the necessary steps once the commission has reported". Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, who said she had been approached for help by bereaved parents in her Glasgow constituency, urged the Scottish government to agree to a public inquiry now. "It would give confidence to families and respond to the scepticism of families," she said, adding that parents had lost confidence in the system after being misled in the past. Scottish Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw backed Ms Lamont's call, citing the "sheer scale" of the events at Mortonhall and the detail of Dame Elish's report. Party leader Ruth Davidson has also urged the Scottish government to set up a full public inquiry. Meanwhile, George Bell, a former Mortonhall Crematorium manager, has told BBC Scotland he would welcome a public inquiry. Mr Bell said: "I have no issue of going and attending a public inquiry. Personally I have nothing to hide. I went to Dame Elish's inquiry to assist the investigation, to hopefully find some answers for these parents." Mr Bell said government ministers had on at least three occasions since the 1980s been asked to provide guidance on the issue, but had failed to do so. He added: "If (the requests) had been acted on, then we may not have been sitting here today, and those parents would not have been as they are now, saddened by what has happened." Earlier, First Minister Alex Salmond told MSPs an extra £100,000 would be made available for parents of bereaved children to receive counselling. He also confirmed that the Lord Advocate had referred Dame Elish's report to police for further investigation into possible criminality. A working group comprised of representatives from City of Edinburgh Council, the Scottish government, NHS Lothian and campaigners, has been set up to act on the report's recommendations. Dame Elish's report made a series of recommendations for improving practices at crematoria. It said it was not known for sure what remains of which babies were interred in an unmarked "garden of remembrance" at Mortonhall due to a "longstanding and wholesale failure" to keep accurate records. The inquiry also found that baby ashes were cremated in the evening when incinerators were cooler, and any ash found in the morning "would be mixed in with the first adult cremation in the morning". \|\|\|\|\| Staff at the Edinburgh crematorium buried baby ashes in secret for decades. Parents were told there were no ashes left when young babies were cremated. The report described the practice as a "great tragedy" that left some parents facing a "lifetime of uncertainty". The families of more than 250 dead babies were affected by the scandal. Dame Elish - a former Lord Advocate - said managers at the council-run crematorium knew that ashes were left after babies were cremated. But parents were not told as managers believed it would have been "too distressing" for them, she said. The inquiry found staff had asked the council for a baby cremator to be installed but were told this was not financially viable. They also said that baby ashes were cremated in the evening when incinerators were cooler, and any ash found in the morning "would be mixed in with the first adult cremation in the morning." And Dame Elish said it was not known for sure what remains of which babies were interred in an unmarked "garden of remembrance" at Mortonhall due to a "longstanding and wholesale failure" to keep accurate records. The report, which runs to more than 600 pages, stated: "The great tragedy of these events over many years is that many parents will now be left with a lifetime of uncertainty about their baby's final resting place." Anne Grannum, the superintendent at Mortonhall until 2011, was described consistently by staff as utterly devoted to her job but wholly consumed by efficiency and averse to change or suggestions for change, the report said. Ms Grannum was perceived as demonstrating little compassion by many of the parents, it added. The report said: "The extent to which practices in the cremation of foetuses, stillborn and neonatal babies at the Mortonhall Crematoria have failed to reflect the changes over the years in social attitudes and the corresponding need for greater care, sensitivity and transparency is partly a product of an inward-looking and isolated managerial approach at the operational level. "That situation was allowed to persist because of an absence of meaningful supervision or leadership from senior management on this matter. "Staff employed there for many years largely adopted practices and beliefs formed and fixed over several decades. "They worked for many years under the direction and supervision of the same superintendent who also preserved such opinions. She was a manager with a lively concern for efficiency and cleanliness but an apparent aversion to change." The report said the apparent belief at Mortonhall that the bones of foetuses and even stillborn and neonatal babies could not survive the cremation process continued, despite evidence and information to the contrary. But there was "overwhelming evidence" that bones from foetuses as young as 17 weeks do survive cremation, Dame Elish's investigation found. The report, which was compiled for the City of Edinburgh Council, contains 22 recommendations which will now be taken forward by the council and other relevant agencies. These included: 'Sincere apologies' Sue Bruce, chief executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "On behalf of the council, I would like to offer my sincere apologies to the bereaved families for the distress they have suffered as a result of the practices at Mortonhall Crematorium. "I realise that the past year-and-a-half has been very difficult for the families involved and wish to thank them all for their co-operation with the investigation and their contribution to the report. "It is also clear from the recommendations that there are far-reaching implications regarding cremation practices and the legislative framework not just for Edinburgh but across Scotland and the United Kingdom and I will be working with the Scottish government and other relevant bodies to address these concerns." Ms Bruce said the council would now consult with families regarding their views on a suitable memorial. She added: "It is vital that we learn from this and look to the future. We must ensure that the highest possible standards are adhered to at Mortonhall and that nothing like this can happen again." Copies of the report were couriered to parents on Wednesday morning, ahead of its release to the general public. A 41-year-old mother, whose son's ashes were buried in Mortonhall's Rose Garden without her knowledge, said she was "angry and upset" to hear managers had refused to tell parents there were ashes. The woman, who asked not to be named, told the BBC Scotland news website: "My stomach is in knots, I could vomit. I absolutely disagree that it would have been too distressing to find out our babies had been cremated. "It would have helped us if we could have taken the remains of our wee boy and disposed of them in the way we decided. "It is the basic right of a mother to be given enough information to make an informed choice and we weren't given that. "We were led to believe there would be no cremation and told to tick a box." The mother does not know if a further two babies she lost are also in Mortonhall as an investigation concluded there was "insufficient evidence" - meaning there were no records of what happened to them. Several parents have called for a full public inquiry to be carried out into practices surrounding the cremation of young babies. 'Truth and answers' Speaking at a media conference in Edinburgh later on Wednesday, Patrick McGuire, a partner at Thompsons Solicitors, which is representing the families, said: "The families only ever wanted the truth and answers. "The families care that lessons are learned from this so that nobody has to go through what they have had to go through. "By the time all the truth has come out there won't be a single community that has not been affected by this and the families are entitled to recompense. The report has been very helpful on this front as it has recognised the families' concerns." Gary McDougall, whose baby son Fraser died after been born prematurely at 23 weeks, said: "The report is damning of City of Edinburgh Council and of the practices at Mortonhall. What they have done to the families is an outrage and a scandal. There needs to be answers over what has been done." The practice at Mortonhall crematorium is thought to have been in place from its opening in 1967 until a change of management in 2011. A separate inquiry into how infant remains have been dealt with throughout Scotland is expected to report at the end of May. Former high court judge Lord Bonomy has chaired the Infant Cremation Commission, which will recommend changes to the law to prevent a similar scandal happening again. Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: "I am clear that no parent should ever have to go through a similar experience to those affected by practices like this, at any crematorium in Scotland. "We are absolutely committed to changing the law and a wide-ranging bill is already planned. On that basis we established the independent commission, chaired by Lord Bonomy, to examine current infant cremation policy, practice and legislation. "Lord Bonomy has advised he expects to deliver their national recommendations to ministers by the end of May. These recommendations will shape and inform the work of our planned legislation." \|\|\|\|\| Former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini carried out the investigation into the cremation of babies at the council-run crematorium over a period of 40 years. Why was the report needed? In December 2012 bereavement charity Sands Lothian revealed that the cremated ashes of stillborn babies or infants who had died within days of birth had been buried without parents' knowledge at Mortonhall. This had happened for more than four decades, until a change of management the previous year, and involved hundreds of babies. The charity discovered that Edinburgh's privately-run crematoriums - Seafield and Warriston - both gave ashes to parents no matter how tiny the child. But the council-run Mortonhall had always told grieving parents there would be nothing to scatter after the cremation of their babies. Sands (Stillbirth and neonatal death society) discovered that, despite telling parents there were no ashes, the remains of cremated babies were being secretly buried in the crematorium's garden of remembrance. The practice could have been going on since the facility opened in 1967 until 2011. Why would staff lie to bereaved parents about the existence of babies ashes? When the scandal emerged hundreds of parents whose infants had been cremated at Mortonhall demanded to know why this had happened. The original reason given by the council was that the crematorium had lacked the necessary equipment to return ashes to families from babies which were born before term or were just days old. However, it quickly emerged that when new management had taken over Mortonhall in May 2011 they had begun to carry out such cremations at the end of the working day when the cremators were cooling down, in an effort to recover more ashes. It was also claimed by experts that Mortonhall had received extensive upgrades in 2004 to allow the cremators to be more easily controlled and that methods of doing this had been available for at least 20 years. One former employee was said to have told a grieving mother that the Mortonhall policy had been a result of "laziness and a bad attitude". Are there ashes available after the cremation of a baby or not? When Sands Lothians investigated policies and procedures for baby cremations they found Seafield in Edinburgh had been giving ashes to parents for more than 17 years. However, what is meant by the term "ashes" is not defined in any regulations. An internal statement provided to the inquiry by the man who ran the Mortonhall crematorium said that because babies bones are soft, it could not be guaranteed that what was left in the cremator after the process was the actual "cremated remains" of the child, and not coffin ash. He said he was just following guidance from the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (FBCA). FBCA guidelines say that parents should be warned that remains could not be guaranteed to be that of their child. Tim Morris from the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, told the BBC: "The Institute's position is that there is no difference between ashes and cremated remains … whatever is left after the last flame has ceased is ash and that should be given to the parents." Are other councils doing the same as Edinburgh? As well as Dame Elish Angiolini's inquiry into the specific Mortonhall cases, a separate Infant Cremation Commission has been established as a national response to the situation. The commission, chaired by former high court judge Lord Bonomy, which is expected to report in June, has been thoroughly examining the policies and practices in all crematoria in Scotland and will recommend changes to the existing laws, which date back to 1935. An interim report said commission members agreed that all crematoria should keep a record of every cremation. They said a mandatory register, that would include the processing of pre-24-week foetuses, should be made law. First Minister Alex Salmond has promised that the judge's report will lead to legislation to prevent future scandals. Last year a BBC investigation looked at the policies across Scotland and found ashes were not returned in any of Aberdeen's baby cremations since 2008, while in Inverness 100% were returned. In correspondence with Aberdeen City Council over three months, it forcefully maintained that "there are no remains" from a baby up to 18 months. However, it launched an independent audit into its cremation practices as a result of the BBC inquiry. Glasgow City Council admitted it held the information but refused to provide it. It later apologised to one family. \|\|\|\|\| Dame Elish Angiolini submitted her investigation into the cremation of babies at the council-run crematorium last week. Council chiefs have now agreed to publish the report on 30 April. The crematorium buried or scattered the ashes of babies for decades. But parents had been told there would be nothing left to scatter after their babies had been cremated. Hundreds of families were affected and many are considering legal action. Former Dame Elish, the former lord advocate, gave her findings to the council on 14 April after a probe into former practices at the crematorium. The chief executive of Edinburgh Council, Sue Bruce, has said she needed to read Dame Elish Angiolini's report thoroughly before setting a date. She said: "Due to the length of the report, we expect to publish it on Wednesday 30 April with parents receiving a personal copy that morning, ahead of wider publication. "I intend to write to parents personally tomorrow to advise them of this. I understand how anxious they are to receive the report and hope this timescale will reassure them." Dorothy Maitland, operations director of the Stillborn and Neonatal Death Society (Sands) Lothians, who is also one of the affected parents, said she was "very, very disappointed" that no-one from the council had let her know they had received the report. She told BBC Radio Scotland: "I think they could have informed us that the report was with the council. None of us have slept last night. "I would like to meet with Sue Bruce and discuss how we are going to support all these parents, bearing in mind that I am an affected parent and I am very scared that what I have actually been told is in fact not the truth. "Everybody's emotions are going all over the place at the moment." Patrick McGuire, from Thompsons Solicitors, who represents many of the families involved, said: "Firstly, I would have to say the families and myself are stunned that we learned this news through reports in the media. "My clients are bereaved parents who have been to hell and back over this whole business and they expect to be treated in a sympathetic and decent manner. "Being kept properly informed is the least they could expect from Edinburgh City Council after what they have been through." \|\|\|\|\| Hundreds of families were affected and many are considering legal action. The former lord advocate, Dame Elish Angiolini, has been investigating how babies ashes were dealt with. Her report is expected to detail the cases of more than 200 babies whose ashes were either scattered or buried without their families' consent. Bereaved families have said they were told there were no ashes left after a baby was cremated. Sue Bruce, chief executive of the City of Edinburgh Council said: "I have now received a copy of Dame Elish Angiolini's report. "I fully appreciate that parents will be anxious to read the report and we are keen for them to receive a copy as soon as possible. "We will be writing to parents in the coming days outlining the timing of publication." She added: "I would like to thank the families for their ongoing patience and Dame Elish and her team for their hard work on this important and sensitive investigation." 'Let down' Gary McDougall, 53, whose son Fraser died at birth, said: ''Fraser was born on 11.11.99. How apt. Remembrance Day, never forgotten. "He lived for five minutes and we had him in our hands, my wife and I, until he passed to another place shall we say. "We wanted ashes and the girl told me no that doesn't happen. You don't get ashes from a baby, they're too small, too young, and we felt devastated at the time but you think they are the experts so we took their advice. "We believed them but lo and behold, much later we discovered that wasn't the case. "These people must be brought to justice. Somebody must be accountable for what they've done with all these babies, not just us but all the other parents. "We've been let down in a massive massive way by people we trusted. That's a hammer blow to us." Fraser's mother, Arlene McDougall, 53, said: "I've a lot of anger. They deprived me. Nobody has any right to deprive a mother of her baby's ashes. Somebody somewhere decided that baby's ashes weren't worth anything'." Dorothy Maitland, operations manager for Sands (the Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Society), had her daughter Kaelen's remains cremated at Mortonhall in 1986, and was told there would be no ashes to scatter. She said: ''It's so important for the future that this never happens again and that communication between hospital staff, funeral directors and crematorium staff means they all know what will happen to that baby because parents deserve that'. ''What right do these people have to do that to us? Why do they think they should be able to do that and it's just made me feel that my daughter was treated with no respect." \|\|\|\|\| A group representing the families affected met politicians at Holyrood and said a full inquiry was the only way they could get answers. In December it emerged babies' ashes had been scattered in Edinburgh without the knowledge of their parents. There have also been concerns about crematoriums in Aberdeen and Glasgow. Last week, Public Health Minister Michael Matheson announced that an independent commission was being established to examine the policies in place for handling ashes and cremated remains, which will then lead to legislation. However, it will not investigate individual cases. Another investigation, led by former lord advocate Dame Elish Angiolini, has been set up into practices at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh. But the families' representatives told MSPs a full public inquiry was the only way to get the truth. Patrick McGuire, of Thompsons solicitors, representing a number of the families, said: "In my opinion, the case for a public inquiry is utterly unanswerable and if one is not announced then there can only be a backlash among not only the families affected by this but the whole of Scotland, because I have never seen a group of people with a wider support among all communities." After it was revealed that Mortonhall Crematorium secretly buried the ashes of babies for decades, BBC Scotland discovered that 24 babies had been cremated at Aberdeen crematorium in the past five years, without ashes being given to the families. In response, Aberdeen City Council said it would be carrying out an audit. 'Absolute gulf' It later emerged that at least two babies' ashes were disposed of secretly in Glasgow, without ashes being returned. Glasgow City Council apologised to one family and joined calls for an independent investigation into the practices of publicly-owned crematoria to be held. During the meeting with MSPs, chaired by Labour's Kezia Dugdale, bereaved parents took the opportunity to tell of their personal experiences. Dorothy Maitland, operations manager for Sands (the Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Society), had her daughter Kaelen cremated at Mortonhall in 1986, and was told there would be no ashes to scatter. "It's important to parents that they get the truth and we feel this is the only way we are going to get the absolute truth," she said. "We are proud of our babies, we are mothers and fathers and we are fighting for the rights of our babies and, yes, it is emotional, but it's vital that people get to know how important these babies are to us." She added: "For me, if someone could turn round and tell me why they told parents that you do not get ashes when they clearly knew you do get ashes, I just want an explanation as to why they did that." Solicitor Mr McGuire said: "Public inquiries are underpinned by an Act of Parliament and that is a way to ensure that families affected by this tragedy will have a role within the inquiry, a very pro-active role where they will be entitled to be legally represented and entitled to influence the process and to ask questions. "There's an absolute gulf between that and what's going on at present." Reforming law Willie Reid, chairman of the Mortonhall Ashes Action Committee, said the purpose of the meeting was to give MSPs the story from the perspective of the parents. "We need a public inquiry," he said: "It's the only way that the truth of what's happened and why it has happened and to prevent it from happening again can come about." After the meeting, Lothians MSP Ms Dugdale said: "All the commission will do is to look to reform the law around cremation, that's a good thing. But that doesn't give these families any sense of justice. "That won't tell them where their babies' ashes are or why what happened did happen. The only thing that can do that is a public inquiry, so the fight for that continues. Nothing less will do." A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "Recent cases have demonstrated that the existing legislation and current industry practice is falling short of what the public deserves, which is why we announced that we were establishing an independent commission to examine the policies and practices in place for handling ashes and cremated remains. "The commission will make its recommendation by the end of this year and is the fastest way to ensure a consistent approach to the treatment of ashes is put in place across Scotland." \|\|\|\|\| Parents were refused access to their dead babies' ashes at the crematorium. It was burying the ashes in a remembrance garden. It is thought the practice was carried out from the 1960s until 2011, and 26 complaints were made to police. The Mortonhall Ashes Action Committee said it was disappointed by the decision not to pursue charges. The committee said it had no faith in any Edinburgh City Council investigation and would continue to press for a public inquiry. Police Scotland confirmed that no further criminal action was planned. A spokesman said information gathered by officers would be made available to the inquiry established by Edinburgh City Council into what happened at Mortonhall, which is being led by Dame Elish Angiolini. Current information A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Following a number of complaints relating to Edinburgh Crematoria, robust inquiries were carried out to determine if a criminal police investigation was required. "On progressing inquiries, officers engaged closely with Edinburgh City Council and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and regularly provided updates as to the progress of assessing any information that was received. "Following consultation with the procurator fiscal, it has been agreed that there is no basis in the current information on which to report the matter for consideration of prosecution." The spokesman added: "All the information that has been gathered will now be passed to Edinburgh City Council to assist in their inquiry. "There will be no further police involvement at this time. "However any new information that suggests criminality will be passed to the police for further investigation. "Police are now in the process of updating the individuals who made complaints in relation to this matter." 'Whole truth' Willie Reid, chairman of the Mortonhall Ashes Action Committee and one of the parents who had reported their case to police, said: "Mortonhall Ashes Action Committee are disappointed in the decisions by the police and Crown Office that no criminal proceeding are to take place. "Our fight for a public inquiry continues as we have no faith in any Edinburgh City Council investigation. "We would like to thank the former Lothian and Borders Police and Police Scotland for their efforts and sympathetic way they dealt with parents." Patrick McGuire, a partner with Thompsons Solicitors, which is acting for almost 100 parents across Scotland, said: "There is concrete evidence which proves that the practice of denying grieving parents the right to mourn their babies properly by withholding the ashes goes way beyond Mortonhall. "The inquiry which is being co-ordinated by Edinburgh City Council will do nothing more than scratch the surface rather than get the answers these parents so badly need. "Only a full public inquiry will provide the transparency which is needed to get the whole truth about what has been happening not only at Mortonhall but across the whole of Scotland."	A report into the cremation of babies has recommended new laws and guidelines to protect bereaved families. A "serious allegation" concerning the "joint cremation of babies and adults" has been made about Aberdeen's Hazlehead Crematorium. The judge who led the inquiry into the baby ashes scandal has submitted his report to the Scottish government. A public inquiry into the baby ashes scandal has not been ruled out, Scotland's public health minister has told MSPs. Parents affected by the Mortonhall crematorium scandal were not told that ashes were left after their babies were cremated because it would have been "too distressing", a report has said. A report into the baby ashes scandal at Mortonhall crematorium in Edinburgh has been published by the city council. Edinburgh council chiefs have confirmed that a report into the baby ashes scandal at Mortonhall is to be published next week. Edinburgh City Council has received the report into Mortonhall Crematorium, where babies remains were disposed of without their parents' knowledge. Grieving families calling for a public inquiry into the baby ashes scandal have made a plea to MSPs for the "absolute truth". There will not be any criminal prosecutions over the Mortonhall baby ashes scandal in Edinburgh.
The Sheffield band last performed in Scotland at T in the Park in 2014. They will close the festival on Sunday 1 July. Interpol, Blossoms, Nothing But Thieves and Miles Kane are among other acts announced. The other headliners for the festival, which will run over two weekends, are The Killers, Liam Gallagher and Sterophonics. TRNSMT, now in its second year, will be held from 29 June - 1 July, and then on 6 and 8 July at Glasgow Green. Last year, the festival was over 3 days and attracted 120,000 fans. Geoff Ellis, Head of DF Concerts said: "DF Concerts are thrilled to bring TRNSMT fans Arctic Monkey's as our opening weekend's final headliners; we've wanted to have them back in Scotland for a while now and can't wait to see what their set will bring. "Sunday 1st July's line-up is a combination of legends and bright young stars. We can assure fans TRNSMT 2018 will be unmissable. Stay tuned." \|\|\|\|\| The Welsh band will take to the stage in Glasgow Green on Friday 29 June next year, organisers have revealed. Other acts on the Friday include The Script, and singer-songwriters James Bay and Jessie J, while Liam Gallagher has already been announced as headliner on the Saturday. More than 120,000 fans attended the inaugural TRNSMT festival this year. Stereophonics lead singer Kelly Jones said: "TRNSMT line-up looks like a great weekend for all. "Happy to be headlining the Friday and getting another chance to play in front of the beautiful, always up for it Scottish crowds." The festival will take place across two weekends in 2018. The main festival weekend for TRNSMT will occur over three days from 29 June to 1 July, with two shows taking place the following weekend on 6 and 8 July. Geoff Ellis, head of festival organisers DF Concerts, said: "Today's announcement of headliners Stereophonics plus The Script, James Bay and Jessie J brings yet another brilliant taster of TRNSMT 2018. "We were delighted to bring the news of Liam Gallagher's headline show to the masses earlier last week and TRNSMT's line-up is shaping up to be a brilliant celebration of world-class bands and local talent, over two weekends, for the first-ever time in Glasgow." TRNSMT offered fans an alternative to T in the Park, which took a break this year after a move to Perthshire was beset by problems. Geoff Ellis, who organises both festivals, insists TRNSMT is not a replacement for T in the Park and he hopes they can run in the same year at some point in the future. \|\|\|\|\| The US band, whose hits include Mr Brightside, will close Scotland's largest music festival on 8 July. DF Concerts also confirmed CHVRCHES and Franz Ferdinand have been added to the bill. Other headline acts confirmed for the Glasgow Green event, which will run over two weekends, include Liam Gallagher and The Stereophonics. The inaugural TRNSMT attracted 120,000 fans over a single weekend when it was held in July. Last week it was named the Best New Festival at the UK Festival Awards. Next year it will run over three days, from 29 June - 1 July, as well as two events on 6 and 8 July. Geoff Ellis, head of DF Concerts, said: "We are truly thrilled with The Killers as our closing headliner for TRNSMT 2018. "We can't wait to welcome the band to Glasgow Green for the first time, after a phenomenal show at The SSE Hydro in November." Tickets for Sunday 8 July will go on sale at 09:00 on Friday.	Arctic Monkeys have been announced as headliners at the TRNSMT music festival in Glasgow this summer. Stereophonics have been announced as the headliners for the opening day of the next TRNSMT festival in Glasgow. The Killers will headline the final day of TRNSMT in 2018, organisers have announced.
Staff from 126 NHS trusts and 44 local maternity units will be trained under a £500,000 programme designed to combat a "disconnect between ward and board". It comes amid a probe into the maternity care of more than 1,800 families in Shropshire. The project will launch later in 2021. The inquiry's recommendations to boost NHS maternity care emerged at the end of last year, but those were interim findings. A full report on the results of the Ockenden Review has been pushed back due to its expanded scope. Led by Donna Ockenden, the probe into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SaTH) Trust is looking at a total of 1,862 cases, included incidents of preventable infant fatalities. In December, Ms Ockenden highlighted a raft of complaints about standards at SaTHs hospitals which pointed to poor care over two decades that had harmed dozens of women and their babies, and instances of mothers being blamed for their children's deaths. Announcing the training, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said in addition to forging stronger links between frontline staff and board members, it was also set to create greater collaborative working between nurses, doctors, midwives and obstetricians. The issue of leadership - including the need to escalate staff concerns and apply lessons from serious incidents - was among the key findings of Ms Ockenden's interim report. About 700 staff are set to benefit. Patient safety minister Nadine Dorries said she wanted the training to "empower" staff to "get the best out of their teams, and deliver safe, world class care to mothers and their babies". Alongside the training programme, a new core curriculum for professionals working in maternity and neonatal services is being developed, the DHSC said. The interim report into SaTH had called for seven "essential actions" to be implemented at maternity units across England. They have since been transformed into 12 clinical tasks including giving women with complex pregnancies a named consultant and developing a proper process to gather the views of families. Following publication in December, the chief executive of SaTH said the trust was committed "to implementing all of the report's actions". Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk Related Internet Links Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Ockenden Maternity Review \|\|\|\|\| The inquiry into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS (SaTH) trust found deaths were often not investigated and an induction drug was repeatedly misused. Rhiannon Davies said she never doubted what happened with her daughter Kate. Seven "immediate and essential" actions have been made for all maternity services across England. The chief executive of SaTH said they "commit to implementing all of the report's actions". The review began in 2018 following campaigns led by two families. Richard Stanton and Ms Davies' daughter Kate died hours after her birth in March 2009, while Kayleigh and Colin Griffiths' daughter Pippa died in 2016 from a Group B Streptococcus infection. The interim report lists numerous traumatic birth experiences including the deaths of babies due to excessive force of forceps and stillbirths that could have been avoided. Others recount repeated failures by staff to recognise mothers and babies in deteriorating conditions, including one mother whose baby died because staff were "too busy" to monitor her during labour. It found letters and records "which often focused on blaming the mothers" rather than considering whether the trust's systems were at fault. This was exacerbated by the attitude of staff, the report said. It said: "One of the most disappointing and deeply worrying themes that has emerged is the reported lack of kindness and compassion from some members of the maternity team. "The fact that this was found to be lacking… is unacceptable and deeply concerning." In June police launched an investigation to examine if there was evidence to support a criminal case against the trust or any individuals involved. Following the publication of the report, Geoff Wessell, Assistant Chief Constable for West Mercia Police, said their investigation has been running concurrently with the review and remains ongoing. The inquiry - the largest ever of NHS maternity care - is being led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden and is looking into 1,862 cases and initially examined 250 cases. It looked at a selection of cases between 2000 and 2018 and found there were 13 maternal deaths, a rate that is disproportionately high. While the report said the women were often correctly identified as being "high risk" due to existing medical conditions, little concrete action appeared to follow with junior doctors conducting assessments and no team working to ensure best care. After each death "in some cases, no investigation was initiated" whilst in others "no learning appears to have been identified." 'Want the truth' The report said "inappropriate language had been used at times causing distress," and there were cases "where women were blamed for their loss and this further compounded their grief." Ms Davies' daughter Kate was born "pale and floppy" at Ludlow Community Hospital and died after delays in transferring her from Ludlow to a doctor-led maternity unit. She has fought for a review for 11 years and said: "I may sound arrogant but I've never doubted my surety of what happened with Kate. "I knew I was right. The interim findings will hopefully bring this essential change, critically required change, change this trust has not been able to see it needs to embed and that will hopefully ensure patient safety improves and that is the only reason we've continued." Her husband Richard said: "I think it's really important that the interim findings go someway to imposing emergency recommendations which are clearly needed at this point to improve maternity care, no family should have to go through what me and Rhiannon and all the others have gone through. "We just wanted to get to the truth." The reports lists 27 actions the trust must immediately carry out. Ms Ockenden said: "Today we are explaining in this first report local actions for learning and immediate and essential actions which we believe will improve maternity care, not only at this trust but across England so that the experiences women and families have described to us are not replicated elsewhere. The work that follows "owes its origins to Kate Stanton-Davies and her parents", Ms Ockenden said. She added Kate and Pippa's parents have shown "an unrelenting commitment in ensuring their daughter's short lives made a difference to the safety of maternity care". Mrs Griffiths, Pippa's mother said: "It's not acceptable... you have to pick those failures up, you have to own them and you have to make improvements." This is not a dry report - its pages scream with the voices of the families who have been needlessly harmed. I've heard many of these stories over the years, having spoken to dozens of families, but to read it in black and white, was still a sobering moment. The review's publication also draws a firm line under the pretence that successive poor, weak leaders of the organisation maintained until recently, namely that the trust was no worse than others. They are worse, much worse, and have been for years. The alphabet soup of NHS organisations that were meant to protect these families - the inspectors, the regulators, the commissioners - have a lot of questions to answer too. Their repeated refusal to see what was happening, despite being told of the problems, is just as shaming as the trust's stance. Their moment of reckoning will come next year, when the final report is published. Conservative MP for Telford Lucy Allan said the findings of the review were "deeply harrowing". Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who ordered an inquiry in 2017, tweeted: "This is a tragic day for families across Shropshire who've had it confirmed in black & white that hundreds of babies died needlessly." Louise Barnett, the trust's chief executive, said: "I want to say how very sorry we are for the pain and distress that has been caused to mothers and their families due to poor maternity care at our trust. "We commit to implementing all of the actions in this report and I can assure the women and families who use our service that if they raise any concerns about their care they will be listened to and action will be taken." The seven actions outlined for maternity services across England include: Enhanced safety, listening to women and families, staff training and working together, managing complex pregnancy, risk assessment throughout pregnancy and Monitoring fetal wellbeing. As part of those seven actions, it said there must be twice daily consultant-led ward rounds, seven days a week, in the day and at night. Timeline of events Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk \|\|\|\|\| Heath chiefs have told hospitals they must have the 12 "urgent clinical priorities" in place by 17:00 GMT. The move is to address "too much variation" in outcomes for families. It comes during a probe into the maternity care of more than 1,800 families in Shropshire. The inquiry, launched amid concerns of repeated failings at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), focuses on the experience of 1,862 in total, and includes instances of infant fatality. An interim report published last week found poor care over nearly two decades had harmed dozens of women and their babies. The report called for seven "essential actions" to be implemented at maternity units across England. But that has since been transformed into 12 clinical tasks, including giving women with complex pregnancies a named consultant, ensuring regular training of fetal heart rate monitoring, and developing a proper process to gather the views of families. The directions are revealed in a letter seen by the BBC in which NHS England says there is "too much variation in experience and outcomes for women and their families". Donna Ockenden is leading the inquiry into maternity standards at SaTH, which runs Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford's Princess Royal Hospital. On Tuesday she told MPs the trust had consistently failed to identify the main cause of maternity failings. The Commons Health and Social Care Committee also heard another of the interim report's conclusions, that some mothers were blamed for babies' deaths. Ms Ockenden said that amid the "culture" of blame there was parental guilt, and failure to listen to families "stood out" above all issues. And she added there was a dual culture of focusing on natural births almost at "any cost". The majority of incidents investigated occurred between 2000 and 2019. Ms Ockenden told MPs that when the trust did investigate an issue "they often just hung their hat on the wrong hook". She said: "They picked something that certainly wasn't the cause and got diverted - they failed to learn." She also told the committee: "I think the one issue that stands out above everything else was a failure to listen to families. "We've come across a lot of families who tried really hard to get the system - the trust - to listen to them. "They carry on their shoulders a large amount of guilt now because they feel they failed to get the system to listen to them." The interim report lists numerous traumatic birth experiences including the deaths of babies due to excessive force of forceps and stillbirths that it says could have been avoided. MPs heard on Tuesday there was a focus on natural birth "at pretty much any cost". Ms Ockenden said: "There were times, there were cases, had a baby been delivered by a Caesarian section, the outcome may well have been better and almost certainly safer." She also told the hearing her investigation had uncovered "lots of examples of dismissive letters, very unkind letters". She said: "There was also a culture of 'this is your fault' to the mothers - 'if you hadn't done X, your baby may have lived'." Following its publication last week, the chief executive of SaTH said the trust was committed "to implementing all of the report's actions". Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk \|\|\|\|\| By Riyah Collins & Sophie MaddenBBC News A leaked report has revealed a catalogue of errors at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust was to blame for babies dying needlessly and others being left severely brain damaged. One expert believes the decades-long scandal could be just the "tip of the iceberg". Five mothers affected by the trust's failings share their stories. Warning: This article contains upsetting content. 'She knows it makes Mummy sad' When Rhiannon Davies became pregnant with her first daughter Kate, she and husband Richard Stanton were "elated". "When Richard and I got together, I think it is quite unusual for a guy, but we agreed we wanted children and I became pregnant very easily," she said. "We were so excited, you're just in this bubble of happiness. "I'm very close to my mum and she was elated when I told her and showed her the picture of the 12-week scan. Even my dad, who is a tough old farmer, had tears in his eyes. It was absolutely lovely." The happiness wasn't to last. Their baby Kate died hours after her birth in March 2009, after delays transferring her from Ludlow Community Hospital, in Shropshire, to a doctor-led maternity unit. The couple were among those who first pushed for the independent inquiry into maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (SaTH). Several investigations have already been held into the care Kate and Ms Davies received from the trust. The couple, who now live in Hereford, have gone on to have another daughter, Isabella, now seven, who Ms Davies described as "the light of my life". "Kate is always part of her life, her picture is up, and Isabella has grown up knowing she had a sister," Ms Davies said. "She writes her notes every now and again, sometimes she gets upset, she wishes she had a sister... and she knows it makes Mummy sad." Ms Davies said they were campaigning to prevent other babies from suffering in the way Kate did. The couple have worked closely with Kayleigh and Colin Griffiths, whose one-day-old daughter Pippa died from a Group B Streptococcus infection. Ms Davies said: "This is Kate and Pippa's legacy." Following the Ockenden Review, the findings of which are due to be published next year, she wants to see corporate manslaughter charges brought against the hospital trust. "Where there have been avoidable failings over a period of 40 years, contributing to the deaths of hundreds of babies, dozens of mothers, and serious harm to babies, as far as I'm concerned, and my husband agrees, corporate manslaughter is the only way to force change," she said. Det Supt Carl Moore, of West Mercia Police, said the force was liaising with the independent inquiry and awaiting its findings before any criminal proceedings would be considered - in line with protocol in healthcare settings. 'My baby's injuries were barbaric' "Every year on Olivia's birthday, we go to her grave. I take big bubble wands and we fill the graveyard with bubbles. "Then we go home, we have sandwiches and cake with a candle on it and the kids blow the candle out. It is these little things we do as a family that give us peace." Julie Rowlings' first-born daughter Olivia, died hours after she was delivered at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in May 2002. She had suffered multiple head injuries during her birth. Doctors had decided to induce her first child a week early so they could treat Mrs Rowlings' back complaint. But while she was being delivered with forceps and a suction device, Olivia suffered multiple skull fractures, as well as cuts, bruising and swelling to her face. "The injuries she received while they were trying to deliver her, in that day and age were barbaric; no child should ever be born with those kind of injuries," Mrs Rowlings said. The doctor who delivered her faced charges of manslaughter by gross negligence, although he was later cleared by a jury. Mrs Rowlings said: "Olivia didn't die of natural causes, there weren't complications that meant she was going to die, the complications she had were due to the injuries she received while trying to deliver her. "For me, one of reasons I came forward was to ensure my daughter, when it is her turn, her maternity is going to be safe. I was a lone voice in the wind - I am not a lone voice any more; they have to listen, there has to be a change." Mrs Rowlings, and her husband Neil, who still live in Telford, have since had three children William, 16, Matthew, 12 and Julie, 11. They were all born at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton as Mrs Rowlings said she could not bring herself to go back to Shrewsbury. "We weren't trying for William, he was a surprise, but he was meant to come, he gave me the strength to keep going," she said. "I am very protective of the three of them, fiercely so. I want justice. Not just for my daughter, for all of these children, all of them - they deserve it. "I can only go on how I feel, but to know that there are people around like me, who are feeling how I'm feeling... you don't just feel like that for a little while, it is something you carry for the rest of your life; that heartache, it is always there." 'I was always scared of childbirth, now I know why' "It should have been the happiest time of our life," Andrea Bates said of the birth of her daughter, Eva, but instead it became an ordeal. Eva was born healthy in February 2015, but nearly five years on Ms Bates is still suffering from the consequences of her birth. "I don't think I'll ever be fixed," she said. "It's just left me in a mess, really." After a long labour, doctors at SaTH used forceps to pull Eva out with what Ms Bates's husband, Matt, described as "brute force". A high dose of anaesthetic meant Ms Bates was so numb when Eva was born that she couldn't feel her when she was laid on her chest. For the first nine months of Eva's life, she was left in excruciating pain due to an open wound which, despite repeated promises it would heal given time, instead became infected. The problems didn't end there - the injuries Ms Bates suffered during the birth of her only daughter included a prolapsed bowel, leaving her with incontinence problems. "Eva asks, 'Mummy are you coming on the trampoline? but I can't - I can't exercise," she said, adding that it takes a lot of courage and preparation even to leave the house. She feels guilty that Eva doesn't have a brother or sister, but the thought of going through childbirth again leaves Ms Bates "terrified". Without her daughter, Ms Bates said she does not know if she would have carried on. Her life has changed hugely: she had to give up her dream job as an airline cabin crew member, she still lives in pain and takes antidepressants. "It's affected everything," she said, although she added she was keenly aware there were "so many families who have had it worse". 'My son needs justice, I need closure' "I did a proper funeral for my son - it was the worst time of my life," Kamaljit Uppal said. Her third child, Manpreet, was born on 17 April 2003 at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Two and a half hours later, he was pronounced dead. "I never saw him alive," she said. Ms Uppal's pregnancy was complex - her unborn son was breech and it was recommended by antenatal staff that she would need a Caesarean delivery. However, when she arrived at hospital, this was ignored. "My waters broke, my baby's feet fell out, the doctor wasn't even in the room," she said. "It went as far as the bum and then the baby got trapped." It was only at this point that Ms Uppal had an emergency C-section, with her notes graphically revealing that "one doctor pulled and one pushed" to deliver Manpreet. He was born "floppy" and while he was worked on by medical staff, Ms Uppal was moved to a ward with other mothers and their newborns. She could hear babies crying when her son's body was brought to her for her "to say goodbye". Until 2018, she did not know she was not alone. Seeing reports of other bereaved families who had depended on SaTH for their care and been let down made her legs "turn to jelly," she said. "I have flashbacks, I can't sleep at night," she said. "It was so painful and now it's all coming back." She's now seeking justice for her son, and answers for herself. "I need closure, I keep wondering what happened," she said. "Something needs to change, someone needs to be punished. "They took my little precious baby away because they made the wrong decision." 'The difference between them is vast' "Some days I could walk out the door and not come back." For 14 years, Sharon Morris has cared for her daughter, Olivia, who lives with cerebral palsy due to problems with her birth and needs round-the-clock support. She was born at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 2005, 40 minutes after her identical twin sister, Beth. This delay, or "faffing around" as Ms Morris calls it, combined with a failure to spot she was in distress due to an error in properly monitoring her heart rate, meant Olivia suffered a brain injury. At 14, she cannot talk, is tube fed, and has learning and behavioural difficulties. Seeing her twin sister do all the things she can't is "frustrating for Liv," her mother said. "The difference between them is vast. Beth's got a big group of friends, Olivia's got no friends." Olivia's frustration, combined with teenage hormones, means she can be aggressive. "It's not who she would be if this hadn't happened," Ms Morris said. The impact of the hospital's failings - for which the trust accepted liability - is felt throughout the family. Ms Morris feels like she doesn't give Beth "as much time as she deserves" and the strain has also led to tensions in her marriage. "These problems will remain with [Olivia] for the rest of her life, but also with the rest of ours," Ms Morris said. Five carers provide 24-hour support for Olivia - they've never had a family holiday, or even a trip to the girls' grandparents' homes without carer support, and the family regularly returns to the hospital that "ruined" Olivia's life for further treatment. "Nothing could ever prepare you for everything you face when you have a disabled child," Ms Morris said. She hopes the review leads to action - so far, she feels the response from the trust has been "just words". "Fourteen years and it's still the same," she said. "People need to be held to account. "Any expectant mothers out there, how must they be feeling?" If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support can be found at BBC Action Line. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone.	Hundreds of senior NHS maternity and neonatal staff across England are to get "leadership training" to address the findings of an inquiry into the Shropshire baby deaths scandal. Mothers were blamed for their babies' deaths and a large number of women died in labour at a scandal-hit maternity unit, a review has found. All NHS trusts in England have been given a deadline of Monday to enact safety improvements in maternity care amid Shropshire's baby deaths scandal. More than 800 families have now come forward to speak to an inquiry into mother and baby deaths at a hospital trust.
He quit as rural economy and tourism spokesman after refusing to back the measures, against the party whip. Mr Mundell said he was unable to support the restrictions because of the effect they would have on his Dumfriesshire constituency. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said he was disappointed to see him leave. MSPs were asked to vote on measures that included a ban on non-essential travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK. The parliamentary debate was not to approve or reject the changes, but to express the support of the parliament for the regulations. As part of the new restrictions, which become law on Friday, people living in level three or level four areas must not travel outside their local authority boundary, except for certain essential purposes. Mr Mundell's constituency is in level two, but no travel will be allowed across the border to England. His party supported the travel ban being introduced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to low risk areas. The MSP said in a statement: "On this occasion it was sadly not possible to balance the very specific needs of my constituents with the need to take a collective view as a party that works for the whole country. "I understand the difficult position that puts colleagues in and I have therefore regrettably offered Douglas Ross my resignation as a party spokesperson. I continue to fully support him and the party." The Scottish Conservative leader said: "Oliver always puts the needs of his constituents first and while I'm very disappointed to see him leave the shadow cabinet, I appreciate that he is only doing what he feels is best for his local area. "He has been a very capable member of the shadow cabinet and I thank him for all his work for the party. I know he will continue to be a great Scottish Conservative representative for Dumfriesshire." \|\|\|\|\| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs police will have the powers to enforce the new restrictions. The legislation was announced as 11 of Scotland's 32 local authorities prepare to go into level four lockdown. Police Scotland said officers will only use the new powers as a "last resort". Since last month the guidance has been that people should not leave their own area unless it is for essential purposes, such as work or caring for a vulnerable person. But from Friday, the first minister confirmed that advice would become law: A further nine local authorities are in level three, in addition to the 11 council areas under the highest level of restrictions. Ms Sturgeon said: "I know this is difficult, but it is essential. Broadly comparable restrictions have been or continue to be in force in England and Wales. "And if we are to maintain a targeted approach and allow low prevalence areas to live with fewer restrictions, I cannot stress enough how important it is that we all abide by these rules." Asked by Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron how the travel ban will work, Ms Sturgeon replied: "The police will enforce the regulations in the way that the police have enforced all the regulations that have been in place, in other words it will be a last resort." She added that she expects people will be punished only where there is a "clear and flagrant breach". 'No road blocks' Since March police have made more than 300 arrests and issued over 3,600 fixed penalty notices to people who have breached Covid restrictions. Fines start at £30, doubling to £60 if they are not paid within 28 days. Repeat offenders can face fines of up to £960. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs encouraged people to take personal responsibility and "do the right thing" to prevent the virus from spreading. He added: "We will use enforcement as a last resort where there is a clear breach of the legislation. "The chief constable has said publicly on numerous occasions that we will not be routinely stopping vehicles or setting up road blocks, and that will not change as a result of travel restrictions now being in law. "However, officers may in the course of their duties come across people who are travelling from one local authority area to another. In areas where travel restrictions apply, officers will continue to use the common sense, discretion and excellent judgement that they have applied since the crisis began." 'Pain leads to gain' Professor Stephen Reicher, a social psychologist who advises the Scottish government, said enforcing the travel ban would "certainly" have an impact on how people behave. He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme the effect could be similar to when the wearing of face masks in certain places became mandatory. "There is a lot of evidence that one of the most important things in abiding by any restrictions or medical regimes is effectiveness," he said. "What people want is something whereby a pain leads to a gain. If we can show there will be an outcome, people might be better able to put up with stricter restrictions "Look at face masks. For a long time we were told please wear face masks and nothing happened. "Then at the point at which you had to wear face masks in certain places, compliance went up from about 20% to 80% because it sent out a very strong message." The Scottish government said updated travel guidance would be published ahead of the regulations being introduced at 18:00 on Friday. What travel is deemed 'essential'? A number of exceptions are currently listed on the Scottish government website under the following appeal: "Please do not see these as loopholes. It is important for everyone's safety that we all minimise such travel as much as possible." They include travel for healthcare, social care, childcare and other essential services - including recycling - but only if they are not available in your local area. Journeys to school, college or university are permitted where teaching is not provided remotely. Travel for work, or to provide voluntary or charitable services, falls into this category but "only where that cannot be done from your home". Also included is travel for essential shopping "only where it is not possible in your local authority area". So too is travel for shared parenting or between the two parts of an extended household. Other exceptions include travel to meet a legal obligation, to move house, for essential animal welfare reasons and for "life events" such as weddings or funerals. People are permitted to transit through level three or four areas if the journey begins and ends outside such areas. Use the form below to send us your questions and we could be in touch. In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions. Your contact info I am over 16 years old I accept the Terms of Service 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 on this topic. \|\|\|\|\| By Christopher SleightBBC Scotland news 1. Local infection rates Across the whole of Scotland, the average number of new cases every day is no longer rising. The figure appears to have peaked towards the end of October and has mainly been going down since then. However, there are still significant areas of Scotland where cases are on the rise and this remains a concern for the Scottish government as it attempts to slow the spread of the virus. On 20 November, the 11 local authorities with the highest infection rates were moved to level four, which has the toughest set of restrictions under Scotland's five-tier system. The three worst-affected local authorities in level four at the end of last week were Glasgow City, North Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire. The infection rate in North Lanarkshire has mainly been declining since mid-October. The rate also now appears to be going down in Glasgow after several weeks at "stubbornly high" levels - as ministers have repeatedly noted. However, there's no such decline evident in Renfrewshire, which has seen fluctuating rates between 200 and 300 cases per 100,000 since early October. It's worth nothing that South Lanarkshire, which reached almost 400 cases per 100,000 people in October, has shown a sustained decline in infections since then. But it's not just the local authorities with the highest rates that cause concern. Anywhere which shows a big increase in cases over a short period will catch the attention of public health officials, who want to stop the virus becoming seated in a new community. Two weeks ago the focus was on Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross, which all moved from level two to level three restrictions after a sharp rise in cases. Despite a dip in the number of cases in Fife, it's too soon to tell if the rate will show a sustained decline here - and in Perth and Kinross the rate is still very much on the rise. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also highlighted significant rises in Stirling and Inverclyde. The rate in Inverclyde is now declining, but it's still going up in Stirling - as it is in neighbouring Clackmannanshire, which up until October had seen some of the lowest infection rates across the central belt. Infection rates are not the only indicator the Scottish government uses to review levels, but they are a key measure to watch. 2. The number being admitted to hospital across Scotland The daily number of new confirmed cases of Covid-19 is an important statistic - but it is difficult to make a comparison between now and March using this figure as the number of people being tested has risen so significantly. One number that is arguably a better gauge of where Scotland is in its second wave is hospital admissions. The daily admissions for Covid-19 in Scotland hit a low in mid-July. They then started a slow rise which gathered pace into the autumn, but for the last two weeks the average number of admissions has mainly been going down. If this decline is sustained, the peak will have been significantly lower than in the spring. 3. How many patients end up in intensive care The sickest Covid-19 patients are likely to end up in intensive care, where the mortality rate is high. A report by Public Health Scotland published in July found that almost 40% of coronavirus patients died within 30 days of being admitted to intensive care. The number of daily ICU admissions began to rise at the end of the summer - there were six Covid-19 patients in intensive care on 11 September and there were 111 on 8 November. Numbers have been fluctuating in the last few weeks, but there doesn't yet appear to be the same decline in ICU admissions seen in hospital admissions. 4. The number of deaths from Covid-19 The Scottish government announces daily figures of deaths within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19. Scotland went 40 days over the summer with no deaths recorded at all using this measure. The average number of new Covid-19 deaths being registered each day rose steadily from mid-September, but has now begun to decline. The National Records of Scotland counts all death certificates that mention Covid-19, even if the person has not been tested for the virus. A similar pattern is evident with this measure, with the first decline in weekly deaths since the beginning of October recorded last week. 5. Who is getting infected? It appears that daily hospital admissions have peaked at a much lower rate than they did in the spring, so why is that when the number of new cases has undoubtedly surged in the past two months? One reason could be that fewer over-65s are being infected now than they were in the early stages of Scotland's pandemic in the spring. Younger age groups are much less likely to end up in hospital, or die, from Covid-19. This next chart shows that there were more infections among younger age groups at the start of Scotland's second wave, with that steep rise in mid-September driven by outbreaks in student accommodation. Infection rates among older age groups began to rise in September and October, but now appear to have stabilised. So has Scotland's second wave peaked? The decline in both death rates and hospital admissions is encouraging, but there are significant risks ahead. Local outbreaks are still occurring and health officials will be very aware that the relaxation of restrictions over Christmas will likely cause an increase in infections. The Scottish government and NHS Scotland will be working to drive cases as low as possible before Christmas to avoid that increase turning into a new surge. \|\|\|\|\| By Nichola RutherfordBBC Scotland News Andrew Slorance Andrew Slorance was a civil servant in charge of the Scottish government's planning and response to crisis situations - including the coronavirus pandemic. He grew up in Hawick and became a journalist before joining the Scotland Office. He led the new Scottish Parliament's media team when it opened in 1999, then became the official spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond. A father-of-five, he was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma in 2015. He documented his experience of the rare cancer - including six rounds of chemotherapy - in a blog he called "The fight of my life". He relapsed in 2019 and a stem cell transplant scheduled for Easter 2020 was delayed by Covid. While shielding at home in Edinburgh, he spent the first part of the pandemic working on the government's response from a spare room. Mr Slorance was finally admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow for his stem cell transplant in October. He tested positive for Covid shortly after that and died on 5 December, aged 49. Tributes from across the political spectrum, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, have been paid to Mr Slorance. His wife, Louise, told BBC Scotland: "He was a proud family man who was the life and soul of any party, loving and loyal." Andrew Kettrick Andrew, or "Andra", Kettrick was a porter at Stirling Royal Infirmary for 28 years. He would take patients out on "mystery tours" in a "big blue hospital ambulance bus" his son, also Andrew, told BBC Scotland. "The old people loved my dad as he would often stop and buy them all fish and chips or ice cream - all this was paid for out of his pocket," he said. Mr Kettrick's work was recognised by hospital bosses and they put him forward for a British Empire Medal which he received in 1991. The father-of-three, from Cowie, Stirling, died at Caledonia Court care home in Larbert on 17 November. He was 86. Tom Maley Tom Maley never wanted for anything, but after enduring months of Covid restrictions this year the 73-year-old retired joiner set his heart on a big Christmas tree. It had been a tough year for the normally sociable pensioner who was renowned for his jokes (good and bad) and was devoted to his wife of 53 years, Georgina, and their family. They usually decorate a small table-top tree for the festive season, but this year Mr Maley ordered a 5ft showstopper illuminated with multi-coloured stars to fill the window of their Grangemouth home. The great-grandfather will never get to see the tree in its full glory. He died at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert on 12 November, shortly after falling ill with Covid-19. His granddaughter Claire Taylor told BBC Scotland, said: "My gran has made sure that the tree he ordered will go up and it will shine bright for Granda." David Burgess Davie Burgess was one of 10 siblings born in the Townhead area of Glasgow, but he had a lifelong love of the fresh air and the scenery of the Scottish countryside. As a young man, he worked as a fireman on the steam train to Crianlarich - a trip which included a two-hour stopover allowing him to explore the hills. Later in life he loved driving up to Acharacle to visit his son and his family, where he could go for long walks with his grandchildren and their dog, Mac. Married for 60 years to May, the father-of-three worked for the Milk Marketing Board at Hogganfield Loch. He was a hard worker who even after he "retired" took on three jobs, including running a caravan park. His family described him as a "gentleman" and a "man of pride". He died on 25 November, aged 86. Tracey Donnelly Tracey Donnelly was born and brought up in Edinburgh but she moved to the north-east of England after meeting her husband, George. "I loved her the first time I saw her, and I always will," he said. "She was so loving and kind - just an extra-special person in every way." Tracey had four children, three step-children and eight grandchildren, and she worked as a support worker for the North East Autism Society. Care manager Michael Ross, said: "She loved her family, and she loved the service-users in her care. This tragic news has ripped the heart out of the team and her colleagues are absolutely devastated." She died at Sunderland General Hospital in mid-November after testing positive for coronavirus. She was 53. Third autism charity worker dies with Covid-19 Jim Grant Jim Grant was originally from Bo'ness but he spent most of his life in Grangemouth where he brought up two daughters, Margaret and Senga, with his wife Mary. He worked as a labourer at BP before taking early retirement when he was 60. The 88-year-old great-grandfather spent his last months at the Caledonian Court care home in Larbert before his death on 8 November. He was one of 20 residents who died in the space of a month after testing positive for Covid-19. His granddaughter, Nicole Ritchie, said he was a gentleman who always had a huge smile on his face, and his death had had a huge impact on the family. She told BBC Scotland "As a family, we would like to thank Caledonian Court from the bottom of our hearts. They looked after my grandad for the last 11 months of his life and they couldn't have done a better job, he was so happy and very well looked after." Care home suffers 20 Covid deaths in a month Frances Brown Frances Brown spent lockdown shielding in her room in the Glasgow care home where she had lived for almost 10 years. After months of keeping in touch via video calls, the 76-year-old was finally able to meet up with her sister, Anne Turnbull, in August. Ms Turnbull said her sister, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bi-polar disorder, had a special bond with staff at the David Cargill care home. And she praised the home which remained Covid-free until a staff member tested positive on 4 October. Frances contracted the virus and died in hospital on 13 October. In a statement, the care home described Frances as "the most incredible woman, a real character, and an absolute pleasure to know and care for". 'An absolute pleasure to have known and cared for' George Cairns Former ambulance technician George Cairns was a resident at LittleInch Care Home in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire. His family said the move from his Renfrew flat to the home in January had reinvigorated him and brought out his mischievous sense of humour. During the lockdown period Mr Cairns, who was bipolar, even joked about topping up his tan in the garden. The 71-year-old tested positive for Covid-19 on 8 May despite displaying no symptoms, but his condition deteriorated and he died in the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley nine days later. His daughter, Gillian, paid tribute to his caring nature, saying: "Even if you only met him once he would tell you a story, a terrible joke or offer a supportive ear when you needed it the most." John Morrison Brown Retired farmer Jock Brown was a keen ice hockey player in his youth, and he represented Scotland for six years in the 1950s. He told his family that he was selected for the team because he was the only Scotsman who played as goal tender (goalkeeper) at the time. They insist this is not true. Married to Mary for 48 years, they had two children and four grandchildren. He farmed near Falkirk - on land next to what is now home to The Kelpies - until his retirement in the 1980s. Mr Brown's family said he was a quiet man with a great sense of humour. He had dementia and he died with Covid-19 at Burnbrae care home in Falkirk on 14 May. He was 89. Ina Beaton Ina Beaton was a well-known figure on the Isle of Skye and she lived in her own home in Balmaqueen until two years ago. She died on 11 May aged 103, the seventh resident of Home Farm care home in Portree to die after contracting Covid-19. Ina lived through the Great War and the 1919 Spanish Flu outbreak. During World War Two she moved to Glasgow to work as a conductress on the trams and survived the Clydebank blitz. Her grandson, Ailean Beaton, said his loss was shared across the island, especially the north end "where she was mum, granny, friend to more than just the Beatons. "Her crystal memory and broad experience of life in Skye over several generations meant that she contributed to our shared knowledge of the place we're from, its language and culture," he added. John Angus Gordon John Angus Gordon, 83, spent the last few years of his life at the Home Farm care home in Portree on Skye. He had dementia and the sense of touch reassured him - he liked to shake a hand or hold the hand of the person he was talking to. Unable to visit the home, his family spoke to him for the last time in a video-call a few hours before he died on 5 May. As he listened to their voices, he reached out to the hand of the carer sitting with him, dressed in full personal protective equipment. "We found it quite poignant that my dad put out his hand to hers and she was wearing these blue protective gloves," said his son, John. Son's grief at not being at father's bedside Paul McCaffrey Paul McCaffrey was an "amazing dad" of two children and two step-children who was always busy, according to his partner Caroline McNultry. "He was always helping someone, whether he was in someone's house helping them out or just on-the-go in work all the time," she said. The healthy 49-year-old from Glasgow fell ill after returning home from work at a care home where he was a highly-regarded maintenance manager. Rather than the traditional coronavirus symptoms, he complained of a headache and aching limbs but he was eventually admitted to hospital in Glasgow where he tested positive for Covid-19. He was transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he could be hooked up to an ECMO machine, which performs the tasks of the lungs. After three weeks, he died on 4 May. Robert Black Robert Black was a paramedic but he was also a talented musician and part of the team behind Argyll FM. Paying tribute to him on social media, the community radio station said he was "a genuine good guy... everyone was his pal". The Mull of Kintyre Music Festival described him as "one of our pals" and a "true gent, wonderful musician". He was a well-known and loved character in Campbeltown, according to Kintyre Community Resilience Group. The father-of-two died in hospital in Glasgow on 2 May. Paramedic dies after contracting Covid-19 Karen Hutton Karen Hutton was a "much-loved" care home nurse who died with coronavirus days after her granddaughter was born. The 58-year-old was a staff nurse in the dementia unit at Lochleven Care Home in Broughty Ferry, Dundee. Her only daughter, Lauren, gave birth to a girl just two weeks ago, according to care home operators Thistle Healthcare. Care home manager Andrew Chalmers-Gall said: "Karen was a tenacious advocate for her residents and she always put their needs first." She died at home in Carnoustie, Angus, on 28 April after testing positive for Covid-19. Alastair Sinclair Alastair Sinclair split his younger years between Reay in Caithness and Lanark before being called up for national service. But his army career was cut short when he stood on a mine in Korea and lost a foot. His son told BBC Scotland that he was persuaded to pursue a career in developing artificial limbs as he was being fitted for his own prosthetic. In retirement, the father-of-three moved with his wife from Newtown Mearns in East Renfrewshire to Wishaw in North Lanarkshire. He moved into Erskine Park care home in Bishopton shortly before lockdown and died, aged 87, five weeks later on 27 April. Pearl Paterson Pearl Paterson grew up in Dennistoun in the east end of Glasgow and was just 10 years old when World War II broke out. She was a teenager when she joined the Women's Land Army but it wasn't until she was in her 80s that she received official recognition - and a badge - for her efforts from the UK government. Pearl spent much of her working life employed as a domestic assistant in hotels across Scotland, before settling in Largs, Ayrshire, with her daughter, Fiona. An animal lover, she had a special Chihuahua called Flash, and she read the People's Friend magazine every week. On her 91st birthday in March, her family was able wave to her in the conservatory at her care home in Glasgow. She died with Covid-19 on 26 April. Gordon Reid Known to all as Gogs, Gordon Reid was a taxi driver from Edinburgh who loved football, played golf, enjoyed a pint and doted on his grandchildren. He stopped working as a precaution four days before the lockdown came into force but within a week had fallen ill with Covid-19. His wife, Elaine, and daughter Leemo Goudie, were able to spend some time with him in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before he died on 24 April, aged 68. Leemo said: "My dad was a normal guy, no health issues, a non-smoker, fairly fit. It can happen to anyone." As only a small number of mourners could attend his funeral, people stood and applauded as his hearse passed some of his favourite places in the city. The coronavirus funerals 'ringing with applause' David Allan David Allan joined a local running club in Edinburgh in retirement, after spending 36 years as a science technician at the city's Trinity Academy. The fit and healthy 64-year-old was training for a half marathon and was planning to take part in some Park Runs in Sydney during a trip to visit his nephew in Australia this year. When the holiday - including a trip to Fiji - was cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, David was pragmatic and told his wife, Glenda, they could rearrange for a later date. It was a shock when he tested positive for Covid-19 after being admitted to hospital with a chest infection. He died on 24 April after more than four weeks in ICU. Glenda took comfort from the funeral, when neighbours lined the streets, running club friends and former colleagues stood outside the crematorium, and hundreds watched the service online. Angie Cunningham Angie Cunningham worked for NHS Borders for more than 30 years before her death. The 60-year-old from Tweedbank was a much-respected and valued colleague who provided "amazing care" to her patients, the health board said. As well as being a much-loved mother, sister, granny and great-granny, she was proud to be a nurse, her family added. She died in the intensive care unit at Borders General Hospital from Covid-19 on 22 April, NHS Borders confirmed. Nurse dies in hospital after contracting coronavirus Kirsty Jones Kirsty Jones, a healthcare support worker with NHS Lanarkshire, was a bubbly, larger than life character, according to her colleagues. She joined the health board after leaving school at 17 and spent much of her career working with older patients. But the 41-year-old recently took up a role on the frontline of the pandemic, working at an assessment centre in Airdrie. Her husband, Nigel, said she devoted her life to caring for others and was a wonderful wife and mother to their two sons. She died on 20 April. 'Bubbly' healthcare worker dies from coronavirus Evelyn Brown Evelyn Brown dedicated her life to her family and her community. Born and bred in Peterhead, she was married to Charles for 50 years and they had two children. She gave up her job as a bank manager to care for her son Craig after he was born with Down's syndrome in the 1970s. Her daughter Emma, who was born two years later, said her mother was a selfless woman who loved spoiling her grandchildren with "gifts and love". Mrs Brown was an adult Guide leader and later a district commissioner, she volunteered with Barnardo's and was an active member of the Church of Scotland. After her death at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 19 April, aged 75, her family raised £3,000 in her name for the hospital's staff garden. Jane Murphy Jane Murphy was known as "Mama Murphy" by close friends and colleagues at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. She worked at the city hospital for almost 30 years, first as a cleaner before retraining as a clinical support worker. The 73-year-old, from Bonnyrigg, was placed on sick leave due to her age when the pandemic broke out. It's understood the mother-of-two died on 16 April. Her friend Gerry Taylor said: "She wasn't afraid to tell nurses, doctors or consultants if they were not pulling their weight and they loved her for it." Edinburgh NHS worker dies with Covid-19 Mary McCann Mary McCann, 70, was a "strong, wonderful woman" who was dedicated to her family, according to her son, David. She spent the last three months of her life in an East Kilbride care home, having being diagnosed with cancer last year. The grandmother was doing well in the Whitehills home, where she was putting on weight and smiling again, David said. But in early April she developed a urinary tract infection. Her condition deteriorated quickly and within days she was struggling to breathe. She died in the care home on 16 April with her son, Derek, by her side. 'Mum was doing well, then came this crazy disease' David Whittick David Whittick joined the Royal Navy as a pilot on his 18th birthday in the midst of World War Two. Aged 19, as part of 835 Naval Air Squadron, he was flying off aircraft carrier HMS Nairana in the Arctic. Almost 70 years later he received the Arctic Star for his role in Arctic Convoys - described by Sir Winston Churchill as "the worst journey in the world". He survived two serious accidents during his long civilian career with Scottish Airways and later British Airways, before dedicating himself to supporting the Riding for the Disabled charity in his retirement. His work - including helping to raise funds for a purpose-built facility at Summerston in Glasgow - led to him being appointed an OBE by the Queen for his services to charity. He was married to Joyce for more than 60 years and they had four children. His son, Peter, said he lived a full and active life, even enjoying a trip on a seaplane in January this year. He died at Erskine care home in Bishopton on 14 April, aged 95, after falling ill with coronavirus. Anne Duncan Anne Duncan contracted coronavirus in Letham Park care home in Edinburgh. Her daughter Linda, a lawyer for the BBC, had hoped she would survive the virus as she was from "strong stock". She last saw her mother in March when she travelled from London to warn her they may not be able to visit her during the pandemic. The pensioner had been "extremely distressed" afterwards, Ms Duncan said. She was taken to Edinburgh's Western General Hospital on 12 April and died three days later. Care home death 'hard to process' for family Derek Wilkie Derek Wilkie worked for 27 years as a firefighter before retiring in December 2017. He had senior roles in Badenoch and Strathspey, and Shetland before becoming station commander for Inverness and Nairn District. Colleagues said he was a "diligent and capable firefighter... with a larger than life personality". His wife and two sons - who all work for the NHS - thanked those who cared for Mr Wilkie and urged people to stay at home. He died at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness on 12 April. Ex-firefighter dies after contracting Covid-19 Bill Campbell Former Merchant Navy engineer Bill Campbell died of suspected Covid-19 at Erskine Park care home in Bishopton. The 86-year-old had dementia and carers initially thought he had a chest infection but he developed a cough and a high temperature. His condition deteriorated and he died on Easter Sunday, with his daughter, Linda Verlaque - in full protective clothing - by his side. She praised the work of carers at the home but she said his death was "horrific" as undertakers came to take away his body in full hazmat gear and goggles. "Instead of having people surrounding me and giving me a hug to say everything was all right, everyone was just standing there and we were watching my dad being taken away, which was traumatic," she said. Dad's virus death in care home was 'traumatic' Gerry McHugh Maths teacher Gerry McHugh was a "true gentleman", able to inspire every single student who walked through his door. His death would have a "devastating effect" on the Notre Dame High School community in Greenock, head teacher Katie Couttie said. Unable to attend his funeral due to the lockdown, past and current pupils found a unique way to pay tribute to the 58-year-old. They wore red and posted images on social media in memory of the lifelong Manchester United fan. He died on 11 April. Pupils find safe way to honour much-loved teacher Helen McMillan Helen McMillan was 10 days short of her 85th birthday when she died at Almond Court care home in Glasgow's Drumchapel on 9 April. She spent most of her life in Summerston, where she widely known as "Auntie Ellen" - even to those she wasn't related to. "Everybody loved my mum," her daughter, Jackie Marlow, told BBC Scotland. "She knew everybody in the community and was the life and soul of the party." Helen worked in McLellan's rubber factory in Maryhill until she was in her 50s. A grandmother to Hayley and Josh, she developed dementia in later life but she was still "pretty agile and loving life", her daughter said. Mary Martin Mary Martin and her husband, Alex, were keen ballroom dancers. Although their roots were firmly in Glasgow, they spent seven years in Dunblane where they were tasked with encouraging people on to the dancefloor at the Dunblane Hydro. Before that, Mrs Martin brought up her family in Mount Vernon, later moving to Bearsden. She had three children, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild. Her daughter, Sandra O'Neill, told BBC Scotland she was "just a wonderful person - gentle and kind". In her later years she had vascular dementia and she lived at the Almond Court care home in Drumchapel. She died there on 8 April, aged 88. Maureen and Vic Sharp Vic and Maureen Sharp, who were both 74, had been together since they were teenagers. Underlying health conditions meant the couple from Oakley in Fife were both asked to shield themselves during lockdown. But their daughter, Yvonne Sharp, believes the letter came too late and they caught the virus during a weekly trip to the supermarket. Maureen died in hospital on 8 April and then, Yvonne said, her father "just gave up". He died the following day. Only six members of the family could attend their funeral but a piper led the funeral cortege through Oakley, where locals lined the streets. Lockdown causing 'acute grief' for bereaved Ann Tonner When Ann Tonner left the Nazareth House orphanage in Glasgow as teenager, she was one of the few women of colour in the city, according to her son, Tony McCaffery. She was "exotic-looking and quite glamourous" and was soon in demand as a model for local shops and boutiques before working as a celebrated hot-dog girl in an Odeon cinema. Her first husband tragically died and her second was largely absent, leaving her to bring up six children and - at times - hold down five jobs at once. She was a "remarkable, formidable woman with a strong work ethic", Mr McCaffery told BBC Scotland, but she was also a "gentle soul with an incredibly child-like sense of humour". A grandmother and great-grandmother, Mrs Tonner died at a nursing home in Glasgow where she was living with Alzheimer's, on 8 April. She was 84. Janice Graham Janice Graham was the first NHS worker to die with coronavirus in Scotland. The health care support worker and district nurse died at Inverclyde Royal Hospital on 6 April. One colleague said she had a "bright and engaging personality and razor sharp wit". Another said the 58-year-old was the "most kind, caring and compassionate HCA I have had the privilege to work with". Her son, Craig, told STV News he would miss everything about her. Nurse remembered for her 'kindness and compassion' Andy Wyness Newly-wed Andy Wyness developed a high temperature and a cough following a trip to Wales. When his symptoms worsened the 53-year-old drove himself from his Wishaw home to an appointment at an assessment centre. That was the last time his wife, Sandra, saw him. The grandfather, who was a keen bowler, was taken straight to hospital by ambulance. He died on 6 April. "Even walking out the house that night, although I knew he wasn't well, I never imagined he would never walk back in," Sandra said. My husband went to the doctor and never came back Rita Hawthorn Rita Hawthorn spent the first 35 years of her life in Hamilton, where she was born, grew up and had her own family. But when her husband, Robert, lost his job as a miner the couple and their three children re-located from the west of Scotland to the far north in 1973. While Robert took up a new job at the Scottish Instruments Factory in Wick, she worked as a cleaner at a nearby job centre and became secretary of the Highlands and Islands Civil Service Union. She was sadly widowed at 51 but she was "fiercely independent" and went on to fulfil her dreams of travelling - a trip up the Nile, a safari in South Africa, and solo bus tours to Austria and Paris. Rita, who was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, fell ill during the first week of lockdown. She died at Caithness General Hospital on 6 April, aged 82. Bill Paul Bill Paul grew up in Giffnock on the south side of Glasgow and did his national service as a radar operator with the RAF in Malta. In his youth he was an extremely accomplished tennis player and it was through the sport that he met his first wife, Frances, who died in 1984. With his second wife, Liz, he loved to play golf and travel - hobbies that he continued after her death in 2012. An extremely active man, he loved to go on cruises with a group of like-minded friends. However his last cruise to the Caribbean was cut short by the pandemic in March. He returned home to Arran and fell ill with Covid within a week. He died at Lamlash Hospital on 5 April, aged 81. Mofizul Islam Mofizul Islam was beginning a new life in Scotland after relocating from Bangladesh when he fell ill with coronavirus. His family believe the 49-year-old caught the virus on his daily three-hour journeys between their Edinburgh home and his job at a pizza outlet in Midlothian. He died on 5 April and was buried in the Muslim section of a city cemetery but his wife and children were in isolation and unable to attend. His death has left the family "completely helpless", according to a family friend as they have no documents, no bank account and they are struggling for money. "We are very worried about our future because we don't have our father," said Mofizul's 19-year-old son, Azahural. "He was everything for us. And now we are just hopeless." Family 'helpless' after father's coronavirus death Catherine Sweeney Catherine Sweeney was a "wonderful mother, sister and beloved aunty", her family said after her death on 4 April. Born and raised in Dumbarton, she worked as a home carer for more than 20 years. Her family said she would be sorely missed after a "lifetime of service" to the community. And they praised the medics at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley who "heroically" looked after her in her final days. Carer was 'dedicated to the most vulnerable' Lord Gordon of Strathblane Lord Gordon of Strathblane was a former political editor of STV and he founded Radio Clyde. He died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on 31 March after contracting coronavirus, Radio Clyde reported. He was 83. His family paid tribute to his "generosity, his kindness and his enthusiasm for life". Former First Minister Jack McConnell said Lord Gordon had "an outstanding career in business and public service". Labour peer dies 'after contracting coronavirus' Ryan Storrie Ryan Storrie was in Scotland to celebrate his 40th birthday with a trip to a Rangers match when he fell ill. The father-of-two was from Ardrossan but lived in Dubai. When he developed symptoms, the asthmatic isolated in his hotel room and waited for the virus to run its course. His condition deteriorated but he wouldn't let his wife, Hilary, phone 999 as he was convinced he would recover and didn't want to bother the NHS. She found him dead in his room on 31 March. 'Ryan was the last person I expected to die' Mary and Andy Leaman Mary and Andy Leaman began self-isolating at the end of March after falling ill with flu-like symptoms. Their son, Andy, told the Glasgow Evening Times the couple were married 50 years and doted on their only granddaughter, nine-year-old Anna. Mrs Leaman died at home in Castlemilk on 30 March - four days after the death of Anna's maternal grandfather, Dougie Chambers. The schoolgirl lost her third grandparent almost three weeks later when Mr Leaman died in hospital on 19 April. Her mother, Lynsey Chalmers, told BBC Scotland: "For a nine-year-old girl whose three grandparents were her world... why does a wee girl need to get punished like that over and over again?" Earlier lockdown 'could have stopped 2,000 deaths' Robert Tarbet Robert Tarbet was "self-opinionated and witty", according to his daughter, Paula Karoly, but also "hardworking, loyal and beautiful". He spent his working life as a plumber with Glasgow City Council before retiring in the early 2000s. In his spare time, the sociable man was a mason who was a keen follower of Rangers FC. He loved country and western music and watching musicals in the theatre. A father and a grandfather-of-three, he was being treated for cancer when he contracted coronavirus. He died on 29 March at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, aged 76. Ian Wilson School janitor Ian Wilson was at home in Coatbridge for two weeks with a high temperature and delirium before being admitted to hospital. Despite his worsening condition, doctors initially told his wife, Sandra, she would not be able to visit the 72-year-old who had a heart condition and diabetes. Staff eventually granted access provided she wore protective equipment - a decision which meant she could be at her husband's side when he died on 29 March. Although nurses were unable to comfort her with a hug due to social distancing protocols, Mrs Wilson is grateful they allowed her to be with her partner at the end. "I was able to talk to him and just say goodbye. I've got strength from that," she said. The impact my husband's death had on NHS staff Dougie Chambers Dougie Chambers was one of several people who fell ill after the 40th birthday party of his daughter, Wendy, on 7 March. Within days, the 66-year-old, who had an underlying health condition, went into hospital and tested positive for Covid-19. Mr Chambers, who was from Castlemilk in Glasgow, died two weeks later, on 26 March. Two other members of his extended family - Andy and Mary Leaman - also contracted the virus and later died. Wendy said: "If we knew then what we know now, we wouldn't have had the party. It wouldn't have happened." Earlier lockdown 'could have stopped 2,000 deaths' Danny Cairns Danny Cairns was a healthy 68-year-old before he fell ill with coronavirus, according to his brother, Hugh. When he developed a cough and sore throat at the end of March, he isolated at home in Greenock. But within days he was so ill he had to be taken to hospital by ambulance. In a video call from his hospital bed, his last words to his brother were: "I'm on my way out, mate". He died on 26 March, three days after arriving in hospital. 'I'm on my way out, mate' Margaret Innes Margaret Innes lived with her daughter, Sally McNaught, in Edinburgh for four years before her death at the very beginning of the pandemic. She was housebound and very frail but she loved sitting with their pet cat and dog, doing crosswords and watching quiz shows. Her favourite soap was Neighbours and she used to say "I'm off to Australia now". Ms McNaught said they stopped visitors coming to the house a week before lockdown, they washed their hands, cleaned everything and thought they would be safe. But Ms Innes woke up on Mother's Day with severe breathing difficulties. She died on 25 March, three days after going into hospital. She was 93. Send us your tributes If you would like to pay tribute to someone you have lost, please fill in the form below and use the link provided to upload a picture of them. We would like to respond to everyone individually and include all of your tributes in our coverage, but unfortunately that may not always be possible. Please be assured your message will be read and treated with the utmost respect, and your words and tributes will be used with your name and location where possible. If you can, please upload a photo of your loved one and include their name: Upload your pictures here Please note the contact details you provide will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. Your contact info I am over 16 years old I accept the Terms of Service The BBC retains the right to select from these contributions based on editorial requirements and subject to online terms and conditions and BBC editorial guidelines. For more information about how the BBC handles your personal data, see here. If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your tribute. .	Oliver Mundell has resigned from the Scottish Conservative front bench over concerns about new rules restricting travel to England. People living in level three or level four local authorities will be breaking the law from Friday if they make non-essential journeys outside their own council area. The number of daily deaths from Covid-19 in Scotland's second wave has begun to go down. Hospital admissions are also declining, as are infection rates in the worst affected areas. Has Scotland's second wave peaked, or is there still danger ahead? Here are five numbers to watch. There have been 107,749 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Scotland and 4,135 people have died following a positive test for the virus, according to Scottish government figures. As Scotland's coronavirus death toll passes 5,000 and continues to rise, we are sharing the stories of some of those who have lost their lives to Covid-19. If you would like to share the story of a loved one lost to the virus, please contact us via the form at the bottom of this page, or here .
MoD Abbey Wood in Filton, near Bristol, made the deal with food redistribution charity FareShare, which will send the packs to night shelters and food banks. Lindsay Boswell, from FareShare, said the unrefridgerated rations were "ideal for winter night shelters". The 24-hour packs include snacks and will make more than 170,000 meals. Ms Boswell added families in temporary accommodation would also benefit as they often only had access to a kettle or a hob. MoD director of logistic delivery Roger West said: "The coronavirus pandemic has affected so much this year for everyone and for our Armed Forces this has included a reduction in training where these ration packs would have been eaten. "I'm delighted that we are able to find a way, through our relationship with FareShare, to see these meals being consumed by those that need them the most before their best before date." Other places to benefit include community groups and lunch groups for older people. The MoD said each pack contains three nutritionally-balanced meals. including all-day breakfasts, spaghetti meatballs, Moroccan bean stew and desserts. The high-energy snacks range are aimed at fuelling troops during energy-sapping activities, the MoD said. In January, the MoD base donated 210 unused 10-troop ration packs to FareShare, which amounted to 14,000 meals. Usually, around two million ration packs are used by the UK military every year, with less than one per cent of the MoD's stock requiring redistribution. The MoD said the donation was part of its "ongoing commitment to reduce unnecessary waste in an environmentally sustainable way". Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk Related Internet Links FareShare Bristol - Defence Equipment & Support \|\|\|\|\| By Amy GladwellBBC News Online Don Gardner, 75, from Transformation CPR Foodbank, was interviewed for Cornwall with Simon Reeve the day before his wife Jen's funeral, saying she would want him to speak out. Mr Gardner said donations in the days after the show aired topped the sum usually donated over two years by far. He said it "lifted a weight of worry". The food bank provides about 14,000 meals per month and the impact of Covid-19 pandemic has intensified demand. Mr Gardner told the programme, which aired on BBC Two on Sunday: "Jen would want me to tell people of the hurt, deprivation. "Every morning I wake up and I say in my prayers 'Please lord help me to make a difference to someone today'." Hundreds of people contacted the charity to say they had been moved by Mr Gardner's dedication and wished to donate. Others on social media called him a "legend" who "should be knighted", with Cornwall-based actress Dawn French adding her praise along with Cornish actor and comedian aEdward Rowe, known as Kernow King. Mr Gardner said the food bank struggled to cover its £60,000 annual running costs and the "unbelievable" spike in donations had "lifted a weight of worry". Mr Gardner said his wife, a gospel soloist, "worked tirelessly" through the first lockdown but was suddenly taken to hospital in the summer and was diagnosed with lymphoma. She died four weeks later and because of Covid-19 restrictions, he never saw her conscious again. "I was allowed an hour with her on the day she died," he said. Cornwall with Simon Reeve has been praised on social media for showing real life in Cornish communities which are among the poorest in Europe, and not just picture-perfect seaside resorts. Mr Reeve said: "Don is an absolute hero. With his brilliant team of volunteers at the Transformation CPR Foodbank he makes a colossal difference to the lives of hundreds of families." "He's patient, calm and caring. He's someone who reminds me what's great about not just Cornwall but this country." Part two of Cornwall with Simon Reeve airs on BBC 2 on Sunday 15 November, at 20:10 GMT and is available on BBC iPlayer. \|\|\|\|\| John Tancock, who runs G3 in Weston-super-Mare, said he wanted to give something back to the community that supported him during lockdown. Mr Tancock says he will buy toys at wholesale prices before gifting them to the local foodbank. Donations can be made in the shop or on a Gofundme webpage. Mr Tancock, 41, has been running the business for the past five years, but moved premises in March, just days before the first lockdown. He said he was touched by the amount of local support and wanted to help families who are struggling due to job losses. He said: "A lot of families are going to have that hard choice of whether to buy food or getting toys for their children for Christmas. 'Give back' "We have had a lot of support from the community in Weston, so I wanted to use the connections I've built up through the business to give back. "Kids need that entertainment, that play. Toys are brilliant for their mental health, it helps them express themselves, it keeps them occupied, calms them down. "I've set up a GoFundMe page, so you're not limited to buying a £10 toy you can just donate whatever you can." He said donations needed to be in by 13 December, to give him time to get the toys, but he hopes to make this an annual event, giving him a whole year to fundraise for Christmas 2021. Totally Toys, based in Gloucester Road, Bristol is also helping people in need this year, by opening up a donation and collection point for the charity Every Child Needs Christmas. It collects new toys and distributes them around Bristol postcodes, via foodbanks, for children who might otherwise get nothing. Paul Carpenter, who runs Totally Toys, said: "I'm chuffed to bits at the massive local support that has been shown by our customers and neighbourhood from day one. "We have had well over £1,000 worth of toys donated to the campaign and can only hope this escalates in the remaining few days to come." Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk	The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has donated 57,000 ration packs to charity after the pandemic forced military training and exercises to be cut back. A grieving food bank manager featured in a BBC documentary said the show had prompted an "unbelievable" response, with £160,000 donated in five days. A toy shop has launched a campaign to ensure families do not have to choose between giving their children food or having toys at Christmas.
By Rachel StonehouseVictoria Derbyshire programme "They were talking about rape. They were talking sexual activities that were pornographic," Sarah - not her real name - says, recalling some of the graphic messages sent to her child. He had been playing Roblox online - where users build their own games and create characters with coloured blocks. For Sarah, it initially seemed like an "innocent game". She had turned on parental controls, so her son - not yet a teenager - could not send messages. But, over time, she noticed a change in his behaviour. He would no longer want to join in with family activities he usually enjoyed. Concerned, she decided to check the game - and discovered he had been communicating with others on a third-party app. It was at that point she realised her son had been groomed into sending sexually explicit images of himself. "We came across some pictures," she tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme. "It was horrifying. I was physically sick." Roblox told the programme it was unable to comment on individual cases but was committed to protecting the online safety of children. It said its in-game chat had very stringent filters and any photo exchange would have been done on a third-party app, that is not "affiliated or integrated with Roblox". It added: "It's extremely important to be aware of these chat apps, particularly [those with an] 'overlay' feature making it appear to be part of whatever game is being played." It is a situation former police officer John Woodley knows other parents have experienced too. He visits schools across the country with colleague John Staines, warning children about the worst-case scenarios in online gaming, and says parents do not realise people still find ways to communicate with children despite parental controls. On third-party apps, he says: "They can get them to send pictures and hold verbal conversations with them." For Amanda Naylor, Barnardo's lead on child sexual abuse, the industry must do more to safeguard children. She says while Roblox can take action if issues are reported to them, children often do not understand the abuse that is happening to them, so do not report it in the first place. In April, it was announced that internet sites could be fined or blocked if they failed to tackle "online harms", such as terrorist propaganda and child abuse, under government plans. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has proposed an independent watchdog that will write a "code of practice" for technology companies. Senior managers could be held liable for breaches, with a possible levy on the industry to fund the regulator. 'Skilled up' parents Ms Naylor also believes parents should be "skilled up" in how to protect their children online, without being judged. It is also important that when instances of grooming do occur, she adds, children are given adequate support afterwards - as it can have an impact on their future relationships. Sarah says in her case, she contacted Roblox to ask them how they had "allowed" her child to be groomed. "They didn't respond at all," she says. And when she took the case to the police and officers wanted access to the IP addresses of the suspected groomers, Roblox "refused". "They wouldn't let our police have anything to do with it because we were in the UK and they are an American company," Sarah says. The police force Sarah was in contact with told the Victoria Derbyshire programme it had the authority to investigate criminal offences that had occurred in the UK only - and in this case the people contacting Sarah's son were in another country. Roblox told the programme players could report inappropriate behaviour using the "report abuse system" and users could then be suspended or have their accounts deleted. 'Sexualised manner' Sarah's story is an extreme case but other issues have been highlighted with Roblox's gameplay. Last year, a US mother wrote a Facebook post describing her shock at seeing her child's avatar being "gang raped" by others in the online game. She posted screenshots that showed two male avatars attacking her daughter's female character. Roblox said it had banned the player who had carried out the action. One father, Iain, tells the Victoria Derbyshire programme he had similar concerns, after he took control of his son's character to understand more. He says one player told his character to lie down, then laid down on top of him and began moving in a "disgusting" sexualised manner. As he stood up, the other person threatened to kill themselves if he left. Iain says he contacted Roblox - but never had a response. Roblox told the programme it was relentless in shutting down inappropriate material and had 24-hour moderators. 'Life-destroying' But according to both Sarah and Iain, more needs to be done to protect children. Sarah says her son is still "in a very bad way". "He's broken, and so are we. It's life-destroying," she says. "I'll never be able to take those pictures and words out of my mind." If you have been affected by any of the issues raised, support and advice is available via BBC Action Line. Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. \|\|\|\|\| Amber Petersen said her seven-year-old was playing the game, which is marketed at children, when she showed her the screen and asked what was happening. She also shared screenshots, which showed two male avatars attacking her daughter's female character. Roblox said it had banned the player who carried out the action. Ms Petersen said in her post that she felt "traumatised and violated on so many levels" following the experience. The screenshots she shared included a representation of male genitalia. "Parents/Caregivers... not only do I urge you to delete this app, I hope you will take another look at all of your devices and their security settings," she wrote on Facebook. 'Zero tolerance' Roblox said it was "outraged" that a "bad actor" had violated its community policies and rules of conduct. "We have zero tolerance for this behaviour," said a spokesperson. "Our work to ensure a safe platform is always evolving and remains a top priority for us." Roblox is a popular multiplayer game marketed at children and has been compared to Mojang hit Minecraft. Players can create their own games and also join in games created by others. It has a 7+ age rating from European classifier Pegi (Pan European Game Information) and a 10+ rating from the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) in the US. It has been around for 14 years and claims to have 64 million monthly players. The UK Safer Internet Centre has a blog post containing guidance for parents whose children play Roblox. They include activating the additional safety features for children aged under 13 and showing an interest in the games they play.	Online multiplayer game Roblox, which has 90 million users worldwide, is marketed at children - but there are fears it also being used to groom them. One mother explains how this happened to her young son. A US mum has written a Facebook post describing her shock at seeing her child's avatar being "gang raped" by others in the online game Roblox.
Many of the beds at Noble's and Ramsey Cottage hospitals were more than 15 years old and required "frequent maintenance", said a government spokesman. The new beds, which are fitted with an under-bed light, are more adjustable, lighter and easier to clean, he added. The project cost more than £300,000 and took just over three days to complete. Director of Nursing Cath Quilliam said patient care had been "uninterrupted". The "privacy and dignity" of those in both hospitals was maintained while the changes were carried out, she added. Leonard Singer of the League of Friends of Ramsey Cottage Hospital said the group was "very happy" with the new beds. "Fifteen years is a long time for something that's been constantly used," he said, adding the new equipment would be "good for the patients and the nurses". Beds at the island's main hospital in Braddan were last replaced when Noble's opened in 2003 but spare parts are no longer available. \|\|\|\|\| The technology, which involves a sensor placed under the mattress of a bed, monitors movement, heart and respiratory rates. The system has been installed in all 31 beds at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital as part of a three-year trial. It was funded by charity the League of Friends of Ramsey Cottage Hospital. David Ashford MHK said the "vital system" would ensure any signs of deterioration in a patient's condition "can be picked up early" by medical staff. But Mr Ashford said it would "never replace the human intervention of doctors and nurses". The technology, which cost £268,000, is widely used in America and the Netherlands but has not been used to cover an entire ward elsewhere in the British Isles. Chairman of the League of Friends Leonard Singer said the project would "ensure" the hospital remained "a flagship" of the island's health service. The system monitors vibrations created by patient movement and displays the information on central screens. The sensors can also alert staff when someone who is at risk of a fall tries to get out of bed. Ward manger Valarie Thomson said it did "not change the way patients are nursed", but did give staff "early indications" of any changes in their condition. Ms Thomson said the system had been "taken on board really positively" by patients and their relatives. The hospital treats many elderly patients who no longer need acute care but are not well enough to return home.	All 263 beds at two hospitals in the Isle of Man have been replaced, the health department has said. A new "touch-free" patient monitoring system introduced at an Isle of Man hospital "will not replace doctors and nurses", the health minister has said.
By Smitha MundasadHealth reporter If current trends continue, experts say, almost three in four adults could be overweight or obese by 2035, bringing a host of health issues. The Cancer Research UK and UK Health Forum report says TV adverts for some food should be banned before 21:00. Health officials say they are committed to tackling childhood obesity. 'Tipping the scales' Recent studies suggest obesity is linked to several cancers - including oesophageal (gullet), womb, and bowel tumours. And being overweight has long been associated with conditions such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. In this study, researchers used a computer modelling system, together with historical and current health data, to predict the impact of obesity over the next 20 years. Their work suggests a rise in the number of people who are overweight or obese would contribute to 4.6 million additional cases of type-2 diabetes and 1.6 million extra cases of heart disease by 2035. And experts estimate this could lead to an additional £2.5bn in costs to the NHS for 2035 alone. Sugar tax The report recommends a number of ways to tackle this problem, including introducing a 20p per litre tax on sugary drinks and a review of how food is advertised online. Experts behind the report say they have taken into account that increases in obesity have started to slow in the past few years. But they also say one of the major challenges they faced was an inability to take major future changes - such as new drugs or technologies - into account. Prof Susan Jebb, at the University of Oxford, said while interventions to curb obesity were welcome, the report overlooked the need to fund support for people who were already overweight. She added: "Most people know that smoking causes cancer, but fortunately, most people in the UK now don't smoke. And for them, managing their weight is the single most important thing they can do to reduce their risk of cancer." Department of Health officials said they had already brought in a ban on adverts featuring junk food during children's TV programmes and would be launching a childhood obesity strategy shortly. Why is obesity linked to cancer? There are a number of theories behind the link, including: Source: NHS Choices \|\|\|\|\| By Smitha MundasadHealth reporter, BBC News Scientists calculated individuals carrying this extra weight could contribute to more than 12,000 cases of cancer in the UK population every year. They warn if obesity levels continue to rise there may be an additional 3,700 cancers diagnosed annually. The study of five million people is the largest to date to confirm the link. Large numbers Doctors often warn being overweight can increase the risk of developing cancer, but this study highlights those forms of the disease where the risk is greatest. Led by scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine researchers gathered data on five million people living in the UK, monitoring changes to their health over a period of seven years. They found each 13-16kg (2-2.5 stone) of extra weight an average adult gained was linked firmly and linearly to a greater risk of six cancers. How big this risk was varied depending on tumour type. People who had a high body mass index (calculated using weight and height) were also more likely to develop cancer of the liver, colon, ovaries, and post-menopausal breast cancer. But the effects for these cancers were less clear-cut and were influenced by individual factors such as the menopause. Researchers say though obesity was associated with the development of the most common cancers - which represent 90% of the cancers diagnosed in the UK, some showed no link at all. And there is some evidence to suggest a higher BMI is associated with a lower chance of getting prostate cancer. Modest risks Dr Krishnan Bhaskaran, who led the research, said: "There was a lot of variation in the effect of BMI on different cancers. "For example, risk of cancer of the uterus increased substantially at higher body mass index, for other cancer we saw a more modest increase in risk or no effect at all. "This variation tells us BMI must affect cancer risk through a number of different processes, depending on cancer type" Tom Stansfeld, at Cancer Research UK, said: "Although the relationship between cancer and obesity is complex, it is clear carrying excess weight increases your risk of developing cancer. "Keeping a healthy weight reduces cancer risk and the best way to do this is through eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly." \|\|\|\|\| Her annual report, which focuses on women this year, said tackling obesity should be a national priority to avert a "growing health catastrophe". She said the food industry needed to do more or it should face a sugar tax. Dame Sally is also calling for better treatment of ovarian cancer and more open discussion on incontinence. England's top doctor said obesity was so serious it should be a priority for the whole population, but particularly for women because too often it shortened their lives. In England in 2013, 56.4% of women aged 34-44 and 62% of women aged 45-54 were classified as overweight or obese. Obesity increases the risk of many diseases including breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Sugar tax Dame Sally warned that if the food industry did not clean up its act then new taxes may be the only option. She told the BBC: "I think it is inevitable that manufacturing has to reformulate and resize, that supermarkets and others need to stop cheap promotions on unhealthy food and putting unhealthy food at the check-out, and limit advertising dramatically. "I think we're at a tipping point. If industry won't deliver then we'll have to look at a sugar tax." Elsewhere in the report, the chief medical officer recommended that: Pregnancy health Dame Sally highlighted the fact that women had to look after their physical and mental health during pregnancy for the sake of their children and grandchildren. Calculate your BMI (body mass index) Where are you on the global fat scale? Five ways to help women lose weight If a woman is obese during pregnancy, research indicates there is an increased chance of miscarriage and premature birth. A woman's overall health during pregnancy also has an impact on the health of the child in later life, the report said. A pregnant woman's health affects the conditions inside the womb which in turn can have life-long consequences for the health of the child including the risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes. Dame Sally said she wanted to "bust the myth" that women should eat for two when pregnant, adding a healthy diet with fruit and vegetables and avoiding alcohol was important. Prof Nick Finer, from University College London's Institute of Cardiovascular Science, said obesity was now "the most pressing health issue for the nation". "Estimates of the economic costs of obesity suggest they will bankrupt the NHS. "Elevating the problem of obesity to a national risk could help to address the current 'laissez faire' attitude to this huge, angry, growing health catastrophe," he said. The report makes 17 recommendations across a range of women's health issues. In her report, Dame Sally highlighted the need for early diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating, which are more common in women than men. She recommended that everyone with an eating disorder should have access to a new and enhanced form of psychological therapy, called CBT-E, which is specifically designed to treat eating disorders. This should be available to all age groups across the country, she said. Lorna Garner, from Beat, the charity that supports people with eating disorders, said the recommendation would have "a dramatic and positive impact on a very large proportion of the individuals diagnosed with eating disorders". What is CBT-E? It's a one-to-one psychological therapy which focuses on changing the patient's views on body image and helping them to accept their bodies as they are. The 'E' stands for enhanced because it is tailored to the individual, with the aim of helping them to learn more productive ways of thinking, feeling and behaving. Keeping patients engaged in the process and preventing any relapses is a key part of the therapy. Extensive studies have shown that it works for all eating disorders, with a 66% success rate for people with bulimia and binge-eating disorders. The therapy lasts from five to nine months and can also be used on children over 14 years old. Therapists can be trained online to deliver CBT-E, which helps patients to be treated quickly. The report also called for better treatment for ovarian cancer, which kills more women in England than any other gynaecological cancer. With survival from the cancer among the lowest among developed nations, Dame Sally recommends longer operating times to increase the likelihood that all the cancer is removed during surgery. Training in specialised surgical skills to remove gynaecological cancers and an audit of treatments are also highlighted in the report. Taboo issues There should be more awareness of women's problems "below the waist" and more discussion of taboo topics such as urinary and faecal incontinence and the menopause, the report said. More than five million women suffer from incontinence in the UK, a condition that can seriously affect the quality of their lives. Bosses should also make it easier for women to discuss their menopausal symptoms without embarrassment, which could help them reduce their sick leave and improve their wellbeing at work. Dr David Richmond, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said women should be placed at the centre of their care throughout their lives. He said issues such as maternal obesity, poor diet, lack of physical activity, high levels of alcohol consumption, smoking and poor sexual health "must be addressed... to enable all women to make safe and appropriate lifestyle choices".	Rising levels of obesity and unhealthy weights could be linked to 670,000 extra cases of cancer in the next 20 years, a UK report predicts. Being overweight and obese puts people at greater risk of developing 10 of the most common cancers, according to research in the Lancet medical journal. Obesity is the biggest threat to women's health and the health of future generations, warns England's chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
By Jane WakefieldTechnology reporter The "coordinates" - "weekend", "foggy" and "earphones" - allowed police to exactly pinpoint their location. An algorithm developed by start-up what3words divides the world into 57 trillion nine-sq-m (97-sq-ft) areas and gives each a unique three-word address. The technology has been adopted by a number of emergency services in the UK. It was originally devised to help the millions of people in remote and impoverished areas who do not have a postcode gain an address for the first time. In turn that would allow them to apply for services and goods. But the location system has also gained the attention of emergency services and has recently been adopted by Avon and Somerset, Humberside and West Yorkshire police services, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire fire and rescue services and the British Transport Police. It has been used in several other cases, including: Call handlers can send people who ring them a text message that contains a link to the what3words map, where they can see their location and immediately read the corresponding three-word address. Help can then be dispatched to that precise location. Sam Sheppard, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Having this type of technology integrated within our command and control system has changed the way we are able to deal with incidents where the location isn't known. "We are moving away from the old style questioning - 'Where have you come from?', 'Where are you going?', 'What can you see?' et cetera." "These questions take time and aren't always that accurate. "Asking for a three word address or sending an SMS [text message] so they can easily provide their three-word address has meant we have saved valuable time locating incidents." Chris Sheldrick, co-founder of what3words, said: "Being in need of urgent help and not being able to easily describe where you are can be very distressing for the person involved and a really difficult situation for emergency services. "Today, people nearly always have their phone on them. "We need to use the tools at our disposal to improve public services and potentially save lives." He told BBC News the company was keen to get ambulance services around the UK using the system next. It has previously been used at music festivals and for disaster relief. \|\|\|\|\| By Jane WakefieldTechnology reporter, TEDGlobal, Tanzania In Mongolia, people can apply for a bank account using three words to identify where they live. The system divides the world into 57 trillion 3m sq (9.8ft sq) squares, each with a unique three-word address. What3words was at Arusha, Tanzania's TEDGlobal conference, updating its effort to give "everyone an address". "Without an address you might as well not exist," said the UK start-up's co-founder Chris Sheldrick. "So many services that people take for granted such as applying for a bank account or a utility require an address. For some it is either impossible or a huge struggle to get these things." A charity in Durban, South Africa, is using the system to provide three-word addresses for 11,000 pregnant women. "They would previously call an ambulance and it would take hours to find them. Now they can just call and give the three-word address," said Mr Sheldrick. Domino's Pizza is using the system to deliver pizzas in the Caribbean island of St Maarten. (One of its own addresses on the island is flout.appraiser.interpreter). What3words has just signed a deal with Khan bank in Mongolia that will allow residents to put the three words that make up their location on a form when applying for a bank account. "The safe and secure delivery of credit cards to the hands of our customers is critical for us," said Javkhlan Turmunkh, deputy chief executive of Khan Bank. "Considering the fact that addresses supplied by our customers are often not recognised by mapping platforms, we have chosen to use three-word addresses besides conventional postal addresses in our card delivery. This means that no matter where our customers live, we will be able to deliver cards safely." Earlier this month, What3Words also signed a deal with the Nigerian postal system. Nigeria is one of Africa's biggest economies, with more than 180 million people - but only 20% of its inhabitants are able to receive their mail at home. The Nigerian Post and Telecommunications Service has set a target to increase this to more than 70% within the next two years. The system has already been adopted by postal services in Mongolia, Ivory Coast, Tonga and the Solomon Islands. Simple solution Chris Sheldrick began the firm in 2013, following a 10-year career as a musician. "Every day we would go somewhere new and people always got lost. I tried getting my band to use GPS co-ordinates but they were resistant or typed the co-ordinates wrong. "I started chatting with a friend who was a mathematician about how we could come up with something that was simple." They came up with a mathematical formula and list of 40,000 words. Initially in English, the system has now been translated into 14 languages. What3Words has, however, faced criticism, not least for the restrictions it places on how its data is used and the fact it charges companies to incorporate its service into other products. And despite the progress outlined at TEDGlobal, the platform has a long way to go before it could be described as being mainstream. Edward Anderson, chief technologist at the World Bank in Tanzania has looked into customising the system to make it easier to deliver textbooks to secondary schools and for identifying broken water pumps around the country. "It is a neat idea but it is not immediately obvious what the problem is. In order to look up the three words you need to have GPS co-ordinates so it is not about figuring out where you are but more about telling other people where you are," he said. He said that there could be a market for the system for voice-activated services. "You could speak your address to self-driving cars or to make drone deliveries." \|\|\|\|\| By Robert PlummerBusiness reporter, BBC News "It must be hell being a postman, then," came the sarcastic rejoinder from the music press. But out in the real world, about four billion people on the planet actually live in places that have no street names, no house numbers - in fact, nothing that constitutes a proper address. And without that, they're off the map. They can't get a bank loan, they can't run a business, they have no voting rights or access to public utility services. And, in fact, they have no postmen. "Most of Africa, Asia and South America have this problem," says Chris Sheldrick, 33, founder and chief executive of what3words, a small UK-based company that has come up with a radical new approach to the addressing system. "Trying to do a census with addresses like 'fourth lamp-post down the road' is really very inefficient, and we're coming in to say, 'No, you can do this differently'." New code In the past, countries without a proper set of addresses have tried to change facts on the ground by mapping out the area, and copying the developed world's way of doing things, such as adding street names and numbers. However, as Mr Sheldrick says, that can take a decade: "Places like Ghana have tried that unsuccessfully. Some properties have five different addresses stamped on them." Of course, existing co-ordinates of latitude and longitude, and the Global Positioning System used by sat-nav technology, already provide a way of pinning down any location in the world. "But errors creep in very quickly and it's just not human-friendly," says Mr Sheldrick. "We had to convert them into a new code, something where a human being would say 'that's really easy'." What he did was to divide the world up into 3m-by-3m squares, and assign each a unique combination of three words. He says: "With 40,000 dictionary words, you have 64 trillion combinations, and there are 57 trillion squares." Mr Sheldrick's own headquarters in west London has the address index.home.raft, while this article was written at speaks.nests.loans. Admittedly, most people have still to embrace this idea and apply it in their everyday lives. But in places where people have no other viable way of identifying where they live, it is likely to prove a useful way of getting on the local authorities' radar, especially as internet-based services pick up on it and build it into their systems. Favela boost The service is free to use for consumers and can be downloaded in app form, but companies pay to license the technology and incorporate it into their own products. "We've got about 25 apps and services who've done that so far," says Mr Sheldrick. Interestingly, he says what3words has not had to market itself intensively, because news about his product has spread by word of mouth. "We've had people coming to us," he says. "It's not often that the idea of what an address is has been challenged. People become advocates and spread the word quite aggressively." In some parts of the world, the idea is already bearing fruit. The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro contains the largest shanty town or favela in the country - the district of Rocinha, home to about 70,000 people. Because of the haphazard way in which the area originally developed, its sprawling maze of lanes and alleys has never been subject to a proper system of addresses. But a local company, Grupo Carteiro Amigo (or in English, Friendly Postman Group), has found ways of overcoming that handicap. Founded in the year 2000, the firm says its aim is "to give residents back one of their basic rights" - that is, to have things sent to them by post. The Brazilian postal system has no obligation to provide a full service in the area, so Carteiro Amigo set up its own system. Now 4,000 families in the favela pay 18 reais (£4; $6) a month to have letters and parcels delivered to them. Local businessman Carlos Pedra da Silva says he got the idea for the company when he was employed as a census worker, gathering data on the favela's inhabitants. Realising that many of them didn't know their addresses, he asked them if they would pay to receive post at home. "The responses were almost 100% positive," he said. When he found out about what3words, he realised it suited Carteiro Amigo's needs perfectly and joined forces with Mr Sheldrick, setting up a pilot project to spread the address system through the favela. Mr Sheldrick sees the Rocinha scheme as a perfect example of how what3words' address system can make a difference. "People there are saying, 'I want to get my shoes delivered the same way someone else can get their shoes delivered'," he adds. Multilingual system Naturally, in order to reach the Brazilian market, what3words has had to devise three-word addresses in Portuguese as well as English. In fact, the system is now available in eight languages, including French, Spanish, Russian, German, Turkish and Swedish. What3words is currently working on versions in Italian, Greek, Arabic and Swahili. Mr Sheldrick now employs eight people full-time, but brings in language experts on a short-term basis when needed to set up a new database of words. And he has other languages in his sights. "Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, but it has no semblance of an address system," he says. Mr Sheldrick, who came up with the idea after becoming frustrated with sat nav systems, also envisions a range of uses for what3words addresses. "You can use them for something else other than delivery. People can say, 'I'll meet you there', and quote the address. "It's a way of life where you can use your three-word address just as you can use any other address."	Three seemingly unconnected words have helped rescue a mother and daughter after a car crash in remote rural Somerset. Groceries, post and even pizza are now being delivered to remote parts of the world, previously cut off because they lacked an address. "Where the streets have no name," sang rock frontman Bono on one of U2's biggest hits.
Laser technology was used to survey digitally beneath the forest canopy, revealing houses, palaces, elevated highways, and defensive fortifications. The landscape, near already-known Maya cities, is thought to have been home to millions more people than other research had previously suggested. The researchers mapped over 810 square miles (2,100 sq km) in northern Peten. Archaeologists believe the cutting-edge technology will change the way the world will see the Maya civilisation. "I think this is one of the greatest advances in over 150 years of Maya archaeology," said Stephen Houston, Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology at Brown University. Mr Houston told the BBC that after decades of work in the archaeological field, he found the magnitude of the recent survey "breathtaking". He added, "I know it sounds hyperbolic but when I saw the [Lidar] imagery, it did bring tears to my eyes." Results from the research using Lidar technology, which is short for "light detection and ranging", suggest that Central America supported an advanced civilisation more akin to sophisticated cultures like ancient Greece or China. "Everything is turned on its head," Ithaca College archaeologist Thomas Garrison told the BBC. He believes the scale and population density has been "grossly underestimated and could in fact be three or four times greater than previously thought". How does Lidar work? Described as "magic" by some archaeologists, Lidar unveils archaeological finds almost invisible to the naked eye, especially in the tropics. Revolutionary treasure map The group of scholars who worked on this project used Lidar to digitally remove the dense tree canopy to create a 3D map of what is really under the surface of the now-uninhabited Guatemalan rainforest. "Lidar is revolutionising archaeology the way the Hubble Space Telescope revolutionised astronomy," Francisco Estrada-Belli, a Tulane University archaeologist, told National Geographic. "We'll need 100 years to go through all [the data] and really understand what we're seeing." Archaeologists excavating a Maya site called El Zotz in northern Guatemala, painstakingly mapped the landscape for years. But the Lidar survey revealed kilometres of fortification wall that the team had never noticed before. "Maybe, eventually, we would have gotten to this hilltop where this fortress is, but I was within about 150 feet of it in 2010 and didn't see anything," Mr Garrison told Live Science. While Lidar imagery has saved archaeologists years of on-the-ground searching, the BBC was told that it also presents a problem. "The tricky thing about Lidar is that it gives us an image of 3,000 years of Mayan civilisation in the area, compressed," explained Mr Garrison, who is part of a consortium of archaeologists involved in the recent survey. "It's a great problem to have though, because it gives us new challenges as we learn more about the Maya." In recent years Lidar technology has also been used to reveal previously hidden cities near the iconic ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Hidden insights Maya civilisation, at its peak some 1,500 years ago, covered an area about twice the size of medieval England, with an estimated population of around five million. "With this new data it's no longer unreasonable to think that there were 10 to 15 million people there," said Mr Estrada-Belli, "including many living in low-lying, swampy areas that many of us had thought uninhabitable." Most of the 60,000 newly identified structures are thought to be stone platforms that would have supported the average pole-and-thatch Maya home. The archaeologists were struck by the "incredible defensive features", which included walls, fortresses and moats. They showed that the Maya invested more resources into defending themselves than previously thought, Mr Garrison said. One of the hidden finds is a seven-storey pyramid so covered in vegetation that it practically melts into the jungle. Another discovery that surprised archaeologists was the complex network of causeways linking all the Maya cities in the area. The raised highways, allowing easy passage even during rainy seasons, were wide enough to suggest they were heavily trafficked and used for trade. "The idea of seeing a continuous landscape, but understanding everything is connected across many square miles is amazing," said Mr Houston. "We can expect many further surprises," he added. The Lidar survey was the first part of a three-year project led by a Guatemalan organisation that promotes cultural heritage preservation. It will eventually map more than 5,000 sq miles (14,000 sq km) of Guatemala's lowlands. The project's discoveries will feature in a Channel 4 programme called Lost Cities of the Maya: Revealed, airing in the UK on Sunday 11 February at 20:00 GMT. \|\|\|\|\| By Ben LawrieDocumentary film-maker In April 1858 a young French explorer, Henri Mouhot, sailed from London to south-east Asia. For the next three years he travelled widely, discovering exotic jungle insects that still bear his name. Today he would be all but forgotten were it not for his journal, published in 1863, two years after he died of fever in Laos, aged just 35. Mouhot's account captured the public imagination, but not because of the beetles and spiders he found. Readers were gripped by his vivid descriptions of vast temples consumed by the jungle: Mouhot introduced the world to the lost medieval city of Angkor in Cambodia and its romantic, awe-inspiring splendour. "One of these temples, a rival to that of Solomon, and erected by some ancient Michelangelo, might take an honourable place beside our most beautiful buildings. It is grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome," he wrote. His descriptions firmly established in popular culture the beguiling fantasy of swashbuckling explorers finding forgotten temples. Today Cambodia is famous for these buildings. The largest, Angkor Wat, constructed around 1150, remains the biggest religious complex on Earth, covering an area four times larger than Vatican City. It attracts two million tourists a year and takes pride of place on Cambodia's flag. But back in the 1860s Angkor Wat was virtually unheard of beyond local monks and villagers. The notion that this great temple was once surrounded by a city of nearly a million people was entirely unknown. It took over a century of gruelling archaeological fieldwork to fill in the map. The lost city of Angkor slowly began to reappear, street by street. But even then significant blanks remained. Then, last year, archaeologists announced a series of new discoveries - about Angkor, and an even older city hidden deep in the jungle beyond. An international team, led by the University of Sydney's Dr Damian Evans, had mapped 370 sq km around Angkor in unprecedented detail - no mean feat given the density of the jungle and the prevalence of landmines from Cambodia's civil war. Yet the entire survey took less than two weeks. Their secret? Lidar - a sophisticated remote sensing technology that is revolutionising archaeology, especially in the tropics. Mounted on a helicopter criss-crossing the countryside, the team's lidar device fired a million laser beams every four seconds through the jungle canopy, recording minute variations in ground surface topography. The findings were staggering. The archaeologists found undocumented cityscapes etched on to the forest floor, with temples, highways and elaborate waterways spreading across the landscape. "You have this kind of sudden eureka moment where you bring the data up on screen the first time and there it is - this ancient city very clearly in front of you," says Dr Evans. These new discoveries have profoundly transformed our understanding of Angkor, the greatest medieval city on Earth. At its peak, in the late 12th Century, Angkor was a bustling metropolis covering 1,000 sq km. (It would be another 700 years before London reached a similar size.) Angkor was once the capital of the mighty Khmer empire which, ruled by warrior kings, dominated the region for centuries - covering all of present-day Cambodia and much of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. But its origins and birthplace have long been shrouded in mystery. A few meagre inscriptions suggested the empire was founded in the early 9th Century by a great king, Jayavarman II, and that his original capital, Mahendraparvata, was somewhere in the Kulen hills, a forested plateau north-east of the site on which Angkor would later be built. But no-one knew for sure - until the lidar team arrived. The lidar survey of the hills revealed ghostly outlines on the forest floor of unknown temples and an elaborate and utterly unexpected grid of ceremonial boulevards, dykes and man-made ponds - a lost city, found. Most striking of all was evidence of large-scale hydraulic engineering, the defining signature of the Khmer empire. By the time the royal capital moved south to Angkor around the end of the 9th Century, Khmer engineers were storing and distributing vast quantities of precious seasonal monsoon water using a complex network of huge canals and reservoirs. Harnessing the monsoon provided food security - and made the ruling elite fantastically rich. For the next three centuries they channelled their wealth into the greatest concentration of temples on Earth. One temple, Preah Khan, constructed in 1191, contained 60t of gold. Its value today would be about £2bn ($3.3bn). But despite the city's immense wealth, trouble was brewing. At the same time that Angkor's temple-building programme peaked, its vital hydraulic network was falling into disrepair - at the worst possible moment. The end of the medieval period saw dramatic shifts in climate across south-east Asia. Tree ring samples record sudden fluctuations between extreme dry and wet conditions - and the lidar map reveals catastrophic flood damage to the city's vital water network. With this lifeline in tatters, Angkor entered a spiral of decline from which it never recovered. In the 15th Century, the Khmer kings abandoned their city and moved to the coast. They built a new city, Phnom Penh, the present-day capital of Cambodia. Life in Angkor slowly ebbed away. When Mouhot arrived he found only the great stone temples, many of them in a perilous state of disrepair. Nearly everything else - from common houses to royal palaces, all of which were constructed of wood - had rotted away. The vast metropolis that once surrounded the temples had been all but devoured by the jungle. Watch the first episode of Jungle Atlantis on Thursday 25 September at 20:00 BST on BBC Two, or catch it later on the BBC iPlayer. The programme was made in association with The Smithsonian Channel, which will be transmitting both episodes in the US on 5 October under the title Angkor Revealed. \|\|\|\|\| The date - 21 December 2012 - is, some believe, the end of the "long count" calendar of the Mayan civilisation. In China, police have arrested hundreds of members of a Christian group who apparently believe the prophecy. Last year, experts said a new reading of the calendar showed that it did not in fact predict the apocalypse. Many believe the date instead marks the start of a new era in the calendar. Among the believers of the "apocalypse" themselves, there are different accounts as to when exactly the world should end. Some said it would end at midnight on Thursday, while others gave the deadline of just after 11:00 GMT on Friday. Both predictions have failed to materialise. Another group of followers said they were waiting for Friday's dawn, but that has also come and gone. The misconception about the "prophecy" is not the only myth circulating about the Maya, the BBC's Will Grant in Mexico reports. Many believe they were wiped out shortly after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century, our correspondent says. But, in fact, the descendants of the people who built Chichen Itza, a Unesco World Heritage Site, are still here. They are the second-largest ethnic group in Mexico, with between 800,000 and a million native Mayan speakers. The ancient Maya flourished in modern-day Mexico and parts of Central America between 250 and 900AD. 'Galactic bridge' Hundreds of spiritualists gathered in the city of Merida in Mexico, about an hour-and-a-half from the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. Many prepared white clothes and incense to meet the sunrise, which - they believe - would bring the birth of a new age. "The galactic bridge has been established," spiritual leader Alberto Arribalzaga said earlier this week. "The cosmos is going to take us to a higher level of vibration... where humanity is in glory, in joy," he added. In neighbouring Guatemala, thousands congregated on the Mayan ruins of Tikal in the jungles. One spot thought by some to be destined to escape the end of the world is the mountain of Bugarach in southern France. However, those preparing for the end of the world were reported to be far outnumbered by journalists. The Turkish town of Sirince, another site reputed to be safe from the end of the world, saw similar scenes on Thursday. Hundreds of reporters were wandering around the town of 570 residents, AFP news agency reported. However, hotels around the Rtanj mountain in Serbia, a site rumoured to have magical powers, were booked out for the big date. "I do not really believe that the end of the world is coming, but it is nice to be here in case something unusual happens," Darko, a 28-year-old designer visiting from Belgrade, told AFP. 'Evil cult' In China, police have arrested almost 1,000 members of a Christian group which has predicted that Friday will usher in three days of darkness. The group, called Almighty God, apparently urged its members to overthrow communism. State media terms Almighty God an "evil cult", the same description it applies to the banned Falun Gong group. The belief has gained considerable popularity in China, where the film 2012 was a box office hit. A farmer in Hebei province, Liu Qiyuan - not a follower of Almighty God - has built seven survival pods which can contain 14 people each. The pods, made of fibreglass, float on water and can survive storms. Mr Liu told AFP news agency: "If there really is some kind of apocalypse then you could say I've made a contribution to the survival of humanity." To calm anxieties, police in Beijing have posted an online notice telling people that "the so-called end of the world is a rumour".	Researchers have found more than 60,000 hidden Maya ruins in Guatemala in a major archaeological breakthrough. Deep in the Cambodian jungle lie the remains of a vast medieval city, which was hidden for centuries. New archaeological techniques are now revealing its secrets - including an elaborate network of temples and boulevards, and sophisticated engineering. Thousands of people gathered at ancient sites in Central America and elsewhere in anticipation of what they believe will be the end of the world.
Ifans, 45, who grew up in Ruthin, Denbighshire, was a pupil at Ysgol Pentrecelyn, where he was cast in a number of nativity and other plays. His breakthrough role came in the 1999 film Notting Hill, where he played Hugh Grant's lazy lodger. Headteacher Delyth Brown said that it could become a collector's item. Ifans has also donated a signed mug and his parents have donated signed a photograph of him for the auction in aid of road safety and IT equipment. Another item is a signed copy of the book Anonymous, which was turned into the 2011 historical political drama starring Ifans, and posed the question "Was Shakespeare a fraud?" Parent-Teacher Association member Delyth Gruffydd said: "It's really great that he is showing an interest, him being a past pupil." Ifans, who more recently starred as The Lizard in The Amazing Spider Man, went to the school with his brother, Llyr, who starred alongside him in the Swansea-based comedy drama Twin Town. Their mother, Beti, is a former teacher at the school. She told the Daily Post newspaper: "Rhys had his first experience on the stage, taking part in nativity plays and learning to play the trumpet. "Ysgol Pentrecelyn is very important to us as a family. "We have lots of happy memories as it is such a tight-knit rural school which is at the heart of the local community. "Everyone got on well then and it is still the same today." The Welsh-medium school, with about 40 pupils, can count more than Ifans among its famous old boys. Wales rugby star George North has donated a signed Scarlets rugby shirt. \|\|\|\|\| A sequel to the reboot, starring British actor Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker, has already been given the go-ahead for release in May 2014. Sony revealed news of a third new instalment on the film's Facebook page earlier this week. The Amazing Spider-Man, directed by Marc Webb, was released in the UK and the US on Tuesday. It broke US box office records for a Tuesday opening taking $35 million (£22.5m), and went on to take another $23.4m (£15m) on Wednesday's Fourth of July holiday. The fourth Spider-Man marks a new start for the franchise, after director Sam Raimi's three record-breaking films between 2002 and 2007, starring Toby Maguire in the title role. Comic book success By Friday, more than 11,800 fans had 'liked' the Facebook announcement confirming another two films. The post read: "It's finally here. The Amazing Spider-Man is the first instalment in a movie trilogy that will explore how our fave hero's journey was shaped by the disappearance of his parents." Co-starring Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen and Sally Field, the film retells the story of how a radioactive spider bite enhances teenager Peter Parker's strength, agility and senses. It is thought the franchise could expand further, with a spin-off in development for Spider-Man baddie Venom and reports that Marvel Comics' supervillains, the Sinister Six, could also feature. This year has already seen box office success for Disney and Marvel's The Avengers, which has taken $1.45 billion (£930m) worldwide so far. Another comic book hero returns on 20 July, when Warner Bros release the third and final Batman film from director Christopher Nolan. The Dark Knight Rises sees Christian Bale back in the lead role, with co-stars Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hardy.	Actor Rhys Ifans has donated a wardrobe he used as a boy to a fundraising auction at the primary school where he caught the acting bug. The Amazing Spider-Man is the first film in a new trilogy for the franchise, Sony Pictures has confirmed. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Sir Michael Fallon said there would be a review of how servicemen and women were recognised for contributions to UK operations "outside the battle space". Medals are currently given on the basis of rigour and risk, and when people are physically exposed to danger. Sir Michael said a rethink may be needed as the UK increasingly deploys unmanned aircraft on operations. 'Changing warfare' Speaking on a visit to British troops in Iraq, he said: "The changing character of warfare provides new challenges; not just about how we fight but also how we recognise and support those who serve. "As fighting has evolved, we have adapted, ensuring our troops have cutting-edge equipment including unmanned systems operated from outside the battle space. "Our recognition of service, the risks taken, and the long-term effects must therefore adapt too." Operation Shader is the operation targeting Islamic State, or Daesh as the government refers to the group, in Iraq and Syria. Sir Michael added: "We need to examine how to provide medallic recognition for those making a vital contribution to Op Shader outside the battle space, from Reaper pilots taking life-and-death decisions to those who ensure our planes can strike Daesh targets." 'Critical role' Announcing a medal for others involved in Operation Shader, he said: "It is only right that those who've performed above and beyond in this fight against the evil of our time get the recognition they deserve. This medal will do just that. "Our troops... have conducted over 1,500 strikes against Daesh terrorist targets and helped train nearly 60,000 Iraqi security forces. "The campaign is not over but for those that have served, we rightly honour the critical role they have played in helping keep us safe." Air Marshal Greg Bagwell, a former deputy commander of operations at the Royal Air Force, who oversaw the use of Reaper drones in Syria, said campaign medals were being defined by borders. "That's a little 19th Century - the battle space today is a lot broader," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. He said men and women were engaged in Operation Reaper for more than 1,000 days - not the 30 or 45 days involved in tours of duty. They are "totally immersed" in the operation and it's demanding to maintain the levels of concentration to ensure "near-perfection every minute of every day", he added. 'Moral courage' Colonel Richard Kemp, the former head of British forces in Afghanistan, said there was courage in conducting drone operations and taking human life from the relative safety of Lincolnshire, or wherever drone pilots might be. "There's a moral courage in pressing that button, in executing a strike," he told Today. "It can be more difficult to do that when you are very removed from the battlefield, and not in the intensity of battle." Labour has called for recognition of servicemen and women fighting IS. On his visit, Sir Michael met personnel from the Mercian Regiment, the Royal Engineers, the Intelligence Corps, and medical regiments at Erbil and Taji. \|\|\|\|\| RAF personnel currently fly five UK Reaper aircraft remotely from Creech Air Force Base, in Nevada, US. The five new drones will be operated from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire. Campaigners protested at the base to highlight the dangers to civilians. The RAF said drones were mainly used for surveillance and reconnaissance. The 10 Reaper aircraft are all based in Afghanistan, to support UK and coalition forces. Reapers carry 500lb bombs and Hellfire missiles for strikes on insurgents. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) expects the new drones to start flying before the end of this year. A spokesperson said: "Reaper is the only remotely piloted aircraft that is armed. 'Vital intelligence' "On the rare occasions that weapons are used, the same strict rules are followed that govern the use of weapons on manned aircraft. "The vast majority of unmanned aircraft flying is surveillance and reconnaissance in support of our front-line troops, providing them with vital intelligence and helping to save lives in Afghanistan. "Since 2006 they have provided over 100,000 hours of persistent intelligence." The MoD announced in May last year that it intended to double the number of armed RAF drones operating in Afghanistan. The RAF currently has no drone aircraft - armed or unarmed - piloted from the UK. More to relocate The Lincolnshire-operated squadron will be known as the 13 Squadron, which was previously a squadron of Tornado aircraft. A ceremonial event is being held at RAF Waddington on Friday to mark the "standing up" of the squadron, which is the point when it officially exists. There will be about 100 personnel in the squadron, including pilots, systems operators, mission commanders, engineers, admin staff and logistics staff. Although the personnel will be permanently based at RAF Waddington, some will go to Afghanistan to control the take-off and landing of the drones locally. The five Reapers operated from Nevada are known as the 39 Squadron, and there are long-term plans for this squadron to relocate to Lincolnshire. \|\|\|\|\| An Intelligence and Security Committee inquiry into the incident says it was not allowed to see some key documents. Committee chairman Dominic Grieve told the BBC killing someone outside normal legal process was "a serious issue". The government said showing the documents to the committee would have gone beyond agreed parameters. The committee agreed the threat from Khan was serious, based on the intelligence reports it was shown. But it said it was unable to assess how ministers had decided that threat equated to an armed attack by a state. Members said they were not shown the submission which ministers received on 1 April 2015, which would have helped them to learn how ministers made their decision. The government said this would have taken the inquiry beyond what had been agreed, which was to focus on the nature of the threat posed by Khan. But the committee concluded that with no knowledge of what the submission contained, it could not be sure ministers were given the full facts. The 21-year-old from Cardiff was thought to have travelled to Syria to join so-called Islamic State in late 2013 and appeared in a 13-minute IS propaganda video the following year. 'More transparent' Speaking on Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Grieve said: "I'm not hinting that something improper was done, I'm just saying that unfortunately we didn't have the material on which we could have given that statement. "Just because somebody is dangerous does not mean that you are justified in killing him, which means that you've got to show that it was reasonable, necessary and proportionate to take that action. "It would have been very good from our point of view, particularly because of the importance of this issue, to have been able to give that assurance and what we're saying in this report is that we just weren't able to do that." Khan was killed in an RAF drone strike on a vehicle in which he and two other men were travelling in Syria on 21 August 2015 - the first time such an action had taken place outside regular military conflict. The committee investigated the intelligence basis for the strike but not its legal basis, which is being looked at by others. It submitted its report to the government in December and wanted it published before Parliament dissolved. The report said: "It is to the Agencies' credit that their investigation of Khan's activities led to the disruption of the attacks he planned, thereby avoiding what could have been very significant loss of life. "Nevertheless our inquiry into the intelligence on Khan has revealed wider policy issues surrounding the strike itself - notably around the ministerial decision-making process and the assessment of collateral damage. "The government should be more transparent about these matters and permit proper scrutiny of them." 'Unprecedented' Kate Higham, assassinations project lead at human rights organisation Reprieve, said: "David Cameron announced in 2015 that the UK was pursuing a policy of lethal strikes outside of war zones. "He called this a 'new departure' for Britain and yet, as this report shows, the government continues to block Parliament and the public from meaningful debate about it." The committee was shown 25 intelligence reports and two assessments, which left it in no doubt that Khan posed "a very serious threat" to the UK as a prolific attack planner and recruiter. He was involved in directly inciting individuals to carry out attacks against and inside the UK, and also provided instructions on the manufacture of bombs and suggested possible targets, including public events. The range and pace of threat from Khan and others in his network was described as "unprecedented". The government's position is that if an individual posed an imminent threat at the same level as an armed attack by a state, then it has the right to take military action. \|\|\|\|\| Who, What, WhyThe Magazine answers the questions behind the news Two UK citizens, Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, and Ruhul Amin, 26, from Aberdeen, were among three fighters from the Islamic State group killed in the precision strike in Raqqa on 21 August. The government says Khan was planning a series of attacks in the UK. Prime Minister David Cameron said the attorney general had agreed there was a "clear legal basis" for targeting Khan. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the strike was a "perfectly legal act of self defence". But concerns have been raised by senior politicians and human rights groups. Former attorney general Dominic Grieve has said the decision to launch the attack could be "legally reviewed or challenged", while Conservative MP David Davis said it would amount to an "extra-judicial execution" without formal checks. So what is the legal status of the Syria operation? Justifying its decision, the government said it was acting under Article 51 of the United Nations charter, which says member states have an "inherent right of self-defence". Cameron said there was "clear evidence" that armed attacks on the UK were being planned. Article 51, Charter of the United Nations Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security. Writing in the Guardian, legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg argues that the attack "appears to be within the law". International law, like English law, doesn't require that you have to wait for an aggressor to strike before retaliating so long as the action is proportionate and necessary, he says. Under Article 51 you have to show that an armed attack is occurring or is imminent, said Phillipe Sands QC, professor of law at University College London. The US used Article 51 to justify the killing of American-born Anwar al-Awlaki, a a radical American Muslim cleric of Yemeni descent who was linked to attacks and plots around the world, in a US drone strike in Yemen in 2011. Following a failed attempt to blow up an airliner as it flew into Detroit in 2009, US President Barack Obama authorised the Central Intelligence Agency to kill Awlaki. His family said he was not a terrorist and launched a legal challenge to stop the US executing one of its citizens without any judicial process. In a legal opinion published after Awlaki's killing, US Assistant Attorney General David Barron cited a 2006 Israeli Supreme Court decision that targeted killings were a legitimate form of self defence. Sands added that the British government's use of the Article 51 line of argument represented a "new direction" for the UK, which had previously treated cases like this as matters for criminal rather than international law. Now, he said, the US "warlike paradigm" had been adopted instead. "Planning a future attack at some far away place has never been good enough in international law on the use of self-defence - it has to be imminent and on that we need the evidence," he said. He added that the attorney general needed to make a statement to clarify the legality of the situation. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on ministers to publish the legal advice, but Downing Street says it will not do so. Kat Craig, legal director of the human rights group Reprieve, said this meant the prime minister "has given himself a secret, unreviewable power" to kill anyone anywhere in the world at any time. Some have argued that the government should have sought parliamentary approval for military action - especially as the House of Commons had previously voted against air strikes in Syria. But while there may be a convention that parliament should be consulted, it is not a legal requirement, Rozenberg says. The issue is likely to continue to divide opinion - as it did during Northern Ireland's "Troubles", when British authorities were accused of operating a "shoot-to-kill" policy. In 1995 the European Court of Human Rights found the shooting dead of three IRA members in Gibraltar was a breach of article two of the European Convention on Human Rights, the "right to life". Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.	Military drone pilots fighting so-called Islamic State could be awarded medals, the defence secretary has said. The creation of the RAF's first squadron of armed drone aircraft to be operated remotely from the UK will be officially marked on Friday. The government has been criticised for a lack of transparency over its decision to kill Briton Reyaad Khan with a drone strike in Syria in 2015. Two British jihadists from the Islamic State group were killed by a RAF drone strike in Syria. What's the legal status of the attack?
Currently the chairman of the Scottish Police Services Authority, Vic Emery was previously the managing director of various BAE Systems companies. The three-year appointment will need to be formally approved at an Edinburgh Council meeting on 3 February. The £545m tram project has been subject to delays following a dispute between the contractor and city-council owned developer Tie. It is already behind schedule and over budget. Outgoing chairman David Mackay branded parts of the project "hell on wheels" when he stepped down in November. Efforts to broker a deal have been ongoing and it is still hoped that the new tram route will be finished by the end of 2013. Mr Emery has been recommended by Edinburgh City Council's recruiting committee for the role of chairman, following interviews this week. He said: "I have always taken a great deal of personal satisfaction from managing major projects. "A position as significant as this, with such a high-profile initiative, will require all the experience I have gained in the public and private sectors over many years. "It's an opportunity I very much relish." Council Leader Jenny Dawe said: "Out of a very strong field, Vic was our unanimous choice. "He has everything we need for the job - outstanding interpersonal, communication, negotiation and project management skills." Richard Jeffrey, chief executive of Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE/TEL), said: "We will be delighted to welcome Vic to the boards of both organisations. "His wealth of experience from other boards will be a valuable addition as we move the project forward." Several roads across the city have already been dug up and had tracks laid as part of the construction project to create a new 16km tram route. Before the tram tracks can be laid, pipes, cables and wires have had to be moved from underneath the tram route. \|\|\|\|\| By David MillerBBC Scotland environment and science correspondent The revised business case for the new tram line claims it will be profitable and deliver important financial, social and environmental benefits. The document has been kept secret until now, and is to be published on Friday. The report's authors believe the economic arguments in favour of pushing ahead with construction are compelling. That is based on what is called "incremental delivery", opening the line from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrew Square in the first instance, rather than continuing all the way to the city's waterfront as originally planned. Bus fares Meanwhile, Edinburgh City Council's transport convener, Gordon Mackenzie, has pledged the capital's bus service will not have to be cut to pay for the trams. Mr Mackenzie is also adamant that bus fares will not have to be increased to pay for the tramline. The message here? The shorter line will still make money within the first three or four years and Edinburgh's much-loved bus services will not have to be slashed to pay for it. That is an upbeat assessment; but this project remains in crisis. The complicated and bitter dispute with the tram company's contractors means that no-one knows when the tramline will be completed or what the final bill will be. \|\|\|\|\| After stepping down, the transport expert, who was chairman of both Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses, criticised the German contractors. In an interview with The Scotsman newspaper, Mr Mackay described Bilfinger Berger as "delinquent". Work on the £545m system is on hold due to a dispute between the contractor and city-council owned tram developer Tie. Mr Mackay told the newspaper: "Bilfinger Berger was a delinquent contractor who scented a victim, who probably greatly underbid and would use the contract to make life extremely difficult for the city. And they have done exactly that." He went on: "We had found crazy things like underground chambers on Princes Street and cables were not where they should be - it was hell on wheels." Mr McKay, aged 67, announced that he was standing down immediately without serving a notice period. He told BBC Radio Scotland's John Beattie programme: "We are well behind the project for many sensible and understandable reasons but people ignore these and focus on the headlines. "The trams project has been a whipping boy for a long time, but the team are very strong. "In situations like this you meet good people, not so good people and you also meet Luddites. There have been a lot of Luddites around and my resignation brings an opportunity for a cultural change." He said his experience with the contractors had taught him to "expect the unexpected". "Dealing with them on a daily basis is a bit like going round Aintree with blindfolds on, on a pretty poor horse," he said. "They're very good at camouflaging their own incredible inefficiencies." 'Substantial foundation' Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, transport convener for Edinburgh Council, said he was aware of the frustrations expressed by Mr Mackay, but he was positive about the way forward given the strong management team and committed staff. The leader of the council, Jenny Dawe, said she was "disappointed to be losing the drive, commercial expertise and commitment" which Mr Mackay had brought to Transport Edinburgh, Lothian Buses and Tie. She added: "However, I would like to express my sincere thanks to David and pay tribute to the pivotal role he has played on this enormously important project for the city. "I was aware that we were unlikely to retain David until full project delivery and fully appreciate his reasons for standing down at this point. "Urgent steps will be taken to ensure that we build upon the very substantial foundation that David Mackay has built." SNP leader and deputy council leader Steve Cardownie told BBC Scotland: "I'm deeply concerned, Mr Mackay refers to the project as 'hell on wheels'. "That is coming from the man at the top and I think it has severe ramifications for the project. "If the captain jumps ship and all the passengers are still on board then I think we should be worried about it. "I want to know what Dave Mackay knows that we don't know yet." Richard Jeffrey, chief executive of Transport Edinburgh Limited (TEL) and Edinburgh Trams, said: "It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside David during the 18 months that I have been here. "The team is strong in all three organisations and we are resolute in meeting the demands of the task that faces us, we have excellent people in place, we are clear of the future vision for TEL." Shirley-Anne Sommerville, SNP MSP for the Lothian region, said: "David Mackay's interview has shown this project was in chaos right from the start. "I would like Richard Jeffreys to appear before the transport committee because I think we are entitled to know how much money has been spent and if we will ever see a tram running in Edinburgh." Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney has already made it clear that the tram project would not get a penny more of government funding even if it hit the financial buffers. The dispute between Tie and Bilfinger Berger could yet end up in the courts. But it is still hoped that the new tram network will be finished by the end of 2013.	The controversial Edinburgh trams project is set to have a new chairman. A confidential document obtained by BBC Scotland shows the economic case for Edinburgh trams remains strong, despite the problems afflicting the scheme. The chairman of Edinburgh's beleaguered trams project, David Mackay, has resigned with immediate effect. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The bank is continuing to provide lending to existing customers, but has frozen lending to new corporate customers. Lending to individual retail customers is unaffected. The bank is currently in discussions with UK financial regulators over the amount of cash it needs to hold in reserve, along with other UK banks. In a statement, the Co-op said the decision to freeze new business lending was part of "an extensive review of the Co-operative Bank, its capital and lending position and its commercial strategy", which it said was "ongoing". Balance sheet concerns "An early decision, taken in March of this year, was that the primary focus of the banking business is to be directed at serving and expanding our presence amongst retail customers, whilst continuing to support our existing business customers," the statement said. "We would not, at this time, look to grow our corporate lending business by lending to new corporate customers." Earlier this month, the rating agency Moody's downgraded the Co-op's debt rating to "junk" status, citing concerns over the strength of the bank's balance sheet. The UK bank regulator, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), is currently talking to banks about whether they need to raise more capital to shore up their cash reserves, including the Co-op. In March, the Bank of England said UK banks needed to raise cash reserves by £25bn over the next year, but did not give details of which banks were in need of cash. Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland have already announced that they do not need to raise money externally to meet capital requirements. Analysts say the announcement from the Co-op suggests it has significant capital problems. "With this decision the Co-op confirms that they have a serious capital deficiency which could be very difficult for them to solve with the business intact," said Eva Olsson, an analyst at Mistubishi UFJ Securities. "In my view this is very substantial and negative news. The corporate business accounts for roughly a quarter of the total loan book, so almost a quarter of the loan book is in effect in run-off now. "Unless the situation can be resolved relatively urgently it could be difficult to regain a strong position in the business area." \|\|\|\|\| The banks said that any additional capital requirements - needed to help cushion them against future financial shocks - can be met through their current plans. The comments follow consultations with the Prudential Regulation Authority. In March, the Bank of England said UK banks needed to raise cash reserves by £25bn over the next year. Lloyds said it will be able to meet requirements to hold more cash without issuing new shares or securities. RBS also said it would be able to raise cash through its current business plan. The capital requirements are designed to protect banks against possible future shocks to the banking system, and prevent them running out of money in the event of another credit crunch. But the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which is working with banks to improve their capital positions, said it was comfortable with both Lloyds and RBS's current plans. The PRA, which is part of the Bank of England, said it was continuing discussions with other banks, including possible measures they may need to take to raise more cash. In a statement, Lloyds said it would be able to raise the additional capital it needed this year from its core business and by selling non-core assets. "We continue to be confident in our capital position," the bank said. RBS chief executive Stephen Hester said: "Our balance sheet has been transformed and our core business has plentiful surplus funding to support continued growth in lending." \|\|\|\|\| The agency warned that the bank may need "external support" if it could not strengthen its balance sheet. The Co-op said it was "disappointed" by Moody's decision. The news preceded the resignation of chief executive, Barry Tootell, following the bank's failure to buy 631 branches from Lloyds Banking Group. Mr Tootell will be replaced temporarily by Rod Bulmer, the bank said. 'Clear plan' Responding to the Moody's downgrade, the Co-op said it had a "strong funding profile" that was "significantly above the regulatory requirements". But in a statement, the bank admitted there was a "need to strengthen our capital position in light of the broader economic downturn and the pending introduction of enhanced regulatory requirements". It added: "We have a clear plan to drive this forward throughout the coming months." These plans include selling off its life and general insurance businesses, and simplifying its operations. In March, the Co-op Bank reported annual losses of £674m for 2012. Moody's reckons the bank's "problem loan ratio" rose to 10.9% in 2012, up from 8.1% in 2011, reflecting a deterioration in its commercial property portfolio. Most of Co-op Bank's problems stem from bad loans associated with its takeover of Britannia Building Society in 2009. \|\|\|\|\| In a statement, the BoE's Financial Policy Committee (FPC) said only some banks need to raise the cash, but did not name them. It said banks could face losses of about £50bn over the next three years, relating to bad loans and fines. The order is the first from the FPC, the new financial stability regulator. It said UK banks and building societies could lose billions of pounds over the next three years relating to "high-risk" loans in the UK commercial property sector and vulnerable eurozone economies. They may also lose money through fines, and require extra capital to support a "more prudent approach to risk". Some banks already have enough capital to cover these costs, the FPC said, but others are short. Yet more money may need to be raised after the end of 2013, the FPC warned, so that banks conform to incoming "Basel III" accords on banking regulation. Shares mixed No new government money will be required. Banks are likely to raise the funds by issuing more bonds or selling shares. But BBC business editor Robert Peston says in the short term the need to raise cash will be bad news for investors, including taxpayers who still own big stakes in two banks - Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds. If these banks are among those that need to raise more capital, it may delay plans to sell the stakes back to private investors. In a statement RBS insisted it had "a strong capital position". "We will continue to work with our regulators to ensure RBS remains at the forefront of international capital standards," it said. However, by midday RBS shares were down 3%. Other bank shares reflected a mixed response to the FPC's announcement. Shares in Lloyds were up more than 1.6%, while HSBC and Barclays were both down by about 0.5%. The British Bankers' Association, the banking trade body, described the FPC's report as "the latest step in an ongoing discussion between the UK's banks and their regulators" about the levels of capital they should be holding. It said raising capital levels needed to be done in such a way as to support growth. Sustaining lending The FPC said capital raising measures were also designed to ensure that banks were able to continue lending to businesses and each other, should another banking crisis hit. The extra capital was needed "to ensure sufficient capacity to absorb losses and sustain lending", the FPC said. The FPC has overall responsibility for financial regulation in the UK and is part of a new order of regulation designed to keep the banks under closer scrutiny. It will oversee two new financial watchdogs: the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which will take over responsibility for supervising the safety and soundness of individual financial firms, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which will be tasked with protecting consumers and making sure that workers in the financial services sector comply with rules. The new watchdogs will replace the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which is set to close next week.	Co-operative Bank has stopped offering new business loans amid concerns over its capital position. Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland have said they will not have to ask investors for more money. Ratings agency Moody's has downgraded the Co-operative Bank's debt rating to "junk" status, citing fears that it is vulnerable to potential losses. Major UK banks must raise a total of £25bn in extra capital by the end of 2013 to guard against potential losses, the Bank of England (BoE) has said. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The freeze will cost £640m over four years, less than the £1.9bn over five years cost projected by Transport for London during the election campaign. Mr Khan will review TfL's layers of management, cut agency staff, review projects and freeze salaries of top managers to make savings. Travelcards, monthly Oyster cards and daily caps are exempt from the freeze. 'Broken promises' The Liberal Democrats have criticised the mayor for breaking his fares freeze promise as the benefits will not be felt by passengers using travelcards. "Not what he said in his campaign," said Lib Dem London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon. Conservative group leader Gareth Bacon said: "Sadiq Khan was asked about his fares freeze thousands of times during the mayoral campaign. "Not once did he mention that this freeze would not include travelcards." Mr Khan said he could only freeze TfL fares, not those under the control of Department for Transport. "Londoners currently pay some of the highest public transport fares anywhere in the world," the mayor said. "My fares freeze on TfL services will make life easier for millions of people and will ensure that London becomes a more affordable city for all." London's transport commissioner, Mike Brown, said the savings needed to deliver a fares freeze for two years had been found, and the rest of the money could be found in the autumn. "For the first two years it is enshrined. The money is there. "Over the summer... all the money will be found. We will achieve this." The new mayor will: \|\|\|\|\| Tom EdwardsTransport correspondent, London@BBCTomEdwardson Twitter Transport Commissioner Mike Brown confirmed publicly a four-year freeze will cost Transport for London (TfL) £1.9bn during the five years of its business plan. Labour mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan's costing of £452m is for the four years of the mayoralty. That means the cost of the fare freeze during the mayoralty will be lower than £1.9bn, probably by about 20%, according to TfL. 'Perfectly understandable' However, the remaining big difference between the figures, according to Mr Brown, is down to inflation assumptions. He struck a conciliatory tone - trying not to take sides - in front of the TfL Plenary in City Hall. He admitted the £452m was "perfectly understandable" and that there were "different assumptions that underpin different numbers". Under tough direct questioning from Labour's London Assembly transport committee chair Val Shawcross, he gave an explanation of how TfL came to the £1.9bn figure. He outlined the business plan had been based on fares "going up" by inflation (retail price index, RPI) plus 1%. Even though fares had only been going up by RPI because of extra money from the government. He explained if RPI was 1% - like it is at the moment - a fare freeze over four years totals £900m in lost revenue over the course of the business plan (i.e. you would lose a 2% rise in fares at RPI plus 1%). But Mike Brown said the cost was much more when inflation was higher. And this is where assumptions come in. Whose version do you trust? TfL claims its RPI forecast is based on a range of independent forecasts, including those of the Office for Budget Responsibility, the Bank of England and Greater London Authority (GLA) Economics, and other financial institutions. Its RPI figures assumptions are: o2017: 1.9% o2018: 3.5% o2019: 3.5% o2020: 3.5% This brought the figure to £1.9bn over five years. Is this viable? So, what does it mean? Sadiq Khan's figure of £452m for four years still looks low compared to TfL's figures. It is worth pointing out TfL is extremely adept at protecting its budget - which Mike Brown again underlined. But Val Shawcross also raised valid questions. There is no up-to-date TfL business plan. And she cast doubt on the inflation assumptions themselves. She said the 3.5% was much higher than the Bank of England's Consumer Price Index inflation figure of 1%. And she said TfL's inflation figures were "no longer viable". She said she would like to see TfL rework the costings figures with up-to-date assumptions (presumably from an up-to-date business plan). Conservative London Mayor Boris Johnson has said £1.9bn was the cost of a fare freeze. It is worth noting we have not yet got the Conservative Party's mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith's fares policy. So where now? Will the costings of the policy now come down to an argument over inflation assumptions? Or will the extra details we've gleaned draw a line under this? \|\|\|\|\| By Tim DonovanPolitical Editor, BBC London Transport for London (TfL) will also begin consultations into air quality and making a pedestrian-only zone in Oxford Street in central London. Other 100-day milestones - agreed by TfL - are the launch of a safer trucks programme and the completion of 12 junction upgrades to improve safety for cyclists. It is also claimed the Night Tube will be ready to run on two lines "from this summer" and TfL will also recommend the best way to structure a fares freeze beginning in January 2017. The aims are set out in the Delivering Your Manifesto document drawn up by TfL commissioner Mike Brown and were presented to Mr Khan after their meeting at City Hall on Monday. The ticket office closures had promoted strikes in the past but TfL said it would save £50m annually. In a sign of how the new Labour mayor is hoping to show some early momentum, there are also plans for the following before the middle of August: The document also reveals the mayor wants to set up a new advisory body - Homes for London - within the first three months, in order to help the capital reach a target of 50,000 new homes per year. The measures come on top of the one-hour bus hopper ticket fare announced by the mayor on Tuesday with a planned roll-out for September. The air quality consultation will be 'the most ambitious in London's history', the document says. There is also a pledge to set "a new course for cycling in London which is inclusive and open to all," with an emphasis on cycle training. The document continues: "We will deliver a fundamental change in how we are structured and how we operate. "We are taking action to merge our engineering functions, be more commercially focused and reduce expensive contractors."	Most passengers will pay the same fares in 2020 as they do now, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced. On Wednesday we got a little enlightenment around the costs of a four-year fares freeze, as well as a bit more murk and some caveats. London transport bosses will start a review of Tube station ticket office closures within the first three months of Sadiq Khan's mayoralty. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Emin called her design - which features a handwritten message and a patchwork rosette - "really Tracey-ish". Emin, probably best known for her unmade bed installation, said she wanted 2015's winners to have something "special" at the 25 February ceremony. The award-winning artist follows in the footsteps of Dame Vivienne Westwood and last year's designer, Philip Treacy. "You want to do it really well," said Emin of her design. "You don't just want to decorate it. "You want to make something that is really Tracey-ish, that is special for the people receiving it." The artist's handwritten message to winners reads: "Congratulations on your talent on your life. On everything you give to others. Thank You." 'Bold and inventive' The 'blank canvas' trophy was previously reworked by Damien Hirst, another so-called YBA - young British artist - in 2013. Pop artist Sir Peter Blake, best known for designing The Beatles' Sgt Pepper album cover, did the honours in 2012. Emin's most famous artworks include 1998's Turner Prize-nominated My Bed, which sold at auction earlier this year for £2.2m. The artist, who recently designed the artwork for the Band Aid 30 charity single, was made a CBE by the Queen in 2012 for her contribution to the visual arts. "Tracey's design is characteristically bold, brilliant, colourful and inventive - everything the Brits stands for," said Brits chairman Max Lousada. "We're honoured to work with her and delighted to be able to celebrate the achievements of the Brit Awards winners with such a unique and special trophy." The 2015 Brit Awards will be broadcast from The O2 in London on ITV on 25 February. \|\|\|\|\| George The Poet, James Bay and three-piece group Years and Years will battle for the honour. The winner will be announced on 4 December and will receive their trophy, designed by Tracey Emin, at the main Brit awards ceremony on 25 February. Previous Critics' Choice winners include Emeli Sande, Jessie J and Adele, who won the first award in 2008. "I still can't believe it. As much as I hoped, being nominated for the Brits Critics' Choice Award is not something I ever imagined would actually happen. What a huge honour," 24-year-old Bay said. The singer-songwriter has been supporting acts including 2013 winner Tom Odell and John Newman. George The Poet, 23, said: "I feel privileged to have been shortlisted for the Brits Critics' Choice Award. I always dreamed of reaching people and this nomination shows me that I'm on track." The act has already featured on records by Labrinth, Sande, Paolo Nutini and Naughty Boy. London trio Years and Years added: "We're so grateful to be making music and having this sort of recognition is crazy and ridiculous and nuts in a really good way." The group released their debut single Real earlier this year and have toured with Clean Bandit and Sam Smith. PREVIOUS CRITICS' CHOICE WINNERS 2008 Adele 2009 Florence and The Machine (pictured) 2010 Ellie Goulding 2011 Jessie J 2012 Emeli Sande 2013 Tom Odell 2014 Sam Smith Smith was this year's recipient and his album, In The Lonely Hour, has become 2014's best-selling debut. The 22-year-old also topped the BBC's Sound of 2014 list, and scooped four prizes at the Mobo awards. His ballads made an impact in the US too, where In The Lonely Hour broke sales records for a British male artist, reaching number two in the Billboard chart last June, with 166,000 copies sold. The Critics' Choice prize is chosen by a select group of music industry experts, including music editors of national newspapers, magazines and websites plus representatives from major TV and radio stations. To qualify, an artist must be British and not have released an album before 31 December 2014 - although they can have issued singles before the cut-off date. Voting for the annual music industry bash opens to members of the music industry on 3 December, with the shortlists for categories including best male, best female and best album due to be announced in January. This year's nominees are likely to include Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini, Kasabian, Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. TV presenters Ant and Dec - themselves former Brit nominees - will present next year's ceremony on 25 February 2015. \|\|\|\|\| The hosts of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Britain's Got Talent take over from actor James Corden, who hosted the event from 2011 to 2014. "We're really excited to be hosting the Brits again next year," the duo said. "It is undoubtedly the biggest night in the British music calendar." Brits chairman Max Lousada said it was "a real honour" to have them back. "Ant and Dec are two of the most popular TV broadcasters this country has ever produced," he said. "It's great that these two pillars of British TV will be part of a night about celebrating icons in British music." The return of Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly comes in the wake of them reaching number one last year with Let's Get Ready to Rhumble - a re-release of their 1994 hit. The duo said they would be offering attendees advice on "how to have a number one hit, as long as they're prepared to wait 19 years for their records to top the chart like ours did". The 2015 Brit Awards take place on 25 February at the O2 Arena in London, where winners will receive trophies designed by artist Tracey Emin. Previous incarnations of the Brit statuette have been designed by Sir Peter Blake, Damien Hirst and Dame Vivienne Westwood. The last time Ant and Dec hosted the Brits, staged at London's Earls Court, Robbie Williams took home three awards and U2 collected two. It was also watched by an average audience four million higher than this year's show. Some 4.6 million tuned in to watch the ceremony in February - the lowest since 2006. \|\|\|\|\| Emin, probably best known for her unmade bed installation, follows in the footsteps of Sir Peter Blake, Damien Hirst and Vivienne Westwood in designing the award. Last year, hat designer Philip Treacy put his own stamp on the statuette. Emin said: "I was thrilled to be asked to rework the Brits trophy." She added: "It's so nice as a visual artist to have an involvement with the creative side of the music industry and it's such a sweet celebration of the amazing talent we have in Britain today." My Bed, which Emin created in 1998, was recently sold at auction for £2.2m. The new owner, Count Christian Duerckheim, has agreed to loan the work to the Tate for at least 10 years. Next year's Brit Awards will be held on 25 February at London's 02 arena, with a set created by Es Devlin, who has also worked for the likes of Take That and Kanye West. Actor James Corden has stepped down from hosting the event after five years, and a new presenter has yet to be named. \|\|\|\|\| The 1998 work features an unmade bed and a floor littered with empty vodka bottles, cigarette butts and condoms. The work, which was shortlisted for the 1999 Turner Prize, had been put up for sale by millionaire art collector Charles Saatchi who bought it for £150,000 in 2000. It went under the hammer with a guide price of between £800,000 and £1.2m. The piece gives a snapshot of Emin's life after a traumatic relationship breakdown. Applause The artist, from Margate, was in the packed auction room as the work was sold, to applause from the crowd. My Bed, one of the key works of the Young British Artist movement, was auctioned to support the work of the Saatchi Gallery Foundation. Christie's said that, with buyer's premium, My Bed went for £2,546,500, which is a world record for Emin at auction. The auction house was unable to immediately reveal who bought the work. Other works sold in the Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction included Francis Bacon's Study For Head Of Lucian Freud, which fetched a hammer price of £10.2m. Divided critics Emin, 50, who was made a CBE in the New Year Honours list in 2012, smiled as she left the auction after her piece - which was lot 19 - was sold. She first made an impression outside the art world in 1997 with a drunken appearance on a television discussion show about the Turner Prize which ended with her pulling off her microphone and telling the audience "I've had a really good night out". Two years later, she was shortlisted for the prize and exhibited My Bed at the Tate Gallery. It divided the critics but began the process of making her one of the country's most famous living artists. Speaking at Christie's in central London last week ahead of the sale she said she still stood by her work which "changed people's perceptions of art". \|\|\|\|\| Once the wild child of the art world, Emin - known for works based on her sexual partners and unmade bed - received the honour from Princess Anne. Emin said there was no contradiction between her rebellious persona and her trip to the heart of the establishment. "I don't think so," she said. "I think Buckingham Palace is pretty rock 'n' roll and quite wild. I haven't changed what I do to be standing here today." The artist rose to prominence when she was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1999 for her infamous unmade bed. She stirred controversy with similarly candid pieces such as a tent embroidered with the names of all the people with whom she had slept. She is also known for neon slogans spelling out heartfelt messages, like the one installed in 10 Downing Street in 2011 that read "More passion". Other recent highlights include a full-scale retrospective at the Hayward Gallery in London; an exhibition at the Turner Contemporary Gallery in her home town of Margate, Kent; and an official poster design for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. At Buckingham Palace, she rubbed shoulders with a number of Olympic and Paralympic competitors including sailor Ben - now Sir Ben - Ainslie. "I was the only artist here today and I think it's really brilliant that art is appreciated in Britain," said Emin, who was honoured for services to the arts. "When I tell American friends what is happening to me today they couldn't believe it, because it is a wonderful thing that the arts are appreciated as much as sport and business. "It's an amazing accolade and an amazing thing to be given. And it's not just for me, it's for art in general I think."	Artist Tracey Emin's creative take on the Brits trophy has been unveiled ahead of 2015's ceremony. Three new acts are being tipped for success in 2015 after being shortlisted for the Brits Critics' Choice Award. TV duo Ant and Dec are to host the 2015 Brit awards, 14 years since the last time they presented the ceremony. Tracey Emin is the latest artist to be asked to design the winners' trophy for the Brit Awards in 2015. Tracey Emin's controversial My Bed modern artwork has sold for £2.2m at auction at Christie's in London. Artist Tracey Emin has received her CBE at Buckingham Palace. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
A debate in Parliament on Tuesday heard Thames Ambulance Service were routinely leaving elderly and vulnerable patients waiting for hours. Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole, said in one case an 82-year-old patient was left waiting in a hospital doorway in snowy conditions for three hours. The firm acknowledged there were issues but said it was "making progress". More on this and other stories from across North Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which covers Mr Percy's constituency, awarded its contract to Thames Ambulance Service in April 2016. The firm has since expanded its operations to Hull, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. 'Totally unacceptable' Mr Percy described the service in North Lincolnshire as "appalling". "Going to hospital is stressful enough, but especially if you don't know if you are going to get home at the end of your treatment, or appointment," he said. "There is something seriously failing here. I have no confidence this service will improve and think it is time this contract was terminated." Mr Percy has called for the government to intervene. Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin, Hull MP Diana Johnson and Great Grimsby MP Melanie Onn also spoke about problems with the service during the debate. In response, junior health minister Caroline Dinenage said: "Every single one of these incidents is totally unacceptable, and in many cases, very distressing." However, she said: "We have to allow the clinical commissioning group to take the necessary steps to ensure the service is improved." She said a "robust recovery plan" had now been put in place in North Lincolnshire. In a written response, Thames Ambulance Service said: "We are improving, we accept and apologise that we are not there yet." \|\|\|\|\| Thames Ambulance Service has told staff in Sussex it is owed more than £700,000 by Coperforma, which runs the service. Coperforma lost its transport contract last week after months of complaints from patients and subcontractors. It said its contractor payments were up-to-date and it was trying to resolve a small number of queries. Thames Ambulance Service said it had covered wages since June, despite not receiving payment from Coperforma for the work it had done. 'Desperate for solutions' In a letter to staff, Thames said: "It is with deep regret that we now have to advise that we simply cannot afford to continue providing services without receiving payment for the work we have done." It said it had no option but to begin a redundancy consultation process and it was likely all its Sussex-based staff would be made compulsorily redundant. A spokesman for Coperforma Limited said: "Whilst it is true to say that Thames Ambulance Service have alleged that we are indebted to them, this is disputed where we believe that we have been overcharged under the terms of our contract with them. "Our solicitors are in correspondence with Thames' lawyers about this matter. "Although we endeavour to keep suppliers paid promptly, we cannot , of course make payments to any supplier where services are not provided." Gary Palmer, of the GMB union, said: "I hope the CCG will not waste any more public money on handing such an unprofessional organisation anything but a notice to immediately quit Sussex for good." NHS High Weald Lewes Havens Clinical Commissioning Group which awarded the non-emergency transport contract to Coperforma has yet to comment.	A group of MPs is calling for contracts awarded to a private hospital patient transfer firm to be terminated. Staff working for a company that provides ambulance services to a controversial patient transport firm are facing redundancy.
The US stressed those named had not been hit with new sanctions, although some have already been targeted. Congress passed the sanctions law in August. President Donald Trump signed it while making his reservations clear. The Kremlin said the list could damage the reputation of those named. Why has the US published the list? The government was required to draw up the list after Congress passed the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (Caatsa) in August. The law aimed to punish Russia for its alleged meddling in the 2016 US elections and its actions in Ukraine. Congress wanted the list to name and shame those who had benefited from close association with President Vladimir Putin and put them on notice that they could be targeted for sanctions, or more sanctions, in the future. Who has been named? Informally known as the "Putin list", the unclassified section has 210 names, 114 of them in the government or linked to it, or key businessmen. The other 96 are oligarchs apparently determined more by the fact they are worth more than $1bn (£710m) than their close ties to the Kremlin. Most of Mr Putin's longstanding allies are named, many of them siloviki (security guys). They include the spy chiefs Alexander Bortnikov of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Sergei Naryshkin of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). Mr Putin used to run the FSB. The men who control Russia's energy resources are there: Gazprom chief Alexei Miller, Rosneft chief Igor Sechin and other oil and gas executives, along with top bankers like Bank Rossiya manager Yuri Kovalchuk. The oligarchs include Kirill Shamalov, who is reported to be Mr Putin's son-in-law, although the Kremlin has never confirmed his marriage to Katerina Tikhonova, nor even that she is the president's daughter. Internationally known oligarchs are there too, such as those with stakes in top English football clubs: Alisher Usmanov (Arsenal) and Roman Abramovich (Chelsea). Will they face new sanctions? Not at the moment. The US Treasury document itself stresses: "It is not a sanctions list, and the inclusion of individuals or entities... does not and in no way should be interpreted to impose sanctions on those individuals or entities." It adds: "Neither does inclusion on the unclassified list indicate that the US Government has information about the individual's involvement in malign activities." However, there is a classified version said to include information detailing allegations of involvement in corrupt activities. What does it mean for Russia's elite? Analysis: Steve Rosenberg, BBC Moscow correspondent The good news for the Kremlin: this isn't a sanctions list. But the good news ends there. Those Russian officials and oligarchs named by the US Treasury will worry their inclusion could signal sanctions in the future. Even before the list was made public, the Kremlin had claimed the US Treasury report was an attempt to meddle in Russia's presidential election. The list reads like a Who's Who of the Russian political elite and business world. Moscow won't want that to become a Who's Sanctioned. What is the Caatsa act and did the president want it? The law limited the amount of money Americans could invest in Russian energy projects and made it more difficult for US companies to do business with Russia. It also imposed sanctions on Iran and North Korea. In signing the act, Mr Trump attached a statement calling the measure "deeply flawed". "As president, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress," he said. Under Caatsa, the list of names had to be delivered by Monday. The fact it was released about 10 minutes before midnight may reflect Mr Trump's coolness towards it, and his opposition to punishing more Russians with sanctions. Earlier in the day, the US government argued the Caatsa law had already pushed governments around the world to cancel deals with Russia worth billions, suggesting that more sanctions were not required. "From that perspective, if the law is working, sanctions on specific entities or individuals will not need to be imposed because the legislation is, in fact, serving as a deterrent," state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. How have the Russians reacted? When Caatsa was passed, Mr Medvedev said it meant the US had declared a "full-scale trade war" on Russia. The reaction this time has ranged between deep anger and a more measured approach. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who is himself on the list, accepted that it was not one of sanctions but added: "Publication of such a wide list of everything and everyone could potentially damage the image and reputation of our firms, our businessmen, our politicians and of members of the leadership." He added: "It's not the first day that we live with quite aggressive comments made towards us, so we should not give in to emotions." Russian lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov said the inclusion of almost the entire leadership of the country was a de facto severing of relations. \|\|\|\|\| In summary US intelligence agencies believe Russia tried to sway the election in favour of Mr Trump. A special counsel looked into whether anyone from his campaign colluded in the effort. What did he find? After two years, we have a 448-page report in which the special counsel finds no evidence the campaign conspired with Russia. Is that all? No, Robert Mueller also looked at 10 instances where the president obstructed justice. But he was unable to decide whether they amounted to a crime. His report also found that the Russian government did interfere in the election. So a good day for the president? Not really. We found out he tried to fire Mr Mueller. He had called it a witch hunt from the start. Was it? No. It was conducted by the hugely respected Mr Mueller, a Republican who used to run the FBI. There were several meetings between senior members of Mr Trump's team with Russian officials. Several meetings were not initially disclosed. What meetings? Ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn lied to the FBI about meeting the Russian ambassador to the US before Mr Trump took office. The president's son, Donald Jr, met a Russian lawyer who said she had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton during the campaign. What else did Mr Mueller look at? He brought charges against several of Mr Trump's inner circle. Ex-adviser Roger Stone has been charged with lying to Congress about his contacts with Wikileaks, which released emails belonging to Democratic officials that had allegedly been hacked by Russians. Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen admitted lying to Congress, campaign finance violations and tax evasion and received a 36-month prison sentence. And former campaign chairman Paul Manafort lied to the FBI about his work in Ukraine, according to special counsel Robert Mueller, with whom he had been co-operating. Manafort has been jailed for bank fraud. And the president? Since he fired the man leading one of the investigations, ex-FBI Director James Comey, there were questions about whether he obstructed justice. Want to know more? \|\|\|\|\| It limits the president's ability to dismiss sanctions against Russia and has caused the Kremlin to retaliate. Why are there sanctions against Russia? After Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, in 2014, the Obama administration in tandem with the European Union introduced an array of economic sanctions on Russian individuals and businesses. Many of the individuals targeted were linked to Russia's actions in Ukraine or were part of President Vladimir Putin's elite entourage. Assets were frozen and restrictions imposed on Russia's oil industry, as well as its state finance, technology and arms sectors. In December 2016, Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian compounds in response to what the US intelligence community concluded was a Russian government-backed cyber-attack directed to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Moscow denies the allegation. What's in the new legislation? Members of the US Congress wanted to turn existing sanctions, and some new ones, into law. Both houses have Republican majorities, the same party as the president. The bill tightens existing sanctions around the ongoing situation in Ukraine and imposes new measures including some in response to alleged hacking during the 2016 election and others that target key Russian industries such as the railways, shipping, metals and mining. It would also bring in restrictions on companies doing business with the Russian oil industry. Why does it matter that the sanctions became law? It means getting rid of sanctions becomes much harder, and the power to reverse the sanctions effectively moves from the hands of the president to Congress. Previously, the sanctions were introduced as executive orders, which any president has the power to remove instantly. Under the new law, Congress must approve any request from the president to ease the financial penalties detailed in the bill. In order to waive individual sanctions, a president would need to submit a report to Congress outlining why it is in the national interest to take that action. How has Russia responded? The Russian government retaliated to the sanctions by telling Washington to reduce the number of its staff at the US embassy in Russia and seizing properties used by diplomatic officials. The US government will have to cut 755 staff to meet the capped figure of 455. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said the White House would support tough sanctions on Russia until the situation in Ukraine was "fully resolved". Without a clear end in sight, that could mean a long time. In a Facebook post, the Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, said the law ended any hopes of improving relations between Moscow and Washington. Why are some European countries unhappy with the planned changes? The law signals a departure from a joint EU-US approach to Russian sanctions. And some European countries have economic concerns because the new law could penalise European companies that invest in big Russian infrastructure projects such as the new Nord Stream II pipeline to transport gas between Russia and Germany. The German Foreign Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern said this part of the new sanctions programme would add a new negative dimension to US-European relations and Europe's energy supplies were "a matter for Europe, not for the United States". But Germany is said to be pushing for EU sanctions against Russia to be stepped up, according to diplomatic sources quoted in Brussels. The government in Berlin is said to want four Russian nationals and businesses added to the European bloc's sanctions list after it was revealed gas turbines made by German technology company Siemens had been illegally shipped to Crimea. Siemens said it had "credible information" that its equipment had been diverted from its original destination. Any change in sanctions would have to be agreed by all 28 EU member states. Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter \|\|\|\|\| Gordon CoreraSecurity correspondent, BBC News@gordoncoreraon Twitter Mike Pompeo told the BBC there had been no significant diminishing of Russian attempts at subversion in Europe and the US. He also said North Korea may have the ability to strike the US with nuclear missiles "in a handful of months". The US intelligence community has said that it believes Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Mr Pompeo, who briefs the president most mornings, dismissed as "drivel" recent claims that US President Donald Trump was not up to the job. The director's conference room on the seventh floor of the CIA's headquarters in Langley, Virginia, is lined with pictures of former directors and the presidents they served. And Mr Pompeo is clear about his vision for the CIA under President Trump. "We are the world's finest espionage service," he told the BBC. "We are going to go out there and do our damnedest to steal secrets on behalf of the American people. And I wanted to get back on our front foot." A year into the job, Mr Pompeo says his mission has been to unleash and unburden the CIA. It is an agency operating in an unpredictable world - one in which intelligence assessments can be the basis not just for military action, but also political controversy. Even though there has been co-operation in counter-terrorism (the CIA helped stop a plot in St Petersburg last year), Mr Pompeo says he still sees Russia primarily as an adversary, sharing the concerns in many European countries about its subversion. "I haven't seen a significant decrease in their activity," he said. Asked if his concerns extended to the upcoming US mid-term elections in November, he replied: "Of course. I have every expectation that they will continue to try and do that, but I'm confident that America will be able to have a free and fair election [and] that we will push back in a way that is sufficiently robust that the impact they have on our election won't be great." Mr Pompeo says the US is engaged in trying to counter Russian subversion. Some of this work was not the mission of the CIA such as helping people validate sources of information. But the intelligence community was involved in identifying who was behind subversive activity, using technical means to suppress it and trying to deter Russia. Mr Trump has been dismissive of claims of Russian interference in sharp contrast to the conclusions of the US intelligence community. So does the CIA director have to walk a fine line? "I don't do fine lines. I do the truth," he responds. "We deliver nearly every day personally to the president the most exquisite truth that we know from the CIA." Mr Pompeo briefs Mr Trump most days when they are both in Washington DC. The briefing covers current events and strategic issues. Ahead of visits abroad or meetings with foreign leaders, the briefings aim to provide the president with what is described as "informational advantage". "He is very focused in the sense that he is curious about the facts that we present. He is curious in the sense he wants to understand why we believe them." Fire and Fury 'drivel' Mr Pompeo is dismissive of the portrait painted in the recent book Fire and Fury which raised questions about Mr Trump's faculties. "It's absurd. I haven't read the book. I don't intend to," he says. "The claim that the president isn't engaged and doesn't have a grasp on these important issues is dangerous and false, and it saddens me that someone would have taken the time to write such drivel." Mr Trump's use of Twitter and frank language about foreign policy has been unprecedented, including calling Kim Jong-un "rocket man" and boasting about the relative size of his nuclear button. But Mr Pompeo argues such public pronouncements have helped impress upon both the North Korean leader and leaders of other countries the risks of the current situation. "When you see this language that the president chooses to use, there are many audiences for it and... I assure you Kim Jong-un understands the message that America is serious." Mr Pompeo said China was moving on the North Korea issue, as witnessed by recent votes at the UN, but there was still more they could do. North Korea's nuclear programme is high on the agenda. "We talk about him having the ability to deliver nuclear weapons to the United States in a matter of a handful of months," Mr Pompeo says. "Our task is to have provided the intelligence to the president of the United States that will deliver to him a set of options that continue to take down that risk by non-diplomatic means." The president and senior officials were "mindful" of the fact that all-out conflict could lead to massive destruction and loss of life, Mr Pompeo said. When asked if it might be possible to remove Kim Jong-un or prevent him from being able to launch nuclear missiles, he replied: "Many things are possible" - but did not elaborate further on what that might mean. \|\|\|\|\| US intelligence agencies have concluded Moscow tried to sway the presidential election in favour of Mr Trump. It is alleged that Russian hackers stole information linked to the campaign of his rival Hillary Clinton and passed it to Wikileaks so it could be released to undermine her. Congressional committees were set up to investigate the matter and, in March, then-FBI director James Comey confirmed the bureau had its own inquiry. President Trump sacked Mr Comey on 9 May, citing his reason as "this Russia thing", in a move that shocked Washington and fuelled claims of a cover-up. However, it did not halt the investigation. On 18 May, the department of justice appointed ex-FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to look into the matter. Mr Mueller has not given any details of his investigation but US media have reported he is investigating Mr Trump for possible obstruction of justice, both in the firing of Mr Comey and whether Mr Trump tried to end an inquiry into sacked national security adviser Michael Flynn. Mr Flynn resigned in February after failing to reveal the extent of his contacts with Sergei Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to Washington. In December, he pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about his meetings with Mr Kislyak. President Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia, calling the allegations a "witch hunt". Early warning signs It was back in May 2016 that the first reports emerged of hackers targeting the Democratic Party. Over the next two months, the reports suggested US intelligence agencies had traced the breaches back to Russian hackers. In July, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention, Wikileaks published 20,000 internal emails stolen by the hackers. US intelligence officials said they believed with "high confidence" that Russia was behind the operation, but the Trump campaign publicly refused to accept the findings. Instead, at a press conference, Mr Trump caused outrage by inviting Russian hackers to target Hillary Clinton's controversial personal email server, saying: "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing". The first casualty About the same time the hacking scandal was beginning to unfold, Mr Trump's then campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was accused of accepting millions of dollars in cash for representing Russian interests in Ukraine and US, including dealings with an oligarch with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Mr Manafort was running the campaign, the Republican Party changed the language in its manifesto regarding the conflict in Ukraine, removing anti-Russian sentiment, allegedly at the behest of two Trump campaign representatives. Subsequently, further allegations were made in Ukraine about secret funds said to have been paid to Mr Manafort, and it has also been claimed that he secretly worked for a Russian billionaire to assist President Putin's political ends. Mr Manafort has denied both allegations. He was found guilty in August 2018 of eight counts of financial fraud and tax evasion crimes. In September 2018, he pleaded guilty to two remaining charges - and agreed to co-operate with the special counsel's investigation in exchange for a reduced jail sentence. At odds with the intelligence In October, the US intelligence community released a unanimous statement formally accusing Russia of being behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Mr Trump continued to argue against the finding, claiming in a presidential debate that it "could be Russia, but it could also be China, it could also be lots of other people. It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds". The same day that the intelligence agencies released their findings, the explosive "Access Hollywood" recording emerged of Mr Trump's obscene remarks about women in 2005. An hour later, Wikileaks began dumping thousands more leaked Clinton emails. Mr Trump continued to refuse to acknowledge the consensus that Russia was behind the hack. 'I always knew Putin was smart!' In December, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security published a report of the US intelligence findings linking Russia to the hack. In response, President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats and levied new sanctions on Russia. The world awaited Mr Putin's response but he chose not retaliate. Mr Trump, by then the president-elect, sided with the Russian president, tweeting: "Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!" Mr Putin's decision not to respond in kind struck many as a canny PR move, but reportedly set off suspicions among US intelligence officials that Russia was confident the sanctions would not last. The same month, Mr Trump picked Rex Tillerson as his nominee for secretary of state, arguably the most important job in the cabinet. The biggest hurdle for Mr Tillerson's confirmation? Close ties to Mr Putin. As CEO of the ExxonMobil oil company, Mr Tillerson cultivated a close personal relationship with the Russian leader, leading many to speculate on whether he was fit to serve as America's most senior diplomat. Mr Tillerson was sworn in as secretary of state on 2 February. The 'compromising claims' dossier In January, Buzzfeed published a dossier compiled by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence official and Russia expert, which alleged that Moscow had compromising material on the then-president-elect, making him liable to blackmail. Among the various memos in the dossier was an allegation that Mr Trump had been recorded by Russian security services consorting with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel. Mr Trump dismissed the claims as fake news. CNN revealed that President Obama and President-elect Trump had been briefed on the existence of the dossier by intelligence officials, and Buzzfeed went one further, publishing the entire thing. The evidence against Flynn... In February, the most concrete and damaging Russia scandal finally surfaced, months after suspicions were raised among intelligence officials. US media reported that Mr Flynn had discussed the potential lifting of Mr Obama's Russia sanctions with the Russian ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, before Mr Trump took the reins of government. It is illegal for private citizens to conduct US diplomacy. He resigned as Mr Trump's national security adviser after 23 days on the job, saying he had "inadvertently briefed the vice-president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador" late last year. Since leaving the White House, the Pentagon has launched an investigation into whether he failed to disclose payments from Russian and Turkish lobbyists that he was given for speeches and consulting work. ... and Sessions Attorney General Jeff Sessions was being accused of lying at his confirmation hearing when he said he had had "no communications with the Russians" during the election campaign. It later emerged that he too had met Mr Kislyak - at a private meeting in September and as part of a group of ambassadors in July last year. The Alabama senator was one of the most prominent players in Mr Trump's bid to take the White House. But he says his meetings with Mr Kislyak were related to his role as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and had nothing to do with the election campaign. But Mr Sessions recused himself from the FBI investigation into the Russian hacking claims, an investigation he is overseeing. FBI investigation confirmed... and Comey fired Two months into the Trump presidency, Mr Comey confirmed at a rare open hearing of the House Intelligence Committee that the agency was investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. It is an "ongoing" investigation that began in July 2016, he said. But on 9 May, Mr Comey was fired. The White House initially said it was over his handling of the inquiry into Hillary Clinton's emails. But Mr Trump later said "this Russia thing" was a factor. On 10 May, Mr Trump met the Russian ambassador and foreign minister in the Oval Office. He told them firing Mr Comey had eased "great pressure", the New York Times reported. He also reportedly shared with them highly-sensitive "codeword" material relating to terrorism and airline safety, sending more shockwaves through Washington. Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel a week later. Comey testimony In his much anticipated testimony before a Senate panel, Mr Comey said that Mr Trump had asked him to pledge his loyalty, confirming previous media reports about a January meeting between the pair. "I need loyalty, I expect loyalty," Mr Trump said, according to Mr Comey's testimony. Mr Comey said: "I didn't move, speak, or change my facial expression in any way during the awkward silence that followed. We simply looked at each other in silence." Mr Comey also said Mr Trump had asked him to drop the investigation into Mr Flynn. "[Trump] said: 'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.' I replied only that 'he is a good guy.'" But Mr Comey did confirm the president's account that he had told Mr Trump the FBI was not investigating him personally. He said he had kept written memos on his meetings and phone calls with the president, fearing Mr Trump might lie. Trump's response? He denied asking for Mr Comey's loyalty, although he added: "I don't think it would be a bad question to ask." The White House also denied that Mr Trump had asked for the Flynn inquiry to be dropped. Mr Trump has also questioned the neutrality of Robert Mueller, saying the special counsel's friendship with Mr Comey is "bothersome". He has criticised the FBI on numerous occasions and, in one tweet, said the organisation's reputation was "in tatters". Donald Trump Jr On 9 July came news of what was thought to be the first confirmed private meeting between a Russian national and members of President Trump's inner circle. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr, admitted meeting Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower after being told that she had damaging material on Hillary Clinton. But he insisted the lawyer had provided "no meaningful information" in a meeting that also included the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Mr Manafort. Mr Trump Jr told the House Intelligence committee he discussed the Trump Tower meeting with his father once it became public in a New York Times report earlier this year, but he refused to provide details of their conversation, citing attorney-client privilege. Social media's role September saw Facebook reveal it had discovered that politically charged advertising had been targeted at American voters during the 2016 campaign. The social network said it believed this had been paid for by Russians with links to the Kremlin. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said his company would share 3,000 Russia-linked political adverts with US investigators. The adverts did not support a specific candidate, Facebook said, but instead posted inflammatory information on hot topics such as immigration. Rival network Twitter said it had shut down about 200 accounts linked to a Russian misinformation campaign. President Trump responded to Facebook's revelations by saying the site had always been against him. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg rejected his comments, saying his company did not take sides. First charges filed In October 2017, Mr Manafort, who quit as Mr Trump's campaign chairman last August, was charged with conspiring to defraud the US in his dealings with Ukraine. The good news for Mr Trump was that these charges - of which he was later convicted - were not directly linked to the Russia investigation. But the bad news is that Mr Manafort later agreed to co-operate with prosecutors in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. Another of his advisers, George Papadopoulos, admitted making false statements to FBI agents about his dealings with an unnamed overseas academic who allegedly informed him that the Russians possessed "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The charges against Mr Papadopoulos were the first to be brought by Robert Mueller as part of the Russia investigation. Flynn indicted In December, Michael Flynn admitted making false statements to the FBI about meetings with the Russian ambassador, making him the most senior member of the administration to be indicted. He also revealed he was co-operating with Mr Mueller's inquiry. A statement made by Mr Flynn to prosecutors appeared to implicate a more senior, though unnamed, Trump team official - indicating the direction in which Mr Mueller's investigation may be heading. Numerous US media outlets said the senior official now under the spotlight is Jared Kushner - Mr Trump's adviser and son-in-law. Soon after Mr Flynn was charged, the president appeared to suggest that he had known Mr Flynn had lied about meetings with the Russian ambassador, contradicting his own account from the time - and prompting accusations that he obstructed justice. A White House lawyer later said he had written the tweet and that the controversial line had actually been an error.	The US has published a list of 114 Russian politicians and 96 oligarchs, some close to the president, as part of a sanctions law aimed at punishing Russia for meddling in the US election. It's the story that has dominated Donald Trump's presidency. But it's complicated. Let's take a step back. US President Donald Trump has signed a significant piece of legislation to punish Moscow for alleged interference in last year's election. The director of the CIA expects that Russia will target the US mid-term elections later this year. Throughout the confusion of Donald Trump's campaign and the chaotic events of his early days in the White House, one controversy has clung to the Trump team like glue: Russia.
Nottinghamshire Police were called to Walesby Road, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, at about 13:30 BST earlier. The force believes the device had been there "for some time". Nick Waltz, of the force, said people have been evacuated from their houses "as a precaution while specialist teams deal with it". The discovery comes after the controlled explosion of a suspected World War Two mortar, found on the banks of the River Meden in nearby Perlethorpe on Sunday, police added. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| The runner came across the device on Bank Holiday Monday in Langsett, South Yorkshire. Mountain rescue teams along with police and the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) bomb disposal experts dealt with the find. The device was found to be a live explosive, left over from World War Two when the area was used as a shooting range, the Army said. Posting on their Facebook page Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team said: "Two of our team members who have good knowledge in this area went to investigate and confirmed the fell runner's findings were correct." They said RLC confirmed it was left over from the shooting range during World War Two. "The area was prepared for a controlled explosion of the shell resulting in quite a bang," they added. People who find anything similar around Langsett Reservoir that looks suspicious are advised to call the police. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Peter Cawdell, who lives in Quorn, Leicestershire, had been clearing out the mysterious concrete structure with his daughter when they found the relic. Bomb disposal teams were called to Forest Road on Monday. Mr Cawdell said at first they were "excited" but on Tuesday "it dawned on us how dangerous it could have been". The 69-year-old, who lives with his wife Melodie and daughter Tehani, said they have been "taking out about 20 buckets of soil per day" to clear the shelter. He said they had found items such as a pocket watch, an old bike and marmalade pots. The security guard said on Monday they "got down about 5ft (152cm)" and he was "pickaxing" when they found something, which at first they thought was an oxygen bottle, but when the soil came off, they weren't so sure. "It had a tapered shape to it," he said. "We prised it out and laid it on the grass. My daughter said 'it's not a bomb is it, dad?'" The police were called and after X-raying the item, the bomb disposal team confirmed it as a 4.2in mortar round - the largest used by the British in World War Two - and still live. Ed Cawdell, Peter's nephew who owns the house, said: "There was quite a fuss. Police cars, the bomb squad, lots of tape. "I don't think I'm as popular with the neighbours as I used to be." He added: "We are keen to see it fully explored as it is far bigger than a normal domestic air raid shelter. "It might be a Home Guard command post or something to do with the railway or even the 82nd Airborne Division, who were stationed nearby." The shelter has been cordoned off while authorities work out the next steps. Leicestershire Police said: "We were called at 15:04 BST on Monday to a report of what was thought to be an explosive device in Forest Road, Quorn. "The property was cordoned off, but no-one was evacuated. Explosive Ordnance Disposal attended the scene." Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Police said the device is believed to be a 40-year-old mortar. It was discovered in the Sligo Road area of the town on Friday. Margaret McGinley had just recently moved into the property with her husband and five children. The family were told they were lucky no one was killed when it was nearly hit with a spade. "My husband and his two nephews were putting a manhole cover over a drain at the back of the house and they were excavating part of a dry wall to get the cover to fit and this object rolled out at their feet," she said. "My husband's nephew was just about to hit it with a shovel, as he thought it was a stone, when my husband said, 'don't, don't touch that' and they realised it was some sort of explosive device so they rang the police. "They came very promptly and evacuated us out of the house and said the boys were very lucky they hadn't caused themselves serious injury or death." Army technical officers examined the grenade before carrying out a controlled explosion on it in a nearby field. 'Very lucky' The family were allowed to return home at 2000 BST on Friday. "It was only after we were allowed back into the house that we realised how close our children were playing out there," said Mrs McGinley. "The local builder who was helping us to renovate the house had moved the oil tank from where it was and this device had just been under the platform where the original oil tank was, so we were very very lucky and we're still coming to terms with the shock." Mrs McGinley said the family had been told that "these devices are still being used today". "They date back from post world war to the present day and they felt because of the condition it was in, that it had been in the ground for 15 to 20 years because it was quite badly eroded."	Ten homes have been evacuated after a suspected mortar bomb was found in a garden. A live mortar shell has been blown up by the Army after it was found on moorland by a fell runner. A man said he and his family "could have been vaporised" after discovering a rusty "bottle" pulled from a garden shelter was a live World War Two bomb. A family in Enniskillen is recovering from the shock of finding a rocket propelled grenade in their garden.
The health department is reminding islanders not to visit the hospital if they have symptoms of the infection, which include nausea and vomiting. The authorities have increased cleaning rates and erected signs to try and stop the virus spreading. Gary Kynman, Deputy Director of Operations, says islanders must help. He said: "It is evident there is increasing numbers of suspected norovirus cases within the island community. "It is important every islander plays their part in trying to slow down the spread of this highly infectious virus, particularly in public places and catering establishments." Health and Social Services issued advice to be more vigilant than usual about washing hands frequently and thoroughly. A norovirus outbreak at the end of 2012 led to health department closing wards and cancelling operations at Jersey General Hospital. \|\|\|\|\| The hospital announced that despite the drop, special measures for combating the winter vomiting bug would remain. Two wards at the facility were closed to new admissions and a number of operations cancelled when the virus was discovered in December 2012. More than 1.1 million cases of norovirus have been reported in the UK over the winter 2012-2013 season. The bug causes sickness, vomiting and diarrhoea. Jersey's General Hospital has asked islanders not to visit the hospital or their doctor if they have contracted norovirus. \|\|\|\|\| The hospital says the small number of cancellations will be kept to a minimum but the move was essential to stop the spread of the illness. Corbiere Ward closed to new admissions on Friday. Bartlett Ward was the first to close but re-opened at the start of December. Patients with Norovirus symptoms in other parts of the hospital are being isolated. Angela Body, director of operations at the hospital, said: "With an illness of this type, we have to put the welfare of people coming into the hospital first, and carefully consider the risks to each patient from Norovirus if they are due to have surgery. "Anyone who is affected by these cancellations will be contacted, and can be reassured that their surgery will be re-scheduled as soon as possible." A hospital spokesman said islanders should not visit friends or family at the hospital if they have symptoms of Norovirus, or the Norovirus infection. \|\|\|\|\| Corbiere Ward has been closed and patients ill with norovirus symptoms in other parts of the hospital are being isolated. The hospital said it was working hard to reduce the impact of the bug. A small number of health staff have the virus and are away from their duties to help prevent further spread. Bartlett Ward, which was closed due to the virus in November, reopened on 3 December. People are being asked not to visit patients at the hospital if they have symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting. A hospital spokesman said: "The single most effective way to prevent any probable spread of norovirus is with thorough hand washing, using soap and water."	Sections of Jersey's hospital have been closed, as health authorities warn there is a growing number of suspected norovirus cases within the island. A drop in the number of cases of norovirus has been reported by Jersey's General Hospital. Some operations have been cancelled at Jersey's hospital due to Norovirus. A ward has been closed to new admissions at Jersey General Hospital to help prevent the spread of norovirus. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Parts of the Lebanese organisation have been proscribed since 2001, with its military wing banned since 2008. UK authorities say they are no longer able to distinguish between the group's military and political wings. The changes are expected to take force from Friday, after which supporting Hezbollah will be an offence carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Hezbollah - translated as the Party of God - is a Shia Islamist political, military and social organisation that wields considerable power in Lebanon. Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he had decided to proscribe the group in its entirety because Hezbollah was "continuing in its attempts to destabilise the fragile situation in the Middle East". The group, which is backed by Iran, has sent thousands of its fighters to Syria to support forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in battles against predominantly Sunni Muslim rebel forces and the jihadist Islamic State group. Last month, Hezbollah was awarded three cabinet posts in the newly-formed Lebanese cabinet after it made gains, alongside its allies, in the 2018 parliamentary elections. 'A clear signal' Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt echoed Mr Javid's comments, adding that the government could not be complacent about terrorism. "It is clear the distinction between Hezbollah's military and political wings does not exist, and by proscribing Hezbollah in all its forms, the government is sending a clear signal that its destabilising activities in the region are totally unacceptable and detrimental to the UK's national security," he said. Mr Javid's Israeli counterpart Gilad Erdan welcomed the decision on Twitter and called on the EU to follow suit. Hezbollah was formed as a resistance movement during the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon in the early 1980s. The militant group's capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border attack led to a month-long war with Israel in 2006. In addition to Hezbollah, the draft order also proscribes Ansaroul Islam and Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM) as terrorist organisations. Ansaroul Islam and JNIM are militant Islamist groups active in West Africa - both have claimed responsibility for attacks in the region. The order - which is expected to be approved by Parliament - will become active from Friday and will put Britain in line with other countries including the US. \|\|\|\|\| It emerged with the help of Iran during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon in the early 1980s, though its ideological roots stretch back to the Shia Islamic revival in Lebanon in the 1960s and '70s. After Israel withdrew in 2000, Hezbollah resisted pressure to disarm and continued to strengthen its military wing, the Islamic Resistance. In some ways, its capabilities now exceed those of the Lebanese army, its considerable firepower used against Israel in the 2006 war. The group also gradually became a key power broker in Lebanon's political system, and has effectively gained veto power in the cabinet. Hezbollah has been accused of carrying out a string of bombings and plots against Jewish and Israeli targets and is designated a terrorist organisation by Western states, Israel, Gulf Arab countries and the Arab League. Some Lebanese consider Hezbollah a threat to the country's stability, but it is enduringly popular within the Shia community. 'Resistance' Hezbollah's precise origins are difficult to pinpoint, but its precursors emerged following the Israeli invasion of South Lebanon in response to attacks by Palestinian militants in 1982, when Shia leaders favouring a militant response broke away from the leading Amal movement. The new organisation, Islamic Amal, received considerable military and organisational support from Iran's Revolutionary Guards based in the Bekaa Valley, and emerged as the most prominent and effective of the Shia militias that would later form Hezbollah. The groups launched attacks on the Israeli military and its ally, the South Lebanon Army (SLA), as well as foreign powers in Lebanon. They are believed to have been behind the bombings of the US embassy and US Marine barracks in 1983, which together left 258 Americans and 58 French servicemen dead, and led Western peacekeeping forces to withdraw. In 1985, Hezbollah officially announced its establishment by publishing an "open letter" that identified the US and the Soviet Union as Islam's principal enemies and called for the "obliteration" of Israel, which it said was occupying Muslim lands. It also called for the "adoption of the Islamic system on the basis of free and direct selection of the people, not the basis of forceful imposition". The 1989 Taif Accord that ended Lebanon's civil war and called for the disarmament of militias prompted Hezbollah to rebrand its military wing as an "Islamic Resistance" force dedicated to ending Israel's occupation, allowing it to keep its weapons. After the Syrian military imposed peace on Lebanon in 1990, Hezbollah continued its guerrilla war in South Lebanon, but also began to play an active role in Lebanese politics. In 1992, it successfully participated in national elections for the first time. When Israeli forces finally withdrew in 2000, Hezbollah was credited with pushing them out. The group resisted pressure to disarm and maintained its military presence in the South, claiming as justification the continued Israeli presence in the Shebaa Farms and other disputed areas. In 2006, Hezbollah militants launched a cross-border attack in which eight Israeli soldiers were killed and two others kidnapped, triggering a massive Israeli response. Israeli warplanes bombed Hezbollah strongholds in the South and in Beirut's southern suburbs, while Hezbollah fired about 4,000 rockets at Israel. More than 1,125 Lebanese, most of them civilians, died during the 34-day conflict, as well as 119 Israeli soldiers and 45 civilians. Hezbollah survived the war and emerged emboldened. Although it is has since upgraded and expanded its arsenal and recruited scores of new fighters, there has been no major flare-up along the border area, which is now patrolled by UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese army. 'Political vision' In 2008, when Lebanon's Western-backed government moved to shut down Hezbollah's private telecommunications network and remove Beirut airport's security chief over ties to the group, Hezbollah responded by seizing much of the capital and fighting rival Sunni groups. To end the sectarian clashes that left 81 people dead and brought Lebanon to the brink of a new civil war, the government backed down and a power-sharing agreement gave Hezbollah and its allies the power to veto any cabinet decision. In 2009 elections it won 10 seats in parliament and remained in the unity government. Later that year, Hezbollah's secretary general Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah issued a new political manifesto that sought to highlight the group's "political vision". It dropped the reference to an Islamic republic found in the 1985 manifesto, but maintained a tough line against Israel and the US and said Hezbollah needed to keep its weapons. In 2011, the group and its allies forced the collapse of the unity government led by Saad Hariri, a Saudi-backed Sunni, with Hezbollah warning that it would not stand by as four of its members were accused of involvement in the 2005 assassination of Mr Hariri's father Rafik. Hezbollah and its allies have continued to be part of subsequent governments, where they wield considerable influence. As the war in Syria escalated, thousands of Hezbollah militants went to fight for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, proving decisive in helping pro-government forces recover ground lost to rebels, particularly along the Lebanese border. Hezbollah's involvement in Syria, however, has sharpened sectarian tensions in Lebanon, where the group has been targeted in a series of bombings by Sunni militants. Its support for Syria's Shia Alawite president and alliance with Iran has also seen a deepening of hostility from Gulf Arab states, led by Iran's main regional rival, Saudi Arabia. In early 2016, Saudi Arabia led Gulf countries and the Arab League to declare Hezbollah a terrorist group, accusing it of "hostile acts". \|\|\|\|\| "We must turn the page and start working," said Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who is now in his third term. The 30-member cabinet has four women, including the interior minister - a first for Lebanon. The most pressing challenge for the cabinet is to revive Lebanon's economic fortunes and cut the national debt, which stands at about 150% of GDP. Mr Hariri's reforms are expected to unlock nearly $11bn (£8bn) in pledged international aid and loans. Who are the key figures in cabinet? Lebanon is governed by a complex power-sharing system aimed at representing all of its religious and political communities. Mr Hariri's new government will be composed of most of the country's rival factions, including the Iran-backed Shia movement Hezbollah which - with its allies - made gains in parliamentary elections last May. One of the main sticking points until now has been how Hezbollah's Sunni allies, who oppose the prime minister, would be represented in government. They were eventually awarded one position in cabinet, while Hezbollah took two seats. Jamil Jabak was chosen as health minister by Hezbollah, although he is not a member of it. Other key members of the new cabinet are Ali Hassan Khalil and Gebran Bassil, who both remain as finance and foreign ministers respectively. Four women entered the government. Among them is Rhea al-Hasan, the country's new interior minister. Who is Mr Hariri? Despite being 48 years old, Mr Hariri is seen as a veteran in Lebanese politics. In 2017, he caused a significant political crisis when he announced his resignation on a routine trip to Saudi Arabia in a televised address, saying he feared an assassination attempt. He suspended his own resignation two weeks later after speaking to President Michel Aoun back in Lebanon. He denied speculation that Saudi Arabia had forced him to leave as part of a regional power struggle with Iran, and instead accused coalition partner Hezbollah and Iran of spreading strife in the region. Mr Hariri's father Rafik al-Hariri was killed by a bomb in 2005. Four men believed to be linked to Hezbollah are being tried in absentia at a UN-backed tribunal in connection with the attack, though the group denies any involvement. The announcement of the new government ends months of uncertainty following elections more than eight months ago. Lebanon has long had a power-sharing political system between the different religious denominations. The number of seats in parliament is split between Christians and Muslims, and the president, prime minister, and speaker of the parliament must each come from a specific religious background. \|\|\|\|\| Although the official results have not been announced, Hassan Nasrallah said their gains guaranteed the protection of the "resistance" against Israel. Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri said his Western-backed Future Movement had lost a third of its seats. Mr Hariri is still expected to be asked to form a new unity government. But analysts said he would emerge a weaker figure, and be even less able to exert influence over Hezbollah than he was in the past. A power-sharing system stipulates that the prime minister should be a Sunni Muslim, the speaker of parliament a Shia and the president a Maronite Christian. In a televised address a day after the elections, Hassan Nasrallah declared what he called a "great political and moral victory for the resistance option that protects the sovereignty of the country". He did not say how many seats his group and its allies had secured, but said the aim of their election campaign had been "achieved and accomplished". Reuters news agency said a tally based on preliminary results showed Hezbollah and its allies had won at least 67 of the 128 seats in parliament. But the number of Hezbollah MPs was little changed at around 13. Formed as a resistance movement during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon in the early 1980s, Hezbollah is today a political, military and social organisation that wields considerable power in the country. It is designated a terrorist group by Western states and Israel, with which it fought a war in 2006, and several of its members are accused of being behind the 2005 assassination of Mr Hariri's father Rafik - himself a former Lebanese prime minister. Mr Hariri said his party had ended up with 21 seats, down from 33 nine years ago. "We had hoped for a better result, it's true. And we were hoping for a wider bloc, with a higher Shia and Christian representation, that's also true," he added. "But everyone could see that the Future Movement was facing a project to eliminate it from political life." Despite the results, Mr Hariri pledged to "to participate in securing political stability and to improve the lives of all the Lebanese". An Israeli minister said the election results meant Lebanon and Hezbollah were indistinguishable. "The state of Israel will not differentiate between the sovereign state of Lebanon and Hezbollah, and will view Lebanon as responsible for any action from within its territory," Naftali Bennett wrote on Twitter. Lebanon should have held elections in 2013, but MPs extended their terms several times because parties could not agree on a new electoral law. The new law redrew constituency boundaries and changed the system from first past the post to proportional representation in an attempt to encourage voting. However, turnout among the 3.6 million eligible voters was only 49.2% on Sunday, down from 54% nine years ago. Mr Hariri blamed the reduced turnout on the complexities of the new electoral law. "The problem with this election: a lot of people didn't understand it," he said. The elections were also the first since the start of a civil war in Syria in 2011. More than a million refugees have fled to Lebanon since then, swelling the population by 25% and overwhelming public services. Hezbollah has also sent thousands of its fighters to Syria to support forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in battles against predominantly Sunni rebel forces and the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).	The UK Parliament is set to pass new rules classifying Hezbollah as a terrorist group. Hezbollah - the Party of God - is a Shia Islamist political, military and social organisation that wields considerable power in Lebanon. Lebanese factions have agreed to form a new government of national unity, ending nearly nine months of wrangling. Hezbollah's leader says the Iran-backed militant Shia group and its allies have achieved "victory" in Lebanon's first parliamentary elections since 2009.
By Hannah RichardsonBBC News education and social affairs reporter Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield says children do not have the confidence to go to the doctor with mental health issues. A small survey of youngsters suggests 62% have done a general internet search on issues such as depression. The government said it was promoting greater use of counsellors in schools. 'Desperate' Ms Longfield said: "Every child knows if they are unwell with a stomach ache or hurt their leg, they go to the doctor or school nurse. "Unfortunately they don't have that confidence when it comes to mental health. It is a rather desperate state of affairs when they would prefer to roam around the internet or ask a friend the same age for help first. "GPs really need to think seriously about this and ask if they are doing enough. "Should they have a GP in every practice who is a specialist in children's mental health, for example? "Should they be advertising the fact that they are in a position to help within their surgeries?" She added that while there were some good websites, it was really a "matter of luck" whether children found them. '£1.25bn investment' Ms Longfield said: "There are growing concerns about increasing rates of anxiety and self-harm and the numbers attending accident and emergency departments with mental health problems have gone up exponentially in recent years. "Young people say they need information they can trust on the internet and drop-in support which is accessible, non-stigmatised and part of everyday life. Services such as clinics in youth centres and schools and school nurses are ideally placed to help provide this." A government spokesman said: "We are supporting better links between mental health services and schools, ensuring children can thrive both inside and outside the classroom. "Improving children's mental health is a priority for this government and that's why we're investing £1.25bn in young people's mental health over the next five years." \|\|\|\|\| By Sean CoughlanEducation correspondent But there are warnings of rising numbers of students struggling to cope with life on campus, with sharp rises in the demand for counselling. And there are questions about whether universities are providing enough support for emotional and mental health problems. Ruth Caleb, chair of Universities UK's mental well-being working group, says counselling services are facing an annual rise in demand of about 10%. She estimates the use of counselling usually ranges between 5% and 10% of students, depending on the university, which would suggest at least 115,000 students are seeking help. Sir Anthony Seldon, vice chancellor of Buckingham University, says this is a "massive problem" and universities have been "negligent" in accepting their pastoral responsibilities. "Universities are not always honest about admitting the extent of the problems they have. They need to change, they need to take their responsibilities to students far more carefully." A report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, using anonymised data, found a rapid increase in demand for counselling, with one institution seeing an annual increase of more than 50%. This analysis, published before the new term, showed mental health problems on campus had "increased dramatically" in recent years, rising from about 8,000 to 18,000 in the four years to 2012-13. The study also warned students want help with more serious problems. Instead of homesickness or relationships, they are increasingly suffering from "anxiety, depression or low mood. Additionally, increasing numbers of students are at high risk of harming themselves". Anxiety culture The University of Reading says there has been a 20% year-on-year increase in students wanting help from counsellors. The university's head of well-being, Alicia Pena Bizama, says students feel under more pressure. As well as perennial problems of loneliness and relationships, she says there are worries about the rising cost of studying, fear of failing to live up to expectations and uncertainties about job prospects. "There is a cultural change in being a student," says Dr Caleb, who is head of counselling at Brunel University. Instead of a stereotype of student life being about long lazy days, she says increasing numbers experience anxiety and stress, beyond the "transitional" problems of leaving home. Student life is also affected by wider social changes. Dr Caleb says there is a pattern of parents splitting up when their child goes to university and sometimes selling the family home, which can leave young people feeling vulnerable and unsupported. 'It can save people's lives' Universities are getting better at responding to mental health problems and making it easier to access counselling services. But Dr Caleb says there needs to be more consistency in the quality of services available. She says that at her university, "we will knock on a door at night if there are concerns. It can save people's lives". But what is so different now about young people's lives? Is there really such a culture of anxiety? Meredith Leston, a student at St Anne's College, Oxford, suffered from anorexia and depression in her first year. "People talk about 'snapping' and that is what happened to me. I just couldn't take the pressure and the whole new realm of expectations." She says part of the problem is the ever-present role of social media, fuelling a culture of constant comparison and a sense of inadequacy. "As well as being a first class student, you have to be a first class person, you have to be performing socially, academically. It's a nightmare. You're constantly on." 'Suffering in silence' Ms Leston says she received help from her university, but she is worried about the patchy provision for some students. "I do worry that a lot of students are suffering in silence at the moment." "I think there is a very strong stigma still surrounding mental health issues, but even in the few years I've been at university, I've seen a slow change, people are beginning to talk about it." Following her own experiences, she is supporting a mental health charity, Student Minds, and has founded her own campaign, Meeting of Minds. Sir Anthony Seldon recently became a university head after working as a head teacher in the independent school sector. And he says universities have much catching up to do on student well-being. Sir Anthony warns some universities might see their status in terms of research and league tables, with the danger they view undergraduates as an "inconvenience". But he says they cannot ignore the rising incidence of problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. "Universities, with some exceptions, haven't been fully owning up to the extent of the malaise among young people. Or understanding what can be done to ameliorate these problems." "I don't think universities mean to be negligent. But if not deliberately, they are being negligent, they are not accepting their responsibility for these young people. And needless avoidable problems are occurring all the way up to suicide." 'Sink or swim' The increase in tuition fees has also changed students' expectations. Universities are now competing on the quality of their services as well as academic prowess. And students expect to have support for emotional problems. Three student protests and occupations this year have called for better counselling services. At the University of Reading student welfare has been made a priority, including a long-term project to monitor well-being. Marina Della Giusta, responsible for the research, says students are "definitely feeling more stressed". "The factors that really drive it are financial stress, university education has become more expensive. And job prospects are more uncertain, so they're not sure whether it's going to pay off." The other constant thorn is the expectation to be seen to be having a good time, with social media turning social lives into a place of competition rather than relaxation. But the increase in using counselling services also reflected a greater willingness to ask for help - and Dr Della Giusta says universities are moving away from a "sink or swim" attitude. "There's no point turning out students who have a first if they are going to be unhappy and unable to function as human beings out there in the workplace or in their personal life." Universities UK says it issued guidance this year to all universities on how to support students with mental health problems. "Universities take student mental health very seriously. For some students, an unfamiliar higher education environment can be stressful, particularly for those who already have an underlying illness," says chief executive Nicola Dandridge. "Some students are reluctant to disclose their difficulties, which can also present a challenge for universities seeking to support them. However, the development of policies and anti-stigma campaigns is now beginning to address both these issues." Your comments: There was a time (before instant messaging) when you used to sit down with your mates and have a good conversation, and together you'd work things out. It seems that a shrink is the only person you can talk to now! When it was just the academic elite that went to university, the studying was relatively easy for them. Now your average Jo(e) is expected to get a degree they have to work much harder and are under much more stress to achieve. David, Northampton Thanks for this piece; I really appreciate it. I've just finished my degree at university and had to take a year out to deal with anxiety. I wrote about this experience on a short blog, https://henryegar.wordpress.com/2014/04/09/the-reasons-i-worried-part-i-2/. I'm currently writing a follow-up on the experience of positive change, learning to manage these feelings and becoming a much happier person. A team of us are also currently making a film about mental health issues at our university. Henry, London Judging by the numbers of very stressed sixth form students I teach I am totally unsurprised by this statistic. Most students are terrified of failing, constantly reminded how important it is to get high grades. The culture of obsession with target grades in school leads to a tense atmosphere as both teachers and students are judged against them. Schools also struggle to get enough counsellors and support for their students. Quick referrals are only for the suicidal meaning many students have to wait 33 weeks to a year to get any real help. It is really time to rethink what an education is worth. EJ, Heswall I was at medical school 1994-2000. We all felt stressed periodically, but it was most unusual (<2% of the whole year) for any of us to seek to postpone. Part of the increase is likely to be due to availability. In my time, the student counselling service was a door with a sign over it, and if you looked all over the union you might just find a few small cards with phone numbers. There has been a massive increase in posters, talks etc about student wellbeing. And asking for such help, even when unbeknownst to others, causes much less internal agitation nowadays. Plus, students are definitely expected to work more these days. "I'm a graduate" doesn't cut a lot of mustard in the milk-round if you got a 3rd. Medicine and dentistry students, I believe, had less stress because there was a cast-iron guarantee of a job. Max, Yarm I actually think the figures of those using counselling display something else, much more positive for universities. Since graduating, I was diagnosed with depression and waited a month to be given 6-weeks free CBT therapy. Following this, there was waiting list for months for any free therapy given (for example through the charity MIND) and I was recommended to find my own private counsellor as the wait would be so long. This took time, and also costs money. Ranging from £25-£150 per session. To be struggling mentally and having to take on this task and financial burden shows a huge flaw in the mental health system in the UK. However, at university, counselling is freely offered. I believe that the figures show what happens when counselling is freely available. At university you receive better care- counselling is made freely available to anyone, and there is a high degree of privacy around the counselling (they tended to be in rooms that I didn't even know existed before I received counselling), and there is no limit on the amount of sessions you can receive. Lydia, London Oh dear all these do gooders protecting the little luvvies again and wrapping them in the cotton wool life that they have led until now. When we were young if we wanted to buy things we had pocket money and/or had to get a paper round, weekend job or both which gave us grounding before going to University but these kids get it all given to them on a plate and sulk if they don't get the latest IPhone etc. so it's a big shock when they have to learn to wipe their own backsides. David, High Roding I first received counselling and a diagnosis of depression at university (ten years ago now) but I don't think that was to do with the stress of university per se. On the contrary, I was so much happier there than at school, and made friends for life. I wonder if some of this increase is because of the well-documented increase in poor mental and emotional health at school age. University is where it all comes to a head, where you have to face it - and where you are more likely to be taken seriously and get help than possibly anywhere else. Katherine, Grimsby I was diagnosed a year or so before starting university, having been depressed for much longer, and developing quite bad social anxiety too. I struggled through first year before telling the university at the end of the year, when I was told I would be looked out for and checked up on. I got a few free counselling sessions and was referred to an external counsellor, which was all good. The university themselves gave basically no support. I met my personal tutor once, no one commented on my severe lack of attendance/missing of deadlines, and no one ever checked in to see if I was okay. They just handed the problem to an external source and forgot about it. I just felt completely isolated and abandoned. Sophie, Sunbury-on-Thames I've sought counselling during my undergraduate and postgraduate studies for stress, anxiety and acute insomnia. However, in my experience, university counselling services are way over subscribed and under funded and are unable to cope with the rising numbers of students seeking help. Academia has just accepted that students will face mental health problems without addressing the root causes and exploring the reasons behind the challenges and it's high time that someone explored why so many university students, and staff, are struggling with their mental health. Clare, Leeds As a private tutor with a long career in teaching, I think the stress starts long before students arrive at university. Many of my students are put under huge pressure even at primary school, by parents, school league tables, 11+ , common entrance, SATs, GCCEs, Bacs, A Levels and so on and so on. By the time students get into uni, stress has already been the default situation for years. Un fact, it you are not stressed, you are not keeping up with the competition and there is something wrong with you(!) Chris, Shepperton I'm sure that financial pressure and worries about job prospects play a role. But could it be that today's generation is simply a lot less prepared for this transition - becoming independent ...? Sabine, London I am horrified at the lack of support given to young people at university. My son started at a top London art college last year and probably only survived because he'd done 5 years at boarding school beforehand which gave him the resilience to cope. The halls were expensive but grotty, no decent communal area, five miserable bedsits per 'flat' with a bleak shared kitchen. Posters and pictures were forbidden on the walls. A spot check on my son's room which he had made friendly with flags and pictures incurred dire warning of fines and a demand for everything to be removed. I am not at all surprised at the high incidence of drop out by students from the lowest socio-economic groups. There is no support for them, the existence is lonely, the costs are enormous, the tutors are indifferent and there is the barest minimum of tuition. I was lucky enough to go to Cambridge 30 years ago. Many of the new universities are a complete scam. Caroline, Market Rasen I went to university in the early 1960s. one of 113,000 that year. It was the London University agricultural faculty and therefore rurally based. We were a relatively small, close knit community, there were no drugs and no discernible mental hangups other than was normal for young people of this age and life was enjoyable and a wonderful experience. We worked hard and played hard. I think young people then were tougher mentally and physically, no pet descriptions were available to describe the odd blip and no havens existed to help those who simply found themselves in an environment in which they could not survive . They just got out and did something else. There were more opportunities for both graduates and people with other skills in those days but you still survived by your own endeavours and parental support almost always disappeared as you approached late teens. You simply became a survivor because there was no description for your perceived weakness, you simply had to tough it out. Bob, King's Lynn Conscientious, intelligent, and empathic people (by no means a minority) are the most stressed by formal education because they understand and try to meet complex and contradictory expectations. Both meeting them and not meeting them are equally stressful. The brightest young people I know, Oxbridge graduates some, are the worst learners; they assimilate and accommodate knowledge, understanding, and skills like out-of-control vacuum cleaners, but the process results in mental illness. Something that is a natural propensity is somehow constrained to take place in a context full of other people's needs and ambitions and the personal shame of relating to your friends and family through a series of self-evidently meaningless achievements. One cannot derive a secure sense of self from an education system (or a family system) that defines the child's success in terms of the institution's own survival needs - this is the very essence of a dysfunctional relationship. The mental health of young people will continue to worsen as the relentless march of competitive marketisation and corporate managerialism drives both teachers and children to anxiety and depression. Everyone knows this, and everyone says it in private, in staffrooms, head's offices, dinner tables, and counselling centres. Our failure as educators is that we don't stop it. Nick, Birmingham \|\|\|\|\| By Michael BuchananBBC Social Affairs correspondent And many children are having to travel hundreds of miles across the country to receive hospital treatment. Treating young people in such units should happen only in exceptional circumstances. The Department of Health had promised this would stop by 2010. The DoH said children and young people's mental health was a priority. Using Freedom of Information requests, the BBC and online journal Community Care found the number of under-18s being treated in adult units was in its hundreds - and rising. Data returned by 51 of the 58 NHS mental health trusts in England showed that 350 under-18s have been admitted so far to adult mental health wards in 2013-14, compared with 242 two years earlier. The figures also reveal that 12 under-16s have been admitted so far in 2013-14, compared with just three in 2011-12. Of 18 trusts that provided out-of-area placement data, 10 had sent children more than 150 miles away for care. The furthest distance was from Sussex to Bury, Greater Manchester - 275 miles. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said it had to make the admission because there was no bed available nearer home. Data obtained from the Care Quality Commission confirmed that the social care regulator had received an alert about a 12-year-old being admitted to an adult psychiatric unit. 'Inappropriate facilities' Dr Michael McClure, consultant child psychiatrist and clinical director of children's and adolescents' mental health services at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, said doctors were faced with this problem every week. "Sometimes we have to make 50 to 100 phone calls around the country looking for a bed. They [young people] shouldn't be shunted around into inappropriate facilities, however much the staff there try to help them," said Dr McClure. "It may be the first time they've had a breakdown. They need to stay in touch with the people they know and love, and if they're having to move 200 or 300 miles, it's very difficult for the family to stay in touch." Dr McClure said funding for mental health services had been cut, particularly for child and adolescent services in the community. "That means there is more difficultly in looking after these young people in the community so there is greater pressure on the inpatient services," he said. One mother, who did not want to be named, said her 12-year-old daughter was sent from Hull to a psychiatric unit in Stafford, 130 miles away. "One time she got upset because she didn't want me to go and they had to prise her off me," the mother said. "They put her in a room and as I was leaving the unit she was shouting out the window, 'Mummy, Mummy, don't leave me, please. Don't leave me, Mummy'. "It's not just like breaking an arm, it's emotionally draining. And to cope with that as well as having to travel - it's the most difficult thing a mother could ever have to deal with." 'A strange place' Nicola Mattocks, 16, from London, has been admitted to a mental health ward on four occasions. The first time was when she was 14. Each time she was sent more than an hour from home, making it difficult for her father - her primary carer - to visit and impossible for her friends. She said it was "uncomfortable and unsettling" and often frightening. "I couldn't see my dad as often as I'd like and my friends couldn't get there as it was so far away. I felt quite alienated," she said. 'Unacceptable' A DoH spokesman said the experience could be "very distressing" for children and their families. "Our mental health crisis care concordat reinforces the duty on the NHS to make sure that people under 18 are treated in an environment suitable for their age, according to their needs," he said. He said the DoH had invested £54m to improve services "through better monitoring, sharing best practice and improving access to specialist talking therapies for young people". Dr Jacqueline Cornish, NHS England's national clinical director for children, young people and transition to adulthood, said treating children with mental health problems in adult settings was "totally unacceptable in the majority of cases". NHS England is conducting a three-month "rapid review" into the situation, she added. Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane, said: "The traumatisation of young people exposed to often frightening conditions on adult wards is another symptom of the crisis in the mental health system and is the predictable result of both the acute shortage of beds for all ages and the cuts to local community services. "There is little point in the pledges being given by health ministers if they do not make it possible for trusts to reopen closed units and ensure that young people receive treatment before they become too seriously ill." Sarah Brennan, chief executive of the charity Young Minds, said the increase in children placed on adult wards was predictable following cuts to early intervention services over the last four years. "The lack of help early on means we are letting children's problems escalate to serious levels," she said. "This, alongside the lack of accurate data about the mental health needs of our nation's children and young people, means commissioning has been based on out-of-date, inaccurate information, leading to out-of-date provision." \|\|\|\|\| The National Union of Teachers' report says pupils are developing stress-related conditions linked to testing. Based on a survey of 8,000 teachers and a review of research, the report says drilling for tests has narrowed what children are learning. The government said it is determined to ensure every child is able to realise their potential. The report, Exam Factories? The Impact of Accountability Measures on Children and Young People, by Prof Merryn Hutchings of London Metropolitan University, says pupils' emotional health and wellbeing is suffering because of "high-stakes testing". 'Complete meltdown' These are the national tests, exams and progress measures which the government uses to hold schools to account. Most teachers surveyed for the report agreed pupils became "very stressed/anxious in the time leading up to Sats/public examinations". One teacher said: "You just see them sat there, a 10- or 11-year-old kid in complete meltdown." Another said: "I have just had a child off school for three days because he was so worried about his recent test result and didn't want to take any more tests." Lucie Russell, director of campaigns at mental health charity Young Minds, which backed the report, said: "Both pupils and teachers are under a lot of pressure to achieve results in a pressure cooker, exam factory environment. "Many of the young people Young Minds works with say that they feel completely defined by their grades and that this is very detrimental to their wellbeing and self-esteem." According to the report, the tests affect both able and less able pupils similarly. 'High expectations' One secondary school special-needs co-ordinator said: "The higher ability [pupils], and the ones with the very supportive or pushy parents, are receiving higher levels of stress because of how much is being expected of them. "I think the lower end or those with maybe less supportive parents as well are suffering from the fact that they are not being given a curriculum that suits them." The report also argued the focus on testing was harming pupil-teacher relationships, with teachers less able to view pupils in the round. One junior school teacher said: "I am in danger of seeing them more in terms of what colour they are in my pupils' list eg are they red (below expectation), green (above expectation) or purples (Pupil Premium) - rather than as individuals." 'New curriculum' Kevin Courtney, deputy general-secretary of the NUT, said: "Teachers at the sharp end are saying this loud and clear, 'If it isn't relevant to a test then it is not seen as a priority.' "The whole culture of a school has become geared towards meeting government targets and Ofsted expectations. As this report shows, schools are on the verge of becoming 'exam factories'." He argued the accountability agenda was "damaging children's experience of education", which should be joyful and leave them with "a thirst for knowledge for the rest of their lives". A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Part of our commitment to social justice is the determination to ensure every child is given an education that allows them realise their potential. "That's why we are raising standards with a rigorous new curriculum, world class exams and new accountability system that rewards those schools which help every child to achieve their best."	Children in England are turning to the internet for advice on mental health instead of talking to their school nurse or GP, it is claimed. Record numbers of students are beginning university this term, making the big emotional step of a new independent life, with many living away from home for the first time. An increasing number of under-18s with mental health problems in England are being treated on adult psychiatric wards, it has emerged. Too much focus on exams is damaging pupils' mental health and self-esteem in England's schools, a report says. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The party's NEC said it had voted by a "clear majority" to exclude Mr Woolfe - previously seen as the frontrunner. The MEP said he was "extremely disappointed" by the decision, and three NEC members have quit in protest. Jonathan Arnott, Bill Etheridge, Diane James, Lisa Duffy, Phillip Broughton and Elizabeth Jones are on the ballot. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Woolfe said he believed the NEC had "their own reasons" for excluding him from the ballot, but implied it could have been linked to the fact he was committed to abolishing the executive. Asked if he would consider taking legal action, or calling a vote of no confidence in the NEC, Mr Woolfe said it was a matter for the party membership but he thought the contest should continue without him. Announcing their resignations from the NEC, Victoria Ayling, Raymond Finch and Michael McGough said in a joint statement that the party's governing body "is no longer fit for purpose" and called for a vote of no confidence in the NEC. They accused it of "deliberately obstructing" Mr Woolfe and some of its members of putting personal ambitions ahead of the interests of the party - which polled more than four million votes at the last general election and got 12% of the vote. "Steven Woolfe is a popular candidate among UKIP's members and should be permitted to represent those that wish to vote for him," they wrote. "To purposefully trawl for technicalities upon which to base a decision to deny his inclusion is not in the best interests of the membership and truly injurious to UKIP." 'Clear rules' The winner of the leadership contest - sparked by Mr Farage's decision to stand down after the UK voted to leave the EU - is scheduled to be announced on 15 September. In a statement announcing the final line-up, the party said: "By a clear majority of NEC members Steven Woolfe MEP's application was considered to be ineligible as a result of a late submission and as such he did not meet the eligibility criteria." Mr Woolfe, the party's immigration spokesman, submitted his nomination papers 17 minutes late on Sunday, blaming the delay on technical issues with the registration site. He submitted his application at 11:35 BST - before the noon deadline - but it did not successfully go through until 12:17 BST. He said he had been in contact with party officials prior to the deadline passing to alert them to the problems, and had sent pictures, upon request, to prove it. The party's chairman, Paul Oakden, said Mr Woolfe's exclusion was "regrettable" but the rules for prospective candidates, as for all elections, were "very clear". He told BBC Radio 4's World at One that the NEC was put in the position of having "to bend and flex the rules" to accommodate a single candidate and "I think they did not feel comfortable in doing that". 'Life or death' Mr Woolfe said he was "extremely disappointed" not to be on the final ballot as he had wanted to "inject my ideas, plans and passion into the party". And he criticised the NEC as "not fit for purpose" and said its conduct during the leadership election had "confirmed many member's fears that it is neither effective nor professional in the way it governs the party". "They have failed to accept that there were serious issues with the application system despite providing evidence that attempts of submission were made before the deadline. The NEC deny this is the fault of the UKIP system. "Furthermore, highly confidential information about me held in party documents has been leaked to the press and the NEC has not sought to investigate this gross breach of privacy," he added. 'Life and death' Mr McGough - who has resigned from the NEC - said Mr Woolfe's exclusion from the contest was "unfair" and called into the question the party's future. Unless the party elected a "competent leader who was comfortable with the media, it was finished", he told World at One. "This is a fight for survival. It is life or death." BBC political correspondent Tom Bateman said the NEC's decision "opens up a whole new schism in UKIP" and he understood that Mr Farage could call an emergency meeting of the party membership to put pressure on the body to reconsider. Mr Oakden, who only took over as party chairman this week, said the party was perfectly entitled to call an EGM if 25% of its branches backed the move but said talk of a potential split was over-exaggerated and the remaining contenders were a diverse and exciting group. MEP Ms James - now regarded as the favourite in the contest - has launched her own campaign website while Mr Arnott, an MEP for the north east of England, has said he was won the backing of the party's deputy leader Paul Nuttall. Of the other candidates, Mr Etheridge is also a member of European Parliament while Lisa Duffy is a councillor in Cambridgeshire. Both Ms Jones and Mr Broughton have stood as candidates in recent parliamentary elections. \|\|\|\|\| The process of selecting Mr Farage's successor has been fraught with controversy after a number of leading names, most notably Steven Woolfe, were barred from standing, prompting resignations from the party's ruling body. But who are the candidates left in the race? Lisa Duffy Although not a well-known figure in Westminster circles, Lisa Duffy has won the backing of key modernising figures in the party such as Suzanne Evans and Patrick O'Flynn. Ms Duffy is a town and district councillor in Cambridgeshire, and a former mayor of the town of Ramsey, and as campaigns director played a key role in fighting by-elections. At her campaign launch, Ms Duffy, 48, a mother of six and former retail manager, pitched herself as the "grassroots candidate" who would "walk the People's Army into Westminster". Chief of staff to MEP Mr O'Flynn, she joined UKIP in 2004 and stood unsuccessfully against Labour's Hazel Blears in Salford in the 2005 general election. She said the party needed to widen its appeal to win seats in 2020 but also continue to tackle "taboo subjects" such as the impact of immigration on British communities and the need for a positive vision for "modernised British Islam". Bill Etheridge An MEP for the West Midlands, and Dudley councillor, he has said UKIP should stick by its "core principles and values" and not be "distracted by negative influences". The 46-year old was a Conservative activist before joining in 2011. He has called for major reform of the penal system, including restricting prisoners' privileges, banning visits during the first six months of a sentence and an automatic 10-year increase in sentence for anyone attacking a prison officer. He also backs far-reaching changes to the tax system, including a 50% cut in alcohol and tobacco duty, replacing VAT with a local sales tax and gradually merging national insurance and income taxes. Elizabeth Jones Potentially the surprise package in the field, Elizabeth Jones is one of the party's leading figures in London, although she has less of a national profile. Deputy chair of the party's Lambeth branch, she stood unsuccessfully in May's London Assembly elections and came fifth in last month's Tooting by-election. The family law solicitor is also a member of the party's national executive committee. She has said she will bring a fresh approach and different style of leadership, urging a focus on trade and education in the wake of the vote to leave the EU. Diane James The 56-year-old former businesswomen and healthcare professional is one of the party's most fluent and reliable media performers. She came within fewer than 2,000 votes of becoming UKIP's first elected MP when she narrowly lost the 2013 Eastleigh by-election to the Lib Dems, impressing journalists with her performance - which relegated the Conservatives into third place. She went on to be elected to the European Parliament as MEP for South East England in 2014, although she decided against standing in the 2015 general election for personal reasons. As deputy chair and home affairs and justice spokeswoman, she has maintained a high profile, although it remains to be seen whether she has the breadth of appeal to prevail in what is likely to be a fierce contest. Philip Broughton He stood as a parliamentary candidate in Hartlepool at the 2015 general election, narrowly losing to incumbent Labour MP Iain Wright, who retained the seat with a majority of 3,024 - down from 5,509. He says UKIP has "won the arguments" on Brexit and now needs to "broaden our message" - on the economy, NHS, defence, law and order, foreign policy and foreign aid. Mr Broughton, who describes himself as a "young, passionate, northern, working class guy", is a semi-professional wrestler, and works as a supervisor in a local Tesco. He used to be a Conservative councillor - between 2007 and 2011 - before he defected to UKIP. Withdrawn - Jonathan Arnott One of the six names on UKIP's list of six candidates, Mr Arnott has now withdrawn, saying the best he could have hoped for would be to finish second. The 35-year-old was elected to the European Parliament in 2014 and is a former general secretary of the party. He previously said he wanted to appeal to the millions of voters who did not support UKIP in last year's general election, but backed Brexit in the EU referendum. Ruled out - Steven Woolfe The 48-year-old barrister was regarded as the favourite to succeed Mr Farage but the party's ruling body decided he was ineligible after he missed the deadline for submitting his nomination papers. He blamed "technical issues" for sending the paperwork online late. In the days before the nominations closed, Mr Woolfe also admitted that he failed to disclose a drink-driving ban from 2002 when seeking election as a police and crime commissioner a decade later. Mr Woolfe, who holds the high-profile immigration and financial affairs brief, joined UKIP in 2010 and was elected as MEP for North West England in 2014. ". Born in Manchester, with African-American, Jewish and Irish Catholic roots, he is also head of the party's Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) association. Other leading figures who are not standing include: Leadership contest timetable	UKIP leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe has been ruled "ineligible" to stand in the contest to replace Nigel Farage - after he submitted his papers late. UKIP has announced the names of the candidates that it says are eligible to stand in the contest to succeed outgoing leader Nigel Farage. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Daryll Rowe, 28, was jailed for life, with a minimum of 12 years, at Brighton Crown Court this year. He was the first man in the country to be found guilty of intentionally setting out to spread the virus. Rowe, of Brighton, infected five men he had unprotected sex with and sabotaged the condoms of another five in Brighton and Northumberland. He was convicted of five counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and five of attempting to do so. Rowe took his case to the Court of Appeal, but judges ruled the grounds presented on his behalf to challenge against his conviction were "unarguable". Lady Justice Hallett also said Rowe's application relating to his sentence was unarguable. His trial heard he launched a deliberate campaign to infect men he met on dating app Grindr after being diagnosed with HIV in April 2015 in his home city of Edinburgh. Rowe told jurors he believed he had been cured of the virus by the time he moved to Brighton, having adopted the practice of drinking his own urine as a treatment, supplemented with natural remedies, including oregano, coconut and olive leaf oils. \|\|\|\|\| Daryll Rowe, 27, infected five men he had unprotected sex with and sabotaged the condoms of another five in Brighton and Northumberland. He is the first man in the country to be found guilty of intentionally setting out to spread the virus. His crimes were branded a "determined hateful campaign of sly violence". After being diagnosed in April 2015, Rowe met men on the gay dating app Grindr and had sex with eight of them in Brighton between October that year and February 2016, before fleeing to the north east where he went on the run from police, targeting two more men. He sent mocking messages after sex with some of the men, including "I have HIV LOL. Oops" and "I'm riddled". Sentencing Rowe at Brighton Crown Court, Judge Christine Henson QC said: "The messages you sent make it crystal clear you knew exactly what you were doing. "As well as the physical offences it is clear for the victims the psychological effects are immense. "They describe living with a life sentence as a result of your cruel and senseless acts. Many of those men were young men in their 20s at the time they had the misfortune to meet you. "I cannot see how and when you will no longer be a danger to gay men." She added: "I note that this sentence is not about stigmatising anyone living with HIV." Rowe, from Brighton, was convicted of five counts of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) and five of attempted GBH. During his six-week trial, one man said he felt "pressured" into having sex with the hairdresser. Another victim branded Rowe as "grotesque" and a "sociopath". Ahead of sentencing, prosecutor Caroline Carberry QC read out statements from nine of his 10 victims, which she said showed the "devastating consequences" of his actions. 'Horrendous chapter' Many told how they had considered suicide having suffered physical and psychological damage and needed to take daily medication. One said: "Darryl has destroyed my life. I would rather he had murdered me than left me to live my life like this." Another said he found condoms with the tops cut off in the bin, and that it had been "a horrendous chapter" in his life. A Tyneside man who was in a relationship with Rowe while he was on bail, but was not infected, told BBC Look North: "If you have a dog, and that dog has rabies, and it bites someone, you'd put it down "That is exactly how I think about him now. "I think he doesn't deserve to be paid for by the taxpayer for the rest of his life." Describing his behaviour as "predatory", Judge Henson said Rowe had "emotionally unstable personality traits" but there was insufficient evidence to diagnose a personality disorder. Det Insp Andy Wolstenholme, of Sussex Police, said the sentence was "hugely important for Rowe's victims, and the communities that he deliberately targeted". "Daryll Rowe was consistent in lying to his victims about having HIV, he was persistent and aggressive in wanting unprotected sex in order to infect people, and when he didn't get what he wanted, he deliberately damaged condoms to achieve his aim," he said. \|\|\|\|\| Daryll Rowe infected five men he had unprotected sex with and sabotaged the condoms of another five in Brighton and Northumberland. After sex with some of the men he texted mocking messages, including "I have HIV LOL. Oops!" and "I'm riddled". During the trial hairdresser Rowe, 27, claimed to believe months of drinking his own urine cured him of the virus. He was convicted at Lewes Crown Court of five counts of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) and five of attempted GBH. During the six-week trial the prosecution described Rowe's actions as a "campaign" to infect as many men as possible over a four-month period starting in October 2015 across the Brighton area. He had relations with eight men he met on dating app Grindr, before moving to Northumberland and having unprotected sex with another two men later in 2016. Speaking after the verdict, Nigel Pilkington, deputy chief crown prosecutor in the South East, said he believed there "may well be more men out there" who had fallen victim to Rowe, of no fixed address. Throughout the case Rowe was described as a "control freak" who would shift between being charming and "jealous". Mr Pilkington said he was a "cruel and callous man" whose crimes were "akin to stabbing or shooting somebody". Mr Pilkington added: "The absolute deliberate infection of other men by a man, is not something I've ever come across in 25 years as a prosecutor and I don't expect to ever come across a case like it again. "This is a man who, after the event, having known what was he was doing, sent mocking and abusive texts to some of his victims. It must have been traumatic." 'Like rape' Deborah Gold, chief executive of the National Aids Trust (NAT), said Rowe's behaviour was "utterly exceptional and vanishingly rare". She added that the majority of HIV transmissions are by people who are unaware they have the virus. Speaking after the hearing, one of Rowe's victims, whose biological parents both had HIV and later died, said the news of his condition drove him to a suicide attempt. "I was always so careful," he said. "My dad was a junkie and she was a very young mother. I was always trying to run away from that lifestyle, That's why I always insisted on condoms." He added it was a "reminder of my past". "I feel it's come full-circle, and has made this my new life, which is very unfair," he added. "[Rowe] called me over and over. He admitted to ripping the condom. "He said, 'I got you. Burn, you have it' and he was laughing at me. There was menace in his voice, it was an insane conversation. It was horrific to hear. I was in a dark place. "It's a violation. I could only describe it as feeling like you've been raped, not the physical side of it, but the mental side." 'Persistent and aggressive' Rowe will be sentenced on 29 January. Det Insp Andy Wolstenholme of Sussex Police said: "Daryll Rowe was consistent in lying to his victims about having HIV, he was persistent and aggressive in wanting unprotected sex in order to infect people, and when he didn't get what he wanted, he deliberately damaged condoms to achieve his aim. At the end of the trial it emerged two dock officers were sacked after falling asleep while evidence was being given. Loud snoring disturbed the hearing on 5 October and they were both removed from the proceedings.	A man who tried to deliberately infect 10 men with HIV has lost a challenge against his conviction and sentence. A man who said he was "riddled" with HIV and convicted of trying to infect 10 men has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years. A man has been convicted of trying to infect 10 men with HIV in a "campaign" to infect as many as possible.
By Peter Mwai and Christopher GilesBBC Reality Check Schools are due to reopen on 29 June and President John Magufuli has said the virus has been largely defeated, but the lack of data has led to increasing concern over the true level of infections. Tanzania's neighbours as well as international health organisations have expressed concerns that downplaying the epidemic there could adversely impact the wider region. Where is the data? In mid-June, the country's prime minister told parliament there were 66 active coronavirus cases, but provided no further details. Apart from this announcement, the government has not been releasing any data on infections or deaths. The president has said releasing the figures was causing unnecessary panic. Human rights activists say health workers are afraid to speak out about the extent of the crisis. "Tanzania has always had very repressive laws against freedom of expression and the press," says Roland Ebole, a regional researcher at Amnesty International. "We are now seeing these laws being used in a more intensive way to target those who are speaking out, especially about Covid-19," says Mr Ebole. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has "strongly" called on Tanzania to release its latest data on the outbreak. The last detailed figures, published on 29 April, reported 480 cases and 21 deaths (its island territory Zanzibar later added 29 more cases in early May). President Magufuli later provided limited data on patients with Covid-19 admitted to hospitals and health centres. He said the number of patients in two large hospitals in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, has dropped from 228 to 18, although he didn't give a timeframe for these figures. He also gave figures for a few other hospitals around the country. Since then, government officials have provided some data on three occasions but in a way which makes it hard to draw comparisons. The country's prime minister Kassim Majaliwa late May said the number of patients in the two main hospitals in Dar es Salaam had dropped to only two. The total national tally from the hospitals he mentioned was 32. The country's health minister Ummy Mwalimu early June told a gathering in the coastal region of Tanga that the two main hospitals treating coronavirus patients in the country only had four patients. She mentioned other regions that had no cases but didn't give the total number nationally or say whether more deaths had been reported. "Unless we have a full reporting, in the true spirit of good public health practice, it is difficult to ascertain and validate that," Africa CDC head John Nkengasong told the BBC. In May, the US embassy in Tanzania issued an alert warning that many hospitals in the city had been "overwhelmed" in recent weeks. "The risk of contracting Covid-19 in Dar es Salaam is extremely high. Despite limited official reports, all evidence points to exponential growth of the epidemic in Dar and other locations in Tanzania," the alert said. The government dismissed the warning and summoned the US envoy. In the most recent alert, the embassy warns that "given the presumed ongoing community transmission in Dar es Salaam and other locations in Tanzania, the risk of contracting Covid-19 remains high." Tanzania's neighbours increasingly concerned The transmission of the virus across Tanzania's borders is of particular concern to its neighbours. These routes are heavily used for transporting goods across the region and the fear is that lorry drivers and other travellers are spreading the virus. Testing is being carried out on people travelling out of Tanzania and into Kenya, Zambia and Uganda (and in some cases being sent back if they're positive). Zambia's Nakonde district, which is just south of the border with Tanzania, has experienced by far the most cases in the country, higher than the country's capital, Lusaka. There is a major trading route that passes through this region, delivering goods from Tanzania's ports into Zambia, which is landlocked. There is a similar situation in Kenya - officials are testing lorry drivers before they are allowed into the country. In May, more than 100 people arriving from Tanzania tested positive for coronavirus and were sent back. At Ugandan border testing points, at least 15 Tanzanian lorry drivers have tested positive in May. Government under pressure The government says it is concerned about the economic impact of a lockdown and its effect on its vital tourism industry. It's also said that tests have been faulty, with samples of a fruit and a goat testing positive. But there is growing dismay with Mr Magufuli and his resistance to following the advice of international experts. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter \|\|\|\|\| It added that hospitals in the main city, Dar es Salaam, were "overwhelmed" and that the chance of contracting the virus was "extremely high". The embassy did not, however, give any evidence to back up its claims. Tanzania's president has accused health officials of exaggerating the crisis. John Magufuli has repeatedly urged people to attend services in churches and mosques, saying that prayers "can vanquish" the virus. However, recent videos of night burials shared on social media have caused some to call into question the government's approach. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also expressed concern about the government's strategy. On 29 April, the last day official data was released, there were 509 cases, with 21 deaths. Last week, President Magufuli revealed that he secretly had animals and fruits samples tested at the national health laboratory in charge of coronavirus and that a papaya (paw-paw), a quail bird, and a goat had returned positive results. He later closed the laboratory and suspended the head. The Tanzanian president is among several African leaders who have received orders for a herbal tonic touted by the president of Madagascar as a cure for Covid-19. The WHO has warned against using untested medicine. What did the US embassy say? The US embassy statement advised Americans living in Tanzania to stay at home and limit interactions with people other than those they live with. It went on to claim that hospitals in Dar es Salaam are overwhelmed and warned that due to the limited capacity of the healthcare system in the country, patients may face life-threatening delays for medical care. The BBC asked the embassy to share its evidence but was referred to the Tanzanian ministry of health. More than four million people worldwide have contracted coronavirus, and the US has the highest number of infections - at least 1.3m - according to the John Hopkins University. The Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr Anthony Fauci, said on Tuesday that the US death toll was probably higher than the official figure of 80,000. What is being said in Tanzania? Government spokesman Hassan Abbasi told the BBC he had "no comment" in response to the US embassy's statement. The authorities have previously rejected accusations that the government was operating in secrecy and denial. "The claims that Tanzania has wavered and isolated itself in the fight against Covid-19 are not true because Tanzania has provided leadership in the economic bloc of the Southern African countries (Sadc), which the country chairs, and it has continued to do so with respect and all efforts required," said Foreign Affairs Minister Palamagamba Kabudi. However, a prominent Tanzanian opposition leader has accused Mr Magufuli, who missed a key meeting of East African leaders on Tuesday to deal with the coronavirus crisis, of making the country a "pariah". Zitto Kabwe accused the president of "practising harmful policies" that would lead Tanzania to "unmitigated health and economic challenges". Several MPs from the main opposition party, Chadema, have boycotted parliamentary sessions because they fear catching the virus. The party said it ordered its members to quarantine following the death of three MPs in April - though the deaths have not been linked to coronavirus. Life goes on as normal despite Covid-19 By Sammy Awami, BBC News, Dar es Salaam The health alert from the US embassy does not necessarily mean the relationship between Tanzania and the US is deteriorating. However, the unusually strong words used in the statement speaks volumes about what the US believes to be the magnitude of the disease in the country. The lack of daily updates from the government makes it difficult to know for sure whether the situation in the country really is out of control. Whatever the truth is, life has hardly changed from how it was before Tanzania reported its first Covid-19 case in March. Markets and shopping centres continue to be packed with people, raising concerns that the virus could be spreading fast. Many, however, wear masks and other face covering to protect themselves. Shops, market centres, pubs and places of worship have also put water buckets and soap at entrance points and demand people wash their hands before entering. \|\|\|\|\| By Christopher Giles and Peter MwaiBBC Reality Check The World Health Organization has said countries should consider their ability to test and trace before lifting lockdown. So which countries have been able to ramp up testing? Nigeria - a huge logistical challenge Africa's most populous nation has now begun to relax some of its lockdown measures despite having one of the lowest testing rates on the continent, It's is a major challenge in country of 200 million people, and there are a limited number of laboratories able to process tests. Chikwe Ihekweazu, director general for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, said in late April: "I would rather go a little bit slower and get it right than speed into a situation that we will end up regretting." The Nigerian government says it's focused on clusters of outbreaks rather than mass testing of the population. The commercial capital Lagos and northern state Kano are the worst-hit areas - and these regions do have the most laboratories for processing tests. However, the Nigerian Medical Association has expressed concern that the low rate of testing means the real incidence of the virus remains unknown in the country. South Africa - high testing but hitting constraints South Africa has enforced one of the strictest lockdowns anywhere on the continent and has achieved a relatively high level of testing. The number of tests being carried out - around 16,000 a day - is considerably higher than other African country, but still a long way short of European levels. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has raised concerns over the country's ability to scale up testing. "In relation to the issue of tests, I've called around both public and private laboratories - they are all suffering from the constraints of the availability of test kits," Ghana - emphasis on test and trace The West African nation has put a great deal of emphasis on testing and tracing Covid-19, choosing not to implement harsh lockdown measures to protect the economy. President Nana Akufo-Addo has eased Ghana's lockdown measures and emphasised the need to test, track and trace coronavirus cases, instead of keeping people at home. The country, much smaller than its neighbour Nigeria, has 11 testing centres, compared with 24 in Nigeria. The government is using a "pool testing" approach which involves combining a group of samples and testing them together. Only if that produces a positive result will individual samples be tested. Using this method, Ghana has one of the highest testing rates on the continent, with just over five per thousand of the population - a total of around 160,000 tests. However, a recent incident at a fish factory, where one worker infected 533 others, has raised concerns about rising infections. East Africa - shortages of testing materials Kenya has been criticised for its lack of testing. The government says that a global shortage of testing supplies has affected the country's ability to conduct tests. Tanzania hasn't released testing data since the end of April. President John Magufuli has said that imported tests have been faulty, claiming that samples from a goat and a fruit tested positive for the virus. There are concerns that Tanzania, which has chosen not to enforce strict lockdown measures, could be facing a very serious, but as yet unidentified, outbreak. The US government recently warned that the coronavirus threat in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's main city, is "extremely high". Uganda has carried out just over 60,000 tests, but the Uganda Virus Research Institute has said they are facing shortages of testing supplies. The government says it's because of the need for increased testing on truck drivers (a suspected source of virus transmission across the region), limited supplies from abroad and delays in delivery. Two of the Africa's smaller nations, Mauritius and Djibouti, have achieved the highest testing rates on the continent. Pan-African initiative Getting hold of kits and the chemical reagents needed to process tests is proving difficult, as African countries don't produce their own and need to compete for limited global supplies. Some countries also have weak, underfunded health systems, and have been slow to allocate money and resources to tackle the pandemic. The African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched an initiative, the Partnership to Accelerate Covid-19 Testing (PACT), which focuses on tracking, testing and tracing. The organisations plan to roll out about one million tests across the continent, and 10 million within the next six months. Dr John Nkengasong, director of Africa CDC, says the agency has so far distributed 250,000 kits from a depot in Senegal, and will be finalising the distribution of 500,000 kits received from the Jack Ma Foundation to countries over the next few days. There are also other social and political factors which could be barriers to greater testing. "In some communities there could be a stigma attached to having the coronavirus," said Ngozi Erondu, an associate fellow at the Centre for Universal Health, Chatham House. "It's also the case that local leaders may push back against testing if they are up for an election." Acquiring testing kits in a competitive global market, getting tests to where they need to be and setting up the labs to process samples is not a simple task for countries with less economic clout and weaker healthcare systems. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter \|\|\|\|\| By Basillioh Mutahi & Athuman MtulyaBBC News, Nairobi & Dar es Salaam The footage shows the funerals taking place under tight security with people wearing personal protective equipment and very few mourners in attendance. Opposition politicians and activists believe it may be part of cover-up by the authorities who have not been releasing regular updates on coronavirus. Unlike other countries, Tanzania has not opted for strict lockdown measures although mass gatherings at funerals, like weddings, have been banned. But the secretive nature of the filmed burials is fuelling speculation that the true scale of infections around the country is being hidden. "I don't want to feel like the government is hiding something. I want it to perform its role. Right now, we are witnessing a lot of mourning, burials and dead bodies everywhere," said opposition leader Zitto Kabwe. "Without transparency, the citizens will be more scared, which may cause even more deaths." The Tanzanian health ministry on Sunday said there would be no more night burials and that from now on, family members would be fully involved in funeral preparations to ensure that the dignity of the deceased is preserved. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has cautioned against spreading fear, saying not all deaths should be attributed to coronavirus. The East African nation has recorded 480 cases of Covid-19 and 16 deaths. Doing the 'Wuhan shake' The government's main priority appears to be keeping the economy going as President John Magufuli refuses to countenance the closure of markets or the lucrative port in the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam. He was one of the first world leaders to stop shaking hands in early March - being pictured exchanging the "Wuhan shake" foot greeting with an opposition politician. On the same day UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, after a visit to a hospital, declared he would continue to shake hands - and later contracted coronavirus. But some of the Tanzanian leader's attitudes to the dangers of coronavirus have caused controversy - though those familiar with his leadership style may not be surprised - and his nickname, "The Bulldozer", hints at his authoritarian nature. 'Go to church for healing' Mr Magufuli has insisted that people should still go to places of worship to find "true healing" - despite these being areas where social distancing is difficult to follow. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, mosques are open for prayers though the meal eaten to break the fast can only be offered as a takeaway. While attending church several weeks ago, the president, a devout Catholic who has a PhD in chemistry, termed coronavirus a "devil". "It cannot live in the body of Christ. It will burn instantly," he said. The president has often asked citizens to turn to prayers, with the government even setting aside days to do so. Are face masks safe? He has also stopped the disinfection of public places, suggesting that chlorine spraying may be responsible for a rise in Covid-19 cases in Dar es Salaam. "There is no disinfectant that kills coronavirus. This disinfection that was done in Dar es Salaam is stupidity…. Such an exercise only eliminates mosquitoes, fleas and cockroaches. "What if [the spray] has coronavirus in it." There is a debate about the effectiveness of spraying diluted bleach outside, which cities around the world have been doing, as it breaks down under ultraviolet (UV) light - though there is no suggestion that the practice will spread the virus. More about coronavirus and Africa: The president has also questioned the safety of some equipment: "Even on the testing kits, the face masks that we are importing, we must ask ourselves, are we sure they are safe for our people?" He would prefer home-grown solutions and has suggested the health ministry consider neem leaves, known as "mwarubaini" - meaning "40 cures" - by boiling them with onions and getting patients to inhale the steam. On Sunday, he said that Tanzania would import a herbal tonic touted by Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina as a cure for coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is no cure for Covid-19 and has advised against self-medication. Mr Magufuli also cast doubt on the credibility of the national laboratory where samples are tested, saying that he had secretly had some animals and fruits tested and that a papaya (paw-paw), a quail and a goat had all tested positive. "That means there is possibility for technical errors or these imported reagents have issues," he said, without giving more detail. The man who 'turned bullets into water' Mr Magufuli's actions have on some internet forums been likened to Kinjeketile Ngwale, a spirit medium who united Tanzanians in the Maji Maji Rebellion against German colonial occupation at the beginning of the 20th Century. He may be a nationalist hero but his promise that German bullets would turn into water (or "maji" in Swahili) turned out not to be true and many thousands died in the conflict. The WHO is happy to see that the East African nation has taken some measures against coronavirus, such as closing schools and colleges. Though it says the fact that this was only done in mid-March, after the first case was announced, means an opportunity was lost to slow the spread of the virus. "Certainly in Tanzania we have observed that physical distancing, including the prohibition of mass gatherings, took some time to happen and we believe that these might have been probable factors that led to a rapid increase in cases there," said Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's regional director for Africa. And while sporting and social activities are not allowed, for most establishments it is business as usual. High-end restaurants and hotels may be required to only sell takeaway food, but most other cafes are still operational, with no distancing at all. Public transport is still running, and keeping one's distance from fellow passengers is near impossible. 'People are scared' At Dar es Salaam's fish market there are water containers and soap available at the entrance, but again social-distancing requirements are not being followed, and not many people wear face masks. Fishmonger Juma Issa is happy that the city has not gone into lockdown as he needs to work to support his family, but fears that some customers are staying away of their own accord. "I know this is a serious pandemic and I work here in a fish market which can be so dangerous with lots of people coming - I believe people are scared to come here," he told the BBC. He wants the government to make sure hygiene rules are observed so that customers feel safe. It is a view echoed by Mohammed Khamis in Zanzibar, who says his local mosque is not doing enough to protect people. "I found a bucket of water with no soap. The mosque is not disinfected before and after the prayers," he told the BBC. The devout Muslim, who prays five times a day, said he had now stopped going to the mosque because of the lack of hygiene. And with the deaths of three MPs in less than two weeks, the main opposition Chadema party, which has been calling for parliamentary sessions to be suspended for some time, has banned its members from parliament and told them to self-isolate for at least two weeks. There has been no suggestion by the authorities that the deaths are linked to coronavirus, but the move is a reflection of the distrust spreading about the handling of the pandemic. \|\|\|\|\| Africa has had less than 100,000 cases so far, but WHO experts believe the continent will have a prolonged outbreak over a few years - and, aid workers say, the huge focus on containing the virus has led to other health issues being neglected. Here, five BBC reporters give a snapshot of what is happening in their countries: Congolese 'probably had virus without knowing it' By Emery Makumeno, Kinshasa The Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed its first case of Covid-19 in early March, but a doctor in the capital, Kinshasa, believes the disease arrived earlier. "During December and January, I can't remember how many patients came for medical treatment, coughing and with fever and headaches," he said, referring to Covid-19 symptoms listed by the WHO. "I am convinced that we, the medical staff, have been exposed to coronavirus already, without knowing it, and we have built a sort of immunity," he added. But DR Congo has carried out few tests to check the Covid-19 status of people, because of a lack of medical equipment. Countries with successful testing strategies, such as South Korea and Germany, have rapidly reached at least 1% of their population, UK medical journal The Lancet points out. If equipment is available, many African states could ramp up tests - some, though not DR Congo, did more HIV tests between 1 October and 31 December than the 1% target for Covid-19 testing, The Lancet says. Sources: Africa CDC; The Lancet So far, DR Congo has recorded more than 1,600 cases of the virus - the ninth-highest number in Africa, according to WHO. The first Covid-19 case was detected in La Gombe, the main business district in Kinshasa. The government moved swiftly to introduce a lockdown, but the virus has since spread to seven of the country's 26 provinces - including the mining hub of Lubumbashi. The outbreak comes at a time when DR Congo - which has poor health services, and has been hit by decades of conflict in the east - is also grappling with an Ebola outbreak. It has killed more than 2,000 people since 2018. Covid-19 has so far claimed the lives of more than 60 people. The UN children's agency, Unicef, has also raised concern about a reduction in vaccination rates, saying gains made from immunisation over the past two years could be erased. Unicef said vaccinations were already declining at the beginning of this year, and that the effects of coronavirus will make it worse. Hundreds of thousands of children had not received polio, measles, yellow fever and other vaccines. DR Congo might lose its polio-free status and there could be a resurgence of other deadly diseases. Health workers lacked equipment to protect themselves or the children from Covid-19, and parents were afraid to bring them to vaccination centres. Kenya hospital has 'fewer patients but more corpses' By Mercy Juma, Nairobi A major public hospital in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, saw an almost 40% increase in respiratory illnesses such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and asthma between December and early March, a doctor who works there told the BBC. However, the hospital had a sharp decline in such cases since mid-March, said the doctor, who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. One reason was that the government had imposed a nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew to contain the spread of coronavirus. This has resulted in a drop in night-time admissions, but an increase in the number of dead people being brought to the hospital's mortuary, the doctor said. People also seemed to be avoiding hospital for fear of being diagnosed with Covid-19 and being sent to quarantine centres, he said. This is because quarantining has been controversial in Kenya, with the government forcing suspected Covid-19 patients to pay for their own confinement. The price ranges from $20 (£16) to $100 a night, depending on the centre, though the government has now promised to cover costs at public quarantine centres. Sources: Africa CDC; The Lancet Hostels at schools and universities as well as private hotels have been used as quarantine centres. A video clip went viral last month, showing several people scaling a wall to flee a centre in Nairobi. Those quarantined have complained that some centres are not much better than prisons, with poor hygiene and overcrowding making it impossible to practise social distancing. 'More patients and more corpses' in northern Nigeria By Ishaq Khalid, Abuja There have been reports of more people falling ill and dying in Nigeria's most populous state, Kano, since the outbreak of coronavirus nearly three months ago. So, it is not surprising that President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the lockdown in the northern state to the end of the month. A grave digger at the Abattoir Graveyard in the main city, also known as Kano, told the BBC: "We have never seen this, since the major cholera outbreak that our parents tell us about. That was about 60 years ago." Prof Musa Baba-Shani - the head of the department of medicines at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, the main hospital in the state - told the BBC that they have been treating more patients with illnesses such as asthma, pneumonia, and tuberculosis, as well as chest pains and sore throats. The professor, who works with the respiratory diseases unit of the hospital, said there had been an increase of between 40% and 45% in the number of respiratory cases in about the last three months. He attributed the rise to the closure of many hospitals in the state, especially private clinics, because of a lack of protective gear for medics. This has forced more patients to seek treatment at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Prof Baba-Shani said some of those with respiratory illnesses were diagnosed with coronavirus, and referred to the treatment centres set up for Covid-19 patients. He decried the slow testing for coronavirus in Africa's most-populous country, which has a population of around 200 million. It would be better for both patients and hospitals if testing was speeded up, he said. Sources: Africa CDC; The Lancet Another doctor at the hospital, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said some people were avoiding seeking treatment because they feared contracting Covid-19 in hospitals. In north-eastern Yobe state, an unusually high number of people - 471 - have died in the past five weeks. It is unclear whether the deaths are linked to coronavirus, but the state's health commissioner, Dr Muhammad Lawan Gana, told the BBC that a preliminary investigation had found that most of the dead were elderly people with pre-existing health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Nigeria has more than 6,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the third-highest in Africa. The commercial capital, Lagos, is at the epicentre of the outbreak, but a lockdown imposed at the end of March has been partially eased, raising fears that the virus could spread. "It's tough decision, but I think it was the wrong call," said Dr Andrew Iroemeh, who works at a Covid-19 isolation centre in the city, "It's recommended [that] for a lockdown to be relaxed we should have a consistent reduction in the rate of infection for at least 14 days. We haven't seen that," he added. 'Few signs of virus' in Ethiopia By Kalkidan Yibelta, Addis Ababa Respiratory infections are common in Ethiopia, Africa's second most-populous state, with a population of more than 100 million. Research shows they are the third major cause of death each year, after neonatal disorders and diarrheal diseases. The coronavirus outbreak does not seem to have led to more patients with respiratory infections being admitted to hospitals over the past few weeks. A doctor in the capital, Addis Ababa, told the BBC that he was looking for signs of unreported Covid-19 cases but he did not detect anything unusual. Sources: Africa CDC; The Lancet There was no increase, for example, in the number of patients with pneumonia, a severe complication caused by the virus. Similar reports were given by a doctor and a nurse the BBC spoke to in eastern and southern Ethiopia respectively. In recent days, the number of cases detected daily has risen from single to double digits. This has raised some concern, but the overall number is still low - less than 400. This is despite the fact that Ethiopia, unlike many other states, has not introduced a lockdown, taking limited measures, such as a ban on sporting events and gatherings of more than four people, to curb the spread of the virus. The doctor in Addis Ababa said Ethiopians might have been spared the worst of the virus because of less foreign travel, or there may be other unknown factors at play. He said people should take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus as the possibility of a surge could not be ruled out. Uganda to focus on 'verbal autopsies' By Catherine Byaruhanga, Kampala Uganda has imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in East Africa and so far it has one of the lowest number of Covid-19 cases in the region - around 260 - and no deaths. Most of the testing in Uganda has been on truck drivers who arrive from neighbouring states. Last week, Health Minister Ruth Aceng said that of the 139 confirmed cases at the time, 79 were truck drivers. The President of the Uganda Medical Association, Dr Richard Idro, said that doctors around the country had not reported seeing more patients with respiratory illnesses, though the lockdown - which includes a ban on travel - could have prevented them from going to hospital. People with mild symptoms of coronavirus might have also stayed at home, resulting in some cases going unrecorded. Sources: Ugandan government; The Lancet In a recent address, Uganda's President Museveni said the government planned to carry out "verbal autopsies" in communities to find out whether people might have died from Covid-19. The government has promised to distribute free masks to all citizens above six years old over the next two weeks before easing lockdown measures. Ugandans on social media have generally been sceptical about the plan, pointing to the delays in giving food to 1.5 million people in and around the capital, Kampala, after they lost their income because of Covid-19 restrictions. If the mask distribution is successful, Mr Museveni has promised that shops will be allowed to open, public transport will be back on the road but carrying half the number of passengers and food market vendors - who have been sleeping at their stalls under the president's orders - will be allowed to go home at the end of each day.	The authorities in Tanzania have not released official figures on the extent of the outbreak there since the start of May. The US embassy in Tanzania has warned that there is a risk of "exponential growth" of Covid-19 cases in the country, at a time when the government is not releasing data on new cases. African countries have started to lift lockdown restrictions, raising fears that coronavirus infections could rise. Videos of night burials have been circulating on social media in Tanzania causing some to call into question the government's approach to the coronavirus pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that nearly a quarter of a billion Africans could contract coronavirus in the first year of the pandemic, with between 150,000 and 190,000 of them dying. Tighter restrictions have been brought in across the UK to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Social distancing remains a key part of the UK's strategy for keeping people safe and preventing the spread of Covid-19.
AMs passed the Welsh Labour-led government's final budget for the next financial year on Tuesday evening, with the support of Plaid Cymru. The budget includes £50m for a bypass at Llandeilo. Llanelli AM Lee Waters warned against offering schemes "for political parties to show they have exerted influence". "It is not my preference that we make annual deals like this," said Mr Waters, in a debate on the final budget in the Senedd on Tuesday. "But if that is to be the way then inevitably we are going to be tempted towards the lowest common denominator." 'Mark of American budget system' "I'd hate to see us go the way of other democracies, most notably the American political system, where we descend towards pork barrel politics," he said. "It's a mark of the American budget system that hardly a budget is passed without a museum or a bridge or a bypass being awarded in the name of the chair of various committees." Accepting commitments to planning for the long term and taking into account carbon emissions "do have policy and spending implications that we need to build into our thinking, and not simply revert to the practices of the past, and not simply to revert to projects to win support for political parties to show they have exerted influence." Mr Waters otherwise welcomed "moves in the budget to implement some of the key pledges in the Welsh Labour manifesto from last year". Adam Price of Plaid Cymru said his party "has been able to have an influence for the benefit of the lives of the people of Wales". "I would encourage other parties to have this more constructive attitude towards politics, to put forward ideas and if they disagree to be part of the dialogue". \|\|\|\|\| Llandeilo residents have been demanding action for more than 40 years. It suffers from heavy congestion as lorries squeeze through the main street and air pollution levels have been found to exceed national standards. The Welsh Government said construction should start by the end of 2019 and will take two years to complete. Last week, it announced £50m funding for the route as part of £83m earmarked for transport in the budget. The town's main street on the A483 is currently used as a route from Swansea to join the A40 to the Midlands. Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: "We now expect to see shovels in the ground by the end of 2019 and anticipate the road being open two years later. "Alongside our commitment to delivering the major improvements to the M4, A55, A40 and A494, I'm determined to ensure that our infrastructure improvements leave no-one behind." \|\|\|\|\| It comes as ministers publish their final budget for 2017-18. There is an extra £33m for flooding schemes, £53m for housing and £50m for regeneration projects over the next four years. An extra £83m for transport projects over the next four years includes £50m to speed up building of the A483 Llandeilo bypass in Carmarthenshire. The extra money is a result of the UK government's Autumn Statement, which was made after Welsh ministers published their draft budget. The new spending plans are relatively small amounts when taken as a proportion of the Welsh Government's total annual capital budget of about £1.4bn for 2017-18. Ministers were criticised when the draft budget, published in October, included plans to cut capital spending for "flood-risk management and water" over four years from £30.4m in 2016-17 to £18m in 2020-21. The announcement on Tuesday means those cuts will now be smaller. A separate £150m fund for councils to borrow money for "flood and coastal-risk management" will be available from 2018-22. On Saturday, it was confirmed the final budget will include £10m to help businesses cope with changes to rates. The overall budget - including day-to-day spending on public services - is rising by 3.7% to £15.05bn, according to published figures. It included an extra £240m for the NHS and £10m for a pilot scheme to provide 30 hours of free childcare for three and four year olds. But there were cuts to some areas of local government and community projects, plus the end of the £20m Schools Challenge Cymru scheme. Plaid Cymru has agreed to support the budget as part of a deal which sees about £120m being spent on its priorities. Finance spokesman Adam Price said the deal showed a "maturing" of politics in Wales, and he welcomed the extra cash for transport and business rate relief. "This historic agreement will see millions of pounds invested in health, education and infrastructure in order to deliver tangible benefits to the lives of people in Wales," he said. "This is a budget whose scope and substance have been enhanced by Plaid Cymru's participation in the negotiation process, forcing the Welsh Government to raise its sights." But a Welsh Conservative spokesman claimed the announcement was "little more than a rubber-stamping of yet another 12 months of Labour-led failure". "There is no reason to believe that this budget will provide the necessary levels of prosperity, educational attainment and public service delivery where so many others before it have failed," he added. Assembly members will debate and vote on the final budget in the new year. \|\|\|\|\| A motion asked why the Welsh Government is "not complying with their legal obligation" to reduce high levels of nitrogen dioxide in the town. Full council voted to write to the government calling for a bypass, despite concerns most transport funding will be spent on an M4 relief road. The Welsh Government has been asked to comment. Cllr Edward Thomas put forward the motion. He said: "The Welsh Government must recognise that the only viable solution is to commence detailed planning of a strategic road improvement as recommended by the several reports submitted by this council to Welsh Government." \|\|\|\|\| Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford also promised £10m for a pilot scheme to provide 30 hours of free childcare for three and four year olds. There are cuts to some areas of local government and community projects, plus the end of the £20m Schools Challenge Cymru scheme. But total spending rose by 2.7% to £14.95bn, according to published figures. Spending plans had been shaped by the "unprecedented challenges" posed by Brexit and the resulting loss of European funding, Mr Drakeford told the Senedd on Tuesday. How important is the budget for the whole of Wales' economy? Is the extra cash for the Welsh NHS enough? Boost for poorest pupils in budget "In these uncertain times, we have published a one-year revenue budget, which will provide stability and assurances for our valued public services in the immediate future while we work collectively to plan for the future," he said. Funding commitments in the budget include £111m for apprenticeships and traineeships, and £4.5m towards a pledge to raise the savings limit for people in residential care to £50,000. The end of the flagship Communities First anti-poverty programme - costing £30m a year - had previously been announced. Local government has been given a real-terms cut in its day-to-day spending, but a large increase in the amount of capital funds available for one-off projects. Mr Drakeford warned AMs of "further cuts to come" from UK government decisions. "We cannot hide from the challenges this presents," he said. But a UK government spokesman said that, under the 2016 Treasury Budget, the Welsh Government's allocation is to increase by £370m over the next four years compared to what had been set out in the spending review. The spokesman added that the spending review for 2015 announced capital spending in Wales would rise by £900m. Responding for the Welsh Conservatives, finance spokesman Paul Davies said he hoped the draft budget would "deliver for Welsh communities where so many others before it have failed". UKIP's Mark Reckless questioned whether ministers could protect local government funding, asking if there was a risk of "very significant cuts" following next May's council elections. With Labour just short of a majority in the Senedd, ministers have struck a deal with Plaid Cymru to ensure the budget will pass. The agreement - covering £119m worth of spending - included a promise of £30m extra funding for higher and further education and £5m to boost the Welsh language. Plaid Cymru finance spokesman Adam Price said his party had secured "tangible improvements to the lives of people in Wales" by finding "common ground" with Labour. However, Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies has dismissed the deal as "groundhog day again", telling BBC Radio Wales that "the nationalists are rowing in behind Labour and propping them up for another 12 months of failure".	A Labour backbench AM has warned against "pork barrel politics" where museums, bridges or bypass projects are offered to win support for budgets. A date has been set for work to start on a long-awaited bypass for a Carmarthenshire town which should ease congestion and reduce pollution. Plans to cut capital spending on flood prevention schemes are to be partially reversed by the Welsh Government. Carmarthenshire council wants action to be taken over air pollution in Llandeilo. An extra £240m for the NHS has been announced in the Welsh budget. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
On 4 May, Fathima Rinoza, a 44-year-old mother of three from Sri Lanka's minority Muslim population, was admitted to hospital with a suspected case of Covid-19. Fathima, who lived in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, had been suffering from respiratory problems and the authorities feared she had caught the virus. On the day she was admitted to hospital, the family was "set upon" by the authorities, her husband Mohamed Shafeek said. "The police and military along with officials arrived at our door," he said. "We were kicked out and they sprayed [disinfectant] everywhere. We were all scared but they didn't tell us anything. Even a three-month-old baby was tested and they took us like dogs to the quarantine centre." The family was held for a night but released the next day and told to quarantine for two weeks, Mohamed said. By then, they had received news that Fathima had died, at the hospital, on her own. Fathima's adult son was asked to go to the hospital to identify his mother's body. He was told that her body could not be returned to the family, he said, as her death was linked to Covid-19. Instead he was forced to sign papers authorising her cremation, the family said - even though under Muslim law cremation is considered a violation of the human body. "He was told that her body parts needed to be removed for further tests. Why would they need body parts if she had corona?" said his father Shafeek, who feels the family were not fully informed about what happened. Fathima's family and others in Sri Lanka's Muslim community say the authorities are violating their rights by forcing them to cremate victims even though coronavirus victims can be buried. They argue it's the latest step in a pattern of discrimination by the majority Sinhalese population. A petition against the cremation rule has been accepted by the country's Supreme Court, which will begin hearing the case on 13 July. Many Muslims in Sri Lanka feel they have been demonised since April 2019, when Islamists linked to little-known local groups targeted high-end hotels and churches in Colombo and in the east of the country, killing more than 250 people in a spate of devastating attacks. Since the death of the first Sri Lankan Muslim from coronavirus on 31 March, some media outlets have openly blamed the Muslim community for spreading the disease, even though only 11 deaths have been officially recorded in the country. All 11 bodies, including Muslims, were cremated. Dr Sugath Samaraweera, the government's chief epidemiologist, told the BBC it was government policy that all those who die from Covid-19, as well as those suspected of dying from it, are cremated, as burials could contaminate ground drinking water. Dr Samaraweera said the government was following expert medical advice, and applying the rule to anyone suspected of dying from coronavirus, regardless of religion. "The WHO offers guidelines for the whole world. It is our responsibility to adopt or customise those guidelines suitable to our country," he said. But Muslim activists, community leaders and politicians have asked the Sri Lankan government to reconsider the decision. Ali Zahir Moulana, a former minister and senior leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress party, said the Muslim community was prepared to accept the rule "if there is evidence or scientific backing to prove that burial is dangerous to public health". But he questioned the science behind it, and accused the government of pursuing a "dark political agenda". Interim guidance published by the WHO in March says victims of coronavirus "can be buried or cremated", and does not mention dangers to groundwater. On the same day that Fathima died, 64-year-old Abdul Hameed Mohamed Rafaideen passed away at his sister's house in Colombo. The labourer and father of four had been suffering from breathing difficulties. His youngest son, Naushad Rafaideen, told the BBC that a neighbour from the majority Sinhala community died the same day. Because of lockdown travelling restrictions, local police asked the family to take the body of the neighbour, together with their father's body, to the hospital. At the mortuary, the doctor told Naushad he was not allowed to touch his father's body because of the risks of Covid-19, even though it wasn't clear whether the virus was the cause of death. Naushad, who cannot read, was asked to sign some papers which gave permission for his father's body to be cremated. He said he wasn't sure what would happen to him if he didn't sign, but he feared a backlash against his family and community if he refused. He said the Sinhalese family was treated differently, and allowed to pay respects to their relative at a funeral parlour, though the BBC could not independently verify this. Only Naushad and a handful of relatives were allowed to attend the cremation of his father, he said. Meanwhile, nearly six weeks after the death of his wife, Shafeek is unsure whether she ever tested positive for coronavirus, and he is struggling to come to terms with not being able to bury her body. One thing he was sure of, he said. "We Muslims do not cremate our dead." \|\|\|\|\| Voters wore face masks, stood 1m (3ft) apart in queues and brought their own pens and pencils to mark ballot papers. Officials were protected by plastic screens or face shields, and sprayed disinfectants on voters. Sri Lanka postponed parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for April, because of the virus. The vote is due to be held on 5 August. Sunday's trial run was held in four of the country's 22 electoral districts. It was designed to get voters used to the new system and see if extra voting time was needed. "We were very pleased to see that all those who volunteered to take part in this exercise today wore face masks," election commission chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told reporters. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who won last November's presidential election by a landslide, is hoping to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority for his party, which would give him sweeping powers. The Sri Lankan government imposed strict restrictions in March in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The curbs included a 24-hour nationwide curfew and a ban on any gathering. The country has eased the lockdown in recent weeks, although a night-time curfew remains in place. According to the Worldometer website, almost 1,900 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in Sri Lanka since January, and 11 people people have died with the virus. \|\|\|\|\| By Anbarasan EthirajanBBC News, Colombo His shop stocks everything from paint tins to electric bulbs and is one of the better known in and around Kottaramulla village, about 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the capital Colombo. Minority Muslims live among the majority Sinahalese community in this area. For decades, Mr Iliyas, who is a Muslim, spent his days serving people from all religious communities. But that has changed since Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday bombings in April. "Since the Easter Sunday bombings, almost 90% of my Sinhalese customers have stopped buying from my shop. My business has gone down significantly and I have lost hundreds of thousands of rupees," Mr Iliyas said. Islamists linked to little-known local groups targeted high-end hotels and churches in Colombo and in the east of the country killing more than 250 people, including foreigners. The devastating attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, shocked the nation. "Though some customers have started coming back in recent weeks it is not enough. If this trend continues then I am in big trouble," Mr Iliyas said. Many Muslims feel that since the suicide bombings they have been demonised, and traders from the community say that they have become a target. There have been attacks on Muslim-owned businesses and houses in several parts of Sri Lanka, with the worst violence in May. In June, a senior Buddhist monk openly called on the Sinhalese people not to buy from Muslim shops, prompting strong criticism from Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who urged "true Buddhists" to unite against what he described as the "Talibanisation" of the religion. Ethnic and religious fault lines run deep in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious Sri Lanka. Muslims make up nearly 10% of Sri Lanka's 22 million people, who are predominantly Sinhalese Buddhists. About 12% of the population are Hindus, mostly from the ethnic Tamil minority, and 7% are Christians. The country endured a brutal civil war that ended in 2009 with the total defeat of the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. Tens of thousands of people were killed in the nearly three decade-long conflict. Nearly ten years of relative peace was shattered on Easter Sunday. Muslims across the island have denounced the senseless killings. But their outright rejection of violence and condemnation hasn't satisfied a section of Sinhalese hardliners. Initially, their anger was directed at those that follow the hard-line Wahhabi form of Islam. Now Muslim leaders say that the entire community is facing retaliation. They feel that Sri Lanka's mainstream politicians and the security forces are indifferent to violence against them. The government says it has increased security to control communal tensions. "My brother was killed just outside the house by a Sinhalese mob who were vandalising Muslim properties in June this year. We are not sure whether we will get justice," said Mohamed Najeem, who lives in north-western Sri Lanka's Puttalam district. Police say that two people have been arrested in connection with the killing of Najeem's brother, Mohamed Ameer Mohamed Sally, and investigations continue. Muslim women wearing traditional Islamic dress were also targeted after Easter Sunday as the government banned face coverings in public, citing security reasons. Though the niqab and burka - which cover most or all of the face and are worn by some Muslim women - were not specifically named, rights groups say even those wearing head scarves have been harassed. "Muslim women working in government offices are facing problems. In some places, those who are wearing only headscarves are being asked to go home and come back wearing a saree," said Juwairiya Mohideen, director of the Muslim Women Development Trust. Some Sinhalese women refuse to sit next to Muslim women wearing the traditional Abaya - a long loose-fitting robe - on public buses, she said. Community representatives say actions including boycotts of Muslim businesses are in part driven by the messages of local Buddhist clergy, who are in turn inspired by senior monks. One monk accused of triggering anti-Muslim sentiments in the past is Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, leader of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or "Buddhist Power Force", a nationalist group. "No organisation has asked people not to buy from Muslim shops. People are doing it on their own, we have nothing to do with it," he said. President Maithripala Sirisena pardoned the monk in May this year, freeing him from prison after he had served less than a year of a six-year prison term for contempt of court. "The Muslim community will have to discuss among themselves and find answers. We don't say that all the Muslims are involved in violence… But Muslim businessmen should find out those who are supporting hardline Islam and expose them," the BBS leader said. But Muslim leaders said the monk should question his own views. "He must stop pontificating to us. He must turn the search light inwards," said Rauff Hakeem, the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and a minister in the government. He said Muslims were willing to engage in serious introspection to find out where things went wrong in the community and they were already doing so voluntarily. "When hate speech emanates from totally unexpected quarters at the high echelons of religious power it is very disappointing and quite disgraceful," said Mr Hakeem. There have been some signs of progress for Sri Lanka's Muslims in recent weeks. Muslim ministers who resigned in May this year to protest the linking of their entire community with terrorism have been sworn in again as ministers. A Muslim gynaecologist who was accused of sterilising thousands of Buddhist women against their will has been released on bail. Dr Mohammed Shafi was taken into custody in May after a Sinhala newspaper published a report making the allegations without any evidence. He was held for several weeks despite the Criminal Investigation Department informing the court that there was no evidence against him. Some Muslim traders in Colombo's busy Pettah market also said their Sinhalese customers had started coming back, though at a slow pace. But they were anxious to see how the situation would develop as the country gears up for a presidential election that has to be held by 9 December. National security is expected to be a key political issue. Muslim leaders fear that anti-Muslim rhetoric will be used for political point-scoring, and to divide communities. "They should realise this kind of polarisation and demonisation of a community can [actually] create a fertile ground for further radicalisation," warned Mr Hakeem. Sri Lankan Muslims hope and pray that they will not become a pawn in a bigger political game. \|\|\|\|\| A Muslim man was stabbed to death while rioters torched Muslim-owned shops and vandalised mosques during Monday's attacks. Police have arrested more than 70 people, including the leader of a far-right Buddhist group. The United Nations has called for calm and a "rejection of hate". On Wednesday morning, military spokesman Sumith Atapattu reportedly said the situation was "now totally under control". "There were no incidents of violence overnight and we are arresting groups of people responsible for taking part in mob attacks," he said. Tuesday's curfew came into effect at 21:00 (15:30 GMT). Police said the North-Western province, where the worst violence flared, will be shut down for longer. Rioting in the province - north of the capital, Colombo - saw police fire bullets into the air to disperse mobs marauding through several towns. More than 60 people were arrested in the province, while a further 14 people were detained in the Western province town of Minuwangoda. Local press say the authorities deployed helicopters to help monitor and tackle the rioters. Tension has been high since Islamist militants attacked churches and hotels three weeks ago on Easter Sunday, killing more than 250 people. In response to the rioting, the UN's Colombo office has urged Sri Lankan authorities to hold perpetrators to account and "ensure that the situation does not escalate". Muslims make up nearly 10% of Sri Lanka's 22 million people, who are predominantly Sinhalese Buddhists. Mob violence in central Sri Lanka targeting Muslim communities in March last year, prompted the government to declare a state of emergency. Sri Lanka has a history of ethnic conflict and the latest violence has triggered alarm. Separatists rebels from the Tamil minority community fought a violent insurgency against government forces for decades until the civil war ended in 2009. 'We are all living in fear' One Muslim businessman told the BBC Sri Lanka's Muslim communities were all "living in fear now" amid a widespread atmosphere of distrust and recrimination. His factory in a northern suburb of Colombo was burned to the ground on Monday night by a rampaging mob. The trader, who did not wish to be named, said around 200 rioters broke through his factory's gates after running amok through a nearby town. Once inside, he said they "started wrecking everything in sight", shouting and screaming as they set tyres alight. As police struggled to control the baying mob, several employees fled through a window, including one who suffered injuries after tripping and plunging 35ft (10.6m). Security forces eventually calmed the situation and the mob dispersed, but not before devastating the factory. "It seemed like they were really happy to tear our factory apart," he said, estimating the damage to be worth millions of Sri Lankan rupees. He filmed the extensive destruction wrought by the unidentified attackers, who he said were "100% racially charged to attack Muslims". He fears more attacks on Muslims are possible if the Sri Lankan government does not take precautions against the threat of racial violence. "We're afraid that this will be a Sri Lanka we don't recognise any more," he said. Where has unrest broken out? How have the authorities responded? Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has appealed for calm, saying the unrest is hampering the investigation into last month's attacks. Visiting the riot-struck town of Kuliyapitiya on Tuesday he said he would not allow the lives of innocent people to be disrupted. Leaders from across the political spectrum have called for calm and urged people not to share rumours via social media. Officials have blocked some social media platforms and messaging apps, including Facebook and Whatsapp, in an attempt to curb outbreaks of unrest.	Sri Lankan authorities are insisting on cremation for coronavirus victims - a practice forbidden by Islam. The nation's minority Muslim community says they are using the pandemic to discriminate, writes BBC Sinhala's Saroj Pathirana. Authorities in Sri Lanka have held mock elections as part of a test of new anti-coronavirus voting measures. Until a few months ago, Mohammed Iliyas, was doing a thriving business in his hardware shop in western Sri Lanka. Now trade has plummeted and his losses are mounting. Sri Lanka has imposed a nationwide curfew for the second night in a row after a wave of anti-Muslim violence in the wake of the Easter bombings.
With his recent pledge of $7.5bn, Mr Premji's total philanthropic contribution now stands at some 1.45tn rupees ($21bn; £15.8bn). This puts him in the same league of givers - as philanthropists are called - as Bill and Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffet. What perhaps distinguishes him even more is that, unlike them, he is not one of the world's five richest people - the Bloomberg Billionaires Index ranks him at 51. But the philanthropic world was not surprised at his new status. "This is not unusual for him because he's been the largest contributor in India and, even the continent, for some time," says Deval Sanghavi, co-founder of Dasra, a strategic philanthropy firm. It works with some of the biggest donors in India, directing their money to various causes and non-profits. In their universe, Mr Premji is a magnanimous "outlier". The 73-year-old software tycoon has been giving his wealth away for a long time. In 2013, he became the first Indian billionaire to sign the Giving Pledge, an initiative by Mr Gates and Mr Buffet that encourages wealthy individuals to pledge half their fortunes to philanthropy. He was just 21 when he dropped out of Stanford University to join Wipro, a company his father started in 1945. (He went back and finished school in 2000). Under him, Wipro, a refinery for vegetable oils, grew into one of India's biggest and most successful IT services firms. An intensely private man, Mr Premji rarely speaks in public or to the media. Yet, over the years, his unusually modest lifestyle and his generosity have earned him many admirers. Stories about how he still flies economy, or how he has, on occasion, hopped into a rickshaw, impress many in a country that values frugality, especially among the rich. News of his pledge came in a dry press statement issued by the Azim Premji Foundation and included no personal statement. According to one newspaper, he even asked "what's all the fuss about" when he was told that the pledge was generating headlines and buzz on social media. Mr Premji is not entirely alone in his generosity. IT billionaires Nandan and Rohini Nilekani have pledged 50% of their wealth to philanthropy; Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw committed 75% of hers; and many other families fund hospitals, schools, community kitchens, the arts and scientific research. All of them, like Mr Premji, are pledging their personal wealth, largely earned in their own lifetimes. The Tata Trusts, endowed by the personal wealth and profits of one of India's biggest and oldest conglomerates, has been India's biggest philanthropic outfit for decades. It is only now rivalled by Mr Premji's foundation, which funds education, healthcare and independent media among other things. "Premji's grant for the nation matches only what Jamsetji Tata and Dorabji Tata have done from a historical perspective," Amit Chandra, managing director, Bain Capital, told the Economic Times newspaper. Mr Premji's contributions over the past decade, he added, stand out across more than a century of Indian philanthropy - the first Tata trust was set up in 1892. Mr Premji accounted for 80% of the money given away by ultra-rich donors in India (anyone who has given more than $1.4m) in the 2018 financial year, according to a recent philanthropy report co-authored by Dasra and Bain. Philanthropy is growing, says Mr Sanghavi, but it's not growing fast enough. Private philanthropy in India grew at a rate of 15% per year between 2014 and 2018. The Dasra report sees this as "particularly problematic" since ultra-rich households have grown at a rate of 12% over the past five years and are expected to double in both volume and wealth by 2022. Compared to the percentage of net worth given away in the US every year, the report estimates that India's rich could give $5bn to $8bn more each year. What is stopping them? "There is a great fear of the taxman," says Ingrid Srinath, director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Delhi's Ashoka University. "They [the rich] don't want to end up on any radar or become the subject of more appeals for money." She believes another reason could be that wealth in India is still only one generation old, and those who have it don't feel secure enough to give it away. But Ms Srinath also cautions against wholly relying on the data as it is incomplete, making it "hard to say anything definitive about philanthropy in India". There is no centralised directory tracking philanthropy in India. Tax laws are complex and there aren't many incentives for giving. So reports, such as the one by Dasra, rely on multiple sources, from the government to third-party trackers to individual declarations. And many people give anonymously, which further complicates estimates of philanthropy. "It's not considered cool to talk about how much you are giving," Ms Srinath says. Ashoka University, she adds, was partly funded by some 100 donors, each of whom gave more than $1.4m but refused to be acknowledged publicly. But Anant Bhagwati, one of the authors of the Dasra report, says that no matter how weak the data collection, large pledges are unlikely to fall through the cracks. "If you look at those who have the money, they are not giving it," he says. Ms Srinath agrees: "The overwhelming sentiment is that we [Indians] could do better." Charity vs philanthropy Mr Bhagwati doesn't discount donors who fund individual universities or hospitals, but what Indian philanthropy needs, he says, is people who commit to solving a problem. And not just any problem - preferably, one of the daunting sustainable development goals or SDGs. These range from ending poverty and hunger to giving people access to clean energy. Strategic philanthropy - which Dasra advocates - makes a distinction between charity and philanthropy. While the former might involve feeding the poor on a single day, the latter would require investing in non-profits that work to decrease or end hunger altogether. By this measure, rich Indians might be charitable, but not enough of them are philanthropists. Read more stories from India More importantly, Mr Bhagwati says, philanthropy needs donors who will invest in the fight itself. By this he means pledges that don't specify how the money is to be spent. So, for instance, a non-profit that works to improve sanitation could use donor funds to build toilets, hire more people or even buy a laptop or other equipment that might make them more efficient. But most donors, Mr Bhagwati says, will set conditions about how they want the money spent. In other words, they will insist on the toilets being built. He calls this "restricted giving" and says it's hard to coax people to give any other way. But some of this is changing. "Earlier you gave as much as you could and hoped something came of it," Ms Srinath says, adding that earlier, most people wanted to fund education. "Education is to Indian philanthropy what cricket is to Indian sport," she says, laughing. But now, she adds, Indian philanthropy is finally diversifying into areas beyond education - sanitation, mental health and scientific research. The biggest challenge has been the gap between what Mr Sanghavi calls "action and intent". Some billionaires are just more willing to give their wealth away than others. He says he has heard several Indian philanthropists, including the Nilekanis, speak of how they see themselves as "trustees" of their wealth, which, according to them, rightfully belongs to the larger community. That is, they believe they owe the world their wealth. In a note explaining his decision to sign the Giving Pledge, Mr Premji said his mother was the "most significant influence" in his life and that he was also "deeply influenced by Gandhi's notion of holding one's wealth in trusteeship". Ms Srinath says philanthropists could be influenced by many things, from parents to community to faith. But generosity as a trait, she adds, is inexorably linked to a way of seeing the world and your role in it. "It certainly has nothing to do with how much money you have." \|\|\|\|\| They include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, CNN founder Ted Turner and entertainment executive Barry Diller. "The Giving Pledge" lists all the families and individuals who have committed to the project. The site says the pledge is a "moral commitment" not a "legal contract". The campaign was started in June to convince US billionaires to give away at least half of their fortunes either during their lifetimes or after their deaths. "We've really just started but already we've had a terrific response," Mr Buffett said in a statement. He added: "The Giving Pledge is about asking wealthy families to have important conversations about their wealth and how it will be used." Those who pledge their money to "philanthropic causes and charitable organisations" must publicly state their intention through a letter of explanation. 'Improving education' Other billionaires who have pledged large sums of their money include film producer George Lucas, philanthropist David Rockefeller and oil investor T Boone Pickens. "I am dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education. It is the key to the survival of the human race," Mr Lucas wrote in his Giving Pledge letter. The organisation says many of the donors have committed to donating sums far greater than the 50% minimum level. "While the Giving Pledge is specifically focused on billionaires, the idea takes its inspiration from efforts in the past and at present that encourage and recognize givers of all financial means and backgrounds," says Givingpledge.org. Mr Buffett along with Mr Gates and his wife, Melinda, held numerous dinners with US billionaires in the past year to promote the campaign and urge America's financial elite to pledge. "I've long stated that I enjoy making money, and I enjoy giving it away. I like making money more, but giving it away is a close second," Mr Pickens wrote in a letter on Givingpledge.org. Mr Buffett, the chief executive of the investment firm Berkshire Hathaway, pledged 99% of his money to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and family charities in 2006. Forbes Magazine estimated Mr Buffett's wealth at $47bn (£29bn) in March. Bill Gates, who Forbes rates as the world's second wealthiest person, has also given away more than $28bn to his foundation. There are 403 billionaires living in the US, according to Forbes. Join the debate. \|\|\|\|\| By Shanaz MusaferBusiness reporter, BBC News Two bold visions from two men who wanted to use their vast wealth to do good. John D Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie made their money in the oil and steel industries respectively, but both of them wanted to make sure their money would make an impact on society long after they were gone and set up their own philanthropic foundations. Indeed, according to Carnegie, "he who dies rich dies disgraced". A century on from when they were created, the mission statements of the Rockefeller Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation reflect the areas in which their founders wanted to make a difference - in Rockefeller's case healthcare and in Carnegie's education. But although those vision statements were bold, they were also very broad in their scope, leaving how one goes about achieving those visions open to interpretation. Trustees Often when past philanthropists endowed a large sum of money to a foundation, they had the broadest objectives in order to get legal status, says Dr Beth Breeze from the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent. "But because the objectives were so broad, it's then the job of trustees to interpret it when the founder dies," she says, adding that it can be a bit of a guessing game. Luckily for the Carnegie Corporation, Andrew Carnergie recognised that "conditions upon [earth] inevitably change" and did not wish to tie future trustees down to certain policies or causes. "I [give] my Trustees full authority to change policy or causes hitherto aided, from time to time, when this, in their opinion, has become necessary or desirable. They shall best conform to my wishes by using their own judgement," he wrote in his letter of gift to his original trustees. So although the corporation still has a heavy focus on education, and has moved from building libraries in Carnegie's day to expanding higher education and adult education, it also has programmes in other fields, for instance aimed at promoting international peace and the advancement of minorities. Changing world That is not to say that philanthropists of yesteryear would not be surprised by the way the agenda for issues they were interested in may have changed over time. In 1920 Barrow Cadbury, grandson of the founder of the Cadbury's chocolate company, and his wife Geraldine set up the Barrow Cadbury Trust to promote social justice. Today, the Trust is chaired by their great granddaughter Ruth Cadbury. "Barrow and Geraldine were Quaker industrialists. Quakers believe in the intrinsic equality of all people and in the responsibility of all people to give public service and care for others," Ms Cadbury says. "The world has changed dramatically over the past century and some of the projects we now support might be surprising to Barrow and Geraldine." Sara Llewellin, the Trust's chief executive, points to the Quaker support for gay marriage and the Trust's willingness to support work promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. "While neither [Barrow nor Geraldine] lived even to see homosexuality legalised in the UK and certainly not to see the birth of a rights movement on the issue, we are confident they would have been supportive of that movement were they alive now," she says. Like Carnegie, she adds that: "Barrow wrote the trust deed in such a way as to give trustees of the future absolute discretion." Increasing opportunities As current trustees of these large foundations and trusts are keen to point out, they strive to carry on their work in the same spirit as their founders. But looking more generally across the field of philanthropy, there are some broad themes from a century ago that are still valid today, according to Leslie Lenkowsky, clinical professor of public affairs and philanthropic studies at Indiana University. "In terms of the substance of [past philanthropists'] giving, there remains a lot of interest in increasing opportunities," he says. "Carnegie says it is the duty of the wealthy to allow other people the opportunity to be wealthy. [Bill] Gates has also made that very clear." He also cites the desire to make giving as effective as possible. Rockefeller, who from his very first pay cheque made regular church donations, was always a tither, says Prof Lenkowsky. "But when he got so much money, he felt he should make his giving better than just giving to this or that church." A commitment to rely on experts and the collection of empirical data, pioneered by the English philanthropist and social researcher Charles Booth - who carried out surveys of the poor in London in the 19th Century - also prevails. Misnomer But clearly not everything is the same as it was 100 years ago. The biggest change affecting the older foundations has probably been the growth of government, with state funding now covering areas that they weren't previously, such as health and education. "Nowadays people call philanthropists the third sector but in many ways that's a bit of a misnomer," says Beth Breeze. "[In Victorian times] they were the first sector. If they didn't build a hospital no-one would." She points to how the funding of water has changed over the years as an example of how funding in different areas can evolve: "In centuries past the water pump would be funded philanthropically, then it became state funded, and then privatised." With government cuts now taking place across Europe and the US as countries attempt to repair their economies, there is a chance that charities who see their funding dry up turn to the "third sector" to step in. But Dr Breeze says what philanthropists don't want to do is step in and fill the gap, funding something just because the government stops. They want to fund something new. So what will the philanthropy of the future look like? Prof Lenkowsky believes we are already seeing more big donors who are choosing not to use foundations, sometimes feeling that big foundations can be too bureaucratic. Some might be choosing to give directly, while others are looking at social entrepreneurship - using business models to tackle problems in society. This does not mean that the likes of the Carnegie or Rockefeller foundations will disappear, because they are permanently endowed, but we might not see so many new ones cropping up. "I think we're going to continue to see a mixture of things," Prof Lenkowsky says. "We'll see more [people] involved in direct giving, more looking at business and charity. [But] I think the Gates Foundation will be the last big foundation for a while." \|\|\|\|\| Soutik BiswasDelhi correspondent The number of Indians living in extreme poverty has fallen from 37% to 22% in the past seven years, according to the latest official data from the Planning Commission. The good news is that poverty in large swathes of dirt-poor northern India - states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh, which have been considered a drag on India's development - has fallen sharply. Today there are more people living in extreme poverty in the economically prosperous western state of Gujarat (16.63%) than in the traditional northern laggard Rajasthan (14.71%). In eastern Orissa, which had the highest number of poor in 2004, poverty levels have nearly halved. Economists like YK Alagh say the latest data are significant and show a "rapid decline" in poverty. Dr Alagh says this is because of various factors: But sceptics believe the new data are flawed since they are based on India's contentious definition of the term "- anyone earning fewer than 32 rupees (55 cents, 35 pence) in urban areas and 27 rupees (45 cents, 30 pence) in rural areas is counted as a person living below the poverty line. The four-decade-old "official poverty line"', which has been updated over the years, is essentially based on the minimum calories consumed by a person. But food consumption patterns have changed, people's aspirations have grown and therefore the definition of extreme poverty has altered. The government expects to announce a new threshold next year, which according to economist C Rangarajan will "re-define poverty". "We definitely need to come up with a new, updated poverty line based on current realities," agrees Dr Alagh. The new data will help the beleaguered Congress Party-led government, which has come under vicious attack from its critics for slow growth, high inflation, a precarious current account deficit, blocked projects and a splurge on social welfare despite falling revenues (a law to provide cheap food to two thirds of the population is the latest scheme). Despite the good tidings, India's war on poverty is far from over. Remember, 270m Indians still live in extreme poverty. That is one in five Indians. \|\|\|\|\| The report - by the US-based Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis - predicts that by 2027, more than half of Tamil Nadu's power will be generated by "zero emissions" technologies - notably solar and wind. The state's current capacity to generate wind power - 7.85 gigawatts (GW) - is already impressive considering it is higher than that of Denmark or Sweden. But the report estimates that it could double over the next decade, and that solar installations too could increase six-fold to reach 13.5GW. If that happens, clean, renewable energy would account for 67% of Tamil Nadu's capacity, which could revive the state's debt-ridden utility. But in order to harvest that potential, Tamil Nadu needs to transform its power sector. Tamil Nadu's population is three times that of Australia and its per capita GDP is on a par with Sri Lanka and Ukraine. It could prove to be an example of how emerging economies can grow while slashing their carbon emissions. Assuming Tamil Nadu's GDP will grow at an annual rate of 7%, the report suggests that much of this growth can be driven by renewables. Installation and operating costs for wind and solar power have dropped low enough to compete with established but dirty sources of power such as coal. But that is where reality tempers the possibilities. The report argues that not only does Tamil Nadu not need coal or nuclear power, but that these projects are financially fraught. Electricity from new coal power plants is likely to be twice as expensive as solar or wind power. But, despite the bleak financial prospects, Tamil Nadu currently has 22.5GW of coal power plants in the pipeline. Pursuing these ventures will weaken the state utility's finances and its ability to invest in smarter, cleaner alternatives. There are other challenges too. Wind power can be generated only from May to October. Even during those months, production cannot reach its peak because the state does not have a large enough grid to convey excess electricity to other states. So, they will have to slow down generation from other sources. This also means the state is unable to import cheap power from other states during the remaining seven months when wind power is not feasible. Work is afoot to change this but its not guaranteed that the improvements will ensure that the grid can cope with the predicted generation. Integrating power from seasonal sources like wind requires a smart grid - one with a sophisticated system of supply and management that can adjust to variations in demand. On this count too, Tamil Nadu has a long way to go. But the biggest limiting factor for the state is likely to be water. Between climate change and reckless exploitation and pollution of rivers, streams and lakes, Tamil Nadu is staring at a bleak water future. At least 60% of groundwater resources in the state are assessed as over-exploited, critical or semi-critical, according to India's Central Ground Water Board. In April 2017, Tamil Nadu farmers camped out in India's capital, Delhi, staging dramatic protests - stuffing dead rats in their mouths, stripping themselves naked in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home and drinking their own urine - to underscore the intensity of the drought back home. In June 2017, villagers in Tamil Nadu's parched Ramanathapuram district were protesting against a solar power plant - they alleged that more than 200,000 litres of scarce water was being extracted illegally from bore wells to clean the 250,000 solar modules daily. Utility-scale solar farms - massive projects that supply power to the gird - such as the one in Ramanathapuram need to be re-evaluated, especially if they are to run in areas where water is scarce. The report predicts that Tamil Nadu will have 10.3GW of utility-scale solar installations by the end of this decade and only about 2GW of rooftop installations. Given that both the availability of sunlight and the demand for electricity are decentralised, it makes sense to maximise rooftop solar installations rather than to invest in large solar parks. The overall direction, if not the magnitude and rate of change, laid out in the report is not just possible but essential both financially and environmentally. A healthy and environmentally sustainable future requires more than just switching from dirty coal to wind or solar power. But the bigger challenge lies not in decoupling growth from carbon emissions but in decoupling human wellbeing and progress from growth. Nityanand Jayaraman is a Chennai-based writer and social activist. \|\|\|\|\| Soutik BiswasIndia correspondent The numbers are stark - for the first time in India's recent history, not only was there a decline in the female labour participation rate, but also a shrinking of the total number of women in the workforce. Using data gleaned from successive rounds of National Sample Survey Organisation and census data, a team of researchers from World Bank have attempted to find out why this is happening. "These are significant matters of concern. As India poises itself to increase economic growth and foster development, it is necessary to ensure that its labour force becomes fully inclusive of women," says the study, authored by Luis A Andres, Basab Dasgupta, George Joseph, Vinoj Abraham and Maria Correia. So what accounts for the unprecedented and puzzling drop in women's participation in the workforce - at a time when India's economy has grown at a steady pace? Predictable social norms are attributed to women quitting work in India: marriage, motherhood, vexed gender relations and biases, and patriarchy. But they may not be the only reasons. Marriage, for example, does affect the rate of participation of women in the workforce. But in villages, the workforce participation rate of married women has been found to be higher than that of unmarried women - whereas in the cities, the situation is reversed. Significantly, rising aspirations and relative prosperity may be actually responsible for putting a large cohort of women out of work in India. Remember, the largest drop has been in the villages. After calculating the labour force participation rates and educational participation rates (young women in schools) the researchers believe that one plausible explanation for the drop in the participation rate among rural girls and women aged 15-24 is the recent expansion of secondary education and rapidly changing social norms leading to "more working age young females opting to continue their education rather than join the labour force early". The study says there has been a "larger response to income changes among the poor, rather than the wealthy, by sending children to school". Also, casual workers - mainly women - drop out of the workforce when wages increased for regular earners - mainly men - leading to the stabilisation of family incomes. "Improved stability in family income can be understood as a disincentive for female household members to join the labour force," says the study. "This largely resonates with the existing literature, which suggests that with rising household income levels, women in rural India withdraw from paid labour and engage in status production at home." But dropping or opting out of the workforce to go to school and get an education may not ensure that these women will eventually go to work. After studying the relationship with the female labour participation rate and levels of educational achievements, the researchers found that having a high school-level education was "not found to be an incentive for women" to work. The lowest rate of participation is among those who had secured school and high school education in the cities and villages. And the rate is actually highest among illiterates and college graduates. But there has been a general drop in the rate in recent years, indicating that irrespective of educational attainments, "the incentive for women to participate in the workforce has declined over this period". Read also To be sure, India has a poor record of female participation in the workforce: the International Labour Organisation ranked it 121 out of 131 countries in 2013, one of the lowest in the world. Also, India is not an outlier when it comes to women dropping out of the workforce. Between 2004 and 2012, the female labour force participation rate in China dropped from 68% to 64%, but the participation rate remains very high compared with India. In neighbouring Sri Lanka, for example, the participation rate has dropped, but only by 2%. "India stands out because of a such a sharp decline within such a short period. In levels, it is very low in international rankings now," the researchers told me. Clearly women need better and more suitable job opportunities, outside agriculture. Rural labour markets need to offer jobs that are acceptable and attractive to women and their families. The World Bank study suggests that gains will not be realised unless social norms around women's - and men's - work also change: "Strategies to communicate the importance of women's work should take into account the roles of women, husbands and in-laws." Also, as another study says, the "ongoing decrease in the availability of farm-based work, has led to women focusing on economic activities within their households". Should home-based workers then be counted as members of the labour force? \|\|\|\|\| Sneh was 15 when she started menstruating. The first time she bled, she had no idea what was happening to her. "I was very scared. I thought I was sick with something very serious and began crying," she told me when I visited her home in Kathikhera village not far from Delhi earlier this week. "I didn't have the courage to tell my mother so I confided in my aunt. She said: 'You're a grown woman now, don't cry, it's normal.' It was her who told my mother." Sneh, now 22, has travelled a long way from that point. She works in a small factory in her village that makes sanitary pads and is the protagonist of Period. End of Sentence., a documentary that has been nominated for an Oscar. She will be attending Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles. The film came about after a student group in North Hollywood used crowdfunding to send a pad-making machine - and Iranian-American filmmaker Rayka Zehtabchi - to Sneh's village. Just 115km (71 miles) from Delhi, Kathikhera village in Hapur district is a world far removed from the glitzy malls and high-rises of the Indian capital. Normally, it's a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Delhi, but construction work on the highway slows it down to four hours for us. And the final 7.5km drive to the village from Hapur town is a crawl, on narrow winding roads lined with open drains on both sides. The documentary is filmed in the farms and fields - and classrooms - of Kathikhera. Like in the rest of India, periods are a taboo topic; menstruating women are considered impure and barred from entering religious places and often excluded from social events too. With so much stigma surrounding the issue, it's no surprise that Sneh had never heard of periods before she started getting them herself. "It was not a topic that was discussed - even among girls," she says. But things began to change when Action India, a charity that works on reproductive health issues, set up a sanitary napkin manufacturing unit in Kathikhera. In January 2017, Sneh was asked by Suman, a neighbour who works with Action India, if she wanted to work in the factory. A college graduate who dreams of working for the Delhi police one day, Sneh says she was excited. After all, there were "no other job opportunities" in the village. "When I sought my mum's permission, she said, 'ask your father'. In our families, all important decisions are taken by men." She was too embarrassed to tell her father that she was going to be making pads so she told him that she would be making children's diapers. "It was two months into the job that mum told him that I was making pads," she laughs. Much to her relief, he said, "That's alright, work is work." Today, the unit employs seven women, between 18 and 31 years of age. They work from 9-5, six days a week and are paid a monthly salary of 2,500 rupees ($35; £27). The centre produces 600 pads a day and they are sold under the brand name Fly. "The biggest problem we face is power cuts. Sometimes we have to come back at night to work when the power is back to meet the targets," Sneh says. This little business, run from two rooms in a village home, has helped improve feminine hygiene. Until it was set up most women in the village were using pieces of cloth cut out from old saris or bedsheets when they had their period, now 70% use pads. It's also de-stigmatised menstruation and changed attitudes in a conservative society in ways that were unimaginable just a couple of years ago. Sneh says menstruation is now discussed openly among women. But, she says, it's not been an easy ride. "It was difficult at the start. I had to help my mother with housework, I had to study and do this job. Sometimes during my exams, when the pressure became too much, my mother went to work instead of me," she says. Her father, Rajendra Singh Tanwar, says he is "very proud" of his daughter. "If her work benefits the society, especially women, then I feel happy about it." Initially, the women faced objections from some villagers who were suspicious about what was happening at the factory. And once the film crew arrived, there were questions about what they were doing. And some, like 31-year-old Sushma Devi, still have to fight daily battles at home. The mother-of-two says her husband agreed to let her work only after Sneh's mother spoke to him. He also insisted that she finish all the housework before going to the factory. "So I wake up at 05:00, clean the house, do the laundry, feed the buffaloes, make dung cakes which we use as cooking fuel, bathe, and make breakfast and lunch before I step out. In the evening, I cook dinner once I get back." But her husband is still unhappy with the arrangement. "He often gets angry with me. He says there's enough work at home, why do you have to go out to work? My neighbours too say it's not a good job, they also say the salary is low." Two of Sushma's neighbours had worked at the factory too, but left after a few months. Sushma has no intention of doing the same: "Even if my husband beats me up, I will not give up my job. I enjoy working here." In the documentary, Sushma is heard saying she'd spent some of her earnings to buy clothes for her younger brother. "If I'd known this was going to go to Oscars, I would have said something more intelligent," she says, laughing. For Sushma, Sneh and their fellow workers, the Oscar nomination has come as a big boost. The film, which is available on Netflix, is nominated in the Best Short Documentary category. As Sneh prepares to leave for Los Angeles, her neighbours are appreciative of the "prestige and fame" she has brought the village. "No-one from Kathikhera has ever travelled abroad so I'll be the first one to do so," she says. "I'm now recognised and respected in the village, people say they are proud of me." Sneh says she had heard of Oscars and knew they were the biggest cinema awards in the world. But she had never watched a ceremony, and certainly didn't think that one day she would be on the red carpet. "I never thought I would go to America. Even now I can't fully process what's happening. For me, the nomination itself is an award. It's a dream that I'm dreaming with my eyes open." All photos by the BBC's Abhishek Madhukar	Indian IT billionaire Azim Premji recently became India's top philanthropist, sealing his place among the world's top givers. But his generosity has put philanthropy in the spotlight in a country where charity does not appear to match wealth. The BBC's Aparna Alluri reports. Thirty-eight US billionaires have pledged at least 50% of their wealth to charity through a campaign started by investor Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. "To promote the well-being of mankind throughout the world" and "to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding". Is India winning the battle against poverty? Going by the latest figures, yes. India's southern state of Tamil Nadu is poised to become a global leader in wind power, according to a new report. But first the state must overcome its addiction to coal, writes Nityanand Jayaraman. Why are millions of women dropping out of work in India? A film based on young women in an Indian village who make sanitary pads has won an Oscar for best documentary short. The BBC's Geeta Pandey met the women in their village before the ceremony.
Aimed at showcasing talent for the year ahead, the list was compiled using tips from 213 tastemakers, who each named their favourite three new acts. Soul singer Michael Kiwanuka came out on top last year, with Adele, Jessie J and Ellie Goulding among past winners. The 2013 line-up includes boy-girl pop duo AlunaGeorge, Birmingham indie group Peace and Californian sisters Haim. Other acts tipped for success include all-girl post-punk band Savages, Glasgow electro-pop three-piece Chvrches and London rock quartet Palma Violets, whose debut single Best Of Friends was recently named track of the year by the NME. The Sound of 2013 winner will be announced online and by DJ Huw Stephens on the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show on 4 January. Stephens described this year's list as "exciting and vibrant", with a mixture of strong vocalists, leftfield artists and a number of bands with "their own take on modern pop". "It's always a varied list that surprises people, causes debate and speculation about the state of the music scene," he said. "For me, it's an exciting time of year, where we don't really know what the year will bring with new music, but this helps give people an indication of what might sound good." 'Brilliant racket' Several of the acts featured in the top 15 have combined existing genres to come up with something new. Classically-trained songwriter Laura Mvula has been described as a cross between Nina Simone and Bjork, thanks to the combination of her soulful voice and orchestral-style arrangements. The 26-year-old started writing songs on her laptop while working as a supply teacher in a Birmingham secondary school. Haim, who used to sing in a covers band with their parents, fuse Fleetwood Mac's folk-rock riffs to R&B beats more reminiscent of Destiny's Child. And AlunaGeorge, otherwise known as singer Aluna Francis and producer George Reid, have had their soul-influenced electronica dubbed "popstep". Scottish pop trio Chvrches subvert their euphoric pop sound with an undercurrent of melancholy that has seen them compared to 80s pioneers Soft Cell and Depeche Mode. From across the Atlantic, female rapper Angel Haze also makes the list, alongside Canadian R&B singer and producer The Weeknd, otherwise known as Abel Tesfaye, who has worked with rapper Drake. Gary Barlow has already given 17-year-old pop singer AME his seal of approval by signing her to his record label. Real name Amy Kabba, she moved to the UK from Sierra Leone when she was eight years old. Other female singer-songwriters predicted to do well in 2013 include 19-year-old Arlissa, who has already recorded a duet with rapper Nas, but whose solo material is drawing comparisons to Florence and the Machine. Tom Odell, who studied at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, is representing the male troubadours along with 17-year-old King Krule, whose real name is Archy Marshall. Odell's piano-led songs have already earned him a slot on BBC Two's Later... With Jools Holland, while garage blues singer King Krule attended the the Brit School - which also nurtured Jessie J, Adele and Amy Winehouse. Two Irish bands have made this year's list, in the form of Dublin indie four-piece Kodaline, who are being compared to Coldplay and U2, and country rock band Little Green Cars, who have already supported Mumford and Sons in the US. The tastemakers include critics and music journalists, radio DJs, TV presenters, TV and radio producers, website editors and music bloggers. Each was asked to name their three favourite new acts, who could be from any country and any musical genre. Among them was Wendy Roby, from influential music website Drowned in Sound, who said: "It's easy to be cynical about lists. It's not easy, however, to make brilliant racket like AlunaGeorge, The Weeknd and Savages. "Finding music is all about gateways, connections, finding your own route through. And I think there's enough range on this list for everyone to find something to love. Or maybe just something to kick against, until you find an artist you can't wait to get tattooed on your arm, or whose band T-shirt you'll want to sleep in." The successful acts cannot already be well-known to the UK public, for example through featuring on the final stages of a UK TV talent show or having already been a member of a successful band. They must also not have had a UK top 20 single or album before 11 November 2012. The top five acts will be revealed in reverse order in the week beginning Monday 31 December on BBC Radio 1, the BBC News website and the BBC Sound of 2013 website. Since topping the Sound of 2012 list, Michael Kiwanuka's debut album, Home Again, has reached number four in the UK chart and been nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize. Huw Stephens will host a special show featuring tracks from all 15 acts on the BBC Sound of 2013 longlist from 22:00 GMT on Monday 10 December on BBC Radio 1. A free download - Huw Stephens' Guide to the BBC Sound of 2013 list - will also be available from the Sound of 2013 website afterwards. \|\|\|\|\| London boy-girl duo AlunaGeorge will compete with singer-songwriters Tom Odell and Laura Mvula for the prize, which will be announced on 20 December. Previous winners include Florence and the Machine, Jessie J and Adele, who took the first award in 2008. This year's winner Emeli Sande went on to sing in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympics. Sande - who picked up three Mobo awards in November - also topped the UK album and single charts this year, following the release of her debut album Our Version Of Events. The shortlist for 2013's award, which will be handed out at the Brit Awards ceremony in February, includes classically trained singer Laura Mvula. Her soulful voice and orchestral arrangements have seen her described as a cross between Nina Simone and Bjork. Mvula started writing songs on her laptop while working as a supply teacher in a Birmingham secondary school. "It's unbelievable and I'm in total shock. I don't think I've experienced this kind of shock before," she said. "It's such a huge honour to be included in this prestigious shortlist, I don't think that I can put it into words. Thank you." Her competition includes 22-year-old singer-songwriter Tom Odell, who started writing songs as a teenager and studied at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. Odell made his TV debut last month on BBC Two's Later... With Jools Holland. Completing the shortlisted trio of acts is AlunaGeorge, otherwise known as singer Aluna Francis and producer George Reid. The duo's R&B influenced electronica has been widely tipped for success in 2013. The Brits Critics' Choice Award is voted for by a panel of industry insiders. \|\|\|\|\| With a voice that has won comparisons to Bill Withers, the 24-year-old has already supported Adele on tour. The Sound of 2012 list was compiled using tips from 184 key UK-based music critics, broadcasters and bloggers. Now in its tenth year, previous winners include Jessie J, Adele, Mika, Ellie Goulding, Corinne Bailey Rae and Keane. Kiwanuka, from London, cites influences ranging from Otis Redding and Bob Dylan to Miles Davis. He started out as a session guitarist, working with Tinie Tempah's producer Labrinth, before stepping in front of the microphone and signing to the Communion label, which was set up by Mumford and Sons' Ben Lovett. He said: "I never expected to be recognised in this way. "It's a great surprise and it means a lot that people are accepting the music they've heard so far, and it will bring the music to many more people, which for any musician is a great privilege." Kiwanuka came ahead of US R&B singer Frank Ocean, who has worked with Kanye West and Jay-Z and was at number two on the list. New York rapper Azealia Banks was in third place, followed by high-octane dance DJ and producer Skrillex at four and Swedish electronic duo Niki & The Dove in fifth place. The list was compiled using tips from 184 influential tastemakers, who each named their favourite three new acts. The participants ranged from music magazine editors and newspaper critics to respected bloggers, DJs and radio and TV producers. David Smyth, chief rock and pop critic of the London Evening Standard, who took part, said: "I picked Michael because his music really grabbed me when I first heard him last summer. "Paul Butler of The Bees produced his song Tell Me a Tale, giving it a vintage psychedelic soul feel. It was an unusual backdrop for such a rich, warm voice." The tastemakers' choices could be performers from any country and any musical genre. Artists who had scored a UK top 20 single or album before 13 November 2011 were disqualified, as were those already well-known to the UK public - for example by featuring in the final stages of a TV talent show or already being a member of a successful band. A longlist of the top 15 artists was published in December, and the top five have been revealed this week. Jessie J came top of the Sound of 2011 list. She went on to sell 805,000 copies of her album Who You Are - the most successful debut for a British artist last year. Dubstep producer James Blake and indie band The Vaccines were also in the top five. The other previous winners are: Ellie Goulding (Sound of 2010), Little Boots (Sound of 2009), Adele (Sound of 2008), Mika (Sound of 2007), Corinne Bailey Rae (Sound of 2006), The Bravery (Sound of 2005), Keane (Sound of 2004) and 50 Cent (Sound of 2003). Other artists in the top five in previous years include Hurts (Sound of 2010), Florence and the Machine (Sound of 2009), Duffy (Sound of 2008), Klaxons (Sound of 2007), Plan B (Sound of 2006), Bloc Party (Sound of 2005), Franz Ferdinand (Sound of 2004) and Dizzee Rascal (Sound of 2003). \|\|\|\|\| By Ian YoungsEntertainment reporter, BBC News The acts on the list are determined by a panel of tastemakers - made up of music critics, editors, broadcasters and bloggers - who name their favourite new artists. Of the prospects tipped over the last nine years, which have fulfilled their potential and which have fallen flat? HITS Adele When Adele came top of the BBC Sound Of 2008 list, she was an unknown 19-year-old who could sit in the pub without raising an eyebrow. Today, she is one of the biggest pop stars in the world - an elegant chanteuse whose piercing voice and timeless soul have led to huge commercial success without sacrificing artistic credibility. Her second album 21, which came out this January, has sold 12.5 million copies around the world, been number one in 24 countries and was the biggest-selling album of 2011 in the United States. Expect her to sweep the board at the Brit Awards and the Grammys this spring. She pipped Duffy to the top spot on the Sound of 2008 list, and the pair's first albums were both big hits in the UK. But in 2011, Adele has gone to the next level while Duffy struggled to live up to her early success. Dizzee Rascal The British rap star came fifth on the first list, Sound Of 2003, six months before his debut album Boy In Da Corner was released. It went on to win the Mercury Prize later that year and marked a breakthrough for British grime and hip-hop, blazing a trail for artists like Tinie Tempah, Tinchy Stryder and Wretch 32. But he did not really make it into the big time until his fourth studio album Tongue N' Cheek, released in 2009, on which he embraced pop and electro in a big way, scoring four number one singles. Plan B When Plan B came fourth on the Sound Of 2006 list, he was a hardened rapper writing songs about drugs, crime, murder and rape. "Yeah, I'm being very blunt and I'm using bad language but I'm just trying to portray something that's real that happens in everyday life," he said at the time. The resulting album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words reached number 30 in the UK. But then he mellowed and reinvented himself as a soul singer, using his lyrical prowess on the follow-up album The Defamation of Strickland Banks. A concept album about a soul singer who is sent to prison, it was the fifth biggest-selling album of 2010. Florence and the Machine Florence and the Machine came third on the Sound Of 2009 list and her debut album Lungs was in the UK chart for 109 weeks, ending up among the 10 best-selling albums of 2010. Lungs won the Brit Award for best British album, she was nominated for the best new artist Grammy and a song was covered on Glee. She won the Brit Awards' Critics' Choice - which replicated the Sound Of... concept - while the Sound Of 2009 list was topped by Little Boots. Jessie J Last year's winner Jessie J is out-and-out pop, and her debut album Who You Are has become the best-selling debut album by a UK artist. She has had four UK top 10 singles, including Price Tag, which was one of the year's biggest hits. She was forced to perform many gigs in 2011 sitting on a bespoke throne after breaking her foot, which required a bone transplant and forced her to pull out of a tour with Katy Perry in the US. Next year she will be a coach and a mentor on the BBC talent show The Voice. Other artists to have appeared in the top fives of Sound Of... lists over the years include Keane, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Corinne Bailey Rae, 50 Cent, Joss Stone, Mika, Klaxons, Ellie Goulding, La Roux and The Vaccines. MISSES The Bravery New York synth-rock contenders The Bravery came top of the Sound Of 2005 list, surfing the buzz of a fantastic single (An Honest Mistake), a hip image and a huge marketing push from record label Universal. An Honest Mistake reached number seven in the UK chart and the debut album went to number five, but listeners soon decided the rest of the album did not live up to the early promise, a backlash began and they were swiftly usurped by arch rivals The Killers. "When all that hype starts, a lot of people are going to say 'you're going to be the biggest band since The Beatles'," said singer Sam Endicott a year later. "And then a lot of people are going to say 'you're the worst band ever." Neither of their subsequent two albums was released in the UK. They had a track on the Twilight Eclipse soundtrack last year and Endicott has embarked on a songwriting sideline, co-composing the hit She Wolf for Shakira and Christina Aguilera's Monday Morning. The band are still going and are negotiating a new record contract after their Universal deal ended. In the meantime, bassist Michael Hindert has started his own record label, guitarist Michael Zakarin is studying for an MBA and keyboard player John Conway has become the spokesman for his family's wine business. Sadie Ama R&B singer Sadie Ama, who came fourth on the Sound Of 2007 list, is the only artist to have appeared in a Sound Of... top five but not released an album. The little sister of Brit Award-winner Shola Ama, she was signed to the Ministry of Sound label and released one single, Fallin', which reached number 68 in February 2007. She declined to discuss what happened next, as did the label and contacts who worked there with her at the time. She popped up on a single Woman's World with fellow singers Selah, Mz Bratt and Duchess, and was attached to grime godfather Wiley's planned record label last year - but nothing more has emerged. Yet. Clare Maguire Big-voiced singer-songwriter Clare Maguire came fifth in last year's list and won the Next Big Thing prize at the Q Magazine Awards last October. She emerged after being rumoured to have signed one of the largest record deals for a new act in recent years, snapped up by Polydor, home to Take That, Cheryl Cole and The Saturdays. The label then paired her with one illustrious (and expensive) songwriting partner after another, working for three years to hone her sound. Her debut album Light After Dark entered the UK albums chart at number seven in February, but dropped out of the top 40 two weeks later. Just one single reached the chart, with The Last Dance spending two weeks in the top 30. She is now working on her second album. The Twang Birmingham five-piece The Twang had a cocky frontman, anthemic choruses, feet on the ground and head in the clouds. They came second behind Mika in Sound of 2007 and won the Phillip Hall Radar Award for best new band at the 2007 NME Awards. They were likened to the Happy Mondays and Stone Roses, but said they were more influenced by Oasis and The Streets. Their debut album Love It When I Feel Like This reached number three in 2007, while the single Either Way went top 10. And yet a backlash soon followed, perhaps another case of the music not quite living up to the hype, coupled with the fact that it was easy to dismiss them for being derivative at a time when the tide was turning against "landfill indie". Their second album reached number 20 in 2009 and was their last for Polydor. The group still have a loyal and enthusiastic fanbase who are hungry for rousing, heart-on-sleeve guitar music. A third album is planned for next year. Little Boots It feels a bit cruel to brand Little Boots as a "miss". After topping the Sound Of 2009 list, the Kylie-meets-Saint Etienne starlet sold 200,000 albums and her biggest hit Remedy spent a month in the top 10. Yet it could have been better. The "tastemakers" took to her after hearing a string of fantastically infectious cosmic disco tunes led by the standout Stuck On Repeat. But when she was launched upon the wider world, she was pitched by her record label Atlantic as a teen-friendly pop idol rather than as the electro dance queen she is, with the more simplistic New In Town picked as the first full single, accompanied by an expensive but ill-conceived video. The follow-up Remedy was better received and was her biggest hit. However the third single Earthquake missed the top 40. Her second album will be out in 2012. "Sound of 2009 opened a lot of doors for me and some amazing opportunities that I was really really grateful for," she said 12 months after winning. "But it did put a huge amount of expectation on the album." As well as those that have appeared on the list, lots of great and huge acts have not - like Tinie Tempah, The Arctic Monkeys, The Arcade Fire... So what does this all mean? Musicians do not have to be on the list to become popular, and those on the list will not necessarily make it big. And besides, commercial success is not the be all and end all. The list is compiled by asking those with their fingers on the pulse to name their favourite new acts - not to name those with the most hype or the biggest marketing budgets. But many will be riding on the buzz from a couple of great tracks and maybe a bit of promotional muscle. Some will end up finding adoration within a limited scene rather than global stardom, while others will be generally judged to be not that amazing after all. The real test comes when the artists unleash their finished and fully-formed creations. Then people make up their own minds. The list becomes irrelevant and it becomes all about the music. The full lists from previous years are: SOUND OF 2003 SOUND OF 2004 SOUND OF 2005 SOUND OF 2006 SOUND OF 2007 SOUND OF 2008 SOUND OF 2009 SOUND OF 2010 Also on the longlist: SOUND OF 2011 Also on the longlist: \|\|\|\|\| By Ian YoungsEntertainment reporter, BBC News The list, now in its 10th year, was compiled using tips from more than 180 influential UK tastemakers, who were asked to name their favourite new acts. The Sound of 2012 winner and top five will be unveiled in January. Jessie J topped last year's list. Other previous winners include Adele, Ellie Goulding, Corinne Bailey Rae and Keane. The emerging artists on this year's longlist range from UK hip-hop and grime MC Dot Rotten to blues singer-songwriter Jamie N Commons and attitude-filled female pop trio Stooshe. Twenty-year-old rapper and singer Azealia Banks and rapper A$AP Rocky, both from Harlem, New York, are included alongside dubstep producers Flux Pavilion and Skrillex. Three British soul acts have made it onto the longlist - Michael Kiwanuka and Lianne La Havas, both from London, and Ren Harvieu, who hails from Salford. UK guitar bands Spector and Dry The River are listed, along with Brooklyn-based indie-pop band Friends and Swedish dance duo Niki & The Dove. US singer-songwriter and rapper Frank Ocean completes the top 15. The tastemakers included critics, radio DJs and producers, TV presenters and producers, magazine and website editors and respected bloggers. All participants were asked to name their favourite three new acts, who could be performers from any country and any musical genre. They must not have had a UK top 20 single or album by 13 November 2011 and must not have already been well-known to the UK public, for example by featuring in the final stages of a TV talent show or already being a member of a successful band. George Ergatoudis, head of music at BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, said: "The Sound of 2012 will be the 10th year of predictions compiled by BBC News - a project now established as the definitive annual list of exciting new artists to watch out for. "The list will inspire debate for sure, but most importantly, it will lead to discovery of artists and musicians trying to stand out from the ever-expanding crowd, and that can only be a good thing." One pundit, Gigwise.com editor Holly Frith, said: "The BBC Sound Poll is always a great indication for music fans and the industry to see what will be filling the airwaves and charts in the coming year. "With Skrillex and Flux Pavilion both making the list, 2012 is set to be influenced with a heavier sound. Along with Azealia Banks and A$AP Rocky, it's a tough call to pick amongst this year's contenders." The top five will be revealed in the week commencing 2 January. The acts from the top five will be revealed on the BBC News website and BBC Sound of 2012 website in reverse order every day that week. BBC Radio 1 will broadcast sessions and interviews with the acts. Since topping the Sound of 2011 list, Jessie J's album Who You Are has gone on to be the biggest-selling debut album of the year in the UK. She was joined in the top five by James Blake, The Vaccines, Jamie Woon and Clare Maguire. The other previous winners are: Ellie Goulding (Sound of 2010), Little Boots (Sound of 2009), Adele (Sound of 2008), Mika (Sound of 2007), Corinne Bailey Rae (Sound of 2006), The Bravery (Sound of 2005), Keane (Sound of 2004) and 50 Cent (Sound of 2003). Other artists in the top five in previous years include Hurts (Sound of 2010), Florence and the Machine (Sound of 2009), Duffy (Sound of 2008), Klaxons (Sound of 2007), Plan B (Sound of 2006), Bloc Party (Sound of 2005), Franz Ferdinand (Sound of 2004) and Dizzee Rascal (Sound of 2003).	Fifteen of the most promising new music acts have been named on the BBC's Sound of 2013 longlist. Three new acts are being tipped for success in 2013 after being shortlisted for the Brits Critics' Choice Award. Soul singer Michael Kiwanuka has come top of the BBC Sound of 2012 list, which aims to showcase the best rising music stars for the year ahead. The five rising stars at the top of the BBC Sound Of 2012 new music list are revealed next week. This is the 10th time the annual list of hotly-tipped new acts has been published. Fifteen rising stars have been named on the BBC Sound of 2012 longlist, which aims to highlight music's most exciting new artists for the year ahead. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Teachers, nurses, police officers and social workers would all be eligible to live in the 15 new flats at the Arthur Hill pool site in Reading. The borough council said it would build the flats and rent them out at 80% of market rental rates. But campaigners said the new plan was "extremely disappointing". The pool building on Kings Road in east Reading was built in 1911 on land donated for community use by the family of Arthur Hill, the mayor of Reading between 1883 and 1887. It was closed in December 2016 and put up for sale after councillors deemed it too expensive to maintain. 'Poor location' In 2018, OOAK Developments was chosen by the council as its preferred bidder, with plans to build private residential flats on the site. However, that sale fell through in July. It followed months of protests over "secrecy" surrounding the sale, with campaigners urging the council to hold a public consultation. Council leader Jason Brock said teachers, nurses, police and social workers in Reading "all struggle" to find affordable homes to rent. The flats could be available to rent just two years after planning permission was granted, he said. Campaigner Peter Burt said there was a need for affordable housing in Reading, but described the Arthur Hill site as a "poor location". Mr Burt added the council had not "twigged" that closing down leisure facilities had an impact on more than "the lucky half-dozen" who would live in the new flats. The council said it was committed to providing a new pool in east Reading. \|\|\|\|\| Reading Council chose OOAK Developments as its preferred bidder for the Arthur Hill pool site in June last year. But council leader Jason Brock said talks had been "discontinued", adding the situation was "regrettable". Arthur Hill campaigner Peter Burt urged the council to hold a public consultation on the future of the site. He said: "Unfortunately, it comes as no surprise that the council's botched and secretive plans to sell the site have come a cropper. "The first thing the council must do now is consult with local people over the future of the Arthur Hill site, rather than push ahead with unworkable plans to sell the site for development." The pool building on Kings Road was built in 1911 on land donated for community use by the family of Arthur Hill, the mayor of Reading between 1883 and 1887. It was closed in December 2016 after councillors deemed it too expensive to maintain and decided to sell. The Information Commissioner ordered the council in May to release details of the previously proposed £1.15m deal after the authority had refused, claiming such details were "commercially sensitive". Mr Brock said the council would "continue to consider the re-use of the site for housing, including council housing key worker housing, or other affordable housing provision". He added the authority was committed to providing a new pool in east Reading. \|\|\|\|\| The group wants the authority to release details of the deal for Reading's Arthur Hill Memorial Baths. The Arthur Hill Campaign group said it would try to search the offices for the documents if Reading Borough Council fails to provide the information. The council said the details remained confidential until the sale was agreed. No restriction had ever been imposed "that would affect the development or saleability of the site", a spokesman added. The pool building on Kings Road was built in 1911 on land donated by the family of Arthur Hill. He was a philanthropic mayor of Reading from 1883 to 1887. The building closed in December 2016 after Reading Borough Council said building repairs were too costly. In 2017, the site was earmarked for residential development as part of the council's Draft Local Plan. Campaigner John Hoggett said: "The council has sold off the pool, which has been owned by the people of Reading for about 100 years, and they are refusing to say who to. "It was given to the people of Reading, not to the council to sell off for a bit of money." Explaining the window-washing stunt, he added: "They [the council] are not being transparent so we're cleaning the muck off so that we can see what's actually happening." A spokesman for Reading Borough Council said: "As is common practice with the majority of property transactions, details regarding the sale of a council property and the preferred bidder will remain confidential until detailed terms for the sale have been agreed, in some cases when the contract has been exchanged or when the transaction is completed, unless the parties wish to agree otherwise." \|\|\|\|\| Reading Borough Council was ordered by the Information Commissioner to release details explaining its decision to sell the Arthur Hill swimming pool. A report shows a preferred bid of £1.15m was chosen last year but the sale has not yet been completed. The council said "every bid was given full and proper consideration". The pool building on Kings Road was built in 1911 on land donated for community use by the family of Arthur Hill, the mayor of Reading between 1883 and 1887. It was closed in December 2016 after councillors deemed it too expensive to maintain and decided to sell. Reading council was warned it faced contempt of court action if it failed to disclose the full report explaining its decision by 25 June after initially releasing a redacted version. The document shows the authority received 16 offers for the site from nine interested parties, ranging from £250,000 to £2m, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. The highest bid involved building a hotel. Three of the prospective buyers had planned to re-open the pool and a fourth wanted to purchase it for community use. Councillors were advised to accept an unconditional offer from One of a Kind Developments on the basis it was expected to be a quicker deal to complete than other conditional offers. A spokesman for the Arthur Hill Campaign said the details released raised "some very worrying questions about how the winning bidder was selected and why". A Reading council spokesman said it had been "completely open" about its disposal of the building and was still negotiating with its preferred bidder. He added: "Contrary to belief, local authorities do not automatically accept the highest offer for any building. "In some cases unconditional offers can be quicker and more beneficial than those with conditions attached." \|\|\|\|\| Reading Borough Council chose One of a Kind Developments as its preferred bidder for the Arthur Hill swimming pool site in June last year. The Information Commissioner has told the authority it must release a report explaining that choice by 25 June. The council faces action for contempt of court if it fails to comply. The pool building on Kings Road was built in 1911 on land donated by the family of Arthur Hill, the mayor of Reading between 1883 and 1887. However, the site was closed in December 2016 after councillors deemed it too expensive to maintain. It was later earmarked for development despite campaigners claiming the pool "was given to the people of Reading, not to the council to sell off for a bit of money". The authority released a redacted version of a report about the sale following a Freedom of Information request, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Reading council previously said the details were "commercially sensitive" and would remain confidential until the sale was agreed. But the Information Commissioner has told the council it failed to provide sufficient justification for withholding the details. A spokesman for the Arthur Hill Campaign said the council's arguments had been "flimsy". "But for deliberate foot-dragging by the council, this matter would have been resolved months ago and local residents would know why the council has decided to sell the pool to a property developer rather than keep it in community use," he added. In a statement, the council said it was "currently reviewing its position and will be contacting the third parties involved in the bidding process". The authority has 28 days to appeal the decision. \|\|\|\|\| Reading Borough Council had said it would need to spend £700,000 to bring the Arthur Hill Memorial Baths up to standard. The authority said it would sell the building to help pay for a new facility in the area in about four years. However, campaigners have now set up a community interest group in a bid to reopen the pool. Phil Vaughan, who has been a regular at the baths for 15 years, said he hoped the group would attract grants to fund a reopening. He said the council had agreed not to drain the pool for a few months. "We pay taxes, we are entitled to some community benefits," he added. Alan Hardie, secretary of Reading Dolphin Swimming Club, which used the baths, said: "It's very sad we will all be separating and won't be meeting here on Sunday mornings as we have done for many, many years. Dolphin member Margery Taylor, who has rheumatoid arthritis and has been using the baths for 20 years, said: "It's quite a social life for people who can't get about so easily - we don't want fancy wave machines, we just want a pool we can swim up and down." The original 90ft (27m) pool - which six individual hot baths for people who did not have them at home - was opened on 29 November 1911. During World War One the council agreed to let soldiers quartered in Reading use the baths free of charge. The building was donated to the town by the Hill family, in memory of Arthur Hill JP who was mayor of Reading four times between 1883 and 1887.	A former community swimming pool could be turned into affordable housing for key workers after a failed bid to sell it to property developers. Campaigners have criticised a council's "botched" attempt at selling a community swimming pool to property developers after its sale fell through. Campaigners have washed a council's windows in protest at what they say is a lack of transparency over the sale of a pool donated to the community. A council agreed to sell a community swimming pool to property developers despite receiving other higher bids and offers to keep the facility in use. A council which is selling a community swimming pool to property developers has been ordered to release details of the deal. A 104-year-old swimming pool has closed after a council said it could no longer afford to repair the building.
A truck carrying a huge float veered out of control on the wet pavement, crushing a number of dancers and spectators against a fence. It then changed direction suddenly, hurting more people standing on the other side. The float's driver is being questioned. The vehicle, belonging to the Paraiso de Tuiuti samba school, "went into reverse and ended up pressing revellers against the fence on one side," police investigator William Lourenco Bezerra said. "The main driver of the float mixed with the rest of the samba school and left. But he has already been identified and will be investigated," Mr Bezerra added. Jaime Cezario of Porto da Pedra samba school told Brazil's Folha newspaper that the float "veered left towards the stands". "People had nowhere to flee," he said. "Then it went right at high speed, where I was. We had to throw ourselves to one side so we wouldn't be crushed," he said. The school was the first of six to take part in the parade on Sunday and organisers decided to continue with the event. "It is all regrettable, but we cannot stop,'' organiser Elmo dos Santos said. About 70,000 people were in the Sambadrome watching the parade, but only those at the entrance, where the accident occurred, were aware of what happened. The annual carnival ends on Wednesday. \|\|\|\|\| It was the school's 18th title, won with the help of some 4,300 participants in the sumptuous parade. Fans of the samba school, which is rooted in Rio's Mangueira favela, screamed with joy as the results were read out. In an indication of how high the stakes are in the carnival championship, the results came in an armoured car. \|\|\|\|\| In Recife, the city most affected by the mosquito-borne disease, more than one million people in colourful costumes have been partying. In Rio de Janeiro, huge crowds of revellers have filled the city centre to celebrate. The virus has been linked to a surge of brain malformations in newborn babies. The health ministry and local authorities have been handing out leaflets alerting residents and tourists to the risks of Zika. Over a million visitors are expected in Rio de Janeiro for the carnival celebrations, which end on Wednesday morning. This is the first test of whether fear of contamination by the Zika virus may scare tourists from the Olympics the city will host in August and September, says the BBC's Julia Carneiro. Brazilian authorities and the International Olympic Committee have pointed out that the Games will be held during the Southern Hemisphere winter, when conditions for the proliferation of the mosquito that spreads the virus will be less favourable. Fumigation to try to eliminate the Aedes aegypti, which also carries the dengue and chikungunya viruses, are continuing in many Brazilian cities during carnival. Some 220,000 armed forces troops will launch a big clean-up operation next week to eliminate puddles of stagnant water where the mosquitoes breed. President Dilma Rousseff has urged all Brazilians to join the effort. More than 20 countries in the Americas have been affected by the Zika virus outbreak. Brazil has been the worst hit country. \|\|\|\|\| By Daniel GallasBBC South America Business correspondent, Cabo Frio, Brazil With Carnival approaching, this place should be bustling with seamstresses, artisans and samba musicians doing last-minute work to put on a beautiful show at the city's annual parade competition. But this year, the workshop is empty, because Cabo Frio has cancelled the parade. As Brazil faces its worst recession in two decades, some small and medium cities across the country have decided not to spend any money on celebrations. In addition, amidst the outbreak of diseases like dengue, chikungunya and Zika, two cities in the neighbouring Sao Paulo state have cancelled their celebrations - to concentrate their budgets on tackling the mosquitoes responsible for spreading the Zika virus. Good investment Nineteen-year-old Rodrigo Moura is a Carnival artist in Cabo Frio who designs costumes and floats. His samba school - as each competing group is known - won the city's last two Carnival competitions. "In the parade, we had about 800 people dancing for us", he says in the empty workshop. Moura had already designed all of the costumes for this year's parade, but now he does not know when Carnival will be held again. Cabo Frio touts its Carnival as one of the best - second only to Rio de Janeiro's world renowned spectacle, where millions of reais are spent. Each of the 12 local samba schools received on average 70,000 reais (£12,000; $17,000) from the city's council to put on their parade last year. Authorities and the community see this as a good investment of public money, as Carnival brings communities together and brings in tourists. Not in the mood But this year, the city is not in the mood for party. A sharp fall in tax revenues has left the Cabo Frio cash-strapped. The council has delayed payments of salaries for many of its public servants. Jose Carlos dos Santos, a civil servant who works for a local school, hasn't received his salary for two months. The city owes him 2,000 reais (£345; $490) and he is falling behind on credit card payments and utility bills. To make ends meet, Santos is working 10-hour shifts selling ice cream in the local beaches. He says he is depressed and worried about the future. "I can only do this temporary job in the summer. In the winter we don't get as many tourists in the beaches, and I don't know whether I can find another job then." Oil prices In front of the mayor's office, teachers have camped out, staging daily protests and demanding to be paid. Inside, mayor Alair Correa is crunching numbers in front of a pile of documents. But they don't add up. "We used to have 60 million reais (£10m; $14m) per month in our budget, and suddenly we are down to half of that. But the services we offer are still based on that 60 million reais budget", he tells me. Cabo Frio has been particularly hit by low international oil prices. It sits off one of the richest places for oil drilling in the coast of Brazil, and since the 1980s the city has been collecting royalties from the industry. Public coffers are running dry now that global oil prices have plummeted. Ambulance or party? Many Carnival parties depend on public money, but cities, states and the federal government are undergoing austerity cuts. Over 40 small and medium-sized towns have cancelled their celebrations, many of them due to falling tax revenues caused by the economic slowdown. In Porto Ferreira, in Sao Paulo state, the local assembly voted to cancel Carnival and use the money to buy a new ambulance. The historic city of Ouro Preto, which holds a traditional Carnival in Minas Gerais state, has cancelled its parade and is spending just 10% of what it did last year to host a modest street party. Poor prospects A recent IMF report forecast that by the end of 2016 Brazil's economy will have contracted almost 8% in two years. It forecasts that a recovery will only start in 2018. Even those involved with the celebrations understand that there are more urgent things for local governments to spend on. "I accept that it is hard for the city to pay for Carnival. Of course we think about civil servants who haven't received their salaries and the population in need of services", says Carnival artist Rodrigo Moura. "But we also have to think about our own business. What happens to those of us who make a living out of Carnival?" Cabo Frio's mayor, Alair Correa, says prospects for the coming years are not good. "It will take us maybe four years to go back to having a carnival like the one we used to have - only when we go through this crisis and pay our bills."	At least 20 people have been injured, three of them seriously, in an accident at Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, the venue for the annual carnival parade by the city's samba schools. One of Rio de Janeiro's most traditional samba schools, Mangueira, has won this year's Carnival. Millions of people across Brazil have joined the first day of the annual carnival festivities despite concerns about the outbreak of the Zika virus. In a large warehouse in the beach town of Cabo Frio, southeast Brazil, dozens of colourful carnival costumes and a few giant floats are lying about gathering dust. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
More than 90 people complained to the media watchdog and several hundred viewers also complained to the BBC over the episode screened on 6 October. The BBC has defended it as part of the soap's "rich history" of portraying difficult storylines. The broadcaster said it had been careful to avoid any graphic depictions. The show's makers also contended that the attack was "implied and was not explicit". Separately, Channel 5 has been censured by Ofcom over swearing on three shows - Big Brother, It Takes a Thief To Catch a Thief and and the Hotel Inspector Revisited, all of which were repeated during the daytime. The broadcaster admitted that "human error" meant it had failed to broadcast a warning over offensive language prior to a screening of It Takes a Thief to Catch a Thief at 10:30 on 22 March, 2014. The channel said that as a result of this error, it had reviewed its internal records to ensure that all pre-watershed versions of programmes were correctly labelled and reviewed by its compliance team. All screenings were daytime repeats of evening shows and Ofcom ruled that the channel did not take appropriate steps to avoid frequent use of offensive language before the watershed. Three people complained to Ofcom about a Big Brother episode screened at lunchtime on 7 August, which involved a conversation between five of the housemates - Chris, Ashleigh, Ash, Winston and Helen. Ofcom noted 14 instances of different variations of the same swear word within a 50-second part of their conversation. Channel 5 said that "none of the language identified was used in connection with violent or particularly aggressive behaviour. "The tone of the conversation was light and in keeping with the kind of banter that was frequently heard in the House when alcohol had been consumed," the broadcaster added. \|\|\|\|\| The episode showed the before and aftermath of a rape inflicted on pub landlady Linda Carter by Dean Wicks. It was watched by a peak audience of 7.3m viewers and an average of 7m, according to overnight figures. In a statement, the BBC said: "At no point have there been any scenes of a graphic nature. In fact the attack on Linda was implied and not explicit. "We have been extremely mindful of the content within the episode and the timeslot in which it was shown." The half-hour programme aired at 20:00, an hour before the watershed. Viewers who complained to the BBC felt the scenes were inappropriate, with many mentioning that it was broadcast before the watershed. There were also 34 complaints to media watchdog Ofcom. The watershed begins at 21:00 and material unsuitable for children should not, in general, be shown before then or after 05:30. The BBC added: "EastEnders has a rich history of tackling difficult issues and Linda's story is one of these. We have worked closely with Rape Crisis and other experts in the field to tell this story which we hope will raise awareness of sexual assaults and the issues surrounding them. "We have also taken great care to signpost this storyline prior to transmission, through on air continuity and publicity as well as providing an action line at the end of the episode which offers advice and support to those affected by the issue." In an interview with the Radio Times last week, actress Kellie Bright, who plays Linda, was asked if she thought EastEnders should be tackling such an issue pre-watershed. She replied: "Yes. EastEnders is a programme that is supposed to be reflective of real life and this issue is part of our society. Why shouldn't it be tackled? I think it's been done in a really sensitive way. It's out there so it's not going to be a shock to viewers and they have the option to make a decision not to watch it. It's a way to educate people." It is not the first time EastEnders has been involved in a controversial rape storyline. In 2004, seven viewers complained to the BBC about an episode which focused on the distress of Little Mo Slater (played by Kacey Ainsworth), who was assaulted in the Queen Vic pub by a customer. Six complaints were received by Ofcom, which said it was concerned at the content, "given the mixed age ranges in the audience". The BBC agreed it "was a degree more adult in tone than was appropriate" for the pre-watershed time slot. In 1988, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) was raped by James Willmott-Brown (William Boyde). Other soaps that have featured rape storylines include Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.	Ofcom is to investigate EastEnders over a storyline in which Linda Carter the Queen Vic landlady was raped. The BBC has defended its recent rape storyline after 278 complaints were made following Monday's episode. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
After media reports said Australian news websites were not showing up in searches, Google confirmed it was blocking the sites for a small number of users. The search engine said it was conducting experiments to determine the value of its service to Australian news outlets. Google, Facebook and other tech companies are fighting the Australian government over plans to make them pay for news content. Google said the tests affect about 1% of Australian users, and will be finished by February. “The digital giants should focus on paying for original content, not blocking it. That’s my message to those digital giants,” said Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. The big tech firms have been resisting legislation which will force them to negotiate with Australian news outlets over payment for the content which appears on their platforms. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement, a government-appointed arbitrator will decide for them. The law is currently being debated by Australia’s Senate, and is expected to be voted on early this year. Google and Facebook have called the rules unfair and suggested they would force them to limit their offerings in the country. The bill also covers Australia's two public broadcasters ABC and SBS, and requires Google and Facebook to share user data of news stories with their publishers. “That is a world-leading scheme that we are putting in place. It has been acknowledged not just by regulatory agencies but by other governments around the world,” said Mr Frydenberg. Google argues that its search services would be worse under the change. It has rolled out an extensive advertising campaign in Australia, arguing the laws would be damaging. Australia’s media proprietors see things differently. Australian print media has seen a 75% decline in advertising revenue since 2005, the government said. Many Australian news outlets have shut down or cut jobs in recent years as a result. \|\|\|\|\| The Australian government said the "world-first" laws would mandate a process for news outlets to negotiate "fair" payments for their work. Currently a power imbalance favours the big tech firms, the government said. The tech giants have vehemently opposed the laws, which they say will damage reader access. Facebook recently threatened to stop Australian users from sharing news stories on the platform if the law went ahead. Google has said its search services would be "dramatically worse" under the change. It has rolled out an extensive advertising campaign in Australia, arguing the laws would be damaging. As more readers have moved online in recent years, tech giants have faced calls internationally to pay more for news stories hosted on their platforms. "This is a huge reform. And the world is watching what happens here in Australia," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Tuesday. He said a strong and diverse media industry was "vital to our democracy". The bill will be introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday but is unlikely to be passed until the new year, local media reported. Australian print media has seen a 75% decline in advertising revenue since 2005, the government said. Several Australian news outlets have shut down or cut jobs this year. How would the code work? It essentially mandates a separate bargaining process that news outlets can fall back on if their own payment negotiations with Google and Facebook are not going well. That code would force a resolution through "final offer arbitration" - where if after months of no deal being made, each party (for a example a newspaper and Facebook) would present their offer to independent judges to make a decision. If the tech giants fail to comply, they face penalties of up to A$10m (£5.5m; $7.4), 10% of their Australian turnover, or triple the benefit they received. Since the draft code was released in July, the government said it had undertaken consultations - including "constructive" discussions with the tech giants. The bill includes Australia's two public broadcasters ABC and SBS, and requirements for Google and Facebook to share user data of news stories with their publishers. Concessions made by the government since July include dropping Instagram and Google News from the list of affected platforms, and halving a 28-day notice period for platforms to alert news outlets of algorithm changes. \|\|\|\|\| In an open letter, the firm warned that its YouTube and Search features could be "dramatically worse" if new rules were brought in. It also added that users' data could be shared. But the Australian competition regulator said Google's letter was "misinformation". Over the past few months, the Australian government has been preparing legislation which will make Google and Facebook pay local publishers for their content. Today, Google has said it will fight the regulation which the government says is designed to create "a level playing field" for news outlets. In an open letter, Google's Australia managing director Mel Silva, wrote: "The way Aussies search every day on Google is at risk from new regulation. "You've always relied on Google Search and YouTube to show you what's most relevant and helpful to you. We could no longer guarantee that under this law." Google Search and YouTube services would be "dramatically worse" and the new regulation "could lead to your data being handed over to big news businesses", Ms Silva said. What are the proposals? Last month, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission published draft legislation which called on internet companies such as Facebook and Google to pay for content. It would allow news companies to negotiate as a bloc with tech giants for content which appears in their news feeds and search results. The draft code covers other matters too, including notifying news companies of changes to algorithms. Penalties could be up to A$10m (£5m; $7m) per breach, or 10% of the company's local turnover. Today, the competition regulator said Google's open letter "contains misinformation" about the proposed law. "Google will not be required to charge Australians for the use of its free services such as Google Search and YouTube, unless it chooses to do so," Rod Sims, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman said in a statement. "Google will not be required to share any additional user data with Australian news businesses unless it chooses to do so." Mr Sims said the new regulations would "address a significant bargaining power imbalance" between Australian news media and internet organisations. "A healthy news media sector is essential to a well-functioning democracy," he added. \|\|\|\|\| Regulators want tech giants like Facebook and Google to pay for the content reposted from news outlets. Last month Google warned its users that its search services could be "dramatically worse" as a result. Facebook's latest move to block news sharing has escalated tensions between tech firms and regulators. The social media network said that if the proposed legislation becomes law it will stop Australians from sharing news on Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has drawn up the rules to "level the playing field" between the tech giants and publishers that it says are struggling due to lost advertising revenue. The ACCC responded to Facebook's threat to block news content saying it was "ill-timed and misconceived". "The code simply aims to bring fairness and transparency to Facebook and Google's relationships with Australian news media businesses," ACCC chairman Rod Sims said. But in a blog post, Facebook's managing director for Australia and New Zealand Will Easton, said the draft law "misunderstands the dynamics of the internet and will do damage to the very news organisations the government is trying to protect". He argued it would force Facebook to pay for content that publishers voluntarily place on its platform to generate traffic back to their news sites. Mr Easton claimed Facebook sent 2.3bn clicks from Facebook's newsfeed back to Australian news websites, worth around A$200m ($148m; £110m) during the first five months of the year. The blocking of news "is not our first choice - it is our last," he said, adding that Facebook's other services that allow family and friends to connect will not be affected. A Facebook spokesman told the BBC that it will "provide specific details soon" on how it will enforce the ban. Some business experts argue that tech firms should pay publishers for the quality news content that they repost. "Google, Facebook and others have been getting away with giving it away for free for too long," Michael Wade, a professor at the IMD Business School in Switzerland and Singapore, told the BBC last month. Google and Facebook do pay for some news content in specific markets, and said they plan to roll these initiatives out to more countries. \|\|\|\|\| The Google-owned service has prevented his account from uploading new videos or live-streaming material for a minimum of seven days, and has said it may extend the period. The firm said the channel had broken its rules over the incitement of violence. The president had posted several videos on Tuesday night, some of which remain online. Google has not provided details of what Mr Trump said in the video it banned, however the BBC has discovered it was a clip from a press conference he had given on Tuesday. The move came hours after civil rights groups had threatened to organise an ads boycott against YouTube. Jim Steyer - who previously helped coordinate similar action against Facebook last year - had called on Google to go further and take the president's channel offline. "We hope they will make it permanent. It is disappointing that it took a Trump-incited attack to get here, but appears that the major platforms are finally beginning to step up," he tweeted after the suspension.YouTube suspends Donald Trump's channel Google said that Mr Trump could still face his page being closed if he falls foul of its three-strikes policy. "After review, and in light of concerns about the ongoing potential for violence, we removed new content uploaded to Donald J Trump's channel for violating our policies," it said in a statement. "It now has its first strike and is temporarily prevented from uploading new content for a minimum of seven days. "Given the ongoing concerns about violence, we will also be indefinitely disabling comments on President Trump's channel, as we've done to other channels where there are safety concerns found in the comments section." Meanwhile, Apple chief Tim Cook told CBS News that those involved with the riots on the US Capitol last week should be held accountable. "Everyone that had a part in it needs to be held accountable. I think no one is above the law. We're a rule of law country." He did not mention President Trump by name, but added: "I don't think we should let it go. This is something we've got to be serious about." Tech bans Mr Trump had already been suspended by Facebook and Instagram following last week's rioting on Capitol Hill, until at least the transition of power to Joe Biden on 20 January. Twitter has gone further by imposing a permanent ban. Amazon's Twitch has also disabled his account on its platform. And Snapchat has locked his account. Shopify, Pinterest, TikTok and Reddit have also taken steps to restrict content associated with the president and his calls for the results of the US election to be challenged. YouTube has often been behind its social media rivals when it comes to moderating user-posted content. Over the years it has come under fire from campaign groups and big advertisers for not acting swiftly. Now it has followed Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat in restricting Donald Trump's access to its platform. And as so often, there's a lack of transparency about exactly what prompted the President's suspension. It's only saying that a video violated its policies on incitement to violence, but is indicating that the issue was the President's remarks to reporters on Tuesday where he refused to take responsibility for the attack on Congress. Of course, those comments were broadcast on TV channels, including the BBC, and are still widely available. It's not long ago that the social media landscape was being described as the Wild West when it came to moderating content - now the platforms suddenly seem eager to appear more cautious than the mainstream media. It's amazing what the threat of regulation can do. \|\|\|\|\| This follows a landmark lawsuit by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) over a similar issue in October. It is the tech giant's third US government-related lawsuit in two months. Google said in a blog that redesigning its search engine would "deprive Americans of helpful information". "We know that scrutiny of big companies is important and we're prepared to answer questions and work through the issues," wrote Google's director of economic policy Adam Cohen. "But this lawsuit seeks to redesign Search in ways that would deprive Americans of helpful information and hurt businesses' ability to connect directly with customers. We look forward to making that case in court, while remaining focused on delivering a high-quality search experience for our users." He added that there are many alternatives to Google when looking for relevant information, including Amazon, Expedia and Tripadvisor. The tech giant's view is that the lawsuit is suggesting that Google Search "should, in fact, be less useful" to consumers. "When you search for local products and services, we show information that helps you connect with businesses directly and helps them reach more customers," wrote Mr Cohen. "This lawsuit demands changes to the design of Google Search, requiring us to prominently feature online middlemen in place of direct connections to businesses." The complaint was filed on Thursday by 38 states and territories with both Democrat and Republican prosecutors, led by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. "Google's anticompetitive actions have protected its general search monopolies and excluded rivals, depriving consumers of the benefits of competitive choices, forestalling innovation, and undermining new entry or expansion," Mr Weiser explained. "This lawsuit seeks to restore competition." It is a separate matter to the lawsuit filed on Wednesday in which 10 US states accuse Google of anti-competitive online advertising practices, including an allegation that it made a deal with Facebook to manipulate online advertising auctions. 'Monopolising voice assistants' In some ways, the latest complaint is similar to the DoJ's lawsuit, which focused on the billions of dollars Google pays each year to ensure its search engine is installed as the default option on browsers and devices like mobile phones. However, the latest legal complaint goes further to say that the tech giant is using its existing monopolies in search - such as "exclusionary agreements" and its ability to collect "vast amounts of data" - to dominate newer technologies as well. For instance, the lawsuit claims Google bars devices that use Google Assistant from including competing virtual assistant technology, such as Amazon's Alexa. "Google is preventing competitors in the voice assistant market from reaching consumers through connected cars, which stand to be a significant way the internet is accessed in the near future," said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who also sued Microsoft back in 1998 over antitrust issues. Smart speaker maker Sonos has publicly complained in the past that Google used its market power unfairly to monopolise the voice assistant market. Sonos only finally decided to support the Google Assistant in 2019. The coalition is asking the court to halt what it calls Google's illegal conduct and restore a competitive marketplace, as well as removing any unfair advantages the tech giant gained as a result of its practices. It calls for Google's parent Alphabet to be forced to divest some assets and award damages, instead of paying a fine. "Fines are like kicking gorillas in the shin. We fortunately have remedies that are much broader in scope," said Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson. The states who filed the lawsuit on Thursday are: Colorado, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico.	The Australian government has urged Google to focus on paying for Australian content instead of blocking it. Australia is to introduce a bill into parliament that would force Facebook and Google to pay news outlets for featuring their journalism. Google has attacked a new Australian law forcing tech giants to pay local news outlets - saying it could threaten search services in the country. Facebook has threatened to stop users from sharing news content in Australia as it prepares for a new law forcing it to pay publishers for their articles. YouTube has become the latest social network to suspend President Trump. Google is being sued by 38 US states, accused of trying to make its search engine as dominant inside cars, TVs and speakers as it is in smartphones.
East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) will not renew leases for its head office in Milton, Cambridgeshire, or its regional base in Ipswich. EACH's three hospices "would remain open and continue to provide care", chief executive Phil Gormley said. The 40 staff affected would work remotely or from hospice offices. The charity, like many others, has suffered a loss in income due to a reduction in fundraising activities and the closure of non-essential shops to comply with Covid-19 restrictions. It runs hospices in Milton, The Nook near Norwich and The Treehouse in Ipswich, and offers care and support for children with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia, and their families. Mr Gormley said: "This third lockdown, closing our shops, has meant putting over 120 members of staff back on furlough and standing down our 1,700 volunteers. "While our fundraisers worked hard over the festive period, our latest forecasting shows an operational deficit of £2m over the next 12 months." Mr Gormley called for charities like EACH to be "underpinned by proper statutory funding". EACH said it received 16% of its income from such sources but relied on £6m from elsewhere, including large donors. It said a further £5m was raised through its retail activities, but it lost £100,000 income a week when the shops were closed. Last year, the charity raised nearly £150,000 by selling more than 200 items donated by celebrities including Ed Sheeran, who is an ambassador, Cate Blanchett and Tracey Emin. The charity said the pandemic had lead to a surge in requests for support from families shielding and becoming exhausted from providing care alone. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk \|\|\|\|\| That is according to Matt Pearce, of mental health charity Hafal, which runs 120 projects across Wales. Mr Pearce said smaller charities are at particular risk and called on the UK government to support the third sector. The UK Treasury said charities could apply for loans of up to £1.2m designed to help businesses through the crisis. "It is a very worrying situation," Mr Pearce explained. "The outbreak is concerning for anyone, but for those with an existing mental health problem it can exacerbate their symptoms." Hafal is just one of a number of charities facing an uncertain future due to the coronavirus outbreak. They face a number of threats, including a funding shortfall due to the cancellation of major fundraising events such as the London Marathon, and a disruption to less significant but more consistent funding streams. "Charity shops are seeing a drop off in donations and customers," said Rachal Minchinton, chairperson of the Institute of Fundraising Cymru. "Lots of charity shops have a high number of older people volunteering for them, so it has a big impact on their ability to stay open." How do charities help the NHS? "Services we - and other charities - provide are really vital because they keep people well and prevent people going into hospital," Mr Pearce added. "Hopefully the government will ensure that the third sector is fully supported throughout the crisis as we provide such important services that ease the pressure on the NHS." Perversely, charities which help older people stave off isolation and loneliness are now unable to help their clients when they most need it. With Music in Mind is a charity in the Vale of Glamorgan which brings older people together four times a week to sing and socialise. "This week we have closed all our groups for the safety of our vulnerable group members," said managing director Kate Whitestone. "Loneliness and isolation are known to contribute toward a variety of health problems, including [poor] mental health, and we are concerned that the isolation period for older people will see a spike in these problems associated with loneliness." In spite of the seemingly unrelenting pressures on the sector, there is still faith in people's generosity. Ms Minchinton added: "We know these times are very, very difficult for everyone but they will still find a way to support us and we are very, very grateful for that." Last week, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a "temporary coronavirus business interruption loan scheme" for banks to offer loans of up to £1.2m to support small and medium-sized businesses. A Treasury spokesman said charities were entitled to apply for loans through the scheme, with the government providing lenders with a guarantee of 80% on each loan. EASY STEPS: How to keep safe \|\|\|\|\| The East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) auction was the idea of comedian and actor, Griff Rhys Jones. He said there was "wild and marvellous bidding right up to the end". The top bid received was £23,000 for an original piece of work called Night Mare by artist Tracey Emin. The online auction, which started on 27 November, raised £146,466 for the charity, which has The Duchess of Cambridge as its royal patron. Rhys Jones said: "It was a top-drawer result for the bottom-drawer auction, with wild and marvellous bidding right up to the end. "I want to thank everybody who donated their treasures, everybody who bid and all the back room folk who made it happen, and now have quite a job ensuring that everything gets to the right place as quickly as possible." Some of the best-performing items included a headcollar worn by racehorse Enable and signed by one of the charity's ambassadors, Frankie Dettori, that went for £10,500; and a Rolex watch from Dawn French that raised £8,000, Becky Redbond, from the charity, said: "Like all charities, it's been a very tough year for EACH, but this certainly gives us a great and much-welcome boost at the end of it." It had forecast a loss of £2.2m in funding over the next 12 months - a third of what it needs to support families across East Anglia. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk \|\|\|\|\| By Orla Moore & Laurence CawleyBBC News Online Tucked away on a small retail park on the edge of Shoeburyness, near Southend, Essex, is the Havens Hospices charity shop, brimming with colour and intrigue. "We take anything," manager Eany Callahan says. "Everything is money to us. We get money when we recycle, which is brilliant, so we don't say no to anything. "I've had well over 100 calls in the past three days asking about donations and I've asked them to stagger them so we can cope." But the drop-off-and-sort system has had to change, though. All donations are quarantined for three days before sale. You might also be interested in: Mr Callahan says items are "processed, steamed and sprayed with disinfectant" before reaching the shop floor. "We've had lots of different things, from bric-a-brac to clothing," he adds. "We've had very vintage items such as handbags, puzzles, games and books. "In one case, we had more than 40 signed photos of the same person and we even had a sword donated, which I nearly got in trouble with the police for." Among the packed racks and shelves is a new green sequinned dress, which will go on the hospice's eBay store. The price tag is £220 for the "best dress in the shop". However, even if it was being sold in the shop, a potential buyer wouldn't be able to try it on as the fitting rooms are closed off. There is also a limit on numbers, hand sanitizer for customers, a screen at the till and contactless payments."We are asking everybody coming into the shop just to act sensibly," Mr Callahan adds. The store is one of 23 Havens Hospices shops, raising money for a charity that provides palliative and respite support for children, young people and adults across Essex. Financially, the charity is "in a stable position until July, and then the future looks uncertain" - when it is expected to lose 70% of its fundraising income. The Southend Half Marathon, which was cancelled on 14 June, would normally generate £200,000 alone. The charity's director of income generation, Trevor Johnson, said measures were in place "to let our managers, staff and shoppers feel safe". "We wanted to be part of the community again and start raising funds but we could only do that if we had a proper plan. But the lockdown has affected staffing levels, with older volunteers and those shielding unable to return, while others had "re-evaluated their priorities" and stepped down. "It's not a case of losing 14 people and recruiting 14," he said. Mother-of-three Kim Shambrook has worked in the shop for three years - and is currently the only volunteer there. "The changes are a bit of a nightmare but they have to be done to keep ourselves and our customers safe. It's a massive difference," she said. "We were used to a shop-load of people now it's just five at a time. And people want to pay cash." She said she hoped the new way of working wouldn't put shoppers off. "Please come - we need you," she said. Mr Johnson said it was too early to say how much money the charity's shops had lost during the lockdown, but he had been encouraged by Monday's trading figures. Charity shops need to adapt, he said, and this flexibility had become more important than ever. "The pandemic has changed everything for everyone, but I do think there is still a place for charity shops as a social hub in the community." Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk Photographs by Laurence Cawley	A charity supported by the Duchess of Cambridge says it is facing a £2m cash shortfall and will need to close offices to save money. Vulnerable people could put more pressure on the NHS if charities they rely on for support are not given help to weather the coronavirus outbreak. More than 200 items donated by celebrities including Ed Sheeran, Cate Blanchett, Sir Paul McCartney and Ant and Dec have raised nearly £150,000 for a children's hospice charity. The coronavirus lockdown has led to a national spring clean of epic proportions, with people stuck at home preparing to donate their unwanted goods. What does this mean for the charity shops on the receiving end of the Covid clearout?
Mr Javid told the Sunday Times he would be "breathing down" the necks of local authorities to ensure building targets, set by the government, are met. Theresa May, who will unveil the plans on Monday, told the BBC the level of house building was a "real problem". However, Labour accused the government of "eight years of failure on housing". On Monday, the government will announce an overhaul of planning rules in an attempt to increase the rate of house building in England. 'Market prices' A new planning policy framework will contain new rules to determine how many homes councils must build - taking into account local house prices, wages and key worker numbers. Higher targets will be set for areas where house prices outstrip annual earnings. "For the first time it will explicitly take into account the market prices," Mr Javid told the Sunday Times. "If you are in an area where the unaffordability ratio is much higher you will have to build even more. It will make clear to councils that this number is a minimum, not a maximum." He said councils would also be held to account on house-building promises they make. Mr Javid said councils that fail to meet targets will be stripped of the right to decide what is built within their boundaries, with inspectors making decisions instead. Prime Minister Theresa May told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show the government would "release more public sector land" to facilitate more building of homes. She added: "We're saying to councils you've got to take local communities into account, you've got to ensure you've got a proper plan for your local area. If you haven't got it the government will intervene." Chief executive of housing charity Shelter, Polly Neate, said it appeared the government was "waking up to the scale of our housing emergency". "The planning system is not delivering for most people at the moment and the key test for Theresa May and Sajid Javid will be whether the plans they announce on Monday will be able to unblock the obstacles to building the genuinely affordable homes that our communities desperately need and which this government has so far not been able to deliver," she added. Mr Javid said his new rules were designed to stop "Nimby [Not In My Back Yard] councils that don't really want to build the homes their local community needs" from fudging the numbers in their area. "We have a housing crisis in this country. We need a housing revolution," he added. Mr Javid also revealed plans to build up to five new towns between Oxford and Cambridge. "Along that corridor there's an opportunity to build at least four or five garden towns and villages with thousands of homes," he added. 'Whitehall's fault' It comes after Prime Minister Theresa May last month declared it her "personal mission to build the homes this country needs so we can restore the dream of home ownership". In November, Chancellor Philip Hammond abolished stamp duty on homes up to £300,000 for first-time buyers. However, John Healey, Labour's shadow housing minister, said Mr Javid's "year-old policy" showed the government has "no proper plan to fix the housing crisis". "Eight years of failure on housing is the fault of Whitehall, not town halls," he said. "Since 2010, home ownership has fallen to a 30-year low, rough sleeping has more than doubled, and the number of new homes being built still hasn't recovered to pre-recession levels." \|\|\|\|\| Choose rent or buy, how many rooms you want the property to have and how much you'd like to pay each month. If you're buying, you also need to enter your deposit, as you won't get a mortgage without one. The map also shows which end of the local market matches your budget - so you might only be able to afford something towards the lower end of the market in Bath but your budget could stretch to property at the higher end of the market in Shropshire, for example. If you are struggling to find a property you can afford, you may have to increase your deposit. The average deposit for first-time buyers in the UK is £54,770, according to March 2020 data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. First-time buyers in London are looking at an average deposit of around £150,762, almost three times the national average. Whereas, in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, first-time buyers need to find deposits of around £25,000-£30,000. More about this calculator The "Where can I afford to live?" calculator uses pricing and rental data for the 12 months up to the end of June 2020 provided by residential property analysts Hometrack. There is not enough recent data available to show figures for Northern Ireland Monthly mortgage payments are based on the figures calculated by the Bank of England from rates currently being offered by banks and building societies. The rate used is for two year, fixed rate mortgages, so would only be relevant for the first two years of the loan. Every month, the Bank of England brings out figures for people wanting a mortgage for 75% or 90% or 95% of the value of the property they want to buy. So currently the calculator assumes you need a deposit of at least 5% of the value of the property to get a mortgage. House prices are based on sales recorded by the Land Registry and Registers of Scotland plus Red Book mortgage valuation - where a surveyor has valued a property for the purpose of mortgage lending. Is rent cheaper in the next street? Where does rent hit young people the hardest? Number of middle-aged renters doubles Rents are based on monthly prices being asked for by landlords. The average rent in the UK is about £951, according to Homelet. You may find that the map suggests you can't afford to live where you are living now - but this might be because the price of property in your area and interest rates have changed since you got your mortgage. If you were trying to get a mortgage to buy your house today, you might need a bigger deposit and larger monthly payments. If there are fewer than 25 properties matching your criteria in an area, it will come up with "no data". Figures based on a smaller number of properties would be unreliable. When using the calculator, your postcode is required so that the BBC can provide you information on housing costs in your area. The BBC is the data controller of the data you enter here. For more information see the BBC Privacy & Cookies Policy. The calculator was produced by: Dominic Bailey, Prina Shah, James Dooley and Steven Connor \|\|\|\|\| By Kevin Peachey and Wesley StephensonBBC News So it is little wonder that house prices are an obsession for some, and a source of frustration for others. The financial crisis had huge implications for those wanting to buy or sell property. Here is the story of what has happened to the UK housing market in the past 10 years. 1. House prices are rising... or are they? The price of the average UK home has risen in the past 10 years, as you would expect. Prices of goods and services in general, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation, have increased faster. So, in real terms, the average UK house price has fallen compared with a decade ago. 2. Price rises or falls depend on where you live The average UK house price masks a massive regional divide. In London, the average property value has risen by nearly 70% in 10 years, whereas in Northern Ireland it has fallen by more than 40%. 3. This is not only a story of prices The number of sales was 30% higher 10 years ago, so who is no longer buying? Many people already with a home and a mortgage have chosen to stay put, rather than buy somewhere bigger. Recent tax changes have also cut the numbers of buy-to-let investors. 4. The housing ladder's rungs are further apart Look at the difference in price when moving from a three-bedroom home to a four-bedroom one, and it is no surprise that many families have chosen not to move. Many may have spent their money on an extension instead. A lack of four-bedroom family homes on the market has pushed up prices of this type of property. It means the cost of moving to a bigger house has stymied many people's dreams of moving up the housing ladder - perhaps to give the children their own room. 5. First-time buyers haven't had it easy Government schemes, such as Help to Buy, mean first-time buyers are still in the game. Despite this assistance, lenders have been much more demanding of young borrowers. Mortgage providers wanted a much bigger initial deposit when they were left reeling by the financial crisis. Those deposit requirements have eased since, but first-time buyers still need some hefty savings, or help from their parents, to secure a home loan. 6. Pay has done little to help them Wages have risen slowly, if at all, for most people in the last 10 years. This has made it even tougher for potential buyers in their 20s and 30s to save some of their income. The money has been used to pay the bills, not to fund soaring deposit demands. 7. There's been a shift from owning to renting These financial pressures have meant people choosing to rent rather than buy, or to continue as tenants into their 30s and 40s when they might previously have bought a home by then. This has led to some robust debate over the plight of renters in recent years, from lettings agent fees to the length of tenancies. 8. The South has the lion's share of property wealth Collectively, London property has the highest value, followed by the South East of England. If you believe that property is always a good investment, then just look at what has happened to the collective value of homes in the North of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the past 10 years. 9. Borrowing has been cheap for homeowners Ten years of low interest rates, and rock-bottom home loan rates, have meant that mortgage repayments account for less of a typical homeowner's income than at any time in the past 10 years. The bad news is that it is unlikely to get any cheaper. Policymakers at the Bank of England have put up interest rates, so borrowing on any kind of loan is going to get more expensive. 10. Where can I afford to live? Lucian Cook, director of residential research at estate agents Savills, predicts that deposits are likely to stay relatively high compared to incomes in the coming years. Owners will continue to take fewer steps up the housing ladder compared to the past, he adds. This is a result of the stricter regulation following the financial crisis that, he believes, will remain in place for the foreseeable future. The other major factor, looking ahead, is how rising interest rates will "be the next restraint on house price growth", he says, particularly in London. Savills predicts that an average mortgage rate will double to 4% in the next five years. Huge national, regional, and even neighbourhood disparities mean it is well worth checking where you can afford to live in the UK. Our calculator will help you. Where can you afford to live? Try our housing calculator to see where you could rent or buy This interactive content requires an internet connection and a modern browser. View affordability data by UK region View affordability data by local authority area Your results Search the UK for more details about a local area You have a big enough deposit and your monthly payments are high enough. The prices are based on the local market. If there are 100 properties of the right size in an area and they are placed in price order with the cheapest first, the “low-end” of the market will be the 25th property, "mid-priced" is the 50th and "high-end” will be the 75th. \|\|\|\|\| By Reality Check teamBBC News As new figures revealed the scale of the decline in young middle-earners joining the property ladder, Labour announced proposals for tenants in Britain to be allowed to keep pets. This got Reality Check thinking about private renting in the UK. How does it compare with the rest of Europe? It's difficult to say definitively where the worst place is. Rules vary not just from country to country but sometimes by region and city, too. So we asked two key questions: how much can rent be increased by and how easily can a tenant be evicted? When can you be kicked out? In Germany, which is often touted as a renting paradise, tenants can stay indefinitely and will face eviction only if they break the law: for example incurring rent arrears or using anti-social behaviour. Even a landlord selling up does not necessarily result in tenants having to move on, and in some cases children can even inherit tenancies from parents. Housing charity Shelter identified eight other countries in Europe where tenants receive similar kinds of permanent protection from eviction. Three - Italy, Belgium and Ireland - give tenants between three and 10 years' protection, it said. In England and Wales, almost all renting privately are on "assured shorthold tenancies", in which tenants are protected from being evicted for no reason for a fixed period of time. The minimum is six months. You can still be evicted in this time if you fail to pay your rent or for anti-social behaviour. After this, landlords can evict tenants without any reason, but they must give at least two months' notice. A very small number of older tenants still benefit from more generous rights under the Rent Act 1977. This gives them security of tenure, and applies only to people whose tenancies were granted before January 1989. In Scotland tenants have greater security from eviction without grounds than their English and Welsh counterparts, under a law passed in 2016. How much can your rent be increased by? The existence of long, secure tenancies tends to go hand in hand with some kind of rent control, according to Kath Scanlon, a researcher at the London School of Economics. In England and Wales rent increases are supposed to be "fair and realistic" - for example, in line with average local rents. But in reality, there's nothing stopping private landlords from raising rents by however much they like, once a tenancy agreement is up. Generally, landlords are not able to raise rents during a tenancy agreement but since long tenancies are uncommon, this doesn't afford tenants much protection from increases. This means those in England and Wales have less protection from unaffordable rent rises than those in many other, particularly northern European, countries. In Germany, rents cannot exceed local market levels and cannot go up by more than 15-20% over three years, depending on the state or city. In a number of countries, including France, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway and Ireland, rent increases are capped, either in line with inflation, local market levels or a fixed percentage. In several eastern European countries, on the other hand, tenants are afforded weaker protection than in England, with no minimum period before they can be evicted without grounds and no limits to rent increases. For example, in Romania, there is no requirement for a formal written contract at all. However, England and Wales are unusual in their combination of a relatively high proportion of their population in private rented accommodation (about 20%) alongside relatively weak protections for tenants. In Romania 98% of properties are occupied by their owners compared with about 65% in England and Wales. In Germany around half of all residential properties are rented, compared with an EU average of about 30%. What are your responsibilities as a tenant? The German system is probably the furthest from England and Wales' in terms of tenants' rights and responsibilities. Germans have greater freedoms, but they also have more responsibility for maintenance. In England and Wales, landlords are responsible for all exterior maintenance including the roof, guttering, chimneys, plasterwork, walls, windows and doors. They are also responsible for anything relating to utilities like heating and hot water, including the pipes supplying gas, electricity or water, flues for gas boilers, ventilation, and drains. Landlords are also generally responsible for interior decorations when they are needed because of general wear and tear rather than damage. In Germany, however, although in law it is the responsibility of landlords to maintain their properties in a suitable state, it is both "lawful and usual" for them to shift the costs for minor maintenance works and for cosmetic repairs to their tenants, according to researchers at the Tenlaw Project on Tenancy Law and Housing Policy, a research project which is funded by the EU. What about pets? And while in Germany, pets are generally allowed, in England and Wales it is for each landlord to decide and will be set out in the tenancy agreement. It is very common for pets to be prohibited by English and Welsh landlords. Around Europe, many of the countries studied by the Tenlaw project left it to the discretion of landlords. \|\|\|\|\| Abolishing stamp duty on homes under £300,000 was the centre piece of Mr Hammond's November budget. The government says it has already helped more than 16,000 people get on the property ladder. But the Treasury select committee said the move is likely to push house prices by at least the amount the reduction in stamp duty is supposed to save. It said Mr Hammond would only meet his target of 300,000 new homes a year if he took more action to promote building such as lifting a borrowing cap on councils. The committee's report states: "Greater measures are needed to increase housing supply. "300,000 homes a year will not be achieved with the current measures. "The government will need to show greater commitment to housing supply to achieve its aspiration and will need to bring forward additional policy measures." Responding to the report, Local Government Association Chairman, Lord Porter, said: "It is great that the influential Treasury Select Committee has backed our call for councils to be given the freedom to borrow to build more of the new homes our communities desperately need. "This is significant recognition of our central argument about the vital role councils must play in solving our housing shortage." \|\|\|\|\| Housing associations will be reclassified as private bodies allowing their £70bn debt to be removed from the government's balance sheet. They said the technical change would allow them to build more affordable homes. But Labour said the government had no coherent plan to address the "housing crisis". Latest figures show 217,350 "additional dwellings" in England last year, which includes new builds, conversions and changes of use. This was up by 27,700 up on 2015-16. Labour said any increase was welcome but that house-building had still not returned to the level it reached before the global financial crisis. Visiting a north London housing estate, Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to take "personal charge" of the government's strategy to address what is widely regarded as the chronic shortage of new affordable homes being built, particularly for rent. There have been reports of tensions within the cabinet about whether the government should be borrowing tens of billions to directly fund more schemes. In a speech in Bristol, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said the decision by the Office for National Statistics to remove housing association debt from the UK balance sheet would help create a more "stable investment environment" for the thousands of providers. Housing associations were classified as public bodies in 2015 because of the way they were funded - a move that led to warnings it would hamper their ability to fund new house-building. Analysis By BBC home editor Mark Easton In 2015, the Office for National Statistics shocked the government by announcing that ministerial control of housing associations had become so intrusive they could no longer be seen as charities or private businesses. Overnight, all their borrowing was added to the public debt. Now, after the drafting of new regulations currently going through Parliament, the ONS has agreed the government has become hands-off enough again to take all that debt away. The announcement of the change, before the new regulations have come into law, appears to be part of a move to encourage Philip Hammond to offer more help to the housing sector. Whether such pressure will move the Treasury to loosen the purse strings remains to be seen. The National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, said it strongly supported the reclassification. It said housing associations built nearly 50,000 new homes last year, including social and affordable rental properties. The federation added: "This change will allow them to build on their strong track record and secure the long-term finance needed to build even more affordable homes." Mr Javid said the rethink would help "lay the foundation" for thousands and thousands of new homes. But he warned new thinking is required to stop "a rootless generation" of tenants drifting from one short-term tenancy to another. "There are many, many faults in our housing market, dating back many many years. If you only fix one you will make some progress but not enough. This is a big problem and we have to think big." He also said the government would be intervening in the case of 15 local authorities which have failed to produce a local plan for housing development in their area. More than 1.2 million families in England are currently on the waiting for council accommodation while in 2015-6 only 6,800 social rented homes were completed. The Local Government Association said councils should be given the same freedom to borrow to build. \|\|\|\|\| In her conference speech, Theresa May pledged to dedicate her premiership to fixing the "broken" housing market. The state, she said, must get "back in the business" of building subsidised rented homes for those not able to buy. Labour and housing charities said the plan would only help a fraction of the 1.2 million families awaiting housing. The government said the £2bn injection could fund 25,000 homes for social rent by 2021 although the National Housing Federation said the figure could rise to between 50,000 and 60,000 if the government's intervention unlocked, as it is hoped, a further £3bn in public and private investment. In 2015-6, 6,800 social rented homes were completed. Speaking in Manchester, the prime minister - who was interrupted by a prankster and battled with a persistent cough during a troubled speech - said the UK's housing market was "broken", with falling levels of home ownership, demand outstripping supply and the high cost of renting in the private sector shutting millions of people out. Promising to "take personal charge" of "getting government back into the business of building houses", she told builders to "do your duty to Britain and build the homes our country needs". "So whether you're trying to buy your own, renting privately and looking for more security, or have been waiting for years on a council list, help is on its way," she said. The government said the £2bn it was making available would unlock a further £3bn in public and private investment in all types of housing. In areas of the country where rents were high, the focus will be on increasing the supply of social housing - where rents are set at a typical discount of 30% to 40% to the market rate. The policy marks a departure from that of the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition which focused on "affordable" homes for rent, where tenants paid higher rents of up to 80% of the market value. David Orr, from the National Housing Federation, said it marked the first injection of funding into the social rented sector since 2010 and marked a move away from a sole focus on increasing owner-occupation. "It will make a big difference," he told BBC News. However, he said the success of the scheme would depend on increasing availability of public land. "It is really important that the government accepts that it has a critical role to play," he added. Shelter's Polly Neate welcomed the shift in emphasis to affordable renting but said £2bn would not go a long way to helping the 1.2 million families in England waiting for a council house - a statistic she said represented "an enormous amount of human suffering". Labour said the number of new houses being proposed was "paltry" and it had pledged at the election to build more than 60,000 social homes for rent within two years. 'Renaissance' The Local Government Association, which represents more than 300 councils in England and Wales, said it hoped it marked a "significant shift" in the government's housing policy. While it did not expect a return to the late 1970s, when councils built more than 40% of new homes, it said local authorities wanted to "get on with the job" of building, particularly in areas of real need. "It is good the government has accepted our argument that councils must be part of the solution to our chronic housing shortage and able to resume their historic role as a major builder of affordable homes," its chairman Lord Porter said. "Councils are working with communities to approve nine in 10 planning applications but it is clear that only an increase of all types of housing - including those for affordable or social rent - will solve the housing crisis." However, the LGA reiterated its call for restrictions on councils being able to borrow to spend on building new homes to be lifted. The Institute for Economic Affairs said the UK already had more social housing stock than France, Spain and Germany and the highest number of tenants living in subsidised rental properties. The free market think tank said the government needed to focus on removing supply-side obstacles to house building, such as unnecessary and onerous planning regulations.	Councils in England could be stripped of planning powers if not enough homes are being built in their areas, Housing Secretary Sajid Javid has warned. Where can you afford to live in the UK - and is it cheaper to rent or buy? Try our calculator to see where in the country suits your finances. Buying a home is the most significant financial decision in most people's lives. For tenants, paying the rent is the biggest monthly outgoing. More young people are renting, as home ownership among people aged 25-34 has collapsed over the past two decades. Chancellor Philip Hammond's plans to tackle the housing crisis will fail without further reforms, MPs say. New powers to fund house-building have been announced, as ministers promised more measures in next week's Budget. Councils and housing associations have welcomed government plans to spend £2bn on a "new generation" of council houses and affordable homes for rent.
The chief constable and Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) of Avon and Somerset Police said a further £17m of savings were required by 2021/22. They said the force "cannot sustain further funding cuts without extremely serious consequences". But, the Home Office said the force had got £4.5m in extra funding this year. In the letter and a report sent to police and fire minister Nick Hurd, Chief Constable Andy Marsh and PCC Sue Mountstevens said the force has had to make £65m worth of cuts since 2010 and the extra £17m was needed to balance the budget. They said demands on the force had increased, including the threat from extremism and organised crime. Mr Marsh said the number of "complicated and sensitive" crimes such as sexual exploitation, violence against people, domestic abuse, rape and hate crime had risen from 20,000 to 40,000 in the past seven years. He added there had also been an big increase in the number of "none crime" matters, such as missing people, that police have to deal with. He said the savings required equated to 300 police officers, and services including patrol work, neighbourhood policing and call handling would be the first to suffer. Ms Mountstevens said: "We have reached the point where enough is enough and policing in Avon and Somerset cannot be stretched any further." She said it was "important" the government "knows what we face locally and understand the consequences of our current situation and the implications on the service we are able to deliver as a result". A Home Office spokesperson said the government had "protected overall police spending in real terms" since 2015. They added Avon and Somerset Police had received £4.5m more funding this year compared with 2015/16, and the government had announced additional funding for counter-terrorism policing. \|\|\|\|\| A Freedom of Information request showed since 2010 staff absences has cost a total of £4.1m with 844 staff off sick. Insp Kevin Phillips, from the federation, blamed added stress on diminishing number of officers. The force admitted the time taken off sick had gone up but said staff absence rates have remained constant. 'Worst parts' Insp Phillips added: "This is very much the tip of the iceberg, I don't think we've got the worst parts at all. "What you've got to look at when the last government were in power the numbers of polices officers in Avon and Somerset were around 3,407 and in 2017 we are anticipating 2,512 [police officers], we can't keep going on like that." He added that the remaining police officers had increased workloads and were doing more overtime. Director of resources for Avon and Somerset police, Julian Kern, said the numbers published for 2009-10, which showed 42 officers off sick and then a large jump in 2010-11 to 93, was due to the way the figures were recorded. "The figures from five years ago were recorded very differently. "In 2010 we moved on to a sophisticated recording system and in those four years, and they're the better ones to monitor the overall levels of stress-related sickness, average around 200 staff and officers. They haven't gone up significantly." \|\|\|\|\| The force has announced it has to find a further £15m saving over the next two years from its annual budget of £277m. The cuts were announced in the Chancellor's Spending Review and come on top of 20% cuts already under way. The chair of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation said the cuts would affect service delivery. On Wednesday, George Osborne announced a budget cut of "less than 6%" for police and said the Home Office resource budget would be cut by 6%. It is understood the posts will be lost from across the force, including police officers, police staff and PCSOs. 'Hit again' Kevin Phillips, chair of the federation, said: "I think it was expected that we were going to get hit again, 6% is quite a big amount to come out of any police force, wherever you look in the country. "Clearly any more cuts are going to affect police officer numbers, they are bound to, and its bound to affect service delivery. "The difficulty is that we have already had three to four years of this comprehensive spending review already. More cuts are bound to affect the morale of police officers on the front line." Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said she would carry out a "full discussion" with residents about any possible increases to council tax to protect frontline officers. "There is no question that cuts of this scale will be painful to the organisation and will be felt by residents," she said. "Finding further significant savings of nearly £15m over the next two years will mean fundamental changes to policing and tough decisions about what we do in the future. "It will also mean fewer police officers and staff, with over 200 more policing posts now at risk to meet the required savings. "Clearly, there are huge challenges ahead however the priority remains to keep residents safe and feeling safe and that will be my focus."	Rising threat levels from the likes of extremism and organised crime has left a police force at "tipping point" after years of funding cuts, its chief says. Sickness rates among staff and officers at Avon and Somerset Police are rising due to budget spending cuts, the Police Federation has said. More than 200 staff at Avon and Somerset Police are at risk of losing their jobs as a result of government public spending cuts.
There were 100 warnings by companies listed on the London Stock exchange between October and December - the most since the start of 2009, it said. Companies are obliged to warn their investors when they think they will earn less than previously expected. The survey from consultants EY comes amid concerns for the global economy. Traders fear a slowdown in China could see the world return to recession. Output in China grew by 6.9% in 2015, compared with 7.3% the year before - its slowest growth in a quarter of a century. Companies in the oil sector issued the most profit warnings, but retailers and travel firms also stood out. The last time there were as many in a single quarter was the start of 2009, when Britain was in the middle of its deepest recession in modern times. Some 17% of listed companies issued warnings over the course of 2015 - the highest percentage since 2008, the report said. \|\|\|\|\| China's growth, seen as a driver of the global economy, is a major concern for investors around the world. The news comes as the International Monetary Fund said it expected China's economy to grow by 6.3% this year and 6% in 2017. Beijing had set an official growth target of "about 7%". Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said weaker growth would be acceptable as long as enough new jobs were created. But some observers say its growth is actually much weaker than official data suggests, though Beijing denies numbers are being inflated. Analysts said any growth below 6.8% would likely fuel calls for further economic stimulus. Economic growth in the final quarter of 2015 edged down to 6.8%, according to the country's national bureau of statistics. Asia Business correspondent Karishma Vaswani on what the figures tell us China editor Carrie Gracie - Is slower growth China's 'new normal'? Can you trust the figures? Dangerous push? After experiencing rapid growth for more than a decade, China's economy has experienced a painful slowdown in the last two years. It's come as the central government wants to move towards an economy led by consumption and services, rather than one driven by exports and investment. But managing that transition has been challenging. Some argue that China's focus on creating an economy driven by consumption is misplaced. They say as the country attempts to rebalance its economy, it should focus on productivity in order to sustain high growth. "While higher consumption can support growth in the short run, there is little in economic theory that emphasises the expenditure side of GDP as a driver of growth," HSBC's John Zhu said in a note. Mr Zhu also said that China's current stage of development would require more investment, not less, and that the country would rebalance naturally towards consumption and services in time. "Pushing the economy along those paths too soon would be dangerous," he said. Analysis: Karishma Vaswani, Asia Business correspondent It's said so often that it has become a financial markets cliché - when China sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. The drama of China's stock market crash over the last year has affected investor sentiment and data out today is unlikely to improve matters. But frankly, news that China is slowing down shouldn't come as a surprise. The government has been broadcasting this for some time now as it attempts to transition from a state-led investment and manufacturing economy to one more dependent on services and consumption. Those two aspects now make up 50.5% of the economy, up from 48.5% in 2014. But the real concern is just how badly China's economy is likely to do in the future, and whether these figures can be trusted at all. Critics say China's data is unreliable and that real growth figures may be much weaker. Recent provincial economic data has indicated that growth could be much lower than what the government says it is. Not a meltdown China's headline annual economic growth numbers are important to the rest of the world - but so too are other monthly economic data as they can provide a more in-depth look at the economy and where it's heading. Monthly industrial production (IP) and retail sales numbers for China were also released on Tuesday, with both December numbers coming in just slightly worse than expected. Industrial production - or factory output - expanded 5.9% in December, down from 6% in November. Retail sales grew 11.1%, down from 11.3% in November. "[The] health of the labour market, retail sales and industrial production data are all key indicators for growth," said Catherine Yeung from Fidelity International in a note. "Like any economic data, it's important to look at the themes and trends that drive them and not just the headline figure. "When you look at China with this lens, we're not seeing a meltdown, just a slowdown," she added. Others said Tuesday's numbers were actually a relief. "GDP was generally in line with what many, including the IMF, expected," said economist Tony Nash. "China's growth in 2015 was equivalent to the size of the entire economy of Switzerland or Saudi Arabia," he said. "That's not an easy feat and shows the magnitude of the accomplishment," he added. \|\|\|\|\| The FTSE 100 closed down 0.7% at 5,912.44 after initially being bolstered by strong US jobs figures. The stats showed 292,000 jobs were created last month in the US, beating expectations. However, shares in Sports Direct dived nearly 15% to 436.80p after it warned on profits. The retailer said that since its interim results on 10 December, it had "seen a deterioration of trading conditions on the High Street and a continuation of the unseasonal weather over the key Christmas period". It added that it also expected similar trading conditions between now and the end of April. As a result, it says it is "no longer confident" that it will meet its full-year underlying earnings target of £420m, and now expects earnings to be between £380m and £420m. Shares in Tesco were having a better day, rising 5.5% to 146.90p after Barclays upgraded its rating on the stock to "overweight" from "equal weight". On the currency markets, the pound fell by 0.006 of a cent against the euro to €1.3314, but was down a cent against the dollar at $1.4519. \|\|\|\|\| The Dow Jones and S&P 500 indexes closed 1.56% and 1.2% down, after tumbling more than 3% earlier. The main European stock exchanges also slid to a 15-month low. Analysts say investors fear low oil prices reflect a fall in demand for fuel which could be a sign that growth in the global economy is slowing down. The falls in Europe and the US came after Asian stocks closed sharply lower. Markets in Dubai closed at a 28-month low, while in Japan shares fell to their lowest level since October 2014. Many markets are now in so-called bear market territory - a fall of 20% or more from their most recent peak. At one point, the benchmark Brent oil index was down more than 5%, while US oil fell almost 7%, fuelling fears about the impact on economic growth and falling revenues earned by oil-rich nations. Europe's main markets fell sharply, led by the FTSE 100, which sank 3.46%. Germany's Dax and the Cac 40 in Paris ended 2.82% and 3.45% down respectively. The FTSE 100's fall marked a 203.2-point fall, to 5,673.58. Since the FTSE 100's all-time high of 7,103.98 points on 27 April last year, the total market capitalisation of the index has fallen by £396bn. Top emerging market shares and currencies were also caught up in the turmoil, with the Russian rouble hitting a new record low of 80.295 against the dollar. Analysis: Andrew Walker, economics correspondent: Some observers think that many markets were riding for a fall. Asset prices were pumped up by ultra-low interest rates in the developed world and also by the central banks that have engaged in quantitative easing, buying financial assets with newly created money. That happened with shares, with bonds and with commodities. For commodities the boom is well and truly over, partly due to the slowdown in China and in the case of oil mainly due to plentiful supplies. Clearly there are some troublesome developments and the IMF has a warning: "If these key challenges are not successfully managed, global growth could be derailed." That at bottom is what the markets are worried about. Read more from Andrew here BP boss sees rising oil price Just how low can oil prices go? Why is the pound falling so sharply? "Investors have decided the world is a riskier place," said Laura Lambie, senior investment director at Investec Wealth Investment. She says that concerns over growth in China, the prospect of rising US interest rates and the possibility that low oil prices might force some oil companies out of business are the main concerns for investors. "There's been a short-term change in sentiment," she said. Oil slide continues The downwards move came after oil prices continued to slide, with the price Brent Crude at one point down 5.2% to $27.28 a barrel, before easing back to stand at 3% down. The price is around a 12-year low. Meanwhile, US crude plunged to its lowest since May 2003, sinking 6.6% to $26.59, but later edging back to about 4% lower. The oil price has plummeted 75% since mid-2014 as oversupply, mainly due to US shale oil flooding the market, has driven down the cost of the commodity. At the same time, demand has fallen because of a slowdown in economic growth in China and Europe. The world's energy watchdog warned on Tuesday that the market could "drown in oversupply". The International Energy Agency, which advises countries on energy policy, said it expected the global glut to last until at least late 2016. The International Monetary Fund's decision on Tuesday to downgrade its global growth forecast for this year and issue a warning about the outlook added to the dark mood among investors. World stocks are now at their lowest levels since 2013, with the MSCI world equity index down 9.9% in January, its biggest drop since 2009. Analysts said they expected the volatility to continue. "I am quite pessimistic about the equity markets for the next two to three months. I do not see a 2008-style scenario, but I do see a bear market coming," said Andreas Clenow, hedge fund trader and principal at ACIES Asset Management.	The number of profit warnings posted by publically listed companies has reached the highest level since the last recession, according to a survey. China's economy grew by 6.9% in 2015, compared with 7.3% a year earlier, marking its slowest growth in a quarter of a century. (Close): Shares in Sports Direct dived after it said its profits would be lower than expected, leading the FTSE 100 down. Wall Street shares eased back from earlier losses on a day of turmoil on global markets when the plunging oil price again panicked investors. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The animal was wandering on the A48 in Cardiff on Thursday evening, causing some motorists to pull over to help. Harley Stephens, who helped rescue the horse, said it happily "trotted" onto the Cardiff Bus. It was then taken on a ride to safety and was reunited with its owners, police said. Ms Stephens said: "It was crazy. I still can't believe it". "I used to ride horses in Cardiff Riding School, but I have not loaded a horse into a horse box or a trailer, let alone a bus, it was quite a novel experience." She said she and her friend had been driving home when they spotted the horse near the central reservation of the road in the middle of "fast traffic". She said it was shaken up and they managed to stop traffic and calm the animal with the help of some "lovely" passers-by and then a bus stopped. "The police arrived and we were all a bit flummoxed of what to do because we couldn't get a horse box there in time," she said. She said the Cardiff Bus driver suggested putting it on a bus, so they put the disabled ramp down and "it went on quite happily". Accompanied by Ms Stephens the horse was then taken to the hospital Park and Ride stop, with one other passenger sitting close by. "He was quite chill about it," she said. There someone said they would help to reunite it with its owner - but not before Ms Stephens said her goodbyes, had photos taken, and had it named after her. "He had a nice little five minute drive on the bus, it was crazy, even the police officer said "I need to take photos as I don't think anyone will believe me".' South Wales Police said the horse was collected by its owners at around 20:00 GMT after being contacted by the local horse warden. The force was first called about the animal on the road at about 18:30 GMT and tweeted to say the road had been closed while the horse was helped. "A loose horse on the 'mane' A48 Eastern Ave decided it wanted to 'stirrup' a little trouble but in doing so it risked falling 'foal' of the law," the force said. Cardiff Bus tweeted to say: "Thankfully the bus is back in its stable, but awaiting a clean." Operations manager Tony Bishop said: "Cardiff Bus worked in partnership with South Wales Police to ensure the safety of the horse and other road users. "Due to the A48 being such a busy road, the decision was made to transport the horse to a safe location and wait for the owner to come to collect it. "The horse was accompanied on the five-minute journey to the Heath Park and Ride by the lady who helped to rescue him and was shortly after reunited with its owner. "It was an eventful night for all involved and thankfully had a very happy ending." \|\|\|\|\| By Gavin BevisBBC News A social media thread a few weeks ago about a cat called Benton - who likes hanging out at the Inham Road tram stop in Beeston, Nottinghamshire - sparked a huge response. His owner Ginny Hicks, who lives near the stop, wrote: "I'm increasingly aware that many of you have met (and I hope are fond of) my black and white kitty. "He's greeted his public there since the tram line was built. "I do hope he brings a little of affection to you when you see him." Miss Hicks says she rescued Benton when he was about four months old after she spotted him walking in the path of a bus. "He would have died if I hadn't seen him on the road that day," she said. "Now he brings love and affection to as many people as he can." In one of Benton's most recent exploits, Miss Hicks says he "cadged a ride" home from the tram stop with a boy in a wheelchair. "His mum got in touch to say it made her son's day," she said. Miss Hicks says she is not concerned about Benton's safety around the trams. "He's well aware when one is coming as you can hear the tracks humming when a tram is still a couple of hundred yards away," she said. "I'm actually more concerned about him getting on one and me getting a phone call to collect him from the other side of Nottingham." But Benton is far from the first feline to paw his way into the hearts of England's commuters. Here are just a few tales about the cats who love public trans-pawt - and the followings they have inspired. Casper, the puss in bus All eyes were on Plymouth a decade ago when a bus-loving cat named Casper rose to prominence. The black-and-white feline would trot on board the number three bus when it stopped outside his house each morning and then ride a full loop of the route before the driver carefully made sure he was dropped off back where he started. His antics prompted national media coverage, an avalanche of letters to owner Susan Finden - who died in 2017 - and even his own book. Susan's daughter, Kim Holland, said: "Mum wrote the book and it had a massive response. It was one of the first of its kind - I know there are lots now but this was one of the early ones. "From that people wrote to my mum for years. Some would address the letters to 'Casper's mum, Plymouth' and the postman would deliver them all." The family was even contacted by a producer who wanted to make a film, with Dawn French mooted to play the part of Susan. "He was super keen and kept in touch with mum for a long time and often discussed the film," said Ms Holland. "He didn't manage to get the funding so it sadly didn't get off the ground." Sadly Casper's travelling adventures came to an abrupt end in 2010 when he was hit by a car and killed. "Poor old Casper got hit by a taxi outside mum's house," Ms Holland added. "She got so many letters from bus drivers and the local community, all giving their condolences. "He was quite a character really. He touched all sort of people's hearts." Full steam ahead, Felix Next time you visit Huddersfield railway station, keep a beady eye out for two furry workers named Felix and Bolt. Sneakily brought in by station staff nine years ago while the manager was on leave, Felix has become a favourite with commuters and even has her own name badge. Last year she was given an "apprentice" - her younger brother Bolt - to further delight cat-loving passengers. As with Casper, Felix's popularity prompted a best-selling book and a follow-up about Bolt's arrival has just been released. Station manager Andy Croughan said: "Felix's rapid rise in popularity took us all by surprise - it just came from a couple of photos posted on Facebook. "That's when the whirlwind started. The national news came down and then the book deals came about so we could tell the whole story. "We'd had highs and lows as a group of people at the station - good times, but also the passing away of colleagues - and the first book told the whole story really well. "Felix and Bolt may just be cats, but they've contributed a huge amount to charity. With the two books and calendars, we could be looking at more than £200,000 in total." Batman aka tram cat "He's a bit of a tart." So speaks the owner of Batman, a cat that helps to brighten the morning for commuters waiting at Chorlton tram stop in Manchester. For more than two years the young rescue cat - named after his facial markings - has regularly trotted out of his front door, just down the road from the stop, to lap up strokes and adoration from strangers. "It's got to the point where he knows when the rush hours are," explained owner Nicci Cuff. Ms Cuff set up a Facebook page in her cat's honour and soon began to realise many people considered Batman a lucky charm. She said: "One person was going through a very hard time in their life and they said Batman saved their year. "Someone else said they'd had a job interview and felt nervous but as soon as they saw Batman they knew it was going to be OK. They got the job. "I said to a friend that I'd always wanted to make the world a better place but instead it's actually my cat that's doing it." Transport and cat facts Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Pero, a four-year-old working sheepdog, escaped from Cockermouth on 8 April only to reappear on the doorstep of Alan and Shan James's farm near Aberystwyth a fortnight later. His previous owners have no idea how he found his way back. They now plan to keep Pero. Mrs James said: "The farmer in Cockermouth was looking for a dog that could round sheep and follow a quad bike, and we thought Pero would be ideal for the job. "We told the farmer to take him away and see if he'd be willing to work for him on his farm up north. And so Pero left us at the beginning of March." But it seems Pero would not settle in his new home, and while out working on the farm, he bolted across the fields. "We'd been told that Pero had disappeared, and was nowhere to be seen " said Mrs James, who lives with their five children on the sheep farm in Penrhyncoch. "But then, last Wednesday evening, April 20, my husband Alan went out to check on the animals after supper and there was Pero on our doorstep. "It was a bit of a shock, and the dog was going crazy after seeing Alan. "No-one called us to say that they'd dropped the dog off, and even though he has a microchip no-one's been in touch either to say that they've found him. "It's a total mystery as to how Pero has managed to find his way back to us. We know that dogs can find their way home, but 240 miles is a long way to travel." Now the family wish to find out if anybody has had an unfamiliar black and white sheepdog calling around looking for food at any time over the past two weeks. "When he came back, he wasn't hungry or weak, so he must have managed to find food somewhere. He must have stopped in places along the way," she said.	There was no foaling around for a horse on the loose on a busy city road after rescuers managed to get it to safety on a bus. A cat called Benton has won carriage-loads of fans, thanks to his propensity for hanging around tram stops. But Benton is just one of a long line of cats who have rubbed shoulders with commuters, some prompting bestselling books and coming within a whisker of a film deal. BBC News meets the cats who don't have a ticket to ride (but they don't care). A sheepdog originally from a farm in Ceredigion appears to have made the 240-mile solo journey back to its birthplace from its new home in Cumbria.
By Marek PruszewiczBBC World Service It was the single greatest loss of warships in history, and the sailors killed that day were the last fatalities of World War One. One young British officer not only witnessed the astonishing events, but recorded his own dramatic involvement in an account which has remained unpublished until now. Edward Hugh Markham David - Hugh, or "Ti" (short for "Tiny") to his family - was 18 years old in 1919, but had already been in the Royal Navy for two years. By June he was a sub-lieutenant aboard the battleship HMS Revenge, flagship of Admiral Sir Sydney Fremantle. Fremantle was the man charged with guarding the interned ships of the German High Seas Fleet in the Orkney anchorage of Scapa Flow. On the morning of Sunday 21 June, the British fleet steamed out on exercise. Hundreds of miles away, in Paris, the wrangles over the peace treaty to officially end the Great War were reaching a climax. The fate of the magnificent German warships was due to be decided. The German commander, Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, believed that his ships were about to be seized as spoils of war and divided up between the victorious Allies. He felt duty-bound not to let that happen. At 10:30 von Reuter's flagship, Emden, sent out the seemingly innocuous message - "Paragraph Eleven; confirm". It was a code ordering his men to scuttle their own ships. Beneath decks, German sailors immediately began to open seacocks - valves that allow water in - and smash pipes. There have been many accounts of the drama that followed, but Hugh David's version of events has never been published. My Dearest Mummie, I am writing this at sea, after witnessing perhaps the grimmest and certainly the most pathetic incident of the whole war..." David wrote the very next day to his mother from HMS Revenge, as the battleship steamed south to Cromarty, loaded with German sailors, now prisoners-of-war. Even after nearly a century, the words are clear. So too are the feelings of the young man. In the emotion of telling his story, David got the date of his letter wrong - recording it as 26 June instead of 22 June. HMS Revenge received a message at around 12:45 on 21 June that its captive German ships were sinking. The fleet turned back at full speed. It was too late. "The sight that met our gaze as we rounded the Island of Flotta is absolutely indescribable," wrote David. "A good half of the German fleet had already disappeared, the water was one mass of wreckage of every description, boats, carley floats, chairs, tables and human beings, and the 'Bayern' the largest German battleship, her bow reared vertically out of the water was in the act of crashing finally bottomwards, which she did a few seconds later, in a cloud of smoke bursting her boilers as she went." The Germans took to small boats to escape their sinking ships. From one of them Admiral von Reuter was taken aboard HMS Revenge. "About the most dramatic moment of the whole day was the meeting of the English and German Admirals," wrote David. "The two men were about the same height, both fine looking and tall." As the German climbed wearily over the side there was a deadly hush on board. I was a few feet behind von Reuter so heard every word..." Although von Reuter later recalled this conversation in his memoirs, David's record appears to be the only contemporaneous one: "At first there was a pause, the German standing at the salute then the following conversation - Fremantle: I presume you have come to surrender? Von Reuter: I have come to surrender my men and myself (with a sweeping gesture towards the fast sinking ships) I have nudding else. Pause Von Reuter: I take upon myself the whole responsibility of this, it is nothing to do with my officers and men - they were acting under my orders. Fremantle: I suppose you realise that by this act of treachery [hissing voice] by this act of base treachery you are no longer an interned enemy but my prisoner of war and as such will be treated. Von Reuter: I understand perfectly. Fremantle: I request you remain on the upper deck until I can dispose of you. Von Reuter: May my Flag Lieutenant accompany me? Fremantle: Yes, I grant you that. The drama recorded by David took place at about 16:00 that Midsummer Day. It seems David was then ordered to join a boarding party to try to save the few German ships still afloat. "I strapped a revolver round my waist grabbed some ammunition and leapt into the drifter with an armed guard and took off to save the Hindenburg," wrote David. The Hindenburg was the biggest German battlecruiser. She sank as Hugh's small boat drew alongside but before he climbed on board "very nearly taking us with her." David's launch turned instead for the giant battleship Baden, sister of the Bayern. She was the only German battleship the Royal Navy succeeded in saving. "We then got alongside 'Baden' who was going down fast and hurried below to see what we could do to save her - we closed watertight doors which kept her up temporarily but she eventually had to be towed ashore," explained David. "We found one little German sub-lieut (sic) below who was dragged onto the upper deck." The flag captain told him he would be shot at sunset if he did not immediately take us below and show us how to shut off the valves..." The German said that he didn't mind if he was shot straight away. David, however, doesn't record whether the unfortunate man was shot, but there's no doubt that others were. They were the final casualties of World War One - the Treaty of Versailles was signed a week later on 28 June 1919. "The terrible part of the whole show, to my mind, was that the Huns hadn't got a weapon between them and it was our bounden duty to fire on them to get them back to close their valves," wrote David. He describes the British as being in an "awful position". It was quite obvious that the huns would die to a man rather than save their ships so that there was no point in going on firing – yet what could we do?" Andrew Choong, Curator of Ships, Plans and Historic Photographs at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, has read a transcript of David's letter. "I think it's an absolutely fascinating account. Our knowledge and analysis of this event are based on the recollections of the great and the good, like von Reuter and official reports. I haven't ever seen an account of a similar experience. Here's a mid-level officer placed right in the middle of it all." Choong was struck by David's feelings. "Here is a man who comes across first as a human being and is obviously very uncomfortable about the whole thing," he says. "I think it's very moving because there is no relish in what he's doing and he finds time to mark the acts of German bravery. It's a remarkable document." After his eventual return to Germany, von Reuter helped to put together a government report on "British breaches of international law" against the German sailors, charges consistently denied by Britain. Choong says the British would have had justification to fire in some cases. "The rules of engagement were that if you saw a German opening a seacock or giving orders to others to do so you could order him to stop - and if he refused, you could shoot him," he says. However, there's evidence, including in David's letter and a subsequent one he wrote a few days later to his Uncle Walter, to suggest some British sailors went further, firing on Germans who were trying to escape from their sinking ships. "Today you would say there's probably no excuse, but that's to impose a modern view of the situation which then was very unclear and very uncertain," says Choong. "In one or two places in the letter it makes it sound like a bit of a massacre but in fact only nine men were killed and 16 wounded out of hundreds and hundreds." The tumultuous events of that day clearly had their effect on Hugh David. I have seen men killed for the first time in my life and at that without the crash of action to keep ones spirits up, and it has made me think, God, it has made me think..." He died in 1957. His letter to his mother eventually passed to his daughter, Hilary Chiswell Jones. It was her decision to make it public, after 96 years. "I probably didn't read it until I was 25 or so," explains Hilary. "I remember being impressed by the way he portrayed the event and also by his awareness of how awful it was for the Germans. "He obviously had compassion for them and I admired him for it - I was pleased he showed it, especially at 18, when you tend to be perhaps a bit cocky. I thought that showed his humanity." Does she think her father did fire on the German sailors? "I think he would have told his Uncle Walter in his letter to him had he shot anyone, so I don't think so." Within months of the scuttling, David had left the Royal Navy. He joined the fledgling RAF, where he served with distinction until 1950, rising to the rank of Group Captain. But it seems unlikely he ever forgot the extraordinary things he witnessed at Scapa Flow. More from the Magazine Armistice Day is remembered as the day World War One ended, but for naval historians Britain's greatest victory came 10 days later. Operation ZZ was the code name for the surrender of Germany's mighty navy. For those who witnessed "Der Tag" or "The Day" it was a sight they would never forget - the greatest gathering of warships the world had ever witnessed. The day the entire German fleet surrendered Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox. \|\|\|\|\| By Marek PruszewiczBBC World Service For those who witnessed "Der Tag" or "The Day" it was a sight they would never forget - the greatest gathering of warships the world had ever witnessed. It was still dark in the Firth of Forth when the mighty dreadnoughts of the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet began to raise steam and one by one let slip their moorings. The huge shapes of more than 40 battleships and battlecruisers began to ease out, course set due east. As the procession of steel headed for the open water of the North Sea, more than 150 cruisers and destroyers joined them. The mightiest fleet ever to sail from Britain's shores was heading for a final rendezvous with its mortal enemy - the German High Seas Fleet. Victory would be total. But there was to be no battle. After four years of naval stalemate, this was the day when Germany would deliver her warships into British hands, without a shot being fired. The date was 21 November 1918. World War One had ended on land 10 days earlier, but this was to be the decisive day of victory at sea. After tense negotiation, Germany had agreed to deliver its fleet - the second biggest in the world behind only the Royal Navy - into the hands of the British. The mighty assembly steaming to meet the Germans was a reception committee so overwhelming that it would brook no changes of plan. "The Royal Navy perceived something that others did not. They wanted to underline to the Germans that they had truly been defeated, and nothing does that better than having to surrender your fleet into the enemy's hands," explains Andrew Choong, Curator of Ships, Plans and Historic Photographs at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Operation ZZ saw the mightiest gathering of warships in one place on one day in naval history. It was a sight those who saw it would never forget. The unnamed correspondent for the Times, watching from the deck of the British flagship the dreadnought HMS Queen Elizabeth, was overwhelmed: "The annals of naval warfare hold no parallel to the memorable event which it has been my privilege to witness today. It was the passing of a whole fleet, and it marked the final and ignoble abandonment of a vainglorious challenge to the naval supremacy of Britain." Two days earlier nine German battleships, five battlecruisers, seven cruisers and 50 destroyers had set sail, heading west. Under the terms of the Armistice which had ended the war they were to hand themselves over in the Firth of Forth, before being brought to the lonely Orkney anchorage of Scapa Flow. It was a fleet built to challenge Britain's dominance at sea. Its construction had sparked a naval arms race which helped turn the two countries against one another. As an island nation, dependent on imports to feed itself, Britain had to rule the waves. Defeat at sea by Germany could have led to blockade, possible starvation and surrender. The commanders of the Royal Navy knew it was not an option. As Winston Churchill had said, Sir John Jellicoe, the admiral who led the Royal Navy until 1916, was "the only man on either side who could lose the war in an afternoon". To avoid that possibility Britain built more warships and bigger warships than Germany. Throughout the war she held an advantage of roughly two-to-one in battleships and battlecruisers. Superiority in numbers was designed to make defeat in battle impossible, and bottle up the Germans on the other side of the North Sea. It worked. "A lot is said about how close Germany's U-boats came to strangling Britain in 1917, but if you turn it around, by early 1915 the seas were empty of German merchant ships," explains Andrew Choong. "Germany's overseas trade was effectively shut off overnight. It ended up causing her major problems later in the war." The blockade of Germany meant that by 1918 it was the Germans who were hungry, not the British. Unrest followed, then a clamour for peace. For maritime historians like Andrew Choong, the strategic defeat of Germany at sea was an even greater British contribution to victory than the battles fought on land. "I personally think the maritime contribution was our most important one, but not in battle. It was the quieter strangulation by blockade," he says. As he led his fleet out of the Firth of Forth, Sir David Beatty, Jellicoe's successor as commander-in-chief of the Grand Fleet, could count on an overwhelming superiority to forestall any final show of German defiance. As well as his ships, he was joined by five American battleships and three French warships. Nevertheless, he was taking no chances. His orders issued the night before were clear - ships were to be ready for action: "Turrets and guns are to be kept in the securing positions, but free. Guns are to be empty with cages up and loaded ready for ramming home. Directors and armoured towers are to be trained on. Correct range and deflection are to be kept set continuously on the sights." As the Grand Fleet sailed into the North Sea, it formed two massive columns, one to the north, one to the south, six miles apart. Just before 10:00 it met the Germans, being led to their surrender by the British light cruiser HMS Cardiff. The Allied columns swung round to due west, forming an overwhelming escort on either side of the Germans. The Times correspondent described the scene: "Between the lines came the Germans, led by the Cardiff, and looking for all the world like a school of leviathans led by a minnow. Over them flew a British naval airship. First came the battlecruisers, headed by the Seydlitz." By late morning it was over. The German ships, missing one destroyer which had struck a mine and sunk, lay at anchor off the Isle of May in the outer reaches of the Firth of Forth, surrounded by their jailers. Beatty rammed home the message with a curt signal: "The German flag will be hauled down at sunset today and will not be hoisted again without permission." Before holding a service of thanksgiving on board HMS Queen Elizabeth, Beatty thanked the sailors of the Grand Fleet. "My congratulations on the victory which has been gained over the sea power of our enemy. The greatest of this achievement is in no way lessened by the fact that the final episode did not take the form of a fleet action." The Royal Navy stood at the apex of its power. Britannia truly ruled the waves. "As of that date, Britain was still the world's predominant naval power, and the world's second naval power had just placed its ships in our custody," Choong explains. But it was not to last. Within a few months the German fleet would be at the bottom of Scapa Flow, scuttled by skeleton crews in a final act of defiance. With no enemy left to face, and Britain desperate to slash military budgets, the Royal Navy could not justify the expense of its massive ships. "The majority were scrapped between the 1920s and the early 1930s. A handful of the most capable went on to serve in World War Two," explains Choong. At least one of the British battleships, HMS Hercules, was towed across the North Sea to meet her fate in a breakers yard in the German naval port of Kiel. But as darkness fell on 21 November 1918 that was still in future. As buglers played "making sunset", cheers rang out from the sailors of the Grand Fleet. The Times correspondent knew he had witnessed a unique spectacle. "The plan of the operation will not convey to the mind any conception of the scene, but it must be placed on permanent record, for it indicates a disposition of hostile fleets such as has never been seen before and will in all likelihood never be seen again." Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.	The mighty ships of the German High Seas Fleet were scuttled by their own sailors in Scapa Flow in Orkney on 21 June 1919. A newly discovered letter paints an extraordinary picture. Armistice Day is remembered as the day World War One ended, but for naval historians Britain's greatest victory came 10 days later. Operation ZZ was the code name for the surrender of Germany's mighty navy. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded the South West Peak Landscape Partnership (SWPLP) initial funding of £154,300. The first stage of funding will be used to develop projects ideas, which include encouraging countryside access and providing rural apprenticeships. The SWPLP will then submit a detailed case for the remainder of the money. The south-west corner of the Peaks is an internationally important bird breeding colony, the group said. The partnership, made up of organisations including the Peak District National Park Authority, English Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said the initial grant would help it progress its plans to save the landscape, wildlife and heritage of the area which includes parts of Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Penny Anderson, from the partnership, said: "This is fantastic news. The project will be good for the local community, good for visitors, good for wildlife and all the benefits an enhanced environment can provide." The group said it planned to help farmers maintain viable farm businesses while safeguarding habitats. It also plans to improve water quality in rivers and streams and offer apprenticeships and field studies. The cash has come from the HLF's Landscape Partnerships fund. The group is aiming to submit a further application before May next year. The south west Peaks features the iconic Roaches gritstone ridge and is a popular breeding spot for short-eared owl, merlin, golden plover and curlew. \|\|\|\|\| Entered by thousands from around the UK, an image of a small stream created by heavy rain among the vast Glencoe mountains took the overall winning title. A Beginning and an End captures a "fleeting moment of beauty" in the Scottish Highlands by photographer Mark Littlejohn from Penrith, Cumbria. Mr Littlejohn said he got up at 01:30 GMT to drive to Glencoe but the rain had been torrential at dawn. As he wandered about waiting for gaps in the weather, he saw the stream from high up on Gearr Aonach. He said: "It tumbled steeply down the slopes before vanishing again near the base of the mountain. "With more squalls coming through I decided to take this image as the light became slightly more diffuse. It had to be a quick handheld shot due to the sideways rain." Founder of the awards Charlie Waite, said Mr Littlejohn's image discovered and isolated a "fleeting moment of beauty" within a vast and "slightly threatening" arena. Other winning shots ranged from a close-up of a lichen-covered rowan tree to cityscapes dominated by striking buildings. The Young Photographer of the Year category was won by Sam Rielly, 17, from London, for his black and white image of his mother walking through the landscape of Anglesey. He said: "This image was taken on a particularly wet and windy day on Parys Mountain, the site of a former copper mine. "The subject of the image is my mother, who was unaware that I was taking the picture." The awards, held in association with VisitBritain, included a category for an image that would encourage people to visit Britain. John Robinson, from Peterlee, County Durham, won this category for his shot of sunset over the heather-strewn Yorkshire Moors. The winning entries will be on display at Waterloo station in London from 1 December. \|\|\|\|\| The Peak District National Park Authority hopes more people will be inspired to visit the park after experiencing the landscape online. National park volunteers recorded 360 degree images by using Google Trekker equipment - a backpack fitted with a cluster of 15 camera lenses. Filming took place over the summer. Jim Dixon, chief executive of the Peak District National Park, said: "It is our ambition that, by being on Google Street View, more people will enjoy the wonders of this protected and special landscape. "Once people see it, I am sure they will be inspired to come and stay for a few days to explore first-hand what they have experienced online." Google Street View previously only allowed people to view the Peak District from roads. However, the Trekker equipment is designed to capture locations the Street View car and tricycle cannot reach. It was deemed impractical to film "every inch" of the 555 sq mile (1,440 sq km) park, so highlights were selected. These include North Lees, the Monsal Trail, Tissington Trail and High Peak Trail. The Peak District became the UK's first national park in 1951, and Google said making it virtually accessible was in the park's "true pioneering spirit". Previous locations captured by the Trekker technology include the Grand Canyon and the Taj Mahal. \|\|\|\|\| The trust has agreed to take on a 125-year lease of the Roaches Estate, near Leek, popular for its climbing areas and protected moorland habitats. A park authority spokesman said the lease would help it to save money. The wildlife trust said it was delighted to win and looked forward to working with park users and residents. "As the county's largest voluntary nature conservation organisation, we have extensive experience of caring for Staffordshire's precious wild places and working to get the best for people and wildlife," a spokesman added. 'Trust's benefits' "We look forward to working with the Peak Park, local people and visitors, and there will be opportunities for people to share their views and help shape the future of the estate." The Peak District National Park Authority said it had to make savings of about £1.8m due to 28.5% budget cuts between 2011 and 2015. The Land Trust and the National Trust also submitted bids to manage 395 hectares (975 acres) of the estate. Christopher Pennell, chair of the park authority's audit, resources and performance committee, said: "We believe the wildlife trust provides the best future for the Roaches, with the additional resources it brings, to conserve its wildlife, heritage and landscape, ensure open access, increase understanding of its special qualities, and look after its farmland to high conservation standards." The Roaches Estate has been classified as a site of special scientific interest and is protected by law. Shooting rights are not included in the lease, which is due to start in 2013.	A total of £2.5m has been earmarked to help preserve the wildlife and heritage of part of the Peak District. Images ranging from a misty morning in the Peak District to sunset over the heather-strewn North York Moors are some of the winning shots from the Landscape Photographer of the Year awards. The Peak District has become the first national park to have its trails and hard-to-reach locations captured on Google Street View. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has been chosen to manage part of the Peak District National Park. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The actress, who narrated the Channel 4 show, has died at the age of 52. Two years ago, the comedy writer said she had been diagnosed with lung cancer, having previously had cancer of the bladder and eye. She also starred in The Royle Family and hosted The Mrs Merton Show. Tania Alexander added: "She was funny, clever and a huge inspiration to me." See Tania Alexander's tweet See the official Gogglebox account's tweet The show's official Twitter account also paid tribute. A message read: "On behalf of the whole Gogglebox family, we are devastated about the passing of our dearest Caroline, who we all adored." See Louis Michael's tweet Cast members have also posted comments on social media. Louis Michael wrote: "It was a privilege having you soothe the nation with accounts of my family's antics. We'll miss you Caroline." Another of the show's stars, Scarlett Moffatt, said the show would "never be the same". See Scarlett Moffatt's tweet Lee and Jenny from the show added that the news was "heartbreaking", while Studio Lambert which makes the show said it was "desperately sad" to lose a "brilliant comic". See David Walliams' tweet Other comedians to pay tribute include David Walliams who called her "one the the all time greats" and Ralf Little, who was Caroline's co-stars in The Royle Family. In a series of tweets he said: "I just don't know what to say. "We've lost another one of our best. "A character. A legend. A boss. A sister, real and (for me) fake. A boss. A writer. An actor. A genius. A friend. Big, big heart. Goodbye. X" See Ralf Little's tweet See Ralf Little's tweet Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat \|\|\|\|\| Aherne, star and writer of The Royle Family and The Mrs Merton Show, had suffered from cancer, her publicist said. The actress said two years ago that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer, having previously had bladder and eye cancer. Aherne was also the narrator of Gogglebox and appeared in The Fast Show. Her publicist Neil Reading said on Saturday: "Caroline Aherne has sadly passed away, after a brave battle with cancer. "The Bafta award-winning writer and comedy actor died earlier today at her home in Timperley, Greater Manchester. She was 52. "The family ask for privacy at this very sad time." 'True comedy genius' Aherne had spoken of her diagnosis with cancer while addressing an appeal to approve cancer care in Manchester in 2014, saying: "I've had cancer and my brother's had cancer and we know how it affects people." She said she and her brother had been born with cancer of the retina, adding: "My mum told us that only special people get cancer. I must be very special because I've had it in my lungs and my bladder as well." Aherne's co-stars and fellow comics have been paying tribute to her. Sue Johnston, who played Barbara - the mother of Aherne's character Denise - in The Royle Family, said: "I am devastated at her passing and I am numb with grief." Ralf Little, Denise's brother Antony in the show, said Aherne was "a sister, real and (for me) fake", as well as a genius and a friend with a "big, big heart". The Fast Show co-star Arabella Weir told the BBC Aherne was "an absolute genius" and that "everything she said was funny". She said: "She was one of those people who was - without being attention seeking - always, always funny, even when you weren't filming. "Everything she said was just killingly funny. She was just a great and she was a gentle, kind, easygoing person. She was great to work with. She never made a fuss. She was just a real laugh to be around." Broadcaster Terry Christian, who had also worked alongside Aherne, said: "What it was with Caroline was she was genuinely one of the funniest people just in the pub. "A lot of comedians aren't. You know they go away, write it all down and you know in real life there's nothing. "Whereas with Caroline, she was so naturally sharp and witty and that's why everything she did had that risk factor in. You know if you look at the Mrs Merton Show, none of it was set up. Not a single question with the audience was set up." Analysis By David Sillito, BBC media and arts correspondent "Did you ever think if you hadn't done all that running around playing football, would you have been as thirsty?" "Did you ever think when you were a little kid....you would be famous in every pub in Britain?" George Best gave a little smile and looked round to the audience. If anyone else had asked it, they would have been on his side - but the laughter said it all. Poor George just had to sit there and accept that, Mrs Merton, this young woman in a wig and glasses, could ask the questions no one else could dare. And they loved her for it. The same lines from someone else could easily have just sounded cruel. Equally on The Royle Family, flatulent Jim, camped permanently on the sofa, and feckless selfish Denise seem to be, on paper, hard characters to warm to. But there was always something affectionate in this comedy. Caroline Aherne had many troubles but perhaps they also helped her convey something that's often missing in comedy - empathy. The Royle Family didn't seem patronising or mocking because it so clearly grew out of her own life and experiences. She was one of us - just funnier. Actor and writer Mark Gatiss said Aherne was "so gifted", and Little Britain star David Walliams wrote on Twitter: "Absolutely devastating news about Caroline Aherne. A true comedy genius, her work was equally funny & touching." Jenny Eclair wrote: "Poor dear Caroline Aherne, how terribly sad." Comedian Sarah Millican said: "So sad. What a wonderful talent she was." David Baddiel paid tribute by writing: "The talent, you all knew about. But she was a really lovely woman. Vulnerable and complex and damaged but... lovely. #CarolineAherneRIP." Some also recalled their favourite lines, with DJ and writer Danny Baker writing on Twitter: "Goodbye great Caroline Aherne. A gift & language that lives on. A vegetarian? That's a shame. Could she have some wafer-thin ham, Barbara?" Aherne was born in London but grew up in Wythenshawe, Manchester. Her brother Patrick has said she was the family joker, adding: "Nobody else in the family was like that. But she was funny from the time she was really little." She studied drama at Liverpool Polytechnic then started work as a secretary at the BBC before finding national fame in the mid-1990s with Mrs Merton, in which she starred as the eponymous chat show host, and The Fast Show. The Royle Family, which ran for three series and featured in several specials, told the story of a dysfunctional family. Aherne wrote it with co-star Craig Cash, drawing on her own childhood experiences and the people she met growing up. It won four awards, including best actress for Aherne, at the 1999 British Comedy Awards, before going on to pick up the best sitcom Bafta in 2000 and 2007. In the Mrs Merton Show, a series of guests were subjected to questions in front of an audience of pensioners. One much-quoted example is when Mrs Merton asked Debbie McGee: "And what first attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?". The Mrs Merton Christmas Show won the best talk show Bafta in 1997. Aherne was nominated for Baftas for her performances in both shows, as well as for directing The Royle Family in 2001. 'Much loved by audiences' BBC director general Tony Hall said: "We are deeply saddened to learn of Caroline's death. "She was a brilliant, award-winning comedy writer and performer, much loved by audiences - especially for The Royle Family and Mrs Merton and for her wonderful voicing of many shows. "Our thoughts are with her family and friends." Gogglebox tweeted that everyone involved with the programme was "devastated about the passing of our dearest Caroline, who we all adored". Former ITV chairman Lord Grade said: "We have lost a most original talent. The Royle Family will live in the mind with the greatest situation comedies."	The creator of Gogglebox, Tania Alexander, has tweeted that she's "beyond sad about the loss of my dear pal Caroline Aherne". Comedy writer and actress Caroline Aherne has died at the age of 52. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Seven books were chosen from 210 nominations including writing from the journalist who died in Syria last year. The prize is awarded annually to the book that comes closest to George Orwell's ambition "to make political writing into an art". Prize director Jean Seaton said they were looking for "writing that was measured and calm not simply angry". Colvin's book, On the Front Line, was published in April last year, two months after she died in the besieged Syrian city of Homs. Originally from New York, Colvin was a distinguished foreign correspondent for the Sunday Times and had been based in London for many years. Palestinian lawyer and writer Raja Shehadeh, won The Orwell Prize for Books in 2008 with Palestinian Walks, was also shortlisted. Other authors that made the list include former Bishop of Edinburgh, Richard Holloway, for his memoir, Leaving Alexandria, Indian novelist Pankaj Mishra's From the Ruins of the Empire and British lawyer Clive Stafford Smith's Injustice. The panel included Baroness Joan Bakewell, author Nikita Lalwani and the assistant books editor of The Independent, Arifa Akbar. "This year's judges started from Orwell's injunction, 'My starting point is always a feeling of partisanship, a sense of injustice'," said Seaton. Six journalists were also shortlisted for for the Orwell Journalism Prize including two writers from The Independent, Christina Patterson and Kim Sengupta. Both categories attract a £3,000 prize, which will be handed out at an awards ceremony in London on 15 May. \|\|\|\|\| Dead Men Risen, written by Toby Harnden and published by Quercus, took the prize at a ceremony in Westminster and was the judges' unanimous choice. It focuses on the death of Lt Colonel Rupert Thorneloe in 2009. It was published in amended form after the first print run was destroyed by the MoD. The judges said the book "takes us into the hearts and minds of the Welsh Guards in a way that is both interesting and visceral". "It challenges every citizen of this country to examine exactly what we're asking soldiers to do in Afghanistan," the panel continued. "Rather than offering easy answers it lets the soldiers speak for themselves." Other awards presented included a posthumous honour for Christopher Hitchens, whose final book, Arguably, was included on the long list for the top prize. Hitchens' widow Carol Blue accepted the award on behalf of the Vanity Fair writer. The journalism prize was awarded to Amelia Gentleman for her work in The Guardian, while the blog award went to Rangers Tax Case - an online commentary on the ongoing financial problems at the historic Scottish football club. The writers of the blog said they aimed to "provide the details of what Rangers FC have done, why it was illegal and what the implications are for one of the largest football clubs in Britain". The winners were chosen from shortlists of six books, six journalists and seven bloggers, whittled down from longlists of 17 books, 12 journalists and 18 bloggers. Each of the winners received a £3,000 prize. \|\|\|\|\| The writer, who died in December, has been longlisted for the second consecutive year for his collection of essays, titled Arguably. The award recognises work which comes closest to George Orwell's ambition "to make political writing into an art". The winner of the £3,000 prize will be announced on 23 May. Also longlisted for a second time is Anatol Lieven, for Pakistan: A Hard Country, who first appeared on the longlist in 1994. Other authors making the list include Sherard Cowper-Coles, the British ambassador to Afghanistan from 2007-10, for Cables from Kabul; Sonia Purnell's critical biography of London Mayor Boris Johnson and Richard Lloyd Parry's account of the murder in Tokyo of British woman Lucie Blackman. The 18 longlisted titles were picked from 264 submissions which were whittled down by a judging panel which included 2002 prize winner Miranda Carter. Blog and journalism prizes will also be awarded. Orwell Prize director Jean Seaton said: "In these uneasy times the Orwell Prize just goes on growing - more books, journalism and blogs have been entered than ever before. "It is testimony to the enduring appeal of Orwell's clear-eyed radicalism."	Journalist Marie Colvin has been given a posthumous nomination for this year's Orwell Prize for political writing. A book about the death of a British officer in Afghanistan, once pulped by the Ministry of Defence, has won the Orwell Prize for political writing. Author Christopher Hitchens has been given a posthumous nomination for this year's Orwell Prize for political writing. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Why does the UK drive on the left? Gareth Edmunds, 59, from Bristol, said he was curious as his family hosts English language students from all over the world. "As I drive them around I hear them wince as they see an oncoming car to our right and think we're going to crash - it's a question that always crops up," he said. "My pet theory is that it's something to do with times gone by when if you met a stranger on the road you'd pass on the left so your weapon arm was on their side." Mr Edmunds' theory is one shared by Stephen Laing, curator of the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire. He said it dated back to Roman times. "Most people are right handed, naturally mount a horse from the left and so need their right hand free for combat," he said. "Roman armies marched on the left hand side of the carriageway and this is a convention that stayed." Motoring author Giles Chapman said Britain's Highway Act of 1835 enshrined driving on the left in law for this country and its colonies. "The rule was exported, for example, to Japan, where British engineers planned its railways to drive on the left, leading to a similar edict for road vehicles." Why do some other countries drive on the right? Richard Mace, 63, who lives near Chatham in the south-east of England, said he had always been curious as to why they drive on the right in the US. "The reason I have been given goes back to when wagons were drawn by oxen," he said. He could be on the right track. In the late 1700s wagons pulled by horses arranged in pairs became increasingly popular, Fraser McAlpine wrote for BBC America. The driver sat on the back of the rear left-hand horse, to whip the others right handed. The best way for one wagon to pass another without banging wheels was the right hand side of the road, according to McAlpine. What would it cost to convert the UK to drive on the right? The government examined such a plan in 1969, two years after Sweden switched to driving on the right. Its report rejected the idea on grounds of safety and costs. In 1969, the financial burden of making the switch was calculated by the government to be £264m. That equates to about £4bn in today's money. But given the huge advances in infrastructure since 1969 this would now be an extremely conservative estimate. Stephen Laing, curator at the British Motor Museum, said he could not see Britain swapping sides. "I think we are kind of set in our ways," he said. "The infrastructure is built around driving on the left hand side. I can't really see that changing in the future." The Department for Transport said: "We do not have a policy on this because it's not something we are interested in at this time." More on UK driving: Why do we drive on the left but walk on the right? The Highway Code's Rules for Pedestrians advise that where there is a pavement "avoid being next to the kerb with your back to the traffic." The code goes on to advise: "If there is no pavement, keep to the right-hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic." And when it comes to pavements, as the BBC's home editor Mark Easton wrote, "the British have little sense" of etiquette, "preferring a slalom approach to pedestrian progress". \|\|\|\|\| Motorists in London lost an average of 74 hours - more than three days - in 2017, an hour more than in 2016. Manchester was next with an average of 39 hours, followed by Lincoln and Birmingham, according to data from Inrix. The Department for Transport (DfT) said it was investing £23bn in road schemes which would reduce congestion. Researchers also found the overall cost per driver, including wasted fuel and working time, was £1,168. Their figures classed rush hour as between 06:00 and 09:00 and 16:00 to 19:00 on weekdays. In Scotland, Aberdeen and Edinburgh drivers lost 28 hours a year to peak time traffic and in Wales, the most congested city was Newport, where motorists spent 24 hours a year in jams. In Northern Ireland, drivers in Belfast lost an average of 21 hours in 2017 because of congestion. Graham Cookson, chief economist for Inrix, said: "Combined with the rising price of motoring, the cost of congestion is astonishing - it takes billions out of the economy and impacts businesses and individuals alike." You might also like: How far can you get in rush hour? Five handy winter driving tips Potholes send breakdown figures flying Drivers in London travel at an average of less than 13mph during peak times, he said. It was ranked seventh out of 1,360 global cities covered by the study for congestion. Los Angeles in the USA came top with 102 hours a year lost by the average peak time driver. Thailand had the worst congestion out of 38 countries covered by the study, with an average 56 hours a year lost to congestion at peak times. The most congested routes in the UK at peak times and the annual hours lost per driver were: Why is Lincoln as congested as Birmingham? With less than a tenth of the population of Birmingham, Lincoln is a surprising entry in the 10 most congested large towns and cities in the UK. Drivers lose an average 36 hours, a day and a half, each of their lives sitting in traffic at peak time. Sarah Westney, from Lincoln-based PC Coaches, said: "It only takes one car to break down on Pelham Bridge to slow everyone down. "It's not a big city so when there are roadworks or accidents there aren't a lot of alternatives routes." Inrix said the cost of delays in Lincoln worked out at about £1,790 per driver in terms of fuel, working time and other economic losses. The Lincoln Eastern Bypass, costing £92m, is intended to cut congestion while Lincolnshire County Council has been given £5.4 million from the Department for Transport to tackle congestion for other projects. On top of its £23bn investment in road schemes, the DfT said it was giving councils "record amounts of capital funding" of more than £7.1bn up to 2021. This would "help to upgrade and maintain local roads up and down the country", a spokeswoman said. "Alongside this, we've announced plans for a new major road network that will give councils access to a multi-billion pound fund to improve or replace the most important A-roads in their area." \|\|\|\|\| Mark EastonHome editor@BBCMarkEastonon Twitter Some friends from Australia asked me this question as we battled down London's Oxford Street the other day, weaving our way through determined shoppers, rushing office workers and ambling tourists. The answer is we don't. The British have little sense of pavement etiquette, preferring a slalom approach to pedestrian progress. When two strangers approach each other, it often results in the performance of a little gavotte as they double-guess in which direction the other will turn. The British are ambulatory anarchists. We are oblivious to the Rules for pedestrians helpfully published by Her Majesty's Government. There are 35 in total but, frankly, who knew and who cares? Rule Number One tells us we must "avoid being next to the kerb with your back to the traffic" which implies we ought to walk on the left of the pavement. Such advice is blithely ignored, as any stroll down a busy high street will confirm. An attempt to bring order to this chaos was suggested in 2000, amid reports of rising "pavement rage". The Fast Lane Campaign proposed designated coloured lanes for pedestrians walking along Oxford Street in London - a fast lane for those rushing to get from A to B and a slow lane for window-shoppers and dawdlers. Inevitably, the idea was laughed away. One group representing the rights of pedestrians dismissed it as anathema to the anarchic spirit of British walkers. The British are bemused by countries which police pedestrians - treating those who don't use designated crossings as criminals. There are laws against jaywalking in the US, Singapore, Poland, Serbia, Iran, Australia and New Zealand among other countries. But in Blighty, the state leaves it up to the individual to make their own judgement. The only exception is in Northern Ireland where, occasionally, a pedestrian may be prosecuted for jaywalking if it is deemed to have caused an accident. Telling people how to walk is simply not British. We may have a reputation for orderly queuing but I suspect that stems from foreign bewilderment that such organised behaviour, where it still exists, is voluntary. There is no rule that says you have to line up at the bus stop. Residual affection for the queue is explained by a general belief in fair play, first-come first-served and good manners. The accepted autonomy of the pedestrian, free to ignore the demands of pelicans and zebras, is in contrast to views on the behaviour of cyclists. The shift from foot to wheel, from kerb to street, changes everything. The sight of a bicycle rider happily free-wheeling through a red light inspires a fury never inspired by a walker who won't wait for the green man at the crossing. The rule of law may be a fundamental British value, but we recoil at legislation that might impact on our right to roam free in the public realm. A sign demanding that we Do Not Walk On The Grass is often seen as an invitation for rebellion. A legacy of the enclosures which robbed people of their village greens and common land, perhaps, Brits fight for such freedoms. At some busy UK railway stations, I have seen one-way systems for pedestrians - staircases and walkways emphatically marked with arrows and "no entry" signs to regulate foot traffic. While tourists obediently follow the instructions, the locals seem almost to take pleasure in walking up the wrong side. On London tube escalators there are instructions to walk on the left and stand on the right, some with feet symbols to ensure everyone knows the form. People do obey these requests, for the most part, suggesting that different rules apply underground. But on the street? No, we don't walk on the left or the right. We are British and wander where we will. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.	Why does the UK drive on the left? This was just one of the motoring mysteries our readers asked us about. Here are the answers. Drivers in UK cities spent more than a day each year stuck in rush hour traffic, new research has shown. We drive on the left, but which side do we walk on?
Households where at least one person earns more than £50,000 will have the benefit reduced or stopped. Officials say it means as many as 500,000 parents may have to complete self-assessment tax forms. A flood of calls for advice is expected. Ministers say the changes, which take effect on 7 January, are needed to help the deficit reduction plan. However, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg described the coalition's plan as an "excruciatingly difficult decision". Mr Clegg told an audience that "we don't expect them to welcome this" and he admitted that many of the families who would lose out were "people who do not feel wealthy". Anomalies Letters will be sent to people who earn more than £50,000 who live at an address where child benefit is received to explain how their family is likely to be affected. The letter says: "If these changes apply to you or your partner, you should jointly decide whether to: Child benefit currently stands at £20.30 a week for the first child and £13.40 for each child after that. Under the new approach, families where one parent earns between £50,000 and £60,000 will have their benefit reduced on a sliding scale, and will only lose the benefit entirely when earning over £60,000. The change will cost families with three children and at least one parent earning more than £60,000 about £2,450 a year - the equivalent of a £4,000 pay cut. And it will produce anomalies, such as in the case of two-earner households where both parents earn £49,000. They will keep all their benefit, while others who have one parent on £60,000 and the other staying at home will lose all of theirs. Self-assessment However, the details mean that people earning between £50,000 and £60,000 will benefit from some child benefit - so are likely not to want to cancel it entirely. This means that hundreds of thousands of parents will have to complete a self-assessment tax form. Accountants say they expect calls from people confused by the change, or looking to avoid losing benefit by legal means, for example, making additional pension contributions. Meanwhile, senior Conservatives have released poll results that suggest 82% of the public support plans to cut child benefit for high-earning families, while 13% oppose it. Populus surveyed 2,066 British adults between 24 and 26 October. A Treasury spokesman, responding to the poll, said: "In a period when the government is having to reduce welfare spending, it is very difficult to justify continuing to pay for the child benefit of the wealthiest 15% of families in society. "The unprecedented scale of the deficit has meant that the government has had to make tough choices to reduce public spending; but we have always been clear that those with the broadest shoulders should carry the greatest burden." The spokesman added that 85% of all families with children would be unaffected by the changes and would continue to receive child benefit in full. Meanwhile, new guidance has been outlined for families which expect one parent to earn more than £60,000, and so do not claim child benefit, but who subsequently have a fall in income. They will now be able to claim the benefit retrospectively, which might not have been the case under the original legislation. "For many people, especially those with fluctuating income or who gain or lose a partner or who do not know which partner has the higher income, this is still going to be difficult. And, of course, for HMRC, who have to administer it all," said Patrick Stevens, president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. \|\|\|\|\| Families where one parent is earning more than £50,000 a year are no longer be able to claim the total amount of child benefit. The rules include an expectation that couples disclose to each other whether they claim child benefit, or earn above £50,000 a year. How much is child benefit worth? Child benefit is a tax-free payment that is aimed at helping parents cope with the cost of bringing up children. One parent can claim £20.50 a week for an eldest or only child and £13.55 a week for each of their other children. The payments apply to all children aged under 16 and in some cases until they are 20 years old. The system is administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which pays out to nearly 7.9 million families, with 13.7 million children. How has this eligibility changed? This had been available to every family with children. But in the 2012 Budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced an amended plan to steadily withdraw child benefit from families where one parent earns more than £50,000. In detail, the benefit received will be recouped gradually as the income of the highest earning parent rises above £50,000, with the child benefit being eroded completely once their income is £60,000 or more. This change came into effect on 7 January 2013. How does that work? In one of two ways. If one of the parents earns more than £60,000, they may choose to stop claiming child benefit, or persuade their partner to do so, and save the tax authority the trouble of getting it back. If they or their partner keeps claiming it, then the higher earner will have to admit this in a self-assessment tax form. Then, HMRC will tax the high earner on the child benefit which they, or their partner, claims. So, the high earner will need to know whether their partner is claiming child benefit, because it will be the high earner who is taxed. In the course of that conversation, it is likely that couples will discuss how much they earn and what they claim. For those where one parent earns more than £50,000, it is likely that they will remain claiming and then have a proportion charged back by the tax authority. This will mean that they have to complete a self-assessment form. Does that mean couples need to be honest with each other? Exactly. HMRC says it will "expect" couples to give each other basic financial details to see if they must be taxed. HMRC will also let taxpayers ask for rudimentary information from its records to see whether or not their partners receive child benefit, or have an "adjusted net income" above £50,000, and should be paying the new tax. This runs counter to the general principle of taxpayer confidentiality, which has been a formal part of the income tax system since 1803, as well as against the policy of separate taxation of married couples which has been in place since 1991. But HMRC says its rules give it the authority to do this. Is that a problem? Not necessarily, and certainly not when couples are already open with each other about financial matters. But there may be cases when couples want to maintain some privacy between each other, for example, if their relationship has broken down. So who claims child benefit if a couple has split up? Both parents might try to claim, even if they live apart, but only one of them will get it. If somebody is responsible for a child, they normally get the benefit for it. So, usually, the parent with whom the child lives receives the benefit. However, the other parent can get child benefit even if their child does not live with them. This only happens when: they pay towards their upkeep; what they pay is at least the same as the amount of child benefit - so they do not profit; and the person the child lives with is not already receiving child benefit. How else was child benefit squeezed? For those who are still entitled to child benefit, the amount paid is not rising in line with the cost of living at present. Alongside the eligibility issue, the amount paid was frozen in 2013-14. It is then increasing by only 1% for the next two years - that is a cut in real terms as inflation is higher. Other benefits, such as Jobseeker's Allowance and maternity pay, have been subject to a similar cap. What is Labour proposing to do? At its 2014 conference in Manchester, Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, said the 1% cap would be extended for a further year if Labour were in power. This was part of the party's plan to cut the deficit, he said. \|\|\|\|\| From 2013, benefits will be removed from any family where one parent earns more than about £44,000 a year. Labour said the move - aimed at saving £1bn a year - undermined the coalition's claim to be a family-friendly government. But Chancellor George Osborne described the plans as tough but fair. In a speech to the Conservative conference, Mr Osborne said he was determined to "stick with" the government's five-year plan to substantially cut the deficit, even though it would result in difficult decisions that ministers would not be taking otherwise. 'Makes sense' He also announced plans to cap the maximum amount of benefits that any single family can claim at about £26,000 - the same amount that an average family gets from work. Mr Osborne said the move - which it is estimated could see up to 50,000 workless families worse off by an average of £93 a week and some losing up to £300 a week - would signal to people that a life on benefits cannot pay. But unions said it would stigmatise those unable to find work and harm the young in particular. As recently as a year ago, Mr Osborne said he would preserve child benefit - for decades paid to millions of families irrespective of their income - as it was "valued by millions" of families. But he said he he could no longer defend paying out £1bn a year to better-off families and the one-off cut "made sense" given the scale of debt and welfare spending he had inherited. About 1.2 million families - about 15% of recipients of child benefit - will lose out on payments currently worth £20.30 a week for the eldest child and £13.40 for subsequent children. Families with three children no longer eligible for the benefits - which continue to the age of 19 - face being £2,500 a year worse off. While critics said they accepted it was right that better-off families should be targeted, there was anger about apparent anomalies in the proposals. Households where two parents each earning slightly less than £44,000 - adding up to a combined family income of over £80,000 - will keep the benefit while households where just one parent earns over £44,000 will lose it. Parenting and anti-poverty groups said this risked penalising lone parents and mothers staying at home to look after their children. "Ensuring that the 3.9 million children who still live in poverty in this country are not made worse off at this time of spending cuts must be the priority," said Save the Children's Sally Copley. "Any savings from this move must be ploughed back into giving more assistance to the poorest children and ensuring families are better off when a parent takes a job or increases their hours." 'Not perfect' Conservative MP and former shadow home secretary David Davis criticised the plans in an interview with the Daily Mail. He said: "Although in principle I have got no problem with reducing child benefit for the better off, I am not sure this is the wisest way to do it. "It would be fairer to consider family income rather than that of individuals. As it is, this does encourage wives or mothers to go out to work. It is an accidental piece of social policy." Ministers said the alternative was to introduce a complex and expensive system of means testing for all household incomes which would undermine the whole system. But the respected Instititute for Fiscal Studies also expressed doubts about the proposals. "Some may think it...is unfair because child benefit is withdrawn where an individual in a couple is a higher-rate taxpayer, regardless of the joint income of the couple," it said. It also said the changes could "seriously distort" financial incentives for some families as they would lose all their benefit if they earned slightly more money. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the government faced exceptional financial pressures and the plans must seen against wider plans for radical welfare reform. "I don't love the idea of this, you know," he told the BBC. "As far as I'm concerned it would be great to be in a perfect world where we didn't do this, but when you are paying £70bn a year just to stand still in deficit payments to banks and countries abroad you have to get that money out." But Labour said the principle of universal benefits was now under threat and that families were paying for the government's over-zealous approach to cutting the deficit. "Whatever people's income, it is families with children who are paying most - through cuts in child tax credit, maternity allowance, child benefit and housing benefit," said shadow work and pensions secretary Yvette Cooper. \|\|\|\|\| Ministers say lower earners should not be subsidising those on higher incomes. So from January homes where one parent earns more than £50,000 will have their child benefit reduced. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales says it undermines the principle of individual taxation as it involves clawing back from one person a benefit paid to another. The ICAEW has sent a report to MPs and Treasury ministers raising its concerns. Changes to the rules on child benefit come into force in January and are set to reduce the entitlement of more than a million families. Families where one parent is earning more than £50,000 a year will no longer be able to claim the total amount of child benefit. How these rules are put into action is still being worked out by the UK tax authority. However, this will include an expectation of couples to disclose to each other whether they claim child benefit, or earn above £50,000 a year. The amount received will be withdrawn gradually as one parent's income rises above £50,000, with the child benefit being eroded completely once someone's income is £60,000 or more. If one of the parents earns more than £60,000, they may choose to stop claiming child benefit and save the tax authority the trouble of getting it back. But if they keep claiming it, then they will have to declare this in a self-assessment tax form. 'Confidence undermined' The ICAEW lists a whole range of potential problems with the current plans, from possible breaches in confidentiality to the prospect of making half a million more people fill in self-assessment forms than currently have to. According to the Daily Telegraph, it said: "Families in similar financial situations could be treated quite differently, undermining the policy's fairness objective and creating very high marginal rates of tax for some. "Taxpayers could find their tax confidentiality breached and experience lower service standards while grappling with an even more complicated system. Their confidence in HMRC and the tax system will be undermined and there will be behaviour changes and planning to avoid the charge." Labour's Rachel Reeves said the legislation was a "complete mess". The shadow chief secretary to the Treasury said: "Ever since George Osborne announced this policy for a quick headline at the Conservative Party conference he has ignored warnings that it was not just unfair but simply unworkable." She said Labour believes "in the principle of universal child benefit" and had voted against the changes, although the party has not committed to reversing them if it gets into government. The BBC's political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue says the criticisms from a highly respected body could re-open the argument surrounding the issue of child benefit just six months before the changes are due to come in.	One million households will receive letters from the UK tax authority this week about losing child benefit. Child benefit is no longer available to all parents. Changes to the rules which came into force at the start of 2013 reduced the entitlement of about 1.2 million families. Ministers have defended plans to cut child benefits to higher earners amid criticism they represent an "attack" on already hard-pressed families. Planned changes to child benefit are flawed and risk being an "operational disaster", accountants say. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The UK's first "Bio-Bus" launched on the number two route in Bristol, in March last year. The bus ran on gas produced by human and food waste. Following a successful trial First Group and rival operator Wessex Bus had hoped to run fleets of bio buses. However, the bid was rejected by The Office for Low Emission Vehicles. The "poo bus" initiative was led by Wessex Water's renewable energy company GENeco to show how biomethane gas - produced during the treatment of sewage and organic waste - could be used as a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels to power vehicles and homes. First West of England had applied for a grant to run 110 gas-powered double-decker buses in Bristol. Wessex Bus and partners GENeco had also put in a £2.5m bid to fund 20 bio-buses in the city by 2019. The gas produced by Bristol sewage treatment works in Avonmouth, run by Wessex Water's renewable energy company GENeco, is now instead injected into the national gas network. First Bristol confirmed that the number two "poo bus" service is no longer running. Ian Drury, from GENeco, said while the firm was disappointed the bids were unsuccessful, the pilot project "started a global debate on how biomethane buses running on renewable sources could significantly reduce air emissions in cities around the world". He added that more than 70 biomethane buses were given the go ahead by The Office for Low Emission Vehicles to run in other areas. \|\|\|\|\| The 40-seat "Bio-Bus", which runs on biomethane gas generated from sewage and food waste, was trialled at weekends earlier in the year. The gas generated from the annual waste of about five people can power the bus for up to 300km (186 miles). Operator First West of England will initially run a service between Cribbs Causeway and Stockwood. To mark the launch, those people who could prove they lived within 400m of the route were offered a free day of travel on the bus. The biomethane gas is generated at Bristol sewage treatment works in Avonmouth, which is run by GENeco, a subsidiary of Wessex Water. James Freeman, of First West of England, said: "We're delighted to have the BioBus in service, and hope that as many people as possible try it out for themselves. "We're really optimistic that this form of gas propulsion can play a significant part in meeting the future transport needs of our area." A total of 17 million cubic metres of biomethane, enough to power 8,300 homes, is generated annually at the plant through a process known as anaerobic digestion. \|\|\|\|\| The 40-seat "Bio-Bus" runs on biomethane gas generated through the treatment of sewage and food waste. The eco-friendly vehicle can travel up to 300km (186 miles) on one tank of gas, which takes the annual waste of about five people to produce. It is run by tour operator Bath Bus Company and will shuttle people between Bristol Airport and Bath city centre. The biomethane gas is generated at Bristol sewage treatment works in Avonmouth, which is run by GENeco, a subsidiary of Wessex Water. GENeco general manager Mohammed Saddiq said: "Gas-powered vehicles have an important role to play in improving air quality in UK cities but the Bio-Bus goes further than that and is actually powered by people living in the local area, including quite possibly those on the bus itself." How do you power a bus with waste? Green capital The service from the airport to Bath carries about 10,000 passengers each month. Bath Bus Company's Collin Field, said: "With so much attention being directed towards improving air quality generally, the public reaction to the appearance of this bus on a service between a world heritage city and an airport will further focus on the potential for this particular fuel." He said the bus was being launched at a very "appropriate" time, as Bristol is to become the European Green Capital next year. Bristol sewage treatment works processes around 75 million cubic metres of sewage waste and 35,000 tonnes of food waste each year. A total of 17 million cubic metres of biomethane, enough to power 8,300 homes, is generated annually at the plant through a process known as anaerobic digestion. \|\|\|\|\| A 40-seat "Bio-Bus", which runs on biomethane gas generated from sewage and food waste, has been running a full service since March. Operator First West of England now wants to run 110 gas-powered double-decker buses in Bristol. It has submitted a proposal to the government to run the expanded service. First West of England's Jenny MacLeod said: "If we are successful we will be leading the way in creating a fully sustainable public transport network that can really make a difference to people in and around Bristol." How do you power a bus with waste? Rival operator Wessex Bus and partners GENeco have also applied for a government grant to run 20 bio-buses in the city by 2019. The two companies have submitted a joint bid to the OLEV (The Office for Low Emission Vehicles) Low Emission Bus Scheme for a grant of £2.5 million to support the project. The biomethane gas for the buses is generated at Bristol sewage treatment works in Avonmouth run by GENeco, and the company hopes to build a permanent refuelling station at the site. Antony Goozee of Wessex Bus said: "This is a great opportunity to increase the number of gas-powered buses on the streets of Bristol and surrounding area, which will significantly improve air quality. "We believe this would be the most sustainably fuelled fleet in the UK, as it will be the only fleet where the buses are actually powered by treatment of sewage and inedible food waste from the local community." \|\|\|\|\| By Katie HopeBusiness reporter, BBC News In fact, on average each of us generates 135 to 180 litres of sewage a day - an estimate that includes the waste water from our baths, sinks and washing machines as well as faeces and urine. Treating and dealing with it is an expensive and time-consuming business. Yet instead of seeing human excrement as something to get rid of, some firms are now managing to turn it into something useful and even profitable. Northumbrian Water is one company that is now a recognised expert in the use of what it calls "poo power" - using human waste to generate gas and electricity. The water firm was the first in the UK to use all its sludge - the goo generated after raw sewage has been treated - to produce renewable power. And as Richard Murray, head of waste water treatment at the firm, says, recycling was "not at the forefront of everyone's mind" in the 1990s. "We just wanted waste to disappear," he says. It was a chance meeting in 1996 with a Norwegian firm that was converting its sludge into energy that triggered Northumbrian's change of heart. Crucially, says Mr Murray, the process meant turning sludge from "a cost to something that gave us a bit of income". "It changed our whole look on sludge." Northumbrian now uses anaerobic digestion to capture the methane and carbon dioxide released by bacteria, digesting the sludge and uses it to drive its gas engines to create electricity. It also injects some gas directly into the grid. It has two biogas plants, which together have reduced the firm's annual £40m electricity bill by around 20%. In total, Mr Murray estimates it has saved the firm £15m a year. Rival UK water firms such as Severn Trent and Wessex Water are doing similar things to Northumbrian, and biogas production is common in countries such as China, Sweden and Germany. 'Deeply cultural' On a global scale such processes have enormous potential. If all of the world's human waste were to be collected and used for biogas generation, the potential value could be as high as $9.5bn or enough to supply the electricity for 138 million households - around all of Indonesia, Brazil and Ethiopia combined, the United Nations has calculated. But despite the obvious financial and environmental advantages, it warns this may not be sufficient to overcome what it calls the "ick" factor of using our own waste. Sarah Jewitt, an associate professor of geography at the University of Nottingham who has researched different attitudes to human waste globally, says the "barriers are deeply cultural". "Poo is never very nice in any society. There are really strong cultural attitudes to what's acceptable and what people contemplate," she says. She notes that while in the UK toilets and sewage systems mean we think little of the potential health risks connected to excrement, in the developing world there's little such certainty. Poor sanitation in the developing world kills 700,000 children each year. Improving this is what drove the creation of the Janicki Omni Processor. The machine, created by US engineering firm Janicki Bioenergy, converts sewage into drinking water and electricity, while creating ash as a by-product. The firm's pilot project is in Dakar, Senegal, and can now treat the waste of 50,000-100,000 people. Its water was declared "delicious" by Bill Gates who has funded it through his foundation. 'New lessons' Despite obvious fears that people may be wary of actually drinking the water, the firm says its local crew have been "excited to try it". "In fact, they voluntarily drink the water on a regular basis as the practice has actually become quite popular," it says. Sara Van Tassel, the firm's president, says they are "continuing to learn new lessons with every month of testing", working out how to deal with things such as dust storms, finding spare parts and maintenance. She says the experience has been "invaluable" to its commercial model, the first unit of which it plans to ship to West Africa next year. Its hope is that eventually there will be several of these machines around the world, each expected to process the waste of up to 200,000 people, and provide water for 35,000. But pilots don't always go to plan. The UK's first "poo bus", running on human and household waste on the aptly named number two route, was launched with much fanfare in Bristol last year. The initiative was led by Wessex Water's renewable energy company GENeco to show how biomethane gas - produced during the treatment of sewage and inedible food - could be used as a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels to power vehicles and homes. Yet despite the bus receiving positive reactions from passengers and being praised by environmental organisations, First Group, which operated the bus, said its government application to expand the service was unsuccessful. The gas produced by Bristol sewage treatment works is now instead injected into the national gas network. In the meantime, there's always poo mining. Brave US researchers last year identified gold in waste from American sewage treatment plants at levels which, if found in rock, would be considered worth mining. The researchers also found silver, and rare elements including palladium and vanadium. A previous study, by Arizona State University, estimated that a city of one million inhabitants flushed about $13m (£8.7m) worth of precious metals down toilets and sewer drains each year. Pooh-poohing ideas about poo may be unwise.	Plans to roll out a fleet of "poo buses" have gone down the pan after the government turned down a funding bid. The UK's first bus powered entirely by human and food waste has gone into full service in Bristol after testing. The UK's first bus powered entirely by human and food waste has gone into service between Bristol and Bath. Fleets of buses powered entirely by human and food waste could be rolled out in Bristol after the success of a pilot service. Poo is not something most people like to talk about. Yet it's something we all produce a lot of. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Kelvin and professional partner Oti Mabuse lifted this year's glitterball trophy on BBC One on Saturday. They triumphed over Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden; and Emma Barton and Anton Du Beke, after topping a public vote. Kelvin said: "I am absolutely speechless. I did not expect that, it's just been such a privilege to be here." The couples performed three dances in Saturday's final - a judges' pick dance, their own favourite routine from the series and a new showdance. Although Kelvin and Oti came second on the judges' scoring, only the public vote counted in the final. Some fans complained they were unable to vote online, with many saying they were being told they had reached their "maximum number of votes allowed" despite not having yet cast a vote. The BBC reminded people having difficulties that they could vote by phone. Kelvin was only called up after Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing injured his foot while recording the launch show - and the fellow TV star tweeted his congratulations: Kelvin, who broke down in tears after his victory, said: "I think this show represents everything that is amazing with this country. I think the people personify what is great and it's just been an absolute privilege." In a post on Twitter, he said he was "humbled, elated, honoured", adding: "Team #Floti did it!" Kelvin and Oti began their routines with a sensual rumba to Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers for which they scored 39 points, followed by a perfect-score showdance to Shout by The Isley Brothers. Judge Bruno Tonioli said their showdance was "almost like watching 13 weeks of all the best of Strictly Come Dancing condensed into one dance" and Oti's sister and fellow judge Motsi Mabuse, who joined the panel this year, said: "I have no words..." For their final dance, they revisited their samba to La Vida Es Un Carnaval by Celia Cruz, which they performed in week one. Judge Shirley Ballas said to Kelvin: "Which part of that body doesn't move? Fantastic, congratulations, I have no words, you've left me speechless." He scored 39 for the second time of the night. The Strictly win will give a huge boost to Kelvin, three years after he left his role as Andy Sugden in the long-running ITV soap, which he had played for two decades. It is also the first time Oti has lifted the trophy. Speaking through tears, she said: "I've been on this show for five years and I have never ever met any celeb who gives his heart, his soul... "If something is not working we stay in training and rehearse, not because he wanted to win but because he genuinely, genuinely loves dancing, and for me that is the best gift and the best ending to my year, so thank you." CBBC presenter Karim and his partner Amy performed the quickstep to Mr Pinstripe Suit - and were the only pair to get a perfect score for their first dance. Their showdance to A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman landed them 39 points and they scored a second perfect 40 for their jive to You Can't Stop The Beat from Hairspray. Emma and Anton opened with the Charleston to Thoroughly Modern Millie, which they first performed on musicals' week. Tonioli told Emma, who is best-known for playing Honey Mitchell in BBC show EastEnders, that she was his "favourite flapper ever". But the pair missed out on a perfect score by one point after judge Craig Revel Horwood pulled them up on a "sync issue". Their showdance to Let Yourself Go by Irving Berlin won them 38 points and their final dance - the Viennese waltz to the musical song Send In The Clowns - netted them 39. After their final performance, Emma praised her dance partner, saying: "Anton, the king of ballroom, thank you for allowing me to be your Queen for the last three months." TV critic Emma Bullimore said lots of fans thought "this was Anton's moment" to lift the glitterball "but it wasn't to be". Commenting on newspaper reports that he might quit the show, she said: "He's going to have to call it at some point - there's no getting round it, he is much older than the other dancers. But I wouldn't be surprised if he carries on for a bit." Follow us on Facebook or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| He will be seen in the pre-recorded launch episode on BBC One on Saturday, but won't play any further part. "I'm absolutely devastated that I'm unable to continue in the competition," the 30-year-old said. "I was so excited to hit the dance floor." At the weekend, he was seen on crutches and with a protective boot on his foot. No details have been released about whether he will be replaced in the line-up. "I would like to wish the lovely couples all the very best and hope they enjoy their time on the show to the fullest," he added. Executive producer Sarah James said: "We are so sad that Jamie won't be able to take part in the series, he had already lit up the ballroom during the launch show with his boundless energy and enthusiasm. We all wish him a full and speedy recovery." Kevin Clifton, who lifted the glitterball trophy last year with Stacey Dooley, sent a message of sympathy on Twitter. Comedian Chris Ramsey, a contestant on this year's show, said he was "gutted" by the news. Former footballer Alex Scott, another of this year's hopefuls, wished Laing a quick recovery. Strictly's other withdrawals Withdrawals from Strictly have been very rare over its 17 series to date, with just a handful leaving the ballroom bonanza without being voted off: Oxford-born Laing has been one of the stars of Channel 4's structured reality show Made In Chelsea since 2011. He also co-hosts the Private Parts podcast and appeared in the first series of Celebrity Hunted in 2017. This year's Strictly line-up also includes TV star Anneka Rice, Olympic rower James Cracknell, former footballer David James, sports presenter Mike Bushell and ex-Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Graziano Di Prima and Johannes Radebe danced together on the 3 November show. The BBC's latest complaints log shows that 189 people found it "offensive". Bruno said: "It's hard to believe after such progress in society and many other topics going on that [around] 200 people felt so upset they complained when two men danced with each other." Professional dancer Kevin Clifton added his voice, writing: "What on earth were they complaining about? It was ace." The BBC's latest complaints round-up revealed that 189 people had got in touch to protest that it was "offensive to feature two men dancing as a pair". Almost 10.5 million people tuned in to the results show during which Graziano and Johannes performed while pop star Emeli Sande sang her single Shine. Fellow professionals Aljaz Skorjanec and Luba Mushtuk also took part in the routine. Commenting on a story about the 189 complaints, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly added: "But made millions and millions of us very very happy." In response to the complaints, the BBC said: "Strictly Come Dancing is an inclusive show and is proud to have been able to facilitate the dance between Johannes and Graziano during the professionals' dance. "They are dancers first and foremost, and their sex had no bearing on their routine." 'So liberated' After the dance, Johannes told Hello! magazine: "I've never felt so liberated. For the first time in my life, I feel accepted for who I am. That says so much about the people of this country. "To be able to dance with a friend I respect and adore is joyous. There's bromance galore between us, but there were no male and female roles, just free movement. It was beautiful, classy and elegant." Strictly Come Dancing, which is in its 17th series, has not featured a same sex pairing between a celebrity and a professional. Dancing on Ice will have one such couple early next year when Steps singer Ian "H" Watkins teams up with professional skater Matt Evers. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| The Sun reported on Wednesday that the US TV personality had been involved in "a series of backstage rows" with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice. The RuPaul's Drag Race star responded on Twitter, saying the articles were "upsetting" and the pair were "close". "Gio is my best friend in this competition," she added. "He is my rock and I trust him with everything." "We have the most fun and laughs together and to suggest otherwise is sad," she went on. Aside from her Strictly duties, Visage is currently filming for the British version of Drag Race and recently starred in the West End. She said she and Pernice - who ended up in the competition's bottom two last weekend - were concentrating on their next performance on Saturday. "At this very moment we are focusing on Blackpool and we are so excited to share our magical dance with all of you," she said. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Ballas, who has spoken openly about her family's history with breast cancer, had surgery on Tuesday. She made the decision in order to reduce her own risk of developing the disease, as implants can block the early signs of it being detected. The BBC confirmed she is expected to appear on this Saturday's show. Speaking before the operation, and after her appearance at the Pride of Britain Awards on Monday night, the 59-year-old thanked her Instagram followers for all their "positive" and "beautiful" messages. Last month, Ballas told The Sunday Times she suffered a cancer scare and learned there was a history of the disease in her family while shooting her episode of Who Do You Think You Are? in 2018. "I've had a breast augmentation," she said at the time. "It makes me step back and think when you go for these mammograms - 'Can you see at the back? Is it clear what you can see?' "It's making me sit back and think - 'shall I remove them? Would it be a good safety precaution for me?'" She later told The Sun that she'd seen a new doctor and was scheduled to have for the operation this week. "My doctor says I have recuperation of a week, but I want to do Strictly on the Saturday night," she said. "It's not like I have to dance and do the cha cha cha or the samba. I spoke to the BBC and they have been very, very supportive. They said you have to do what you feel most comfortable for your health." 'Strictly won't be a problem' Caroline Parkinson, BBC health editor Having implants removed is a relatively straightforward operation which is usually done as a day case, a leading surgeon said. The first issue is recovering from the general anaesthetic - which tends to take around 48 hours. Michael Tyler, a consultant plastic surgeon at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, said there were two issues that could make the operation a little more complex. One is removing the "capsule" - a layer of scar tissue that forms around the implant. Mr Tyler, who is also a spokesman for the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) added: "Usually that's a fine layer, but if the capsule gets thick that can be 3-4mm. If you're also having that removed, it makes it a bit more complex and needs a bit more time for recovery. I would be saying to patients 'you need to live a more sedentary, quiet life for a couple of weeks". There are also small risks of a build-up of blood or fluid around the surgery site. The other factor that can make the procedure more complex is if surgeons have to cut through the pectoral muscle to get to the implants, which can lead to more discomfort for "at least a couple of weeks". Mr Tyler said it would probably be "inadvisable" for Ms Ballas to do any dancing so soon after her surgery, "but sitting down in a chair, making judgements and holding up the numbers wouldn't be a problem. She'll be able to do it." He estimated that 10 out of 100 would have their implants exchanged for new ones or removed over a decade. One reason women may choose to have implants taken out is to make mammograms to check for breast cancer easier: "You can get shadows, it can make it a bit more difficult." Ballas previously revealed she had a cancer scare following a routine check-up and urged other women, particularly those over the age for 50, to get themselves checked. She replaced Len Goodman as head judge on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| The Paralympian landed awkwardly after jumping from a raised platform in studio rehearsals, causing him to miss last Saturday's show. "I'm gutted my Strictly journey has had to come to an end. I've loved being part of the show," he said. Bayley, a gold medal-winning table tennis player, had been partnered with Strictly professional Janette Manrara. He is the second contestant to pull out this year due to injury. Jamie Laing had to withdraw before the series launched after injuring his foot, and was replaced by Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher. Bayley said: "I want to say a special thank you to Janette for believing in me, and giving me the confidence to believe in myself. "The things we achieved, from our couple's choice dance, through to the lifts in our salsa, will stay with me forever. I've had the time of my life." Bayley and Manrara had been in the competition for six weeks. Their best score from the judges came in week five, when they received 32 points for their contemporary dance to Lukas Graham's 7 Years. The show's executive producer, Sarah James said: "We are so sad that Will is unable to continue on the show. He will be greatly missed and we wish him a speedy recovery." Manrara said: "Absolutely devastated that Will and I will not be able to continue dancing. We made some incredible memories that I will never forget, and I am pleased to have shared them with such an inspirational person who I can now call a friend for life." Strictly Come Dancing has not yet made any announcement on any changes that will be made to this year's competition as a result of the mid-series withdrawal. With nine couples left in the competition, a single vote-off each week would leave three pairs competing for the glitterball trophy on 14 December. The number of finalists has varied between three and four in recent years. Strictly's other withdrawals Withdrawals from Strictly have been very rare over its 17 series to date, with just a handful leaving the ballroom bonanza without being voted off: Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Saturday's show on BBC One drew an overnight audience of 7.72 million - down on the 8.85 million who watched the first live show in September 2018. That figure will rise once on-demand figures are added. Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher and his professional partner Oti Mabuse ended the show topping the leader board. It was Fletcher's first appearance on the programme after he was brought in as a replacement for the injured Jamie Laing. James Cracknell, in contrast, found himself propping up the leader board following his tango with partner Luba Mushtuk. According to Daily Mail columnist Jan Moir, the Olympic rower "shuffled through his first dance with the tortured expression of a man with a scorpion attached to his scrotum". The Telegraph's Michael Hogan said "a night of surprises on the Elstree Studios dancefloor made for a cracking start to the 2019 contest". Saturday's programme also saw Motsi Mabuse dole out her first scores as the newest member of the Strictly judging panel. Jan Moir said she made "a confident and winning debut" on what she called "a terrific opening show". The next edition, to be aired on 28 September, will be the first to see one of its dance pairings voted off the show. This year's pre-recorded launch show had an overnight audience of 7.81 million, down on the 8.06 million who tuned into last year's launch show. That figure rose to 9.26 million once catch-up figures were added - bringing it within a quickstep of the 2018 launch show's consolidated audience of 9.33 million. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Laing, 30, injured himself during filming for Saturday night's pre-recorded launch show. Fletcher, who is best known for playing Andy Sugden in Emmerdale, will dance with professional Oti Mabuse. The announcement was made after celebrities were paired with their professional dance partners. The new series launched on BBC One on Saturday evening to an average of 7.8m viewers - peaking at 8.3m - which marks a slight dip in the ratings compared with the launch show last year. Former England footballer Alex Scott - the favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing - has become professional dancer Neil Jones's first celebrity partner. Reigning champion Kevin Clifton was paired with Anneka Rice in the opening show of Strictly's 17th series. New judge Motsi Mabuse said she felt "a part of the family" on her debut. The pairing of Scott and Jones comes after a torrid year for the professional dancer. His personal life hit the headlines after he separated from his wife and fellow Strictly dancer Katya Jones after she was photographed kissing her celebrity partner - comedian Seann Walsh. Anneka Rice cast doubt on whether her partner would be able to win for a second year running. She said: "I haven't got a rhythm gene, I can't even clap in time." Fan favourite Anton Du Beke has been paired with EastEnders star Emma Barton, another celebrity who is tipped to make it to the grand final. Du Beke has been on the show since its first series but has never won, having often been paired with the show's less skilful dancers, such as Ann Widdecombe. "So this is what it feels like... Book me in until Christmas," said Du Beke. The full list of dance pairings	Former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, who was only drafted into Strictly Come Dancing as a last-minute replacement, has been voted this year's winner. Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing has pulled out of this year's Strictly Come Dancing after injuring his foot while recording the launch show. Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli has said the fact that around 200 people complained about the show's first same sex routine is "very sad". Strictly Come Dancing star Michelle Visage has rubbished newspaper reports that she is unhappy on the show. Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has had her breast implants removed, a representative has confirmed. Will Bayley has left Strictly Come Dancing after sustaining a leg injury, the BBC has confirmed. Ratings for Strictly Come Dancing's first live show of 2019 were down on last year, with more than a million fewer tuning in compared with 2018. Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher has been announced as the replacement for Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing on Strictly Come Dancing.
Brian TaylorPolitical editor, Scotland@tannadiceladon Twitter I guess that most would reply to the effect that the underlying ambition is independence. However, that is misplaced with regard to the day-to-day working of ministers. The Scottish government has a declared purpose. Or, more precisely, a Purpose. With a bold capital P. Now, the more cynical among you may express surprise, familiar as you are with the customary chaos attendant upon contemporary politics. But there is a guiding philosophy which influences and shapes individual policies and ministerial actions. This has been upgraded in recent years - and, as is the way with such things, it has been lengthened somewhat, without acquiring any discernible increase in precision. One should not complain. By definition, mission statements tend to be wordy declarations of broad ambition. Ministers are judged by daily deeds. In case you are unfamiliar with the Purpose, here it is, set within a broader National Performance Framework. We are told: The framework is for all of Scotland. We aim to: Instantly, of course, you can see the intrinsic challenges. Other than entrenched malcontents, I guess that few would complain about seeking success. But how do we measure wellbeing? To be fair, the first minister made a significant effort in a recent, thoughtful lecture. And look at the final section. Are we really to attach equal importance to economic, environmental and social progress? What if they clash? What if a policy involves discernible, measurable economic growth - but with a claimed environmental cost? Or the other way round? That, of course, is where the Purpose gives way to individual ministerial decisions. That is where broad ambition cedes the stage to raw politics. In which regard, another question which is all too rarely pursued. What is the broad economic strategy of the Scottish government? More precisely, with the budget looming, what is the underlying philosophy with regard to taxation? What is the broad thinking as to the balance of tax? There, I think, the present administration struggles to some extent, as have previous occupants of Bute and St Andrew's Houses. Philosophically, one may believe that taxation is state robbery. Alternatively, one may aver that private property is theft from the commonweal. Or one may adhere to sundry positions in between. In that panoply of opinion, where does the Scottish government sit? Much of its view on such matters is unstated. How about that objective of growth, carefully calibrated by the adjectives sustainable and inclusive? Is growth best driven by cutting taxes, by lowering the levy upon business, for example? Or is it best achieved by taking revenue to the centre, and then reapportioning it to projects which benefit society and the economy more generally? Ministers do not say - at least not as a credo, not in philosophical terms. Consider the development of tax policy under the SNP in its various administrations. The party was previously in favour of cutting corporation tax by up to 3% in Scotland, in the event that power over this levy were to be transferred to Scotland from the Treasury. There was talk of matching the tiger economy of Ireland, with its low-tax pitch to global business. The image, always unstated, was of making Scotland the Singapore of the British Isles, rather than the Albania. This policy was quietly ditched, even without the tax being devolved to Scotland. It was seen as being out of step with the party's variable credentials on the left. Then there was another tax policy - which was to cut and ultimately abolish the air passenger tax, which was devolved from Westminster in 2017. To ministerial relief, the policy was held up for years by a row over an exemption for Highlands and Islands Airports. It could not be implemented. Finally, again, it was dumped. Ultimately, it became evident that it sat ill with the ambition of tackling carbon emissions, with the declaration of a climate emergency. Arguably, that meant that - for this policy only - greater importance was attached to environmental rather than economic issues. Bearing in mind that the purpose of the proposed cut was to enhance growth in Scotland. That is not - repeat not - to say that the old policy and/or the new policy are intrinsically right or wrong. It is to question the philosophical driver underpinning these changes. This issue of ideological conviction arose to some extent when Holyrood first gained significant income tax powers. Labour, in particular, pressed for the adoption of a higher top rate of tax. It would, they argue, bring in valuable revenue and send a signal about the priorities of the government, about the choices to be made. Nicola Sturgeon cited research to the effect that such a move might actually cut revenue if it generated tax avoidance behaviour. She signalled further - again without being explicit about over-arching philosophy - that she was interested in practicalities, not gestures. This issue of ethos will be a challenge for new Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, whose nomination as a cabinet secretary will be endorsed by Parliament later today. It was a challenge for her predecessors, including Derek Mackay, whom she replaced. Mr Mackay reshuffled income tax to benefit those on lower incomes without, he argued, imposing too great a deterrent levy on entrepreneurs and wealth creators. Further, he acted quietly and without proclamation to lessen the overall burden upon business. Not by giant strides, but mostly by small, cumulative steps. Why not go further? Why not trumpet such steps, limited as they were? Because that would have meant taking, to some extent, an ideological stand. It would have meant choosing more precise language in a lexicon which, hitherto, was deliberately blurred. Especially in a parliament of minorities, with a proportional voting system and a significant rival on the centre Right, the SNP has avoided ideological purity on tax. Mr Mackay was also acutely aware, as is the first minister, that nothing must be done - or appear to be done - which, in any way, lessens Scotland's attraction to UK and global investment. That is why ministers have repeatedly sought ways to stress the limited and balanced nature of their tax structure. But doing so in pragmatic, rather than philosophical terms. I await with interest the approach to be adopted in this regard by the new cabinet secretary. It may prove a source of innocent merriment. \|\|\|\|\| In a speech later Nicola Sturgeon will say that Scotland is "redefining" what it means to be a successful nation. She will tell a conference that Scotland is creating an economy where "collective wellbeing" is as fundamental as GDP. GDP, a measure of goods and services, has been criticised for undervaluing quality of life. Ms Sturgeon's speech comes after Scotland fell five places in an index of social and economic wellbeing in developed countries. 'Broader approach' The Scottish Trends Index Of Social and Economic Wellbeing uses data based on a range of measures including income, education, longevity and inclusivity. It has placed Scotland in the bottom half of 32 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Last year Ms Sturgeon joined with other leaders to promote a "wellbeing" agenda. Iceland's prime minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, and the prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, joined Ms Sturgeon in calling for new social indicators to be considered beside traditional GDP data. Ms Sturgeon will tell the Wellbeing Economy Alliance conference in Edinburgh later that Scotland will take centre stage on the issue. It will host a number of events to promote a "global wellbeing economy", including a meeting of the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WeGo) - Scotland, Iceland and New Zealand - at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. "The goal and objective of all economic policy should be collective wellbeing. This broader approach is at the very heart of our economic strategy which gives equal importance to tackling inequality as economic competitiveness," the first minister is expected to tell the conference. "It is why we are so committed to fair work and making sure that work is fulfilling and well paid and why we are acting to ensure a just transition to a carbon zero economy where no one is left behind." What does the welbeing study say? Scotland has fallen five places from 16th to joint 21st on the latest Scottish Trends Index Of Social and Economic Wellbeing. The study uses OECD data from 2006 to 2018 based on a range of measures including: Scotland and Wales experienced the joint biggest falls over that 12-year period. The report said this was mainly due to falling GDP and education scores in Scotland. Greece and Finland also dropped down the rankings, while the biggest rises were credited to Estonia and Poland. The first minister has previously made a similar plea for modern economies to put more resources into mental health, childcare and parental leave, and green energy in her TED talk. Other events to be held in Scotland this year to promote a wellbeing economy include: \|\|\|\|\| The Scottish government had wanted to reduce air departure tax by 50% before eventually abolishing it. But concerns were raised that the move could increase greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the number of flights. The government has now confirmed that the tax cut will not happen. Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said reducing air departure tax - which will replace air passenger duty in Scotland - was "no longer compatible" with its climate targets. Mr Mackay added: "All parts of government and society have a contribution to make to meeting this challenge. "We continue to support our tourism industry, which is going from strength to strength, and we will work with the sector to develop in a sustainable way. "We welcome their efforts - and those of the aviation industry - to reduce carbon emissions." 'Failed promises' The announcement was criticised by Gordon Dewar, the chief executive of Edinburgh Airport, who said: "We've gone from personal commitments to all-out cancellation in the space of just two weeks, which shows just how reactionary this decision is. "It does not show leadership and means airports and airlines have been led down a path of failed promises for three years by this Scottish government. "It also raises questions about continued support for our tourism sector when airlines have already walked away from Scotland due to this failure to deliver." The airport had previously published a report which predicted halving the departure tax would create almost 4,000 jobs and add £1bn to the Scottish economy. The report claimed that failing to cut the tax could see Scotland lose out on nearly a million passengers every year. Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports which owns and manages Aberdeen International and Glasgow airports, described the Scottish government's decision as a "huge blow for our airports and for Scotland's connectivity". He added: "Over the course of the past year alone, we have seen the withdrawal by airlines of almost 30 routes from Aberdeen and Glasgow airports because of Air Passenger Duty." And Liz Smith, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said the "alarming u-turn" would "do nothing to reduce emissions and will have a significant and deleterious impact on the Scottish economy". Legal issues Air departure tax (ADT) was originally due to be introduced in Scotland last year, but has been hit by a series of delays - with the Scottish government announcing last month that it had been "deferred beyond 2020". The government said this was because of legal issues regarding tax exemptions for flights departing Highlands and Islands airports. The commitment to cutting ADT in half when it is eventually introduced, before abolishing the tax completely in the future, was included in the SNP's manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood election, with the party arguing it would boost the economy and tourism. But there was speculation that the policy, which was backed by the Conservatives and the aviation industry, would be ditched after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declared a "climate emergency" at last month's SNP conference. Her government subsequently announced it wanted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2045 - five years ahead of the rest of the UK - after receiving fresh advice from an expert panel. The u-turn came the day before Labour, the Scottish Greens and Liberal Democrats had been due to call for the tax cut to be scrapped in a Scottish Parliament debate. They argued that the plan would amount to a £150m tax break for the aviation industry and wealthy business travellers, and that encouraging more flights would increase carbon emissions. The Scottish Parliament was given powers to charge tax on passengers leaving Scottish airports under the Scotland Act, which came into force in 2016. Air passenger duty (APD) will continue to be charged on all passenger flights from Scottish airports - apart from those in the Highlands and Islands - until it is replaced by ADT. The rate of tax varies according to where the passenger is going and the class of travel, and ranges from £13 for the cheapest class of short-haul flights to more than £500 for some long-haul flights. APD raises about £300m in Scotland and £3bn across the UK every year. What has the political reaction been? The Scottish Greens described the Scottish government's announcement as a "huge u-turn", which the party said was needed to show that Scotland is serious about meeting its climate change targets. Scottish Labour said the move was long overdue as a "tax cut that benefits the richest the most and increases emissions was never the right policy". But the Conservatives said the government had broken promises to the tourism industry and had "succumbed once again to the environmental extremists in its own nationalist movement".	Herewith a question which is all too seldom posed in these days of rapid discourse. What is the philosophy underpinning the Scottish government's approach? People's quality of life should be as important as economic growth, according to Scotland's first minister. Controversial plans to cut the amount of tax paid by passengers flying from Scottish airports have been scrapped after a backlash over the environmental impact.
Tonight, I want to speak with you about why we have taken this action. One year ago, Assad launched a savage chemical weapons attack against his own innocent people. The United States responded with 58 missile strikes that destroyed 20% of the Syrian air force. Last Saturday, the Assad regime again deployed chemical weapons to slaughter innocent civilians - this time, in the town of Douma, near the Syrian capital of Damascus. This massacre was a significant escalation in a pattern of chemical weapons use by that very terrible regime. The evil and the despicable attack left mothers and fathers, infants and children, thrashing in pain and gasping for air. These are not the actions of a man; they are crimes of a monster instead. Following the horrors of World War One a century ago, civilized nations joined together to ban chemical warfare. Chemical weapons are uniquely dangerous not only because they inflict gruesome suffering, but because even small amounts can unleash widespread devastation. The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread, and use of chemical weapons. Establishing this deterrent is a vital national security interest of the United States. The combined American, British, and French response to these atrocities will integrate all instruments of our national power - military, economic, and diplomatic. We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents. I also have a message tonight for the two governments most responsible for supporting, equipping, and financing the criminal Assad regime. To Iran, and to Russia, I ask: what kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women, and children? The nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. No nation can succeed in the long run by promoting rogue states, brutal tyrants, and murderous dictators. In 2013, President Putin and his government promised the world that they would guarantee the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons. Assad's recent attack - and today's response - are the direct result of Russia's failure to keep that promise. Russia must decide if it will continue down this dark path, or if it will join with civilized nations as a force for stability and peace. Hopefully, someday we'll get along with Russia, and maybe even Iran - but maybe not. I will say this: The United States has a lot to offer, with the greatest and most powerful economy in the history of the world. In Syria, the United States - with a small force being used to eliminate what is left of Isis (the Islamic State group) - is doing what is necessary to protect the American people. Over the last year, nearly 100% of the territory once controlled by the so-called Isis caliphate in Syria and Iraq has been liberated and eliminated. The United States has also rebuilt our friendships across the Middle East. We have asked our partners to take greater responsibility for securing their home region, including contributing large amounts of money for the resources, equipment, and all of the anti-Isis effort. Increased engagement from our friends, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, and others can ensure that Iran does not profit from the eradication of Isis. America does not seek an indefinite presence in Syria, under no circumstances. As other nations step up their contributions, we look forward to the day when we can bring our warriors home. And great warriors they are. Looking around our very troubled world, Americans have no illusions. We cannot purge the world of evil, or act everywhere there is tyranny. No amount of American blood or treasure can produce lasting peace and security in the Middle East. It's a troubled place. We will try to make it better, but it is a troubled place. The United States will be a partner and a friend, but the fate of the region lies in the hands of its own people. In the last century, we looked straight into the darkest places of the human soul. We saw the anguish that can be unleashed and the evil that can take hold. By the end of the World War One, more than one million people had been killed or injured by chemical weapons. We never want to see that ghastly spectre return. So today, the nations of Britain, France, and the United States of America have marshalled their righteous power against barbarism and brutality. Tonight, I ask all Americans to say a prayer for our noble warriors and our allies as they carry out their missions. We pray that God will bring comfort to those suffering in Syria. We pray that God will guide the whole region toward a future of dignity and of peace. And we pray that God will continue to watch over and bless the United States of America. Thank you, and goodnight. Thank you. \|\|\|\|\| The move is a response to a suspected chemical attack on the town of Douma last week which killed dozens. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he condemned the Western strikes "in the most serious way". Russia, Syria's main ally, had threatened military retaliation if any Russian forces had been hit. "The nations of Britain, France, and the United States of America have marshalled their righteous power against barbarism and brutality," US President Donald Trump said in an address from the White House at about 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT). "The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread, and use of chemical weapons," he said. The wave of strikes is the most significant attack against President Bashar al-Assad's government by Western powers in seven years of Syria's civil war. Where was hit? At a Pentagon briefing shortly after Mr Trump's announcement, General Joseph Dunford listed three targets that had been struck: Reuters news agency cites a pro-Assad militia commander saying other locations were hit, including various sites close to Damascus: a military base in the Dimas area; army depots in the eastern Qalamoun; the Kiswah area, where Iran is believed to have been building a base; and a site in the Qasyoun hills, plus a research centre in Masyaf, further north. These reports are unverified. UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights suggested more targets than the three listed by the Pentagon had been hit. Russia said Syria had shot down 71 of 103 missiles fired. Was anyone killed? According to a Russian defence ministry statement, "preliminary information" said there had been no casualties among the Syrian army or civilians. There were initial reports that three civilians had been injured in Homs. US Secretary of Defence James Mattis told journalists there were no reports of US losses in the operation. He also said the scale of the strikes was about "double" what was launched in April 2017 after a chemical attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun that killed more than 80 people. Will the strikes continue? In his earlier address, President Trump had said: "We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents." But Secretary Mattis said that "right now, this is a one-time shot". Gen Dunford said the US had communicated with Russia ahead of the strikes through the normal procedures of their "deconfliction" hotline, which is used to prevent accidental clashes in a war zone with multiple international players. There had been concerns that if the US strike had hit Russian military personnel on the ground, it would further escalate tension. What role did the UK and France play? According to the UK Ministry of Defence, strikes carried out by four RAF Tornado jets hit one of the targets mentioned by the Pentagon - a military site near the city of Homs which is believed to have housed precursor materials for chemical weapons. Eight Storm Shadow cruise missiles were fired by the jets. Prime Minister Theresa May said there was "no practicable alternative to the use of force". But she also said the strikes were not about "regime change". She later added that while the assessment of the strikes' results was ongoing, she was confident of their success. French President Emmanuel Macron also confirmed his country's participation in the operation. "Dozens of men, women and children were massacred with chemical weapons," he said of the Douma incident a week ago - adding that "the red line had been crossed". Analysis: Will this time be different? Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence correspondent This attack was more significant than the US strike against a Syrian air base a little over a year ago, but at first sight seems more limited than President Trump's rhetoric may have suggested. Last year some 59 missiles were fired. This time a little over double that number were used. The strikes are over for now, but there was a clear warning that if the Assad regime resorts to chemical weapons again, then further strikes may well follow. Care was taken, say the Americans, to avoid both Syrian and "foreign" - for that read Russian - casualties. But the fundamental questions remain. Will President Assad be deterred? Last year's US strike failed to change his behaviour. This time, will it be any different? How has Syria responded? Sana, Syria's official state news agency, called the Western action "a flagrant violation of international law". "The American, French and British aggression against Syria will fail," it said. Syria has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons. The international Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had dispatched a fact-finding team to the site of the alleged attack in Douma and was set to start work on Saturday. The mission will still go ahead, said the OPCW after the strikes. The Syrian presidency has tweeted a short video of Bashar al-Assad walking into his office at 09:00 local time with the caption: "Morning of steadfastness". In his speech, President Trump said Mr Assad had committed "the crimes of a monster". What has the worldwide reaction been? Reaction to the strikes was mixed among the international community. President Putin called them "an act of aggression". The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Moscow said President Putin had articulated Russian anger, but Moscow's claim that none of its own military assets were threatened may suggest that the threat of escalation through some sort of Russian retaliation has now been substantially reduced. German Chancellor Angela Merkel - who had ruled out joining the military action - said she supported the strikes as "necessary and appropriate". Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted support for the strikes, saying those who use chemical weapons "must be held accountable". Nato said it would hold a special meeting on Saturday, where the US, UK and France would brief other member states. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his nation's support for the strikes. US Senator John McCain applauded Mr Trump for taking military action. The leading Republican and former prisoner-of-war, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, is often critical of the president. Other US politicians argued that President Trump should come before Congress and receive authorisation for the use of military force. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned UN members of their responsibilities. "There's an obligation, particularly when dealing with matters of peace and security, to act consistently with the Charter of the United Nations and with international law in general," he said. "I urge all member states to show restraint in these dangerous circumstances." \|\|\|\|\| By Prof Michael ClarkeSenior research fellow, Rusi The critical military virtue of surprise has long since disappeared for the United States and its allies in the strikes it is planning against Syrian military facilities. Indeed, Syrian forces have had more than two days to move their aircraft and other military assets into Russian bases at Latakia, Tartus and Khmeimim, where they will be within the protective bubbles of Russia's highly capable S-400 surface-to-air missiles. The Syrians have emptied their infantry bases and dispersed as much of their armed forces as possible, in anticipation of incoming Western missiles. The Russians will undoubtedly try to protect their bases, if attacked, so the situation is fraught with superpower brinkmanship and the danger of accidental conflict. For Western military planners the two greatest questions are what can they achieve militarily in this situation, and what strategic difference can it make? With Syrian forces forewarned, dispersed and under Russian protection, Western strikes will have to concentrate on Syria's fixed military facilities - bombing runways, destroying buildings and capital equipment where it remains in place. Western attacks will probably try to destroy Syria's military command and control system, possibly with bunker-busting bombs and deep penetration warheads. They are likely to try to dismantle the military infrastructure that Syria has effectively rebuilt since 2015. More ambitiously, and also more risky, the United States might declare a longer-term policy of revisiting these targets to keep them out of use and have Syrian aircraft bottled up inside their Russian bases - in effect trying to operate a quasi "no-fly zone" in Syria, at least for a while. Last year when the US struck President Assad's Shayrat airbase in retaliation for the use of chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhoun, the Syrian air force made sure it was seen to be back in action within a day. The US will be determined that this does not happen again, which is why we can expect this to be a more prolonged air campaign with repeated attacks on key sites. What strategic purpose can be served by this? It certainly won't make any immediate difference to the civil population of Syria, who have suffered so much at the hands of their own government, and the multitude of rebel, terrorist and guerrilla groups, some of whom have intimidated, as much as they have represented, them. And President Assad is unlikely to relent in his determination to consolidate his hold on the country. So why take all the risks of escalation with Russia and the prospects of unintended consequences that normally follow? On its own, military force is meaningless. It has to be part of a political strategy and in this case the strategy is about bigger issues than Syria itself and only offers a long-shot hope for the Syrian population. The first objective is to push back against the increasing "normalisation" of chemical weapons being used in wars of any kind. The taboo against them has been surprisingly strong since the end of World War One. The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 has been one of the most effective disarmament measures in modern history. Syria is a signatory to it. In 2013 President Obama claimed he would uphold that taboo as a "red line", but then didn't. And despite firm denials from the Assad government, there is an abundance of evidence that Syrian forces, with Russian connivance, have been using chemical weapons against their own people on a regular basis ever since. Many Western politicians feel that - with all the moral grey areas of this situation - they cannot sell the pass on this issue yet again. It has become a test case for the international rule of law, which is under severe pressure on many fronts. Beyond that, some argue effective military action would represent an acceptance that Western powers have got to get back into the game of Middle East politics at a time when the region is melting down. The campaign against so-called Islamic State (IS) was always a geopolitical sideshow, and Western influence on what has been happening from Lebanon to the Yemen has been in steep decline. Of course, it is tempting, and understandable, for Western leaders to want to leave it all alone. But while they took their eye off the ball fighting IS, the future of the area was being determined by Iran, Russia and partly also by Turkey. The calculation is whether long-term Western interests are served better by involvement than indifference to a constellation of powers that is sliding out of control. And the hope for the Syrian population is that an effective military campaign could possibly push President Assad back into negotiations so that the war might end with something more humane than a vicious victory. Using military force is never easy, but it can only be effective if it is part of a coherent and realistic political strategy. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Professor Michael Clarke is a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (Rusi), and associate director of the Strategic Studies Institute. Edited by Jennifer Clarke. \|\|\|\|\| The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) says initial tests on samples from two sites detected "various chlorinated organic chemicals", along with explosive residues. However, no nerve agents were detected. The Syrian government denies ever using chemical weapons, and its ally Russia says it has evidence that the incident was staged with the help of the UK. Why was Douma being bombed? In February, forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad launched an assault on the Eastern Ghouta that reportedly left more than 1,700 civilians dead. In March, troops split the region into three pockets - the largest of which was around Douma, home to between 80,000 and 150,000 people. Facing defeat, rebel groups in the other two pockets agreed to be evacuated to northern Syria. But the group controlling Douma, Jaysh al-Islam, continued to hold out. On 6 April, after negotiations with the government stalled, air strikes resumed. What happened on 7 April? The bombardment continued for a second day, with dozens of people reportedly killed or injured by conventional munitions before the suspected chemical attack. Activists from the Violations Documentation Center (VDC), which records alleged violations of international law in Syria, reported two separate incidents of bombs believed to contain toxic substances being dropped by the Syrian Air Force. The first occurred at approximately 16:00 (13:00 GMT) and saw the Saada bakery on Omar Ibn Al-Khattab street in north-western Douma targeted, the VDC said. It cited a member of the Syria Civil Defence, whose rescue workers are widely known as the White Helmets, as saying he smelt chlorine in the air after the strike, but that he could not determine its source. The VDC said the second incident took place not far to the east, near Martyrs' Square, at approximately 19:30. At 19:45, more than 500 patients - most of them women and children - were brought to medical facilities with symptoms indicative of exposure to a chemical agent, according to the Syria Civil Defence and the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), which supports hospitals in rebel-held areas. The patients showed signs of "respiratory distress, central cyanosis [blue skin or lips], excessive oral foaming, corneal burns, and the emission of chlorine-like odour", a joint statement issued on Sunday said. One woman who died had convulsions and pinpoint pupils. Rescue workers searching homes in the affected area also found the bodies of people with oral foaming, cyanosis, and corneal burns, the statement added. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), which supports hospitals in rebel-held Syria, also said it received reports of two incidents. People were treated for breathing difficulties and irritation of the eyes following the first, the UOSSM said. After the second, patients were brought to hospital smelling strongly of a chlorine-like substance and presenting symptoms that included cyanosis, foaming of the mouth, and cornea irritation, it added. A medical student working at a hospital told the BBC he had treated a man who died. "His pupils were dilated and he had foam in his mouth. His heart was very slow. Then he coughed blood into his mouth as well," he said. Two videos circulated by the opposition activist group Douma Revolution showed what it said were the bodies of children, women and men found in one block of flats, which is believed to be located south-west of Martyrs' Square. Some had foam coming out of their mouths and noses. Activists also posted a video which they said showed a yellow industrial gas cylinder on the balcony of the same block of flats. One end of the cylinder was lying in a crater-like opening in the reinforced concrete floor. A second gas cylinder was filmed on the bed of a top-floor flat to the south-west, below a crater-like opening in the concrete roof. How many people died? The World Health Organization said on 11 April that it had received reports from its local "health cluster partners" of 43 deaths related to symptoms consistent with exposure to highly toxic chemicals". The Syria Civil Defence and SAMS said rescue workers found 42 people dead in their homes. One person was declared dead on arrival at a hospital, and another six died while receiving treatment, they added. An earlier, now deleted tweet by the Syria Civil Defence put the number dead at more than 150. The UOSSM initially reported that 70 people were confirmed dead. On 9 April, it revised down the figure to at least 42. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said air strikes on 6 and 7 April killed almost 100 people. It said they included 21 who died as a result of suffocation, but that it was unable to identify the cause. The British investigative journalism website, Bellingcat, said it had counted at least 34 bodies in the two videos circulated by Douma Revolution. Bellingcat also assessed that the block of flats near Martyrs' Square where the bodies were filmed was visited by Russian military personnel on 9 April. What could they have been exposed to? The Syria Civil Defence and SAMS said the day after the incident that they believed those who died suffocated as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals, most likely an organophosphate - a compound grouping associated with pesticides and nerve agents, such as Sarin. The UOSSM also concluded that the symptoms of the casualties were consistent with exposure to a nerve agent, possibly one mixed with chlorine. On 13 April, the US said it assessed "with confidence that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons". The conclusion was "based on descriptions of the attack in multiple media sources, the reported symptoms experienced by victims, videos and images showing two assessed barrel bombs from the attack, and reliable information indicating co-ordination between Syrian military officials before the attack". It added: "A significant body of information points to the regime using chlorine in its bombardment of Douma, while some additional information points to the regime also using the nerve agent Sarin." The OPCW, which oversees the Chemical Weapons Convention, dispatched experts from its Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) to Damascus five days after the attack. But they were unable to visit any of the sites of interest until 21 April because of an attack on a UN security team conducting a reconnaissance mission. The FFM team interviewed witnesses and collected environmental samples and data from three locations: the hospital where victims were allegedly treated for chemical exposure; the block of flats with the cylinder on the balcony (referred to as "Location 2"); the flat with the cylinder on the bed ("Location 4"). The team also gathered or received samples and interviewed witnesses, including alleged casualties, in a neighbouring country. On 6 July, a preliminary report issued by the OPCW said "no organophosphorus nerve agents or their degradation products were detected, either in the environmental samples or in plasma samples from the alleged casualties". However, it added, "various chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from Locations 2 and 4, along with residues of explosive". The OPCW said the FFM team was now working to establish the significance of the results. It is also assessing the association of the two gas cylinders with the incident, the relative damage to the cylinders and the roofs, and how the cylinders arrived at their respective locations. The chlorinated compounds included those used to treat drinking water, as a disinfectant, a wood preservative, or a flame retardant. However, the same compounds were detected at other sites in Syria where the OPCW has concluded that chlorine was likely used as a weapon, including Saraqeb and Latamina. What does the Syrian government say? President Assad has accused the US, UK and France of "staging" the incident in Douma with the help of the Syria Civil Defence, which receives funding from Western governments. "It was a lie. After we liberated that area our information confirmed the attack did not take place," he told the Daily Mail on 9 June. "The British government should prove with evidence that the attack happened, and then they should prove who is responsible. This did not happen." Russian permanent representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council on 9 April that Russian military specialists had visited Douma and taken soil samples that showed no presence of nerve agents or substances containing chlorine. He also said no-one with symptoms of exposure to sarin or chlorine had been admitted to Douma's hospital, nor any bodies found. Four days later, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had "irrefutable evidence that this was yet another attack, staged with the participation of special services of one state that is striving to be at the forefront of the Russophobic campaign". A British diplomat called the allegation "bizarre" and a "blatant lie". On 26 April, Russian and Syrian diplomats presented to a briefing at the OPCW's headquarters in The Hague more than a dozen people from Douma who said they had not seen any evidence of chemical weapons being used there. They included Hasan Diab, an 11-year-old boy who was seen being doused in water in a video widely circulated online after the alleged attack. "We heard cries on the street that we should go to the hospital. We got scared. We went to the hospital through the tunnel," he told reporters. "They started pouring water on me at the hospital. I don't know why." Western nations dismissed the event as "nothing more than a crude propaganda exercise" and an "obscene masquerade". The US said it had no information to suggest Jaysh al-Islam had ever used chemical weapons, and that it was unlikely that the opposition could have fabricated the number of reports that came from Douma on 7 April and "deceived multiple media outlets while evading our detection". How has the international community reacted? United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said he was outraged by the reports from Douma and warned that "any confirmed use of chemical weapons, by any party to the conflict and under any circumstances, is abhorrent and a clear violation of international law". Hours before the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission team arrived in Damascus on 14 April, the US, UK and France carried out missile strikes on three sites they said were "specifically associated with the Syrian regime's chemical weapons programme". The US military said warships and jets launched 105 missiles that hit a branch of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) in the capital's Barzeh district, the Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage facility west of the city of Homs, and a nearby chemical weapons bunker. US President Donald Trump said he wanted "to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread, and use of chemical weapons". The Syrian foreign ministry denounced "the barbaric aggression". When were chemical weapons used before? In August 2013, rockets containing Sarin were fired at several opposition-held suburbs in the Eastern and Western Ghouta, killing hundreds of people. UN experts confirmed that Sarin was used in the attack, but they were not asked to ascribe any blame. Western powers said only Syrian government forces could have carried out the attack. President Assad denied the allegation, but he did agree to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention and destroy Syria's declared chemical arsenal. Experts from a joint UN-OPCW mission also said they were confident that government forces used Sarin in an attack in April 2017 on the rebel-held Khan Sheikhoun, which reportedly killed more than 80 people. President Assad dismissed the attack as a fabrication, but the US carried a cruise missile strike on a Syrian airbase in retaliation. The UN-OPCW mission also found that government forces used chlorine as a weapon on at least three occasions during the civil war.	My fellow Americans, a short time ago I ordered the United States armed forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. A combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now under way. We thank them both. The US, UK and France have bombed three government sites in Syria in an early morning operation targeting chemical weapons facilities, they say. As the US and UK governments continue to discuss their potential response to the suspected chemical weapons attack in Douma in Syria , what could military intervention achieve? Syrian opposition activists, rescue workers and medics say more than 40 people were killed on 7 April in a suspected chemical attack on Douma, which was the last rebel-held town in the Eastern Ghouta region.
By Emma SimpsonBusiness correspondent, BBC News Other retailers then jumped on the Black Friday bandwagon, offering huge discounts and promotions. So big was its effect last year, the event completely distorted Christmas spending, pulling forward sales, right at the most crucial time of the year when retailers should be selling their goods at full price. And who could forget the scenes of chaos in some stores. Three years on, Asda is effectively trying to put the genie back in the bottle. Instead of investing £26m in a Black Friday frenzy, it's now spreading that money in a series of savings and promotions across the Christmas season. Asda cites customer fatigue, saying it reckons its customers want better savings across everyday Christmas items. But the move is not without commercial risk. There's a finite amount of Christmas money that shoppers have to spend and if they splurge out on big ticket items and deals with other retailers at the end of this month, then Asda could miss out on its share of that spend. The online retail industry body, the IMRG, has been reminding me that it surveyed dozens of retailers in the aftermath of last year's Christmas trading and found that although those offering discounts saw an average sales uplift of 180%, even those that didn't take part so sales increase by nearly a quarter. Asda will be hoping they see some of that uplift. So what effect will Asda's move have on the rest of the industry? Some retailers will be breathing a sigh of relief after the havoc this entirely manufactured event has brought - not just to margins but on the logistics side as well. But all the signs are that this year, Black Friday is still going to be big, possibly record breaking, with the IMRG predicting that online spending could break through the billion pound mark for the first time. \|\|\|\|\| By Emily YoungBBC News "I urge retail companies and their store managers to ensure that they have sufficient security arrangements," said deputy chief constable Sue Fish. Shops should consider longer periods for sales than just a day, she added. Supermarket Asda has said it has decided not to take part in Black Friday this year. "The police will intervene if necessary to protect public order and safety, but we should be the service of last resort, not a substitute for carefully considered in-store security plans," said Ms Fish, who speaks on business and retail crime for the organisation. Asda helped to bring Black Friday to the UK in 2013 but the supermarket says "shopper fatigue" has set in "around flash sales on big-ticket, non-essential items at Christmas". Black Friday falls on 27 November and the event marks the beginning of the US Christmas shopping season. It is not universally popular with retailers and experts are divided over whether others would follow Asda. Last year, police were called in to supermarkets as scuffles broke out among shoppers vying to get the best deal. Analysis: Emma Simpson, BBC business reporter Asda has dramatically changed tack. This US-owned supermarket, along with Amazon, led the way in introducing this American phenomenon to UK shoppers. So big was its effect last year, the event completely distorted Christmas spending, pulling forward sales, right at the most crucial time of the year when retailers should be selling their goods at full price. Three years on, Asda is effectively trying to put the genie back in the bottle. Asda cites customer fatigue, saying it reckons its customers want better savings across everyday Christmas items. But the move is not without commercial risk. Read Emma's analysis in full "The decision to step away from Black Friday is not about the event itself," said Asda chief executive Andy Clarke. "Over the last two years we've developed an organised, well-executed plan, but this year customers have told us loud and clear that they don't want to be held hostage to a day or two of sales." It says that instead of investing in one-off sales, it will invest £26m in savings across the seasonal shopping period. 'No choice' Retailer John Lewis has previously warned that UK firms would have to reconsider the heavy discounting of Black Friday, even though last year it brought the company its biggest trading week on record. Earlier this year, managing director Andy Street said it was "more challenging profitability-wise" and questioned whether it was "right to concentrate trade so much in that one period". But John Lewis recently confirmed it would still take part this year. "John Lewis has no choice. We are part of this whether we want to be or not," said commercial director Paula Nickolds. Retail analyst Nick Bubb said Asda's decision did not mean the end of the discount day. "Despite the general recognition that too much discounting ruins Christmas trading prospects, it's not the end of Black Friday, because online players, such as Amazon, are fully committed to it, as well as stores like Currys and PC World. "But Asda were clearly sensitive to the embarrassing scenes last year of people fighting over cheap TV sets in their supermarkets and wanted to avoid any risk of reputational damage," he said. 'Risky' move Russell Craig, an Asda executive, said that he found the footage of people fighting over televisions "uncomfortable", but stressed that this was about how people wanted to spend their money at Christmas. He told BBC Radio 5 live: "We underestimated the response customers would have. There is some extraordinary and uncomfortable footage of that time. Last year we had one store in Wembley, where we had well documented incidents, but in the rest of the chain it was very orderly and we managed it in the right way." Greg Bromley, analyst at the retail research firm Conlumino, said the move was "risky" but could mean that Asda wins the retail battle over Christmas if the move allowed it to sell cheaper food, while other firms fought over electrical sales. 'Disappointing month' Separately, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) attributed "disappointing" retail sales in October to customers delaying purchases in anticipation of Black Friday. It said the total value of retail sales between 4 October and 31 October was 0.9% higher than a year earlier, down from a 3.9% increase in September. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: "A number of categories which we'd typically expect to be popular on Black Friday saw a slowdown in October, suggesting that some shoppers may be holding out in the hope of some great deals at the end of November." \|\|\|\|\| Greater Manchester Police appealed for calm after attending seven Tesco shops, at which three men were arrested and a woman was hit by a falling television. The force said the issues were "totally predictable" and it was "disappointed" by shop security. Tesco said only a "small number" of stores were affected. Police were called in places including Dundee, Glasgow, Cardiff and London. Originating in the US, Black Friday is becoming a major UK shopping day. Visa has predicted that UK shoppers will spend £518m online on cards on Friday - which would make it the country's biggest internet shopping day in history. Police in Manchester tweeted: "At least two people arrested at #BlackFriday sales events already this morning. Keep calm people!" The force said there had been "disturbances" at the seven Tesco stores. Incidents at those stores and other locations included: In London, police were called by both Tesco staff and queuing shoppers as people gathered at the Glover Drive store in Edmonton. Officers also attended Tesco stores in Willesden and Surrey Quays. The Metropolitan Police said officers worked with staff to "ensure that sale-goers were able to enter and exit the stores safely", and said no-one had been injured "as a result of the overcrowding". Sgt Paul Marshall, a Metropolitan Police officer, tweeted: "Even on #BlackFriday shoving people to the floor so you can get £20 off a Coffee Maker is still an assault." In South Wales, police said they were called by concerned staff at a number of Tesco stores. A spokesman said officers were twice called to Tesco in Excelsior Road, Cardiff, just after midnight, when concerns were raised about customer conduct inside the shop. No arrests were made. 'Black Friday' sale estimates £360,000 a minute on credit cards 8.5 million online transactions 3,000+ deals offered by retailers including Asda, John Lewis, Dixons and Amazon 40% average price cut £451,000 a minute spending expected on 'Cyber Monday' (1 Dec) Police were called to Tesco at Silverburn in the Pollok area of Glasgow about 11:45 GMT on Thursday after staff reported scuffles among several customers. The store was closed for a period, and footage from the scene shows shoppers shoving each other as they attempt to grab items from trolleys. Police were also called to the Tesco in Kingsway, Dundee, to help with crowd control. Avon and Somerset Police said they were called after scuffles in the queue at Tesco in Brislington, Bristol, at about midnight. The BBC's Zoe Conway tweeted a picture of a woman on her knees with the words: "Customers knocked to the ground in the rush at Asda Wembley #BlackFriday." Jamie Hook was buying food at Tesco in Stretford on Thursday night when he said "the screaming started". "I looked at the massive crowd to see people climbing over shelves and displays, staff running for cover, fights breaking out, stock flying through air, people breaking through carrying televisions - and this was before the sale had even started," he said. "The lady on the till I was at was in tears, terrified of it all, but she was under orders to close her till to go and help crowd control." Ross Lewis was at one of the stores participating in Black Friday in Cardiff. He said people fought to get hold of television sets. "People were biting each other, pinching, punching, kicking - it was just absolutely horrendous, it was so, so bad." Sir Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, expressed his frustration via his Twitter account about the amount of Black Friday-related work being asked of his officers. In a statement, he also said he was "disappointed that stores did not have sufficient security staff on duty". "Across Greater Manchester large supermarkets already make significant demands on policing through calls to shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and thefts of fuel from their petrol stations - much of which is preventable," he said. "We just ask these stores to work with us to reduce the demands on policing and reduce the risks of disorder and crime." A Tesco spokesman said: "Over 600 Tesco stores have Black Friday offers available in store. "In the interest of customer safety a small number of these stores contacted police last night to help control crowds safely and stores are now trading normally." Black Friday - historically the big sales day in America that follows the Thanksgiving holiday - has been adopted by an increasing number of shops in the UK. The websites of several retailers, including Tesco, Argos and John Lewis, crashed earlier due to the number of shoppers trying to access them. Despite its website problems, John Lewis said it was forecasting record online sales by the end of Friday. It said Apple's iPad mini and a discounted food processor were its fastest-selling products in early sales. Currys said it experienced "astonishing" online demand overnight, with a "pre-planned queuing system" operating. Many retailers have been advertising Black Friday deals, with Tesco offering discounts of up to 70%. At about 07:00 GMT on Friday Tesco tweeted that it had "loads" of Black Friday bargains - but that tweet was later deleted. And on Friday afternoon, Tesco also tweeted that it was having problems with its website, due to "huge demand". The company has previously said it expects Black Friday to beat Boxing Day sales in 2014. Its 24-hour stores began selling a minute after midnight, and extra staff have been laid on in some areas.	So Asda has dramatically changed tack. This US-owned supermarket, along with Amazon, led the way in introducing this American phenomenon to UK shoppers. Retailers have been warned by the National Police Chiefs' Council to have enough staff and security to handle any seasonal sales, including Black Friday. Police have been called to supermarkets across the UK amid crowd surges as people hunt for "Black Friday" offers. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The Aberdeenshire-based company announced it had raised £19m in the fourth round of its Equity for Punks crowdfunding scheme. BrewDog launched the round a year ago in order to expand its business. It has yet to say whether the shortfall will have an impact on its growth plans, which include expanding its brewery in Ellon and opening new bars. The fourth round closed on Wednesday but BrewDog said it would still accept paper applications until 29 April. The Ellon-based company has raised more than £26m since launching its first crowdfunding round in 2009. On its website, BrewDog describes Equity for Punks IV scheme as "the biggest equity crowdfunding campaign ever seen". Crowdfunding involves companies raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. The craft brewer is set to launch a further round of crowdfunding, to help fund a major expansion in the US. It plans to replicate the success of its Equity for Punks scheme in the UK by turning to US residents for backing. Cash raised from the American scheme, to be launched next month, will in part be used to open a new US brewery in Ohio. BrewDog has estimated the initial costs of establishing the base and a network of BrewDog "brewpubs" across the country at about $25m (£17.3m). \|\|\|\|\| The Aberdeenshire-based company plans to replicate the success of its ongoing Equity for Punks scheme in the UK by turning to US residents for backing. Cash raised from the US scheme, to be launched in May, will in part be used to open a new US base in Ohio. BrewDog said recently it had raised a record £13.5m in the fourth round of its UK Equity for Punks scheme. It has set a target of £25m by the time the round closes in April. 'Technologically advanced' Crowdfunding involves companies raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. Ellon-based BrewDog estimates initial costs of establishing its North American base and a network of BrewDog "brewpubs" across the country at about $25m (£17.5m). The construction of a new 100,000 sq ft brewery in Columbus is already under way. The company claims it will be "one of the most technologically advanced craft breweries in the world" when it opens in August. BrewDog estimates that more than 120 staff will be employed there. BrewDog has been expanding rapidly, after raising more than £20m through crowdfunding since 2010. In its "draft" results for 2015, it announced turnover increased year-on-year by 52% to £45m, with UK sales up by 130%. 'Laying foundations' The company, whose flagship beer is Punk IPA, opened 17 new bars around the world last year, including craft beer venues in Brussels, Rome and Hong Kong as well as the UK. This year it plans to set up shop at a number of new locations, including Amsterdam, Warsaw, York and Berlin. BrewDog co-founder James Watt said: "2015 was a great year for BrewDog in and of itself, but it was also about laying the foundations for the next five years of growth." The firm's full results will be announced at the end of February. The company was founded nine years ago in Fraserburgh by Mr Watt and Martin Dickie, and now employs 580 people. \|\|\|\|\| The Aberdeenshire firm reported that profits fell in 2015 from just over £3.65m to less than £3.5m, while revenue climbed by 51% to £44.7m. BrewDog said its overheads grew "slightly faster" than its overall revenue as it expanded its operations. Last year, investments included opening 16 new bars around the world and constructing a new brewery in the US. The brewer said revenue growth in 2015 would have been "much higher" if it had had the capacity to meet demand for its beers. Fast growth BrewDog has invested more than £20m in its Ellon brewery, increasing brewing capacity from 200,000 hectolitres per year to one million hectolitres. It is also establishing its first base in the US, building a new 100,000 sq ft brewery in Columbus, Ohio. The facility, which is part of a $25m (£17.6m) expansion project in North America, is expected to be ready in September this year. In its results statement, the company said: "As well as growing at 51%, 2015 was all about putting the capacity, people and infrastructure in place for our next five years of sustained fast growth and we are now in a position where we have 1.5 million hl (hectolitres) of brewhouse capacity. "To put this in perspective, our 2015 output was 134,000 hl so we now have capacity to burn. "In addition, brewing on our bigger system in Ellon in 2016 should have a significant and positive impact on our 2016 gross margin as we are able to brew our beers more efficiently." BrewDog also reported it had now raised more than £14m in the fourth round of its UK Equity for Punks crowdfunding scheme. It has set a target of £25m by the time the round closes later this month. \|\|\|\|\| The Aberdeenshire-based firm said on its website it had raised a record £13.5m so far in the fourth round of its "Equity for Punks" crowdfunding scheme. The round, which was launched in April last year, is due to close on 20 April. The brewer wants to invest cash raised from the scheme to expand its business. Plans include expanding its brewery in Ellon and opening new bars. It already operates 30 bars in the UK, as well as about a dozen abroad. BrewDog said that more than 20,300 people had invested in Equity for Punks IV to date, with an average investment of £525.55. Shares cost £47.50 each, with a minimum investment of two shares. The total so far includes more than £2.4m which was raised late last year from a four-year mini-bond launched through the Crowdcube platform. It offered investors a fixed 6.5% annual rate of return on a £500 investment. BrewDog shareholders are entitled to discounts in its bars and online shop. The company was founded nine years ago in Fraserburgh by James Watt and Martin Dickie and employs hundreds of people in Ellon. Its first three crowdfunding rounds raised more than £7m from customers and beer enthusiasts. Crowdfunding involves companies raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the internet.	Craft brewer and bar operator BrewDog has fallen well short of a £25m target it set for its latest funding round. Craft brewer BrewDog is to launch a further round of crowdfunding, to help fund a major expansion in the US. Craft brewer and bar operator BrewDog has posted a dip in annual pre-tax profits, despite soaring sales. Brewer and bar operator BrewDog has revealed it is still £11.5m short of reaching a £25m fundraising target set for April. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
By Paul Swinney & Andrew CarterCentre for Cities Over the past decade its economy has expanded by a fifth. Ever more shops, restaurants and bars have opened to serve its residents. As a result the population of London and the urban area surrounding it has grown significantly, increasing by 1.1 million between 2008 and 2017 to 10 million people. Yet despite this success story, not everything is going its way. Many more people pack their bags and leave the capital for elsewhere in England and Wales than make the journey the other way. Over the past decade, about 550,000 more Britons left London than moved to it. This trend is not unique to London; it is seen in many big US cities, including New York, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles. So why has the capital's population continued to grow despite so many people leaving? It can be explained by two factors. The first was its birth rate: 790,000 more people were born in London than died between 2009 and 2017. The second factor was international immigration. There was an increase of 860,000 between 2009 and 2017, with more than half coming from the EU. By 2017, 3.6 million people living in the city were born overseas. Of the Britons moving to the capital, a look at their ages reveals a great deal. A large number of people move to London in their 20s, drawn from all corners of the country. This is because of the range and number of job opportunities that the capital offers. But among almost every other age group, the capital sees more people leaving than arriving. This is most pronounced for very young children, people aged 18-20 and people in their 30s. A look at where people move to after leaving the capital offers an insight into why this happens. The 18-20 age group spreads out across the country, especially going to cities such as Nottingham, Coventry and Brighton. The most common reason is to start university. It is safe to assume the other age groups - the children up to four years old and the 30-somethings - are leaving together. Paddington train station isn't full of unaccompanied toddlers with their suitcases. These are the young families moving out of the capital, very often in search of homes for less than London's notoriously high prices. Yet this does not mean that they are giving up on London altogether and returning "home" to the other parts of the country they first moved from. Unlike people moving for university, many stay within commuting distance. Two-thirds of these age groups remain in what might be called "the Greater South East" - an area stretching from Southampton up to Milton Keynes and across to Norfolk. So while they no longer live in the city, they still have the option to work there. And the 800,000 people who commute into London each day - more than the entire population of cities such as Leeds and Bristol - suggest that many of them do. Among those Londoners who remain past their 30s more continue to leave than arrive, albeit in smaller numbers. These flows of people - the arrival of large numbers of young people and the departure of many of those who are older - also explains why London is such a young city. With an average age of 37, its population is the sixth youngest of any large town or city in the UK. Oxford, Cambridge and Coventry all have populations with an average age under 36, while in Swansea and Sunderland, the oldest, it is 41. London's experience differs to other big British cities. Places like Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle and Nottingham have also seen their population and economies grow. But the waves of people arriving and leaving are very different. They see two waves of people leaving - one for those aged 21-30 (many of whom head to London) and a second for people aged over 30. The inflow and first wave of out-migration is related to universities. These cities have a number of universities in them and attract many thousands of students from across the country, including London. More stories like this But many of these students leave the cities behind as easily as they moved to them once they graduate. Taking Liverpool as an example, it sees an inflow of people aged 18-20 from almost every other city in England and Wales. But the opposite trend is seen for 21 to 30-year-olds, with the city losing more of this age group to almost every other city than it gains. However, it is crucial to note that some of these students do stay on. In the case of Liverpool, one in five of the students who move to the city for university make it their home after graduation. And so the number of highly qualified young people living in the city increases overall. But like London, these big cities also experience a second wave of people leaving when they hit their 30s. And like the capital, these people don't move very far, once again looking for somewhere for their families to live. For example, people leaving Birmingham tend to head for places like Shropshire or Staffordshire. And people leaving Newcastle mainly move to neighbouring Northumberland and County Durham. These patterns show that different places offer different things to people as they get older. The vibrancy and job opportunities offered by our biggest cities appeal to students and young professionals. This shapes these cities in terms of the shops, bars and other facilities they offer. But among older residents, the desire for things like more space and a less urban environment grows, and many move out. It reminds us that cities are not islands, with residents flowing in and out of them depending on their stage of life. With it comes the challenge of making sure there is the right type of housing where people want to live and the transport to get them about. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from experts working for an outside organisation. Andrew Carter is chief executive and Paul Swinney is director at the Centre for Cities, which describes itself as working to understand how and why economic growth and change takes place in the UK's cities. This piece uses data from the ONS on England and Wales's 58 largest urban areas. Comparable data is not available for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Edited by Duncan Walker \|\|\|\|\| Choose rent or buy, how many rooms you want the property to have and how much you'd like to pay each month. If you're buying, you also need to enter your deposit, as you won't get a mortgage without one. The map also shows which end of the local market matches your budget - so you might only be able to afford something towards the lower end of the market in Bath but your budget could stretch to property at the higher end of the market in Shropshire, for example. If you are struggling to find a property you can afford, you may have to increase your deposit. The average deposit for first-time buyers in the UK is £54,770, according to March 2020 data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. First-time buyers in London are looking at an average deposit of around £150,762, almost three times the national average. Whereas, in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, first-time buyers need to find deposits of around £25,000-£30,000. More about this calculator The "Where can I afford to live?" calculator uses pricing and rental data for the 12 months up to the end of June 2020 provided by residential property analysts Hometrack. There is not enough recent data available to show figures for Northern Ireland Monthly mortgage payments are based on the figures calculated by the Bank of England from rates currently being offered by banks and building societies. The rate used is for two year, fixed rate mortgages, so would only be relevant for the first two years of the loan. Every month, the Bank of England brings out figures for people wanting a mortgage for 75% or 90% or 95% of the value of the property they want to buy. So currently the calculator assumes you need a deposit of at least 5% of the value of the property to get a mortgage. House prices are based on sales recorded by the Land Registry and Registers of Scotland plus Red Book mortgage valuation - where a surveyor has valued a property for the purpose of mortgage lending. Is rent cheaper in the next street? Where does rent hit young people the hardest? Number of middle-aged renters doubles Rents are based on monthly prices being asked for by landlords. The average rent in the UK is about £951, according to Homelet. You may find that the map suggests you can't afford to live where you are living now - but this might be because the price of property in your area and interest rates have changed since you got your mortgage. If you were trying to get a mortgage to buy your house today, you might need a bigger deposit and larger monthly payments. If there are fewer than 25 properties matching your criteria in an area, it will come up with "no data". Figures based on a smaller number of properties would be unreliable. When using the calculator, your postcode is required so that the BBC can provide you information on housing costs in your area. The BBC is the data controller of the data you enter here. For more information see the BBC Privacy & Cookies Policy. The calculator was produced by: Dominic Bailey, Prina Shah, James Dooley and Steven Connor \|\|\|\|\| By Andrew Carter & Paul SwinneyCentre for Cities Over the past two decades, the average age of a UK resident has risen by two years, to 40. Within 30 years, one in four people is expected to be aged 65 and over. But the picture in cities is more complex. At 38, the average city dweller is younger. Cities are home to 62% of people aged 18-34, but only 46% of those aged 65 and over. Despite this, the populations of most UK cities are growing older, raising big questions about what that means for their development, and for meeting the future needs of residents. The Centre for Cities looks at built-up urban areas with 135,000 or more people, rather than just officially recognised cities. This allows us to compare changes across the UK's largest centres of population. The UK's youngest cities The UK city with the youngest population is Slough, with an average age of 33.9 and only one in 10 people aged 65 and over. It is followed by Oxford (34.4) and Luton (35.1). The average age in London, the sixth youngest city, is 36.5. Slough and Luton have particularly high shares of under-18s, partly because they have the highest birth rates of all UK cities - 16.6 and 17.9 births for every 1,000 residents, compared to the British average of 11.8. This has been partly driven by their young migrant populations. Oxford has the highest share of people aged 18-24, reflecting the city's large university population. The UK's oldest cities In contrast, Blackpool has the oldest population of any UK city, with an average age of 43.2. It is followed by fellow coastal cities of Worthing (43), Bournemouth (42.8) and Southend (42.2). These cities have high shares of people who are at retirement age. More than one in five residents of each city was 65 and over in 2016 - apparently reflecting the pull of the seaside for people who have finished their working lives. Change over the past 20 years Over the past 20 years, younger people have increasingly chosen to live in urban areas, while the share of older residents in cities has fallen. In 1996, 58% of people aged 18-34 lived in cities, but this had risen to 62% by 2016. In contrast, the share of people aged 65 or older in cities fell from 51% to 46% during this period. Despite these patterns, the average age of the population in most cities has changed in line with that of the population of the UK as a whole. Only six cities - Brighton, Exeter, Oxford, Cambridge, Coventry and Slough - saw a drop in the average age of their population, mostly as a result of expanding student populations and Slough's high birth rate. The populations of most cities grew older. Sunderland's population aged most, with the average resident being just under four years older (41) in 2016 than in 1996. It is closely followed by the urban areas around Aldershot, Warrington and Middlesbrough. There are two main groups among the cities which age faster than others. The first is made up of those which have struggled economically in recent decades - for example, Middlesbrough and Wigan. They have seen a decline in people aged between 25 and 40 - most probably because of young people moving away in search of job opportunities. The second group is made up of new towns such as Milton Keynes and Warrington. It was mostly young people who moved to new towns in the decades after they were created. However, those once-young residents have got older - and the average age of these cities has increased. Milton Keynes, for example, had a large population of 20 and 30-somethings in 1996, but they are now approaching middle age. What does this mean for cities? A younger population can bring advantages such as attracting businesses, who will have a larger pool of working age residents to draw from. However, cities need to provide opportunities for young people to start and build careers, as well as cultural amenities, schools and affordable housing. Among those cities which have been getting younger, Oxford, Cambridge and Brighton have large shares of high-skilled, high-paying jobs, and all offer good access to quality schools. But housing is an issue in these cities, which are among the least affordable places in the UK. Cities with older populations have different benefits and challenges. Older people of working age tend to be more productive and can command higher wages because of their experience and skills. This in turn increases disposable income which can be spent in shops, bars and restaurants. But it's also clear that places which have older residents face greater demands in terms of health and social care provision. Another challenge, which faces all cities, is that they do not have great flexibility over how they spend money. For example, much of the money that cities receive from central government is allocated for specific issues - like potholes and schools. It could be that some would benefit from being able to prioritise social care, or affordable family homes, for example. As their populations continue to diverge, cities are likely to become increasingly focused on the needs of their own residents. It is clear that some will be growing old faster than others. Youngest and oldest cities About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Andrew Carter is Chief Executive and Paul Swinney is Head of Research and Policy at the Centre for Cities, which describes itself as working to understand how and why economic growth and change takes place in the UK's cities. Edited by Duncan Walker \|\|\|\|\| By Paul Swinney & Andrew CarterCentre for Cities Take a walk through the centre of cities like Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham and you will see smart new high-rise apartments, office blocks and the ever-present cranes building still more. At street level are cafes, bars, restaurants and gyms serving their often young and affluent customers - the people who increasingly define these areas. Only 30 years ago inner city populations that had grown rapidly in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries had dwindled - the residents leaving cramped, urban housing for more spacious suburbs and new towns. The reversal that has taken place - especially in the north of England and the Midlands - demonstrates a dramatic urban renaissance and a shift in how people want to live. Since the start of the 21st Century the population of many town and city centres has doubled in size, while the population of the UK has increased by 10%. (Full list at bottom of story). There is no way of saying exactly where a city centre starts or stops. So, to allow a comparison between towns and cities with 135,000 or more people, the Centre for Cities mapped them from the middle of their shopping and business areas as follows: Using this measure, Liverpool has the fastest growing city centre - with the population increasing by 181% (9,100 to 25,600 people) between 2002 and 2015, according to analysis of figures from the Office for National Statistics. Other major cities are close behind, with the population of Birmingham city centre growing 163% (9,800 to 25,800 people), Leeds increasing by 150% (12,900 to 32,300 people), Manchester 149% (14,300 to 35,600 people) and Bradford 146% (1,300 to 3,200 people). In terms of sheer numbers, the fastest growing city centre was London, which grew from 268,700 to 327,200. However, this amounted to a relatively low 22% increase. There was also rapid growth outside England. Cardiff city centre's population increased by 88% (6,700 to 12,600) between 2002 and 2015. And although detailed figures for the same period are not available for Scotland and Northern Ireland, census data suggests that Glasgow's city centre grew by 44% (19,700 to 28,300), Edinburgh's by 25% (10,100 to 12,600) and Belfast's by 31% (3,500 to 4,600) between 2001 and 2011. Homes for the young The growth in city centre living is down to young people - older generations have not returned from the suburbs in significant numbers. Some are students, whose numbers grew with the expansion of university education. For example, the student population in Sheffield city centre grew by more than 300% between 2001 and 2011, according to census data. By 2011 there were 18,500 students, accounting for about half the population. Similarly, Liverpool's city centre student population grew by 208% (6,300 more people), and Leeds 151% (7,700 more people). But the popularity of big city centres among young, single professionals is the main factor. The number of 20 to 29-year-olds in the centre of large cities (those with 550,000 people or more) tripled in the first decade of the 21st Century, to a point where they made up half of the population. There is no reason to think that this trend has eased since the census. Only one in five city-centre residents was married or in a civil partnership, while three-quarters were renting flats and apartments. More than a third had a degree, compared with 27% in the suburbs and outskirts of cities. A big pull for young professionals has been the growing number of high-skilled, high-paying office jobs available. In big cities, more than half of the people living in the centre work in high-skilled professional occupations, reflecting the growing importance of sectors like financial and legal services to the UK economy. Manchester, for example, had an 84% increase in city centre jobs between 1998 and 2015, while Bristol and Leeds enjoyed increases of 42% and 34% respectively. More like this: All of these jobs have created a market for gyms, restaurants, bars and shops. This in turn has made city centre living even more appealing - with closeness to amenities outweighing downsides like smaller living spaces, noise and pollution. Then there's the opportunity to avoid the possibility of a long commute - 32% of city centre residents walk to work. To some extent, governments have supported these trends, with the urban development corporations of the 1980s sparking the regeneration of city centre sites such as the Albert Dock in Liverpool and the Castlefield area of Manchester under the Conservatives. The face of many cities continued to change in the early 2000s, as Labour invested significantly in urban regeneration programmes. But some towns and cities have not grown at the same rate - often because they have struggled to attract high-skilled jobs and students. Blackpool, for example, has a relatively small number of students in its centre and suffered a 13% decline in jobs between 2002 and 2015. Elsewhere the price of land can also limit the rate of growth, as seen in London. This has been a factor in Cambridge, where the historic city centre also limited the number of new homes built. As such, it has seen the biggest fall in the UK, with the number of residents down 8% (6,000 to 5,500 people) between 2002 and 2015. How much space is left? For the most successful city centres, increased demand from both residents and businesses raises important questions about the future Until now, places like Birmingham and Manchester have had lots of land to develop, as they recovered from their post-industrial decline. But over the next 10 years the challenge will be meeting demand for housing without squeezing the commercial heart of the city centres. If they are to continue attracting high-paying jobs, city centres might have to prioritise businesses. Some new housing might have to be further out - in the suburbs or even on green belt land. Another solution might be to increase the density of UK city centres, which are more scarcely populated than in many other European countries. However, given the controversy around the 30-storey St Michael's development in Manchester, or protests about tall buildings blocking views of St Paul's Cathedral in London, this may be difficult. Another challenge is gentrification - and concerns that some people lose out because of changes taking place around their homes. Addressing this will mean improving education and skill levels among everyone who lives there. It will also mean making more affordable housing available, to take account of different incomes. Of course, city centres also have an important social and psychological significance beyond their economic role. A bustling, vibrant city centre is often a source of civic pride. A struggling city centre can become a symbol of broader social problems and decline. This is why people care so much about the future of their city centres and want to see them thrive. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Andrew Carter is chief executive and Paul Swinney is head of research and policy at the Centre for Cities, which describes itself as working to understand how and why economic growth and change takes place in the UK's cities. Edited by Duncan Walker \|\|\|\|\| By Dr Michaela BensonGoldsmiths, University of London Official figures suggest there are about three-quarters-of-a-million Britons living in the EU and that the majority are not retirees but workers - many of them young. Other estimates put the number far higher. It raises the possibility that we don't know how many people there are whose lives abroad will be affected by Brexit - or who they are. Nevertheless, we know that many are concerned about the future. Putting a number on the UK diaspora means using census and registration data from the countries they live in. The most recent official figures suggest 784,900 British citizens live in EU countries, excluding the UK itself and Ireland. Published by the Office for National Statistics, they show nearly three-quarters are aged 64 or under. Seven out of 10 are living in Spain, France and Germany. But these figures only count those who have been in a country for more than 12 months. Those living and working overseas for a relatively short period of time - often younger workers - are undercounted. Many are seasonal workers, people on short-term contracts and students studying abroad. Even those settled abroad for a longer time can be missed, as registration is not always compulsory. For example, an official at the UK consulate in Spain said there were "tens of thousands at least under the radar". Coming up with a precise figure for the true number of Britons in Europe is difficult, but it could be 1 million to 2.25 million. This includes estimates for temporary residents, those currently not registered and dual nationals. Citizens' rights after Brexit under withdrawal agreement Source: The withdrawal agreement - what it all means Work and pay The other problem with the official statistics is that they don't tell us much about who the Brits in Europe are. Knowing more about their education, the jobs they hold and their incomes could help us understand more about their lives abroad - and how they could be affected by Brexit. We have been trying to learn more through the BrExpats research project. Interviews with more than 200 UK citizens in France and Spain have been carried out and responses to short surveys collected from a similar number. Unsurprisingly, those we spoke to work in a wide variety of roles: from tourism to English language teaching, banking and higher education. More stories like this Crossing borders Although the withdrawal agreement between the UK and EU says those lawfully resident in another EU member state on 31 December 2020 will have their rights upheld, many are nervous. For example, there were worries among some on fixed-term contracts coming to an end before they qualify for permanent legal status. Some were concerned that without status as EU citizens, no employer would take them on. One sector in which this is a particular problem is academic research, as it is common for researchers to move around Europe on contracts of two or three years. It is also difficult to demonstrate continuous residence for those in hospitality and tourism, a sector of seasonal work demanding high levels of flexibility from workers. And we don't know how many workers depend upon travelling across EU borders for their work. This could be a problem for those in jobs which take them to more than one country. Of course, all of these concerns take on a new dimension if the Brexit deal is rejected and the UK leaves the EU with no deal. The European Commission has urged its 27 remaining member states to take a "generous" approach to the residency rights of UK citizens in the event of a no deal Brexit, "provided that this approach is reciprocated by the UK". Nevertheless, concerns have been raised about how these arrangements will be put in place and documents issued by 29 March, when the UK is due to leave. A number of countries have already announced plans: The UK government says it will protect the rights of EU citizens who have made their homes in the UK and is expecting about 3.5 million applications. Little impact So, these are some of the circumstances in which working-age Britons living in Europe find themselves. Their lives have been made possible by their rights to freedom of movement, but many now wonder whether they will be able to remain once the UK leaves. But there is a twist here. Many of these Britons are used to job markets that demand they are enterprising and flexible. Some of those we spoke to for the BrExpats project appear to be quite sanguine about the future - believing that they can adjust to the circumstances of Brexit. But the one thing they all are waiting for is a little more certainty about exactly what the UK's exit from the EU means for them. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Dr Michaela Benson is research leader for the BrExpats project at Goldsmiths, University of London. The project is funded by UK in a Changing EU. Edited by Duncan Walker \|\|\|\|\| By Prof Daniel GuttentagCollege of Charleston In the decade since it was launched, online home rental platform Airbnb has amassed millions of rooms worldwide. But it has also found itself entangled in disputes with authorities from Tokyo to Berlin to San Francisco. Similar issues recur: While Airbnb opens up some neighbourhoods to more tourists, it has sometimes proved unpopular with existing residents. Some fear property owners are switching from long-term tenancies to short-term rentals, which can be more lucrative. In Manhattan's Lower East Side, for example, one study found that full-time Airbnb listings earned, on average, two to three times the median long-term rent. New York City has been subject to a recent bill requiring online rental services to hand over host data, with the hope of cracking down on commercial operators. The aim is "protecting our affordable housing stock for the millions of New Yorkers who could not live here without it", says New York City council member Carlina Rivera. Short-term rental restrictions around the world Sources: Airbnb, Amsterdam City Council, Government of the Balearic Islands, Reuters, the New York Times And while Airbnb represents only a tiny percentage of all housing units in any given city, it can represent a very substantial percentage in certain neighbourhoods, such as in Barcelona's Old Town. A 2015 study indicated 9.6% of all homes there were listed on Airbnb - and in the Gothic Quarter section of the Old Town this proportion jumped to 16.8%. The study interviewed 42 local residents, 40 of whom highlighted issues of displacement - including: Barcelona has stopped issuing new tourism housing licences, without which short-term rents are illegal. Barcelona council says illegal accommodation "creates speculation and illicit economies and its activities leave nothing positive for local neighbours, causing nuisance and complaints". The Barcelona study and various others - including those looking at Boston, Los Angeles, and the entire US - have also suggested a link between the concentration of Airbnb properties in a neighbourhood and rising rents. The Los Angeles study indicated that, in 2014, almost half of Airbnb listings were clustered in seven neighbourhoods, where rents increased a third more quickly than the city average. The wider US study suggested a 10% increase in Airbnb listings led to a 0.42% increase in rents and a 0.76% increase in house prices. Of course, many factors affect housing markets. And the author of the Los Angeles report suggested the growth of Airbnb could be as much a result as a cause of wider affordability problems. But the report also suggests that Airbnb profits from illegal rentals that "cause rent increases, reduce the housing supply, and exacerbate segregation". Aside from affordability concerns, some worry that a rapid expansion of short-term lets can alter an area's atmosphere. Edinburgh's heritage watchdog fears "the character of the Old Town in particular is being changed" by short-term lets, although it acknowledges these rentals boost tourism and help businesses. Another study interviewed a small group of residents on the Hawaiian island of Oahu about their perceptions of short-term rentals. It identified both positive and negative effects - but more of the latter. People were most worried about the sense of community being damaged, with this referenced more than twice as frequently as property values and affordability. "This thing is changing the sense of place of the neighbourhood. It's changing the feel of it, with almost a revolving door of strangers," one resident said. Some also fear holiday lets add to problems of "over-tourism". Barcelona and Venice, for example, each receive more than 30 million visitors a year, leading to vigorous debate about the consequences. At other times, there have been complaints about short-term visitors' behaviour, including throwing loud parties or creating parking congestion. But Airbnb and other short-term lettings sites can offer positive experiences for both guests and hosts. Many guests hope to save money versus a hotel or to have more "authentic" holiday experiences in less touristy neighbourhoods. My research has found as many as 90% of Airbnb guests have said they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their stays. Hosts get the chance to meet people from around the world, while earning extra money. As for the wider community, Airbnb can help accommodate more tourists and drive new customers to businesses in primarily residential areas. For its part, Airbnb argues that it helps to diversify tourism by promoting areas that need visitors the most and reducing overcrowding in tourist hotspots. It says the money gained from hosting on its platform delivers economic and social benefits for families, communities and governments. "While the travel and tourism industries continue to grow faster than most of the rest of the economy, it is critical that residents and communities are benefiting from often record numbers of visitors to their cities," an Airbnb representative said. The company added that it worked with governments around the world on clear rules "to ensure that hosts and guests can use the platform with confidence and certainty". More like this The rapid expansion of short-term letting companies - as with drones and driverless cars - is a relatively unexpected phenomenon causing governments to rethink existing regulation. Airbnb aims to host one billion guests each year by 2028. The scale of its ambition means regulatory battles are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, as more places try to shape and control its impact. We may see more of the strict crackdowns that have happened in places such as Japan, Barcelona and Palma. Even jurisdictions choosing a more conciliatory approach may still restrict certain types of listings and require some data sharing on rental activity. This may put the brakes on the company's growth target but it could also help formalise and legitimise the presence of Airbnb as a permanent fixture in neighbourhoods around the world. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Daniel Guttentag is an assistant professor in hospitality and tourism management at the College of Charleston, South Carolina. He is also the director of the department's Office of Tourism Analysis. Edited by Eleanor Lawrie.	It's no secret that London has a very successful economy, not just compared with the rest of the UK but with other international cities too. Where can you afford to live in the UK - and is it cheaper to rent or buy? Try our calculator to see where in the country suits your finances. Cities are often thought of as places for the young, but the reality is that many have an ageing population. What difference does the age of a city's residents make? A generation ago many UK city centres were dreary and dilapidated places, with a reputation for crime. Now, they are among the most desirable areas of the country to live. What's changed? The phrase "Brits abroad" often conjures up images of retirees enjoying the sun. But the reality is far more complex and even something of a puzzle. Millions of people use Airbnb when travelling but its popularity sometimes puts it at odds with locals. So, how do short-term holiday lets really affect a neighbourhood?
Eskinder Nega and 23 others were found guilty last month. They were accused of links with US-based opposition group Ginbot Seven, which Ethiopia considers a terrorist organisation. Opposition activist Andualem Arage was given a life sentence by the court in the capital, Addis Ababa. In May, Eskinder was awarded the prestigious Pen America's Freedom to Write annual prize for his work. Human rights groups have criticised Ethiopia's anti-terrorism legislation for being too far-reaching. Courtroom packed "The court has given due considerations to the charges and the sentences are appropriate," Reuters news agency quotes Judge Endeshaw Adane as saying. Eskinder and Andualem, a member of the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice party, were in court on Friday to hear their sentence - 16 members of the group found guilty in June are in exile, AFP news agency reports. The two men waved to family members as they walked into the courtroom which was filled with friends and family of the activists, as well as journalists and diplomats, the agency says. Eskinder was arrested last September after publishing an article questioning arrests under the anti-terrorism legislation, especially that of well-known Ethiopian actor and government critic Debebe Eshetu. In 1993 Eskinder opened his first newspaper and has been detained at least seven times by the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Right group Amnesty International said the trial fell short of international standards. "The imprisonment… is emblematic of the Ethiopian government's determination to gag any dissenting voice in the country," Amnesty's Ethiopia researcher Claire Beston said in a statement. "The Ethiopian government is treating calls for peaceful protest as a terrorist act and is outlawing the legitimate activity of journalists and opposition members." An Ethiopian guard working for the UN was jailed for seven years for communicating with the banned Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) in June. In December, two Swedish journalists were sentenced to 11 years in prison for supporting the ONLF. Both the ONLF, which has been fighting for greater independence in the Ogaden area that borders Somalia, and Ginbot Seven, have been designated as terrorist groups by the Ethiopian parliament. \|\|\|\|\| It has a unique cultural heritage, being the home of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church - one of the oldest Christian denominations - and a monarchy that ended only in the coup of 1974. It served as a symbol of African independence throughout the continent's colonial period, and was a founder member of the United Nations and the African base for many international organisations. Drought and civil conflict left Ethiopia in a state of turmoil under a Marxist dictatorship from the fall of the monarchy until 1991, when the long authoritarian rule of Meles Zenawi brought a degree of stability. Since 2018, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has launched a campaign of political liberalisation at home and sought to end disputes with Ethiopia's neighbours, in particular Eritrea. FACTS Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Capital: Addis Ababa Population 102.5 million Area 1.13 million sq km (437,794 sq miles) Major languages Amharic, Oromo, Tigrinya, Somali Major religions Christianity, Islam Life expectancy 63 years (men), 67 years (women) Currency Birr LEADERS President: Sahle-Work Zewde Parliament elected Sahle-Work Zewde as the Ethiopia's first woman president in October 2018. Ms Sahle-Work, an experienced diplomat, promised to work to make gender equality a reality at her swearing-in to the largely ceremonial post. She took office a week after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed a cabinet with half the posts taken by women. Prime minister: Abiy Ahmed Abiy Ahmed was chosen to lead the ruling Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front coalition after the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in 2018. The new leader pledged to try to end longstanding tensions with neighbouring Eritrea, and within months the two countries declared that the state of war between them was over. Mr Abiy also pledged to bring more transparency to government and reconciliation to a country that had been torn by protests since 2015. He is Ethiopia's first leader from the Oromo ethnic group, which has been at the centre of anti-government protests since 2016. The prime minister faced the first major challenge to his political course in a coup attempt in Amhara State in June 2019. The army chief and governor of Amhara State were killed in putting down the coup. Another challenge arose in late 2020, when tensions with Tigray region led the federal government to send in troops after an unsanctioned regional election. MEDIA The change of government in 2018 looked set to usher in a new era for the media, which for many years had operated in one of the region's most restrictive environments. The state controls most broadcasting outlets, including national broadcasters ETV and Radio Ethiopia. Internet and mobile services have been restricted during periods of social unrest. Read full media profile TIMELINE Some key dates in Ethiopia's history: 4th century - Christianity becomes the state religion. 1855-1868 - Reign of Emperor Tewodros II, who lays the foundation for the modern Ethiopian state. 1896 - Invading Italian forces are defeated by Ethiopians at Adwa. 1935-1941 - Italy deposes Emperor Haile Selassie and annexes Ethiopia, before being driven out by British, Commonwealth and Ethiopian forces. 1962 - Haile Selassie annexes Eritrea, which becomes an Ethiopian province. 1974 - Haile Selassie overthrown in military coup after government fails to deal with famine. 1977-79 - Thousands are killed in "Red Terror" orchestrated by Marxist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam. 1984-85 - Another serious famine devastates much of the country. 1991 - Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front deposes Mengistu. Meles Zenawi establishes stability and achieves considerable economic progress in his 19-year authoritarian rule. 1993 - Eritrea becomes independent. 1999-2000 - Ethiopian-Eritrean border war. 2018 - Abiy Ahmed becomes prime minister and launches reform programme at home. Ends state of war with Eritrea. \|\|\|\|\| By Will RossBBC News, Addis Ababa This joke is doing the rounds in Ethiopia after an almost embarrassing landslide victory for the governing EPRDF party and its allies left the opposition with just a lonely brace of seats in the 547 member parliament. There is no word for "landslide" in the local Amharic language, but they need one now. The European Union said the polls were marked by restrictions on political freedom and the unfair use of state resources, and there is international concern over increasing repression in Ethiopia. But Prime Minister Meles Zenawi will not be losing any sleep. A thorough trouncing is much better for the nerves than a nail-biter and it is unlikely that Ethiopia's relationship with donor countries will change significantly even if a few fingers are briefly wagged. The money will keep flowing. "The United States has every right to use its tax payers' money as it sees fit," Mr Meles told reporters after his victory. "If they feel that the outcome of the elections are such that they cannot continue our partnership, that's fine. "We shall be very grateful for the assistance they have given us so far and move on. Clearly we are not a protectorate," he concluded. Such comments are easier for Mr Meles to make now that he has a new friend in China - it will not utter a squeak over the elections. Islamist buffer China is helping with many infrastructure projects in Ethiopia - including an offer of a $500m (£344m) loan from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China for the construction of the controversial Gibe Three hydroelectric dam. Ethiopia receives aid worth around $2bn a year, mostly from the US and the UK. The feeling amongst many donor countries is that the country desperately needs help in fighting poverty, and the money is being spent relatively wisely by Mr Meles's government. They see real progress: For example, a recent report by American researchers pointed to success in reducing child mortality. The report said that in 1990, 202 Ethiopian children per 1,000 died before the age of five. In 2010, the rate had halved to 101 deaths per 1,000. Of course, Ethiopia still has a long way to go in comparison to somewhere like Singapore, where there are just two deaths per 1,000 children under the age of five. Ethiopia is also a donor darling because it is seen as an invaluable buffer against the growing Islamic extremism in Somalia. When it comes to America's foreign policy, any concerns over shrinking democratic space or eye brow leaping election results are totally trumped by any help in "the war on terror". Mr Meles could be receiving a few phone calls from other African leaders searching for election tips. Paul Kagame of Rwanda may not need the advice but his neighbour in Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, could do with a few hints on how to change the face of politics in the capital, Kampala, ahead of 2011 elections. The Ethiopian capital is famous for staging the hugely popular 10km race, the Great Addis Run, but now all talk is of "the Great Addis Turn Around". Greatest enemies In 2005, the opposition won all 23 parliamentary seats in Addis. In 2010 it kept just one. How? The efficient well-oiled governing party machinery was a key factor - I lost count as to how many people told me that "the EPRDF only woke up in 2005". It was helped by the fact that the opposition was divided and fairly disorganised. But many Ethiopia watchers suggest you have to look at what happened to the opposition over five years to get the whole picture. Almost 200 opposition supporters were shot dead when they demonstrated against what they saw as election theft in 2005; thousands were arrested, including opposition leaders who were sent to jail for close to years. Birtukan Mideksa remains behind bars after being accused of breaking the terms of her pardon. Press freedom has also been under attack. Journalists have fled the country since 2005 and if you try sending an e-mail from Ethiopia to the Committee to Protect Journalists, it miraculously bounces back. Filming on the streets of Addis Ababa, it was hard to find people prepared to say on camera that they supported the opposition - many suggested that would be asking for trouble. The governing party dismisses all these allegations but analysts point out that the Ethiopian government is only willing to allow a certain degree of democracy and that will always be the root of friction with the donors - China excluded. US-based Human Rights Watch said the government pressured, intimidated and threatened Ethiopian voters and said the most salient feature of the election was the months of repression preceding it. One publication recently suggested that the Ethiopian government's greatest enemies were Eritrea and the weather. Human Rights Watch could also be added to the list. It clearly angered the government as it shone a light on allegations of repression that no election observer team would be able to find - partly because they were not allowed in the country early enough. But the African leaders hoping for tips from Mr Meles should also realise that hard work is also useful ahead of an election - it wins votes. The scale of the housing estates being built on the edge of Addis Ababa is nothing short of staggering. Time will tell how good the quality of the construction is, but there are also impressive eight-lane roads leading to these suburbs. The development is by no means restricted to the capital: access to healthcare has improved in the rural areas and in Lalibela, 700km (about 435 miles) away from Addis Ababa, new classrooms are springing up and roads built. Kenyans, Ugandans and others may be freer than Ethiopians but their list of "What my government has achieved" would be miserably short in comparison.	A prominent Ethiopian journalist and blogger has been sentenced to 18 years in jail for violating the country's anti-terrorism legislation. Ethiopia is Africa's oldest independent country and its second largest in terms of population. Apart from a five-year occupation by Mussolini's Italy, it has never been colonised. What do a sports car and the Ethiopian opposition have in common? They both have two seats. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Dr Hart was best known for his 1971 "inverse care law" theory, outlining how those most in need of health services had the least access to them. Writing on Twitter on Sunday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called Dr Hart a "pioneer of quality primary care". "We will continue to be inspired by his work to campaign against inequalities in healthcare," he wrote. Dr Tudor Hart was born in London in 1927 into a staunchly left-wing family. His father Alex volunteered as a surgeon with forces fighting Franco in the Spanish Civil War, and Dr Tudor Hart followed in his footsteps, studying medicine at Cambridge. After a decade in academic research, in 1961 he moved from London to the mining community of Glyncorrwg, Neath Port Talbot, where he worked as a GP for 30 years. 'True giant of the NHS' He stood unsuccessfully for the Communist Party of Great Britain in the Aberavon seat in the 1964, 1966 and 1970 general elections. But it was here that he also established the first recognised research practice in the UK. In 1987 he proved that his focus on how lifestyle factors influence health meant that deaths under age 65 in Glyncorrwg were 28% lower than in nearby Blaengwynfi. He also became the first GP to routinely monitor patients' blood pressure regardless of symptoms - reducing premature deaths from hypertension-related illnesses by 30%. Former Welsh Government health minister Dr Brian Gibbons, who worked alongside Dr Tudor Hart at his Glyncorrwg practice for 15 years, believes his political beliefs helped shape the type of doctor he became. "He was a fierce believer in and defender of the NHS," he said. "He felt passionately that good healthcare was the right of everyone, and that services couldn't be targeted at those most in need unless the NHS was free of market influences and allowed to concentrate solely on patient welfare. "He remains one of the true giants of the NHS." Dr Tudor Hart became the first honorary president of the Socialist Health Association. In 2006 he was also awarded the Discovery Prize by the Royal College of General Practitioners - a national award given every three years for outstanding research in general practice. His nomination read: "His ideas and example pervade modern general practice, and remain at the cutting edge of thinking and practice concerning health improvement in primary care." \|\|\|\|\| By Erinn KerrBBC News NI Amy Patterson, 21, was 18 months old when staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast told her parents a tumour on her spine was incurable. But they later discovered a surgeon at Birmingham Children's Hospital who agreed to carry out a pioneering operation. And 20 years on, doctor and patient have come face-to-face. After a short stay at the Royal as a toddler, Amy was taken back to her home in Limavady, County Londonderry. She was in so much pain that she could not bear to be touched, she had lost her mobility and would spend days and nights squealing in pain. But her mother Hazel refused to give up. Reunion Hazel, who was pregnant with Amy's sister Hannah at the time, contacted Birmingham Children's Hospital where the family were invited for a consultation with Dr Gerry O'Reilly and his mentor Dr Tony Hockley. The team agreed to perform the pioneering surgery that saved Amy's life. Now Amy, who is a student at Ulster University, and her family have met with Dr O'Reilly to thank him in person for the operation that saved her life. The reunion took place at the family's home in Limavady, where Dr O'Reilly threw his arms around Amy, who he had not seen for almost 20 years. "Saving Amy was one of the highlights of my career," he told the BBC. "Paediatric neurosurgery is a job with tremendous highs, but also tremendous lows. "To see a child who wasn't expected to live do so well and to meet her again today is surreal." Miracle He said Amy's tumour, which was on her spine and neck, was very much "in the clockwork" and any attempt to access it could have caused serious damage. Hazel said: "We didn't know if the team in Birmingham would be able to help us and they made us no promises, but speaking to them gave us hope for the first time that Amy might survive. Hazel said Dr O'Reilly and Dr Hockley, who has since died, gave her daughter the gift of life. She said: "We prayed for a miracle and a miracle happened." Amy, who does not remember the operation, said it was lovely to finally meet Dr O'Reilly. "I'm just so lucky to be here today," she said. "I can't put into words what he did for us, especially my mum and dad who had to go through it all." \|\|\|\|\| Norman Sharp, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, believes he was one of the first ever health service patients to undergo the procedure. Mr Sharp was 23 when he was chosen for the experimental surgery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in 1948. The NHS marks the 70th anniversary since its inception on 5 July. A modern artificial hip joint is designed to last for at least 15 years, according to the NHS. Mr Sharp, a great-grandfather of 14, won a Guinness World Record as his left hip has lasted for nearly 70 years. He said: "I can't believe it myself because today everybody is talking about replacement hips and knees and it is the operation of the century, that's what the doctors call it. "I was a guinea pig, and I just feel happy that I was involved in people today having their pain looked at and eased as best the doctors can do." Fused hips Mr Sharp developed septic arthritis when he was five, which left him in severe pain and with difficulty moving. He was transferred to Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, London, where his hips were fused, leaving him unable to walk normally. "And that's how I lived my life from 1931 to 1948." he said. Mr Sharp had his leg straightened in 1939, but the treatment was suspended after war broke out. Almost a decade later he was informed by the hospital he had been chosen for experimental surgery using a Vitallium cup, and eventually had both hips treated. He said the treatment was so successful he has "never even had an aspirin for them. No pain, nothing". Mr Sharp believes the creation of the NHS is "the best thing that ever happened in my lifetime". \|\|\|\|\| By Steve DuffyBBC News Surveys suggest people are still overwhelmingly satisfied with the NHS, back healthcare being a government responsibility and most want to see more money spent on it. But what does the NHS look like in Wales? Here is a snapshot in 10 charts. 1 How many people work for the NHS in Wales? There are 77,917 staff working for the NHS in Wales - that's more than the capacity of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Over the last 21 years, the total number of directly employed staff has risen by 45.6% and is now at record levels. But how does it break down? Nurses, midwives and health visitors are the biggest group - this includes 1,347 midwives and 18,287 1st level nurses. More than half (56%) of all nursing staff work in the acute, elderly and general sector. 2 Spending on the NHS is going up Spending on healthcare has risen from more than £6bn a year in 2012/13 to more than £7.6bn for this current financial year. It takes up about half of the Welsh government's budget. The Assembly's finance committee has questioned whether prioritising health was affecting other areas like local government. The largest single programme budget category was spending on mental health problems, which amounted to 11.2%. How does that add up for each of us? Well, spending per head on clinical programmes ranged from £11.16 on hearing problems to £228.79 on mental health problems. Reality check: Is NHS funding worse in Wales than in England? 3 More of us are going to accident and emergency The NHS at its "front door" looks wide open. There are now more than one million visits a year to accident and emergency units in Wales. Consultants also say patients are having more types of treatments and staying longer. And it is not just winter pressures - often with more complicated conditions - but demand is all year round, with summer months often the busiest. The challenge is now to try to set up a system where a hospital is a place of last resort - for essential treatment and for people to only use emergency units when really necessary. 4 Top 10 drug and alcohol referrals to NHS More than half of referrals for substance abuse problems are for alcohol. The average age of a person receiving treatment is 42. Heroin accounts for nearly one in five of all referrals. The numbers being referred with crack cocaine problems at 161 is at a five-year high. Two thirds of those starting any sort of treatment are men. You might be interested in these stories too: Read more about the NHS at 70 How have hospitals changed for children? How does NHS Wales compare with the rest of the UK? 5 How healthy are children in Wales? What will the NHS in Wales look like at 100 or even by the time of its 150th anniversary? We might have a clue by looking at the health of young children now. Public Health Wales has been weighing and measuring primary school children since 2011. The latest figures show a rise for the first time in three years of four and five-year-olds who are overweight or obese. About a third of children in Merthyr are like this - including 17.5% who are obese, more than twice the proportion in Monmouthshire. But when the last five years are put together, obesity prevalence is higher than the Welsh average in seven local authority areas - Gwynedd, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and four south Wales valleys areas - Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent. The separate National Survey for Wales also looks at childhood lifestyle factors, with latest results out last week suggesting an improving picture in terms of eating fruit and vegetables, drinking fewer sugary drinks - and with a smaller number being inactive than before. 6: How hard is it to see a GP when I want? A significant proportion of patients are now finding it hard to make a GP appointment at a time which suits them. The proportion who say this is "very difficult" has risen to 24%, according to the latest National Survey for Wales. This is an increase from 15% in 2012-13. It is worst in urban areas - with 27% saying they find it very difficult, compared to 22% of those living in villages. Other factors given are, perhaps obviously, due to people working and those with limiting, long-standing illnesses. The good news at least is, once we get in to see them, 86% of us are either very satisfied or satisfied with the care our GP provides. This is slightly down on last year. Only 9% say they are dissatisfied. 7 Smoking in Wales continues to decline Patients being admitted to hospital with smoking-related conditions is falling in Wales as a whole - and in most areas. There are about 26,500 admissions every year. The rates of admissions are highest in five south Wales valleys areas - although Neath Port Talbot has seen the steepest decline. The same five areas are worst for mortality rates due to smoking. There is a target for reducing the proportion of smokers in the population to 16% by 2020. But on current trends, it is estimated it could be 2027 before that it is reached. More charts you might like: 8 Numbers with dementia, cancer and diabetes continue to rise More than 21,500 people in Wales have a dementia diagnosis in Wales - a 48% rise compared with eight years ago. It is expected to keep on rising. Nearly the same number again are estimated as having undiagnosed dementia - bringing the likely number with dementia to more than 49,000. But those registered by doctors with having cancer have more than doubled and adults with diabetes increased by nearly a third. Figures show more people are being diagnosed with - and surviving - cancer. 9: More prescriptions are being dispensed each year More prescription items per head of population were dispensed in Wales than any other UK nation - 25.8 for each one of us. There has been a steady rise in the number of prescriptions - a rise of 83.8% since 2000 and this trend was before free prescriptions were brought in. Costs to the NHS per item though have fallen to £7.19 from £9.38 in 2000. The number of drugs dispensed for dementia has risen from just 11,372 in 2002 to 178,839 in 2017 - a 1,473% rise. Tramadol dispensing increased sharply until 2013 although it has since dropped, with a review of prescribing. Morphine sulfate prescribing has also seen a sharp rise since 2011. 10 How much NHS equipment is out there? Across Wales there are 3,500 artificial limb users, 2,500 people with artificial eyes, while 70,000 people use a wheelchair and another 7,000 have orthopaedic aids ranging from lumber supports, leg braces to collars. But there's a request out there - if you have a wheelchair or appliance not being used, please give it back. The Cardiff centre alone provides 10,000 walking aids a year - but 40% are not returned. It included 3,147 walking frames and 1,780 walking sticks in the last year. It declared an "amnesty" saying that refurbishing crutches and walking frames can save the NHS £20,000 per year. Graphics: Gwyndaf Hughes Can't find your health trust? Browse the full list Rather search by typing? Back to search 1. A&E 2. Cancer care 3. Planned ops & care Figures are assessed against targets before rounding If you can't see the tracker, click or tap here.	Politicians, academics and doctors have paid tribute to Welsh GP Dr Julian Tudor Hart, who died on Sunday aged 91. A young woman who was "sent home to die" as a baby has met the surgeon who saved her life. A 93-year-old man who holds the record for the longest-lasting hip replacement has said the NHS is the best thing to happen in his lifetime. As patients in Wales, we come into contact with the NHS 20 million times each year. Wales will be given an extra £1.2bn by the UK government - after ministers announced a 70th "birthday present" to the NHS.
Mr Talbot also had sexual encounters with "three or four" sixth formers aged 18, his trial heard. Claims by Stone Roses singer Ian Brown - one of his former pupils - that children were told to masturbate for homework were "utter rubbish", he said. The 65-year-old former teacher denies all ten counts of indecent assault. He resumed giving evidence less than 24 hours after he fell while leaving the witness box. 'My first partner' The charges relate to five schoolboys between the late 1960s and the early 1980s, during his former career as a teacher. Mr Talbot told the jury one alleged victim, from Gateshead, had turned 16 when they first had sexual contact, and was not aged 14 as alleged. In a diary entry about a month after the boy's 16th birthday, Mr Talbot wrote: "Everything I hoped for occurred but I wonder if this can only mean trouble." Asked to explain the entry, he said: "This was the first time." He said he could not recall the detail of the sexual activity. Defending Suzanne Goddard QC asked him: "How did it progress? Mr Talbot said: "It lasted another three years. He was my first partner. He was a very important person. Still is." 'These things happen' He said the relationship went "a bit sour" when he decided to move away. Mr Talbot added they later met up again on two occasions in the early 1970s after the alleged victim wrote to his mother to say he wanted to get back in touch. He told the jury the 18 year olds with whom he had "sexual encounters" were from Altrincham Grammar Boys' School. He said he was in his mid-20s at the time and that one of the encounters led to a long-term relationship. Miss Goddard said: "Were you openly gay at Altrincham Grammar School?" Mr Talbot said: "No, you couldn't be. It was absolutely frowned upon." He said the sexual activity with the sixth formers was "fairly minor", adding: "We just got chatting. These things happen." Earlier, when asked by his barrister if he recalled Ian Brown's evidence, he replied: "I well recall. I don't think it even warrants comment. I think what he said, it was utter rubbish. "Then he went on about a porn film... it's just not fair." "Can you image showing 11-year-olds something like that? Where would I get the films? "No, I never did." Mr Talbot, of Bowdon, Trafford, was taken to hospital for precautionary checks on Tuesday after he fell in court. Judge Timothy Mort told the jury that he had made "a good recovery apart from a scab to his head" and he would be given a break if required. Mr Talbot is best known for presenting the weather forecast on a floating map in Liverpool's Albert Dock for ITV's This Morning programme and was also the weather presenter for ITV's regional news programme in the North West, Granada Reports. The trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court continues. \|\|\|\|\| Mr Talbot is said to have told a colleague "30 seconds vastly altered his life" after the 1984 allegation. The 65-year-old denies 10 historical counts of indecent assault. In court a former teacher recalled speaking to him soon after he left Altrincham Grammar School for Boys. Giving evidence at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, Keith Knowles said: "He said that he had been dismissed for making inappropriate comments, or something like that, to a boy, and the parent had complained and he had been dismissed or asked to resign." Mr Knowles said he kept a diary at the time, and had noted: "He told me he had made suggestions to a boy and the parent had complained. That 30 seconds had vastly altered his life." The diary entry went on: "Also he 'resigned' a while ago. That was over the same thing he said. He should never have been talked into going back to school." Mr Knowles confirmed to prosecutor Neil Usher that Mr Talbot had not actually resigned over the original allegation. He told the court: "By the sound of it he had offered to resign but had not actually done it." The jury has previously heard that Mr Talbot's time at the Greater Manchester school ended following an alleged incident at his home when he had invited boys over as part of an astronomy study. One of the boys said he was propositioned by Mr Talbot who asked him if he could perform a sex act on him. Mr Talbot denies that any such proposition occurred. The jury later heard how Mr Talbot was first arrested in 1992 by Cheshire Police following a complaint from one of the alleged victims in this trial. Two officers visited his home in Bowdon, Greater Manchester, and told him a former pupil had claimed Mr Talbot abused him. Mr Talbot told the officers: "You are joking." He went on to say: "I don't believe this. I will have to have a cigarette." Diaries seized Mr Talbot denied any wrongdoing, and no further action was taken at the time. In the current police investigation, officers seized items from Mr Talbot's home including several diaries and journals, the court heard. Mr Usher told the jury: "The defendant admits that entries in his diaries marked by an asterisk are occasions when he engaged in sexual activity." But the jury was told Mr Talbot said the asterisk-marked entries indicated when he suffered panic attacks. He largely gave no comment to questions during a police interview in April 2013, following advice from his solicitor, the court heard. He gave no comment when asked about a 1981 diary entry, which read: "Some thoughts on the two previous trips. "You have messed it up. You have no right. You are in the wrong. Each individual has rights that cannot be infringed. "You are in a position of influence. Let there be no tears shed." He did confirm to detectives that he was gay, the jury heard. Mr Talbot is best known for presenting the weather forecast on a floating map in Liverpool's Albert Dock for ITV's This Morning programme. He denies indecently assaulting five underage boys between the late 1960s and the early 1980s. The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| The star said the former TV weather presenter also suggested boys go home, try to masturbate and report back. A Manchester court heard how he paid more attention to older-looking first years at Altrincham Grammar School. Mr Talbot, 65, of Bowdon, Greater Manchester, denies 10 counts of historical indecent assault. The allegations relate to five boys in the late 60s to the early 1980s. Mr Brown is not one of the complainants. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard Mr Talbot taught the singer biology from 1974 to 1979. Mr Brown told the court he remembered "in particular" two or three lessons given by Mr Talbot when he was an 11-year-old boy. He said the class went to the science block, but instead of the usual classroom went into another with a projector set up. Mr Brown said: "A three minute film on a Super 8 projector of a guy walking into a room dressed in denims, sits on bed, takes trousers down and masturbates. "It was only a few years later I realised it was probably a gay porn film. It wasn't a sex education film." He added: "It was years later I realised it was wrong to show us that film." 'Private words' The star told the court he remembered a lesson where Mr Talbot "asked the class if any of us had ever masturbated". Neil Usher, prosecuting, asked if there was any response from the boys. "Nervous giggles," Mr Brown said. "He wanted to know who was successful in the masturbation. He asked boys to raise the hand." Mr Brown said in further biology lessons, his teacher would approach the boys who had raised their hands and have "private words" with them. The witness continued: "I can remember sitting there wondering, 'What is he saying to them?' "They were all the same age but they were a foot bigger than us." 'Embarrassment' Suzanne Goddard QC, defending, cross-examined the singer about biology classes and suggested part of Mr Talbot's responsibility as a teacher was sex education. Mr Brown said: "I doubt that's on the curriculum." Asked why he had not told his parents the singer said: "It was 1974. I was 11 and the teachers ruled with an iron rod. It would have been an embarrassment to tell my parents things like that." The lawyer suggested that once the singer knew Mr Talbot was being investigated he may have looked back at the sex education classes in a different light. Mr Brown responded: "Is that what you are suggesting? Suggest on." Following his teaching career, Mr Talbot became a TV regular presenting the weather forecast on a floating map in Liverpool's Albert Dock for ITV's This Morning show. The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| The former teacher, 65, allegedly asked some of the pupils to pretend they were girls and lie on top of each other as photographs were taken. The incident is said to have taken place on a school trip in the 1970s. Mr Talbot denies 10 counts of indecent assault. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard the weekend trip was organised by Mr Talbot, who at the time taught biology at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys. The court was told the alleged victim - who believed he was aged 14 at the time - was "quite drunk" after Mr Talbot, two of his adult friends and some older boys on the excursion returned from the pub and shared beers they had brought with younger boys. Double bed He said: "[Talbot] said let's pretend we have got some girls back from the pub and we had an orgy. "He said we needed to take some photographs so you can pretend there is some girls here. "We were very drunk. I think they turned the heat up and we took our clothes off. "One boy would lie on another boy and would pretend the one underneath was a girl. "They took a lot of photos." He recalled one of Mr Talbot's friends on the trip was a man in his late 20s or early 30s nicknamed Spider, who wore biker-type clothing The witness said Mr Talbot was "in charge" and "telling us what to do". He said the "orgy" went on for up to two hours before everyone went to sleep and Mr Talbot said he was to stay in his double bed because there were not enough bunk beds for all the schoolboys. The complainant said in a partitioned area of the barge the pair slept naked before Mr Talbot fondled him. He told the court: "He showed me what to do. He said this is natural and this is how men touch other men, because I didn't know what was going on." The following morning, he said Mr Talbot told him to never speak about the incidents. 'Exaggerated' The complainant said he lacked confidence at school and had few friends, and was flattered by the attention of Mr Talbot who he described as a "friendly, kind of hip" teacher. The witness made his first complaint to police about Mr Talbot in 1992 because he "thought it was the right thing to do", the court heard. He received a reply from police later that year saying there was "insufficient evidence" to "justify further investigation". Four years later, when he read in the newspapers about a sex abuse investigation in Manchester, he went on to provide a statement that recalled the events on the barge, but admitted he "exaggerated" the extent of the alleged sexual activity. Asked by prosecutor Neil Usher why he lied, the witness said: "I think I was angry and annoyed that the prosecution had not gone ahead. It was a very stupid thing to do." The court heard the witness said he withdrew his exaggeration and went on to make more complaints about Mr Talbot in 1998 and 2000 before he was contacted by police recently as part of the current investigation. Asked if any of his complaints against the defendant were financially motivated, he replied "no". Mr Talbot, 65, denies indecently assaulting five underage boys between the late 1960s and the early 1980s during his former career as a teacher. Four of the complainants were teenage pupils at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys. Mr Talbot, of Bowdon, Greater Manchester, was a regular on the floating weather map in Liverpool's Albert Dock on ITV's This Morning show.	Former TV weatherman Fred Talbot has told a court he had sexual activity with one of his alleged victims, saying the boy was 16 and it was consensual. Former TV weather presenter Fred Talbot's teaching career came to "an abrupt end" over a claim that he indecently propositioned a schoolboy, a court heard. Stone Roses singer Ian Brown has told a court his former teacher Fred Talbot showed pupils what he later realised was "probably a gay porn film". Former TV weather presenter Fred Talbot staged a naked orgy involving 10 drunken schoolboys on a canal barge before later sexually abusing one of them on board, a jury has heard. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
A study of GP-recorded diagnoses show the incidence has fallen by as much as half. Researchers said fewer children were being misdiagnosed, but there had also been a real decrease in some causes of the condition. Other European countries and the US had reported similar declines, they added. Epilepsy is caused when the brain's normal electrical activity result in seizures. Data from more than 344,000 children showed that the annual incidence of epilepsy has fallen by 4-9% year on year between 1994 and 2008. Overall the number of children born between 2003-2005 with epilepsy was 33% lower then those born in 1994-96. When researchers looked in more detail and included a wider range of possible indicators of an epilepsy diagnosis the incidence dropped by 47%. Correct diagnosis Better use of specialist services and increased caution over diagnosing the condition explains some, but not all, of the decline in the condition, the researchers reported in Archives of Diseases in Childhood. Introduction of vaccines against meningitis and a drop in the number of children with traumatic brain injuries, both of which can cause epilepsy, has probably also contributed to falling cases, they added. Study author Prof Ruth Gilbert, director of the Centre for Evidence-based Child Health at University College London, said: "The drop is consistent with what has been seen in other countries so it is reassuring that we are seeing the same pattern. "We're getting better at diagnosing and deciding who should be treated and then there is also probably an effect of factors like fewer cases of meningitis." She said in the past, there was an issue with variable diagnosis and some children being treated who did not need to be. "There is a more rigorous approach and that is partly down to NICE guidance. "It is very troubling to have a misdiagnosis because once you have a diagnosis it sticks and that does blight the life of a child." Simon Wigglesworth, deputy chief executive at Epilepsy Action, said: "It may indicate a reduction in misdiagnosis rates in children, which we know to be high. However, our discussions with leading clinicians suggest that this may not be the complete picture. "They tell us that they are not seeing a reduction in the number of children with epilepsy presenting at their clinics and epilepsy remains one of the most prevalent neurological conditions in children in the UK." \|\|\|\|\| They say the higher incidence is linked to increased risk factors, including head injuries and infections such as pork tapeworm and river blindness. And more than 60% of sufferers in those countries receive no appropriate treatment, they say in the Lancet. A Lancet editorial said epilepsy had to be a global health priority. Epilepsy is a condition in which disturbances to the brain's normal electrical activity cause recurring seizures or brief episodes of altered consciousness. There are about 40 different types. Epilepsy is not a mental illness, but can develop after injury or damage to the brain. About 85% of the global burden of epilepsy occurs in low and middle-income countries. 'Bewitched' Writing in the Lancet, researchers led by Prof Charles Newton, of the University of Oxford, say the death rate in developing countries is much higher than in developed ones - and that the reason for this is likely to be a failure to treat people with the condition. Prof Newton said: "The burden of epilepsy in these regions is at least double that found in high-income countries, and sadly, adequate facilities for diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of epilepsy are virtually non-existent in many of the world's poorest regions." He added: "Many people with epilepsy or their families do not even know that they have a disorder that can be controlled with biomedical treatment, so it is vitally important that awareness is raised and medical care improved in these regions." Medications are available - but there can be problems distributing them, especially to remote areas. The researchers say there are low-cost ways of improving the situation and of reducing the stigma often faced by people with epilepsy and their families - such as working with traditional healers and awareness campaigns to increase understanding of the condition. In some countries, traditional beliefs about the causes of the condition, including bewitchment, spiritual causes and curses, lead to stigma and increase the chance that a person with epilepsy will not get the treatment they need. A Lancet editorial adds: "Given the prevalence of epilepsy globally, it should be included as a priority on the public health agenda, and access to treatment should be greatly improved in developing countries. "It is time for all governments to take epilepsy more seriously." \|\|\|\|\| By Philippa RoxbyHealth reporter, BBC News For these children, and their parents, life can often be difficult and unpredictable. However, if a particular part of the brain can be pinpointed as the cause of the seizures, brain surgery can be an effective treatment. Great Ormond Street Hospital in London is currently the main centre in the UK for this type of specialised surgery, but Bristol, Manchester/Liverpool and Birmingham are set to develop similar expertise later this year. As a result, doctors say they will be able to treat three times as many children with drug-resistant epilepsy in England and Wales - from 125 to around 350 each year by 2015-2016. Rachel, from Essex, was nearly eight years old when surgeons at Great Ormond Street removed a piece of malformed tissue on the right-hand side of her brain. Rachel and her family had spent years experimenting with different drugs, trying to control her sudden and distressing seizures which left her physically drained, reclusive and withdrawn. Fix it Her father Nick says it was a relief when doctors said they had identified the root cause of the problem. "We thought it was amazing. We finally thought we had a way out of it all. "The surgeons offered us a 70-80% success rate. They set out the risks for us but they were confident, they said 'we can fix this'." Around 60,000 children in the UK have epilepsy. While most children with epilepsy enjoy full and active lives, around one-third do not respond to medication and continue to experience seizures. This can have a major impact on family life, as Rachel's father recalls. "At the height of it, my wife couldn't go further than 15 minutes from school in case Rachel had a seizure and needed to be sedated or taken home. Even going to the shops became an exercise requiring almost military precision planning," Nick says. "We had paramedics out to house on numerous occasions, some we even got to know by name. We even got trained in how to administer emergency medication for extreme seizure episodes." For Rachel it meant that she could be walking along and blank out suddenly, her muscles contorting, arms and legs going rigid, eyes going up into her head. "It was like she went into shutdown mode," her father remembers. "She was constantly tired, had no life or energy in her from the combined effect of the medication and the impact of the seizures. She was always picking up bruises and scrapes from where she would fall or hit something when she had a seizure. It was a living nightmare." 'Low risk' Professor Helen Cross, an expert in epilepsy surgery from University College London's Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, says there are many different types of seizures. "Epilepsy isn't one condition and a person may have more than one type of seizure. "Those suitable for surgery will have failed on at least two drugs and when we evaluate them, we should see that the seizures are coming from one small bit of the brain." And what are the risks of surgery on the brain? "Surgery carries low risk. We wouldn't offer it if it were not going to be of benefit." But Prof Cross acknowledges that some clinicians still see surgery as a last resort. "Some feel that surgery is going to lead to more problems - but each individual is different. "If they know the child is going to be resistant to drugs quite quickly then the earlier we do the surgery the better the outcome. "That's better than finding out 10 years down the line that surgery could have been an option." 'Transformed' Simon Wigglesworth, chief executive of Epilepsy Action, says there is strong evidence that brain surgery can transform lives. "IQ and education ability are improved by surgery, and there is evidence that the earlier it's done the better the cognitive outcomes. "Seizures are horrible things. Surgery can allow children to go into adulthood free of seizures, able to drive, get a job and lead a normal life." In her early years, Rachel couldn't keep up with her peers and missed out on a lot of school learning and activities, such was the impact of her condition and the medication. Looking back, her family remembers her being depressed and wanting to sleep all the time. Since the surgery, in February 2010, Rachel's life has totally transformed. "It was like she had a personality transplant," Nick says. "Now she has energy, she's smiling and laughing. The lights are back on in her eyes." After the surgery Rachel was home within a week. The hospital said they thought she would be back at school in a couple of months but in fact she returned to school within a month. "She's made up a lot of ground at school, she loves science, history, art, she has a very creative side that we never saw pre-surgery. The teachers are blown away by her," says Nick. "She now does all the things she liked to do but couldn't always do because of her condition. She rides horses, swims every week and did a mile at Easter. "To our family, friends and people who know us, it's the closest thing to a modern miracle. We can now start to lead a normal life."	The number of children being diagnosed with epilepsy has dropped dramatically in the UK over the past decade, figures show. Epilepsy is twice as common in low and middle-income countries as it is in the developed world, according to an international team of researchers. Epileptic seizures are a frightening experience for anyone, but particularly for children who cannot control their seizures with medication. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
The 400-year-old city of Hyderabad is linked in popular mind for its signature biriyani as much as it is with the exquisitely constructed Charminar monument. The biriyani may have become a local landmark, but that doesn't stop people from asking, "Where did it come to India from and when?" The lazy "scholars" are quick to opine that it was the genius of Indian people who transformed the "Cinderella of Central Asian pilaff" into the sparkling biriyani, but it is difficult to buy this "thesis". A pulav (as pilaff is called in India) is a pulav - call it by any name - and a biriyani is a biriyani - belonging to a very different species. This is the eleventh article in a BBC series India on a plate, on the diversity and vibrancy of Indian food. Other stories in the series: Why this state screams for ice cream The street food that silences even the most heated debate How home chefs are helping uncover India's food secrets Amma canteen: Where a meal costs only seven cents Inside India's 'dying' Irani cafes There can be little doubt that biriyani originated in Iran. Even the name biriyani can be traced to the original Persian "birinj biriyan" - literally, fried rice. In Iran, the deg (pot) is put on dum (slow cooking to allow the marinated meat to cook in its own juices and perfectly with layered rice and aromatic substances), and the rice is gently fried. The doyenne of Islamic cooking in India, Salma Hussein, tells us however that the biriyani sold on the streets in contemporary Iran no longer contains rice and has evolved into succulent chunks of meat cooked in an envelope of rumali roti (paper thin bread). But the dish has also evolved in India, where it has a colourful and varied history. There is no evidence that biriyani first came to this land with the Moguls. It is far more probable that it travelled with pilgrims and soldier-statesmen of noble descent to the Deccan region in south India. It was only much later that the dish meandered along less travelled roads, along the seaboard and the hinterland of the peninsula, donning different local garbs to tickle regional palates. In present day Kerala for instance, one encounters the Malabar/Mopla biriyani. At times it substitutes meat and chicken in favour of fish or prawn. The spicing is stronger here and its proponents do not miss the aromatic symphony associated with the Hyderabadi product. In far off West Bengal, the Dhakai version of the dish from the Bangladeshi capital is no less seductive. It is not unreasonable to suggest that the biriyani could have traversed the sea route to reach this port city, which was once ruled by nawabs (Mughal princes). And along the west coast, the milder Bohri biriyani has many die hard patrons. A far more robust biriyani - flavourful and satisfying - continues to be cooked in [the central city of] Bhopal where another strain may have come with the Durrani Afghans who once wore the colours of Ahmed Shah Abdali's army. Then there is the Moradabadi biriyani (made in Moradabad city in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh) that has suddenly (re)surfaced in the capital, Delhi. And the best example of the "Rajasthani improvisation on the biriyani theme" is arguably the deg prepared for the devout pilgrims at Garib Nawaz ki Dargah at the popular Ajmer Sharif Sufi shrine. Unfortunately though, people remain unacquainted with the real McCoy. The fare dished out at most eateries can be best described as "frying pan biriyani". Here rice may be long grained and a hint of saffron may tint it yellow, but this concoction is not even a distant cousin of true blue biriyani. Even posh hotels and fine dining restaurants don't bother cooking it from scratch. They have instead, developed the fine art of "assembling" the dum ki biriyani. \|\|\|\|\| By Soutik BiswasBBC News, Ahmedabad If that doesn't make you either crave or cringe, what about spiced ice cream tightly wrapped in a betel leaf - a digestive usually taken after meals - with a cherry on top and a silver foil as a frill? Or putting some fresh ginger or cardamom in your frozen treat? "Anywhere else in the world, these may sound outrageous," says food writer Marryam H Reshii. "But in Gujarat, these are the many eye-popping ingredients in ice creams that the state is famous for." Gujarat is India's ice cream country. The state accounts for more than 12% of the country's $1.3bn (£1bn) ice cream sales. Business is brisk for some 50 large and small ice cream makers. Some of India's oldest ice cream factories are based here. Vadilal, one of the biggest factories with revenues of 8,000 million rupees ($120m), began delivering homemade ice creams in imported flasks to consumers in 1907. Havmor, the other prominent player in the ice cream game, was set up by an enterprising Punjabi refugee who opened a parlour in Karachi in 1944, fled to India after the bloody partition, and started making ice creams in Gujarat with some fellow refugees. This is the tenth article in a BBC series India on a plate, on the diversity and vibrancy of Indian food. Other stories in the series: The street food that silences even the most heated debate How home chefs are helping uncover India's food secrets Amma canteen: Where a meal costs only seven cents Inside India's 'dying' Irani cafes What Indians have done to world cuisine It helps that Gujaratis love eating sweets and innovating with food, that the summers in the state are long and hot, the milk is top quality (Gujarat is a dairy hub) and electricity is plentiful (aiding uninterrupted refrigeration for retailers). Some like Rajesh Gandhi, chief of Vadilal, say that since alcohol is prohibited by law here, people reach out for ice creams and milk shakes instead. Ice cream - unlike other traditional Indian sweets - is also the default dessert after a wholesome Gujarati meal. "Ice cream is one of the state's overriding obsessions," says Ms Reshii. "It occupies mind space in Gujarat that you won't encounter elsewhere in India." In Ahmedabad, Gujarat's main city, Ms Reshii discovered an astonishing variety of frozen delights: lychee ice cream with large chunks of fruit; rajbhog (a Bengali sweet) ice cream, a happy fusion of two desserts; and the "curiously named" dry fruit katri studded with industrial quantities of almonds, pistachios and hazelnuts. While Jamaica offers ice cream flavoured with with vodka and Japan can surprise you with seafood flavoured ice cream, predominantly vegetarian Gujarat is not far behind: you can get ice cream with grated cheese, peanuts, capsicum and green tea leaves here. Craze for flavours Ice creams are spiced up with cardamom and chilli flakes or flavour. Ginger is put in popsicles; and red chilli flakes in a vanilla mix. Ice creams are packed with imported nuts and chocolates. They also put the sweet preserve of rose petals in ice cream. Another popular variant of the dessert is a silver foil topped ice cream made out of a traditional milk-based confectionary called barfi by stuffing it with a mouth-watering mix of choicest mango pulp, ice cream and sweet condensed milk. Legend at Havmor has it that former US president Bill Clinton loved their mango barfi ice cream when he came visiting years ago. For children there are lollies made of chocolate-based health drinks. In a state with a long history of prohibition, they have even tried to sell a whiskey-flavoured ice cream. Some recipes work, others flop - the whiskey flavoured ice cream was a famous failure- but ice cream makers are undeterred. "Nothing stops us from experimenting all the time," says Ankit Chona, managing director of Havmor, which churns out 200,000 litres of ice cream in 160 flavours every day. Consumers are so demanding that his company offers out three new flavours every quarter. Such is the craze that ice cream makers even hold flavour contests. Last year Havmor was swamped by more than 10,000 recipe suggestions when it tied up with a radio station and held a contest. They included some truly bizarre ones like pav bhaji - a thick vegetable curry usually prepared in butter and served with bread rolls - and chickpea-flavoured ice cream. The company picked up five of the more palatable recipes and sold them as new flavours. "Ice cream is part of the Gujarati culture," says food writer Anil Mulchandani. "There's always ice cream in the refrigerator, and it is a part of every family gathering and festival." Cottage industry No wonder then that ice cream making is a veritable cottage industry in Gujarat. There are more than 100 parlours in the main city of Ahmedabad, and some home-made ice creams are a rage. Nearly three decades ago, homemaker Neruben Desai, began making ice creams out of her home after her husband lost his job. Today, the ageing couple sell some 80 litres of their hugely popular - "fresh and smooth", says a customer - ice cream in 24 flavours every day from three freezers of a small porch in front of her nondescript home in a shaded lane. Their home churned ice creams come in eclectic flavours - poppy seed and fennel, date and rose - and customers are offered free samples. When they open their home in the evening, the porch fills up in no time. "Both of us love ice creams. Our reputation has spread by word of mouth," says Ms Desai. Not to be outdone, her sister-in-law, who lives next door, also sells her ice cream. Or take Shankar Samnani, a school dropout who began with selling ice lollies on a cart in 1956 and graduated to making ice creams at home. Today, his son, Arun and a bunch of workers make 20 delicious flavours out of a cramped 1,800 sq ft shed in the city, and sell them through party orders and home deliveries: Shankar's "premium" ice cream has delivered to home parties hosted by India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani and a host of Bollywood stars. The brand's only retail presence: a single vending cart in a crowded food bazaar in the city. At parties Mr Samnani and his son, Bhagyesh, set up colourful dessert counters for guests, offering smoke spewing liquid nitrogen and fresh cold stone ice creams. Workers are given English classes to deal with clients. "People here want new kinds of ice creams all the time," says Mr Samnani. "They are crazy about it." There is little doubt about it. Visit the food bazaar in Law Garden in Ahmedabad around midnight and people are still milling around, looking for their favourite food or snack. Rows of plastic chairs under gaudy awnings wait for clients. At the end of their meal, most people will flock to the ice cream shops. Then they will sit in the plastic chairs devouring their favourite flavours. "My days and nights are incomplete without ice cream," says stock broker Tapan Patel. Not far away, a woman is feeding her pet Spitz vanilla ice cream. Life is good. Pictures by Kannagi Khanna	Biriyani is the quintessential celebratory dish in India and an aromatic delicacy that dazzles as a sublime one-dish meal, writes historian and food expert Pushpesh Pant. Black pepper in ice cream, anyone? What about making a ball of rich, nut-flecked ice cream and then wrapping a laddu - a popular sugary Indian sweet - around it? around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Those selling the illicit weapons often disassembled and sent them in different packages or embedded them in old stereos or printers, the report found. Researchers found that firearms and related goods generated 136 sales per month and a monthly revenue of $80,000 (£62,000). The firearms trade has gained attention following recent terrorist attacks. The dark net is a part of the internet that requires specific software to access, in order for users to remain anonymous. While the trade was unlikely to fuel large-scale terrorist operations, it had the potential to become the platform of choice for "lone-wolf" terrorists to obtain weapons and ammunition, the report said. Non-profit organisation Rand Corporation Europe, working with Manchester University, found 52 unique vendors selling weapons or similar items such as ammunition, explosives, or components such as silencers across 811 listings and 18 markets. Police believe the 2016 Munich shooting, which left nine people dead, used weapons purchased on the dark net. Lone-wolf attacks Lead author of the research, Giacomo Persi Paoli, said: "Recent high-profile cases have shown that the threat posed by individuals or small groups obtaining weapons illegally from the dark web is real. "The ability to not only arm criminals and terrorists, who can make virtually anonymous purchases, but also vulnerable and fixated individuals is perhaps the most dangerous aspect." Guns account for less than 1% of items sold on the platform, with its main trade being in narcotics. Nevertheless, the volume being sold "can be considered sufficiently high to be a cause of concern for policy makers and law enforcement agencies", said the report. The study involved collecting data from 12 dark net marketplaces during a week in September 2016. Most of those selling guns were based in the US, but Europe was the most popular destination for the weapons they sold. Judith Aldridge, co-investigator on the study, said: "In very simple terms, anyone can connect to the dark web and within minutes have access to a variety of vendors offering their products, which are most often illegal. "The dark web enables illegal trade at a global level, removing some of the geographical barriers between vendors and buyers, while increasing the personal safety of both buyers and sellers through a series of anonymising features that obscure their identities." \|\|\|\|\| David Ali Sonboly, 18, who killed himself after the attack, had a Glock pistol that police believes he may have bought on the so-called dark net. Meanwhile police in Munich have announced the arrest of a 16-year-old Aghan friend of the attacker. They say he is under investigation for not reporting Sonboly's plans. A statement on Munich police's Facebook page says: "There is a suspicion that the 16-year-old is a possible tacit accomplice to the attack." The statement goes on to say that the youth reported to police immediately after the shooting on Friday, and was interviewed as somebody with a connection to the attacker. But in the course of the interviews, they discovered discrepancies in his statements. They say they are now investigating him on suspicion of failing to report a planned crime. The investigations will have to show to what extent he was responsible for a Facebook post inviting people to meet at a cinema complex near the main railway station in Munich. The attacker himself had put up a Facebook post before his attack, inviting people to come to the fast food restaurant where the shooting began. 'Not specifically targeted' Seven of the dead in Friday's shooting at the Olympia shopping centre were were teenagers - two Turks, two Germans, a Hungarian, a Greek and a Kosovan. A further 35 people were injured, but only four of them have bullet wounds - many were hurt while fleeing the scene. The state government officials told a news conference that the victims of the attack had not been specifically targeted and were not classmates of the gunman. Also they did not include three youths allegedly involved in bullying Sonboly when he was at school. Video games Robert Heimberger, head of Bavaria's criminal police, said the gunman had been planning the attack since he paid a visit last year to the town of Winnenden - the scene of a previous school shooting in 2009 - and took photographs. He said it was likely the Glock pistol - which had been reactivated - was bought on the "dark net" market, an area accessible only with the use of special software. It had been a theatre prop. Sonboly was said to be a keen player of "first-person shooter" video games. Mr Heimberger added that the parents of the gunman remained in shock and were not able to be interviewed. He also said police had not found the manifesto of Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik when they searched the gunman's room at his parents' flat. A day earlier, officials had raised the possibility of a link to Breivik, whose own attack was carried out five years earlier to the day. As to Sonboly's state of mind, a spokesman for the Munich prosecutors' office told the news conference that the gunman had spent two months as an inpatient at a mental care facility in 2015 and was afterwards treated as an outpatient. "The suspect had fears of contact with others" and also depression, Thomas Steinkraus-Koch said. However, there was no evidence of any political motivation. Senior German politicians have called for tighter controls on the sale of guns in the wake of the shooting at the Olympia shopping centre. Munich's police chief has urged the media to respect the privacy of those affected by the attack on Monday, when schools reopen.	Criminals and terrorists are using the so-called dark net to buy weapons, a new study has suggested. The teenage gunman who killed nine people in Munich on Friday had been planning his attack for a year, German authorities say.
The advert for Vinehall School in East Sussex told the story of a boy arriving in his father's Volvo, but wishing he had the headmaster's Jaguar. After attending the school and being "very successful in business" he buys his father a Jaguar when he retires. Vinehall's headmaster said the advert was a "misguided error of judgement". The independent day and boarding school in Robertsbridge for children aged between two and 13 charges fees of up to £23,000 per year. The advert has been described on social media as "hideous" and "cringeworthy". NickScribbler tweeted: "Cringe. Not only awfully conceived but hideously written. Surely no copywriter involved here. Just someone who went to public school and now teaches at one." Head teacher Joff Powis said: "I very deeply regret the widespread offence caused by the recent open day advertisement. "It was wholly misguided, and should never have seen the light of day. I must stress it is in no way a reflection of the ethos of our school. "We are taking a long hard look at how it came to be created in the first place, but as Head, I must take full responsibility for its appearance, and can only apologise for such an unfortunate error of judgement. "Vinehall prides itself on being a friendly, inclusive place, where the values of modesty and broad-mindedness are at the forefront of our guidance and teaching." The advert has been withdrawn. You may also like: \|\|\|\|\| But why does the phenomenon occur and how can anyone who is afraid of creepy-crawlies tackle an arachnid accumulation? Prof Adam Hart, an entomologist at the University of Gloucestershire, has researched the seasonal spider cycle. He explains why people are seeing more of the eight-legged creatures, what we can do to tackle increased numbers and how long spider season will last. Why now? Quite simply, it is mating season, according to Prof Hart. At this time of year "about 80% of the spiders people see are males", he said. They are on the hunt for mates and females "stay put" indoors, so there is an inevitable influx of home-invading arachnids. "The females can be seen on webs in garages and windowsills, while the males wander around looking for chances to mate," Prof Hart added. "And of course our houses are nice places for them to come and do that." What can you do? Well, other than this... Various remedies have been suggested, including putting conkers or ostrich eggs in the corners of rooms. Conkers supposedly contain a noxious chemical which deters spiders, but there has been no scientific proof. Ditto for ostrich eggs. Some social media commenters have reported success with "peppermint oil in a spray bottle [used] everywhere around the house". Prof Hart has urged people to ignore "old wives' tales" and stick with a simpler regime - keeping homes clean and doors and windows closed. "If there are places that haven't been tidied or piles of clothes on the floor then they are great places for spiders to stay," he said. "Keeping homes clean and tidy will help. But you need to accept you can't totally spider-proof a house, as spiders will always find a way in." Should you be worried? Clearly, for all those who are scared of spiders it is not the best time of year. However, the chances of being bitten by a spider are "infinitesimally small", according to Prof Hart. He added: "Worrying about that in this country is like worrying about ghosts. It's not going to happen." Dr Tim Cockerill from the University of South Wales concurs, saying all of the 650 species of spider in the UK "are only dangerous if you happen to be a fly or a small insect". How long will it last? Fortunately for arachnopobes, spider season is fairly short lived. It normally begins in the first or second week of September and ends by the first week of October. After that the number of spider sightings "drops off quite sharply", as the eight-legged critters "tend to bed down for winter," Prof Hart said. Phew. You may also like: \|\|\|\|\| James Bolam is one of 10 Bristol City fans who claim they were detained by police and put back on trains before a match against Birmingham City in 2015. Bristol City Supporters Club and Trust is backing the case to "ensure police forces do not abuse dispersal powers". West Midlands Police said it was aware of the case and "denied liability". The fans claim they were accused of being hooligans by an officer with a megaphone and detained for 90 minutes as they walked to St Andrew's stadium in Birmingham before being sent back to Bristol. Eight of the 10 were issued with dispersal notices under anti-social behaviour legislation. The group of fans are claiming false imprisonment and a breach of their human rights on the grounds they were deprived of their liberty. Mr Bolam said: "I feel quite angry about what happened that day. I was just intending to go to a football match, have a day out, which I'd paid for and then come home. "More important than compensation or anything - if we win this case - is for West Midlands Police to look at the way they deal with football supporters, and change." Bristol City Supporters Club and Trust chairman Stu Rogers said they had received support from fans across the country "because this type of unlawful practice is unfortunately not unique to Bristol City". He added: "The primary purpose of bringing this action is to ensure that future use of these dispersal powers is not abused by West Midlands Police or any other forces around the country. "We also aim to secure compensation for those affected." The supporters club said the group of fans are still waiting for a court date after filing papers in January. \|\|\|\|\| They claim Bohunt School, in Liphook, Hampshire, sent dozens of pupils to sit in silence for not complying with regulations. An online petition opposing the punishments was signed by 1,100 people. The secondary school's website said its uniform was "very important in encouraging self-respect". The online petition claimed pupils were not being given a warning or the chance to adjust their uniform. It said 188 pupils had been made to sit in silence in the sports hall for breaking a uniform regulation on Tuesday, a punishment known as "inclusion". "This totals 376 missed hours of learning," the petition said, implying that students were held for two hours. It said punishments were handed out for "entering school without jumper" and for trousers being too tight and ties too short. Pupils were also punished for wearing hair-bands on their wrists, according to the petition. Among the comments posted on the petition site, one parent wrote: "Happy for school to implement non-school uniform compliance punishments but it is ridiculous to waste two hours of pupils' time for these very minor misdemeanours." 'Sense of community' A pupil posted: "It's ridiculous that we're missing our GCSE lessons and the fact that they care more about the uniform than our education." Another parent posted on Facebook: "Kids were put in inclusion on Tuesday for uniform related issues including my daughter. It's insane, Bohunt need to spend more time on teaching then policing the length of skirts and undone buttons! I'm so angry." The school said the vast majority of its pupils were dressed appropriately. In a statement, it said: "Our uniform policy is crystal clear and we wrote to all parents at the end of last term and again at the end of August to remind them of it. "We are pleased that the vast majority of parents and students support it, demonstrated by the fact that more than 90% of our students came to school this week looking extremely well turned out."	A private school has apologised after its advert suggested those who went there would eventually be rich enough to "buy their dad a Jag". Arachnophobes beware - "spider season" is back. A football fan who is suing a police force for false imprisonment has said it "needs to change the way it deals with supporters". Students and parents have criticised new punishments introduced for infringements of a school's uniform policy. A private girls' school in west London has been criticised for holding an "Austerity Day" where pupils ate potatoes and fruit for lunch.
There could also be a ban on overnight stays away from home in these areas. A final decision on the time period or extent of potential closures has not yet been made. The government is also likely to introduce a three-tier system for local lockdowns. Under the system, different parts of the country would be placed in different categories - although ministers are still discussing the precise details of the toughest level of restrictions over the next couple of days. A formal announcement is not likely to come until Monday, according to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg. Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has challenged the government to publish the scientific evidence behind the 22:00 closing time for pubs and restaurants - and refused to say whether his party would vote in support of the measure in Parliament next week. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said there was "evidence hospitality plays a role" in spreading the virus. But pressed on whether the government would publish this evidence, he told the BBC: "It is commonsensical that the longer you stay in pubs and restaurants, the more likely you are to come into contact with other individuals. "The more drinks that people have, the more likely that some people are to break the rules." He added that it was right to "take action decisively, rather than waiting for the most detailed epidemiological evidence to emerge". On the possibility of additional restrictions for some parts of England, Mr Jenrick said the government was "currently considering what steps to take" and the precise measures for different areas would be announced "in the coming days". He did not rule out pubs being closed but said measures would be "proportionate and localised". He added that the government was trying to give "greater consistency on rules so they're easier to understand" and was working on "slightly broader canvases of regions or cities and counties to avoid differences in people's daily lives if they drive over the border". It comes as significant new measures are introduced in Scotland. From Friday, all pubs and restaurants across central Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, are to close, while in the rest of Scotland hospitality venues must shut at 18:00 BST and alcohol can only be served outdoors. Industry leaders are warning the measures could be the final straw for many businesses. On Wednesday the number of UK cases rose by 14,162, with a further 70 deaths reported. The planned tightening of restrictions in parts of England follows rising infection rates across much of the country, with medical leaders warning the NHS is at risk of becoming overwhelmed. Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle upon Tyne have the highest infection rates in the country. A government source told the BBC the situation in the north-west and north-east of England was "very troubling", with growing numbers of hospital admissions and more elderly people in intensive care. These areas will be placed into the top tier of restrictions, with an announcement possibly as early as Monday, in a new system called the Local Covid Alert Level. But there remains a debate within cabinet over how far the restrictions in the top tier should go, with some in No 10 arguing for measures like those in Scotland. The plan is for schools to remain open in all circumstances. The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, reacted angrily to the reports, tweeting: "No discussion. No consultation. Millions of lives affected by Whitehall diktat. It is proving impossible to deal with this government." It's a complicated equation. The Department of Health is worried about the spread of the disease, as well as other patients losing out on other treatments because of the focus on Covid. No 11 is fearful about the impact on the economy, which has already had a profound shock. And it's No 10's job to worry about all of it, then reach a conclusion. But Boris Johnson also knows that his own MPs and the opposition parties are more and more sceptical as each day passes about what the government proposes. It's clear that shutting pubs and restaurants is a possibility - the "circuit breaker" that we have talked about on here lots of times. But there are many questions still to be settled. Read more from Laura here. Under the new system, all areas would be subject to the current England-wide restrictions, but there would be much more robust measures for the top tier - the one with the highest infection rates. There are already tighter restrictions in parts of the north-east and north-west of England, Birmingham and Leicester, where the rate of infection has been rising. But there are currently no extra restrictions for hospitality venues in these areas beyond those in force nationally, such as the 22:00 closing time for pubs and restaurants. The Treasury is looking at providing financial support to the industry in the worst-hit areas, and a memo seen by the BBC shows plans for additional money for local authorities. They would get £1 per head of population if placed into tier two, and £2 per head for tier three. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said if venues were forced to close the industry would need a return to a full furlough scheme and additional financial support. She said the £40m of support announced for hospitality venues by the Scottish government, when shared between 16,000 premises, equated to just over £2,000 each, which "barely keeps the lights on, let alone saving jobs". The planned changes come as medical leaders warn that rising infection levels across the country could leave the NHS "unable to cope". The Academy of Medical Colleges, which represents the UK and Ireland's 24 medical royal colleges, called on people to abide "strictly" to coronavirus measures to prevent NHS services from becoming overwhelmed. Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the academy, said: "Given the recent dramatic spike in both the number of cases and hospital admissions it is clear that we could soon be back to where we were in April if we are not all extremely careful." She told BBC Breakfast that while there were hotspots in the north-east and north-west of England, a lot of cities were now seeing "serious problems" and the virus was "working further south". In other developments: \|\|\|\|\| Nick TriggleHealth correspondent@nicktriggleon Twitter During the spring, the threat of the NHS being overwhelmed was one of the prime reasons the UK went into lockdown. So how well-prepared is the health service for the second wave? Hospital cases are still low The rise in infections in the community is now clearly translating into new cases being admitted to hospital. But we are still a long way from the peak. The increase in admissions means there are now nearly 3,000 patients in hospital with Covid. That represents about 3% of hospital beds. But given the reduced amount of activity - latest figures suggest only about half the number of routine operations are being done than was the case before the pandemic - there is still plenty of available space. The latest occupancy figures suggest there were around 30,000 beds unoccupied across the UK in the summer - three times as many as was normally the case before the pandemic hit. The pressures are not being felt evenly As with cases, the highest rates of admission are in the north of England. A look at the most recent data for hospital admissions shows two-thirds of the new cases admitted in England have been in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber. Hospitals in these areas have started standing up more of their "Covid wards" - where patients are isolated so they do not come into contact with patients coming in for other reasons, from cancer care to routine operations. But there have already been cases of hospitals reporting a build-up of extreme pressures. In recent weeks, hospitals in Bolton, Blackburn and Wakefield have issued alerts and tweets urging patients not to come to hospital unless absolutely necessary. Hospitals always get busier in winter But none of this is exceptional at this time of year - especially the closer we get to winter. Admissions for respiratory illnesses can double from late summer to the peak in December and January. What is not clear from the figures published by the government and NHS on Covid is what impact is being felt on other respiratory illnesses, such as flu. Prof Carl Heneghan, director of the Centre for Evidence-based Medicine at Oxford University, said this "context" is going to be crucial if decision-makers and the public are not to jump to "inappropriate conclusions" from rising Covid admissions. At the height of winter, hospitals would expect to see around 1,000 emergency admissions a day for respiratory illnesses. But are staff ready to cope? However, what may be more of a problem this year compared with previous winters is the state of the workforce. Both NHS managers and unions have warned that staff are on their knees after six months of fighting the pandemic following one of the most difficult winters in a generation. This week NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson warned that staff were "exhausted" and "traumatised" by what had happened this year. During the peak, staff found themselves being redeployed to unfamiliar environments as the NHS pulled out all the stops to ensure the service was not overwhelmed. This time it will be different. Hospitals are planning to keep other services running on a much greater scale than they did in the spring when routine treatments were cancelled en masse. London-based intensive care consultant Rupert Pearse said hospitals were working on the basis that hospital cases would peak at about two-thirds of the level they did in the spring. He believes that will allow just enough room to "keep many services going". What happens next will be key Much though will depend on what happens next. On the current trajectory, hospital admissions are doubling every week to two weeks - the rate of increase is even steeper in the hotspot areas. If that continues, the NHS will fairly quickly reach and exceed the peak seen in the spring. That would then require the network of Nightingale field hospitals to start taking on patients, stretching resources even further. But the NHS is still a long way from that position. And the experience of other nations offers some hope that the situation may not be repeated. Spain and France, which started experiencing a rise in cases before the UK, have seen rises in hospital cases slow in recent weeks. Although some would point out that that required extra restrictions to be brought in to be achieved. There is also some evidence from the southern hemisphere - from countries such as Chile, Argentina and Australia - that suggests other respiratory viruses may be pushed out. In particular, they have reported very little flu - something which experts have put down to the social distancing and good hand hygiene that have become routine. It has left the NHS planning for the worst, but hoping for the best. Follow Nick on Twitter Read more from Nick \|\|\|\|\| By Rachel Schraer & Ben ButcherBBC News Consider the national lockdown in the spring. While it feels like it was one single policy, it was in fact a package of different measures. Schools, universities and offices shut. Pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops closed. No-one could mix with people from outside their household. People were advised not to use public transport and to limit the number of times they visited essential shops. Together these had a dramatic impact on cases, and the number of coronavirus patients in hospital plummeted from 20,000 to about 800. How much each part of that lockdown contributed is hard to say. The rules were relaxed but then, at the end of June, Leicester became the first place to go into a local lockdown. Other cities, and whole regions, have followed. But so far, Leicester's lockdown is the only one to have come close to the strictness of the national policy. Shops and pubs were stopped from opening. Households were barred from mixing indoors. And new cases of the virus dropped by 60% during July. People in hospital beds with coronavirus fell from 88 to 18. Since Leicester, local lockdowns have multiplied. More than 15 million people - very roughly, a quarter of the UK population - have come under new curbs, in some form. And it's become harder to see whether they are working or not. Take Bolton, in Greater Manchester… After the first changes, cases continued to rise, throughout August. Then, after pub and restaurant closures, case rates dropped sharply. It is, however, too soon to say for sure that the stricter measures led directly to the decline. In the rest of Greater Manchester, gatherings with other households were banned but shops, pubs and restaurants remained open. Cases have mostly kept climbing throughout these local restrictions. However, the latest week's data will be welcome news - suggesting the sharp increases might be levelling off. The rise in cases in many areas under local lockdown appears to be slowing, in line with the national picture. This may be a sign that the England-wide "rule of six" is working. A large national study, published last week, confirmed the growth in cases was slowing across England, although overall levels remained high. But restrictions on households meeting - which have been seen at a local level - don't always lead to a slowing case rate. And this change in impact highlights the many factors involved which make it difficult to isolate the precise effect of local lockdowns. People don't necessarily change their behaviour exactly in line with rule changes. When concerns about cases rising begin to be reported, some people alter their behaviour before any law change. Other people, even when the rules come into place, don't obey them. So it may be a question of timing: are people more ready to restrict their movements now than they were in August? To complicate the figures further, other things have been going on at the same time as local lockdowns were being introduced, including summer holiday season and schools reopening. In Leicester, cases fell when restrictions were introduced. When they were progressively eased in August and September, cases started to rise. But this rise coincided with more people travelling abroad. And with children going back to school. In Greater Manchester, cases also rose over those months despite the area being in lockdown - albeit a looser version than Leicester's had been. Unpicking these different factors is a big challenge. Looking at "positivity rates" - the proportion of all tests that are positive, adjusting for different levels of testing - shows there have been increases in cases across England, with particularly sharp spikes in the North West and North East between the end of August and the end of September. Restrictions in those regions were only introduced between the middle of September and the beginning of October, making it too soon to see the impact of these rules. But in Blackburn, which has been in lockdown long enough for an effect to be seen, there was also a rise in cases - though this has come back down in recent weeks. Recent increases in hospitalisations from coronavirus have highlighted the extent of the challenge facing the north of England. Though without up-to-date localised data, it is difficult to judge whether the impact on a local level - such as those in Blackburn - have helped prevent serious cases. There's no doubt the national lockdown had a considerable impact on cases. Fundamentally, the virus needs people to be in close contact and mixing between circles to spread through the population. How tight the restrictions are makes a difference - look at the experience of Leicester, compared with Oldham or Blackburn. But so do the crucial issues of timing and compliance. A lockdown only works if people stick to it. The data also indicates that any impact lockdowns do have is far from permanent - relax the restrictions and allow more contact, and the virus will quickly start to spread again. Unless and until a viable vaccine becomes available, government will be faced with the same choice: shut down large chunks of society or allow the virus to tear through communities, with little idea of the true toll that either will exact. \|\|\|\|\| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the public "deserved to know" the basis for the restriction and if it could not be justified the rule must be reviewed. Tory MPs opposed to the move may rebel in the Commons vote. The PM said the rationale behind it had not changed and it was designed to reduce the spread of the virus. The two party leaders clashed over the effectiveness and fairness of national and local Covid restrictions at Prime Minister's Questions, with Sir Keir accusing the PM of incompetence and the PM saying Labour had supported the government's position, then changed its stance. All pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues in England have been required to close at 10pm since 24 September, as part of a package of measures to try and contain a surge of new cases in the North of England. Ministers argue it has had a "beneficial effect" on the spread of the virus in areas where the restriction had already been tried - but it has become a lighting rod for dissatisfaction on the Tory benches about Covid restrictions. And regional leaders, including the mayors of Greater Manchester and London, have called for it to be reviewed amid concerns it has led to large crowds gathering outside venues in some cities after closing time. In other developments: Next steps under discussion However you look at the blizzard of statistics about the coronavirus, the disease is still spreading - despite town after town being placed under extra limits. Even before Nicola Sturgeon's moves on Wednesday to try to break the spread in Scotland, ministers in SW1 were looking at the next steps they would need to take to stop the acceleration of the virus. As we've reported, the government is likely to introduce a tiered approach to put different parts of the country with different spreads of the diseases into different categories. But the exact nature of the strictest form of restrictions are yet to be set in stone. Labour has said a vote on whether to keep or scrap the 10pm closing time is expected on Monday, although the government has not confirmed the date. Sir Keir refused to say which way Labour would vote, telling the BBC the PM "needs to make his case" about how the 10pm cut-off reduces transmission and "the ball very firmly is in his court". Speaking earlier in Parliament, he said: "Is there a scientific basis for the 10pm rule? "The public and Parliament deserve to know. If there is, why does the government do itself a favour and publish it? "If not, why does the government not review the rule?" In response, Mr Johnson said "the basis on which we set out the curtailment of hospitality was the basis on which he accepted it two weeks ago. "And that is the reduce the spread of the virus and that is our objective." The prime minister accused Labour of withdrawing its support for other restrictions, after its MPs were told to abstain in a vote on Tuesday on maintaining the rule of six limit on social gatherings. "What kind of signal does this send to the people of the country about the robustness of the Labour Party and their willingness to enforce the restrictions?" he added. Infection numbers During heated exchanges, the Labour leader urged the PM to be straight with the public about whether local lockdowns were working and to explain why some areas of the country were not being subject to restrictions despite having a higher proportion of cases than those targeted. He said cases were continuing to rise in 19 of the 20 local council areas which had been to subject to restrictions between the end of July and start of August - including Bradford, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Wigan. The Labour leader said that in Burnley, infection rates were 21 per 100,000 people when restrictions were introduced, while now it is 434. In Bolton, it was 18 per 100,000, while now it is 255. At the same time, he said no extra restrictions were being applied in the London borough of Hillingdon - which is home to the PM's Uxbridge and Ruislip constituency - despite it having recorded weekly figures as high as 62 cases per 100,000 people. This, he said, was a far higher figure than the rate of infection in Kirklees in West Yorkshire - 29 cases per 100,000 people - when restrictions were imposed there on 30 July "The prime minister really needs to understand that local communities are angry and frustrated," he said. "So will he level with the people of Bury, Burnley and Bolton and tell them: what does he think the central problem is that's causing this? "The prime minister can't explain why an area goes into restrictions. He can't explain what the different restrictions are, and he can't explain how restrictions end." Mr Johnson said the combination of local and national measures in place were needed to deal with the continued sharp rise in cases in Manchester and Liverpool but also the uptick in infections in the Midlands and London. "The local and regional approach, combined with national measures, remains correct because two thirds of those admitted into hospital on Sunday were in the North East, North West and Yorkshire," he said. Sir Keir grilled the prime minister on the effectiveness and fairness of local restrictions. "Twenty local areas have been under restrictions for two months, in 19 of those 20 areas infections rates have gone up," he said, citing new Labour Party analysis. The trends highlighted in the report for those areas are correct. In fact, only in Leicester did we see sustained declines in case rates during a local lockdown, but those rates quickly increased when restrictions were loosened. The issue with the Labour analysis is that a handful of the places mentioned have not actually been in local lockdowns for two complete months. For example, Oadby and Wigston did face additional restrictions at the end of June, but these were lifted after a month. They were only placed under restrictions again on 22 September. On another point, Sir Keir said areas in parts of the north of England had been placed into local restrictions at rates lower than those experienced in parts of the south which are not under any kind of lockdown. This is true: Bury, Tameside, Stockport and Wigan (to name a few) had case rates of between 20 and 30 per 100,000 people when they first went into lockdown. The London borough of Hillingdon - the prime minister's constituency - had rates of 46 cases per 100,000, while Redbridge had 57 and Barking and Dagenham 53, in the week ending the 27 September, according to Public Health England. And analysis by the BBC data team suggests that these rates have increased in the past week. \|\|\|\|\| The new rules will apply to licensed premises across the central belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh. Pubs and restaurants will be able to open in other parts of Scotland - but can only serve alcohol outdoors. The new rules, which will be in force from 18:00 on Friday until 25 October, apply to about 3.4 million people. They cover people living in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley, Lothian and Ayrshire and Arran health board areas. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the restrictions were "intended to be short, sharp action to arrest a worrying increase in infection". She warned that without taking action, the country risks "returning to the peak level of infection by the end of the month". But she admitted that the new rules would be disruptive to many businesses and would be unwelcome to many people. The Scottish Hospitality Group, which includes many of the the country's best known pubs and restaurants, accused the first minister of "effectively signing a death sentence" for many businesses. And the Federation of Small Businesses said the move would have a major knock on impact across other parts of the economy, including tourism. Opposition parties have called for more detail on a £40m support package for affected business that was announced by Ms Sturgeon, and have questioned the need for the blanket closure of pubs and restaurants. The new rules for the five central belt areas are: There will be no travel ban in any of the areas, but people in the central belt have been urged to avoid public transport unless it is "absolutely necessary". And they have also been advised not to travel outside of the health board area they live in if they do not need to. Throughout the pandemic Scotland has tended to adopt a slightly more cautious approach than England. It has imposed more restrictions and lifted them more slowly in general. The latest move is in line with that trend. There is little difference in overall infection rates. Scotland has seen 85 cases per 100,000 in the past week, compared to England's 109. The measures imposed by the Scottish government are focussed on areas with the highest infection rates. But those places are some way below the levels seen in England's hotspots. Cities such as Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle have seen around 500 cases per 100,000 people over the past week - that is more than twice the level of infection in Glasgow for example. But the differences between the two nations should not mask the growing concern there is in England about the infection rates, particularly in the north of country. Senior ministers and their advisers are today discussing whether extra steps are needed south of the border. The problem is action to supress the virus has negative consequences too. This much can be seen in the growing number of scientists and health experts who are signing the Great Barrington Declaration warning about the impact of Covid lockdown policies. In other parts of the country, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will be able to open indoors until 18:00 - but only to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks. However, they will be able to serve alcohol in outdoor settings such as beer gardens until 22:00, with the current rules on no more than six people from two households remaining in place. And the existing rules will continue to apply to weddings that have already been booked, and funerals, in all parts of Scotland. Ms Sturgeon said regulations would be introduced to extend the mandatory use of face coverings in indoor communal settings such as staff canteens and workplace corridors. Shops across Scotland will be asked to return to 2m physical distancing from this weekend, and to reintroduce measures such as one-way systems. It comes as Scotland recorded more than 1,000 new confirmed cases of the virus in a single day for the first time - although the country is doing far more testing now than at the height of the pandemic earlier in the year. The R number is currently believed to be higher in Scotland than in other UK nations, and the number of people dying or in hospital with the virus has increased over the past week. The number of UK cases rose by 14,162 on Wednesday. This was a slight drop on Tuesday's figure, but the seven-day rolling average is still pointing upwards. Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Sturgeon said the "vast majority" of pubs and restaurants had worked hard to ensure the safety of their staff and customers. But she added: "Indoor environments, where different households from different age groups can mix, inevitably present a risk of transmission. "That risk can be increased in some hospitality premises if good ventilation is difficult, and if it is hard to control the movement of people. "And the presence of alcohol can of course affect people's willingness to physically distance." Scottish Conservative group leader Ruth Davidson criticised a lack of detail over the £40m support package that was announced by the first minister. Ms Davidson said: "These businesses deserve better. They need to know how much they can apply for, when they can apply for it and how long they will have to wait before support reaches them. "Those answers could have been provided today, but Nicola Sturgeon failed to do that." And Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said the government should target premises which break the rules "instead of shutting down every single business". The temporary shutdown of pubs and restaurants across central Scotland with a new 6pm curfew elsewhere are significant new restrictions. Together with the existing Scotland-wide ban on visiting other households, these add up to the toughest combination of measures in place across any of the four UK nations. The Scottish government has decided to take further action because it fears case numbers are rising so fast that without further action, spread would be back to March/April levels by the end of this month. The hospitality industry is not convinced there is sufficient evidence to justify pubs and restaurants being so heavily targeted. The new measures are temporary, partly because the Scottish government has limited scope to compensate businesses. It hopes the UK government can be persuaded to offer additional support for hard hit sectors in the coming weeks and that all four nations can agree a new system for assessing and responding to the coronavirus threat on a more localised basis. Are you a pub or restaurant worker in central Scotland? Share your stories by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. \|\|\|\|\| Licensed premises in five health board areas will close from 18:00 on Friday until 25 October. Elsewhere, they will have reduced opening hours and be barred from selling alcohol indoors. The Scottish government has said the new rules are needed to bring the virus back under control. It has argued that licensed premises are one of the key spreaders of Covid, and is making an additional £40m available for affected businesses. Industry leaders have criticised a lack of information about how the funding will be allocated - with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying more detail will be provided on Friday. Ms Sturgeon pointed to the country again having recorded more 1,000 new cases in a day as evidence that the "hard and painful" restrictions were needed to protect people's health. And she said the number of coronavirus patients in Scottish hospitals has doubled to 377 over the past week, with 31 being treated in intensive care. A further five people have died after testing positive for the virus. Pubs and restaurants have questioned the scientific evidence behind the decision to shut down them down - and have claimed they were being unfairly singled out. UK Hospitality's executive director for Scotland, Willie Macleod, said many businesses would not survive the new measures - with a "horrific" impact on jobs. He told BBC Breakfast: "Closing bars and restaurants is going to have a massive impact on businesses that are really just climbing back from a prolonged period of lockdown. "They have reopened with reduced capacity to cope with social distancing, they were then hit by the 10pm curfew, and with reduced demand and reduced consumer confidence. Business resilience is as low as it can be. "Many businesses won't survive and I'm afraid we're going to see tens of thousands of job losses by the time we do the final count on all of this." Pubs and restaurants will be closed in five health board areas - Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley, Lothian and Ayrshire and Arran - where about 3.4 million people live. Elsewhere in Scotland, hospitality venues can open inside from 06:00 until 18:00 to sell soft drinks and food, while alcohol can be served in outside areas until 22:00. Some areas of England are expected have similar rules imposed over the coming days. Stephen Leckie, who runs the Crieff Hydro hotel, said he had 50 cancellations from customers within an hour of the first minister's announcement on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Leckie, who is also chairman of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said the new measures had caused widespread confusion for business owners and customers. He said: "This industry is in tatters, it's in trouble and now there's turmoil. We have questions to ask, many customers are asking questions and are cancelling in their droves." His views were echoed by Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, who said: "These measures will sound the death knell for businesses across the hospitality sector, especially pubs and bars. "Restaurants and hotels, whilst remaining open, will also be constrained on what they can provide and this will place a large dent in their already reduced income." And pub owner Michael McHugh, who owns Alexander's Bar in Clydebank, said he was "at the end of my tether" and finding it increasingly difficult to reassure his staff that their jobs were safe. He added: "How can you run a business when every other week you're getting shut down?" Gretna hotelier Alasdair Houston said most of the industry, and its customers, had been behaving responsibly. "Deal with the rule breakers; don't punish the rule followers by adding yet more and killing the sector," he said. "The industry is being lumped together good with bad, and the primary problem is idiots breaking all the rules." Shops across Scotland will also be asked to return to 2m physical distancing from this weekend, and to reintroduce measures such as one-way systems. David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said many shops would be baffled at the request "in the absence of any evidence which shows shops are a source of infection". He added: "These additional restrictions may make it impractical for some to trade at all for this period, and the government must urgently provide details of the proposed support for these viable businesses." First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the new restrictions were needed to prevent the virus spreading to levels similar to the peak of the pandemic by the end of the month. She admitted that the restrictions would be hard on businesses, especially as employers' contributions to the furlough scheme have increased. Her deputy, John Swinney, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that the Scottish government had had to find the extra £40 to support the sector. He said: "It is not extra resources we have had from the UK government, we have had to dig deep into our own resources to find the money to support the hospitality sector through what I accept is going to be a difficult period for them. "But we are doing that because we must take wider action to protect the public interests in these circumstances." He said the government has to "stop the opportunities for interaction where the virus can spread, that appears to be emerging from some aspects of the hospitality sector". Rules for the five health boards areas There will be no travel ban in any of the areas, but people in the central belt have been urged to avoid public transport unless it is "absolutely necessary". And they have also been advised not to travel outside of the health board area they live in if they do not need to. Rules for the rest of Scotland Use the form below to send us your questions and we could be in touch. In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read the terms and conditions. Your contact info I am over 16 years old I accept the Terms of Service 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 on this topic. \|\|\|\|\| Laura KuenssbergPolitical editor@bbclaurakon Twitter Even before Nicola Sturgeon's moves on Wednesday to try to break the spread in Scotland, ministers in SW1 were looking at the next steps they would need to take to stop the acceleration of the virus. As we've reported, the government is likely to introduce a tiered approach to put different parts of the country with different spreads of the diseases into different categories. But the exact nature of the strictest form of restrictions are yet to be set in stone. It's a complicated equation. The Department of Health is worried about the spread of the disease, as well as other patients losing out on other treatments because of the focus on Covid. No 11 is fearful about the impact on the economy, which has already had a profound shock. And it's No 10's job to worry about all of it, then reach a conclusion. But Boris Johnson also knows that his own MPs and the opposition parties are more and more sceptical as each day passes about what the government proposes. It's clear that shutting pubs and restaurants is a possibility - the "circuit breaker" that we have talked about on here lots of times. But there are many questions still to be settled. Serious discussions Would that happen everywhere? Or just in the most affected parts of the country? Would closures be total or for a certain period of time only? Would they be temporary? Or put in place until an indeterminate time? A lot is unknown, but the discussions are serious. The Treasury is already looking at financial support for the different options, including not just closing pubs in the most affected areas, but potentially well beyond. There is a lot yet to settle, and the next formal announcement is likely (as things stand) not to come until Monday. But more action is clearly on the way. \|\|\|\|\| By Jonathan JosephsBusiness reporter, BBC News The BBC understands that the settlement will cost the government up to £2m. British company Diagnostics AI claimed it lost out to a European rival UgenTec despite spotting some positive coronavirus cases its rival missed. It sued the government over the decision, claiming the selection process was "unfair and unlawful". Lighthouse labs are a UK-wide network of specialist coronavirus laboratories managed by the government and run by private firms. When the labs were set up, companies pitched to analyse the test results. The dispute was due to be played out in court. It would have meant a public examination of the accuracy and speed of the testing system, at a time when it has come under serious criticism. But the government has decided to settle the case and will pay Diagnostics AI compensation and most of its legal fees. However, despite agreeing to the payout, the government has refuted the claims made by Diagnostics AI, saying they are "inaccurate". "The tests are reliable and effective, the laboratories that undertake them have been reviewed and assessed by experts and the percentage of false negatives or positives is tiny," said a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson. "This was a commercial dispute over a software contract where a number of factors were considered before it was awarded, which is still subject to final agreement over costs." As the contract was worth more than £1m, the BBC understands the settlement including legal costs could amount to around £2m. Dispute over contract decision Swabs are taken from people at testing sites or home tests and treated with a chemical process that produces a graph. The software is used to determine whether the graphs show the sample was positive or negative for coronavirus. Diagnostics AI claimed UgenTec's analysis of a trial run of 2,000 samples was flawed. In some cases, it claimed UgenTec found negative coronavirus results, when the results were actually positive or inconclusive. "The system that they ultimately went with and decided to pay for missed around 50 out of 800 positive [results], so that's around one in 15, or so, one in 16 - to be precise - positives," Diagnostics AI's chief executive Aron Cohen told the BBC. "Obviously when that translates to hundreds of thousands of samples a day, that's potentially thousands of missed positives going out every day. So that was really worrying for us." UgenTec in return claimed that no patients were affected at all as it was a trial run. "We provide crucial covid interpretation services to the Lighthouse Labs to help them manage the vast amounts of data they generate. These claims are inaccurate and misleading," UgenTec's chief executive Steven Verhoeven told the BBC. "None of these samples refer to actual results given to patients or the public and to imply any public health impact is wrong. Live tests were not being supported by our software at the time which was in the process of being implemented. As illustrated by independent tests, we have every confidence in our software and the services we provide." 'A commercial dispute' Two non-profit companies owned and funded by the government were also sued by Diagnostics AI - namely UK Biocentre and Medicines Delivery Catapult (MDC), which ran the process to decide which company to use. Court papers show that between 31 March and 14 April, Diagnostics AI repeatedly requested information about exactly what services were required and how their bid would be evaluated. Diagnostics AI say it never received the information it asked for. This is refuted by UK Biocentre, which says both providers were given the same information. When the two bids were being considered in early April, the UK was facing what Boris Johnson had called a "moment of national emergency". In such urgent circumstances, the law does make provision for the government to buy services without a competitive process, if certain conditions are met. However, it is understood that both Diagnostics AI and Ugentec had been recommended to UK Biocentre, and so a decision was made to evaluate both offers. Diagnostics AI says this process was unfair and flawed, but UK Biocentre insists it was fair to both bidders. A spokesperson for UK Biocentre said: "The allegations are groundless; this was a commercial dispute. The software in question is being used widely in the Lighthouse Laboratories, in some NHS laboratories and abroad. "External quality assurance has confirmed that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in the Lighthouse Laboratories, of which the automated diagnostic software forms part, is performing well." A spokesperson for MDC also provided the BBC with a statement: "The full results of evaluation identified UgenTec as a safe and quality provider, able to deliver in high volumes, and with a comprehensive support system in place. It has performed superbly over the past six months, analysing over eight million test results for the nation. The litigation was purely a commercial dispute." The BBC understands that investigations were carried out into the claims made by Diagnostics AI, but concluded that concerns over the safety of UgenTec's software were unsubstantiated. However Mr Cohen disagrees: "The government is paying out a lot of money. And they're paying this out, you know, to avoid it at least in part, to avoid having to have these issues aired in court, and to have discussions over the accuracy of the testing." \|\|\|\|\| Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the taskforce will look at introducing a Covid-19 testing system for travellers to the UK. People would have to pay for their own tests to avoid impacting NHS capacity. Airline and airport bosses reiterated calls to replace quarantine altogether, with a comprehensive testing system. The aviation industry has struggled with the drop in passenger numbers since the start of the UK's epidemic, with industry figures repeatedly lobbying for testing at ports and airports - something ministers have rejected. Anyone arriving to the UK from abroad must currently self-isolate for two weeks, unless they have come from an exempt destination. The plans to be considered by the Global Travel Taskforce include giving travellers the option of paying for a coronavirus test a few days after they arrive. A negative result would mean people could end their quarantine period early. The taskforce will also consider whether people could self-isolate before travelling abroad, instead of upon arrival. If you were running an airline or owned a travel agency I don't think you'd be jumping for joy. You would probably be relieved that the government has eventually done what you've been calling for for months and given a firmer commitment to testing, as a way to allow people to avoid quarantining for the full 14 days. But Heathrow had a facility for taking passengers' saliva swabs ready to go in mid-August. That facility now appears redundant because the government has rejected the scientific rationale behind testing passengers at airports on arrival - on the basis that asymptomatic people who recently caught the virus could still produce negative results. And even though ministers have made their firmest commitment yet to privately-funded testing, travel bosses will, to some extent, be pulling their hair out that key details still haven't been worked out. Namely, after how many days of quarantine would someone be able to pay for a test? Between five and eight days is what the government is considering. What airlines really want is the option of people having a test two or three days before they arrive. With a second test after you arrive in the UK that could reduce quarantine even further. The government has crucially indicated that it's willing to explore that idea. But aviation bosses just want ministers to get on with it - the creation of a taskforce wasn't the announcement they wanted on Wednesday. Announcing the plans, Mr Shapps said: "The current measures at the border have saved lives. Our understanding of the science now means we can intensify efforts to develop options for a testing regime and help reinvigorate our world-leading travel sector. "This new taskforce will not only help us move towards safer, smoother international travel as we continue to battle this virus but will also support global connectivity - helping facilitate more Covid-secure travel whilst protecting the population from imported cases." Mr Shapps and Health Secretary Matt Hancock will lead the taskforce to consider: The group is expected to report back to No 10 in November. Officials from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will all be involved in the taskforce's work. But as health matters are devolved, decision making and implementation may differ across the four nations. While industry figures called the announcement a "step in the right direction", many also reiterated their belief that a testing programme should replace quarantine altogether. A spokeswoman for British Airways added: "Although every step to improve the current situation is welcome, we do not believe quarantine is the solution. The best way to reassure people is to introduce a reliable and affordable test before flying." Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association - a trade association for UK airports - said: "We believe that from a health perspective a testing regime can be far preferable to just relying on quarantine." And a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "Removing quarantine is the only way to truly open up the skies and enable the UK's economic recovery to take off." One airline trade body says testing people before they travel - an idea known as "pre-departure testing" - was becoming the "international norm" and should be adopted in the UK too "as soon as practically possible". "Aviation is at a critical juncture and we have no time to lose," added Airlines UK's chief executive, Tim Alderslade. Many industry figures also called for the taskforce to bring in changes - rather than just recommendations - within weeks. A joint statement from the CEOs of Easyjet, Heathrow, Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and Virgin Atlantic said a testing regime must be in place by early November because without "rapid" action, "the UK will fall even further behind our competitors and the economic recovery will fail to get off the ground". Almost 900 jobs are at risk at MAG's three UK airports - Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airport - after the pandemic resulted in the "toughest summer ever". Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said the government had been "incompetently slow to react". "They've had months to set up a taskforce, months to look into airport testing and months to sort out the flaws of their quarantine proposals," the Labour MP added. He also called for a financial support package for the aviation sector. \|\|\|\|\| Education Secretary John Swinney said going ahead with all exams during the continuing Covid pandemic was "too big a risk". Higher and Advanced Higher exams will go ahead as usual - but will start on 13 May, two weeks later than planned. The move came as new restrictions were imposed across Scotland in response to a sharp rise in new coronavirus cases. Schools are to remain open but Mr Swinney said it was likely students would still face disruption - meaning an "alternative approach" was needed. He said National 5 qualifications - which account for about half of all exams sat in Scotland and are roughly equivalent to GCSEs in England - would be judged on "teacher judgement supported by assessment". Opposition parties have been split on whether exams should go ahead, with the Greens calling for them to be axed entirely - but the Scottish Conservatives saying Mr Swinney had "thrown in the towel". Scotland's school exams were cancelled for the first time ever in 2020, with the country locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Scottish Qualifications Authority initially drew up results using a system which took teacher estimates for each pupil, then moderated them based on results from previous years. However, this sparked an outcry after 125,000 results were downgraded, with claims the moderation system unfairly penalised children at schools which had historically not performed as well. The government subsequently agreed to accept the original teacher estimates of grades, and commissioned an independent review of the row. Prof Mark Priestly recommended the new approach to National 5 exams and the development of a new approach to assessments, and this was accepted by ministers. Results will again be moderated to "maintain standards", but Mr Swinney stressed that "awards will not be given or taken away on the basis of a statistical model or on the basis of a school's past performance". Analysis by Lucy Whyte, BBC Scotland education reporter We are already eight weeks in to this academic year and teachers, pupils and parents had been calling for clarity about what would happen with the 2021 exams. If they planned for "normality" next summer it risked last-minute changes close to exam time and a repeat of the problems of this summer. The decision to scrap the final exams for National 5 students, which are usually taken by 15 and 16-year-olds, means their grades will be decided by continuous assessment throughout the year. Teachers and pupils can now prepare for this. The decision to scrap the largest group of exams means there will be more space and time for Highers and Advanced Higher to take place under exam conditions in as close a way to normal as possible. They will be pushed back slightly later to allow for extra teaching time, but will still be completed before the end of the school term. This will allow papers to be graded and marks sent to pupils at the beginning of August, meaning applications for university and college places can continue as they normally would. The education secretary said: "The risk remains that there may be further disruptions for individual pupils, schools, college, or more widely across the country during the course of this academic year. "Due to the level of disruption already caused by Covid, and due to the likely disruption faced by some or all pupils and students this academic year, a full exam diet is simply too big a risk - it would not be fair." He added that a "contingency plan" was in place should Highers and Advanced Highers need to be called off, which could see grades again being awarded on teacher judgement. The Scottish Conservatives said a full exam diet "could and should" have taken place, with MSP Jamie Greene saying "it does feel like the towel has been thrown in". Labour's Iain Gray said the decision had come late, with staff "months in to teaching courses already". The Scottish Greens have backed calls for all exams to be cancelled, asking why the same approach could not be applied to Highers and Advanced Highers. Mr Swinney replied that the "significant weight" attached to Highers in university admissions meant they should be maintained if at all possible.	Covid restrictions are to be further tightened in parts of England early next week, with the closure of pubs and restaurants a possibility in the worst-affected areas, the BBC has been told. Hospitals in England have seen the number of new admissions jump by a quarter in just one day . In many areas under local lockdown, cases and hospital admissions have continued to soar. Does that mean restrictions don't work? Boris Johnson has been challenged to publish the scientific evidence behind the 10pm closing time for English pubs ahead of a vote by MPs next week. All pubs and restaurants across central Scotland are to be closed under new measures aimed at tackling a surge in coronavirus cases. The temporary closure of pubs and restaurants across the central belt of Scotland could cost thousands of jobs, industry leaders have warned. However you look at the blizzard of statistics about the Coronavirus, the disease is still spreading - despite town after town being placed under extra limits. The UK has agreed to settle a lawsuit over how it selected an IT contract for coronavirus testing at its Lighthouse labs. People arriving in the UK from abroad may soon be able to end their 14-day self-isolation early, as part of plans to be considered by a new taskforce. National 5 exams are to be cancelled in Scotland in 2021 and replaced with teacher assessments and coursework.
The 25m (82ft) pool, which is to open in Sparkhill, is one of the training pools from the Olympic Park used at the London 2012 Games. A pool in Sparkhill has been closed since 2009. Sport England said it was looking for new locations across the country for some of the other London 2012 pools which have been dismantled. One opened in Bridlington in January. Installation of the Sparkhill pool, to take place at a later date, was part of proposals for a new Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre approved by Birmingham City Council's cabinet on Monday. 'No 50m pool' Deputy leader Ian Ward said its successful bid for one of the pools from 2012 meant it would "soon have the chance to literally immerse ourselves in the Olympic legacy". The council announced in 2008 it would build a 50m (164ft) Olympic-size pool behind the NIA in Ladywood at a cost of £60m, but in 2009 it said it no longer had the funds. In 2010 the authority said a 50m pool had full planning permission and it was "working very hard to find the finance for that in these difficult times". The same year, Commonwealth gold medallist Adam Ruckwood quit as Birmingham's chief swimming coach in frustration at the lack of a new Olympic-size pool. Paralympian Ellie Simmonds moved from Walsall with her mother to Swansea at the age of 11 so she could train in a 50m pool. Birmingham City Council has not commented on plans for a 50m pool. Related Internet Links Birmingham City Council \|\|\|\|\| The pool will remain at Bridlington Sports Centre for two years whilst the £20m redevelopment of Leisure World is carried out. The 25m (82ft) temporary pool is one of nine training pools used by athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games. East Riding Council secured use of the legacy pool through a deal with Sport England and Total Swimming. Neil Richardson, from Total Swimming, said: "Obviously as part of the legacy and the investment that has been made in the pools it makes sense to give that back to the country and enable people to use them after the games. "To know that the community has not lost its pool and can continue swimming until the new facility is built is a great delight." Miss Jackson, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, ran a training session with local amateur swimmers in the new pool. She said: "I have been with some of the swimmers and there are some fantastic swimmers here, some possible national champions. "So the fact they have this facility prior to the new pool opening is brilliant." A £2m national lottery grant towards the redevelopment of Leisure World has also been confirmed by Sport England. Related Internet Links Sport England East Riding Council Leisure World \|\|\|\|\| Coventry City Council is proposing a new leisure centre with a 25m pool and water park in the city and then closing the Fairfax Street sport centre - home to an Olympic-size pool. The new £36m centre would not open until 2019 and keeping the current centre functioning will be "a challenge", the council said. A six-week consultation over the plans has now begun. 'Not fit-for-purpose' Councillor Ed Ruane, cabinet member for housing and heritage, said part of the current listed sports centre has been closed off due to the condition of the building. "We know that giving people the chance to lead fitter, healthier lives is really important," he said. "Successful sport in our city needs to start in the playground with active, healthy children and move through all levels and ages to include talented individuals and teams, who we can support to achieve success at the highest national and international levels. 'First to get cut' "We're also determined to invest in our sporting facilities. Coventry Sports Centre is no longer fit for purpose and we have already had to close off some parts of the building." Councils in Derby, Nottingham and Birmingham are planning to build 50m pools and there is one open in Northampton. In 2010, Commonwealth gold medallist swimmer Adam Ruckwood quit as Birmingham's chief swimming coach and switched to Coventry in frustration at the lack of a new Olympic-size pool in the city. Speaking last month about swimming provision in Coventry he said: "I understand the constraints councils are under. Sport and leisure isn't statutory. They don't have to provide it. "Swimming pools tend to be one of the first things that get cut. You would hope there would be some sort of legacy from the Olympics." Paralympian Ellie Simmonds relocated from Walsall with her mother to Swansea at the age of 11 so she could train in a 50-metre pool. Related Internet Links Coventry City Council \|\|\|\|\| Birmingham City Council announced Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre will be operated and managed by DC Leisure Management Ltd. The £12.2m centre is scheduled to open on 3 January. It will be the first municipal leisure centre in Birmingham to be managed and operated by an external contractor in a bid to save money. DC Leisure has signed an initial 10-year deal to manage the facility with an option to extend for a further five years, subject to satisfactory performance. State-of-the-art Councillor Martin Mullaney, the council's cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, said the deal marked the future for public swimming pool provision in the city. He added: "We've replaced an ageing leisure centre with a new state-of-the-art facility to be proud of and this deal with DC Leisure means council taxpayers in Birmingham will no longer pay for the running costs of the centre." He said they were currently going through a competitive tender process to build another new swimming pool in Sparkhill. The new centre in Harborne has a 25m main pool alongside a smaller learner facility, a gym, children's fitness suite, dance and aerobics studio and a community room. Related Internet Links Birmingham City Council \|\|\|\|\| He is to take up a post in Coventry, which has been charged by swimming's governing body to develop young swimming talent. Birmingham City Council announced in 2008 it would build a 50m Olympic pool behind the NIA in Ladywood at a cost of £60m. But it said last October it no longer had the funds. In addition, the city of Birmingham club's base, Newtown pool, has been shut since April last year because part of the roof fell in. Now the club has to find sessions where it can at pools around the city. Mr Ruckwood said: "It's incredibly difficult with a shrinking programme and no base or 50-metre pool. We train in a short-course pool. 'Find the finance' "It's like Manchester United trying to train just on a five-a-side pitch for the Premier League. "I've become increasingly frustrated over the years. I joined the club as a swimmer in 1989 and we were supposed to be getting a 50-metre pool then. "Here we are 21 years on still with no 50-metre pool. "If you want to buy me 50 shovels I've got 50 kids here who would start digging for you." Steve Hollingworth, from Birmingham City Council, said: "A 50-metre pool has full planning permission and is ready to go and we're working very hard to find the finance for that in these difficult times. "So there will be a replacement over time, perhaps longer than we initially envisaged." Chief executive of British Swimming David Sparkes said: "Birmingham has failed to meet up to its obligations. "It claims to be a City of Sport and yet it doesn't have a decent swimming pool." Related Internet Links Birmingham City Council British Swimming	One of nine Olympic legacy swimming pools is to open in Birmingham, the city council has said. Olympic swimmer Jo Jackson has opened an Olympic legacy swimming pool in Bridlington. The only 50m pool in the Midlands could be forced to close. Birmingham's first new public swimming pool for more than 20 years will open in January 2012. Commonwealth gold medallist swimmer Adam Ruckwood has quit as Birmingham's chief swimming coach in frustration at the lack of a new Olympic-size pool planned for 2012. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Mr Bezos and his wife contributed to With Honor, a fund promoting veterans in Congress instead of a specific political party, the group confirmed. Ranked the world's richest man, Mr Bezos has not been an active political campaign donor thus far, US media say. He has said his main focus has been on long-term investments over charity. The donation was the largest the group has received this year, according to Ellen Zeng, political director for the With Honor fund. She told Reuters the group wants to equally split its spending between Democrat and Republican candidates. Mr Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post and and aerospace company Blue Origin, last made a sizeable donation in 2012, when he donated $2.5m to support same-sex marriage in Washington state. According to Forbes, Mr Bezos is worth around $112bn. With Honor is considered a super PAC, or a category of independent political action group that is allowed to accept and spend unlimited amounts of corporate, individual or union cash on behalf of a candidate. Current candidates, according to With Honor's website, include: Nearly 200 veterans are running for seats in the US House of Representatives this year, according to the fund. In total, the fund has endorsed 33 candidates running for congressional seats - 14 Republicans and 19 Democrats. The group's founder, Rye Barcott, told the Wall Street Journal that Mr Bezos and his wife "perceive themselves to be pretty nonpartisan". "The idea of doing something different and disruptive appealed to them, along with our focus on values and integrity in our national discourse," Mr Barcott said. According to federal election data viewed by the Journal, the Bezos family has given $31,000 to Democratic candidates and $21,600 to Republican candidates since 2007. Other billionaires in US politics Mr Bezos joins fellow billionaires Sheldon Adelson, a casino magnate, and Tom Steyer, a philanthropist, in spending millions to back super PACs and candidates. Mr Adelson has been a notable contributor to the Republican party - this May, he gave $30m to a super PAC aiming to keep the Republican majority in the House. Just behind the casino magnate in donations, is Mr Steyer, a hedge fund manager worth around $1.6b, who has contributed $29.5m to pro-Democrat PACs as well as his own super PAC against President Donald Trump, Need to Impeach. Hedge fund founder George Soros has donated over $10m to super PACs promoting Democratic candidates. Conservative billionaire Robert Mercer gave millions to Mr Trump' campaign in 2016, and according to the Center for Responsive Politics, spent $2m funding a far-right nonprofit targeting voters via social media. Over 60% of all PAC contributions come from donors giving more than $500,000, the Washington Post reported, which means a handful of the wealthiest Americans have a large impact on political campaigns. In the 2016 election, mega donors led super PACs to raise over $1bn for candidates. \|\|\|\|\| Mark MardellNorth America editor@BBCMarkMardellon Twitter This is one of the adverts run by Mitt Romney's campaign. It questions Newt's record and integrity. Adam Goodman points out that everything in the advert is grey and grainy, with all the words in red and dark brown, except for the picture of Mitt Romney at the end. He is rendered in bright colour alongside his smiling family. We are in the studios of The Victory Group, Adam's media consultancy. Victory Group has designed many campaigns and adverts for Republican candidates. He defends what some call negative advertising. "I like to think of it as conversational advertising. People ask all the time: 'Is this good for the process?' I think it is tremendous for the process. The more that you get voters engaged in winners and losers it is all for the better." But is it positive to paint your opponent as a bad guy? "Campaigns are ultimately about contrast," he says. "You basically want to lay out your case as you best you can. I think the exchange of ideas, the exchange of records, the exchange even of character, is terribly important in making informed choices." New rules, new funds It certainly worked in Florida. Mitt Romney ran 13,000 adverts, nearly all negative, nearly all on TV. You are sitting there, watching your favourite chat show or reality TV, and up pops a minute-and-a-half of adverts telling you scary things about somebody. One insider says the experience is like having someone invade your home. But he also told me that people do get interested, caught up in the emotion, and of course persuaded of the merit of the advert's argument. The ads certainly seemed to crush Newt Gingrich in Florida, where he could only manage to buy a measly 200 spots on TV. Negative TV ads are nothing new in American political campaigns. The relationship between money and politics is an old story. But something new is happening in this election year. Two years ago the Supreme Court ruled that under the First Amendment of the US Constitution corporations and unions had the same rights of free speech as individuals. That meant they had the right to spend as much as they liked on political campaigns. That ruling gave birth to the Super PAC (political action committee). Although the law does not allow a candidate to control a Super PAC, the committee in charge can take notice of what he or she says in public. So somehow, by some miracle, they are all bang on message. Prepare for the ad-storm Super PACs can be richer than the candidate's own campaign. Take the pro-Mitt Romney Super PAC Restore Our Future. It raised more than (£14.5m) last year, compared to the Romney campaign's $20m. Four hedge fund managers gave a million dollars each to Restore Our Future, and 10 billionaires are listed among the supporters. Adam Goodman says there will be yet more money spent this year. "It keeps going up. Every cycle. Sometimes it goes up astronomically. The difference this year are the Super PACs," Mr Goodman says. "The frightening part is that we have only seen this played out in the presidential [election]. It is about to be played out in every race for the senate, every race for Congress. "It's great for business but very chilling in a way in terms of democracy because it may suggest fewer people are having more power over the process than ever before." The Democrats don't seem to be tapping into the potential power of the Super PACs. Obama-supporting Priorities USA raised a rather pathetic $4.4m. Obama won't worry too much, though: his campaign has raised $220m last year. And this primary campaign is only a little taster for the feast of negative advertising to come. As autumn approaches, TV viewers will be bombarded by a barrage of ads attacking Obama and the Republican candidate. Both sides have the cash to make this very nasty indeed. \|\|\|\|\| Earning his fortune through shrewd financial speculation, he has spent billions of his own money funding human rights projects and liberal democratic ventures around the world. In recent years, that funding has made him a target of the world's nationalists and populists, who have painted him as a master-manipulator of democracy. Much of the criticism aimed toward the 87-year-old has been criticised as having anti-Semitic undertones. Early years Born in 1930 in Budapest to a Jewish lawyer father, he and his family survived Hungarian Nazi-occupation by splitting up and acquiring forged papers that disguised their religion. He emigrated to England aged 17, achieving an undergraduate degree and PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE) while working part-time as a railway porter and nightclub waiter. While there, he studied under philosopher Karl Popper, who is best known for his rallying cry for Western liberal democracy in the post-war years. His concept of "open society" would be deeply influential on Mr Soros's ideology and financial career. Investment career After initially working in investment banking in London, he emigrated to the United States in 1956. He spent time at several firms in New York, before founding his own hedge fund in 1970. Soros Fund Management, which would eventually become the Quantum Fund, was known for its aggressive investment and high returns for investors. The firm gained notoriety for its short-term and flexible speculation on global financial markets. This success made Mr Soros one of the world's wealthiest men and cemented him as a legend within the investment market. He became known "the man who broke the Bank of England" in September 1992, when he made about £1bn betting against or "shorting" the UK's currency, the pound. On 16 September, a day dubbed "Black Wednesday", the Treasury rapidly lost billions in reserves, forcing the pound out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). This investment gamble is probably Mr Soros's best known, consolidating his reputation as the world's premier currency investor. His financial single-mindedness later led to accusations that he had helped to engineer the Asian financial crisis of 1997 when the Thai baht collapsed, triggering widespread financial contagion across the region. At the time, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad hit out at "unscrupulous profiteers" and called for "immoral" currency trading to be banned. Mr Soros drew his ire in particular, but other investors had made even heavier bets against the Thai currency than his firm had. Philanthropic work The hedge fund manager began to ease away from the day-to-day control of his firm during the 1980s and 1990s, paying more and more attention to philanthropic ventures instead. Since starting out offering scholarships to black students during the apartheid era in South Africa, he has spent billions supporting progressive free-market projects around the world. He focused on opening up cultural exchange with Eastern Europe during the collapse of communism, before widening investment to other regions around the world. Mr Soros's Open Society Foundations (OSF) now has programmes in more than 100 countries around the world, and 37 regional offices. The organisation says its focus is to build "vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people". In 2017, while he was ranked as the 29th wealthiest person in the world by Forbes magazine, it emerged that he had transferred $18bn (£13.5bn) or an estimated 80% of his personal wealth into the organisation. According to his website, his goal is to use his financial independence to fight some of the world's "most intractable problems". The OSF continues to support a number of human-rights initiatives around the world, including campaigns in favour of LGBT and Roma rights. Politics and criticism Mr Soros has remained extremely vocal about world economics and global politics. This has drawn flak from 21st Century nationalist politicians, who have depicted him as a left-wing bogeyman of sorts. In Europe, he openly criticised the handling of the euro debt crisis, while during the peak of the region's refugee crisis he pledged generous backing for aid groups supporting migrants. This policy in particular has set him on a collision course with Prime Minister Viktor Orban in his native country. The Hungarian government even funded the distribution of giant posters vilifying the financier in 2017. Mr Soros' foundation eventually decided to withdraw its offices from Hungary, blaming an "increasingly repressive" environment. His foundation has also donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Best for Britain group, which aims to halt the UK's departure from the EU. This support has made him a focus of criticism for pro-Brexit supporters, campaigners and newspapers within the country. In 2015, the foundation was banned in Russia, which labelled it as "undesirable" because of its perceived risk to Russian security and constitutional order. Attacks and conspiracies Mr Soros has been a large donor to the US Democratic Party. He backed the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and has also labelled US President Donald Trump "an imposter". US-based right-wing conspiracy theorists and websites have accused Mr Soros of secretly engineering a range of recent events in US and global politics. They have alleged that he was involved in recruiting crowds for the anti-Trump Women's March and even organising violence in Charlottesville to undermine the country's political right-wing. Such conspiracies, and negative coverage of his foundation's work, are often accused of being anti-Semitic, echoing Nazi-era conspiracy theories about Jewish bankers plotting to create a "new world order". Personal life George Soros has been married three times. He had two sons and a daughter with his first wife, German-born Annaliese Witschak, whom he married in 1960. The pair divorced in 1983, when he then wed second wife Susan Weber. The pair stayed together until 2005, having two sons during their marriage. He married third wife Tamiko Bolton - 42 years his junior - in 2013. Away from hedge funds and philanthropy, Mr Soros has also dabbled with investing in sports teams around the world. In 2012, it was reported that he had purchased a significant minority stake in UK-based football team Manchester United.	Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has donated $10m (£7.8m) to an independent political action group (super PAC) focused on electing military veterans. Newt Gingrich's face fills the screen, about as attractive and trustworthy as a police mugshot. Hungarian-American businessman George Soros is one of the world's most renowned, and philanthropic, financial investors.
Ms Lewinsky was 22 when she became romantically involved with the then president, who was 27 years her senior. She has written an article for Vanity Fair magazine, reflecting on events after the #MeToo movement. She also revealed that she was diagnosed with PTSD after the scandal. The condition was caused by being "publicly outed and ostracised" as the affair unravelled in the press and courts, she says. News of their relationship dominated the US news agenda in 1998 and 1999, after the president initially denied it before admitting to "inappropriate intimate physical contact" with the former White House intern. House Republicans impeached the president, arguing he had lied to federal investigators, but Mr Clinton was acquitted in the Senate. He remained in power until 2001. In the magazine piece, Ms Lewinsky, now 44, says she stands by her 2014 comments that their relationship was consensual, but muses about the "vast power differentials" that existed between the two. Ms Lewinsky says she had "limited understanding of the consequences" at the time, and regrets the affair daily. "The dictionary definition of "consent"? To give permission for something to happen," she wrote. "And yet what did the 'something' mean in this instance, given the power dynamics, his position, and my age?...He was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior, with enough life experience to know better." Since re-emerging into the public eye in 2014, Ms Lewinsky has regularly spoken out publicly against cyberbullying, calling herself "patient zero" of the internet trend. #MeToo movement In the Vanity Fair essay, she also discusses the growing movement of women publicly speaking out against sexual harassment and assault. She writes that she was moved to tears after being contacted by one of the leaders of the #MeToo movement, who expressed sympathy that Ms Lewinsky was "so alone" during the affair. "Isolation is such a powerful tool to the subjugator. And yet I don't believe I would have felt so isolated had it all happened today," she writes. "There are even some people who feel my White House experiences don't have a place in this movement, as what transpired between Bill Clinton and myself was not sexual assault, although we now recognise that it constituted a gross abuse of power." \|\|\|\|\| Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was asked if he should have stepped down following allegations of sexual misconduct against Senator Al Franken. "Yes, I think that is the appropriate response," she told the New York Times. Mr Clinton was impeached over his affair with Monica Lewinsky, 22, but was acquitted by the Senate. Ms Gillibrand, who was one of Hillary Clinton's earliest supporters during the 2016 election, made the comments on Thursday hours after Mr Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, was accused of groping and "forcibly" kissing a woman without her consent during an overseas comedy tour in 2006. "Things have changed today, and I think under those circumstances there should be a very different reaction," she told the newspaper. "And I think in light of this conversation, we should have a very different conversation about President Trump, and a very different conversation about allegations against him." A spokesman for Ms Gillibrand later clarified her comments, saying she had meant that if Mr Clinton's actions had occurred in the modern era, it should have compelled him to resign. Mr Trump has faced multiple accusations of sexual assault after an audio recording of him boasting about grabbing women was released a month before last year's election. Eleven women have accused Mr Trump of unwanted touching over several decades. Mr Trump has called the women "horrible, horrible liars" and described their allegations as "pure fiction" and "fake news". Revising history Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Democrats in the 1990s rallied behind President Bill Clinton as he was accused of sexual misconduct ranging from an inappropriate relationship with a White House intern to unwanted advances to sexual assault. The allegations were viewed as part of a conservative effort to undermine a Democratic administration. The battle lines formed accordingly. Now, decades later - after #MeToo and a growing list of men take their turn in the headlines - Democrats are asking if their party sacrificed their morals for political expediency. Mr Clinton's defenders may not have been wrong about Republican motivations, but when it comes to allegations of sexual misbehaviour, does that really matter? The Clintons still cast a long shadow of Democratic politics, which is why all this still matters - and why any re-evaluation could turn ugly fast. The Kirsten Gillibrand firestorm is just the opening salvo. The dynamic within the party is changing, however. Old justifications seem insufficient in the context of new attitudes. Rising Democratic stars, like Ms Gillibrand, are vying for prominence as the old guard loses power. Will an explanation of the high stakes at the time be sufficient when the details of political debates recede from memory? A reckoning is at hand. Philippe Reines, a former aide to Mrs Clinton, criticised Ms Gillibrand as a "hypocrite" on Twitter. "Over 20 yrs you took the Clintons' endorsements, money, and seat. Hypocrite," he wrote. "Interesting strategy for 2020 primaries. Best of luck." Congress has taken action to curb sexual misconduct in government in the wake of a national conversation around sexual misconduct and harassment. Both the Senate and House of Representatives decided to mandate sexual harassment prevention training for all lawmakers and their staff after hearings on the matter. The allegations against Mr Franken come as Republican US Senate Candidate Roy Moore faces a string of sexual misconduct claims against him from decades earlier. Ms Gillibrand, who was elected to Congress in 2006 after Mrs Clinton vacated the seat, has pressed for legislation to make it easier to prosecute sexual assaults in the military. Her remarks make her one of the most prominent Democrats to say Bill Clinton should have stepped down after the scandal. \|\|\|\|\| Burns Strider was initially docked pay and told to seek counselling but was later fired from a campaign group after again being accused of harassment. Mr Strider has not commented on the allegations. Mrs Clinton posted the statement moments before President Donald Trump began his state of the union speech. It has prompted some speculation that she was seeking to bury her apology in the storm of media coverage around the address. What is the allegation? The 30-year-old woman who made the complaint shared an office with Mr Strider, the New York Times said when it reported on the claims last week. The newspaper said that, according to three former campaign officials, the unidentified staff member told a campaign official that Mr Strider had rubbed her shoulders inappropriately, kissed her on the forehead and sent suggestive emails. When her complaint was investigated, two advisers, including her campaign manager, recommended Mr Strider be fired, reported the New York Times. But Mrs Clinton instead decided to send him to counselling sessions he never attended, according to the report. The young woman was moved to another job within the campaign. The matter has raised questions about Mrs Clinton's judgement and stated commitment to women's advancement. What did Clinton say? In her lengthy Facebook statement, Mrs Clinton says: "I'm being asked as to why I let an employee on my 2008 campaign keep his job despite his inappropriate workplace behaviour. "The short answer is this: If I had it to do again, I wouldn't." She says she understands the scrutiny of her decision to retain Mr Strider given her work to "support and empower women". Mrs Clinton then goes on to explain her reasoning in detail. She decided to do so, she says, "because I didn't think firing him was the best solution to the problem. "He needed to be punished, change his behaviour, and understand why his actions were wrong. The young woman needed to be able to thrive and feel safe. "I thought both could happen without him losing his job," Mrs Clinton writes. She says she has "reached out" to the woman in question. "The fact that [she] felt heard and supported reinforced my belief that the process worked - at least to a degree," Mrs Clinton writes. But she points out that the events took place long before the "seismic shift" in social attitudes towards sexual harassment. Mr Strider was Mrs Clinton's faith adviser and has continued to send her scripture readings over recent years, the New York Times said. After the story first emerged last Friday, Mrs Clinton tweeted that she was "dismayed" by the staff member's alleged ordeal. But she said the woman "had her concerns taken seriously and addressed". What's the reaction? Not good for Mrs Clinton. Vox, a liberal leaning media outlet, was not impressed by her latest bid to tamp down the controversy. It wrote: "Her statement falls short as an apology, attempting to deflect attention onto others and failing to address some of the key issues in the case. "Hillary Clinton is not directly responsible for Strider's conduct during her campaign. But she is responsible for how she reacted to it - a reaction that affected a woman's career and that may have left others vulnerable to harassment. Her statement on that reaction leaves a lot to be desired." Houston Chronicle opinion columnist Alyssa Rosenberg wrote: "It's been the longest relationship of my life as a voter, and as a writer on culture and politics. "But after last week, and the revelation that she failed to take her campaign manager's advice and fire an aide accused of sexual harassment in 2008, Hillary Clinton and I are done. "And to be honest, it's probably overdue." \|\|\|\|\| Katty KayPresenter, BBC World News@KattyKayBBCon Twitter That dream today looks tantalisingly close and many of us are daring to hope the current rash of sexual harassment stories will help us get there. We've been through moments like this before and been disappointed - maybe not this time. Our goal is simple. We want a workplace that is safe for all of us. Where suggestive comments or acts aren't tolerated. Where men making women feel uncomfortable is totally unaccepted. And where people in positions of power can never use that power to ask for sexual favours. Women are conscious that it's not enough to achieve this in a few high profile industries where the men are famous and therefore more likely to be outed. The tip-dependent waitress who goes to work every evening shouldn't have to smile and put up with the unwanted advances of drunk customers. The check-out woman at the local super market shouldn't have to put up with the comments, or pats, or squeezes of her lecherous manager in order to ensure she gets enough shifts that week. The nurse in your local hospital shouldn't have to worry about whether the supervisor on the lonely graveyard shift is going to push himself up against her yet again and then pretend nothing happened. That's the world so many women navigate every single day. I honestly do not know a woman, in any profession, at any level, who has not at some point, often at many points, had to repudiate the unwanted advances of a man they've worked with or for. We shouldn't have to. With this new focus on male predators, we aren't out to destroy careers. This is not revenge we seek. It's just safety and respect and the freedom to do our jobs without having to deal with this kind of crap. I'm older and more senior now so it doesn't happen to me much anymore. Predators don't go for women with power of their own - they prey on the vulnerable. On women who depend on the pay check, or women who are eager, quite rightly, to advance their careers, or on women they can trust will keep quiet, for whatever reason. Those are the women we want to protect now. My concern is that there could be a backlash that sets us back in that quest. BBC reporters share their #MeToo experiences These stories have revealed a gender knowledge gap - women know a lot about this issue and men are hardly aware of it. This is simply because the vast majority of men are good, decent people who would never molest a woman and because straight men are rarely on the receiving end of harassment. There's already some disconnect between men and women in the press coverage of this story. My female colleagues are without exception excited to see this issue finally come to light. Some of my male colleagues are more uncomfortable, or feel we've covered it enough. If there are many more of these stories, at what point will people start to roll their eyes and ask, "another sexual harassment story, really?" If that starts to happen, then this will just be another women's moment, not a lasting change. There's some indication of that in response to the Al Franken story. One conservative commentator has made the point that Franken has apologised, unlike Judge Roy Moore in Alabama. Another has suggested there's no need for an investigation because of Franken's apology. I confess I don't know how we respond to the issue of degrees of harassment and degrees of apology. Is all harassment equal? Are all apologies enough? When a man is accused multiple times of harassing children and still doesn't apologise, the case for condemnation seems clear. But are there grey areas? I read Al Franken's apology and found it heartfelt, full of regret and credible. But that doesn't negate the fact that the senator from Minnesota forcibly stuck his tongue in a woman's mouth and she was left feeling disgusted and dirty. If he stays in office, what message does that send to our daughters, or to other predators? Actually the woman who's come out with this story isn't asking for Al Franken to step down and she recognises that times and standards have changed. But she did want her account and her photo out to protect women now. And that's what matters - the goal of a safe workplace. This is a difficult conversation that we need to have among women but more importantly with our male colleagues. It's a conversation that's not going away because some men have repeatedly behaved badly for years and those stories will come out. But perhaps that conversation will be easier and more productive if it's about a better future, something every man and woman and parent can hopefully agree to, not about retribution. Maybe that's the way this #MeToo movement becomes more than just a #MeToo moment. \|\|\|\|\| By Rozina SiniBBC UGC and Social News It follows further allegations of rape against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. More than two dozen women - among them actresses Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rose McGowan - have made accusations against him including rape and sexual assault. Weinstein insists sexual relations he had were consensual. Since the allegations surfaced many high profile names have used social media to highlight the problem of sexual assault, some also detailing the harassment they've endured. The latest prominent hashtag, #MeToo, has been used more than 200,000 times since Sunday night. The term gained momentum after actress Alyssa Milano asked victims of sexual assault to come forward in a show of solidarity. A number of singers, actors and actresses responded including Debra Messing and Anna Paquin. Many other social media users shared stories of the abuse they had suffered. One Twitter user who wanted to remain anonymous posted: "I was 19. He plied me with alcohol, forced a tongue kiss and touched my chest. I blamed myself for being drunk. #MeToo." Men and members of the transgender community have also voiced their support of the campaign including actor and singer Javier Munoz, and other men shared details of their own experiences. Cortney Anne Budney posted on Facebook: "Me too for men too. Let's not forget the men and boys. Their "me too"s are equally important and often quite hidden." Writer Charles Clymer, who has been the victim of rape, took to Facebook to share his views. He said although both genders suffer abuse "there's a specific misogynistic component to rape culture." "It's okay to take aside time to highlight misogyny specifically and amplify women," he posted on Facebook. Although the #MeToo hashtag is trending worldwide - including in the UK, US, India and Pakistan - other hashtags are also being generated. In France, Twitter users are using #balancetonporc or "rat on your dirty old man" to encourage women to name and shame their attackers, while #Womenwhoroar is another term being used to encourage victims of bullying or sexual abuse to speak up. \|\|\|\|\| In Vanity Fair magazine, Monica Lewinsky, 40, writes that she deeply regrets the fling. The president "took advantage" of her, she writes, though she describes their relationship as consensual. In 1998, Republicans failed in their effort to oust him from office on the grounds he had lied about the affair. But with Mr Clinton's wife Hillary said to be mulling a 2016 run for the presidency, the Lewinsky matter has re-emerged in US political discourse, in part because Republicans are eager to wield it against her. In an advance excerpt from the article released by Vanity Fair, Ms Lewinsky writes she hopes to reclaim her story and says she is still recognised every day and sees her name thrown about in pop culture and the news media. "I, myself, deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton," she writes. "Let me say it again: I. Myself. Deeply. Regret. What. Happened." Ms Lewinsky writes that she suffered abuse and humiliation after the scandal broke in 1998, in part because she was made a "scapegoat" to protect the president. "The Clinton administration, the special prosecutor's minions, the political operatives on both sides of the aisle, and the media were able to brand me," she wrote. "And that brand stuck, in part because it was imbued with power." Since leaving the Clinton administration, she worked briefly as a handbag designer and as the host of a US reality dating show. Ms Lewinsky then moved to London for a graduate degree, but said she has had difficulty gaining employment in the US because of her past. Arguing Mr Clinton had lied to federal investigators about his relationship with Ms Lewinsky, who was in her early 20s, the Republicans in the House of Representatives impeached the president, essentially bringing him up on charges in the Senate to determine whether he could be expelled from office. That effort failed, and Mr Clinton served in the White House until his term ended in 2000. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, went on to be elected US senator and to serve as secretary of state under President Barack Obama, and is currently tipped as a frontrunner for the Democratic 2016 presidential nomination. The Republicans have indicated recently that Mr Clinton's affair with Ms Lewinsky will be fair game should Mrs Clinton indeed run. Republican Senator Rand Paul - also tipped to run for the presidency in 2016 - said this year that "bosses shouldn't prey on young interns in their office". Mr Clinton "took advantage of a girl that was 20-years-old and an intern in his office", he added. "There is no excuse for that and that is predatory behaviour." In her piece, Ms Lewinsky signals that her desire in breaking her silence after so many years is to "give a purpose" to her past. "Perhaps by sharing my story, I reasoned, I might be able to help others in their darkest moments of humiliation," she writes. Ms Lewinsky now aims "to get involved with efforts on behalf of victims of online humiliation and harassment and to start speaking on this topic in public forums". \|\|\|\|\| By Jane WakefieldTechnology reporter, Vancouver The former White House intern's love affair with President Bill Clinton made headlines around the world in 1998. Describing herself as one of the first victims of cyberbullying, she said the internet had created a culture where people enjoyed viewing other's shame online. Her speech received a standing ovation. It is only the second time she has spoken publicly since disappearing from the public eye in 2005. In October she spoke at Forbes' Under 30 Summit. She began her speech by joking she was the only 40-something who did not wish to be 22 again. "At the age of 22, I fell in love with my boss. At the age of 24, I learned the devastating consequences." The internet, she said, had made her own personal humiliation far worse. "In 1998, after having been swept up in an improbable romance, I was then swept up into the eye of a political, legal and media maelstrom like we had never seen before." And this particular scandal was, she said, "brought to you by the digital revolution". "When the story broke it broke online. It was one of the first times that the traditional news had been usurped by the internet for a major news story," she told the Ted audience. Although there was no social media in 1998 as we know it today, images of Ms Lewinsky famously wearing a black beret quickly went viral online as did comments posted in response to online articles while jokes based on the details of her affair were emailed around the world. "I went from being a private figure to being a publicly humiliated one worldwide. There were mobs of virtual stone-throwers." "I was branded a tart, a slut, a whore, a bimbo. I lost my reputation and my dignity and I almost lost my life." "Seventeen years ago there was no name for it but now we call it cyberbullying or online harassment," she said. UK charity Childline reported a 87% increase in calls related to cyberbullying last year and, according the children's charity NSPCC, one in five children is now bullied online. Last year, a study conducted in the Netherlands found that cyberbullying was more likely to lead young people to suicide than its offline equivalent. What is cyberbullying? It can include: What to do about cyberbullying Ms Lewinsky told the story of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, who was a student at Rutgers University in New Jersey when his roommate set up a webcam and captured video of him in bed with another man. The resulting online harassment led Mr Clementi to suicide, jumping from the George Washington Bridge. "Tyler's tragic, senseless death was a turning point for me," said Ms Lewinsky. "It served to re-contextualise my experiences. I began to look at the world of humiliation and bullying around me and see something different … every day online, people -especially young people who are not developmentally equipped to handle this - are so abused and humiliated that they can't imagine living to the next day. And some don't." That, she said, was unacceptable. She urged people to approach their online communications with more compassion. "Post a positive comment, imagine walking a mile in someone else's headline," she said. Culture of shame Technology, she said, had extended the "echo of embarrassment". "It used to only extend as far as your family, your school, your village, but now it is to the whole online community. "The more shame, the more clicks and the more clicks the more advertising dollars. We are making money off the back of suffering." She pointed to recent cases such as the leaking of nude photos of celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence. "One gossip website had five million hits for this one," she said. And when Sony Pictures was hacked, the private emails between executives and actors were the ones that garnered the most interest because they were ones that would lead to "the most public humiliation" she said. The internet had made people numb to the suffering and humiliation of others, she concluded. Ms Lewinsky ended her talk on a personal note, explaining why she had decided to speak out after a decade of silence. "It was time to stop tip-toeing around my past, it was time to take back my narrative and let others know that you can survive it."	Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern who had an affair with former president Bill Clinton, has said their relationship constituted a "gross abuse of power" on his part. Former President Bill Clinton should have resigned over his affair with a White House intern nearly 20 years ago, a top Democrat has said. Hillary Clinton has admitted that she should have fired an adviser accused of sexual harassment during her 2008 presidential campaign. Every woman dreams of a workplace where her boss doesn't suggest they grab a drink after work, where there isn't that colleague you'd just rather not get stuck in the office with alone and where your job prospects don't depend, however subtly, on whether you put up with lascivious comments from a man who has power over you. Women and men from all over the globe who have been sexually harassed have been sharing their stories across social media using the hashtag "me too" to show the magnitude of sexual assault. The one-time White House intern whose affair with President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment has broken her long silence in the media. Monica Lewinsky has taken to the stage at the Ted (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conference to call for a more compassionate internet.
Shaun Wright has been accused of "deliberately misleading" a select committee hearing evidence about the Rotherham child abuse scandal. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it would conduct a full investigation into the claims. The BBC has been unable to trace Mr Wright for a comment. Mr Wright, was the head of children's services in Rotherham between 2005 and 2010. He resigned from his role as PCC in 2014. More stories from across Yorkshire A spokesman for the IPCC said it would "carry out an independent investigation into whether former South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Shaun Wright, may have committed perjury when giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2014." The watchdog did not initially investigate the claims in 2015 due to a "misunderstanding" over whether an alleged offence of misleading a select committee would constitute contempt of Parliament rather than a criminal offence. But in 2016, the Home Affairs Select Committee said it had received two complaints that Mr Wright deliberately misled the committee while giving evidence under oath, and had referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police. The IPCC spokesperson said that, following correspondence with the force, it had reviewed the law and now believes the matter is within its remit. A 2014 report found 1,400 children in Rotherham were abused between 1997 and 2013. Related Internet Links Independent Police Complaints Commission \|\|\|\|\| Mr Wright faced repeated calls to step down in the wake of a report which found at least 1,400 children were abused in the town from 1997 to 2013. He was the head of children's services in Rotherham between 2005 and 2010. Mr Wright said he was stepping down to ensure the "important issues" outlined in the report could be discussed and considered "without distraction". In a statement, he said: "My role as South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner has clearly become prominent in terms of public opinion and media coverage following the publication of Professor Alexis Jay's report. "This is detracting from the important issue, which should be everybody's focus - the 1,400 victims outlined in the report - and in providing support to victims and bringing to justice the criminals responsible for the atrocious crimes committed against them. "With this in mind, I feel that it is now right to step down... for the sake of those victims, for the sake of the public of South Yorkshire and to ensure that the important issues outlined in the report about tackling child sexual exploitation can be discussed and considered in full and without distraction." After Professor Alexis Jay's report was published on 26 August, Mr Wright faced calls to resign from Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband. The report said girls as young as 11 were raped by multiple perpetrators, trafficked to other towns and cities in the north of England, where they were abducted, beaten and intimidated, mainly by gangs of Pakistani heritage. Following its publication, Mr Wright resigned from the Labour Party but said he would stay on as PCC, insisting he was the most appropriate person to hold the office. After appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee last week, committee chair Keith Vaz said he would ask the home secretary about the possibility of legislation to remove Mr Wright. Analysis: Len Tingle, BBC Yorkshire Political Editor So what happens now after Shaun Wright's belated resignation as South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner? Elected for a three-and-a-half year term in November 2012, there are still 20 months to run before the next scheduled elections. An inevitable by-election to replace him could lead to the largest, loudest and most confusing campaign for a police commissioner since the coalition government created them. The idea to give "greater public accountability" over the country's 41 police forces met with abject voter apathy at the ballot box but the events in Rotherham over the past few weeks could change that. Shaun Wright was elected with a turnout of just 15% but, in a police area dominated by Labour councils, he took over half of the vote and walked into his £85,000-a-year job. Labour clearly has a problem approaching a by-election. The party's total control of Rotherham Council during the period that the recent Jay Report highlighted the abuse and sexual assault of hundreds of girls will be a clear rallying cry for potential candidates particularly from the right. The party has also said that if it wins the general election one of its first acts will be to abolish police and crime commissioners. Let public recall PCCs, says Theresa May Keith Vaz seeks law to sack PCC Nick Clegg calls for PCCs to be scrapped Q&A: Police and crime commissioners He was also the subject of votes of no confidence passed by Rotherham Borough Council, Sheffield City Council and the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP). Harry Harpham, chair of the panel, said: "It's the right thing to do. I wish he'd resigned earlier. "Now the task is to rebuild confidence and trust in those institutions which so badly let down the victims. "The commissioner standing down means we can now focus on giving those victims the support they need." Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham, was among a raft of South Yorkshire politicians who commented on the resignation. She told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I'm delighted he's finally done it. I'm amazed, I thought he'd bedded himself in." Shaun Wright profile Shaun Wright, 46, was born in Royston, near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. He now lives in Rawmarsh in Rotherham with his wife, Lisa, and two sons. In 2000, he was elected as a councillor for Rawmarsh and in 2005 he was appointed as the cabinet member for children and young people's services. In 2010, he stood down from the post and in 2011 was appointed Mayor of Rotherham. The following year he was elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire, earning a salary of £85,000. Shortly after he was elected as PCC, he stood down from his role as councillor for Rawmarsh. Mr Wright is also a former vice chair of South Yorkshire Police Authority, a magistrate, a school governor and a trustee of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. Mr Clegg, Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam, said: "People in South Yorkshire will welcome the news that the Police and Crime Commissioner has finally done the decent thing and stood aside. "The important thing now is for the South Yorkshire Police to concentrate on going after the perpetrators of these terrible crimes so that the victims can finally see justice." Mr Miliband, Labour MP for Doncaster North, tweeted: "It is right Shaun Wright has resigned. He was in a position of responsibility when the abuse scandal happened. "Our focus now must be to listen to the victims and learn from the past to ensure this can never happen again." Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police David Crompton, who has commissioned an independent investigation into the force's handling of the scandal, said Mr Wright's resignation provided an "opportunity for the force, and the county, to move forward". Meanwhile, Mr Vaz said: "Shaun Wright has done the right thing." Asked whether the resignation was a positive, as it would lead to a costly by-election, Mr Vaz said: "It was unsuitable for him to remain as the police and crime commissioner. The legislation is what's at fault." Home Secretary Theresa May said: "I am pleased that Shaun Wright has heeded the calls from his local community for him to resign. "It is right that where people failed in their duty they should take responsibility. The police and local council failed the victims of these awful crimes and failed the people of Rotherham. "It is now for the people of South Yorkshire to elect someone who can provide local leadership, ensure the lessons of these dreadful cases are applied, and make sure the victims get the justice they deserve." A by-election will be arranged to elect a new commissioner. In the meantime, an acting commissioner could be appointed by the panel as early as Thursday, the BBC understands. Barnsley Council, which acts as the returning officer for the PCC said: "Upon receipt of a request from two electors in the South Yorkshire police area to the Authorised Officer, Diana Terris, an election will be held within 35 days. The date will be confirmed in due course." A spokesperson for the office of South Yorkshire PCC said Mr Wright would not receive any severance payment. Mr Vaz has also called for Joyce Thacker, the director of children's services in Rotherham, to resign. He said: "I hope that [she] will now heed the committee's advice to step down or that Martin Kimber, Rotherham Council's former chief executive, will ask her to step aside." Mr Kimber announced on 8 September that he would leave his post in December. \|\|\|\|\| The Home Affairs Select Committee said it would be referring two complaints to the Metropolitan Police. Mr Wright resigned in 2014 in the wake of a report, which found at least 1,400 children were abused in the town from 1997 to 2013, after resisting pressure. He was Rotherham council's head of children's services from 2005 to 2010. Mr Wright has not commented publicly on the claims. He became South Yorkshire's PCC in 2012, before facing MPs in September 2014, telling the committee he had received a report in 2007 outlining some cases. However, he said he "did not recall it indicating the scale of child sexual exploitation at that time". 'Criminal offence alleged' In a statement the committee, chaired by Yvette Cooper, said: "The Home Affairs Committee has received two complaints alleging that a witness who was examined on oath by the former committee in the last parliament deliberately misled the committee. "Since lying to a committee of the House when under oath would constitute the criminal offence of perjury, the committee has resolved today to refer the complaints to the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis for investigation. "Any further action is for the police and the prosecuting authorities to consider. "Since a criminal offence is alleged, it would not be appropriate for the committee to make any further comment." No details have been disclosed about the specific nature of the complaints. As PCC, Mr Wright initially defended his position, refusing calls to stand down from then Prime Minister David Cameron, former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the then leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband at the time, before eventually resigning. Professor Alexis Jay's report was published on 26 August 2014. Related Internet Links South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner \|\|\|\|\| Shaun Wright was accused of "deliberately misleading" a select committee hearing evidence about the Rotherham child abuse scandal. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it will assess the matter before deciding on whether to launch a full investigation. Mr Wright, Rotherham's former head of children's services, resigned in 2014. An IPCC spokesman said an initial referral made by the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel in 2015 had been passed back "on the basis that misleading a Select Committee, if proven, would be a contempt of Parliament rather than a criminal offence." But in 2016, the Home Affairs Select Committee said it had received two complaints that Mr Wright deliberately mislead the committee while giving evidence under oath in 2014 and had referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police. The IPCC spokesperson said that following correspondence with the force it had reviewed the law and now believes the matter is within its remit. He said: "As a result we wrote to the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel to ask them to re-refer the matter for our consideration. "We have now received that referral and will make an assessment as to whether the matter requires investigation and if so, by whom." However, he added the referral would not automatically lead to an investigation as the information would have to be assessed first "Now that we have received a referral we can start that process [and] if the matter requires investigation, the IPCC can independently investigate the matter or manage a police force investigation," he said. A 2014 report found 1,400 children in Rotherham were abused between 1997 and 2013. Mr Wright was Rotherham council's head of children's services from 2005 to 2010. \|\|\|\|\| Children as young as 11 were raped by multiple perpetrators, abducted, trafficked to other cities in England, beaten and intimidated, it said. The report, commissioned by Rotherham Borough Council, revealed there had been three previous inquiries. Council leader Roger Stone said he would step down with immediate effect. Mr Stone, who has been the leader since 2003, said: "I believe it is only right that as leader I take responsibility for the historic failings described so clearly." The inquiry team noted fears among council staff of being labelled "racist" if they focused on victims' descriptions of the majority of abusers as "Asian" men. 'Doused in petrol' Professor Alexis Jay, who wrote the latest report, said there had been "blatant" collective failures by the council's leadership, senior managers had "underplayed" the scale of the problem and South Yorkshire Police had failed to prioritise the issue. Prof Jay said: "No-one knows the true scale of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham over the years. Our conservative estimate is that approximately 1,400 children were sexually exploited over the full inquiry period, from 1997 to 2013." Revealing details of the inquiry's findings, Prof Jay said: "It is hard to describe the appalling nature of the abuse that child victims suffered." The inquiry team found examples of "children who had been doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight, threatened with guns, made to witness brutally violent rapes and threatened they would be next if they told anyone". Five men from the town were jailed for sexual offences against girls in 2010, but the report said police "regarded many child victims with contempt". District Commander for Rotherham, Ch Supt Jason Harwin said: "Firstly I'd like to start by offering an unreserved apology to the victims of child sexual exploitation who did not receive the level of service they should be able to expect from their local police force. "We fully acknowledge our previous failings." Ch Supt Harwin said the force had "overhauled" the way it dealt with such cases and had successfully prosecuted a number of abusers. But he admitted: "I accept that our recent successes... will not heal the pain of those victims who have been let down." 'Racism' fear The report found: "Several staff described their nervousness about identifying the ethnic origins of perpetrators for fear of being thought as racist; others remembered clear direction from their managers not to do so." Failures by those charged with protecting children happened despite three reports between 2002 and 2006 which both the council and police were aware of, and "which could not have been clearer in the description of the situation in Rotherham". Prof Jay said the first of these reports was "effectively suppressed" because senior officers did not believe the data. The other two were ignored, she said. The inquiry team found that in the early-2000s when a group of professionals attempted to monitor a number of children believed to be at risk, "managers gave little help or support to their efforts". The report revealed some people at a senior level in the police and children's social care thought the extent of the problem was being "exaggerated". Prof Jay said: "The authorities involved have a great deal to answer for." A victim of abuse in Rotherham, who has been called "Isabel" to protect her identity, told BBC Panorama: "I was a child and they should have stepped in. "No matter what's done now... it's not going to change that it was too late, it should have been stopped and prevented." Analysis James Vincent, BBC Look North The scale of this report is simply staggering and some of the detail extremely hard to read. It lays out how Rotherham Council and the police knew about the level of child sexual exploitation in the town, but didn't do anything about it. They either didn't believe what they were being told, played it down, or were too nervous to act. The failures, the report says, are blatant. The report estimates 1,400 children were sexually exploited over 16 years, with one young person telling the report's author that gang rape was a usual part of growing up in Rotherham. The processes for dealing with these crimes have got better in the last four years, but still improvements need to be made. There were more apologies from the council today but the report's author says they are too late. Speaking about her abuser, Isabel said: "I think because the police were aware and social services were aware and he knew that and they still didn't stop him it I think it encouraged him. "It almost became like a game to him. He was untouchable." Speaking after the publication of the report, Victims' Commissioner Baroness Newlove said: "I'm appalled by the extent of the horrific abuse endured by these vulnerable victims. "It's deeply distressing how the authorities failed to protect these young people and their voices were not heard. "Everyone involved needs to take responsibility for the shocking failings that this report has exposed. This must not happen again. "I want to see every one of these victims getting the right support now and for as long as it takes them to help them on the path to recovery." Maggie Atkinson, children's commissioner for England, said the number of identified child victims was "largely consistent" with the findings of their own national inquiry into "child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups". 'Horrific experiences' Rotherham council's chief executive, Martin Kimber, said he accepted the report and the recommendations made and apologised to the victims of abuse. He said: "The report does not make comfortable reading in its account of the horrific experiences of some young people in the past, and I would like to reiterate our sincere apology to those who were let down when they needed help. "I commissioned this independent review to understand fully what went wrong, why it went wrong and to ensure that the lessons learned in Rotherham mean these mistakes can never happen again. "The report confirms that our services have improved significantly over the last five years and are stronger today than ever before. "This is important because it allows me to reassure young people and families that should anyone raise concerns we will take them seriously and provide them with the support they need. "However, that must not overshadow - and certainly does not excuse - the finding that for a significant amount of time the council and its partners could and should have done more to protect young people from what must be one of the most horrific forms of abuse imaginable."	South Yorkshire's former police and crime commissioner (PCC) is to be investigated for perjury, the police watchdog has said. South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright has resigned over the Rotherham child abuse scandal. Claims ex-police and crime commissioner (PCC) Shaun Wright lied to MPs in parliament over the Rotherham child abuse scandal are to be sent to police. Claims South Yorkshire's former Police and Crime Commissioner lied to MPs are to be examined by the police watchdog. At least 1,400 children were subjected to appalling sexual exploitation in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, a report has found. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
Northamptonshire County Council's cabinet backed a so-called "stabilisation plan". Planned spending cuts on agency staff and highways services are among the main proposed savings. Commissioners were appointed in May to oversee the council over fears it was struggling to balance its books. The council is aiming to save an additional £20.1m in 2018-19, on top of £45m of already planned cuts. Analysis By Sam Read, political reporter, BBC News, Northamptonshire This council is in a financial position more serious than any council has ever been before, so it's not a surprise the remedy is attracting criticism. More than 200 headteachers have signed a letter to say the savings go too far. The leaders of the county's borough and district councils signed a letter to say the savings aren't coming quick enough. There's fire from all angles. Some in the Conservative administration are keen to say the plan was drawn up by commissioners, officials sent in by the government. The commissioners insist this council is only being asked to do what other authorities do already. But everyone seems to agree the plan has many risks and achieving the savings by March is ambitious. Alternative plans are already being developed to help. This plan has been approved today, but many questions remain. The cost-cutting measures also include clawing back £6m by increasing the number of people who pay council tax. But the leaders of the district councils in Northamptonshire said they were "concerned" at the county's ability to cover the additional £20.1m shortfall and projected gaps between expenditure and income for the following two years. The leaders of Daventry, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Northampton, East Northamptonshire and South Northamptonshire councils also expressed "genuine sympathy" at county council's plight. \|\|\|\|\| The "stabilisation plan" published by Northamptonshire County Council aims to save an additional £20m in 2018-19, on top of £45m in cuts already planned. Government-appointed commissioners have been brought in to oversee the council, which has twice banned new spending. Council leader Matt Golby said the authority faced "unprecedented times". Plans to slash £35m had already been announced in the initial budget passed for this year. But it has since been forecast that the Conservative-run council will go over budget by £30m in 2018-19 as auditors said it was not allowed to use money from the sale of buildings to contribute towards savings. The authority said reductions of £10m had already been achieved, leaving £20m to be found. Newly-announced cost-cutting measures include clawing back £6m by increasing the number of people paying council tax. The authority will be scrapped in 2020 to make way for a new unitary council. Other plans to make money back include increasing the collection of council tax accounts in arrears and reviewing single person discounts for those no longer entitled to receive them. Meanwhile, there will be reductions in spending on highways and agency staff, with the latter reducing by 30% in all areas. Highways spending faces a £350,000 cut this financial year, with a further £150,000 planned to go in 2019-20. At the Conservative Party Conference, Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire said he recognised "the concerns and uncertainty" the crisis had created. He said "hard calls "and "difficult decisions" have been made to ensure a "sustainable" future for the county. Analysis By Sam Read, BBC Radio Northampton political reporter Today the council announced its plans to get back on track - but there are still questions. Mainly, previous savings targets have not been met so what makes these different? There is also still a large £35m deficit from last year. The council is asking for special government permission to use money from building sales to wipe that away, but we do not know if that will be granted. Plus there is a warning of more savings to be made next year in areas like school transport and learning disability care. There is a lot more that needs sorting before this council is abolished - which is due to happen in 2020. Mr Golby said: "These are unprecedented times for us and as such we need a robust plan to address the financial challenges we now face. "The stabilisation plan published today alongside our latest financial reports show how we are now moving firmly towards stabilising our budget position." The authority's chief executive Theresa Grant added: "We now have a firm set of proposals and new measures which can help us move towards stabilising our budget. "However, we are of course acutely aware that the challenge to deliver this plan is significant and as such we will now focus all our energy on doing so." 'One of the worst contracts' The document also sets out problems with a major private finance initiative (PFI) contract. It reveals four specialist healthcare centres for vulnerable elderly people have only been operating at 30-50% capacity for a number of years. The contract with Shaw Healthcare was negotiated in 2003 under a Labour administration and is worth almost £200m over 29 years. The county council says it is paying between £1.5m - £2m per year for the unoccupied beds. Attempts to improve the occupancy rates have been thwarted by referral criteria under the terms of the contract. Mr Golby said it was "one of the worst PFI contracts in the country". The BBC has approached several members of the Labour opposition for comment. \|\|\|\|\| Stephen Mold said better services could be offered by one, larger council and stop people being "caught in the gaps". A government inspector recommended two unitary authorities take charge of all services in the county from 2020. Ministers are expected to approve the plan, which followed Northamptonshire County Council's financial crisis. One unitary authority would provide all services in Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire while the other would oversee Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough. Last month, Labour-run Corby Borough Council voted against the proposal, while the seven Conservative-run authorities in the county backed it. The Secretary of State had already said a proposal for a single unitary authority covering the whole of Northamptonshire would not be considered. It means children's services and adult social care, which is currently provided by the county council, would instead be split between the two new authorities. Mr Mold has written to the minister to voice his concerns, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). He said: "I focus on community safety and public protection so I do not want to see artificial borders, or inconsistent practices and levels of service that don't serve people well or even put the vulnerable at risk from being caught in the gaps between different authorities. "I would prefer us to work on a consistent way, to one set of standards and following one process right across Northamptonshire. Since the joint submission by the council's for two unitaries there has been no public word from the secretary of state. The plan follows two notices banning all new spending at the county council amid a £70m shortfall. \|\|\|\|\| By Matt Precey & Julian SturdyBBC Look East Auditors KPMG said the sum, which was earmarked for specific projects, was instead spent on general purposes by Northamptonshire County Council. This included £13m-worth of Section 106 cash paid by housebuilders to offset the impact of new developments. The Conservative-run council said it would not be appropriate to comment during an investigation. In August, the authority backed "radical" cuts to services to tackle a £70m funding shortfall. KPMG, which is reviewing the council's accounts, found the £41.2m which was "ring-fenced" for projects was actually used for general purposes. In July, the auditors' progress report said the council had "misappropriated" £8m of funds earmarked for public health projects. The latest report has adjusted this figure down slightly to £7.9m and "extended testing over other ring-fenced grants". "Evidence now exists which shows that projects previously presented to audit as time-limited one-off projects are in actuality ongoing costs," KPMG said. As a result, just under £17m does "not meet the necessary criteria to be funded via capital receipts". The auditors also revealed £13m was wrongly spent from Section 106 funds - money provided by developers for projects such as schools, roads and GP surgeries. The report said: "Following subsequent discussions with officers, the authority has confirmed it no longer deems the use of this S106 money to be appropriate to fund general expenditure." KPMG also found a company owned by the council had not had its books independently scrutinised for 20 years. NEA Properties was set up in 1995 to promote the county and managed a number of units at the University of Northampton campus. The report says it wrongly classified an £80,000 payment to Northampton Saints Rugby Club as a grant. Councillor Andrew Gonzales De Savage told the auditors it was paid out with no expectation of repayment in July 2015 and authorised by Jim Harker, who was council leader at the time. KPMG said it "should not have been classified and reported" as a grant and there was no evidence it had subject to oversight by the council. The BBC has been unable to reach Mr Harker or Mr Gonzales De Savage for comment. \|\|\|\|\| By Matt Precey & Sarah WardBBC News & Local Democracy Reporting Service Payments were made by a company owned by Northamptonshire County Council whose directors were councillors. NEA Properties, which bought the box at Premiership rugby side Northampton Saints, was dissolved a month before the council banned spending. The BBC has contacted the councillors concerned for a response. An independent audit report found that NEA Properties' "expenditure incurred was consistent with the authority and purpose of the company and its directors". The company was incorporated in 1983 under the name Northamptonshire Enterprise Agency to promote the county and managed a number of units at the University of Northampton campus. Conservative councillors Bill Parker and Andre Gonzales De Savage had served as directors in the company since 2010 and 2007 respectively. It sold its properties in September 2014 and £700,000 was transferred back to the council, but £180,000 was spent on other items. More than £4,000 was used on a B17 vintage aircraft and first aiders for a memorial event at Grafton Underwood in May 2015. NEA Properties also spent £2,700 on a heritage dinner with string quartet. The report also revealed the company spent more than £250 on "cheese, biscuits, etc" for a stately home event. Concerns about finances at the council - which has been issued with two Section 114 notices, banning new spending - were made as early as 2013, according to former leader Heather Smith. Worries over NEA Properties were first raised by a whistleblower, former UKIP councillor Michael Brown, in January 2017. An audit was then commissioned and found the payments were made with "minimal" governance and documentation. It found no evidence of improper spending or management by the company "but in the absence of various records only limited assurance can be provided". The audit was also told £80,000 spent on Northampton Saints went on the redevelopment of a new stand at the Franklin's Gardens ground, but the club denied this was what was purchased. A club spokesman said it could "confirm the county council had a box as part of a marketing package which they purchased". Financial adviser Mr Brown said the lack of a detailed audit trail was "unbelievable in this day and age". He added: "As a public organisation they were keeping secret the accounts of a limited company it owns under the small companies exception. "This should not happen as it leaves itself open to abuse of public funds." A spokesman for the council said the report found that although limited assurances were provided about the company, "the organisational impact was minor". He added: "The report also found that expenditure and financial transactions were transparent. "However, the committee did draw up a number of recommendations and work on addressing these will be done as soon as possible." \|\|\|\|\| Managing director of Local Government Shared Services (LGSS) John Kane took early retirement at the end of March after five years in charge. Northamptonshire County Council's draft accounts for 2017-18 show he was given the money on top of a £152,000 salary. A spokesman for LGSS said the payments Mr Kane received were made "in recognition" of his early retirement. Founded in 2010, LGSS is a body funded by Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes councils. It looks after a large number of services for Northamptonshire including HR, legal services, temporary employment, IT services and revenue and benefits collection. Mr Kane, who has been replaced by Sarah Homer, received a total sum of £239,000 - including pension contributions during the 2017-18 financial year and his pay-off was made for loss of office and payment in lieu of notice. The LGSS spokesman said the partner councils "were planning a review of LGSS and agreed an earlier timescale for this and subsequently the retirement was taken earlier" and that the "payments were in recognition of this". LGSS was heavily criticised by government inspector Max Caller in his best value report which recommended the county authority be abolished. In his March report Mr Caller said: "There are a number of areas where the relationship with LGSS at best confuses accountability and at worst prevents it." The council is being run by government commissioners and had a projected £21.1m overspend for 2017-18. On Monday, it was announced it planned to sell its historic County Hall building in order to bring down annual rental costs and increase occupancy at its newly opened £53m headquarters. News of the payment to Mr Kane comes after a £95,000 pay-off for the former chief executive of NCC was described as a "slap in the face".	A cash-strapped county council which had commissioners appointed after it faced a financial crisis has agreed a £65m package of cuts. A council plans to cut spending on agency staff and highways services, while boosting tax receipts, to tackle a £65m funding shortfall. Vulnerable people could be at risk if Northamptonshire's eight councils are replaced with two, its police and crime commissioner has warned. A cash-strapped council spent £41.2m of ring-fenced money on "general expenditure", a new report has found. Councillors spent public money on a hospitality box and hiring a plane as the authority headed towards financial crisis, an investigation has found. The former head of shared services jointly run by a "failing" council received a £66,000 pay-off. Two government-appointed commissioners have been sent in to oversee a financially troubled council.
In her closing speech, prosecutor Anne Whyte QC said his "instant stardom" and resulting "adulation" had probably "massaged his sexual ego". Ms Whyte said Mr Roache was "sticking to his script" when saying he did not sexually abuse five young girls. Mr Roache, 81, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two rapes and four indecent assaults against five women. The assaults are alleged to have happened between 1965 and 1971 with girls aged 16 or under. 'Looks, fame and appetite' Ms Whyte said: "Someone is lying. Five complainants have made sexual allegations against William Roache. He is emphatic that it just did not happen. "He either did it or he did not. He is lying or literally all of them are." If he was telling the truth, he was the victim of a "huge, distorted and perverse witch-hunt," she said. Ms Whyte told the jury: "One important question that you are going to frankly have to ask yourselves is who has the most to gain in lying? "Who, of all the witnesses, is most used to rehearsing what he has to say and sticking to his script? "You are here to judge William Roache in the 1960s when he was a young man with looks, fame and appetite," she said. "That gave him the motivation and the opportunity to behave improperly." The prosecutor said that if Mr Roache was telling the truth then three of the complainants "must be mad" as they have "nothing in common". "And yet they are all saying something of a broadly similar nature and at a broadly similar point in time," she said. Ms Whyte said the period in Mr Roache's life in which his marriage to first wife Anna Cropper was deteriorating did coincide with the dates on the indictment. She said his admitted affairs during that time had led him to become "a sexual risk taker". "Our case is that he simply did not stop to think whether they were technically children or not," she said. 'Lovely chap' She said his fame "put him out of reach" and, because of who he was, anyone who he touched sexually without consent "would probably not have the guts to complain". "Once he had got away with it once or twice, it would not discourage him from from trying again," she continued. Referring to character evidence given by Coronation Street co-stars who knew Mr Roache from the 1970s, Ms Whyte told the jury they had heard "what a lovely chap he is". But they had to "judge a man from a different time". Mr Roache was hardly likely to sexually assault a teenager in front of colleagues, she added. Miss Whyte said: "We say, judge William Roache like anyone else. That is to say, fairly. You must leave emotion absolutely out of this. "He does not deserve the benefit of the doubt because of who he is or how old he is. "He is entitled to the benefit of the doubt if the prosecution have not convinced you of his guilt." Mr Roache has portrayed Ken Barlow in Coronation Street since the soap began in 1960. He was cleared of one indecent assault charge on the judge's direction on Monday. The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| Anne Kirkbride, who plays Deirdre Barlow, was one of a number of cast members giving evidence at the actor's trial at Preston Crown Court. Mr Roache, 81, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two rapes and four indecent assaults against five women aged 16 or under between 1965 and 1971. He was cleared of one indecent assault on the judge's direction on Monday. Asked what she thought of Mr Roache, Ms Kirkbride said if she was to describe him in one word, it would be "lovely". The actor, who joined the soap in 1972, smiled at Mr Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, as she delivered her evidence. Following her, Chris Gascoyne, who plays the actor's son Peter in the soap opera, said Mr Roache was "fantastic", "very calm, relaxed," and a person who "takes every day as a new day which is inspiring to me". "Bill sets the precedent for everyone. He is decent and kind to everybody," he said. Helen Worth, who plays neighbour Gail McIntyre, described Mr Roache as "a father figure, an elder statesman". "He was caring, never anything more. Just caring. What more can a man be? He was lovely," she said. Ms Worth, 63, was "extremely nervous" when she joined the show in 1974, aged 23, the court heard. She said: "But Bill perhaps was caring more and welcoming to me then. "And [he] has been to every new member of the cast since," she added. Asked by Louise Blackwell QC, defending, if she had seen Mr Roache in the company of young female cast members. She said that she had and that she "never saw anything that was untoward whatsoever in 40 years". Ms Worth smiled at Mr Roache when she left the witness box. Mr Roache waved back from the dock. Mr Roache is the longest-serving member of the Coronation Street cast, having portrayed Ken Barlow since the soap began in 1960. The case continues. \|\|\|\|\| The 81-year-old, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two rapes and four indecent assaults against five women aged 16 or under between 1965 and 1971. He was cleared of one indecent assault on the judge's direction on Monday. Asked if he had ever been "in the company of" the women, he told Preston Crown Court "no, not one of them". Some of the offences of which Mr Roache is accused relate to alleged indecent assaults against teenage girls in both the men's and women's toilets and the dressing rooms at Granada Studios in Manchester. Dressing room denial Mr Roache said he had "definitely not" taken a girl into the toilets, adding that "it wasn't in my nature to do that sort of thing and those toilets were in very frequent use". He also said he had not taken two girls into his dressing room. The actor, who has also been accused of indecently assaulting a girl in his car, added that he "never gave anyone a lift in my car other than people I knew". Asked by Louise Blackwell QC, defending, if he had "ever had a sexual interest in girls aged under 16?", he replied "no, absolutely not". The barrister went on to ask Mr Roache about an alleged rape of a girl at his cottage in Haslingden, Lancashire. The actor said it had "absolutely not" happened and that it was "totally against my nature to harm anybody in any way whatsoever". Responding to a question about his marriages, Mr Roache told the court he had a series of "small relationships" during his first marriage, to fellow actor Anna Cropper, but added he was "absolutely faithful" to his second wife Sara Mottram, who died in 2009. On the subject of religion, Mr Roache said he "loosely" conformed to the Church of England, though he had "a greater understanding of spiritual matters, but I don't belong to any cult, philosophy or religion". Autograph hunters The jury was previously shown footage of a TV interview in which Mr Roache appeared to suggest that victims of sex abuse were paying the price for their actions "in previous lives". Mr Roache said he had been "misunderstood". When asked about his beliefs on reincarnation, Mr Roache said: "Trying to find the truth when you are moving in the metaphysical is not easy. "I have a knowing, a knowing voice I know to be correct, by which I live." Ms Blackwell asked Mr Roache about his life and how he came to be in Coronation Street. Mr Roache, who was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, said he had left his post as a captain in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1956 with a "burning" desire to be an actor, as his mother had been a keen actress. He said he had been spotted by Coronation Street's creator Tony Warren and told the jury that as it became obvious the show was taking off, he had bought a cottage in Rawtenstall, Lancashire. He added that before he bought the home, his social life with his first wife was in London where they lived when he was not filming the "kitchen sink drama". He later bought two more cottages in Lancashire and a plot of land to build a house. Recalling his early days filming the soap at the Granada Studios in Manchester, he said he had no close friends among the cast. He went on to say that taking people on set was "an extremely difficult and dangerous thing to do". "Any noise or cough and a recording could be gone. "Occasionally, very close family, my children [were allowed]. You had to get permission. You had to have a reason." He said that when he was working, he "didn't want anybody in the dressing room". "I needed to concentrate totally on lines and focus on what I needed to do." The actor added he would always stop for autograph hunters outside the studios and that "the fans would know what time we'd arrive and be waiting there". The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| Jurors at Preston Crown Court were directed to acquit Mr Roache of the indecent assault charge because of insufficient evidence. Mr Roache, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, is still on trial over two rape and four indecent assault allegations. He denies the charges, which relate to incidents between 1965 and 1971. The offences are alleged to have involved five women aged 16 and under. 'No actual memory' The allegation the jury were directed to find Mr Roache not guilty of, was one of two made by a woman who said she was 14 when the defendant twice made her perform a sexual act in his car in 1965. The court heard she was picked up by the actor from the Granada Studios in his car and thought she had been indecently assaulted but had "no actual memory" of the episode. Judge Mr Justice Holroyde told the jury: "In relation to that episode, the witness was not giving evidence that it did happen, she was giving evidence that she was thinking it did happen and that is not a sufficient evidential basis for the conviction of an offence." "Mr Roache is entitled to a not guilty verdict on that charge." Anne Whyte QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "We do not invite you to convict on any allegation where the witness has no recollection." Signed photograph A juror entered a not guilty verdict on the charge when asked by the clerk. Mr Roache still faces the second allegation by the same woman, that he assaulted her in the male toilets at Granada Studios in Manchester, earlier the same year. Jurors were previously shown a letter and signed photograph Mr Roache sent to her after the alleged incident, in which he asked to her write back to him when she returned to school. The defence is due to start on Tuesday and Mr Roache is expected to give evidence. \|\|\|\|\| In the footage, the Coronation Street actor appeared to suggest that victims of sex abuse were paying the price for their actions 'in previous lives.' Mr Roache, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two rape charges and five indecent assaults, alleged to have taken place between 1965 and 1971. The charges relate to five women aged 16 and under between those dates. Preston Crown Court previously heard the interview prompted one of the alleged victims to contact police with her allegation that Mr Roache made her perform a sex act on him in his gold Rolls-Royce. 'Sexually mature' In the interview with New Zealand's One News programme, Mr Roache said: "Paedophilia is absolutely horrendous. Paedophiles should be sought out, rooted out and dealt with." He spoke of a "fringe" of groupies, adding: "These girls who come, they are sexually active, sexually mature." He said people should not "go around condemning, unforgiving. We should always be totally forgiving about everything." Mr Roache added: "If you know that you are pure love and therefore live that pure love, these things won't happen to you." The interviewer said: "To some people, that sounds perhaps like you are saying victims bring it upon themselves. Is that what you are saying?" The actor replied: "No, not quite but yes, I am. In that we... everything that happens to us has been a result of what we have been in previous lives, or whatever." The trial was adjourned until 14:00 GMT on Monday. \|\|\|\|\| The woman made the comments in a police interview played to the jury at Mr Roache's trial at Preston Crown Court. The woman said the 81-year-old sexually assaulted her in his Rolls-Royce car. Mr Roache, who denies two rapes and five indecent assaults between 1965 and 1971, apologised for his abuse remarks. The actor had made the remarks in an interview with New Zealand broadcaster TVNZ in March last year. 'Absolutely petrified' The woman, now aged 57, told police she had been angry after seeing Mr Roache on television talking about young girls being "punished for their actions in a previous life". She added that she was annoyed when Mr Roache had said "girls were hanging around the studio throwing themselves" at him. "The girls we saw were like us," she said. "I never saw any girls throwing themselves at anyone. There were even boys there." The jury heard that the woman contacted police on 1 May last year on the day that it emerged Mr Roache had been arrested on suspicion of raping a young girl. In the interview played to the court, the woman told police she and a friend had accepted a lift from the star, who plays Ken Barlow in the long running soap Coronation Street, at the Granada studios in Manchester between June 1968 and September 1971. She said she "froze" after the actor "fumbled with his flies" and then pulled her hand to his lap. The woman said she had felt "petrified, absolutely petrified" during the assault, which Mr Roache had continued even after she tried to stop when a double-decker bus pulled alongside his Rolls-Royce car. The court heard the star offered the woman half a crown for the bus ride home when she got out of the car. 'Telling the truth' The woman told the interviewing officer she had not previously come forward "because I feel intimidated". "People think he is some kind of super actor and he is so good and so lovely," she said. "You don't stand a chance if you come forward and if I did go to court." Giving evidence via video-link, she was asked by prosecutor Anne Whyte if Mr Roache's arrest on suspicion of rape had any effect on her. She said the woman who had reported being attacked "made me feel a coward because she came forward first". "She was brave enough to do it. I didn't have the guts to do it first." Louise Blackwell QC, cross-examining, told the woman the assault "just did not happen". Replying, the woman said that "it did... it happened". "I am just so sorry I have left it so long to come forward," she said. "I know I am telling the truth and the person you are defending knows I am telling the truth." The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| Preston Crown Court heard Peter Adamson, who played Len Fairclough in the soap, warned her that Mr Roache would "lead you astray". The woman alleges that Mr Roache, 81, groped her when she was about 14 years old. He denies two rapes and five indecent assaults between 1965 and 1971. The woman told the court last week that Mr Roache assaulted her after he arranged passes for her to visit Granada Studios in Manchester with her sister. During cross-examination by the actor's lawyer, Louise Blackwell QC, she said Mr Adamson, who she referred to as Len Fairclough, looked directly at Mr Roache and then told her: "You want to keep your eye on him, he will lead you astray." 'Like an octopus' The woman said Mr Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, groped her in a room after she was led past the Rovers Return pub on the set. Last week the court heard a police interview in which the woman said Mr Roache "was like an octopus - hands everywhere". Challenged about her version of events by Miss Blackwell, the woman said: "It happened, no matter what you are saying or what your job is, it happened." Asked if she was telling the truth, she replied: "I'm telling the truth. Why the hell would I put myself through all of this?" She said she had felt the incident was her fault "for being there in the first place". The woman's sister alleges she was also abused by Mr Roache, on a separate occasion. Asked by Mr Roache's barrister about press interest in her story and reporters visiting her house, the woman said her sister had "two visits from the Mirror" and had been offered £25,000. She said she was visited once by a reporter from The Sun, but the only money mentioned was an undisclosed donation to a charity. She told the barrister: "I know what's going through your mind and it's not going to happen, because I did not want money. "If I wanted money I could've sold my story but I have not sold my story. I have spoken to nobody except those who should know." The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| The woman, now 62, told Preston Crown Court two alleged rapes took place at his homes in Haslingden, Lancashire, on separate occasions. She suffered depression for several years afterwards, the jury heard. Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1967. He also denies five counts of indecent assault involving four girls. Those alleged offences involve girls aged 16 or under in Manchester between 1965 and 1971, the court heard. 'Buried for years' During cross-examination, the woman said she could not remember Mr Roache saying anything after the second alleged rape. She said she had been invited into the cottage but was under the impression that an elderly woman was living there. Louise Blackwell QC, defending, asked her if she was worried she was pregnant. The woman replied: "I don't think I knew enough then. I didn't realise the implications. "They didn't talk about those things in them days." She added: "I should have known that I should not have trusted him." Asked what she did in the hours that followed the alleged attack, she said: "I can't remember exact details, you just want to close your mind to them. "I never thought that I would have to repeat them. I have buried these for 47 years." Piers Morgan interview The woman agreed she changed her mind about her age at the time of the attacks. She initially said she was 14, although now states she was 15. Challenged by Miss Blackwell, who said the reason she got it wrong was that she was not telling the truth, the woman replied: "Sometimes I can't remember what I said yesterday. "I have not forgotten anything about the main events, believe me." The woman said she had continued to watch Coronation Street after the alleged rapes as there was "no threat when he is on television". She told the court she watched an ITV Piers Morgan's Life Stories interview with Mr Roache which "made her skin crawl" when he discussed his love life. The court heard that the woman did not give her name when she first approached police. Asked why by prosecutor Anne Whyte QC, she said she was "ashamed", adding: "I didn't want my name in the papers. I wasn't even sure it was confidential." Giving evidence, her son said his mother opened up to him after a discussion about recent high-profile abuse cases. He said he was "very angry", but his mother "frustrated" him more. During the conversation, his mother told him Mr Roache was "not a monster" and had not physically hurt her. "It made my blood boil because she was kind of defending him, if that makes sense", he said. He told the court he was persistent in telling her to go to the police and admitted he was like "a dog with a bone". "I said there could be other people like this", he said. The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| The woman, now 62, said the alleged rapes took place in his two homes in Haslingden, Lancashire, Preston Crown Court heard. Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1967. He also denies five counts of indecent assault involving four girls. Those alleged offences involve girls aged 16 or under in Manchester between 1965 and 1971, the court heard. 'Panic stricken' The jury was shown a video of the alleged rape victim's police interview from March 2013. In it she told police the actor took her into a bedroom of a bungalow he owned when she was a teenager. She said: "I was shocked. There was no warning... I didn't know what to do. "I can just remember thinking 'God, I just want to get out of here. I didn't know what to make of it, I was just so scared'." She described the first alleged rape as "cold and calculated". The woman said: "I didn't fight, but I couldn't push him off. "He was too heavy for me... It was very uncomfortable but at the time I was just panic stricken. "I just wanted to get up. I just wanted to go home... It was very painful. He was lying on top of me he was a lot bigger than me.. I just thought I was never going to get out. "I thought it was never going to finish," she added. Mr Roache was given permission to leave the dock and sit next to his lawyer while the recording was played in court so he could view it. The woman said: "I thought it must be my fault. I didn't know why it had happened. I'd gone round there in all innocence." 'Gullible' She went on to describe a second rape "a few months" after the first, which she alleges took place at a different cottage in Haslingden owned by Mr Roache . The woman said the actor had invited her into his home. "Before I knew it I had been grabbed again," she said. She said the television star pushed her up against a wall as she thought: "Oh God, I can't believe this." The court heard her say she should not have gone to his home on the second occasion. "I thought I was to blame, especially the second time," she said. "I was gullible, I was a kid. I would never have repeated it to anyone." When asked by the police officer to describe her allegations, the woman said: "I don't know if you called it rape in them days because I was not pinned down. I was sexually abused." 'Frightened and disgusted' The woman came forward in the wake of a number of celebrity sex scandals, the jury heard. She said: "It has started to bother me because there might be other people that this has happened to." The woman told the female officer she had spoken to her son about the now disgraced Jimmy Savile and later revelations about Sir Cyril Smith. She told her son "in those days you didn't talk about things like that... I know things like this happen because I have been in a position like this." When asked by the police interviewer why she had not told anyone about the alleged abuse, she replied: "I didn't think I'd be believed." Later in the recording, she said: "It has eaten away at me. It is on the media all the time. "I now realise what happened to me was not an isolated incident. "I thought it had to be my fault ... I was ashamed, frightened and disgusted, to be quite honest." 'Fancied himself' The woman said she did not see Mr Roache again until the late 1970s when she was a young mother in a baby show at a local carnival. She claims he walked past at her and said: "Oh hello, I know you don't I ?" "It upset me a little bit because I didn't know he was a judge that day," she said. The woman said that was the last time she had seen him. The officer asked if he was "fanciable as a celebrity" and the woman replied "possibly he fancied himself". She was then asked "Did you fancy him?" to which she answered: "No, he was not my age. I fancied local boys who I was in school with." The trial continues. \|\|\|\|\| Giving evidence at Preston Crown Court, the woman, now 63, said her contact with the Coronation Street actor felt like a "relationship". Mr Roache, 81, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, denies two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in East Lancashire in 1967. He also denies five counts of indecent assault involving four girls. Those alleged offences involve girls aged 16 or under in Manchester between 1965 and 1971, the court heard. 'Went exploring' The complainant told the court Mr Roache forced her to perform a sex act on him in the gents' toilets at Granada Studios in Manchester in the summer of 1965. She had visited the studios with a friend to take part in a children's talent show, the jury heard. The woman said following her performance she and her friend "went exploring" within the building. She said she spotted a Coronation Street actor and later ended up in Mr Roache's dressing room. At one point she and Mr Roache left the dressing room, she said, and he pulled her "roughly" by the arm in the direction of a men's toilet. She told the court Mr Roache took her hand and indecently assaulted her. The complainant said: "I was shocked and I didn't really understand what was going on, but the one thing I thoroughly understood was that I should not have been in the gents." 'Flattered by attention' The complainant said that a few weeks after the assault she received the letter, which read: "Thank you for your marvellous letter and the nice things you said in it. "I am enclosing a photo which I hope you like. I am away for three weeks now but I would like a letter from you waiting for me when I get back. "Write to me when you start school again and tell me more. Love Bill xx." Asked how the letter made her feel, the woman said: "I suppose I was flattered at the attention. I didn't understand some of it. I had not written a letter. I left a note as well as my address. The 'tell me more' didn't make sense. I don't know what it referred to." The woman said after receiving the letter she returned to the studios later in the year. She told the court Mr Roache told her to wait outside and would pick her up in his car. Louise Blackwell QC, defending Mr Roache, suggested the pick-up arrangement was "odd". "No", the complainant said, "because at that stage I thought we were having some sort of clandestine relationship, however tenuous." The jury heard he later parked near a railway embankment in Stockport and Mr Roache asked about her age. She told the court a conversation took place about oral sex, during which he said: "I won't do it properly until you're 16." The woman said at the time she would not have understood what he had said. A second complainant was 16 when she said she was approached by Mr Roache in the ladies' toilets at Granada. "As I went in I suddenly was aware of somebody behind me and I turned round and he was right in my face, absolutely right in front of me. I could not move," she said. She said he "more or less pinned me against the back of the wall" and put his hand underneath her jumper and squeezed her breast. The woman confided in her husband 20 years ago as they were watching Coronation Street. The trial continues on Thursday.	Coronation Street actor William Roache used his fame to exploit "starstruck" girls, Preston Crown Court has heard. Coronation Street actor William Roache was "always a perfect gentleman", his on-screen wife has told a court. Coronation Street actor William Roache has told a court he has no memory of ever meeting any of the women accusing him of sexual offences. Coronation Street star William Roache has been cleared of one of seven sex abuse charges at his trial, on orders of the judge. Jurors in the trial of William Roache have been shown a TV interview which angered one of his alleged victims. A woman who claims William Roache forced her to perform a sex act told police she was angry at a TV interview in which he said abuse was punishment for previous lives, a court has heard. A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by William Roache has told a court she was warned about him by another Coronation Street actor. A woman has told a court she was left feeling "humiliated, disgusted and ashamed" after being raped by Coronation Street star William Roache. A woman said Coronation Street star William Roache "pushed her on to a bed" and was "cold and calculated" as he raped her, a jury has heard. William Roache wrote to a 14-year-old girl he indecently assaulted saying "write to me when you start school again, love Bill", a court was told.
It comes two days before German MPs are expected to vote in favour of military action against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has stressed that only six of the operational Tornado jets would be needed for the proposed mission. A vote on the UK's involvement takes place in parliament on Wednesday. Germany decided to join the fight against IS after an appeal by French President Francois Hollande in the wake of the 13 November Paris attacks. But the readiness of Germany's armed forces has long been the subject of criticism. 'Long and dangerous' "The state of our flying systems remains unsatisfactory," the German army's chief of staff General Volker Wieker was quoted as saying on Wednesday. The defence ministry report, obtained by German media, blamed the problem on the "lack of availability of various spare parts". Six Tornado reconnaissance aircraft, a naval frigate and a 1,200-strong force will be sent to Syria under the proposals backed by the German cabinet on Tuesday. The Bundestag is set to start debating the plans on Wednesday, with a vote expected on Friday. Speaking to German TV channel ARD (in German) on Wednesday, Defence Minister von der Leyen said: "Thirty Tornados are ready for action, and we need six of them. That gives us a wide margin." She stressed that any military operation against IS in Syria would be "long and dangerous". Poor repair The latest defence ministry report showed Germany's air force capability further depleted from the year before, when 38 of 89 Tornado fighters were operational. Critics have accused the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) defence minister of neglecting important areas of military investment such as armour development. Last year she was forced to admit Germany's military equipment was in such poor repair that the country could not meet its Nato obligations. Technical problems grounded German military aircraft delivering weapons to Kurds fighting IS in northern Iraq and medical aid to West Africa during the Ebola outbreak. A YouGov opinion poll published on Tuesday showed 71% of people in Germany believed involvement in a mission against IS in Syria would raise the threat of attack in the country. However, 45% of Germans questioned backed military involvement and 39% were opposed. Until now, Germany's biggest foreign mission has been in Afghanistan, but that has gradually wound down to a force of just under 1,000. Some 700 German soldiers are also part of the Nato-led K-For operation to stabilise Kosovo. \|\|\|\|\| Tornado reconnaissance aircraft, a naval frigate and a 1,200-strong force will be sent to the region under the proposals - expected to go for a parliament vote as early as Wednesday. Germany decided to join the fight against IS after an appeal by French President Francois Hollande in the wake of the 13 November Paris attacks. Its forces will not engage in combat. MPs are expected to back the mission, which would become Germany's biggest current military operation abroad. A debate and vote on the UK's involvement in fighting IS in Syria are due in the British parliament on Wednesday. The Bundestag (lower house) will assess the proposals on Wednesday and a vote is expected by the end of the week, reports say. Last week, Germany agreed to send 650 soldiers to Mali, to join 1,500 French troops deployed to fight IS militants. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told Bild newspaper before Tuesday's cabinet meeting: "We are doing what is militarily necessary, what we can do best, and what we can back politically. Against an opponent like IS we need plenty of stamina." 'Irresponsible' Germany's armed services association cautioned against entering a conflict without clearly defined goals. "I'm working on the basis that this fight, if it is taken seriously, will go on for well over 10 years," the association's chairman Andre Wuestner told German TV. Green Party chairwoman Simone Peter was concerned about the legal basis for the mission without a UN resolution: "This deployment also has no political goal, no political concept and that's why it's irresponsible." BBC Berlin correspondent Jenny Hill says Germans have concerns about mission creep and many MPs say backing the measures will give them political "Bauchschmerzen" [stomach ache]. The mandate will initially last a year and will cost €134m (£94m; $142m). It will involve Tornado reconnaissance jets, refuelling aircraft and the naval frigate Sachsen, which will help support the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean. An opinion poll published on Tuesday revealed German disquiet about involvement in a mission against IS. According to the YouGov poll for the DPA news agency, 71% believed it would raise the threat of attack in Germany. However 45% of Germans questioned backed military involvement and 39% were opposed. Until now, Germany's biggest foreign mission has been in Afghanistan, but that has gradually wound down to a force of just under 1,000. Some 700 German soldiers are also part of the Nato-led K-For operation to stabilise Kosovo. \|\|\|\|\| The revelations, handed to Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, emerged after a series of recent mishaps. The minister has pledged that Germany will play a much greater military role on the international stage. However the KPMG report calls for urgent improvement in projects such as the Eurofighter jet and Puma tank. Contracts for A400 Airbus transporter planes and Boxer armoured fighting vehicles were among the nine delayed and, in many cases, over-budget projects that ran to a total of 57bn euros (£45bn; $70bn) - about two-thirds of total spending. For some projects the additional spending stretches into billions of euros, German media report. Germany is reported to be considering a key ceasefire monitoring role in eastern Ukraine, but the military has struggled in recent weeks with many of its helicopters and fighter jets unfit to fly, and notably a failed mission to send two planes to Iraq. BBC Berlin correspondent Jenny Hill on Germany's defence woes In Germany they've been dubbed the "Disarmed Forces". For Europe's largest economy today's report is embarrassing but not unexpected. A few days ago Ursula von der Leyen told me Germany had to play its part in places such as Ukraine and Syria if it was to be taken seriously in the future. The trouble is the military she has inherited is badly flawed. And the public knows it. Last week, two planes set off for Iraq carrying German weapons and army instructors. Neither made it. The weapons got stuck in Germany, the soldiers in Bulgaria. In fact the only plane seemingly in good working order was the one carrying the defence minister, who arrived in Iraq for what should have been a carefully orchestrated press opportunity. The defence minister has been forced to admit Germany's military equipment is in such poor repair that the country cannot meet its Nato obligations. The 1,200-page report warned that "improvement in the management of national and international projects is urgent and needed without delay". Ms von der Leyen said it provided a good basis from which to look at "the weak points and the need for action, which surely will be a tough management task for weeks and months to come". Not to be deterred, she announced on German TV on Sunday that she was planning to revive a project, mothballed by her predecessor because of its cost, for Euro Hawk reconnaissance drones. For historical reasons, Germany has been wary of playing a major part in international military missions but has played a significant role in Afghanistan and is planning to maintain a presence there after the Nato-led force pulls out at the end of 2014. \|\|\|\|\| She set out plans for better childcare facilities, new furniture, better internet access in barracks and more flexible working hours for some. The five-year plan will also see extra computers and an easing of the practice of moving service people around. She said the Bundeswehr (army) needed to compete with civilian employers. "We want the best," Mrs von der Leyen was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying. "People who are young and qualified have a multitude of offers today... and they choose the employer who, among other things, makes the most interesting offers." Germany abandoned conscription three years ago and is aiming to recruit about 60,000 young applicants a year, she said. Critics accuse the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) minister, who is seen as a potential successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, of neglecting more important areas of investment, such as armour development. Retired General Harald Kujat, once Germany's top military officer and chairman of the Nato Military Committee, said last month that the plans appeared to have been "drawn up by people who don't know the Bundeswehr". "Rather than kindergartens, it would much more helpful to a soldier's family if they knew that everything is being done for his safety in deployment," he told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.	Only 29 of Germany's 66 Tornado jets are airworthy, a defence ministry report has revealed. The German cabinet has backed plans for military support in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. Spending on nine of Germany's biggest defence projects has been severely criticised by an independent report that cites 140 problems and risks. The German army is to spend 100m euros (£81m; $136m) on making itself a more attractive employer, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has said. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
But MPs did vote in favour of Home Secretary Theresa May's plan to strip foreign-born terror suspects of UK citizenship, by 297 to 34. The rebel plan only failed thanks to opposition from Labour and Lib Dem MPs. No 10 - anticipating a big rebellion - had ordered Tory ministers to abstain rather than oppose the backbenchers. If, as had been expected at one stage, Labour MPs had also abstained, the rebel amendment would have succeeded. In the event it was defeated by 241 to 97. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said David Cameron had "simply ordered his troops to retreat in the face of embarrassment" and the episode illustrated the difficulty the prime minister had with controlling his own backbenchers. Dominic Raab - the Tory MP behind the amendment - told MPs it was time the law was changed so foreign criminals could no longer use Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights - a right to a family life - to escape deportation. 'Scared' There was confusion in the Commons as Mrs May sought to attack Mr Raab's amendment just as Downing Street was announcing that ministers were to abstain in the vote. She told MPs the amendment was "incompatible" with the European Convention on Human Rights. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper accused the home secretary of being "scared of her own backbenchers", adding that the Immigration Bill has been a "car crash" for the government. She told Mrs May: "We know you opposed the amendment, because if you supported it you could have voted for it and it would have gone through. "But you didn't. You sat on your hands because you were scared. What kind of home secretary is that? What kind of government is this?" In a statement, UKIP's head of policy Tim Aker said Mr Cameron had "lost the plot", adding the only solution was to "leave the EU and leave the ECHR to take back control of these legal issues". Downing Street said that Mr Cameron agreed with the aims of the rebels, but had told ministers to abstain because of fears that the actual measure being proposed could be illegal. Mrs May had been accused of trying to buy off rebels keen to see a tougher line on immigration with her plan to strip some foreign-born terror suspects of their citizenship even if it left them stateless. But she insisted it had been planned for some time - a point confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who said the move was "justifiable". 'Limited circumstances' She also hit back at claims by Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather that she was seeking a "blank cheque" to rob citizens of their rights, arguing that home secretaries would be able to render someone stateless only in "very, very specific and limited circumstances" and in strict accordance with the UK's international obligations. It would not apply to British citizens but could see foreigners who have become naturalised citizens whose conduct is deemed "seriously prejudicial" lose their nationality. People with dual nationality can already lose their British passports. The main thrust of the Immigration Bill is being supported by Labour and other parties in the Commons. The new legislation would: \|\|\|\|\| Dominic Raab has proposed an amendment to the coalition's Immigration Bill, calling for those sentenced to more than a year in prison to be sent home. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this was a "practical" proposal. But the Home Office said it was already bringing in measures to ensure foreign criminals could not "cheat justice". As part of a package of reforms, the Immigration Bill says foreign criminals can be deported even before the outcome of their appeal is known, as long as they do not face "serious irreversible harm" at home. The number of grounds for appeal against deportation is also being reduced from 17 to four, which ministers say will simplify the system. The bill returns to the House of Commons on Thursday, with the government facing two amendments from Conservatives unhappy that it will not do enough to reduce net migration to the UK. 'Abuse' One, tabled by Tory MP Nigel Mills, proposes putting working restrictions back on Romanians and Bulgarians until 2018, following the expiry of temporary controls on 1 January. Mr Raab, meanwhile, wants to make it mandatory to deport any foreigner convicted of a crime resulting in a prison sentence of a year or longer, unless they face the threat of torture or death. He said criminals pleading the right to a "family life" in the UK - because they had relatives in the country - under Article Eight of the European Convention on Human Rights, accounted for 89% of successful appeals against the government. Mr Raab told Today: "I'm trying to find a practical solution to the biggest human rights problem we've got. I suspect that's why it's attracted so much cross-party support." He added: "I think the home secretary's proposals are well-intentioned but they won't do the job." A Home Office spokesman said: "Far too many foreign criminals abuse human rights laws to hide behind their so-called family life in an attempt to cheat justice. "We are already passing legislation in the Immigration Bill to ensure judges deal with Article Eight claims in the right way - and don't regard the right to a family life as an absolute and unqualified one. "Those who abuse our hospitality by committing serious crimes have no place in Britain and we are determined to see more of them kicked out of the country." On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron said the Immigration Bill contained "sensible" measures aimed at lowering annual net migration. It would ensure migrants had to pay to use the NHS and could not get council housing or defer appeals against deportation judgements if they were not entitled to be in the UK, he added. \|\|\|\|\| The prime minister made the comment as he urged Tory MPs not to endanger his plans to restrict immigration, telling the BBC he shared their "frustration". The prime minister said the Immigration Bill contained "sensible" measures aimed at lowering annual net migration. Rebels want the bill to impose controls on Bulgarians and Romanians until 2018. Transitional arrangements limiting the work that Bulgarians and Romanians can do in the UK, in place since they joined the EU in 2007, expired on 1 January. The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the prime minister had appeared to give his verdict on the numbers coming to the UK from the two countries following warnings last year of a possible "invasion". 'Paused' But he said MPs were more concerned about the number of arrivals over a long period and wanted Mr Cameron to add new restrictions to the government's Immigration Bill, which is returning to the Commons on Thursday. The prime minister, who is facing a potential rebellion, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that his hands were tied over the issue as the UK had already extended the controls to the maximum seven years. "Those seven years are now up," he said. "We are not allowed to extend them further under the current rules... we have done the extent of what we can do within the rules that were agreed by the last government." Mr Cameron suggested the bill had been "paused" to reflect on the initial response to the end of Bulgarian and Romanian controls and he now wanted to press ahead with the legislation. "I think we can now see at the start of the year so far there looks to be a reasonable level of migration and I hope we can make progress with the bill because it does so many good things." Speaking later at a business event in London, Mr Cameron said he had not had access to any official or unofficial statistics and had based his comments on what he had "read, seen and heard" over the past few weeks. The UK Independence Party criticised the remarks, saying they were based on "zero evidence". 'Real concerns' While net migration - the difference between the number of people settling in the UK and those leaving - is a third lower than in 2010, Mr Cameron says he wants to see it fall further. "I completely understand and, in many ways, share the frustration of colleagues who would like us to go further," he told the BBC. The bill, he insisted, contained important measures to ensure migrants had to pay to use the NHS and could not get council housing or defer appeals against deportation judgements if they were not entitled to be in the UK. Nick Robinson said he expected the government to table amendments which would put in place much tougher controls on migration from countries that join the European Union in future. The prime minister has also hinted that future controls would stay in place until aspiring EU members reach an average income level much closer to that of the UK and other existing EU members. Speaking on Sunday, Conservative MP Nigel Mills said he and his colleagues did not want to "crash" the bill but he wanted further "limited and proportionate" action. "Absolutely the last thing I want to see is this bill go down but I think we do need to set out very clearly that we have real concerns about the level of EU immigration and that something needs to start being done." Shadow Home Office minster David Hanson said Labour would support a group of amendments aiming to enable the government to impose further transitional immigration controls on future EU accession countries. "Today, on behalf of the official opposition, I have signed new clauses 7, 8, 9 and 10, tabled by the honourable member for Sleaford and North Hykeham [Conservative Stephen Phillips] and several Conservative backbenchers, which will look at strengthening future accession agreements in to the EU when they come about," he said, during Home Secretary Theresa May's Commons question session on Monday. "Given that new cross-party consensus, will the home secretary join us in supporting those amendments and new clauses on Thursday?" Mrs May responded: "He will have to wait and see what happens on Thursday, but I have looked at interest at the amendments which have been tabled." She told MPs she was "pleased to see that there is indeed agreement across this House that we do need to take action in future in relation to accession countries". \|\|\|\|\| The home secretary's move came as she appealed against a Supreme Court decision in favour of Hilal Al-Jedda. Mr Al-Jedda lost his Iraqi nationality when given UK asylum in 2000. He became British and was first deprived of his citizenship in 2007, leading to a series of legal appeals. Mr Al-Jedda, who is in his 50s and is now living in Turkey, was arrested by US forces in Iraq in October 2004. He was transferred into UK custody and held without charge for three years. Then Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith took away Mr Al-Jedda's UK nationality shortly before he was released, but a subsequent High Court case saw him win back his citizenship. The government appealed against the decision, leading to October's Supreme Court ruling. Lawyers for Hilal al-Jedda have now confirmed Home Secretary Theresa May had issued a second "deprivation order" against him and that they had lodged an appeal. Tessa Gregory, who represents Mr al-Jedda, said the Home Office alleged he was "committed to Islamist extremism and associated with Islamist extremists". \|\|\|\|\| Transitional rules cease on 1 January, with some commentators saying this could lead to an influx of immigrants. More than 60 MPs have signed a Tory rebel amendment to the Immigration Bill to extend the controls until 2018. But Commons Leader Andrew Lansley said the bill would not be debated until next year - after the controls expire. Mr Lansley said the government had to make headway on other bills and insisted there would be no impact on the overall progress of the government's immigration reforms. He said the Immigration Bill would return to the Commons for report stage in the New Year. By that time Romanian and Bulgarian workers would have full rights to work in the UK and so the proposals by MPs could not apply. 'No delay' Mr Lansley was announcing the Commons business for the remaining days of the parliamentary term before MPs go on their Christmas break on 19 December. Although the Immigration Bill - which is awaiting report stage - would not have become law before restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian workers are being lifted, the government has avoided a potentially embarrassing rebellion. Conservative MP Nigel Mills had secured support from a large number of party colleagues for his amendment demanding that transition controls on the two countries be extended for an additional four years until 2018. Tory MP Mark Reckless challenged the minister over the timetable: "Why are remaining stages of the Immigration Bill being delayed when it would surely make sense for the House to vote on whether to extend immigration restrictions for Bulgaria and Romania in advance of them being lifted on 1 January?" Mr Lansley replied: "I think I can assure you that it is not being delayed. It is simply that I have announced in the future business before Christmas, progress on five government bills. We have a lot of legislation before the House. "Let me just explain to you, the fact of a debate on the Immigration Bill in this House before Christmas doesn't necessarily have an impact on the time of royal assent of the Immigration Bill." Mr Mills said that by delaying the bill the government was denying Parliament a say on an issue of great concern to many people. He said he believed it showed how worried the government was about a rebellion on the issue. The MP is hoping to get a debate on the issue in backbench time. Benefit restrictions Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, accused the government of trying to "bury the news" on a busy news day dominated by the Autumn Statement. "The coalition are urgently seeking to avoid any embarrassment by not allowing MPs to debate the amendment from Nigel Mills which would delay the doors opening to Romania and Bulgaria until 2018. "It is clear this is a government that is more interested in preserving its image by blocking democratic debate and has been proven once again to be entirely disingenuous on the issue of immigration control." Last week the government set out a package of measures intended to tackle fears over the change in rules on 1 January. They mean immigrants from the EU will not be able to claim out-of-work benefits for the first three months, after which they will only be able to claim for a maximum of six months unless they can prove they have a genuine prospect of employment.	MPs have voted to reject a bid by nearly 100 rebel Tory MPs to stop foreign criminals using European human rights law to avoid deportation. Government attempts to make it easier to deport foreign criminals "are well-intentioned but they won't do the job", a Conservative MP has warned. David Cameron has said the numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians arriving in the UK since the last work curbs were lifted are at a "reasonable level". An Iraqi-born man once held as a terror suspect has been stripped of his UK citizenship for a second time, even though judges ruled it was illegal to make him stateless. The government has denied delaying the Immigration Bill to thwart efforts to extend restrictions on Romanians and Bulgarians working in the UK. Bulgarian and Romanian citizens are free to live and work in the UK after controls in place since 2007 expired. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.
A city council report showed that from the end of March casualties fell by 54% compared with the same period last year. The number of people killed or seriously injured went down by 48%, with 33 cases compared with 64 in 2019. However, the report said that weekly road casualties were "now starting to increase as lockdown eases". According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the drop in casualties meant that in total 203 fewer people were injured or killed on the city's streets during the lockdown, dropping from 379 in 2019 to 176. The report added that morning "peak flows" of traffic had dropped by 48% in March, but noted that incidents had increased as more people returned to work and shops started to reopen. "In week 23, more casualties were recorded in 2020 (23) compared to 2019 (18)," the report said. "In response, links are being made with the Road Safety Great Britain Take Extra Care campaign and we are discussing with the police the resumption of the close pass initiative related to cycling and increased speed enforcement." The report will be discussed by Leeds City Council's executive board on Wednesday. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk or send video here. \|\|\|\|\| Businesses are reopening and many children are back in school. Many of Europe's internal borders opened again in mid-June. Then the EU lifted external borders to some nations on 1 July, although member states can choose not to allow in travellers from these countries. Here is how Europeans are emerging from life under lockdown. Germany: Opening up with 'emergency brake' Germany began reopening smaller shops in April: in early May control of lifting the lockdown was handed to the 16 federal states. However, Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that an ''emergency brake'' would be applied anywhere with a surge in new infections. A surge in cases linked to a meat processing plant near the town of Gütersloh caused regional authorities to reimpose local lockdowns on 23 June. Foreign minister Heiko Maas lifted a travel ban for EU member states and specified European countries including the UK. What caused Germany's biggest virus outbreak? Italy: Funeral gatherings and more travel permitted Italy imposed a strict and lengthy lockdown on 7 March - initially in the north, then nationwide - with a ban on walking or exercising more than 200m (656ft) from home. In early May, some restrictions were relaxed and people are now able to travel for longer distances, as well as visit their relatives in small numbers. On 3 June, Italy unilaterally reopened its borders and ended regional travel restrictions, and the country entered phase three of its lockdown lifting on 15 June. Cruises on Italian ships remain suspended. France: Macron declares 'first victory' against the virus France's strict lockdown was imposed on 17 March, with residents required to provide a travel permit justifying any outdoor trips. Restrictions began to ease on 11 May, and on 14 June President Emmanuel Macron declared France had won its "first victory" against the virus as he lifted more measures Lockdown bites poor as France eases grip Denmark: Restrictions eased since mid-April Denmark, one of the first European countries to announce a lockdown, started to ease restrictions in mid-April, with a four-phase plan. Danes rush for haircuts as lockdown eases Baltic countries: The first 'travel bubble' in Europe The three Baltic states - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - became the first countries in Europe to allow free movement again, but initially only with each other. From 15 May, citizens and residents could move freely across the three countries, provided they had not travelled outside the Baltic states in the past two weeks, were not infected, and not in contact with an infected person. Those coming from elsewhere still have to self-isolate for 14 days. Estonia then said several countries would not be affected by quarantine from 1 June, including Germany, France and Austria, and the Baltic trio resumed free movement with Poland from mid-June. Baltic states open a pandemic 'travel bubble' Belgium: Social bubble expanded further Restrictions are slowly being lifted in a country that has seen a high number of deaths in care homes. The country unilaterally reopened its borders to all EU and Schengen zone countries on 15 June, as well as to the UK, and on 1 July entered phase four of easing restrictions No major events such as festivals are allowed and no nightclubs are allowed to open. Netherlands: Hairdressers and nail bars back in business The Netherlands imposed a far less strict lockdown than next-door Belgium. Prime Minister Mark Rutte unveiled a five-phase plan for easing lockdown restrictions, which kicked in from 11 May. A drop in cases meant the country announced plans to ease measures would be brought forward. Austria: Weddings and outdoor sport Austria was one of the first countries to ease its lockdown. The health minister said the reopening of small shops in mid-April didn't cause a spike in cases. Borders have now been re-opened with all its neighbours, although on 1 July Austria issued a travel warning for six Balkan countries. Spain: State of emergency officially ends Spain outlined a four-stage plan on 4 May to start easing one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe, which saw children under 14 confined to their homes for six weeks. On 1 June, Spain moved to a second phase for 70% of Spaniards, but Madrid, Barcelona and some other regions stayed under tighter phase-one restrictions. The state of emergency officially ended on 21 June, restoring freedom of movement and reopening some borders. People must still stay 1.5 metres apart in public and wear masks on public transport and when shopping. However, parts of northeastern Spain returned to phase two of lockdown easing in June after an outbreak of the virus among fruit pickers. Republic of Ireland: Four phases and shops reopen Ireland has had a stricter lockdown than the UK, with residents only allowed to exercise within 2km (1.2 miles) of their homes. But a five-stage roadmap - later cut to four - to reopen the country started on 18 May. Switzerland: Museums and restaurants return Switzerland began easing its eight-week lockdown in stages from 27 April. Portugal: Small, local businesses first Portugal has had fewer coronavirus cases and deaths than some other south European nations. The government announced a three-phase plan, reopening different sectors of the economy every 15 days. However, on 22 June authorities had to reimpose restrictions in 15 neighbourhoods around Lisbon after local outbreaks. These included the return of an evening curfew and limiting gatherings to 10 people. Greece: Tourism season officially begins Greece recorded its first Covid-19 case on 26 February and the government acted swiftly to impose a lockdown. On 28 April, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a relaxation of lockdown measures in the weeks ahead, with a particular focus on opening up the country for the summer. Fast on coronavirus, now they need to save summer Russia: Starting to go back to work President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia's nationwide lockdown was being eased from 12 May, and businesses could go back to work to stop unemployment rising further. He also said it was up to individual regions to decide the best policy. But Russia's daily infection rate remains high, compared with the rest of Europe. Poland: Parks and forests first to reopen In Poland, Covid-19 numbers are lower than in many Western European countries. Although it largely escaped the worst pandemic, there was an outbreak at coal mines in the industrial heartland of Upper Silesia in early June. Poland began lifting restrictions on 20 April, when parks and forests were allowed to reopen. Sweden: Strict measures never imposed There was no compulsory lockdown in Sweden, unlike the measures seen elsewhere in Europe. But in line with government advice, most people took to voluntary social distancing and working from home. Read more: \|\|\|\|\| Streets in Otley, Headingley and Hunslet are to be closed on Sunday, 22 September as part of World Car-Free Day. It will be the first of 11 such days planned by Leeds City Council. It was announced as environmental campaigners Extinction Rebellion blocked a major route into the city on a third day of protest. The campaigners are blocking Victoria Bridge, near Bridgewater Place. The group says the UK must act immediately to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025. The government announced in June it would commit to reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The council said about 60,000 people drive into Leeds every weekday morning, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. \|\|\|\|\| Over 2,000 Leeds cabbies have applied for help to buy cars exempt from upcoming clean air zone (CAZ) charges. But most have waited months for a decision and believe the council cannot cope with the volume of applicants. Leeds City Council said it had to be responsible with public money and "due diligence takes time". The CAZ was originally due to come into effect by January 2020 but has been delayed until July at the earliest. Certain vehicles entering the city centre would have to pay a charge under the scheme. 'On track' The government gave the council £29m to implement the zone, with £23m earmarked to help businesses adapt and get greener vehicles. From 1 April, taxi and private hire drivers in the city were invited to apply for interest-free loans of up to £10,000 or non-repayable grants worth up to £1,500. By June, two months after launching the scheme, the authority's documents showed it had received more than 2,000 applications. Documents seen by the BBC suggested the government had instructed the council to reach a decision on these by September. But by that time, according to a council report, just £20,000 had been paid out in loans, while grants worth £55,000 had been awarded. At the end of November, according to documents seen by the BBC, just 19 loans had been paid out. The most recent figures show 30 loans have been paid, and a further 69 provisionally approved, the council said. Despite this, the authority said it was "on track to process every pending application within the next two months". A spokesman said the council expected to have paid "in the region" of 350 loans once all remaining applications had been processed. The scheme would remain open "until the end of 2020 or until funding runs out", he said. 'Easier to get a mortgage' Adil Hamid, treasurer of the Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation, branded the handling of loans and grants as a "cock-up". "What we were promised and what has actually happened are totally different," he said. "They said it would be a straightforward process... but it's taking up to seven months for some drivers to get a decision." The BBC has been told key loan documents and a 25 to 45-minute telephone interview about applicants' finances were only available in English. Mr Hamid said this caused problems because "a lot of the drivers are from different countries". He further criticised a lack of consistency in the handling of applications, and said he knew of cases in which drivers "in the exact same circumstances" had received different decisions. "It's probably easier to apply for a mortgage than it is to apply to the council," he said. Many drivers had resigned themselves to paying the congestion charge, he said, and felt they had "no choice but to cause more pollution". He said others who had been rejected had either borrowed money from family to buy a new vehicle or had taken out high-interest loans. The BBC has seen details of one case in which an applicant who had received a loan agreement was told he would be paid "next week" on three occasions. He had identified a suitable replacement vehicle, and sent details of his intended purchase in a "proposed vehicle notice", to the council. However, the authority told him it would need three weeks to carry out a vehicle history check (HPI) before the loan was paid out. While waiting for the check - which could be performed instantly online - to be carried out, he entered into a finance agreement with a dealership to secure the new car. When it was found he had applied for finance, his council loan application was rejected and he chose to apply for a grant instead. It has since reduced the waiting time for vehicle checks to 48 hours, it is understood. What's gone wrong? The council set up a small team of about 10 people to process loan applications. It is understood staff recruited to work as underwriters had little or no prior experience of performing financial checks and and have complained of receiving insufficient formal training. There have been two data protection breaches involving personal details since the launch of the scheme. The council said these were investigated, apologies sent to those affected and "measures put in place to avoid repeat occurrences". The BBC has also been told that: What does the council say? The council said £7.3m of government funding had been earmarked to help the taxi and private hire sector and "could not be used for any other purpose". "There is therefore no incentive for the council not to allocate this money to the trade," a spokesman said. He said officers were "processing financial support applications as swiftly as possible" but it was necessary to ensure applicants were able to repay loans, and collecting necessary documentation "can sometimes take longer than expected". Staff working as underwriters received "specialist formal training and are supported and advised by trained and experienced council officers", he said. Loans would only be available to drivers who had passed the council's licensing process, which would have required them to pass an English comprehension test covering reading, writing and speaking. The spokesman added: The council said it was unaware of cases which had been closed and applicants told to reapply. Where drivers had been turned down for loans after entering into finance agreements, the council said all applicants read and accept published eligibility criteria as part of their initial application. It said this included a requirement that applicants must not make any vehicle payments and must declare additional finance arrangements.	The number of people injured in road accidents in Leeds more than halved during the coronavirus lockdown. Across Europe, lockdown measures are being lifted cautiously, in phases. Coronavirus has plunged the world into uncertainty and the constant news about the pandemic can feel relentless. All of this is taking its toll on people's mental health, particularly those already living with conditions like anxiety and OCD. So how can we protect our mental health? Roads in Leeds will be closed to traffic for a day later this year to help the environment. Just 30 taxi drivers have received loans from a scheme set up to help them buy greener vehicles in the eight months since it launched.
The device was found in the grounds of the Waterfoot Hotel last Friday. Police have blamed dissident republicans. The owner of the Waterfoot Hotel, Garvan O'Doherty, said he cancelled the event for "health and safety reasons". The police are looking at an alternative venue for the recruitment session. 'Dangerous and deadly' A controlled explosion was carried out following the discovery of the device on Friday. On Tuesday, Mr O'Doherty said he "must take into consideration the safety and well-being of my staff and customers". "The tactic adopted by dissidents is dangerous and deadly," he said. "It is with great regret that I have to cancel this event, but I have to protect the people. "I think the police are doing a great job and I believe in the Good Friday Agreement. "We are there 24 hours a day and I will not take that risk of something, maybe, happening again. "There may be some council facilities that are available for events like this. "There is an appetite to join the police but we have to re-group and get the message across that violence does not work." PSNI Ass Ch Con Mark Hamilton said: "I am aware of the disruption that was caused by the security operation in Derry last week and would like to thank everyone who co-operated and worked with our officers. "I would also like to thank the management and staff at the hotel for their support throughout. 'Misguided individuals' "We are currently seeking an alternative venue for this event and remain committed to providing encouragement and information to those who wish to find out more about the opportunities that exist within the Police Service. "Clearly there are people out there in today's society who are still intent on targeting our police service and causing harm to our communities. "We know, however, that the actions of these few misguided individuals will not stop people pursuing a career in policing." Mr Hamilton said 2,700 applications have been put forward in the current recruitment process so far. There were also security alerts at two other venues last week where recruitment events were due to take place. Nothing untoward was found. Dr Michael Wardlow, chief commissioner of the Equality Commission, described recent incidents as "unacceptable". "If we wish to live in a tolerant and respectful society, it is important that the whole community supports the right of people to choose whether or not to join the police," he said. \|\|\|\|\| It was discovered on Friday at the Waterfoot Hotel. A controlled explosion was carried out and police initially said it was an elaborate hoax. After a further examination, police said it was bomb. A police recruitment session is due to be held at the hotel next week. Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said the bomb had the potential to harm anyone in the area and that those involved had shown a "total disregard for human life". "We are obviously very thankful that this attack was thwarted and that no one was killed or seriously injured," he said. Police said no warning was given and blamed dissident republicans for carrying out the attack. 'Potent reminder' Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers condemned those responsible. "This device was intended to cause injury and sought to stop those people who want to secure a career in policing to serve their community and make Northern Ireland a better place," he said. "It is a potent reminder of the threat the police and public still face from terrorism." "The contemptible actions of those behind this incident are an affront to everyone who wants a peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland." Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney said those who had left the bomb had "nothing whatsoever to offer the people of Derry". 'Reckless actions' "Not only have they brought disruption to the city, they have also endangered the safety of hotel staff, guests, customers and passers by," he said. "Their reckless actions are so far out of touch with the views of the vast majority of the people of Derry." Two police recruitment events are under way in Belfast and Omagh after alerts at the planned venues ended. Belfast Met's Millfield campus and the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh, County Tyrone, were evacuated and nearby roads were closed after the alerts began on Friday. Police said on Saturday that nothing untoward was found during searches at both sites. A planned republican protest is taking place outside the Millfield campus. A large part of the town centre in Omagh was evacuated as a result of the alert at the Strule Arts Centre. Shops, businesses and the town's bus depot were closed and students at South West College were sent home. The alert at the Millfield campus caused disruption to rush-hour traffic in Belfast city centre. Anne Connolly, the chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said: "It is despicable that the suspect device at the Waterfoot Hotel has now been confirmed as a viable bomb. "Despite the disruption, it is clear that that people wishing to pursue a career will not be deterred. It is positive that the recruitment seminars have been well attended and that 2,400 applications have been received to date."	A police recruitment event, which was due to be held in Londonderry on Saturday, has been cancelled following the discovery of a bomb last week. Police have said a suspicious object found in the grounds of a hotel in Londonderry was a bomb. around the world and the unique human stories behind current events, we've got the best of our journalism in one place.

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