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Katie Rough death: Teen detained for life for killing - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Katie Rough was found with cuts to her neck and chest on a playing field in York.
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York & North Yorkshire
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Katie was found seriously injured near playing fields in York in January
A teenager who killed seven-year-old Katie Rough has been detained for life and ordered to serve a minimum term of five years.
The girl, 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility in July.
Katie was smothered and slashed with a knife at a playing field in Woodthorpe, York, on 9 January.
Mr Justice Soole at Leeds Crown Court said it was a "truly exceptional case".
The defendant, who appeared via video link, sat with her head down clutching a soft toy as Katie's family looked on from the jury box.
Sentencing the teenager, the judge said: "The gravity of the offence of killing a small child speaks for itself. The level of danger to the public is high.
"In the circumstances of your continuing silence, the critical question is whether there is any reliable estimate as to how long that danger will continue."
Her barrister said this was not a "malicious manoeuvre", but a coping mechanism, as she was still suffering from post-traumatic stress.
A previous hearing was told how the girl, who was 15 at the time of the attack, suffered with severe mental health problems and was convinced people "were robots".
During the hearing, the court was told how the girl was found standing in a cul-de-sac covered in blood and carrying a Stanley knife as she rang 999 to tell police what she had done.
A post-mortem examination showed Katie had two severe cuts to her body, one to her neck and the other to her torso, but died from being smothered.
Paul and Alison Rough found their daughter at the same time as police officers reached her
In July, after denying murder but admitting manslaughter, the teenager was given a 12-week interim hospital order to allow for further assessment of her mental health before sentencing.
The judge was told the girl began suffering from mental health problems more than a year before the killing and that due to her "irrational beliefs" she may have been trying to prove that Katie was not a robot.
Prosecutors said she had reported delusional thoughts as well as depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
Nicholas Johnson QC, defending, told the previous hearing his client "was clearly crying out for help and support".
During the sentencing hearing, the court was told psychiatrists still cannot agree on the exact nature of the girl's mental disturbance.
Some have explored whether she was suffering from a depressive disorder and others considered if she has an emerging personality disorder.
Mr Johnson explained she had not engaged with the experts and asked the judge to conclude that she was "unwilling because she was unable".
More than 300 people attended Katie's funeral in February
NHS England said it had commissioned an independent inquiry to investigate the treatment the teenager had received prior to the killing.
Following sentencing a statement by Katie's family was read outside court by police.
It said: "Our story is about a loving home and family that was torn apart on a day when we lost our daughter.
"Our story goes on into a future where our home feels very empty, but we will keep going for sake of our other children and our grandson.
"Katie's memory will live on in our hearts but also more widely, as a little girl who brought more colour to her world."
Det Ch Insp Andrea Kell, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "This investigation has been one of the most tragic and challenging I have ever dealt with.
"There are no positive results from cases such as these."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-42112979
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Russian village complex where England team may stay - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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Russia hosts the 2018 Football World Cup; we've had exclusive access to England's preferred training base.
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It's seven months until Russia hosts the Football World Cup, and one of the England team’s favoured locations for their base is the small village of Repino near St Petersburg.
We've been granted exclusive access to the training ground complex that is being built and the nearby four-star hotel. Sarah Rainsford reports.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42101267
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Ashes: Steve Smith repels England as Australia fight back in first Test - BBC Sport
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2017-11-24
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Captain Steve Smith's unbeaten 64 helps Australia recover to 165-4, trailing England by 137 after two days of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.
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Last updated on .From the section Cricket
First Ashes Test, Gabba, Brisbane (day two of five)
Australia captain Steve Smith withstood the charge of the England bowlers to leave the first Ashes Test delicately poised after two days in Brisbane.
On a fascinating and, at times, thrilling day, Smith made an unbeaten 64 to lead his side to 165-4, 137 behind.
That was a significant recovery from 76-4 as England's attack, expertly marshalled by skipper Joe Root, was excellent in the scorching afternoon heat.
Smith combined with Shaun Marsh, who is 44 not out, for an unbroken partnership of 89.
The tourists earlier lost their last six wickets for 56 runs to slip to 302 all out.
In control when Dawid Malan (56) and Moeen Ali (38) were together, England surrendered the initiative in a whirl of poor shots, aggression from Australia's fast bowlers and the trickery of off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
He claimed two wickets, while pace bowlers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins finished with three each.
To slump from 246-4 was feeble from England, but their total was put into context as Australia struggled to score freely on a pitch that remains slower than a usual Gabba wicket.
Although Smith and Marsh were solid later in the day, England are well in the hunt to end Australia's 29-year unbeaten run on this ground.
• None England can expect more bouncers but Australia have a soft underbelly - Agnew
• None 'This game is in the balance' - TMS podcast with Agnew & Vaughan
• None Listen to Test Match Special highlights of day two
If a first day when England reached 196-4 was attritional, disrupted by rain and not enough to really stir the crowd, then day two was when the Ashes excitement truly arrived.
It was cut and thrust as soon as play resumed at 09:30 local time, England more intent to play shots and finding the boundary with regularity.
When Australia's bowlers began to target England with short bowling, the hostility shown to the visiting batsmen rallied the home support.
For the first time in the match, the Gabba lived up to its 'Gabbatoir' nickname as the sight of an England collapse in front of baying fans evoked memories of the 5-0 whitewash in 2013-14.
Still, the Barmy Army were lively throughout, trading songs with hundreds of Australia supporters dressed as the late commentator Richie Benaud on a scorching afternoon.
During the Australia fightback, noise dropped as tension grew and at one point a scuffle in the crowd had to be broken up by the police.
However, perhaps the biggest cheer of the day had nothing to do with cricket, instead greeting a successful marriage proposal in the boundary-side swimming pool.
For a while in the afternoon, it looked as though the brilliance of England's bowlers would take advantage of Australia's brittle batting.
With Root directing fielders according to careful plans and the attack showing the discipline and skill to execute them, the top order was dismantled.
Debutant opener Cameron Bancroft poked at a wide one to be caught behind off Stuart Broad, while off-spinner Moeen, on after only eight overs, pinned Usman Khawaja in front.
Jake Ball claimed the crucial wicket of David Warner, the vice-captain tamely chipping to short mid-wicket, and James Anderson successfully reviewed a not-out decision to have Peter Handscomb lbw.
Smith, the top-ranked batsman in the world, stood firm throughout and gave no chances as he shuffled across his stumps to score almost exclusively on the leg side.
He found an ally in Marsh, who was controversially recalled to the side but grew in stature as the final session wore on.
Marsh twice edged through the slips, once off Moeen and once off Root's part-time off-spin. In the end, it was England who were happier to see the close.
The tourists and Ashes holders will come back fresher on Saturday, looking to break the fifth-wicket partnership in order to attack the lower order.
While Malan and Moeen were extending their fifth-wicket stand - worth 33 overnight - to 83, it looked like England would reap full rewards for their day-one patience.
Malan, the third Ashes debutant in England's top five to pass 50, played drives and hooks and Moeen swept Lyon as Australia's bowling seemed there for the taking.
But when Malan was sloppily suckered into hooking Starc straight to deep square-leg, it began a collapse reminiscent of England's defeat four years ago.
Australia's pace bowlers were energised into a barrage of short-pitched deliveries and Jonny Bairstow, Ball and Broad also fell to the short ball.
At the other end, Lyon trapped Moeen lbw and bowled a driving Chris Woakes to pick up the wickets his performance deserved.
It took Broad's swiping 20 to get England past 300, but from their earlier position they will surely feel like they should have scored more.
'It's fascinating' - what they said
England seamer James Anderson on BBC Test Match Special: "Every batsman that has come in has said they don't know what a good score is.
"If we come out and get two early wickets tomorrow, then 300 is a pretty good score."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan on TMS: "I found today really, really exciting to watch.
"The game is in the balance. It's been fascinating. When I team scores 302, those kind of scores tend to bring out really good Test matches.
Australia spinner Nathan Lyon: "There were a lot of nerves around for our first innings - there are in every Test.
"We need to bat as long as we can, get to their score and hopefully past it. The bowlers need to fight hard with the stick."
• None This is the third time England have reached 300 batting first at the Gabba; they won on both previous occasions, in 1936-37 and 1986-87
• None England have only lost once at the Gabba when scoring at least 300 in their first innings, when they made 325 in 2002-03
• None All three of Jake Ball's Test wickets have been top-three batsmen: Azhar Ali, Cheteshwar Pujara and David Warner
• None Australia have only won one Ashes Test at the Gabba when conceding a first-innings lead batting second (1990-91)
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42106421
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Black Friday sales bonanza set to hit a record - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The number of payment card sales is already up on last year, but some retailers have shunned the event.
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Business
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The Black Friday sales bonanza was on course for a record with consumers set to spend almost £8bn during what has become a four-day shopping event.
Barclaycard said transaction numbers were 32% up on last year, with Black Friday most likely behind the rise.
Retail researchers said online sales would see the most growth on Friday.
Shoppers are expected to spend £1.15bn online - up 15% on the same day last year. On the High Street, sales were forecast to hit £1.45bn, up 4% on 2016.
Barclaycard said the value of all transactions were up 8% on last year by mid afternoon.
Using Barclaycard data, it is not possible to split off what is everyday spending and what is spurred by Black Friday.
However, average weekly spending online in the UK stands at about £1.2bn according to the Office of National Statistics, so sales on Friday alone will be close to matching those in a normal week.
John Lewis, Game, Tesco and Argos have extended their high street opening hours and many retailers have already offered days of deals in a bid to maximise hype and spending around the event.
But many retailers have opted out, including Marks and Spencer. London's Harrods department store has also ignored Black Friday, saying that frenzied sales events "cheapen the brand".
And clothing retailer Primark said in a blog: "Black Friday? *Yawn* As if we'd make you wait all year for a flash sale, just to wow you with our totes increds prices."
Black Friday - which now includes weekend shopping promotions and Cyber Monday - has surged in popularity in the UK in recent years, and has become popular in mainland Europe.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Not everywhere was as busy as predicted on Black Friday
According to predictions by VoucherCodes and the Centre for Retail Research, shoppers are expected to spend £7.8bn over the four-day period including Cyber Monday. That would be up 7% on the four days last year.
Barclaycard, which processes nearly half of all debit and credit card transactions in the UK, said between 1pm and 2pm it had processed a record 998 transactions in one second, compared with last year's peak of 791. Meanwhile, spending was up by 8% on the same period last year.
TopCashback's UK director Adam Bullock said "Black Friday is shaping up to be the biggest shopping day we have ever seen", with overall consumer spending increasing by 15% and £12,500 being spent per minute. The discount retailing site said it expects the figure to increase throughout the day.
However, there was a lack of early morning queues on Oxford Street Friday morning, although John Lewis had attracted a line of about 12 bargain hunters who stood outside the department store shortly before opening time.
Lawrence Konadu and Jeremy Opoku at Uniqlo on Black Friday
Lawrence Konadu, 20, and Jeremy Opoku, 22, were heading to Japanese retailer Uniqlo to buy KAWS' second collection of the iconic comic strip Peanut, which launched on Friday.
"We still would have come out, but the release of this brand gave us more of a push," Mr. Opoku said.
But other shoppers said they didn't even realise it was Black Friday. Mark Norden said: "I didn't know it was Black Friday. I had a meeting around the corner and thought I would return some boots."
People are staying up later and waking up earlier for Black Friday deals. Online traffic between midnight and 6am rose 40% year-on-year, and was up 300% over a typical day, according to Katie Ward of Vouchercloud.
"We've increasingly discovered the trend of staying up later and waking up earlier for Black Friday deals is true and strong," Ms. Ward said.
The largest peak in spending was between 6am and 7am, with traffic rising more than 400%. Some 85% more shoppers checked deals before midnight.
Sales via smartphones may replace desktops on Black Friday this year, according to researcher PCA Predict, with more than 40% of transactions expected to be made on phones and tablets.
Dozens of retailers are offering a raft of deals online including Amazon, Currys PC World, Argos, Gap, Top Shop, Miss Selfridge and others.
Although online transactions have increased, basket sizes are lower so far, according to Global Savings Group.
The average basket size of online spenders is £107.35 compared with a normal day's spend of £151.42. About 60% of online discount hunters are female, the group said.
Black Friday originated in the US, where it takes place the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally kick-starting the Christmas shopping period.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42107738
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Oxford Circus Tube incident: As it happened - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Latest updates after police say they are responding to reports of an incident at the station.
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UK
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British Transport Police say officers were called to Oxford Circus Tube station following reports of gun fire on the westbound Central Line platform.
"Passengers at the station then self-evacuated the station onto Oxford Circus and Regent Street area of London," a statement said.
"This caused a significant level of panic which resulted in numerous calls from members of the public reporting gunfire. "Officers responded in line with our procedures of a terrorist incident, this included armed officers from British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police.
"A full and methodical search of the station and Oxford Street was conducted by officers.
"At this stage, we are examining the circumstances of the incident which resulted in the station being evacuated. "During the station evacuation, one woman is believed to have sustained a minor injury."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-42117403
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Business Live: Sterling above $1.33 - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The pound makes gains against the dollar - but loses ground against the euro; FTSE 100 ends lower.
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Business
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Theresa May has been given 10 days to offer further concessions on issues including the Brexit divorce bill and the complex matter of the Irish border if she wants European Union leaders to agree to trade talks.
"We need to see progress from UK within 10 days on all issues, including on Ireland," European Council president Donald Tusk said after talks in Brussels.
The prime minister hopes a crunch summit in the Belgian capital next month will give the green light to move on to the next stage of the Brexit process, covering future trading arrangements and a possible implementation period to avoid a cliff-edge for businesses.
She insisted that there had been a "very positive atmosphere" in talks on Friday.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/business-42027277
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Aftermath of Egypt mosque attack - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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Footage shows the chaotic aftermath of an attack on a mosque in Egypt that left at least 235 dead.
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Footage shows the chaotic aftermath of a bomb and gun attack on a mosque in Egypt that left at least 235 dead.
Militants opened fire on worshippers at the al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed during Friday prayers.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42119288
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Tiger shot in Paris after roaming streets - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A circus tiger escaped and briefly roamed an area near the Eiffel Tower in the French capital.
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Europe
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It is not yet clear how the tiger escaped from the circus (archive pic)
A tiger broke out of a circus in central Paris and roamed streets just south of the Eiffel Tower before its circus handlers shot and killed it.
Police tweeted that the tiger had gone on the loose in the 15th district but "the danger has been eliminated".
Nobody was hurt by the 200kg (31-stone) tiger, according to local reports.
Tram traffic was suspended in the area. Residents called the emergency services when they spotted the animal on the run just before 18:00 (17:00 GMT).
"It was a very big tiger," a witness called Ralph told Le Parisien website. "We heard two or three shots and saw police going down towards the tracks."
The tiger was killed in an alley, a fire service spokesman said.
Its owner, who brought the animal down with a shotgun, has been taken into custody, AFP news agency reports citing a police source. Police have opened an investigation.
The Bormann Moreno circus recently set up in Paris and planned to start holding shows from 3 December.
The tiger was shot by its handler
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42117644
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Gove attacks 'distorting' social media after animal sentience row - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Michael Gove questions the role of "raw and authentic" Twitter voices in debates on animal welfare.
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UK Politics
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Michael Gove has hit out at the way social media "corrupts and distorts" political reporting and decision making following a row about animal welfare.
The environment secretary said attacks on MPs over a vote on EU laws on animal "sentience" were "absolutely wrong".
The Commons vote sparked protests and social media campaign backed by high-profile figures such as Ben Fogle.
The explorer has apologised for posting "misleading threads" but defended sharing details on "important stories".
Last week MPs voted not to incorporate part of an EU treaty recognising that animals could feel emotion and pain into the EU Withdrawal Bill.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Ben Fogle This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas had tabled the amendment to the EU bill, which would have transferred the EU protocol on animal sentience - the ability to experience feelings - into domestic law.
But ministers argued that the recognition of animals' sentience already existed in UK law and MPs rejected the amendment.
Mr Gove told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "On social media there was a suggestion that somehow the MPs had voted against the principle that animals are sentient beings, that did not happen, that is absolutely wrong."
"There is an unhappy tendency now for people to believe that the raw and authentic voice of what's shared on social media is more reliable than what is said in Hansard or on the BBC.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Michael Gove says the government has made a commitment to animal welfare
"More than that there is a particular concern somehow, a belief somehow that outside the European Union our democratic institutions can't do better than we did in the EU. We've got to challenge both those points."
He said Parliament was "an effective and vigorous institution which can ensure protection for human rights and animal rights".
Veterinary bodies want existing references to animal sentience in law made more explicit
"We've also got to stand up against the way in which social media corrupts and distorts both reporting and decision making... It's important that all of us do that and that some of us who shared some of these messages on social media have been generous enough to acknowledge ... that they may have unwittingly passed these messages on."
Among others who shared material posted by campaign groups which criticised MPs were the comedian Sue Perkins and Countdown host Rachel Riley.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 2 by Sue Perkins This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Mr Fogle said he accepted the government's arguments but insisted it was not only up to social media users to spread inaccurate reports, pointing out that a number of established newspapers published stories based on the same information.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 3 by Ben Fogle This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Mr Gove said there would not be a "gap" in animal welfare provisions as a result of the vote, once the UK left the EU, because the UK would "ensure we have stronger protection written into law". He argued that the EU legislation was "poorly designed" and said there was "no way in which animal protection can be diminished in any way, in any shape, or in any form".
But Ms Lucas said the government had been "backpedalling" since the vote: "What I was told in the chamber was that they had no need to take any account of my amendment because this principle of animal sentience was already recognised in UK law in the Animal Welfare Act of 2006.
"Now that is patently untrue, wrong and I am very glad in the last 24 hours Michael Gove and others have been rapidly backpedalling and admitting that that's not true."
And David Cameron's ex-director of communications suggested Mr Gove reflect on the impact of social media during the EU referendum - in which he was a passionate Leave campaigner.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 4 by Craig Oliver This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
British Veterinary Association senior vice president Gudrun Ravetz told the BBC that there was a "significant difference" between the Article 13 EU protocol, which put a duty on the state to pay full regard to animal welfare when formulating and implementing policies, and the UK legislation, the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, which put the duty on the owner.
The first was "explicit" about "animal sentience", the latter was only "implicit about sentience of animals and vertebrates".
"That is a very important principle, we have the duty of animal welfare for the owner and keeper under the Animal Welfare Act, and that will continue but what we want to see is that duty to the state," she added.
Mr Gove was a relatively late convert to social media, only joining Twitter in June 2016 after he was sacked as a minister by Theresa May.
But he has continued to tweet since rejoining the cabinet this summer.
Hansard is the name given to the daily verbatim transcripts of parliamentary debates in Westminster, which have been officially printed since 1909 and are available online too.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42108236
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Man in handcuffs jailed for crashing Leicestershire Police car - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Drink-driver Dominic O'Neill was handcuffed and placed in the back of the police car, but "managed to drive off".
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Leicester
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Dominic O'Neill crashed a police car while he was in custody wearing handcuffs
A drink-driver who tried to escape in a police car and crashed into cars while wearing handcuffs has been jailed.
Dominic O'Neill, 38, was detained and placed in the back, but "managed to get into the driver's seat and drive off" in Leicester, on 21 October.
O'Neill was sentenced to 16 months in prison for several motoring offences at Leicester Crown Court.
Leicestershire Police said its officers had "received advice" surrounding the circumstances of the crash.
Police said officers, who were on patrol on Abbey Park Road, identified a car which was driving on false plates.
O'Neill, of Lincoln Street in the city, was "driving the car and failed to stop" for the officers.
A short while later officers stopped the car on Parker Drive where O'Neill was detained and handcuffed.
Police said he was placed in the back of the car, but "managed to get into the driver's seat and drive off".
The offender crashed and damaged two vehicles which were stationary at traffic lights.
He abandoned the police car and ran off, but was arrested nearby.
O'Neill was charged and admitted aggravated vehicle taking/dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, using a vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance and driving a motor vehicle with alcohol levels above the limit.
As well as the jail-term, he also had to pay a victim surcharge of £140 and was disqualified from driving for four years and eight months.
In a statement, Leicestershire Police said: "Following the incident an internal investigation was carried out into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
"The matter was not referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.... necessary officers have received advice."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-42092500
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Five ways to revive Zimbabwe’s economy - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The measures needed to get the country's finances off life-support and into recovery mode.
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Africa
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Serious work on restoring Zimbabwe's finances need to begin once the celebrations over Robert Mugabe's departure have ended
Current events in Zimbabwe show that while a week may be a long time in politics, it is really a very short blink of an eye in economics. Zimbabweans on the streets of Harare and Bulawayo may be hopeful for political change, but they are much more sanguine and realistic when it comes to improving the country's economy.
Presidents can be impeached in days or weeks. It takes years to wreck economies and usually even longer to repair them.
So, will Emmerson Mnangagwa be able to take Zimbabwe's economy off life support and at least start to put it on the road to recovery? Analysts are very sceptical that a quick solution is even feasible. The euphoria that has gripped the nation has certainly raised hopes that the future will be brighter, but if that improved sentiment is to deliver economic dividends, the government needs to make some drastic reforms.
The first tool President Mnangagwa would need to even get a recovery kick-started is hard currency. Zimbabwe hasn't had a currency of its own since 2009, after hyperinflation killed off the old Zimbabwean dollar.
Zimbabwe 100 trillion and 500 thousand dollar banknotes, produced after the country experienced a period of hyperinflation
Zimbabwe has lost its status as the breadbasket of Africa
Since then, the US dollar has been the main currency for transactions, as well as the South African rand. And in recent years a cash shortage has been slowly strangling the economy, which is half the size it was at the turn of the millennium.
But who would stump up the cash? Western donors will remain wary of a Zanu-PF government which simply sees Robert Mugabe replaced by Mr Mnangagwa.
The International Monetary Fund, which describes Zimbabwe's economy as one of the most fragile in the world, may be more willing - but only with many strings attached to any deal.
China is possibly the most likely cash benefactor in the initial stages of a Mnangagwa administration. In some circles, Mr Mnangagwa is seen as Zimbabwe's Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese leader who instigated a degree of market liberalisation.
Assuming the cash is forthcoming, what then? Mr Mnangagwa would have to dump economic policies that are unpalatable to foreign investors.
Zimbabwe's agricultural production started to plunge after the government-sanctioned programme of farm seizures came into effect
Zimbabwe has a potential labour force that is one of the most skilled in Africa
In 2009, Mr Mugabe signed the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act (IEEA) into law, which aimed to place 51% of companies into the hands of Black Zimbabweans.
Even some Chinese companies have been forced to close their operations in Zimbabwe in recent years, because the IEEA made it unprofitable to do business in the country.
Once considered the breadbasket of Africa, Zimbabwe saw its agricultural production start to plunge at the turn of the century after the government-sanctioned programme of farm seizures.
Some sources claim that Mr Mnangagwa is keen to revitalise Zimbabwe's commercial farms, and may seek the help of white farmers to do it.
Corruption has been a major restraint on economic growth in Zimbabwe for years. Much of the farmland that was seized from white farmers ended up in the hands of army generals and the political elite, who knew next to nothing about agriculture.
The farms simply fell into disarray. Likewise, businesses that ended up with people with more political connections than entrepreneurial flair more often than not went to the wall.
Three million Zimbabweans are estimated to live outside the country, having fled the dire economic conditions that emerged over the past two decades
Not that corruption is confined to Zimbabwe in the African context, but it is one of those places that it seems to trickle down from the top. Just ask any South African who has driven their car across the border and been stopped at a police roadblock.
But Mr Mnangagwa has not escaped the corruption criticism. It is alleged that he was at the top of corruption tree when the army effectively took over the Marange diamond fields in the east of the country in 2008. At the time, he was the defence minister.
That whole affair raised the eyebrows even of Mr Mugabe, who said last year that he felt at least $13bn of revenue had gone missing from the diamond bonanza.
For nearly 20 years, Zimbabwe has been in default on $9bn worth of international debt. That debt needs restructuring, probably with the assistance of the IMF and the World Bank.
Perhaps a government that did not only include Zanu-PF could even get the debt (or some of it) wiped out. Mr Mnangagwa is thought to be open to a new deal with the IMF, but getting new financing and renegotiating old deals would probably be easier for a unity government which included opposition politicians, especially former Finance Minister Tendai Biti.
Formal jobs in Zimbabwe are rare. Unemployment runs at more than 90%. Creating the conditions for investment and seeing that money flows in should have a dramatic short-term effect on unemployment.
Western governments will be wary of a Zanu-PF government which simply sees Robert Mugabe replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa (above)
Other conditions already exist: the country has an abundance of natural resources in both agriculture and mining, and a potential labour force that's one of the most skilled in Africa.
All it needs is the political will and the right economic conditions for Zimbabwe's unemployment statistics to become rather less stratospheric.
Meanwhile, three million Zimbabweans are estimated to live outside the country, having fled the dire economic conditions that emerged over the past two decades. They too have skills which would be useful in the rebuilding of the economy.
But they will have to feel they would be landing on solid and stable ground - both financially and politically. Otherwise, why go back?
In addition, it could be argued that a Zanu-PF dominated government would not want them back this side of an election. The vast majority of the returning diaspora would be unlikely to vote for Mr Mnangagwa and his party.
In the longer term, Zimbabwe needs to have its own currency.
Using the US dollar was necessary after the old Zim dollar became worth less than the paper it was printed on and met its demise.
Banks in Zimbabwe have been feeling the strain in recent months
But there is so much more to creating a viable currency than switching on a printing press. Confidence is key.
Last year, the Reserve Bank introduced "bond notes" which were meant to alleviate the chronic shortage of US dollars in the system.
However, many thought this was an attempt to re-introduce the Zim dollar via the back door.
In fact, the notes have done nothing to address the cash shortage and some analysts say they might have actually made the situation worse, by pushing up the demand for US dollars even further.
Few people like using the bond notes, even though the amount in circulation is relatively low and the denominations are small.
Putting money into a bank was no longer considered the soundest of options, because the cash could only be withdrawn in small amounts and there was always the fear that the Reserve Bank would come for your hard-earned dollars.
So, the stock market soared, ironically becoming one of the best performing bourses in the world. Indeed, the rise in the stock market has only been curtailed by the army intervention and the resignation of Mr Mugabe.
President Mugabe was accused of preparing the presidency for his wife Grace
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42079584
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Inside Saudi Arabia's gilded prison at Riyadh Ritz-Carlton - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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The BBC's Lyse Doucet is the first journalist to visit the hotel where dozens of prominent Saudis are being held.
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Dozens of prominent Saudi figures are being held in the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh. Many names are still secret, but the list is said to comprise at least 11 princes. It is part of an anti-corruption drive by the young Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
The BBC's Lyse Doucet was the first journalist to be allowed inside the hotel. She was given access by Saudi authorities.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42098201
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Salary calculator: Check if pay is rising for your job - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Try our calculator to see how wages for your job are performing, compared with inflation.
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Business
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If you feel a little poorer now than you did a few years ago, you may not be alone as full-time workers earn a little less in real terms than they did a year ago, despite low unemployment levels.
To find out what the average wage is for your job and to see if it has increased since 2011 use the calculator below.
You can search by typing, or explore our list of 332 different roles, as classified by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Please enable JavaScript to view the salary calculator. I am a… Enter text to look for your job The BBC will not record your salary information. Please enter an amount between 1 and 100000
If you cannot see the calculator, click here.
All data used on this page is compiled and made available by the ONS's Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) - the most recent release was 26 October, 2017. The survey doesn't include self-employed workers or bonuses. We have chosen to use data for full-time workers only.
The BBC has examined figures from 2011 to 2017, inclusive. We excluded jobs entirely if there was no figure for 2017. Other sections may be hidden for certain jobs due to missing data.
The only sheets we used are those referring to "Gross annual pay" and "Hourly pay- excluding overtime". We used hourly pay to work out the gender pay gap and annual pay for all other figures. We selected the median figure rather than the mean, as per ONS advice.
We used the CPI measure of inflation to make real-term adjustments, comparing the indices for April 2017 with April 2011 and April 2016. The survey is completed in April at the end of each financial year.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42094604
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Who are Egypt's militant groups? - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A series of deadly attacks has drawn media attention to Islamist groups in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
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Middle East
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IS' Sinai Province, the most prominent jihadist group, posted video showcasing their weapons
More than 200 people have died in an unprecedented attack targeting a Sunni mosque in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula during Friday prayers, highlighting the alarming threat posed by jihadist militants in the region.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest of its kind in the country.
So-called Islamic State (IS) is the most prominent and violent of the militant groups in Sinai, with a record of targeting civilians in that area and in mainland Egypt.
Other groups active in the country are mostly aligned with IS's arch jihadist rival, al-Qaeda.
IS's Sinai affiliate, Sinai Province, has claimed responsibility for many deadly attacks, mostly targeting the army in Sinai. It also claimed the downing of a Russian airliner in October 2015.
Formerly known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, the group first appeared in September 2011 and rebranded itself with an IS pledge of allegiance in November 2014.
The group generally targets Egyptian security forces in northern Sinai, but has also claimed an attack on a tourist site in southern Sinai in April.
In the first part of the year IS stepped up its rhetoric and attacks against Christians in Sinai and elsewhere in Egypt, claiming two deadly attacks on churches in Tanta and Alexandria on 9 April.
IS started to scale up its attacks in Sinai since September, as it started losing territory in Iraq and Syria.
On 24 November, IS boasted about attacks it had carried out earlier in the week targeting policemen in western Arish, the area of the attacked mosque.
In addition to its attacks on Christians, IS has adopted a threatening tone against Sufi Muslims, whom it considers to be heretics.
The head of IS's religious police in Sinai had previously said that Sufis who did not "repent" would be killed. IS has beheaded a number of Sufi men whom it accused of "sorcery".
Screen grab from the video posted by Jund al-Islam
The propaganda and rhetoric of this low-profile group suggests alignment with al-Qaeda.
Its rivalry with IS in Sinai surfaced in November when Jund al-Islam issued a threat to IS militants.
In an audio message released on 11 November, Jund al-Islam claimed responsibility for an October attack on IS militants in Sinai, and vowed to crush the rival group "for committing crimes against Muslims" in the peninsula.
A day later, Jund al-Islam issued another statement condemning the 9 November deadly attack on lorry drivers in northern Sinai, as well as blaming IS and the Egyptian government for the deaths.
In both its recent messages, Jund al-Islam stressed that it did not target "innocent Muslims".
Jund al-Islam's recent communiques follow a lengthy spell of media silence since 2015, and suggest the group is presenting itself as a challenger to IS in Sinai.
The group emerged in September 2013 with a claim of a double suicide attack on the Egyptian military intelligence HQ in the northern Sinai town of Rafah, which borders the Gaza Strip.
It stepped up its propaganda campaign in 2015, claiming rocket attacks on Israel and issuing a propaganda video that hinted at links with al-Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP).
Not to be confused with the former Sahara-based jihadist group al-Mourabitoun, this Egyptian faction announced itself in 2015.
However, since its formation, the group has not been observed to carry out any prominent attacks, and has mainly put out statements and threats.
Given its lack of visible activity, it remains unclear where exactly al-Mourabitoun operates in Egypt.
Its propaganda suggests an al-Qaeda orientation, and veteran jihadist media operatives have linked it to an al-Qaeda attempt to check the rise of IS in Egypt.
Its leader, Abu-Umar al-Muhajir, alias Hisham Ashmawi, is a former Egyptian army officer and a senior figure in Ansar Beit al-Maqdis before it pledged allegiance to IS.
In October 2015, Ashmawi called for the killing of Egyptian military officers, and for revenge in response to the deaths of Palestinians by Israel's security forces.
Ashmawi reiterated that message in March 2016, and urged Muslim clerics to play an active role in encouraging young people to embrace jihad.
This new group, not to be confused with the veteran Ansar al-Islam in Iraq, emerged in November, when it claimed responsibility for a high-profile attack in Egypt's Western Desert.
Ansar al-Islam described the attack, in which more than 50 security personnel died, as "the beginning of our jihad".
The group's attack claim and its founding statement of 3 November was widely circulated by high-profile online supporters of al-Qaeda, which suggested a nod of approval.
Its rhetoric and pledge to fight until the establishment of Islamic law suggest a jihadist orientation.
Ansar al-Islam's statement urged Egyptians to join the jihad, or support the group through words or funds.
Meaning "Soldiers of Egypt", this group appeared in January 2014, and carried out attacks in Cairo over the summer.
It has possible al-Qaeda associations, in that the Yemeni and African branches of that network posted eulogies on the death of its leader in April 2015.
It also coordinated attacks with Ansar Beit al-Maqdis before the latter joined IS.
But Ajnad Misr has repeatedly said that it tries to avoid civilian casualties in its attacks.
Many of the group's members are now thought to be in prison.
In October 2017, the Egyptian authorities sought death sentences for 13 individuals with suspected links to the group.
The individuals are accused of killing soldiers, police officers and civilians, with a verdict expected in December.
The Hasm Movement surfaced in the summer of 2016 and has focused on attacking government and security personnel in Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt.
The Egyptian authorities and media have linked Hasm to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is outlawed in Egypt.
The group's rhetoric is more Islamist and "pro-revolution" than jihadist.
On 1 October Hasm targeted the Myanmar embassy in Cairo with an explosive device to express its solidarity with Rohingya Muslims, it said.
Hasm released its first propaganda video in January in which it showcased its training camps and boasted about the range of attacks it had carried out on the Egyptian authorities.
Slick production and the group's claim of organisation and structure in the video were clearly meant to indicate that Hasm was not a shadowy group, but rather a sophisticated force to be reckoned with.
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34751349
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Beijing nursery 'needle abuse' of children shocks China - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Several children were allegedly given injections and fed drugs in a case that has sparked an outcry.
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China
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Authorities are investigating the RYB Education kindergarten in Beijing's Chaoyang district
A Beijing nursery is accused of giving injections and feeding drugs to toddlers, in a case that has sparked outrage in China.
Authorities are now investigating the nursery, which is a branch of the well-known RYB Education chain.
The company says it "deeply apologises" for the matter that has caused "severe disquiet".
Beijing officials are also conducting a security check in all nurseries in the Chinese capital.
The incident comes weeks after a Shanghai childcare centre was alleged to have abused several toddlers.
At least eight children attending the RYB Education pre-school in the upscale Chaoyang district are said to have been injected with unknown substances.
Parents told local media they had discovered needle marks on their children's bodies in recent days, and also circulated photographs online.
State broadcaster CCTV aired a report showing a picture of needle marks taken by a parent
They also said their children were fed pills or syrup before their naptime. One father told state broadcaster CCTV that his child had said that every day after lunch they would be given two white pills, and "go to sleep" after eating the pills.
Local media report that some parents are also alleging possible sexual abuse, saying their children were stripped naked.
On Thursday, several parents gathered outside the kindergarten to protest. Some told Caixin Global that they suspected teachers had used needles to discipline children.
"Disobedient students were also forced to stand naked or were locked up in a dark room at the kindergarten," one parent told the news portal.
Police have seized CCTV footage at the nursery, and three teachers have also been suspended.
The Beijing Municipal Commission of Education said that a "comprehensive security check" was being conducted in all nurseries in Beijing.
One father told CCTV that his child was fed two white pills every day
RYB Education issued a statement on Thursday (in Chinese) saying it was co-operating with police and added: "We deeply apologise for this matter which has brought severe disquiet to parents and society!"
It also said: "If any wrongdoing is found, we will not shake off the responsibility. And we have also reported to the police some false accusations against us."
The company is one of China's most well-known early childhood education providers, and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in September.
The case has sparked an intense outcry and reignited anxieties over childcare standards in China, which has seen other cases of abuse at nurseries in recent years.
Last year four teachers at a RYB nursery in Jilin province were jailed for abuse, also involving giving injections to children. State news agency Xinhua reported at the time that one child was found to have more than 50 needle marks.
RYB Education, one of China's most well-known education providers, was listed on New York Stock Exchange in September
Mainstream media have extensively covered the latest Beijing case, which has drawn tens of thousands of comments on microblogging network Sina Weibo.
Most expressed outrage at the nursery and education authorities, and demanded fuller explanations as well as heavier punishments for the teachers. "Suspension? That's just too easy," said one commenter, while another said: "Don't let these beasts harm anyone else!"
Many also claimed that some online discussion was being scrubbed. A check on FreeWeibo, a website which tracks censorship on the network, found the top censored search was "Honghuanglan", RYB Education's Chinese name.
"The authorities are covering things up, and have an attitude where they do not directly answer questions. After this, no matter what kind of explanations they give, it will be hard to believe them. They are losing public trust step by step!" said one commenter.
A storm of social media attention came after a crowd of angry Beijing parents gathered outside the kindergarten.
There are reports that police have already confirmed that the marks on the children are consistent with needle punctures.
Realising the explosive potential for this issue to spread, the Beijing education authorities have been quick to announce a full safety check of all kindergartens under its control.
Shock over the allegations follows an investigation last month into bruised children at a kindergarten in Wuhan, Hubei province and another scandal in Shanghai, also in November this year, after a video was released appearing to show kindergarten children being assaulted and injured by teachers.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-42105443
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Uma Thurman vents anger at Weinstein - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The actress wishes a happy Thanksgiving to all "except you Harvey and all your wicked conspirators".
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Entertainment & Arts
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Thurman has appeared in a number of films produced by Weinstein
US actress Uma Thurman has sent out a Thanksgiving message venting anger at movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual harassment and assault by dozens of women.
She did not detail any personal issues but added: "When I'm ready, I'll say what I have to say... stay tuned."
Her message wished a happy Thanksgiving to everyone "except you Harvey and all your wicked conspirators".
"I'm glad it's going slowly - you don't deserve a bullet," she added.
Writing on Instagram, Thurman said she had "a few reasons" to be angry.
She added: "#metoo in case you couldn't tell by the look on my face."
The hashtag has been used by women to share stories of sexual harassment and assault.
"I feel it's important to take your time, be fair, be exact," she said. "Stay tuned."
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In an earlier interview, Thurman said it was commendable that women were speaking out about harassment and assault.
"I have learned, I am not a child and I have learned that... when I've spoken in anger, I usually regret the way I express myself," she said.
"So I've been waiting to feel less angry. And when I'm ready, I'll say what I have to say."
Thurman has appeared in a number of films that were produced by Weinstein, including Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill.
Dozens of actresses, including Rose McGowan, Asia Argento, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cara Delevingne have accused Mr Weinstein of harassment or assault.
Meanwhile, representatives from Canada's film and TV industry have announced plans to establish a code of conduct "clearly defining expectations of appropriate and inappropriate behaviour".
Sixteen unions, guilds and associations have put their name to a commitment "to end sexual harassment... discrimination, bullying and violence."
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
• None How the Harvey Weinstein scandal has unfolded
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42106916
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Doctor Who: Tom Baker returns on camera for 1979 Shada serial - BBC News
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2017-11-24
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The actor makes a surprise return to complete an unfinished story 38 years after it was abandoned.
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Cambridgeshire
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Tom Baker returns on camera as the Doctor in Shada
Tom Baker has made a surprise appearance on camera as Doctor Who, donning his trademark stripy scarf in a newly-released episode.
The 83-year-old actor has returned to complete the unfinished story Shada, filmed in Cambridge, 38 years after it was abandoned.
The parts not filmed in 1979 will be completed with animation and Baker's voice, but he has also filmed a scene.
Baker, the fourth Doctor, played the Time Lord between 1974 and 1981.
He is seen by fans of the show as one of the best actors in the role.
The story finds the Doctor in Cambridge working alongside Romana and a retired Time Lord
Filming for Shada, which was written by Douglas Adams at the same time as he was creating The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, was started in 1979.
But strike action at the BBC meant studio scenes were never completed and the episodes were abandoned.
It has now been released by BBC Worldwide, with the original footage combined with new colour animations and voiceovers to complete the story.
In the new scene, Baker was filmed on the set of the original Tardis as it appeared in 1979.
Missing scenes of the Shada adventures have been animated
Speaking about returning to the role, Baker said the Doctor "probably never left me".
"That's why I can't stay away from it, it was a lovely time of my life," he added.
"I loved doing Doctor Who, it was life to me. I used to dread the end of rehearsal because then real life would impinge on me. Doctor Who... when I was in full flight, then I was happy."
Of his time filming Shada in Cambridge in 1979, Baker said: "Mostly I remember being mocked by the students on the [River] Cam because I wasn't very good at punting, I kept losing the pole."
The newly-recorded lines from Baker as the Doctor and Lalla Ward as his companion Romana follow the original script by Douglas Adams.
The story finds the Doctor in Cambridge working alongside Romana and a retired Time Lord, Professor Chronotis, to defeat the evil alien Skagra who is attempting to steal the secrets to the prison planet Shada.
Jem Roberts, author of The Frood: The Authorised and Very Official History of Douglas Adams, said Adams later used the character Chronotis and parts of the plot in his novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
"Adams was probably glad that Shada was not finished, so he could use it for the backbone of his novel. He was a great believer in recycling," he said.
Baker has returned to the role of the Doctor in audio plays and appeared as the Curator in the 2013 50th anniversary special The Day of the Doctor.
He last appeared on screen as the Doctor in a 1993 Children in Need special.
Shada is available to buy now as a digital download and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on 4 December.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-42080978
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Leo Varadkar hopes talks can avert Irish general election - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Leo Varadkar says he does not want an election but will continue to back his under pressure deputy PM.
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Europe
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Leo Varadkar said that if an election happened "it would be better to have it done before Christmas"
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said he hopes talks can resolve a crisis that threatens to collapse the Irish government.
The crisis was sparked when the main opposition party, Fianna Fáil, tabled a motion of no confidence in the deputy prime minister.
The motion against Frances Fitzgerald comes over her handling of a police whistleblower controversy.
Mr Varadkar said he did not want a general election.
However, the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) added that he will continue to back Ms Fitzgerald and that if an election was to happen "it would be better to have it done before Christmas".
The no confidence motion threatens the confidence-and-supply arrangement in which the Fine Gael-led minority government is supported by Fianna Fáil.
Fianna Fáil agreed after the 2016 general election not to vote against the minority government in confidence motions and to support it for three budgets, two of which are now past.
The two parties are now at loggerheads over the position of Ms Fitzgerald.
Fine Gael passed a motion to support her at an emergency party meeting on Thursday night.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the situation would be resolved if Ms Fitzgerald resigned
Fianna Fáil front bench members lodged the no confidence motion for debate next Tuesday.
Mr Varadkar said that talks between himself and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on Friday had "cleared the air somewhat".
He said that Fianna Fáil motion was still going ahead but that there is still "an opportunity over the next couple of days to resolve it".
"I don't believe that the decapitation of the tánaiste (deputy prime minister), based on trumped-up charges, is fair," he told Irish national broadcaster RTÉ.
"So let's all calm down a bit, let's pause for reflection, let's perhaps withdraw these motions and allow the Charleton Tribunal, starting on 8 January, to do the work that we set it up to do."
Frances Fitzgerald was Irish minister for justice during a police whistleblower controversy
Earlier on Friday, Mr Martin said that his party did not want an election but that the issue could be resolved if Ms Fitzgerald resigned.
Ms Fitzgerald has faced questions in the Dáil (Irish parliament) about what she knew about what lawyers were going to put to a whistleblower at a commission of enquiry.
In particular, she has been questioned over her account of an email she received about the legal strategy of the former Garda (police) commissioner in the case of Sgt Maurice McCabe.
Ms Fitzgerald has recently admitted that she was made aware a year earlier than she had previously stated, that lawyers for the Garda were going to attempt to discredit Sgt McCabe.
The email was initially sent to Ms Fitzgerald in May 2015, but she told the Dáil earlier this week that she could not remember reading it.
Sinn Féin, the country's third largest party, had tabled their own no confidence motion against Ms Fitzgerald on Thursday.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42117072
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Claw hammer attack victim, 96, facing 'long' recovery - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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D-Day veteran Jim Booth suffered a "cowardly" attack, but is "a little stronger each day", his family say.
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Somerset
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Jim Booth is growing "a little stronger each day", his family say
A great-grandfather who was attacked with a claw hammer in a suspected distraction burglary is facing a "long process of recovery", his family says.
D-Day veteran Jim Booth, 96, was left with "serious injuries" after he was attacked by a cold caller asking if he needed any work done to his house, in Taunton, Somerset.
In a statement, his family said they shared well-wishers' feelings of "shock, incomprehension and outrage".
He is being held by Avon and Somerset Police on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated burglary.
Mr Booth was attacked on Wednesday after he told a cold caller, who had knocked on his front door, that he did not require any work on his house.
In a statement, his children said: "Countless friends, neighbours, members of the community and even strangers, have expressed their shock, incomprehension and outrage.
"We acknowledge and share those feelings."
However, they said Mr Booth was "not easily defeated and he grows a little stronger each day".
"Our father is an exceptional person of whom we are all immensely proud.
"He is the head of the family, a dearly loved father to his four children and adored by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to whom he's simply known as 'The Legend.'
"He is, and always has been, our own family hero."
They said Mr Booth had been the victim of a "vicious and cowardly attack" and paid tribute to police officers who have worked "tirelessly" on the case.
"We are all now focused on the long process of recovery, which will be helped by the love and support of all those around him," they added.
Mr Booth was part of a top-secret team of submariners who slipped into the waters off Normandy to scout the beaches, during World War Two.
Avon and Somerset Police said officers were treating the attack as part of a distraction burglary.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-42126107
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Former TV presenter John Leslie charged with sexual assault - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The ex-Blue Peter presenter is alleged to have put his hand up a woman's skirt at an Edinburgh club.
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Edinburgh, Fife & East Scotland
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Former television presenter John Leslie has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman in an Edinburgh nightclub.
The 52-year-old former Wheel of Fortune and Blue Peter star is alleged to have put his hand up the woman's skirt.
The 26-year-old woman was on a hen night when the alleged incident took place at Atik in the city's Tollcross area.
It is said to have occurred at an event to mark the club's re-opening in June.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police in Edinburgh have charged a 52-year-old man following a report that a 26-year-old woman was the victim of a sexual assault at a nightclub in the Tollcross area on Sunday 25 June."
A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: "The Procurator Fiscal has received a report concerning a 52-year-old male, in connection with an alleged incident in Edinburgh on 25 June 2017.
"The report is currently under consideration by the Procurator Fiscal."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-42123304
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Oxford Circus Tube station: Pair sought over platform altercation - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Sixteen people are hurt amid panicked scenes at Oxford Circus, as police probe a fight on a platform.
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UK
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Armed police have been stood down and two central London Underground stations have reopened following reports of gunshots being fired at Oxford Circus.
Police want to speak to two men after an altercation "erupted" on a platform at the station, but say there is no evidence any weapons had been fired.
Officers also want to speak to anyone who was at the station about the cause of the mass panic and evacuation.
Sixteen people were treated after they were injured fleeing the station.
Oxford Circus was closed and armed police were deployed following reports that gunshots had been heard inside the station.
Police initially treated the incident as potentially terrorism-related, while nearby Bond Street station was closed amid fears of overcrowding.
The British Transport Police (BTP) said officers believe there was an altercation between two men on the platform before the scare.
They have released CCTV images of two men they want to speak to.
Police want to speak to two men after an altercation "erupted" on a platform
The Met said it began receiving "numerous" 999 calls reporting gunshots in Oxford Street and at Oxford Circus station at 16:38 GMT.
Oxford Circus - where Oxford Street and Regent Street meet - was cordoned off, while shops and businesses were placed in lockdown.
In a statement, the Met Police said: "Officers working with colleagues from British Transport Police carried out an urgent search of the area.
"No causalities, evidence of any shots fired or any suspects were located by police."
However, the force said there had been "significant" panic at station.
Sixteen people were injured as passengers fled from Oxford Circus station, in what witnesses said was "a stampede".
One patient was transferred to a major trauma centre for leg injuries, while eight people were taken to central London hospitals for minor injuries.
A further seven patients were treated at the scene, the London Ambulance Service added.
Scotland Yard said the operation had been stood down at 18:05 GMT.
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British Transport Police said it received reports of gunfire on the westbound Central Line platform at Oxford Circus.
"This caused a significant level of panic which resulted in numerous calls from members of the public reporting gunfire," the force said.
"A full and methodical search of the station and Oxford Street was conducted by our specially trained firearms officers.
"During the search officers did not find any evidence of gunfire at the station," it added.
Armed police were deployed to the area, in central London
Eyewitnesses said it was "a very panicked scene"
Police said additional officers would remain on duty in the West End to reassure the public.
In a statement, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised the city's emergency services for a "swift response".
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have attended the Royal Variety Performance, at the nearby London Palladium theatre.
However, their scheduled arrival was delayed by an hour, as a result of the incident.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said the royal couple were in time for the start of the show, but the traditional pre-show meeting with some of the performers had to be dropped.
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The scare happened on Black Friday, at a time when Oxford Street and the surrounding areas were filled with shoppers.
BBC reporter Helen Bushby said she had seen a "mass stampede" of people running away from the station in the panic.
"They were crying, they were screaming, they were dropping their shopping bags. It was a very panicked scene," she added.
"People said they heard a gunshot and panic was just spreading."
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She spoke to a group of young women at Topshop, in Oxford Street, who said people had dropped their shopping and ran as quickly as they could.
Greg Owen, 37, from London, said he was at Oxford Circus station when people began running away.
"I was next to the Tube station and everyone started screaming and shouting and then a flood of people came up the stairs," he added.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42117311
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William and Kate arrive for Royal Variety - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had been delayed by a security alert at nearby Oxford Circus Tube.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had been delayed for about an hour because of a security alert at nearby Oxford Circus Tube station.
The traditional pre-show line-up, in which the royals meet performers, had to be cancelled.
Catherine, who is four months pregnant, wore a Jenny Packham dress.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42115805
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Brexit: May says positive vibe but EU warns of 'huge challenge' - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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But the EU says it will still be a "huge challenge" to move onto the next phase of talks next month.
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UK Politics
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Theresa May met German's Angela Merkel and other EU leaders
Issues still need to be resolved but progress is being made in Brexit negotiations, Theresa May has insisted.
The prime minister said there had been a "very positive atmosphere" in talks with several EU leaders in Brussels.
The UK, she said, would honour its financial commitments and shared the same desire as Ireland to stop barriers to trade or movement across the border.
EU Council President Donald Tusk said talks could move to the next phase in December but it was a "huge challenge".
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At a security summit in Brussels, Mrs May had lunch with Angela Merkel and also met Mr Tusk, who told her last week that she has until the start of December to make an enhanced offer on money and provide guarantees on the Irish border after Brexit.
Ministers have given her their backing to increase the UK's "divorce bill" but only if the EU shows movement on trade.
The government has refused to comment on reports it had agreed to pay about £40bn to pave the way for EU leaders to approve the next phase of talks on future relations at a summit on 14 December.
Speaking in Brussels, Mrs May did not answer specific questions about money and said there were "still issues across the various matters that we're negotiating on to be resolved".
But she added: "There's been a very positive atmosphere in the talks and a genuine feeling that we want to move forward together."
Last week, Mr Tusk said the EU was "ready" to move on to the next phase of talks - focused on a trade and security partnership after the UK leaves in March 2019 - but the UK must first show more progress on outstanding "separation" issues.
The BBC's Europe reporter Adam Fleming said that after holding talks with Mrs May, Danish PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen had told journalists in the Belgian capital that there had been "movement" on the issue of money.
"It seems to me that there is progress and so I have decided to be optimistic about this," Mr Rasmussen - one of the UK's closest allies - said.
The PM also said the UK was in continuing discussions with the Irish government about the solutions for avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
No 10 earlier had to clarify its position after a spokesman appeared to suggest the possibility of Northern Ireland staying in the customs union may be up for negotiation.
Asked about the issue at a lobby briefing, the spokesman said the UK must "continue to negotiate to find an innovative way forward".
But Downing Street later insisted that the UK's stated policy - that the whole of the UK is leaving the single market and customs union - remained in force.
The UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, and served the EU with formal notice of Brexit in March 2017. This began a two-year countdown to the UK's departure day which will be in March 2019.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42104024
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Oxford Circus: Two men quizzed after Tube panic - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The men, aged 21 and 40, attended a police station voluntarily after a media appeal.
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UK
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Two men have been interviewed by detectives after an altercation at a central London Tube station created mass panic on Friday, police have said.
The men, aged 21 and 40, attended a police station voluntarily following an appeal, and the inquiry is continuing.
Sixteen people were treated after they were injured fleeing Oxford Circus station, following reports of gunshots being fired on a Central Line platform.
There was no evidence any weapons had been fired, police said.
Officers want to speak to anyone who was at Oxford Circus underground station at the time of the evacuation.
Shoppers were barricaded inside stores on Oxford Street and armed police were deployed after the alarm was raised during the evening rush hour.
Police initially treated the incident as potentially terrorism-related, before standing down.
The British Transport Police said it believed there had been an altercation between two men on the platform before the scare.
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The Metropolitan Police said it began receiving "numerous" 999 calls reporting gunshots in Oxford Street and at Oxford Circus station at 16:38 GMT on Friday.
The first armed response vehicle was on the scene in less than a minute from receiving the first call, the force said.
Oxford Circus - where Oxford Street and Regent Street meet - was cordoned off, while shops and businesses were placed in lockdown.
In a statement, the Met Police said: "No casualties, evidence of any shots fired or any suspects were located by police."
But 16 people were injured as passengers fled from Oxford Circus station, in what witnesses said was "a stampede".
One patient was transferred to a major trauma centre for leg injuries, while eight people were taken to central London hospitals for minor injuries.
By 18:05 GMT, the police operation had been stood down.
In a statement, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised the city's emergency services for a "swift response".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42123644
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Liverpool police officer hit by van in Norris Green - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The officer suffered serious injuries when a Transit van was driven at him in Liverpool.
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Liverpool
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Officers tried to stop a white van on Hasfield Road in Norris Green
A police officer was seriously injured when he was hit by a van driven at him in Liverpool.
Police were trying to stop a white Transit van in Norris Green when it was driven onto the pavement and then at the officer at 19:25 GMT on Saturday.
The officer was taken to hospital following the "despicable attack" where he is being treated for injuries to his ribs and leg, Merseyside Police said.
A man, from Everton, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The 34-year-old, who is also being held on possession of cannabis and driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, remains in custody.
The van hit a police car and other parked vehicles on Hasfield Road before it was driven at the officer, detectives said.
The policeman's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening
Det Ch Insp Martin Earl said: "This was a despicable attack on a police officer who was simply doing his job, trying to protect the communities of Merseyside.
"The officer has sustained serious injuries for which he is receiving treatment. He has also been left extremely shaken by his ordeal."
He added that colleagues have been left "shocked" by the incident and are being provided with support.
Peter Singleton, chair of the Merseyside branch of the Police Federation - which represents 120,000 officers across the UK - said it was "another sobering reminder of how dangerous policing can be".
"It's an incident that shows there are individuals out there who really just do not care, have no thoughts for other people - for the public or police officers - and their safety," he said.
He added it was an "unnerving reminder" of the death of Merseyside Police officer Dave Phillips, who was killed while trying to stop a stolen vehicle in 2015.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-42126356
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Birmingham bin strike: Council deal to end dispute accepted by union - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The agreement was reached two days before the dispute was due to go before the High Court.
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Birmingham & Black Country
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Bin workers in Birmingham who were involved in a three-month strike have agreed a deal with the city council.
Unite's Howard Beckett said it was a "victory for common sense" and meant the industrial action was over.
The row started in June when Unite claimed the council's bid to "modernise" the service and save £5m a year threatened more than 100 jobs.
The deal put forward by the council sees 106 staff remain on their current wages but in new recycling roles.
The strikes led to thousands of tonnes of rubbish left piled up on the city's streets.
Mr Beckett, Unite assistant general secretary, said it would no longer be taking the council to the High Court on Monday and a "court order was expected to legally cement the agreement".
A judge granted an interim injunction against the council in September and a trial was to determine if the council acted unlawfully.
The council has agreed to pay Unite's legal costs, Mr Beckett said.
"This deal secures the grade three role and protects the pay of workers who faced losing thousands of pounds," he said.
He added it was also a "victory" for residents "who no longer need worry about the disruption of industrial action".
Ian Ward, leader of the Labour-run council, said the deal had been achieved through "quiet, open and honest dialogue", adding neither the council or Unite wanted things to escalate the way they did.
"This has always been about providing an efficient and effective refuse collection service for Birmingham, as that is what citizens rightly expect and deserve from us," he said.
His predecessor, John Clancy resigned in September after criticism of his handling of the dispute.
Mr Ward said the disruption had been "completely unacceptable" for residents
The deal creates new waste reduction and collection officer roles who will be on bin lorries, focusing on recycling to help "engage and educate" residents.
Sending less waste to landfill and increasing recycling by 10% is expected to save £1.6m a year.
The authority also estimates £3m a year can be saved by changing workers' hours from a four-day to a five-day week - meaning less reliance on overtime and agency staff.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-42122915
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe speaks on phone during march - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe thanked supporters by phone at a march urging her release from jail in Iran.
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe spoke to her husband and supporters on the phone during a march in London on Saturday, and thanked them for their help as they campaign for her release.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42123651
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No overcrowding link to prison suicide, study suggests - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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Researchers looked at almost 4,000 prison suicides in 24 countries, including in England and Wales.
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UK
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There is no clear link between prison suicides and overcrowding behind bars, an international study has suggested.
The research, published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal, looked into almost 4,000 prison suicides in 24 countries, including England and Wales.
It found deaths between 2011-14 were highest in the countries with the lowest rates of imprisonment.
Prison suicides could be cut by sending fewer people with mental illnesses to prison and with better care, it added.
Researchers analysed 3,906 prison suicides across 20 European countries, as well as in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
It found rates of prison suicide varied considerably, ranging from 23 per 100,000 prisoners in the US, to 180 per 100,000 prisoners in Norway.
The research found no connection between suicides and prison overcrowding - except in low-income countries where extremely crowded cells might cause extra stress.
It found there were proportionately more self-inflicted deaths in prisons in Norway and Sweden, where custody was generally reserved for the most violent and dangerous offenders, including those with mental health problems.
Suicide rates in UK prisons were called a "national scandal" after a record number of people killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales in 2016.
The Prison Reform Trust has said reducing jail populations is the way to make prisons safe.
But this latest report said prison suicides "are likely to be the result of a complex interaction of different factors, and not merely due to the prison environment".
"Overall, our findings suggest that there are no simple ecological explanations for prison suicide," the report said.
"Rather, it is likely to be due to complex interactions between individual-level and ecological factors."
It concluded that suicide prevention initiatives should draw on "multidisciplinary approaches" which look at individual and system-level risk.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42118667
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Ice delays trains as cold snap continues - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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The UK is warned of further frosty weather after temperatures plunged below freezing overnight.
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UK
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There has already been snow across parts of Scotland
Icy conditions caused train delays of up to 90 minutes on Saturday, after temperatures dropped below freezing in parts of the country overnight.
Network Rail said some Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink lines were forced to run at reduced speeds.
South Western Railway also warned of delays due to ice, which came on top of planned weekend engineering works.
Temperatures fell to lows of -5.2C in Yorkshire, as forecasters said the wintry weather looked set to continue.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice across Northern Ireland, north-west and south-west England and much of Scotland between 20:00 on Saturday and 10:00 GMT on Sunday.
The yellow warning advises people to "be aware" that conditions will turn icy again tonight, with rain, sleet and hail showers continuing.
Following the frosty start to the day, BBC Weather forecasted a cold and bright day with wintry showers in the north and west of England.
The showers will fall as snow over the hills and to low levels in the north, and perhaps in some parts of the Midlands.
Dr Thomas Waite, from Public Health England, reminded people to take precautions.
"Those most at risk include older people, very young children and those with conditions like heart and lung disease," he said.
"Ask yourself if you could check on a neighbour to see if there's anything they need?"
Figures from the Office for National Statistics, showed an estimated 34,400 "excess deaths" occurred in England and Wales last winter.
Meanwhile, councils in England and Wales have stockpiled 1.5 million tonnes of salt for roads this winter.
Nine out of 10 councils in England and Wales either have the same amount of salt as last year or even more, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
More than half of councils are sharing salt stocks, while others share gritters and staff when required.
With temperatures falling, some local authorities have already deployed gritters on to roads.
There have already been heavy snowfalls in the Scottish Highlands this week, where icy conditions caused a number of road accidents.
Meanwhile in Lancashire, more than 70 people had to be rescued from floods.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42119571
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US to stop arming anti-IS Syrian Kurdish YPG militia - Turkey - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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The US confirms making "adjustments" to support for Syrian groups, but does not name the YPG militia.
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Middle East
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The YPG played a key role in removing IS from Raqqa and other strongholds
The US is to stop supplying arms to the Syrian Kurdish militia the YPG, Turkey has said.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said President Donald Trump had made the promise in a phone call to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The White House said it was making "adjustments" to its support for partners inside Syria but did not explicitly name the YPG.
Turkey has long complained about US support for the group.
Washington has viewed the YPG as a key player in the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS), but Ankara brands the group's fighters as terrorists.
Turkey says the YPG is as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a group it has been fighting for decades in south-eastern Turkey.
The US, however, has seen the YPG as distinct from the PKK. In May it announced it would supply arms to the Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which were poised to drive IS from its stronghold of Raqqa. It had previously armed only Arab elements of the SDF.
"President Trump instructed [his generals] in a very open way that the YPG will no longer be given weapons," Mr Cavusoglu was quoted as saying in the Turkish Hurriyet Daily News.
He said Mr Trump gave his assurances after President Erdogan reiterated his concern over the continued supply of weapons and armoured vehicles to the YPG.
If this is true, it would be a major shift in US policy. The Kurds have proved to be valuable partners in the fight against IS.
It is notable that Washington's account of the call does not mention taking away the arms that the Trump administration agreed to give the YPG earlier this year - something Ankara has called for. Turkey feared the weapons would end up in the hands of fighters intent on creating an independent Kurdish state.
The Pentagon is likely reassessing its needs in Syria as the fight against IS has waned in recent months. But whatever adjustments are being made, it is clear the US military has no plans to leave the war-torn country. It has been revealed that about 2,000 US troops are now based there - a significant increase since the Obama administration.
The White House confirmed the two leaders had spoken by phone and said Mr Trump "reaffirmed the strategic partnership" between the US and Turkey.
"Consistent with our previous policy, President Trump also informed President Erdogan of pending adjustments to the military support provided to our partners on the ground in Syria, now that the battle of Raqqa is complete," the statement said.
"We are progressing into a stabilisation phase to ensure that Isis [IS] cannot return. The leaders also discussed the purchase of military equipment from the United States."
Pro-Syrian government forces have also driven IS from land it once controlled
The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, has driven IS militants from much of the land it once controlled.
The YPG and its political arm, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), denies any direct links with the PKK, whose insurgency has left thousands dead.
But Mr Cavusoglu has previously said that every weapon obtained by the YPG constituted "a threat to Turkey".
The SDF declared victory in Raqqa last month after a four-month battle to retake the city from IS, which had ruled it for three years.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42118567
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Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa: Mugabe 'a father and mentor' - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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Zimbabwe's new president paid tribute to his predecessor and promised to rebuild the country.
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Zimbabwe's new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has addressed a packed stadium, vowing to serve all citizens.
He paid tribute to his predecessor Robert Mugabe - to muted applause - calling him "a father, mentor, comrade-in-arms and my leader".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42115798
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Egypt attack: Military releases air strike footage - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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The footage shows jets and helicopters taking off and strikes on "terrorist targets".
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The Egyptian ministry of defence released footage showing jets and helicopters taking off along with onboard footage of strikes on what it said were "terrorist targets".
It comes after the massacre of worshippers at a mosque in Sinai.
At least 305 people died in the assault, which was launched during Friday prayers and has not yet been claimed by any group.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42125759
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Rugby League World Cup: England beat Tonga 20-18 to set up final with Australia - BBC Sport
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2017-11-25
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England survive an amazing finish to reach a first World Cup final since 1995 as they see off Tonga in Auckland to set up a meeting with Australia.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby League
England reached a first World Cup final since 1995 as they survived a late Tonga fightback in Auckland to set up a meeting with holders Australia.
Wayne Bennett's side were leading 20-0 with seven minutes remaining after tries from Jermaine McGillvary, Gareth Widdop and John Bateman.
But Tevita Pangai Junior, Siliva Havili and Tuimoala Lolohea crashed over at a sold-out Mount Smart Stadium.
And Andrew Fifita had a try ruled out in the final seconds of the match.
Referee Matt Cecchin ruled that the prop had earlier lost the ball - and to the ire of the Tongans did not refer it to the video referee.
It was an absolutely pulsating, nerve-shredding end to a match played in front of a passionate crowd who heavily favoured Tonga.
England will face the Kangaroos, who thrashed Fiji 54-6 in the other semi-final, in the final in Brisbane next Saturday, 2 December - a match you can watch live on BBC One.
England's last appearance in the final came 22 years ago with Denis Betts, now among the coaching staff, captaining the side in a 16-8 defeat by Australia at Wembley.
Every tournament since has ended in a semi-final defeat, each one by New Zealand, but it looked with seven minutes to go as though England were cruising into next Saturday's showpiece.
At 20-0 down, Tonga had other ideas.
The Pacific Islanders came from 16-2 down to beat New Zealand in the group stage and, backed by a vocal Tongan support in Auckland, almost engineered a comeback of even greater proportions.
First, after 73 minutes, Junior edged his way over the England line to cross for a try that was eventually confirmed by the video referee - but it looked like nothing more than a well-deserved consolation.
But the nerves began to kick in for Bennett's side as Tonga kept the ball alive before Havili broke through several would-be tacklers to make the score 20-12.
Two minutes later and England's advantage was reduced to two points, Lolohea again breaching England's line to put Tonga within one score of their first World Cup final.
England were in disarray and the crowd were absolutely roaring on Tonga.
McGillvary, one of England's best performers at this World Cup, stole a key intercept to win the ball back with England just needing to see out the final 90 seconds, but the winger lost the ball in a tackle to give Tonga one last attack.
And when Fifita found a route through it looked like England's tournament was yet again going to end in semi-final heartbreak.
Elliott Whitehead's attempted tackle forced the prop to drop the ball but, with Tonga thinking Whitehead had ripped it in an attempted ball steal, Fifita re-gathered and touched down over the line.
Australian referee Cecchin deemed it as a loose carry from the Tonga prop, opting not to consult the video referee, and that was enough for England to hold on to reach a first final in 22 years.
For 70 minutes, England's scrambling defence had stood up to the Tongan threat while the forwards set the platform for Widdop to provide the spark from full-back.
England began their World Cup campaign with Widdop in the halves, but head coach Bennett used the St George Illawarra Dragons man the number one shirt in the final group game against France.
Widdop has kept that spot since and, while also allowing Kevin Brown to flourish at six, proved the inspiration against Tonga with a hand in all three of England's tries.
It was his superb break that set the field position for England to score their first, joining the line to send McGillvary in at the corner.
The full-back doubled England's advantage shortly after with a try of his own, gathering Whitehead's pass to roll over from close range for a score that was awarded by the video referee.
Widdop then edged England further ahead with a penalty after the break, before teeing up Bateman with a well-timed pass for the centre to crash in for England's third.
He played with a positional nous and cunning that England will need if they are to threaten an unbeaten Kangaroos team next weekend.
Papua New Guinea's matches in Port Moresby were all sold out but very few other matches have been at the World Cup and there were oceans of empty seats at Friday's other semi-final in Brisbane.
But England were met by a sea of red shirts and flags as the Tongan support poured into a sold-out Mount Smart Stadium which, at 30,003, witnessed its biggest crowd since home side Auckland Warriors joined the Australian Rugby League in 1995.
There is an estimated 80,000 people of Tongan descent in Auckland, leading the city to be dubbed 'Little Tonga' and it almost made the semi-final feel like a home game for the Pacific Islanders.
"I've played in some massive games and hostile atmospheres, but nothing like this before," said England prop James Graham.
Tonga's desire and belief they could get back into the semi-final was characterised by a rousing chorus of hymns from the red and white crowd, while they shared in the players' tears at the final whistle.
Tonga became the first Tier Two nation to beat a Tier One side for more than 20 years when they beat the Kiwis in the group stage, coming after the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Manu Vatuvei and Fifita turned down New Zealand and Australia to play for the countries from which their families descend.
England did well to stem the initial tide of enthusiasm, looking solid defensively and enjoying a 100% success rate in their opening 10 sets.
Bennett's side were let off when the Pacific Islanders shifted a flowing move to the left that winger Daniel Tupou fumbled with a clear run of the line in front of him.
But with Brown and Luke Gale in the halves, England's game management was more controlled and considered - until a frantic final few minutes - and it was for large parts their most convincing performance of the tournament against undoubtedly their toughest test so far.
"For very long periods we were on top of that game but a little ill disciplined when we needed to be better," said Tonga coach Kristian Woolf.
"For whatever reason the sorts of opportunities we have taken in past games we weren't able to take."
So Australia, for the 14th successive time, await in the final in Brisbane next Saturday.
The clinical Kangaroos brushed aside a Fiji side in the semi-finals that had shocked co-hosts New Zealand in the last eight.
Valentine Holmes crossed for a record six tries, his 12th of the competition, and has already surpassed Wendell Sailor's record of 10 scores with one match left to play.
But Australia, unbeaten under coach Mal Meninga, are a threat right across the park with a settled back line, powerful forward pack and an in-form halves partnership led by Cooper Cronk.
England will have to call on all that scrambling defence and ingenuity in attack if they are to shock the holders on their own turf.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/42120902
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Sinai Province: Egypt's most dangerous group - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Profile of Sinai Province, a militant group that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and has carried out a string of deadly attacks in Egypt's Sinai peninsula.
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Middle East
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Sinai, including here in El-Arish, has seen multiple Islamist attacks in recent years
The militant group Sinai Province is the most active insurgent group in Egypt. It has been linked to a number of deadly attacks, mostly in North Sinai, but also in the capital, Cairo, and other provinces.
The Islamist group, initially known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Supporters of Jerusalem), has been active in the Sinai Peninsula since 2011.
It changed its name after it pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in November 2014.
In 2015, Sinai Province staged a series of attacks against the army, whose scale and complexity indicated the possibility of closer coordination with the IS leadership in Syria.
Sinai Province is thought to be aiming to take control of the Sinai Peninsula in order to turn it into an Islamist province run by IS.
The number of active Sinai Province members is believed to be between 1,000 and 1,500.
It has expanded its operations outside Sinai by creating cells in some governorates, including Cairo and Giza.
These cells have claimed several attacks, including one on a security building in the northern province of Dakahliya in December 2013, which killed at least 15 people and injured over 100.
The group's operations have also reached the Western Desert, an area popular with tourists for its oases and rock formations, but which has also become a militant hideout due to its proximity to volatile Libya.
Sinai Province has been operating mainly in North Sinai, which has been under a state of emergency since October 2014 when 33 security personnel were killed in an attack claimed by the group.
The then Egyptian prime minister, Ibrahim Mehleb, described the army's confrontation with Sinai Province as a "state of war".
North Sinai is thinly populated and broadly underdeveloped, with some of the local population feeling marginalised from the government's investment programme on the mainland.
The sense of disconnect is seen as helping fuel a level of support for the militants there.
A buffer zone has been created along Egypt's border with Gaza
The border with Israel and the Gaza Strip has been a scene of tension over the past few years. The Egyptian authorities have created a buffer zone, demolishing houses and digging a trench to prevent smuggling between Egypt and Gaza - which they say is a source of weapons for the militants.
In September 2015, the Egyptian army launched a large-scale military campaign against militant groups in North Sinai.
The ongoing Operation The Martyr's Right targets sites mainly in Rafah, Arish and Sheikh Zuweid, all towns in northern areas of the peninsula.
As part of the offensive, the army pumped water from the Mediterranean Sea into the tunnels along the Gaza border.
Sinai Province started by attacking Israel with rockets, but after the removal of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013 it focused on Egypt's security services, killing dozens of soldiers.
It has been involved in suicide bombings, drive-by shootings, assassinations and beheadings.
In July 2015, the group said it had attacked an Egyptian naval vessel in the Mediterranean with a missile fired from the shore - a worrying development for shipping in the region.
After the launch of the military campaign in North Sinai in September 2015, the group changed its strategy again by carrying out frequent small-scale bombings and hit and run attacks rather than intermittent "spectaculars".
A survey conducted by London-based Al-Araby al-Jadid news website said the group had carried out more than 31 attacks in various areas across Sinai within just a two-week period in March 2016.
Sinai Province has developed a media production operation, and has published a host of propaganda videos online.
One entitled The Soldiers' Harvest and released in September 2015 featured several attacks the group said it carried out against security personnel. These included shooting policemen in the street, sniping at army soldiers, and targeting military vehicles with explosive devices.
Another video released in March 2016 allegedly showed training camps in a desert area where members of the group received combat training.
In other videos, the group has urged citizens to avoid cooperating with the authorities, especially by joining the army and police.
In some of its films, the group has softened its tone towards the Muslim Brotherhood, who it previously criticized for adopting "infidel democracy" and joining the political process.
In a video released just few days before the fifth anniversary of the 25 January 2011 revolution, Sinai Province called on what it described as "supporters of peacefulness" - a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood - to rise up against President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25882504
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Fighter pilots told 'keep windscreens clean' to avoid crashes - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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In the past five years, there have been 19 near misses involving UK aircraft and US fighter planes.
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Suffolk
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One case this year involved RAF Lakenheath-based F-15s which came within 50m (150ft) of an RAF Voyager
The US Air Force (USAF) has urged its UK-based pilots to keep cockpit windows clean to avoid mid-air collisions with civilian aircraft.
RAF Lakenheath-based USAF F-15 jets were involved in 19 near-misses with UK aircraft in the past five years.
An F-15 pilot from the Suffolk base was recently praised after spotting a glider by eyesight rather than radar and avoiding a collision.
The USAF said its pilots were trained to fly in a "vigilant state".
The near-miss in April happened when a pair of low-flying F-15s came close to a glider over the Black Mountains near Hereford.
The UK Airprox Board found the glider, which was not picked up on radar, was spotted by one of the pilots and the F-15s manoeuvred out of the way.
More than 1,000 near-misses have been reported to the UK Airprox Board in the past five years, of which about 360 have involved UK or US military aircraft.
One of the most serious happened in January when two F-15s from RAF Lakenheath came within 50m (150ft) of an RAF tanker plane.
The USAF said not only was there "increasing general aviation traffic" but smaller civilian aircraft were not equipped with transponders, meaning they may not be picked up on radar.
Nearly all of the US aircraft based at RAF Lakenheath operate on ultra high frequency (UHF) radio and cannot hear civilian aircraft, which use very high frequency (VHF), the USAF says.
The reference sheets given to pilots at RAF Lakenheath outline a number of measures aimed at avoiding mid-air collisions
As a result, the USAF has urged its pilots to use what it describes as "see and avoid" - essentially to keep a look out.
A reference sheet for USAF pilots at RAF Lakenheath, which is home to the US 48th Fighter Wing, urges them to keep their windscreens clean and to "consciously note how much time you spend looking outside the cockpit".
A USAF spokesman said: "Sometimes little things like keeping your screen clean can make the difference.
"Safety is always a priority for our pilots, who are trained to maintain a vigilant state of situational awareness at all times.
"The airspace above the United Kingdom remains busy and complex, but we are confident the risk of airprox (air proximity) events is minimized by our continuous training, consistent focus on flight safety and our direct communication with Royal Air Force and civilian air traffic control services."
• None US jets and RAF plane in 'near miss'
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-42063835
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Australia knocks UK Brexit trade plan - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The trade minister says splitting quotas of food imports could leave other countries out of pocket.
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UK Politics
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Australia has criticised the UK's post-Brexit trade plans to split quotas of food imports from around the world.
EU rules allow for a certain amount of goods to be brought in from countries outside of the Union without charging full tariffs.
After Brexit, the UK and EU want to split these quotas, based on where the goods are mostly consumed.
But Australian trade minister Steven Ciobo said it would impose unacceptable restrictions on their exports.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The point is that you have a choice about where you place your quota at the moment.
"Therefore, given that you could put it in the UK or you could put it into continental Europe, why would we accept a proposition that would see a decline in the quota available because of the Brexit decision?"
Dave Harrison, from Beef and Lamb New Zealand, agreed that its finances could be hit hard if they were not allowed to choose where to import more or less of their products.
He told Today: "We understand that Brexit causes a lot of difficulties for the European governments, but we don't think third countries should have to take a hit in terms of their negotiated legal rights as a result of that."
Shanker Singham, of The Legatum Institute, said the UK should talk to other countries about trade directly.
He added: "We should be going to them and saying we have the ability - once we take up our chair at the WTO [World Trade Organisation] - to do trade agreements with you that will include a certain amount of liberalisation, depending on what you are prepared to give us.
"But if you damage us on the way to reclaiming our seat on the WTO, we are not going to be able to do those deals with you."
The US, Brazil and Canada are also said to have their doubts about the new deal, believing it could hit them financially.
A spokesman for the UK's Department of International Trade told Today the government wanted to minimise disruption to trading relationships and would engage with other members of the World Trade Organisation in an "open, inclusive way".
Meanwhile, Tory MP Neil Parish, who chairs the environment, food and rural affairs committee in Parliament, raised concerns that if the UK's exports to the EU were hit post-Brexit and more imports were coming into the country from further afield, it could affect industries on our shores.
Shadow international secretary of trade, Barry Gardiner, also said the wider implications could see an impact on the British countryside.
"As you affect farming, so you affect the way our country looks," he said. "That means you also affect the tourist trade.
"These are huge decisions that are being taken and we must protect our farmers to make sure that our countryside looks the way we want it to. "
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42121442
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Sky Sports anchor Simon Thomas 'crushed' by wife's death - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas says his wife, Gemma, died three days after falling ill.
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UK
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Simon Thomas said his wife Gemma died 'surrounded by family and friends'
The wife of Sky Sports anchor and ex-Blue Peter presenter Simon Thomas has died, just three days after she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.
Thomas tweeted that he was "crushed with indescribable pain" following the death of his 40-year-old wife, Gemma.
He said she died "surrounded by her family and friends" and that their son Ethan, eight, was "in bits".
Thomas presented Blue Peter for six years and left for Sky Sports in 2005.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Simon Thomas This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
"Today I am crushed with indescribable pain," he said in the post.
"Just three days after falling ill with Acute Myloid Leukaemia, my dear wife Gemma passed away yesterday evening surrounded by her family and friends.
"If you are a prayer - pray for my boy Ethan. 8yrs, precious and in bits. Thank you."
A Sky Sports spokesman said: "We are shocked and devastated to hear Simon's news. All our thoughts are with him and his family during this terribly sad time."
Footballers, including England striker Jamie Vardy and England women's captain Steph Houghton, also tweeted their sympathy.
Norwich City Football Club - the team Thomas supports - said the thoughts of everybody at the club were with the presenter and his family.
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Mr Thomas has presented live Premier League coverage for Sky Sports and has worked as a Sky Sports News anchor.
About 3,100 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia - a type of blood cancer.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42124143
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Arlene Foster warns Sinn Féin time is short for NI deal - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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DUP leader says Sinn Féin must choose between making a deal with them or having direct rule ministers.
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Northern Ireland
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Arlene Foster said that all parties need to be "serious about obtaining a deal that is balanced"
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster has said Sinn Féin must choose between making a deal with them or having direct rule ministers in place.
Speaking at the party's annual conference, she said "time is short".
Mrs Foster also spoke of the DUP's influence in Westminster and the party's commitment to Brexit.
On the failure of talks between the DUP and Sinn Féin, Mrs Foster said that "some progress was made but that can only be built upon if all sides are genuinely serious about obtaining a deal that is balanced".
The DUP-Sinn Féin power-sharing government fell apart in January following a row over a green energy scandal, which is now the subject of a public inquiry.
A series of talks have failed to find agreement over issues including an Irish language act and same-sex marriage.
Arlene Foster told the DUP party conference that Sinn Féin needs to respect British culture
"I said back in the summer that this party was prepared to legislate for the Irish language in the context of legislating for the plurality of cultures that exist in Northern Ireland," Mrs Foster told the conference in Belfast.
"The Irish language is spoken and enjoyed by thousands of people in all parts of Northern Ireland, it does no damage to our unionism or the Union we cherish.
"I respect the Irish language and those who speak it, however, respect isn't a one-way street.
Mrs Foster said Sinn Féin needed to "respect our British culture".
"For too long they have shown nothing but disdain and disrespect for the national flag, the Royal Family, the Armed Forces, British symbols, the constitutional reality and the very name of this country.
"Time is short and those in Sinn Féin blocking the restoration of local decision making need to decide whether they want to do business with us or have direct rule ministers in place.
"I still believe that devolution is the best way to govern Northern Ireland, but to do that in a way that delivers for all of our people we need serious partners in government."
On Brexit, Mrs Foster said it was "perhaps the most substantial and complex process the government and parliament had undertaken in the modern political era".
She reiterated her desire to find a solution for Northern Ireland that would not harm the country's economic relationship with either the rest of the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
"As we joined the then European Community as one nation we will leave as one United Kingdom," she said.
Responding to Mrs Foster's address, Sinn Féin's northern leader, Michelle O'Neill said she and her party "remained committed to making the institutions work," but said: "They must operate on the basis agreed 20 years ago."
"A majority of citizens in the north expect and are entitled to the same rights enjoyed by citizens across these islands; language and marriage equality rights, due process in all aspects of the legal and judicial system, including inquests."
Earlier, the party's deputy leader Nigel Dodds told the conference that the deal with the Conservative Party was "in the national interest" and an opportunity for Northern Ireland.
"Our interests in the negotiations were not in seats for ourselves at the cabinet table but in jobs and investment for our people," he said.
"Our goal is not to push some narrow DUP agenda but to deliver for the whole community in Northern Ireland," he added.
Nigel Dodds said that the time is coming when direct rule will be "the lesser of two evils"
The Conservative Party are represented at the conference through senior minister Damian Green and chief whip Julian Smith, who is due to give a keynote speech on Saturday afternoon.
Mr Dodds also addressed the ongoing political deadlock at Stormont.
Mr Dodds said Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire must soon consider implementing direct rule if no deal is struck.
"While we understand, because of the talks process and the absence of ministers, things have been more difficult, within a very short space of time that will not be a tenable excuse for not taking action," he said.
"None of us want to see direct rule introduced but we are fast approaching the moment when it will be the lesser of two evils."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-42117070
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Tug vehicle collides with passenger plane at Glasgow Airport - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Glasgow Airport was closed temporarily as efforts were made to clear ice from stands and taxiways.
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Glasgow & West Scotland
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Glasgow Airport was closed temporarily after a towing vehicle hit a passenger plane getting ready for take-off.
The incident happened in "freezing conditions" at 20:45 and involved a British Airways plane.
It is thought the tug vehicle may have skidded on ice as the plane was being pushed back from the stand.
The Scottish Fire Service sent three pumps and an aerial unit to the scene as a precaution. No-one was injured and the airport has now reopened.
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: "We are currently open and operational. The airfield experienced flash freezing tonight along with multiple rain showers.
"A departing flight to Gatwick was cancelled following a minor incident on stand with a tug as a result of the freezing conditions.
"Emergency services attended the incident as part of our normal operating procedures for any incidents involving aircraft."
He added: "Our priority remains the safety of the airfield and its operations and we apologise for any disruption caused. We will continue to carry out de-icing throughout the night."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-42118884
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Ashes: England face battle after Steve Smith century gives Australia the edge - BBC Sport
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2017-11-25
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Australia take hold of the first Ashes Test thanks to captain Steve Smith's superb century and two late England wickets.
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Ashes: England face battle after Steve Smith century gives Australia the edge Last updated on .From the section Cricket
First Ashes Test, Gabba, Brisbane (day three of five) Australia took hold of the first Ashes Test thanks to captain Steve Smith's epic century and two late England wickets on day three in Brisbane. Smith, ranked as the number one batsman in the world, spent more than eight and a half hours at the crease for his chanceless 141 not out. With Pat Cummins, who made 42, Smith dragged the home side from 209-7 to 328 all out, a precious advantage of 26 runs. England took three wickets in the morning session to have the opportunity of a lead of their own, but were made to toil in the afternoon by the remorseless Smith. When they eventually came to bat, they lost Alastair Cook and James Vince, both to Josh Hazlewood to slip to 17-2. At the other end, Mitchell Starc and Cummins defied the slow surface to give Mark Stoneman and Joe Root a torrid time with sustained and vicious short bowling. Root was struck in the grille by Starc and needed two lots of treatment, but, despite numerous scares, England got through without further losses and remain in the contest at 33-2, a lead of seven. They may, however, have concern over the fitness of pace bowler James Anderson, who spent time off the field in the afternoon. Root received treatment after being hit on the helmet during a hostile spell of bowling This was another wonderful day in a fascinating Test that has delivered on the pre-match hype and shown that the series is likely to be highly competitive. England, the Ashes holders, still have the chance to inflict a first Brisbane defeat on Australia in 29 years, but it is the hosts who have the upper hand. It was not just the runs that Smith scored that had such an effect, but the way he ground England down in the afternoon heat. The Gabba erupted into a monstrous noise when he reached three figures and then demanded English casualties when the home side took the ball in the final session. Indeed, when Cook was caught hooking and Vince held at second slip, it had the hallmarks of the England collapses that characterised their 5-0 defeat four years ago. It is to the credit of Stoneman and Root that they made it to the close, especially after Root took such a sickening blow. And if the tourists can battle to a lead of 200 or more, that would be a difficult chase for Australia on a pitch that looks set to become harder to bat on. Smith withstood everything the England attack could throw at him The suspicion before this series was that Australia's batting depends heavily on Smith and David Warner. Here, the captain proved the theory with his patience, discipline and skill. Since the final Ashes Test in 2013, Smith has made 21 centuries. No-one in the England team has made more than Root's 11. This one, at 261 balls, was the slowest of his career, mainly because the sluggish nature of the pitch, England's tactics and the match situation demanded restraint. On Friday, after England lost their fifth wicket, they added only 56 more runs. Smith coaxed 153 out of Australia's final five thanks mainly to a 66-run stand with Cummins. The tourists tried everything to remove him, at one point having six fielders on the leg side, three of which were on the boundary, with no-one between gully and mid-on. Smith though, chugged on, leaving anything outside off stump, refusing to be rattled by an abundance of short bowling and shovelling runs through the leg side. When he brought up his century with a rare drive through mid-off from the bowling of Stuart Broad, he beat the Australia badge on his chest. He even added 30 runs with last man Nathan Lyon and was unmoved when Root had Lyon caught at leg slip. Anderson took 2-50 from 29 overs but did not bowl at the last-wicket pair England were superb in the morning session, giving them realistic hope of earning a first-innings lead at the Gabba for the first time since 1990. From 165-4 overnight, Australia lost three wickets for 34 runs as Anderson and Broad threatened to dismantle the lower order. Shaun Marsh moved from 44 to complete a half-century, but after he chipped Broad to mid-off, England exploited the second new ball. Tim Paine was caught behind one-handed by Jonny Bairstow off Anderson and Broad, who was hit for a straight six by Starc, had his revenge with a tumbling return catch. Cummins joined Smith to get Australia to lunch and, from there, England were subdued. Fears that Anderson may be injured were raised when he did not return immediately after the break, but England insisted there was no problem with their all-time leading wicket-taker. He returned and bowled again, but none of the last 16 overs of the Australia innings, after tea or at the last pair of Smith and Lyon. Anderson's importance, along with Broad, was highlighted by their combined figures. Between them they took 5-99 from 54 overs. The rest returned 5-228 from 76.3. Jake Ball was expensive, Chris Woakes disappointingly ineffective and Moeen Ali did not find as much turn as Australia counterpart Lyon. From what we have seen in terms of the hostility from Australia and the crowd, that was like four years ago and the way Mark Stoneman played was tremendous. Everything we had spoken about before the Test, that one and a half hours is what England would have expected going into it. It was brutal. Whether the pitch has quickened up or Australia were buoyed by their captain Steve Smith, we will find out tomorrow. Credit to Joe Root - that was a bad blow. The doctor went out there twice. It rattles you as a player. The courage he showed was tremendous. What they said - the players Australia captain Steve Smith: "With the team in trouble at 70-4 I had to bat time and dig deep. I had to fight hard through difficult periods. They set defensive fields and boundaries were hard to come by. I had to get off strike, wait for balls in my area and be disciplined. "I thought they were pretty defensive from the outset. It was as if they were waiting for batters to make mistakes." England bowler Stuart Broad: "We had a fantastic morning and then Australia fought back. Today was the best day to bat so far. The spin had come out of the pitch and the ball wasn't doing very much. "What is good for us is that it will be better to bat on tomorrow. It is such an even game so far and I've finished each day not knowing who is on top."
• None This is the seventh consecutive Ashes Test in which Australia have gained a first-innings lead at the Gabba
• None This was Steve Smith's fourth Test century of 2017. Only South Africa's Dean Elgar (5) has more
• None Australia have never lost when Steve Smith has faced at least 220 balls in an innings (W7, D3). Tufnell averaged 5.10 with the bat in his 42 Test matches for England In the Test Match Special commentary box, former England spinner Phil Tufnell, a true tail-end batsman, was living every moment as Australia's pace bowlers fired down a succession of 90mph deliveries. "It was edge of your seat stuff in that final session. It was amazing," said Tufnell. "Fair play to England as they could have been four or five down and that's the game almost done. They've just managed to hang on." More on the Ashes series
• None How to follow the Ashes on the BBC
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42121222
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Catching fly-tippers in the act - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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When fly-tipping occurs on private property, it can be very costly for landowners.
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Councils in England spend £58m a year on clearing rubbish that is dumped on the street illegally.
But when fly-tipping occurs on private property, it can be a huge cost to landowners.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42116278
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Predatory comments prompt YouTube ad suspension - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Mars, Lidl and Adidas are among companies to act after inappropriate content found next to their ads.
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Technology
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Videos uploaded by young children were targeted by predators found news organisations
Mars, Lidl, Adidas and others have pulled all advertisements from YouTube after some were found next to clips used by predators to target children.
Investigations by the BBC and the Times found tens of thousands of "predatory" accounts have been used to leave explicit comments on children's videos.
Problems with the video-sharing site's reporting system have been blamed for letting the accounts persist.
YouTube said it was "working urgently" to clean up the site.
A Mars spokesman told the Guardian: "We are shocked and appalled to see that our adverts have appeared alongside such exploitative and inappropriate content."
It said it had immediately suspended advertising globally on YouTube and Google. Adverts would not return until it was sure YouTube had put safeguards in place, it added.
Lidl, Deutsche Bank and Cadbury and many other big brands are also believed to have suspended advertising campaigns while the video-sharing site acts.
A YouTube spokesman said: "There shouldn't be any ads running on this content and we are working urgently to fix this."
The investigations found that clips posted innocently by young children on YouTube had attracted attention from predatory adults who left obscene comments and made sexually explicit requests.
The BBC was alerted to the scale of the problem by volunteer members of YouTube's Trusted Flagger programme who alert the site to potential violations of its guidelines.
M&S paused its ads on Google in June after they were found next to extremist content
Trusted Flaggers who talked to the BBC said there could be up to 100,000 active predatory accounts on the site, all of which were able to survive because the system to report them did not work well.
YouTube has responded to the twin investigations by shutting accounts used to make predatory comments and by turning off comments on thousands of videos.
The ad suspensions come only days after YouTube unveiled new measures that were supposed to limit the spread of sexualised and violent content.
It promised to be tougher about applying its guidelines on what was appropriate, block inappropriate comments on videos featuring children and expunge adverts that target families with material that is offensive.
This is after YouTube was criticised about accounts that targeted children with videos that feature popular characters, such as Peppa Pig, in strange or disturbing situations.
Also, in June this year, YouTube was forced to act after major brands pulled adverts when they found their content was being linked to videos featuring hate speech and extremism.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42110068
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Candlelit vigil held in Swanage for Gaia Pope - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Her family say they have never known anything like the "wave of love and solidarity" shown.
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Dorset
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People brought flowers and candles to the vigil in Swanage
A "wave of love and solidarity" was displayed by those attending a candlelit vigil in honour of Gaia Pope.
The 19-year-old from Langton Matravers, Dorset, was reported missing on 7 November. Her body was found 11 days later in a nearby field.
Her family thanked the volunteers who searched for Gaia in the Swanage area.
Miss Pope's cousin, Marienna Pope Weidemann, said: "Gaia has done once again what she did so often in life - she has brought us all closer together.
"I've never known anything like the wave of love and solidarity that came from this community and that I see here today."
Scores of people brought flowers to the vigil at Swanage amphitheatre and many placed candles in glass jars near a floral tribute spelling GAIA below a framed picture of Miss Pope.
Grieving friends and family members, including her father Richard Sutherland, addressed those gathered, who observed a minute's silence.
Mr Sutherland said: "All that support you gave is tremendously heart-warming and something that at such a difficult time helps us very much.
"We will carry her memory for the rest of our lives."
Gaia Pope's body was found 11 days after she went missing
Scores of people attended the event at Swanage amphitheatre
Dorset Police is treating her death as "unexplained", pending toxicology results.
A post-mortem examination did not identify any injuries to suggest the involvement of other people, police said.
On Monday, police announced the three people arrested on suspicion of murder, Paul Elsey, Rosemary Dinch, and Nathan Elsey, were to face no action.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-42094326
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Two men arrested after triple stabbing - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Two men in their 20s are arrested after three men were stabbed in north Belfast.
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Northern Ireland
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The police said they received a report at about 00:45 GMT on Saturday morning
Two men in their 20s have been arrested after a triple stabbing in north Belfast.
A 20-year-old woman, who was arrested earlier on suspicion of attempted murder, has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Three men, all in their 20s, were stabbed in north Belfast in the early hours of Saturday and are all in a stable condition in hospital.
One of the men was found with stab wounds to the head
One of the men was found with stab wounds to the head.
Another suffered a head injury and stab wounds to the neck.
The third underwent surgery for abdominal injuries.
The police said it had received reports of a disturbance at a property in the York Park area at about 00:45 GMT on Saturday morning.
The police found the man with stab wounds to his head inside the house.
The other two men were found a quarter of a mile away near a retail premises on the Shore Road.
Police have appealed for information and would like to hear from anyone who was in the York Park area between 00:15 and 01:15.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-42123559
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Senior Police Scotland officer suspended amid criminal conduct probe - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins is suspended as an investigation into criminal conduct begins.
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Scotland
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A senior officer from Police Scotland has been suspended amid an investigation into criminal conduct.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins was suspended with immediate effect by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) on Friday afternoon.
Three other officers have also been suspended and two have been placed on restricted duties.
A spokesman for ACC Higgins said he "denies and rejects" any allegations of wrongdoing.
The independent police watchdog is investigating allegations of criminal conduct and gross misconduct.
In a statement, Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone confirmed the suspension of ACC Higgins, who was responsible for operational support, custody and criminal justice.
He said: "I can confirm that Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins was suspended today by the Scottish Police Authority.
"In addition, three other officers have been suspended, and two others placed on restricted duties, by Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick.
"This is in connection with an investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc).
"At this time our focus must remain on continuing to meet the operational challenges that we face each day."
He added that Assistant Chief Constable Nelson Telfer would take responsibility for the operational support portfolio.
However a spokesman for ACC Higgins said he denied wrongdoing.
"He will fully cooperate with the investigation. He intends to resume his duties as soon as this matter has been resolved," he added.
BBC Scotland understands the allegations are connected to a wider criminal investigation.
They are not connected to the separate Pirc investigations into allegations of misconduct against Chief Constable Phil Gormley who is currently on "special leave."
Nor are they connected to inquiries into allegations that officers in the former counter-corruption unit abused their position when attempting to find the source of a journalist's information.
ACC Higgins joined Strathclyde Police in 1988 and served in uniform posts across Glasgow and Lanarkshire.
He became a superintendent in 2006 and was then promoted to detective chief superintendent and head of the public protection unit in 2010.
Later in 2010, he was made divisional commander in charge of Glasgow Central and West Division.
He was appointed Strathclyde Police Temporary Assistant Chief Constable (Territorial Policing) in March 2012.
In January 2013, he became assistant chief constable of Police Scotland with responsibility for operational support before assuming responsibility for the wider justice and support portfolio.
In his current role, which he was appointed to in September last year, he has responsibility for the operational support, custody and criminal justice divisions.
The decision to suspend Mr Higgins was taken by the SPA board after it was alerted to the criminal and misconduct allegations by the Pirc.
In a statement, the SPA said the suspension would be reviewed in four weeks or if there is a change in circumstances.
The Pirc said it initially referred the anonymous allegations to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, as it is responsible for the prosecution of crime.
The Crown Office decided an independent investigation should be carried out by the Pirc and that is now under way.
As the complaint also included allegations of misconduct by a senior police officer, the commissioner referred the matters to the SPA on 18 October.
The SPA suspended Mr Higgins on Friday and referred allegations of gross misconduct to the Pirc
The commissioner is now carrying out an assessment to establish whether a misconduct investigation is required.
A spokesman for the commissioner said: "Following receipt of anonymous allegations of criminality by officers, including a senior officer, serving with Police Scotland, the Commissioner referred the allegations to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
"This was to allow the COPFS to consider whether the criminal allegations should be investigated by the Commissioner.
"The COPFS decided that an independent investigation should be carried out by the PIRC and this is now under way."
The Scottish government has issued a statement saying that as the matter was under investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner it was unable to comment further.
However, Liam Kerr, the justice spokesman for the Conservative Party, called for Scotland's justice secretary to come "out of the shadows" on the difficulties faced by Police Scotland.
He told BBC Radio Scotland: "The conspicuous absences of the justice secretary - my view would be that he's got to step out of the shadows and get a grip on this because it keeps happening on his watch."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-42116840
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Pakistan army called on to stop 'blasphemy' clashes in Islamabad - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Security forces came under a hail of stones from Islamist protesters calling for a minister's sacking.
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Asia
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Pakistan's government has called for troops to be deployed in the capital, Islamabad, after violence broke out during protests by Islamists.
About 200 people were injured when security forces tried to disperse an Islamist sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange - a key highway.
Several deaths have been reported.
The protesters have been blocking the highway for several weeks, demanding the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid whom they accuse of blasphemy.
Pakistani media report that demonstrators also broke into the minister's residence in Punjab province. Mr Hamid and his family were not in the building.
The protests have spread to other cities, including Lahore and the southern port of Karachi.
About 200 people were injured in Saturday's clashes
The Pakistani government asked the army to deploy in Islamabad on Saturday evening.
The interior minister said the order was issued at the request of the city authorities, who were not able to clear the sit-in.
There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani military.
Protesters want Pakistan's law minister to be sacked
Earlier on Saturday, security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse the demonstrators, Pakistani media report, but were met with rocks and tear gas shells.
About 8,500 elite police and paramilitary forces took part in the operation to clear the Faizabad Interchange. The crackdown was later suspended.
Protesters said four of their activists were killed, but police said there were no deaths, Reuters reports.
However, officials are quoted in other reports confirming that several people were killed. Many of those injured are security personnel.
The request for the military deployment came after hundreds more demonstrators turned up unexpectedly, forcing the police to retreat.
At one point, the authorities took all private television news channels off air, apparently out of concern that the live coverage of the police action could inflame religious sentiments.
The protesting Islamists, from the hardline Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Party, want the law minister to be sacked for omitting a reference to the Prophet Muhammad in a new version of the electoral oath.
The minister has since apologised saying it was a clerical error.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42124446
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Georgia fire: Black Sea resort hotel blaze leaves 11 dead - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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It broke out at a 22-storey hotel and casino in the Black Sea city of Batumi.
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Europe
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Georgia's prime minister said an investigation into the fire's causes has started
A fire at a hotel in Georgia's Black Sea resort has killed 11 people and injured 21 more, the Georgian interior ministry has said.
The victims all died from inhaling fumes at the 22-storey Leogrand Hotel and casino, regional health minister Zaal Mikeladze said.
The cause of the blaze, which took hours to extinguish, is not clear.
More than 100 people were evacuated from the hotel by emergency services.
Among those being treated are three Turks and an Israeli, a spokesman for the Batumi University Clinic said.
Formal identification of the victims is said to be under way, but an interior ministry statement said one Iranian and 10 Georgians were killed in the blaze.
The statement also said that those injured were taken to hospital in a stable condition.
The hotel was due to host the Miss Georgia beauty pageant on Sunday. Officials said none of the 20 contestants, who were reportedly staying in the hotel, were injured.
The country's Prime Minister Georgi Kvirikashvili diverted to Batumi on the way back from an EU summit instead of travelling to the country's capital Tbilisi after he learned of the fire, according to a post on his official Facebook page.
In a later post he offered his condolences the families and promised an investigation to find the fire's causes.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42118566
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Five hurt as car crashes into New Romney pub - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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The driver had to be cut free from the wreckage after a car crashed into the Cinque Port Arms.
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Kent
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Five people were hurt when the car crashed into the pub on Friday night
Five people have been injured and a man arrested after a car hit a pub in Kent.
Four of those hurt were customers at the Cinque Port Arms and police said the fifth was the vehicle driver.
Emergency crews were called to the crash at the busy New Romney pub at about 22:00 GMT on Friday.
Pub owner Kevin Gibbons said a man had been escorted off the premises and subsequently got in his car which then crashed into the front of the building, injuring patrons and staff.
Mr Gibbons said the man, in his 20s, was unknown to pub staff.
He said customers and children upstairs had to be evacuated from the building.
"We have had builders working throughout the night to make the pub structurally safe and will be carrying on with business as usual sometime today," he said.
Mr Gibbons, describing the Cinque Port Arms as a community pub in the heart of New Romney, said it was a "one-off" incident.
He said he could not comment further because of the ongoing police investigation.
Customers and children upstairs were evacuated from the building
Of those injured, three people who were at the pub - patrons and staff - and the driver, needed hospital treatment. None of their injuries were life-threatening.
The fourth person injured did not need hospital treatment.
Work took place overnight to make the pub structurally safe
Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the driver of the car had to be cut free from the wreckage after the crash in the High Street.
A 24-year-old man from New Romney has been arrested on suspicion of assault and remains in custody.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-42122108
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Black Friday sales bonanza set to hit a record - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The number of payment card sales is already up on last year, but some retailers have shunned the event.
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Business
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The Black Friday sales bonanza was on course for a record with consumers set to spend almost £8bn during what has become a four-day shopping event.
Barclaycard said transaction numbers were 32% up on last year, with Black Friday most likely behind the rise.
Retail researchers said online sales would see the most growth on Friday.
Shoppers are expected to spend £1.15bn online - up 15% on the same day last year. On the High Street, sales were forecast to hit £1.45bn, up 4% on 2016.
Barclaycard said the value of all transactions were up 8% on last year by mid afternoon.
Using Barclaycard data, it is not possible to split off what is everyday spending and what is spurred by Black Friday.
However, average weekly spending online in the UK stands at about £1.2bn according to the Office of National Statistics, so sales on Friday alone will be close to matching those in a normal week.
John Lewis, Game, Tesco and Argos have extended their high street opening hours and many retailers have already offered days of deals in a bid to maximise hype and spending around the event.
But many retailers have opted out, including Marks and Spencer. London's Harrods department store has also ignored Black Friday, saying that frenzied sales events "cheapen the brand".
And clothing retailer Primark said in a blog: "Black Friday? *Yawn* As if we'd make you wait all year for a flash sale, just to wow you with our totes increds prices."
Black Friday - which now includes weekend shopping promotions and Cyber Monday - has surged in popularity in the UK in recent years, and has become popular in mainland Europe.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Not everywhere was as busy as predicted on Black Friday
According to predictions by VoucherCodes and the Centre for Retail Research, shoppers are expected to spend £7.8bn over the four-day period including Cyber Monday. That would be up 7% on the four days last year.
Barclaycard, which processes nearly half of all debit and credit card transactions in the UK, said between 1pm and 2pm it had processed a record 998 transactions in one second, compared with last year's peak of 791. Meanwhile, spending was up by 8% on the same period last year.
TopCashback's UK director Adam Bullock said "Black Friday is shaping up to be the biggest shopping day we have ever seen", with overall consumer spending increasing by 15% and £12,500 being spent per minute. The discount retailing site said it expects the figure to increase throughout the day.
However, there was a lack of early morning queues on Oxford Street Friday morning, although John Lewis had attracted a line of about 12 bargain hunters who stood outside the department store shortly before opening time.
Lawrence Konadu and Jeremy Opoku at Uniqlo on Black Friday
Lawrence Konadu, 20, and Jeremy Opoku, 22, were heading to Japanese retailer Uniqlo to buy KAWS' second collection of the iconic comic strip Peanut, which launched on Friday.
"We still would have come out, but the release of this brand gave us more of a push," Mr. Opoku said.
But other shoppers said they didn't even realise it was Black Friday. Mark Norden said: "I didn't know it was Black Friday. I had a meeting around the corner and thought I would return some boots."
People are staying up later and waking up earlier for Black Friday deals. Online traffic between midnight and 6am rose 40% year-on-year, and was up 300% over a typical day, according to Katie Ward of Vouchercloud.
"We've increasingly discovered the trend of staying up later and waking up earlier for Black Friday deals is true and strong," Ms. Ward said.
The largest peak in spending was between 6am and 7am, with traffic rising more than 400%. Some 85% more shoppers checked deals before midnight.
Sales via smartphones may replace desktops on Black Friday this year, according to researcher PCA Predict, with more than 40% of transactions expected to be made on phones and tablets.
Dozens of retailers are offering a raft of deals online including Amazon, Currys PC World, Argos, Gap, Top Shop, Miss Selfridge and others.
Although online transactions have increased, basket sizes are lower so far, according to Global Savings Group.
The average basket size of online spenders is £107.35 compared with a normal day's spend of £151.42. About 60% of online discount hunters are female, the group said.
Black Friday originated in the US, where it takes place the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally kick-starting the Christmas shopping period.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42107738
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Vicky Chen: Teen actress beats veterans at Golden Horse awards - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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Vicky Chen wins best supporting actress at the Golden Horse awards for her role in a crime drama.
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Entertainment & Arts
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A teenage newcomer has beaten established stars to win best supporting actress at the film awards dubbed the Chinese-language Oscars.
Vicky Chen, 14, was nominated at the Golden Horse Film Awards for her role in The Bold, The Corrupt and The Beautiful.
Her co-star, Hong Kong veteran Kara Wai, won the best actress gong, which Chen was also nominated for.
The awards are held annually in Taiwan and are open to Chinese-language films.
The Bold, The Corrupt and The Beautiful, a crime drama centred around a wealthy family, was nominated in seven categories and won in three, including best film.
Chen was also nominated for best actress for her role in Angels Wear White. She plays a hotel maid who witnesses a sexual assault and grapples with the decision of reporting it.
Despite losing to Wai in that prize, she beat two former best actress winners in the best supporting actress category.
Although it missed out on best film, The Great Buddha+, by Taiwanese director Huang Hsin-Yao, was a big winner. It took five awards, including best adapted screenplay, best original film score and best cinematography.
The mostly black-and-white dark comedy focuses on two friends - Pickle, a night security guard at a factory making Buddha statues, and Belly Button, a collector of recyclables. The pair uncover footage of Pickle's wealthy boss that reveals his dark secrets.
The Bold, The Corrupt and the Beautiful came away with three awards
Ang Lee, the Taiwanese-American director, and US actress Jessica Chastain jointly presented the best actress prize.
Lee was the first Asian to win the best director at the Hollywood Oscars, taking it in 2006 for Brokeback Mountain. Chastain won best actress in a drama at the 2013 Golden Globes for Zero Dark Thirty.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42124359
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Egypt attack: Fake Sinai photos on social media - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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In the aftermath of the bomb attack on a Sinai mosque, fake photos have been shared on social media.
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Middle East
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This photo is actually three years old and not from Friday's attack
How do you know if the photographs and video footage that you see on social media after an attack are real?
In the absence of concrete facts, many people - and news organisations - turn to social media for information.
The deadly attack on the al-Rawda mosque in Egypt's North Sinai province, which killed at least 235 people, was no different.
In its immediate aftermath, news site Al-Araby shared a dramatic image of crowds outside a smoking building.
The headline read: "Sinai: 200 people killed and wounded in the bombing of a mosque".
The ambulance shown is indeed Egyptian. However, this image does not show the 24 November attack in Sinai.
By conducting a reverse image search, we can see that the photo was actually taken by a photographer working for the news agency AFP in 2015.
It shows the aftermath of a bomb attack in another Egyptian town which killed eight people.
There are several ways of conducting a reverse image search.
If you're using Google Chrome, you can right click on an image and select "search for image".
If you're using a different browser, you can save the image and then re-upload it to a reverse image search tool.
You'll then see the other places on the internet where it appears.
Other social media users shared a video supposedly taken "during the bombing of al-Rawda Mosque" in Sinai.
But this video was in fact first uploaded by Twitter user Mohammad Boland in early 2015, during an attack on a Shiite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia.
The original version of the distressing video, which was shown on American news network CNN, is much higher quality.
Video quality can be degraded when it is downloaded and re-uploaded - which makes it harder to find the original when you carry out a reverse image search.
Another way of spotting a fake photo is to check the surroundings.
Several users had shared a photo that showed a minaret collapsing during an explosion. But the minaret was not from the mosque in Sinai.
It was taken in Mosul in 2014.
If you come across that photo, compare it to the minaret from the mosque in Sinai, below. They clearly do not match.
This is the mosque near al-Arish targeted by the militants in Sinai.
There are plenty of genuine images of the devastating attack in Sinai and its aftermath. But there are fake photos in circulation - and by right clicking and carrying out your own reverse image search, you can check from where they really originate.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42115748
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Aftermath of Egypt mosque attack - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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Footage shows the chaotic aftermath of an attack on a mosque in Egypt that left at least 235 dead.
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Footage shows the chaotic aftermath of a bomb and gun attack on a mosque in Egypt that left at least 235 dead.
Militants opened fire on worshippers at the al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed during Friday prayers.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42119288
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UK's busiest container port at Felixstowe marks 50 years - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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The Port of Felixstowe has changed dramatically since it first opened.
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The UK's biggest and busiest container port is marking a half century of handling cargo.
The Port of Felixstowe was the first of its kind in the country when it opened in 1967.
It currently employs 2,500 people and is linked to 32,500 jobs across Suffolk.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-42117493
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Oxford Circus: Platform 'altercation' caused tube panic - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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Police want to trace two men, following panicked scenes at a London Tube station on Friday.
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UK
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Police want to speak to two men after an altercation "erupted" on a platform
Police have released images of two men they want to speak to, after an altercation at a central London Tube station created mass panic on Friday.
Officers want to speak to anyone who was at Oxford Circus underground station at the time of the evacuation.
Sixteen people were treated after they were injured fleeing the station, following reports of gunshots being fired on a Central Line platform.
There was no evidence any weapons had been fired, police said.
Shoppers were barricaded inside stores on Oxford Street and armed police were deployed after the alarm was raised during the evening rush hour on Black Friday.
Police initially treated the incident as potentially terrorism-related, before standing down.
The British Transport Police said it believed there had been an altercation between two men on the platform before the scare.
The Metropolitan Police said it began receiving "numerous" 999 calls reporting gunshots in Oxford Street and at Oxford Circus station at 16:38 GMT on Friday.
The first armed response vehicle was on the scene in less than a minute from receiving the first call, the force said.
Oxford Circus - where Oxford Street and Regent Street meet - was cordoned off, while shops and businesses were placed in lockdown.
In a statement, the Met Police said: "No casualties, evidence of any shots fired or any suspects were located by police."
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But 16 people were injured as passengers fled from Oxford Circus station, in what witnesses said was "a stampede".
One patient was transferred to a major trauma centre for leg injuries, while eight people were taken to central London hospitals for minor injuries.
By 18:05 GMT, the police operation had been stood down.
In a statement, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised the city's emergency services for a "swift response".
BBC reporter Helen Bushby said she had seen a "mass stampede" of people running away from Oxford Circus station.
"They were crying, they were screaming, they were dropping their shopping bags. It was a very panicked scene," she added.
"People said they heard a gunshot and panic was just spreading."
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According to BBC correspondent Andy Moore, eyewitnesses reported being evacuated from the tube station on the instructions of a generic announcement.
They came up to street level in a state of confusion - some reporting loud bangs - spreading panic among shoppers which quickly passed down the street and onto social media.
The British Transport Police told those in the area to "go into a building and stay inside until further notice".
People barricaded themselves into shops, many of which went into lockdown - including Selfridges, which is half a mile down Oxford Street from Oxford Circus.
Singer Olly Murs, who was shopping in Selfridges, told his 7.8m followers on Twitter: "Get out of Selfridges now gun shots!! I'm inside."
He added: "Really not sure what's happened! I'm in the back office... but people screaming and running towards exits!"
Mr Murs, who was later criticised for spreading panic, said afterwards: "It's easy to say now it was nothing but in a state of shock and panic I was trying to make people aware of what was happening. Which I was led to believe by staff and customers that someone was shooting."
Selfridges later said on Twitter that it was evacuated "as a precautionary measure".
It added: "We have been working with @MetPoliceUK and can confirm that there were no reported incidents in store."
Armed police were deployed to the area
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42120534
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Tiger shot in Paris after roaming streets - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A circus tiger escaped and briefly roamed an area near the Eiffel Tower in the French capital.
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Europe
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It is not yet clear how the tiger escaped from the circus (archive pic)
A tiger broke out of a circus in central Paris and roamed streets just south of the Eiffel Tower before its circus handlers shot and killed it.
Police tweeted that the tiger had gone on the loose in the 15th district but "the danger has been eliminated".
Nobody was hurt by the 200kg (31-stone) tiger, according to local reports.
Tram traffic was suspended in the area. Residents called the emergency services when they spotted the animal on the run just before 18:00 (17:00 GMT).
"It was a very big tiger," a witness called Ralph told Le Parisien website. "We heard two or three shots and saw police going down towards the tracks."
The tiger was killed in an alley, a fire service spokesman said.
Its owner, who brought the animal down with a shotgun, has been taken into custody, AFP news agency reports citing a police source. Police have opened an investigation.
The Bormann Moreno circus recently set up in Paris and planned to start holding shows from 3 December.
The tiger was shot by its handler
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42117644
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Autumn international: Scotland 53-24 Australia - BBC Sport
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2017-11-25
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Scotland ended their autumn internationals series with a record 53-24 hammering of 14-man Australia at Murrayfield.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Scotland ended their autumn internationals series with a record thumping of 14-man Australia.
The Scots ran in eight tries, all but one coming after Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu was dismissed for a shoulder charge to the head of Hamish Watson.
Byron McGuigan, a late replacement for Stuart Hogg - injured in the warm-up - scored two on his first Test start.
Ali Price, Sean Maitland, Jonny Gray, Huw Jones, John Barclay and Stuart McInally also crossed for the Scots.
Hulking centre Tevita Kuridrani scored a first-half brace for Australia, with Kurtley Beale and then replacement Lopeti Timani touching down after the interval.
The points tally and margin of victory are both records for Scotland in this fixture, surpassing the previous benchmarks of 34 and nine respectively.
Intrigue is guaranteed whenever these two nations meet, each recent Test going to the wire, lifting the spirits but weakening the heart at the same time.
With this one, the drama began even before a ball had been kicked, Hogg, the man the Wallabies would have feared the most, injuring a hip in the warm-up.
It looked like a colossal blow for the Scots who moved Maitland to full-back, brought McGuigan in on the wing for his first start and parachuted Ruaridh Jackson onto the bench. What happened over the course of the next 80 minutes took this rivalry to a new level.
Scotland began clumsily, with a host of attacking errors, but took the lead when Russell put over a penalty then McGuigan struck for the opening try.
When the ball went loose off Bernard Foley, McGuigan jumped all over it. He put his boot to it once, then twice, then three times. Nobody could have mistaken McGuigan for Lionel Messi in those frenetic seconds, but he had enough control to get the job done. Try. Conversion. Scotland ahead by 10.
Before the points deluge, there were troubling moments for the hosts. Self-inflicted wounds let Australia back into it, Russell's missed touch leading, soon after, to Foley chipping through for Kuridrani to get his first.
A Tommy Seymour spillage out wide gifted them another, Foley gathering, chipping ahead and then popping his pass to the Fijian to score again.
That put the Wallabies into the lead at 12-10, but the seismic moment of the match was about to play out.
At a breakdown just before the interval, Kepu went shoulder-first into Hamish Watson's head. Watson had been a spectacular nuisance to the visitors but attempting to remove his head was pretty unwise.
Referee Pascal Gauzere was decisive and correct. Kepu was sent off. The question then was what could Scotland do with the one-man advantage. The answer was quick and emphatic.
They put their penalty to touch and drove it close enough for Price to reach out to score. Russell's conversion made it a five-point game in Scotland's favour.
There was one last act of defiance from Australia when, on the 20th phase, Beale went over to level it at 17-17, but from there, Scotland kicked on.
The Wallabies lost the ball on halfway and Maitland ran all the way, much to his relief. He was being chased not by the flying machines in the Australia defence, but by three forwards who never looked like they were getting there.
Zander Fagerson and Jamie Bhatti appeared off the bench and their broken field running was devastating. A Bhatti carry took Scotland into Australia's 22 and from there, Gray got outside Will Genia to score.
A third try in a ruthless 10-minute burst arrived and again a Bhatti carry was important in its creation, Russell's tapped penalty was key and Jones' stepping of Samu Kerevi finished the job.
Jones has a sensational try-scoring record. That was his seventh in his 11 Tests. He's been a wondrous addition to the Scotland midfield.
McGuigan was pretty special as well. Scotland had their foot on Wallaby throats and more pressure brought another score, the forward pack creating the space and Maitland putting the wing over.
Australia were on their knees, no doubt cursing the madness of their prop. Timani's try made the score a little, but not a lot, more palatable, but Barclay wiped it out soon enough.
The sixth Scotland try came when the captain got ruck ball close to the Wallaby line. Karmichael Hunt, Lukhan Tui and Kuridrani all went to hit him, but he blasted his way through the three of them.
Russell landed the conversion to make it a historic high of 46-24. Freakish stuff, but it got even more bizarre as Australia grew ever more weary at the end of a long season.
Beale was sin-binned a minute before time for deliberating knocking the ball out play. Scotland put the penalty to touch, fired up their maul which carried them inexorably across the line.
McInally grounded the ball, Russell landed the conversion and Scotland were over the half-century.
Kepu would have been in a darkened room by then. He might have been joined by the faithful of Murrayfield. This was unforgettable stuff, a day to rubber-stamp Scotland's credentials as a fast-emerging force in European and world rugby.
Replacements: Brown (for McInally, 55-69), Bhatti (for Marfo, 41), Fagerson (for Berghan, 40), Toolis (for Gilchrist, 53), Du Preez (for Watson, 67), Pyrgos (for Price, 67), Burleigh (for Horne, 62).
Replacements: Polota-Nau (for Moore, 57), Faulkner (for Sio, 71), Tupou (for McCalman, 53), Tui (for Enever, 53), Timani (for Simmons, 67), Phipps (for Genia, 55), Hunt (for Kerevi, 61), Speight (for Koroibete, 67).
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42059631
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Caldey Island: Sex offender evaded justice at abbey - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Paul Ashton was arrested after a Caldey Island visitor recognised him from a Crimestoppers wanted list.
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South West Wales
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A fugitive child sex offender fled to a Pembrokeshire island's abbey to evade justice and remained there for seven years, it has been revealed.
Paul Ashton, from Sussex, went on the run in 2004 charged with possessing indecent images of children.
When he was discovered at Caldey Island in 2011, more indecent images were found on his computer in the monastery.
He was arrested and brought to justice after a visitor recognised him from a Crimestoppers "Most Wanted" list.
The revelation comes after it emerged six women have been paid compensation by Caldey Abbey after they were abused by a monk on Caldey Island in the 1970s and 1980s.
Since that information came to light last week, a further five women have come forward accusing Father Thaddeus Kotik of abusing them.
Allegations were made to the abbey in 1990 but complaints were not passed on to police.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas said the abbey "got things wrong" when it failed to report allegations to police
Dyfed Powys Police was eventually made aware of the allegations in 2014 but could not prosecute Kotik as he died in 1992.
The current abbot, Brother Daniel van Santvoort, has apologised the complaints were not referred to police sooner.
Ashton is understood to have arrived on Caldey Island as a guest in 2004, but stayed and moved into the clock tower which overlooks the island.
Paul Ashton was jailed in 2012 for possessing indecent images of children
He was provided with accommodation and food by the monks, who knew him by his alias Robert Judd.
A source said: "When Robert arrived he offered to help and made himself indispensable.
"He operated the island's satellite internet and phone system, managed online accommodation bookings and the accounts and worked in the mail room.
"He put himself in an ideal position."
Ashton had absconded from his home in Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex after Sussex Police executed a search warrant and confiscated computers in 2004.
In July 2011, an anonymous call was made to Crimestoppers by someone who had seen Ashton's face on its "Most Wanted" list, and he was arrested on the island.
Sussex Police said: "They recognised the picture as a man working in south Wales but under a different name… police were informed and local officers swiftly arrested him in relation to the Sussex inquiry.
"More computer equipment containing further images was also found."
Ashton, then aged 59, pleaded guilty at Chichester Crown Court to possessing more than 5,000 indecent images of children on his computers, hard drives and USB sticks.
He was jailed for 30 months in March 2012 and was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.
Caldey Abbey has been asked to comment.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-42121382
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Who are Egypt's militant groups? - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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A series of deadly attacks has drawn media attention to Islamist groups in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
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Middle East
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IS' Sinai Province, the most prominent jihadist group, posted video showcasing their weapons
More than 200 people have died in an unprecedented attack targeting a Sunni mosque in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula during Friday prayers, highlighting the alarming threat posed by jihadist militants in the region.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest of its kind in the country.
So-called Islamic State (IS) is the most prominent and violent of the militant groups in Sinai, with a record of targeting civilians in that area and in mainland Egypt.
Other groups active in the country are mostly aligned with IS's arch jihadist rival, al-Qaeda.
IS's Sinai affiliate, Sinai Province, has claimed responsibility for many deadly attacks, mostly targeting the army in Sinai. It also claimed the downing of a Russian airliner in October 2015.
Formerly known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, the group first appeared in September 2011 and rebranded itself with an IS pledge of allegiance in November 2014.
The group generally targets Egyptian security forces in northern Sinai, but has also claimed an attack on a tourist site in southern Sinai in April.
In the first part of the year IS stepped up its rhetoric and attacks against Christians in Sinai and elsewhere in Egypt, claiming two deadly attacks on churches in Tanta and Alexandria on 9 April.
IS started to scale up its attacks in Sinai since September, as it started losing territory in Iraq and Syria.
On 24 November, IS boasted about attacks it had carried out earlier in the week targeting policemen in western Arish, the area of the attacked mosque.
In addition to its attacks on Christians, IS has adopted a threatening tone against Sufi Muslims, whom it considers to be heretics.
The head of IS's religious police in Sinai had previously said that Sufis who did not "repent" would be killed. IS has beheaded a number of Sufi men whom it accused of "sorcery".
Screen grab from the video posted by Jund al-Islam
The propaganda and rhetoric of this low-profile group suggests alignment with al-Qaeda.
Its rivalry with IS in Sinai surfaced in November when Jund al-Islam issued a threat to IS militants.
In an audio message released on 11 November, Jund al-Islam claimed responsibility for an October attack on IS militants in Sinai, and vowed to crush the rival group "for committing crimes against Muslims" in the peninsula.
A day later, Jund al-Islam issued another statement condemning the 9 November deadly attack on lorry drivers in northern Sinai, as well as blaming IS and the Egyptian government for the deaths.
In both its recent messages, Jund al-Islam stressed that it did not target "innocent Muslims".
Jund al-Islam's recent communiques follow a lengthy spell of media silence since 2015, and suggest the group is presenting itself as a challenger to IS in Sinai.
The group emerged in September 2013 with a claim of a double suicide attack on the Egyptian military intelligence HQ in the northern Sinai town of Rafah, which borders the Gaza Strip.
It stepped up its propaganda campaign in 2015, claiming rocket attacks on Israel and issuing a propaganda video that hinted at links with al-Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP).
Not to be confused with the former Sahara-based jihadist group al-Mourabitoun, this Egyptian faction announced itself in 2015.
However, since its formation, the group has not been observed to carry out any prominent attacks, and has mainly put out statements and threats.
Given its lack of visible activity, it remains unclear where exactly al-Mourabitoun operates in Egypt.
Its propaganda suggests an al-Qaeda orientation, and veteran jihadist media operatives have linked it to an al-Qaeda attempt to check the rise of IS in Egypt.
Its leader, Abu-Umar al-Muhajir, alias Hisham Ashmawi, is a former Egyptian army officer and a senior figure in Ansar Beit al-Maqdis before it pledged allegiance to IS.
In October 2015, Ashmawi called for the killing of Egyptian military officers, and for revenge in response to the deaths of Palestinians by Israel's security forces.
Ashmawi reiterated that message in March 2016, and urged Muslim clerics to play an active role in encouraging young people to embrace jihad.
This new group, not to be confused with the veteran Ansar al-Islam in Iraq, emerged in November, when it claimed responsibility for a high-profile attack in Egypt's Western Desert.
Ansar al-Islam described the attack, in which more than 50 security personnel died, as "the beginning of our jihad".
The group's attack claim and its founding statement of 3 November was widely circulated by high-profile online supporters of al-Qaeda, which suggested a nod of approval.
Its rhetoric and pledge to fight until the establishment of Islamic law suggest a jihadist orientation.
Ansar al-Islam's statement urged Egyptians to join the jihad, or support the group through words or funds.
Meaning "Soldiers of Egypt", this group appeared in January 2014, and carried out attacks in Cairo over the summer.
It has possible al-Qaeda associations, in that the Yemeni and African branches of that network posted eulogies on the death of its leader in April 2015.
It also coordinated attacks with Ansar Beit al-Maqdis before the latter joined IS.
But Ajnad Misr has repeatedly said that it tries to avoid civilian casualties in its attacks.
Many of the group's members are now thought to be in prison.
In October 2017, the Egyptian authorities sought death sentences for 13 individuals with suspected links to the group.
The individuals are accused of killing soldiers, police officers and civilians, with a verdict expected in December.
The Hasm Movement surfaced in the summer of 2016 and has focused on attacking government and security personnel in Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt.
The Egyptian authorities and media have linked Hasm to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is outlawed in Egypt.
The group's rhetoric is more Islamist and "pro-revolution" than jihadist.
On 1 October Hasm targeted the Myanmar embassy in Cairo with an explosive device to express its solidarity with Rohingya Muslims, it said.
Hasm released its first propaganda video in January in which it showcased its training camps and boasted about the range of attacks it had carried out on the Egyptian authorities.
Slick production and the group's claim of organisation and structure in the video were clearly meant to indicate that Hasm was not a shadowy group, but rather a sophisticated force to be reckoned with.
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34751349
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Mexico creates huge national park to protect marine life - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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The Revillagigedo Archipelago is named a marine reserve, protecting hundreds of ocean species.
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Latin America & Caribbean
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The island is best known for its species including manta rays - with spans of up to 7m (22ft)
The Mexican government has created a large marine reserve around a group of islands home to hundreds of species including rays, whales and sea turtles.
The Revillagigedo Archipelago is a group of volcanic islands off the country's south-west coast.
With a protection zone of 57,000 square miles (150,000km), it has become the largest ocean reserve in North America.
The move will mean all fishing activity will be banned, and the area will be patrolled by the navy.
It is hoped the move will help populations hit by commercial fishing operations in the area recover.
The park was designated by a decree signed by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. It will also forbid natural resources being extracted from the land or the building of new hotel infrastructure.
The area, which is about 250 miles (400km) south-west of the country's Baja California peninsula has been described as the Galapagos of North America, because of its volcanic nature and unique ecology.
The archipelago consists of San Benedicto, Socorro, Roca Partida and Clarion volcanic islands
Sitting on the convergence of two ocean currents, the islands are a hub for open water and migratory species.
It has hundreds of breeds of ocean wildlife, including humpback whales that use the shallow and coastal areas around the islands for breeding.
Last year the Pacific Ocean site was named as a UNESCO world heritage area.
María José Villanueva, the director of conservation of WWF in Mexico, described the move as an "important precedent" to the rest of the world, according to local media.
It follows a similar move by Chile, which created an even bigger ocean reserve in 2015.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-42120610
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Heathrow worker charged over £700,000 cocaine find - BBC News
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2017-11-25
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Farhan Iqbal was arrested at Terminal 5 after cocaine with a street value of £700,000 was seized.
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London
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A Heathrow security worker has been charged with conspiring to import drugs after cocaine with a street value of £700,000 was seized.
Farhan Iqbal, 30, was arrested alongside Colombian national, Camilo Alec Pulido Suarez, 37, in a toilet at Terminal 5 on Thursday.
Both were charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and appeared earlier at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court.
They were remanded in custody along with two other Colombian nationals.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Wilmer Salazar-Duarte, 43, was separately arrested in the arrivals area of the airport, while 46-year-old Alexander Salazar-Duarte, was arrested after a search at an address in east London. They too face charges of conspiracy to import cocaine.
All four are due to appear at Blackfriars Crown Court on December 22.
The NCA said about seven kilograms of cocaine were seized, said to have a value of about £250,000 but could fetch more than £700,000 if cut and sold on the street.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42126357
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Claw hammer attack victim, 96, facing 'long' recovery - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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D-Day veteran Jim Booth suffered a "cowardly" attack, but is "a little stronger each day", his family say.
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Somerset
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Jim Booth is growing "a little stronger each day", his family say
A great-grandfather who was attacked with a claw hammer in a suspected distraction burglary is facing a "long process of recovery", his family says.
D-Day veteran Jim Booth, 96, was left with "serious injuries" after he was attacked by a cold caller asking if he needed any work done to his house, in Taunton, Somerset.
In a statement, his family said they shared well-wishers' feelings of "shock, incomprehension and outrage".
He is being held by Avon and Somerset Police on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated burglary.
Mr Booth was attacked on Wednesday after he told a cold caller, who had knocked on his front door, that he did not require any work on his house.
In a statement, his children said: "Countless friends, neighbours, members of the community and even strangers, have expressed their shock, incomprehension and outrage.
"We acknowledge and share those feelings."
However, they said Mr Booth was "not easily defeated and he grows a little stronger each day".
"Our father is an exceptional person of whom we are all immensely proud.
"He is the head of the family, a dearly loved father to his four children and adored by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to whom he's simply known as 'The Legend.'
"He is, and always has been, our own family hero."
They said Mr Booth had been the victim of a "vicious and cowardly attack" and paid tribute to police officers who have worked "tirelessly" on the case.
"We are all now focused on the long process of recovery, which will be helped by the love and support of all those around him," they added.
Mr Booth was part of a top-secret team of submariners who slipped into the waters off Normandy to scout the beaches, during World War Two.
Avon and Somerset Police said officers were treating the attack as part of a distraction burglary.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-42126107
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Former TV presenter John Leslie charged with sexual assault - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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The ex-Blue Peter presenter is alleged to have put his hand up a woman's skirt at an Edinburgh club.
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Edinburgh, Fife & East Scotland
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Former television presenter John Leslie has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman in an Edinburgh nightclub.
The 52-year-old former Wheel of Fortune and Blue Peter star is alleged to have put his hand up the woman's skirt.
The 26-year-old woman was on a hen night when the alleged incident took place at Atik in the city's Tollcross area.
It is said to have occurred at an event to mark the club's re-opening in June.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police in Edinburgh have charged a 52-year-old man following a report that a 26-year-old woman was the victim of a sexual assault at a nightclub in the Tollcross area on Sunday 25 June."
A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: "The Procurator Fiscal has received a report concerning a 52-year-old male, in connection with an alleged incident in Edinburgh on 25 June 2017.
"The report is currently under consideration by the Procurator Fiscal."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-42123304
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Oxford Circus panic: Pair released after police questioning - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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The two men were questioned over an altercation at London's Oxford Circus which caused panic on Friday.
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UK
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Armed police responded to the incident as if it was terror-related
Two men questioned over an altercation that sparked panic in London's Oxford Street on Friday have been released without charge, police have said.
The pair - aged 21 and 40 - were quizzed on Saturday after attending a police station voluntarily.
A number of people were injured, with nine hospitalised, after people fled the station amid reports of shooting.
Armed police were sent to the scene and initially treated the incident as potentially terror-related.
However, officers said they had found no evidence that any gunshots were fired.
Police later said the incident - which resulted in the temporary closure of two Tube stations - may have been caused by an altercation between two men on a Central Line platform.
They released CCTV images of two men they wanted to speak to in connection with the incident.
Confirming that two men had now been released, a spokeswoman for British Transport Police said: "There are no criminal proceedings against them.
"They have not been arrested or charged."
Officers are still going through CCTV footage and speaking to witnesses, the force said.
No further suspects are being sought.
Oxford Circus - where Oxford Street and Regent Street meet - was cordoned off
Oxford Circus - where Oxford Street and Regent Street meet - was cordoned off during the incident, while shops and businesses were placed in lockdown.
Shoppers were barricaded inside stores in Oxford Street, as armed police were deployed.
However, within 90 minutes the officers had been stood down.
Paramedics said people were injured in the rush to flee the station, described by eyewitnesses as a "stampede".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42130611
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Ashes: England on verge of crushing first Test defeat by Australia - BBC Sport
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2017-11-26
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England are on the verge of losing the first Ashes Test after Australia dominate the fourth day in Brisbane.
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Last updated on .From the section Cricket
First Ashes Test, Gabba, Brisbane (day four of five)
England are on the verge of losing the first Ashes Test after Australia dominated the fourth day in Brisbane.
Needing 170 to win, the home side require only 56 more on Monday, reaching the close on 114-0, with David Warner 60 not out and Cameron Bancroft unbeaten on 51.
Such a modest target was the result of the good work of their bowlers, who dismissed England for 195.
The tourists had opportunities to set Australia a more challenging chase, but Joe Root (51), Jonny Bairstow (42) and Moeen Ali (40) failed to make telling contributions following good starts.
After Moeen was controversially stumped off the bowling of Nathan Lyon, England's tail was blown away by vicious fast bowling from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
Then, any hope that the visitors could make Australia uncomfortable was withdrawn by Warner and Bancroft, who blunted the new ball and punished the bowling later in their innings to raise the chances of a four-day finish.
They ran out of time, but on Monday Australia will go 1-0 up in their quest to regain the Ashes and preserve an unbeaten record at the Gabba that stretches back to 1988.
• None England must fix problems or Ashes will be gone - Agnew
Australia's hold on an absorbing series opener only began to strengthen midway through the afternoon.
Before then, like the previous three days, the even nature of the contest was gripping, except this particular instalment was played out in front of a much emptier Gabba.
With Australia strangely reluctant to use the aggressive, short bowling that served them so well on a thrilling third evening, first Root, then Moeen and Bairstow looked to have the opportunity to bat England into a strong position.
But whereas home captain Steve Smith ground out 141 not out on day three, England have had seven innings of 38 or more in the match, but no individual score above 83.
And with the tourists lacking the pace to prevent Australia's tail from adding 119 runs for their last three wickets in the first innings, England's lower order have twice been blown away in a style reminiscent of the 5-0 defeat down under four years ago.
James Anderson did at least take the new ball for England, allaying any fears that he was carrying an injury after he did little bowling on the third afternoon.
Moeen and Bairstow's partnership of 42 was a counter-attack, the sixth-wicket pair particularly pressurising Lyon, who had earlier frozen Mark Stoneman and Dawid Malan.
When Lyon turned an off-break past Moeen's forward defence, Tim Paine's lone appeal for a stumping looked innocuous but was still referred to the third umpire.
After numerous close-up replays from different angles, Chris Gaffaney decided there was enough evidence to suggest Moeen had no part of his foot behind the crease line.
If that was debatable, what seemed more controversial was the line itself.
Repainted numerous times throughout the match, the part of the crease where Moeen was batting had become thicker, meaning he had to be further back to be in his ground and giving more leeway to the wicketkeeper.
From there, Starc and Cummins took over as England lost their last five wickets for 40 runs, their last four for 10 and their last three for one.
Chris Woakes fended a Starc short ball to second slip and Bairstow ramped the same bowler to third man.
Broad, concerned about the bouncer, edged a Starc yorker behind and Ball could only flap a Cummins bumper to fly slip.
After also losing their last six first-innings wickets for 56 runs, England's lower order can expect to be peppered for the rest of the series.
Apart from the charge that resulted in them taking England's last three wickets for just one run, Australia chipped away at, rather than dismantled the tourists.
Root and Stoneman had done well to take England to 33-2, a lead of seven, on the third evening and they arrived on Sunday morning with a greater intent to score.
Lyon, though, was excellent once more, finding turn and bounce to render both Stoneman and Malan shotless and having both left-handers caught at slip.
Captain Root registered a busy half-century and seemed to be carrying his team's hopes, only to play across the line to Josh Hazlewood to be lbw for the second time in the match.
When Australia's chase began after tea, there was the prospect that Warner would look to complete victory with a day to spare.
But he and Bancroft were patient against the new-ball threat of Anderson and Broad, only opening their shoulders when England turned to the back-ups.
Moeen was pummelled for almost six an over and had to be withdrawn, Woakes and Ball went at more than four an over.
The Australia openers shared a century stand in their first Test together, Bancroft making a maiden half-century on his debut.
It was only the returns of Anderson and Broad that prevented Australia from claiming the extra half an hour and ensured the game would reach a fifth day.
The top seven must get big scores - analysis
Can England see the positives and do better in the next Test? Do I see this England line-up getting 400? No, I don't.
If England can only get 302 on this pitch - it will get difficult on quicker pitches.
The art of playing at this level is understanding that you can't allow bowlers to bowl - it's a learning curve for Stoneman and Malan.
I can see the tail being blown away every time. The top seven of the order will have to get big scores.
I also look at England's bowling attack - where are the 20 wickets going to come from?
However, last time here it was ugly, but this time they competed.
It's not despair. I've played in a few Test matches where it has been that. You have to dust yourselves down and get ready to go again. Cook and Root will have to lead that being the experienced batsmen.
I am little bit disappointed with Ball, Woakes and Moeen Ali. Broad and Anderson look like the only bowlers who will get wickets.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali: "We're very disappointed. Over the first three days we played well, but today we let ourselves down with the bat especially. A few players got in and never really got the big score that we needed.
"Regarding my wicket, you have to respect the umpires. One angle it looked out and another angle it looked not out. If I was bowling I'd want it out.
"I ripped my finger in the first innings after 15 overs. In the first innings I couldn't grip the ball that much, today was better but I was rubbish.
"To have no wickets today was disappointing."
Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc: "It's a great day for the team. To finish none down with 65 to go, that's a great feeling.
"The first Test is huge in the course of any series. If we can knock them off tomorrow, we're in a strong position heading to Adelaide. They have to chase us. There's a lot of cricket to be played but it's a great spot for us to be in.
"We have our plans to all their batters. We've spoken about their tail. The way that our boys bowled at them in the last home Ashes, we used that as a blueprint. They can expect more short stuff as the series goes on."
• None This was the first time Moeen Ali had been stumped in international cricket.
• None This would be Australia's second-highest successful Ashes chase at the Gabba (target of 188 achieved in 1982-83).
• None James Anderson's bowling average in the fourth innings v Australia is only 65.57.
• None David Warner played attacking shots to 36.0% of the deliveries he faced; Cameron Bancroft attacked 6.7% of the time.
Do England have any chance on Monday?
There's the slimmest of slim hopes to cling on to, according to the computer model of cricket website CricViz.
• None Get Ashes alerts sent to your phone
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42127405
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UK drone users to sit safety tests under new law - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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A draft bill proposes a number of new requirements for drone owners, while tackling illegal use.
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UK
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Drone users in the UK may have to take safety awareness tests under legislation planned by the government.
Drones weighing more than 250g could also be banned from flying near airports, or above 400 ft, in a crackdown on unsafe flying.
Police will also be given new powers to seize and ground drones which may have been used in criminal activity.
The bill has been welcomed by the pilots' union, which has warned of near misses involving drones and aircraft.
Balpa said there had been 81 incidents so far this year - up from 71 in 2016 and 29 in 2015.
The union's general secretary, Brian Strutton, said: "These proposals are a step towards the safe integration of drones, but until the new rules are in place the threat of a serious collision remains."
In July a drone flew directly over the wing of a large passenger jet as it came into land at London's Gatwick Airport, which a report said had put 130 lives at risk.
The proposed bill - to be published in spring 2018 - would ensure that owners of drones weighing more than 250g would need to register and sit a test.
Drone pilot and trainer Elliott Corke, director of The Aerial Academy, said most recreationally and commercially-used drones in use weighed more than 250g, apart from the cheap toy versions.
He told BBC News that many new users were surprised by how many rules around drone usage already exist, under the Civil Aviation Authority's Drone Code.
He said there was a "degree of frustration" however that the rules were not being enforced effectively, allowing criminal activity to take place.
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Serena Kennedy, Assistant Chief Constable of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), told BBC Breakfast: "At the moment we're using other bits of legislation - the Civil Aviation Authority's - to enable us to take action.
"This draft legislation will give us the powers we need to tackle drones when they are being used for criminal purposes."
She said it would help police tackle the "increasing problem" of drones delivering items, such as drugs and mobile phones, to prisons.
She said the legislation could allow police to look at how they can protect prison establishments from criminal drone activity through geo-fencing, which programmes no-fly zones into drones using GPS co-ordinates.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Drones should be flown no higher than 400ft
Christian Struwe, head of European public policy at drone maker DJI, warned that some of the proposals may be "difficult to police" - for example the height restriction.
But he told BBC Breakfast: "The good thing is that as an industry we are already working on it. We can limit how high they can fly."
Mr Struwe pointed out that there was no "hard limit" on how close drones could fly to airports. "The current wording is that you should stay well clear," he said.
He welcomed the proposals to limit the "bad use" of drones, adding that it was important people were aware there was regulation they needed to follow.
Mr Corke agreed that there was a "lack of awareness" of the Drone Code, and said he was frustrated by the lack of focus on practical training.
"Most people don't read the manual or learn the safety features before they use their drones", he said, adding that many did not know what to do if something malfunctioned.
Alongside the new laws, the government is also keen to develop technology allowing the greater use of drones for tasks including deliveries of everything from shopping to human organs.
The transport minster, Lady Sugg, said the government wanted to strike the right balance between harnessing drone potential and ensuring they are not misused.
"We're bringing forward this legislation in order to ensure that drones can be used safely, whilst also addressing some of the safety and privacy concerns that people have," she said.
The government is also working with drone manufacturers on technology which produces virtual barriers, to stop the machines operating in restricted areas.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42126150
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Perplexed about Brexit? Here are six things to watch - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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Why the process by which the UK will withdraw from the EU is complex and sometimes confusing.
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UK Politics
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We're now halfway between the Brexit referendum and the day the UK is supposed to leave the EU, and the entire process seems to be clouded in confusion.
Don't take my word for it. I've spent the last three weeks talking to a variety of people, from Irish thoroughbred breeders to chief executives of construction companies, from nuclear scientists to taxi drivers. And everyone wants to know where on earth all this is heading.
I've seen it argued that Leavers and Remainers find it difficult to have a constructive debate because the Leave side tend to focus on broad political themes (Take Back Control, anyone?) while the Remain side focus on the detail.
On 29 March 2017, European Council President Donald Tusk received the letter which triggered the UK's withdrawal from the EU
That's why some advocates of Remain still have difficulty accepting the fact that a big political decision was made in the referendum.
At the same time a government that has committed itself to Brexit, but is divided about what that actually means, is trying to master the detail in record time.
And if there's one thing about Brexit that does become clearer every week, it is that this is a process of unprecedented complexity. Like unstitching a blanket, or unbaking a cake: you can choose your own simile, but the inference is clear.
No advanced industrial economy has ever tried to do anything quite like this before - extricating itself in an astonishingly short space of time from more than 40 years of shared sovereignty and close economic co-ordination with its nearest neighbours..
No wonder we're still a wee bit perplexed. Explaining Brexit is a bit like stapling jelly.
But here, slightly at random and in no particular order, are a few things that emerged from our series, which may be worth keeping an eye on.
If a deal is to emerge soon on the issue of citizens' rights (for EU citizens here in the UK in particular) then the notion of "direct effect" is likely to loom large.
It is a really important principle of the European Court of Justice, because it means individuals can invoke European law before national courts.
In this case, the Brexit withdrawal agreement (with European law enshrined within it) could be written directly into UK law rather than relying on a separate piece of UK legislation to implement it.
The EU thought that the UK had conceded this point; if that turns out not to be so, it will cause problems.
Theresa May met Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in Downing Street in September 2017
It's not just about the border, and the effect on Northern Ireland, critically important though that is.
A total of 80% of Irish exports go to or through the UK, which is also critical for Irish energy supplies, and no other country outside the UK has nearly as much at stake in the Brexit debate as the Republic of Ireland.
"There is hardly any area of Irish life that won't be affected in one way or another," says Tony Connelly, author of the book Brexit and Ireland.
That means Dublin needs a good deal with the UK after Brexit. But it doesn't mean Ireland won't play tough.
In the Brexit negotiations it is sticking with the mantra of the unity of the EU27, and exasperation with UK politics is mounting.
Anna Wallace, the director of political relations at the professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, told the story of a manufacturing company in Wales that has decided to replace EU migrant workers with machines, rather than with a locally hired workforce.
"They knew they were probably going to do that in five years' time," she says. "But good businesses are now thinking about all of those things together."
It is a reminder that Brexit is only one part of a much larger economic debate, as another technological revolution looms large.
Automation would be changing the working lives of many people come what may (in fact, it already is). But the effect of Brexit will probably speed up things.
The good thing about change? It always brings opportunity as well as risk.
The end of the free movement of people from the EU could well lead to some liberalisation of UK immigration policy for the rest of the world.
That may not come as a surprise to many economists who deal with immigration issues, but it may not have been what many Leave supporters thought they were voting for.
The UK will still need immigrant labour to keep its economy moving.
Even the pressure group Migration Watch advocates the creation of new schemes for seasonal agricultural workers from the EU, and for young people between the ages of 18 and 30 to work in the UK for up to two years.
But immigration policy isn't just about the UK choosing whom it wants. They have to want to come to the UK too. The rest of the world beyond Europe may have to fill some gaps in the market.
The Joint European Torus in Oxfordshire can lay convincing claim to be the greatest scientific experiment in the UK. The long-term aim is to produce an unlimited supply of clean energy through nuclear fusion.
But Jet is run under the auspices of Euratom, the European Atomic Energy Community. And alongside the EU, we're leaving Euratom too.
The trouble is that funding for Jet runs out at the end of 2018. And until we know the future relationship between Euratom and the UK after Brexit, no one can say for certain that funding will be extended.
Surely, you cry, they won't just pull the giant Torus plug?
"I work in fusion research so by definition I think I'm an optimist," says Ian Chapman, the chief executive of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
"But everybody is anxious, and everybody wants a resolution to this as quickly as possible."
You probably know this one already, but it is worth repeating. When it comes to Brexit, no one has any idea what is going to happen next.
"I've been following British politics professionally for almost 50 years," says the pollster Peter Kellner.
"Never before have I been so uncertain as to where British politics has been heading.
"We're looking at a mountain ahead of us shrouded in fog. We can't see the pass and we don't know what's on the other side."
The battle for Brexit seems to have been around forever, but it may be that the critical phase is only just beginning. Stay tuned.
Chris Morris presents Brexit: A Guide for the Perplexed on BBC Radio 4. You can listen online, or download the programme podcast.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41915195
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Liverpool police officer hit by van in Norris Green - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The officer suffered serious injuries when a Transit van was driven at him in Liverpool.
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Liverpool
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Officers tried to stop a white van on Hasfield Road in Norris Green
A police officer was seriously injured when he was hit by a van driven at him in Liverpool.
Police were trying to stop a white Transit van in Norris Green when it was driven onto the pavement and then at the officer at 19:25 GMT on Saturday.
The officer was taken to hospital following the "despicable attack" where he is being treated for injuries to his ribs and leg, Merseyside Police said.
A man, from Everton, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The 34-year-old, who is also being held on possession of cannabis and driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, remains in custody.
The van hit a police car and other parked vehicles on Hasfield Road before it was driven at the officer, detectives said.
The policeman's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening
Det Ch Insp Martin Earl said: "This was a despicable attack on a police officer who was simply doing his job, trying to protect the communities of Merseyside.
"The officer has sustained serious injuries for which he is receiving treatment. He has also been left extremely shaken by his ordeal."
He added that colleagues have been left "shocked" by the incident and are being provided with support.
Peter Singleton, chair of the Merseyside branch of the Police Federation - which represents 120,000 officers across the UK - said it was "another sobering reminder of how dangerous policing can be".
"It's an incident that shows there are individuals out there who really just do not care, have no thoughts for other people - for the public or police officers - and their safety," he said.
He added it was an "unnerving reminder" of the death of Merseyside Police officer Dave Phillips, who was killed while trying to stop a stolen vehicle in 2015.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-42126356
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Oxford Circus: Two men quizzed after Tube panic - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The men, aged 21 and 40, attended a police station voluntarily after a media appeal.
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UK
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Two men have been interviewed by detectives after an altercation at a central London Tube station created mass panic on Friday, police have said.
The men, aged 21 and 40, attended a police station voluntarily following an appeal, and the inquiry is continuing.
Sixteen people were treated after they were injured fleeing Oxford Circus station, following reports of gunshots being fired on a Central Line platform.
There was no evidence any weapons had been fired, police said.
Officers want to speak to anyone who was at Oxford Circus underground station at the time of the evacuation.
Shoppers were barricaded inside stores on Oxford Street and armed police were deployed after the alarm was raised during the evening rush hour.
Police initially treated the incident as potentially terrorism-related, before standing down.
The British Transport Police said it believed there had been an altercation between two men on the platform before the scare.
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The Metropolitan Police said it began receiving "numerous" 999 calls reporting gunshots in Oxford Street and at Oxford Circus station at 16:38 GMT on Friday.
The first armed response vehicle was on the scene in less than a minute from receiving the first call, the force said.
Oxford Circus - where Oxford Street and Regent Street meet - was cordoned off, while shops and businesses were placed in lockdown.
In a statement, the Met Police said: "No casualties, evidence of any shots fired or any suspects were located by police."
But 16 people were injured as passengers fled from Oxford Circus station, in what witnesses said was "a stampede".
One patient was transferred to a major trauma centre for leg injuries, while eight people were taken to central London hospitals for minor injuries.
By 18:05 GMT, the police operation had been stood down.
In a statement, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised the city's emergency services for a "swift response".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42123644
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe speaks on phone during march - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe thanked supporters by phone at a march urging her release from jail in Iran.
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe spoke to her husband and supporters on the phone during a march in London on Saturday, and thanked them for their help as they campaign for her release.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42123651
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Brexit: Ireland 'to play tough' over talks - commissioner - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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The republic's EU commissioner says keeping the UK in the customs union would avoid a hard border.
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UK Politics
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The Irish Republic's EU commissioner has said Dublin will "play tough to the end" over its threat to veto Brexit talks moving on to discuss trade.
The European Union has said "sufficient progress" has to be made on the Irish border before negotiations on the UK and EU's future relationship can begin.
Phil Hogan told the Observer staying in the customs union would avoid the need for a hard border on the island.
The DUP said Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK must not be different.
Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, which is in a confidence-and-supply arrangement with the Conservative government, said she would not support "any suggestion that Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, will have to mirror European regulations".
Downing Street has said the whole of the UK will leave both the customs union and the single market when it leaves the EU in 2019.
Labour said nothing should be done that endangers the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, while the Liberal Democrats said Tory divisions over Brexit were "stoking tensions".
The EU has given Prime Minister Theresa May until 4 December to come up with further proposals on issues including the border, the Brexit divorce bill and citizens' rights, if European leaders are to agree to moving on to trade talks.
But Mr Hogan, the EU's agriculture commissioner, accused some in the British government of having what he called a "blind faith" about securing a comprehensive free trade deal after Brexit.
He said it was a "very simple fact" that "if the UK or Northern Ireland remained in the EU customs union, or better still the single market, there would be no border issue".
In these circumstances regulations either side of the border would remain the same, and so a near invisible border would be possible.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has asked for assurances of no hard border
The Irish government has always insisted there must not be a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying he must have written assurance from the UK before Brexit talks can move on.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has also said the UK's desire for no hard-border on the island of Ireland was "aspirational".
There could be no movement to phase two "on the basis of aspiration", he said.
But in her speech in Florence, this September, Mrs May restated that both the UK and EU will not accept any physical infrastructure at the border.
Meanwhile, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox told Sky News: "We don't want there to be a hard border but the United Kingdom is going to be leaving the single market and customs union."
He said progress towards a deal must be quicker and accused EU negotiators of making the so-called "divorce bill" a sticking point, adding: "We can't get a final answer to the Irish question until we get an idea of the end state."
Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that the Irish government was "desperately worried" about the possibility of a hard border.
He said Labour had not ruled out advocating membership of the single market or, if necessary, some form of customs union.
But he declined to commit to a preferred solution, arguing that Labour was not in government and therefore not involved in the Brexit talks.
"I'd be very happy if Theresa May wanted to move over and call that election and let us do that, but until we're round that table it's not sensible to say what you can get out of the negotiations," he said.
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: "Government divisions over what Brexit means are stoking tensions. The government and its Brextremists must swallow their pride and do the right thing for Ireland and the UK.
"Leaving the EU does not have to mean leaving the single market and customs union."
Suggestions for alternate arrangements have included a new partnership that would "align" customs approaches between the UK and the EU, resulting in "no customs border at all between the UK and Ireland".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42126687
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Migrants die as boat capsizes off Libya - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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At least 31 migrants have died after their boat capsized off the coast of Libya.
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At least 31 migrants have died after their boat capsized off the coast of Libya.
They had been trying to cross the Mediterranean along with another boat.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42126207
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Egypt attack: Military releases air strike footage - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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The footage shows jets and helicopters taking off and strikes on "terrorist targets".
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The Egyptian ministry of defence released footage showing jets and helicopters taking off along with onboard footage of strikes on what it said were "terrorist targets".
It comes after the massacre of worshippers at a mosque in Sinai.
At least 305 people died in the assault, which was launched during Friday prayers and has not yet been claimed by any group.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42125759
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Glee star Naya Rivera charged with domestic violence against her husband - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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The 30-year-old actress has been arrested and charged with domestic violence against her husband Ryan Dorsey.
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Newsbeat
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Glee star Naya Rivera has been charged with domestic violence against her husband.
The 30-year-old, who played Santana in the TV show, was arrested at a house in Kanawha County, West Virginia, America.
According to the criminal complaint, police were called for a domestic situation.
Officers say they talked with Ryan Dorsey who told them his wife, Naya, had hit him in the head and face.
Ryan, 34, showed officers mobile phone footage that supported what he says happened.
They also say he had minor injuries.
Naya was wearing a baggy hooded sweatshirt, leggings, sandals and handcuffs when officers walked her into a Kanawha County magistrate court just after midnight.
A local reporter from TV station WSAZ filmed in the court office.
In the footage Naya Rivera is told she's being charged with "misdemeanor domestic battery" and asked if she knew what she was being charged with, to which she replies: "Yes your honour".
A Kanawha County magistrate set her bond for release at $1000.
She then signs a document and leaves with her father-in-law.
The reporter asks her if she wants to say anything, but she doesn't respond.
Newsbeat spoke to Corporal Lester at Kanawha County Sheriff's department who confirmed the arrest and charge.
In a statement police added: "As is always the case in criminal matters, the charge against Mrs. Rivera is merely an accusation. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
Naya Rivera played cold-hearted high school cheerleader Santana in Glee from 2009 until 2015.
In August she revealed she'd had an abortion when she was pregnant with Ryan Dorsey's child in 2010 during a day off from filming Glee.
The pair weren't a couple at the time, but in 2014 they married.
They reportedly filed for divorce last year but recently decided to stay together.
Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/42128435
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Jonny Bairstow: England wicketkeeper spoken to by ECB over Perth 'incident' - BBC Sport
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2017-11-26
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The ECB says it has spoken to England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow after claims about an incident involving Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft.
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Last updated on .From the section Cricket
The England and Wales Cricket Board says it has spoken to England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow after claims about an alleged incident involving Australia's Cameron Bancroft.
Reports in Australia suggested Bairstow headbutted batsman Bancroft on a night out in Perth four weeks ago.
The ECB said there was no report of any incident from the venue, security or police and no injury reported.
It will "follow up" with players after the conclusion of the first Ashes Test.
Cricket Australia told the BBC it was aware of the incident, adding that it was a matter for the ECB and not Australian cricket's governing body.
• None England on brink of first Test defeat
• None Podcast: Vaughan & Tuffers review the fourth day of the first Test
In a statement issued on Sunday, the ECB said: "Following an initial conversation with Jonny Bairstow tonight, we understand the context and will follow up with England players and management after the Brisbane Test."
The BBC's cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said: "I understand from the camp that Bairstow and Bancroft were having a drink together. Their heads met. They carried on drinking together.
"More ammo for accusations of a drink culture, but this will not help relations between the teams."
Bairstow, 28, and 25-year-old debutant Bancroft have both been involved in the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane, which Australia are set to win on Monday.
The hosts need just 56 runs on the final day at the Gabba to go 1-0 up in the five-Test series.
The reports follow the incident involving key England player Ben Stokes, who did not travel with the squad because he is awaiting the outcome of a police investigation into his involvement in a fight outside a Bristol nightclub on 25 September.
Yorkshire's Bairstow has played in 45 Test matches after making his debut in May 2012. He averages 39.77 with the bat and has taken 119 catches.
He was one of three players who were fined by the ECB last month and accepted formal written warnings for "unprofessional conduct" - unrelated to the Stokes investigation.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42128685
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Sky Sports anchor Simon Thomas 'crushed' by wife's death - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas says his wife, Gemma, died three days after falling ill.
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UK
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Simon Thomas said his wife Gemma died 'surrounded by family and friends'
The wife of Sky Sports anchor and ex-Blue Peter presenter Simon Thomas has died, just three days after she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.
Thomas tweeted that he was "crushed with indescribable pain" following the death of his 40-year-old wife, Gemma.
He said she died "surrounded by her family and friends" and that their son Ethan, eight, was "in bits".
Thomas presented Blue Peter for six years and left for Sky Sports in 2005.
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"Today I am crushed with indescribable pain," he said in the post.
"Just three days after falling ill with Acute Myloid Leukaemia, my dear wife Gemma passed away yesterday evening surrounded by her family and friends.
"If you are a prayer - pray for my boy Ethan. 8yrs, precious and in bits. Thank you."
A Sky Sports spokesman said: "We are shocked and devastated to hear Simon's news. All our thoughts are with him and his family during this terribly sad time."
Footballers, including England striker Jamie Vardy and England women's captain Steph Houghton, also tweeted their sympathy.
Norwich City Football Club - the team Thomas supports - said the thoughts of everybody at the club were with the presenter and his family.
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Mr Thomas has presented live Premier League coverage for Sky Sports and has worked as a Sky Sports News anchor.
About 3,100 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia - a type of blood cancer.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42124143
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Heathrow worker charged over £700,000 cocaine find - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Farhan Iqbal was arrested at Terminal 5 after cocaine with a street value of £700,000 was seized.
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London
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A Heathrow security worker has been charged with conspiring to import drugs after cocaine with a street value of £700,000 was seized.
Farhan Iqbal, 30, was arrested alongside Colombian national, Camilo Alec Pulido Suarez, 37, in a toilet at Terminal 5 on Thursday.
Both were charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and appeared earlier at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court.
They were remanded in custody along with two other Colombian nationals.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Wilmer Salazar-Duarte, 43, was separately arrested in the arrivals area of the airport, while 46-year-old Alexander Salazar-Duarte, was arrested after a search at an address in east London. They too face charges of conspiracy to import cocaine.
All four are due to appear at Blackfriars Crown Court on December 22.
The NCA said about seven kilograms of cocaine were seized, said to have a value of about £250,000 but could fetch more than £700,000 if cut and sold on the street.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42126357
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Huddersfield Town 1-2 Manchester City - BBC Sport
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2017-11-26
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Manchester City come from a goal down against a resilient Huddersfield to win their 11th successive Premier League game.
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Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his side "competed amazingly" as they fought back from 1-0 down to win at Huddersfield.
The league leaders equalled a club record - set in 2015 - by securing an 11th successive Premier League victory, despite falling behind through a Nicolas Otamendi own goal.
Sergio Aguero's penalty early in the second half drew City level, and Raheem Sterling struck the winner with only six minutes to go.
"If you want to win the title you cannot expect easy games," said Guardiola. "We have to live these kinds of situations and we spoke at half-time about how we are going to react."
This was the first time City have come from behind at half-time to win a Premier League away match since April 1995.
Tempers frayed at the final whistle, with Huddersfield forward Rajiv van la Parra sent off following a clash with Leroy Sane.
Victory meant City re-established an eight-point lead over second-placed Manchester United. Since being held 1-1 by Everton on 21 August they have won 18 consecutive games in all competitions.
"We are going to lose," said Guardiola. "That is going to happen - definitely. Today was so close - it's going to happen.
"The 18 games in a row is amazing, and we have 11 in the Premier League in a row so that's good. We have a good moment and with the spirit we can go further."
Defeat - Huddersfield's second at home in their first Premier League campaign - leaves the Terriers 11th in the table.
City's total of 37 points after 13 games is a Premier League record - and the last time a team led the top flight by eight or more points at the same stage was in 1993-94. Then, Manchester United were 11 points clear and on course to win their second consecutive title.
Guardiola's men arrived here with 40 goals from their 12 previous league matches, but they lacked their usual ruthlessness in front goal against resilient hosts.
Home goalkeeper Jonas Lossl denied Aguero on several occasions, while Sane hit the crossbar with a free-kick after his side had drawn level.
The league leaders wore the home side down, making 336 successful passes after the break compared to Huddersfield's 37, with Sterling's winner looping agonisingly over Lossl after he had saved from Gabriel Jesus.
Three more wins and City will draw level with Arsenal's run of 14 straight league victories from February-August 2002. The potential record-equalling fixture? At Manchester United's Old Trafford on 10 December.
Huddersfield were brave and bold at times in front of a passionate home crowd, and defender Mathias Jorgensen went close to opening the scoring from close range in the first half.
But they have scored just nine league goals this season, with Laurent Depoitre, Aaron Mooy and club record signing Steven Mounie the joint-leading scorers on two goals apiece.
Mounie has failed to score since the opening day of the season, and the Benin international only appeared off the bench in the 86th minute against City.
David Wagner's side face trips to Arsenal and Everton this week and, after Huddersfield failed to manage a shot on target against City, the German will be hoping for more threat in front of goal to end a run of two straight defeats.
What the managers said
Terriers boss David Wagner: "I think the players have done everything to get a draw, they were solid and focused. Unfortunately we were not able to get over the line. Manchester City is a top team.
"I saw everything I wanted to see from my team apart from the loss. The first goal was very good for us and the crowd, who played a huge part. I think it was a penalty to City, it was holding in the box.
"We were then unlucky with the second goal.
"We have played 13 games in the Premier League and have proved we are competitive. I take a lot of positives, it is unfortunate about the result.
On van La Parra's red card: "I've not seen the video, I only hear the barging and gripping in the face. The referee has seen it and decided it was a red card."
City manager Pep Guardiola: "We spoke at half-time about how to react, we had enough chances to score and the first time Huddersfield had a chance they scored. We spoke about not giving up, to keep going.
"It was a brilliant move to win the penalty.
"It is impossible to win every game easily, this league is so tough. The guys competed amazingly, which is why we won."
No away-day blues for City - the stats
• None Manchester City have won their past 11 away matches in all competitions - a record for a top-flight club in English football history.
• None Huddersfield have lost five of their past seven Premier League games (W2), after losing just one of their first six.
• None Sergio Aguero has scored against 31 of the 32 opponents he has faced in the Premier League, only failing to do so in one match against Bolton.
• None Aguero has scored more penalties than any other Premier League player this season, converting all three of the spot-kicks he has taken - all three penalties were won by Raheem Sterling.
• None Two out of eight of the goals Manchester City have conceded this season have been own goals (Kyle Walker against Stoke and Nicolas Otamendi at Huddersfield).
• None Huddersfield were the first Premier League side since Crystal Palace against Watford in March to register a goal without having a shot on target in the match.
Huddersfield travel to Arsenal on Wednesday at 19:45 GMT, while City host Southampton on the same night at 20:00.
• None Rajiv van La Parra (Huddersfield Town) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
• None Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt missed. Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
• None David Silva (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt blocked. Danny Williams (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42042016
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Mugabe will play elder statesman role in Zimbabwe, says mediator - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Jesuit priest who brokered his resignation says he can’t confirm Mr Mugabe got a $10m pay-off.
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Africa
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Father Fidelis Mukonori says he can't confirm reports that Robert Mugabe was given $10m (£7.5m)
Robert Mugabe will continue to have a role to play in Zimbabwean politics, the Jesuit priest who helped negotiate his resignation has told the BBC.
Father Fidelis Mukonori said he would provide "advice" as an elder statesman, including to the new president.
Mr Mugabe, 93, resigned on Tuesday after a military intervention and days of mass protests.
Mr Mukonori said he could not confirm reports that the ex-leader was granted $10m (£7.5m) to ease him out of office.
Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in to replace Mr Mugabe as president on Friday.
Mr Mnangagwa, long a close ally of Mr Mugabe, was sacked earlier this month, triggering the political crisis that eventually saw his boss's downfall.
Father Mukonori, 70, who is close to Robert Mugabe and acted as a mediator between him and the military, said the new president would go to his predecessor for political counsel.
"In the African world, senior citizens are there for advice," he told the BBC's Richard Galpin at a church outside the capital, Harare, after leading a service that included prayers giving thanks for the peaceful transfer of power.
He referred to what Mr Mnangagwa said about his predecessor at his inauguration.
"When he says 'he's my father, he's my leader, he's my mentor', you tell me he's going to stay off from his father, from his mentor, from his leader? I don't think so."
The priest said that Mr Mugabe and his wife Grace remained at their house in Harare and had no plans to leave the country.
The military takeover came in response to Mr Mugabe's decision to position Grace as his successor and sack Mr Mnangagwa from the vice-presidency.
Father Mukonori said he could not confirm reports that the ex-president was granted millions of dollars and promised that his assets would not be touched to persuade him to step down.
"We didn't offer him anything... He resigned for the good of Zimbabwe," he said.
He added: "What I have read in the newspapers is about immunity [from prosecution], and that he will be looked after like any other former head of state."
Mr Mugabe leaving power, he added, was the best thing he had ever done.
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Separately on Sunday, Robert Mugabe was described as being "quite jovial" by a nephew in an interview with the French news agency AFP.
"He is actually looking forward to his new life - farming and staying at the rural home. He has taken it well," Leo Mugabe said.
He said that Grace wanted to focus on already announced plans to build the controversial $1bn Robert Mugabe University in Mazowe, near Harare.
There are fears that President Mnangagwa, who is associated with some of worst atrocities committed under the ruling Zanu-PF party since independence in 1980, will not usher in the democratic reforms that many in Zimbabwe are hoping for.
But Father Mukonori said he believed the former spymaster knows that democracy is "crucial".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The Archbishop of York ends his protest over Robert Mugabe
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42130757
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Attempted murder charge after suspected claw hammer attack in Taunton - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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A 39-year-old has been charged with aggravated burglary and attempted murder of a D-Day veteran.
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Somerset
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Jim Booth remains in hospital after the alleged attack on Wednesday
A man has been charged with aggravated burglary and the attempted murder of a great-grandfather seriously injured in a suspected claw hammer attack.
D-Day veteran, Jim Booth, 96, was attacked at his home in Gipsy Lane, Taunton, on Wednesday, and remains in hospital.
Joseph Isaacs, 39, of no fixed address, has been charged, Avon and Somerset Police said.
Mr Isaacs is due to appear at Taunton Deane Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Mr Booth was part of a top-secret team of submariners who slipped into the waters off Normandy to scout the beaches during World War Two.
His family described him as an "exceptional person" and a "legend", adding: "He is, and always has been, our own family hero."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-42130266
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Brexit: Irish border won't be resolved until EU-UK trade deal struck - Fox - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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The Irish government says it won't accept a hard border and that it could veto UK trade talks with the EU.
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UK Politics
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There can be no final decisions on the future of the Irish border until the UK and the EU have reached a trade agreement, Liam Fox has said.
The UK's international trade secretary also blamed the EU for Brexit delays.
The comments came after the Irish Republic's EU commissioner said Dublin could veto Brexit trade talks.
The EU has said "sufficient progress" has to be made on the Irish border before negotiations on a future relationship can begin.
Downing Street has said the whole of the UK will leave both the customs union and the single market when it leaves the EU in 2019.
"We don't want there to be a hard border but the UK is going to be leaving the customs union and the single market," Mr Fox told Sky News.
He added: "We can't come to a final answer to the Irish question until we get an idea of the end state. And until we get into discussions with the EU on the end state that will be very difficult - so the quicker we can do that the better, and we are still in a position where the EU doesn't want to do that."
Mr Fox accused the European Commission of having an "obsession" with ever-closer union between EU member states, which was delaying progress in Brexit talks.
Phil Hogan, the EU's agriculture commissioner, told the Observer that staying in the customs union would negate the need for a hard border - with customs posts and possible passport checks - on the island.
He said Dublin would "play tough to the end" over its threat to veto trade talks until it had guarantees over the border.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he was "worried" by Mr Fox's comments, adding that Labour would not take continued membership of the single market and the customs union off the table.
"I think the one thing that we don't want to do is jeopardise any movement quickly, because we need movement to enable us to get into the proper trade negotiations," Mr McDonnell told ITV's Peston on Sunday.
"So I'm hoping that isn't a Downing Street-sanctioned statement that's he's made."
It's 310 miles (499km) long - a squiggle on the map that meanders from Carlingford Lough in the east to Lough Foyle in the west.
The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is the soon-to-be frontier between the UK and the European Union.
And right now it is the most troublesome frontier between Brexit negotiations stalling or progressing.
London and Dublin each say they are committed to maintaining an open border. But Ireland wonders how that will be possible.
Oh and one other thing to throw into the mix - after all the talk of how wobbly Theresa May's government is, so is Ireland's.
There could be a general election there before Christmas.
The EU has given Prime Minister Theresa May until 4 December to come up with further proposals on issues including the border, the Brexit divorce bill and citizens' rights, if European leaders are to agree to moving on to trade talks.
But Mr Hogan accused some in the British government of having what he called "blind faith" about securing a comprehensive free-trade deal after Brexit.
He said it was a "very simple fact" that "if the UK or Northern Ireland remained in the EU customs union, or better still the single market, there would be no border issue".
In these circumstances regulations on either side of the border would remain the same, and so a near-invisible border would be possible.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. UK and Irish politicians clashed over Brexit and the Irish border on BBC One's the Sunday Politics
The Irish government has always insisted there must not be a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying he must have written assurance from the UK before Brexit talks can move on.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has said the UK's desire for no hard border on the island of Ireland was "aspirational".
It comes as Ireland's deputy prime minister faces a motion of no confidence over her handling of a case involving a whistle-blower alleging corruption within the police.
The issue could see Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar's coalition government fall and an election held before Christmas.
In her speech in Florence, this September, Mrs May restated that both the UK and EU would not accept any physical infrastructure at the border.
The Democratic Unionist Party said Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK must not be different.
Arlene Foster, the leader of the DUP, which is in a confidence-and-supply arrangement with the Conservative government, said she would not support "any suggestion that Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, will have to mirror European regulations".
Suggestions for alternate arrangements have included a new partnership that would "align" customs approaches between the UK and the EU, resulting in "no customs border at all between the UK and Ireland".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42129759
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Manchester Arena attack: PM vows to cover costs - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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Theresa May says the city will get the "financial support it needs" following the Arena bombing.
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Manchester
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Twenty-two people died in the attack at Manchester Arena on 22 May
The government will fully fund the costs of dealing with the Manchester Arena attack, Prime Minister Theresa May has said.
It comes after Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said an initial offer was "not good enough".
But the PM told the Manchester Evening News: "Be in no doubt, Manchester will get the financial support it needs."
She added in a statement that a Cabinet Office task force had been set up to oversee meeting the costs.
Suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a device that killed 22 people and injured 512 in the foyer of the venue at an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May.
Andy Burnham said an initial government offer was "not good enough"
The government had previously said Manchester would receive £12m to help cover the "exceptional costs" of the attack, with £3m being made available immediately.
But Mr Burnham said more than £17.5m had already been spent and suggested at least £10.4m more could be needed, including for the inquests into the 22 deaths and an inquiry.
The £12m figure would have meant local authorities being forced to cut services to make up the £5m shortfall on what had already been spent, he warned.
On Friday, Mr Burnham outlined £10.5m projected costs to add to the £17.5m already spent.
Mrs May said the government would meet the "unexpected and exceptional costs"
Mrs May told the Manchester Evening News: "Be in no doubt, Manchester will get the financial support it needs - and if that costs £28m, as Andy Burnham has estimated, then that is what we will make available."
She added in a statement that the attack was "one of the darkest moments in the city's history".
"I promised in the wake of that appalling atrocity this government would do all it could to help victims recover and the city to heal. I repeat that commitment today," she said.
"Where your public services have had to bear, or will bear, unexpected and exceptional costs in coping with this terrible attack, these will be met by the government.
"The process of making those payments is ongoing and I understand the frustration felt at the pace of delivery.
"So I have taken steps to speed up our response. Over the weekend a taskforce has been established within the Cabinet Office to oversee progress and expedite payments when necessary."
Mrs May added that not all the funding would be needed immediately.
"For example the inquests, opened and adjourned this month, will not begin until next June," she said.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-42132684
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China explosion: Ningbo port city rocked by major blast - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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At least two people have been killed in the Sunday morning blast in Ningbo, local authorities say.
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China
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The Chinese city of Ningbo is rocked by a deadly blast
At least two people have been killed and dozens more injured in an explosion in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo, local officials say.
The blast is said to have occurred at a factory at about 09:00 (01:00 GMT) in the city's Jiangbei District, causing some nearby buildings to collapse.
State media reported that at least 30 people had been taken to local hospitals amid rescue operations.
Footage showed rescuers carrying people away from an area surrounded by debris.
Industrial accidents are common in China, and have prompted growing calls for better safety standards.
The government says it has been tightening site inspections and toughening punishments for safety lapses.
But while the number of workplace deaths in 2017 is reported to have fallen by more than 25% on 2016 - industrial fatalities still number at least 29,000 in the year to date.
Pictures from the scene showed the power of the blast, which destroyed cars and buildings
Police said on social media that an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the latest explosion.
Ningbo has a large international shipping port and is best known for its auto-manufacturing industry, it is home to Geely - the Chinese owner of Volvo.
Chinese media said the explosion happened in an industrial area, and residential buildings damaged nearby were already empty ahead of planned demolition.
Some local reports suggested gas canisters could have been to blame for the blast.
Shattered windows were reported in businesses up to 1km away from the site of the explosion itself.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42126985
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Brexit and the Irish border: Is all as it outwardly appears? - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Is the issue really being used by the EU for wider political ends or is this an example of the conspiracy theories that often do the rounds in Westminster?
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UK Politics
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Sometimes in politics people see conspiracies where none exist.
But when it comes to tough political negotiations, both sides may from time to time indulge in a little bit of conspiracy theory which, becomes on occasion, perhaps a bit of paranoia here and there which could reveal some of your opponents' tactics.
There may be nothing in it, but just in case, well, you've thought through what might be the true extent of your rivals' plotting.
And as you know every now and then it is worth exploring one or two of those conspiracy theories that circulate in SW1.
So, bear with me. While there are genuine and sincerely held logistical and understandable concerns about what happens to the Irish border after Brexit, there is a sense building that perhaps the Irish government is playing those concerns rather harder than is justified.
The DUP leader, Arlene Foster, using rather strong language, told off the Irish leader Leo Varadkar for doing just that today.
But the next step in what many would say is a conspiracy theory, borne out of Brexiteer desperation, is to ponder whether the EU as a whole is over-egging their true level of worry about what happens to the border.
The issue has in fact, so the theory goes, become the perfect "anti-UK" issue that can be waved around in the talks every now and then.
Of course not a single soul involved would want Northern Ireland to go back to the era when there was a hard border for very different reasons than those that are pondered today. So again, so the theory goes, it is politically awkward to shout down those who are outlining concerns.
But according to these arguments, the border issue could be exploited by the EU side so they can later drop their concerns as a public concession to the UK, in return for a genuine concession from the British side.
There are whispers too that the previous government in Ireland had been discussing some potential solutions to the problem but after the change in political circumstances those conversations came to an end.
No one on any side of the talks at the moment would concede or publicly acknowledge any of the kinds of tactics outlined above.
An excellent and very different account of how pressure has been building on this issue has been written by one of my counterparts, the excellent Tony Connolly at RTE.
But in any negotiation both sides are looking for leverage. And in something as tense as this deal-making process, both sides' positions are not exactly as they outwardly appear.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42075126
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Archbishop of York ends decade of protest over Mugabe - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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The Archbishop of York cut up his dog collar and would not wear one until Robert Mugabe was deposed.
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UK
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The Archbishop of York put his dog collar back on during the show
The Archbishop of York has put on a dog collar for the first time in almost 10 years, ending his symbolic protest over Robert Mugabe's leadership of Zimbabwe.
In December 2007, Dr John Sentamu cut up his dog collar live on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, promising not to wear one until Mr Mugabe left office.
He said Zimbabwe's leader had "taken people's identity" and "cut it to pieces", prompting him to do the same.
On Sunday, he returned to the Marr Show and reinstated his collar as promised.
Mr Mugabe left office dramatically on Tuesday after 37 years of authoritarian rule.
Dr Sentamu said: "Normally I [would] tie the top button and put on my collar, but for nearly 10 years I haven't be able to. It has meant every morning I think of the people of Zimbabwe."
After Andrew Marr presented him with an envelope containing the cut up pieces of his collar, Dr Sentamu said: "You've been a very faithful friend, you've kept them - that's lovely.
"I could attempt to put this one back together using superglue, but it would be a pretty ropey collar. And I actually think the message for Zimbabwe is the same. They just can't try and stitch it up. Something more radical, something new needs to happen."
He said Mr Mugabe may have gone, but the new President Emmerson Mnangagwa - who was sworn in on Friday - was "still implicated in a lot of things".
Although Mr Mnangagwa has unseated Zimbabwe's long-time ruler, he is still associated by many with some of the worst atrocities committed under the ruling Zanu-PF party since the country gained independence in 1980.
Zimbabwe's new President Emmerson Mnangagwa "can't bury the past", said Dr Sentamu
Dr Sentamu added: "It's quite possible that Mnangagwa could be a very, very good president. But he can't simply bury the past - it won't go away."
He also said it could be possible for Zimbabweans to forgive Mr Mugabe.
"Mugabe needs to say at some point to Zimbabweans: 'Forgive me'. He's a very, very intelligent man and I think he is capable of doing it."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42128073
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Mum's last wish honours Hillsborough fans - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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A bronze plaque pays tribute to those at the 1989 football disaster who helped rescue supporters.
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Liverpool
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Some football fans used pitch-side hoardings as stretchers at the Hillsborough stadium
A plaque paying tribute to survivors of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster who helped rescue fans has been unveiled as a last wish of a victim's mother.
Ninety-six fans died and many were hurt after a crush at Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
The plaque is the final wish of the late Hillsborough justice campaigner Anne Williams, who wanted to credit those who tried to save her son Kevin.
It was unveiled at Liverpool Central Station in front of a large crowd.
Many fans gave first aid and used pitch-side advertising hoardings as makeshift stretchers after the crush at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium on 15 April 1989.
Anne Williams asked her brother Danny (top) to set up a tribute
Before her death in 2013, Mrs Williams asked her brother Danny Gordon to set up a tribute to the disaster's survivors.
Mr Gordon said it was "her last legacy".
"Being from Formby, she regularly got the train to Liverpool Central to attend her meetings for justice in town, so it's really special to have it there," he added.
The plaque pays tribute to survivors who helped
Mr Gordon commissioned it after many of the survivors and families "gave their approval and expressed how much it would mean to them", a spokeswoman for the event said.
Merseyrail agreed to put up the plaque at Liverpool Central after Mr Gordon struggled to find a permanent home for it.
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, managing director at Merseyrail, added: "It will be seen by hundreds of thousands of passengers, who will be able to pay tribute to the survivors, which is exactly what she would have wanted."
In 2016, new inquests concluded the fans had been unlawfully killed.
Earlier this year, it was announced that former Ch Supt David Duckenfield faces 95 charges of manslaughter while five other senior figures will be prosecuted over the disaster.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-42110346
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Two men arrested after triple stabbing - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Two men in their 20s are arrested after three men were stabbed in north Belfast.
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Northern Ireland
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The police said they received a report at about 00:45 GMT on Saturday morning
Two men in their 20s have been arrested after a triple stabbing in north Belfast.
A 20-year-old woman, who was arrested earlier on suspicion of attempted murder, has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Three men, all in their 20s, were stabbed in north Belfast in the early hours of Saturday and are all in a stable condition in hospital.
One of the men was found with stab wounds to the head
One of the men was found with stab wounds to the head.
Another suffered a head injury and stab wounds to the neck.
The third underwent surgery for abdominal injuries.
The police said it had received reports of a disturbance at a property in the York Park area at about 00:45 GMT on Saturday morning.
The police found the man with stab wounds to his head inside the house.
The other two men were found a quarter of a mile away near a retail premises on the Shore Road.
Police have appealed for information and would like to hear from anyone who was in the York Park area between 00:15 and 01:15.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-42123559
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Pakistan army called on to stop 'blasphemy' clashes in Islamabad - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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Security forces came under a hail of stones from Islamist protesters calling for a minister's sacking.
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Asia
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Pakistan's government has called for troops to be deployed in the capital, Islamabad, after violence broke out during protests by Islamists.
About 200 people were injured when security forces tried to disperse an Islamist sit-in at the Faizabad Interchange - a key highway.
Several deaths have been reported.
The protesters have been blocking the highway for several weeks, demanding the sacking of Law Minister Zahid Hamid whom they accuse of blasphemy.
Pakistani media report that demonstrators also broke into the minister's residence in Punjab province. Mr Hamid and his family were not in the building.
The protests have spread to other cities, including Lahore and the southern port of Karachi.
About 200 people were injured in Saturday's clashes
The Pakistani government asked the army to deploy in Islamabad on Saturday evening.
The interior minister said the order was issued at the request of the city authorities, who were not able to clear the sit-in.
There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani military.
Protesters want Pakistan's law minister to be sacked
Earlier on Saturday, security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to disperse the demonstrators, Pakistani media report, but were met with rocks and tear gas shells.
About 8,500 elite police and paramilitary forces took part in the operation to clear the Faizabad Interchange. The crackdown was later suspended.
Protesters said four of their activists were killed, but police said there were no deaths, Reuters reports.
However, officials are quoted in other reports confirming that several people were killed. Many of those injured are security personnel.
The request for the military deployment came after hundreds more demonstrators turned up unexpectedly, forcing the police to retreat.
At one point, the authorities took all private television news channels off air, apparently out of concern that the live coverage of the police action could inflame religious sentiments.
The protesting Islamists, from the hardline Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Party, want the law minister to be sacked for omitting a reference to the Prophet Muhammad in a new version of the electoral oath.
The minister has since apologised saying it was a clerical error.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42124446
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Home Office review over harassment at abortion clinics - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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Concerns about the tactics used by some protesters prompted the Home Office review.
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UK
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In October, Ealing councillors voted in favour of banning protesters from gathering outside an abortion clinic
New laws could be introduced to protect women from harassment outside abortion clinics, the Home Office has said.
An assessment of protests held outside clinics has been ordered by the home secretary, following concerns about the tactics used by some protesters.
Amber Rudd said it was "unacceptable" that anyone should feel intimidated for accessing healthcare.
But anti-abortion campaigners said it was "ludicrous" to suggest new powers, because women were not being harassed.
The Home Office review will hear from police forces, healthcare providers and local authorities to understand the scale and nature of anti-abortion protests.
It will then consider what further action the government could take to protect those using or working in abortion clinics.
This could include bolstering existing, or creating new, police and civil powers, the Home Office said.
Ms Rudd said: "While everyone has a right to peaceful protest, it is completely unacceptable that anyone should feel harassed or intimidated simply for exercising their legal right to healthcare advice and treatment.
"The decision to have an abortion is already an incredibly personal one, without women being further pressured by aggressive protesters."
She said the review would provide "firm recommendations" on action to tackle the problem.
The police already have a range of powers to manage protests, with the law providing protection against harassment and intimidation.
The Home Office said protesters were subject to the law and all suspected offences "will be robustly investigated".
Amber Rudd said it was "unacceptable" that anyone should feel intimidated for accessing healthcare
Labour MP Rupa Huq, who has campaigned for a law change, welcomed the review with "cautious optimism".
In her Ealing Central and Acton constituency, the council backed a proposal in October that would ban protesters from gathering outside an abortion clinic.
The demonstrators, who hold daily vigils outside the clinic, deny harassing women.
Ms Huq said a radial zone to exclude protests within 150m was needed, banning silent praying, singing hymns, displaying foetus images and leaflet distribution.
"The complete anonymity of women seeking terminations should be protected as one would expect with any other NHS procedure," she said.
But Antonia Tully, director of campaigns at the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said: "It is completely ludicrous to suggest introducing new powers to stop small numbers of peaceful people praying outside abortion clinics and offering leaflets to women.
"Women are not being harassed.
"Pro-life counsellors cannot force a woman not to have an abortion."
She said the presence of vigils can be a "lifesaver" for women under pressure to abort.
Policing minister Nick Hurd has written to the national policing lead for protest, Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Swann to begin the work.
The review will be conducted by Home Office officials and will also consider international comparisons in Australia, France and the US.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42129222
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Vicky Chen: Teen actress beats veterans at Golden Horse awards - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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Vicky Chen wins best supporting actress at the Golden Horse awards for her role in a crime drama.
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Entertainment & Arts
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A teenage newcomer has beaten established stars to win best supporting actress at the film awards dubbed the Chinese-language Oscars.
Vicky Chen, 14, was nominated at the Golden Horse Film Awards for her role in The Bold, The Corrupt and The Beautiful.
Her co-star, Hong Kong veteran Kara Wai, won the best actress gong, which Chen was also nominated for.
The awards are held annually in Taiwan and are open to Chinese-language films.
The Bold, The Corrupt and The Beautiful, a crime drama centred around a wealthy family, was nominated in seven categories and won in three, including best film.
Chen was also nominated for best actress for her role in Angels Wear White. She plays a hotel maid who witnesses a sexual assault and grapples with the decision of reporting it.
Despite losing to Wai in that prize, she beat two former best actress winners in the best supporting actress category.
Although it missed out on best film, The Great Buddha+, by Taiwanese director Huang Hsin-Yao, was a big winner. It took five awards, including best adapted screenplay, best original film score and best cinematography.
The mostly black-and-white dark comedy focuses on two friends - Pickle, a night security guard at a factory making Buddha statues, and Belly Button, a collector of recyclables. The pair uncover footage of Pickle's wealthy boss that reveals his dark secrets.
The Bold, The Corrupt and the Beautiful came away with three awards
Ang Lee, the Taiwanese-American director, and US actress Jessica Chastain jointly presented the best actress prize.
Lee was the first Asian to win the best director at the Hollywood Oscars, taking it in 2006 for Brokeback Mountain. Chastain won best actress in a drama at the 2013 Golden Globes for Zero Dark Thirty.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42124359
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Denis Law receives the Freedom of Aberdeen - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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Former Scotland international footballer Denis Law has received the Freedom of Aberdeen.
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Former Scotland international footballer Denis Law has received the Freedom of Aberdeen.
The 77-year-old, who was born and raised in the Granite City, has described the honour as "one of the highlights of my life".
He was made a freeman during a special ceremony on Saturday evening. Then, on Sunday evening, he took part in a parade along Union Street.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-42131023
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Armed police chief and deputy suspended - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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It is understood Supt Kirk Kinnell and Chief Inspector Bob Glass are among six officers under investigation.
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Scotland politics
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Michael Matheson confirmed the men were from the armed unit
The head of armed policing and his deputy are understood to be among those suspended by Police Scotland amid allegations of criminal conduct and gross misconduct.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins was suspended on Friday by the Scottish Police Authority.
It is understood Supt Kirk Kinnell and his deputy, Chief Inspector Bob Glass, are among the other officers under investigation.
One other officer has been suspended.
A further two have been placed on restricted duties.
Chief Inspector Glass was head of Strathclyde Police's armed response unit at the time of the 2007 terror attack on Glasgow Airport.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson confirmed to BBC Scotland that two officers named in a Sunday Mail story, Supt Kinnell and Chief Inspector Glass, were under investigation.
He told the Sunday Politics Scotland programme: "I think at this stage it wouldn't be appropriate for me to start mentioning names of those particular officers.
"But the two which I know have been suggested are individuals who were involved in the investigation.
"As far as I am aware, they are two of those who are part of the complaint that has been received by the Pirc (the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner) that is being investigated by the Crown Office.
"The individuals involved in this are related to those involved in the firearms unit at Police Scotland in the training facility that we have at Jackton."
He added: "I don't want to get drawn into it (what the allegations relate to) too much because it is a live investigation being directed by the Crown. But, as far as I'm aware, it relates to issues of misconduct and gross misconduct.
"The exact detail of that is for the Crown to determine because it is now a live, potentially criminal, investigation.
"Like any investigation that could be criminal in nature, it is important that we recognise there is due process to be gone through here.
"And also for the individuals who have the complaints lodged against them, (it is important) that we allow that process to take its course."
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) is also looking into allegations of misconduct against Chief Constable Phil Gormley, who is currently on "special leave".
That investigation is unrelated to inquiries into allegations that officers in the former counter-corruption unit abused their position when attempting to find the source of a journalist's information.
Both Mr Gormley and Mr Higgins have denied wrongdoing.
A Crown Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has instructed the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (PIRC) to undertake an investigation into allegations of a criminal nature against officers serving with the Police Service of Scotland.
"A report will be submitted to COPFS following the investigation by PIRC."
Willie Rennie said the new SPA chief Susan Deacon should appear before MSPs
The Scottish Police Authority confirmed the suspensions on Friday after "a number of criminal and misconduct allegations were brought to the Authority's attention by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC)".
A spokesman for the SPA said on Sunday: "The Authority will not provide any further detail in relation to the allegations."
The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Willie Rennie said Michael Matheson needed to address the issue at Holyrood.
He said: "The justice secretary needs to make a statement to Parliament to set out how leadership of Police Scotland will be secured while the months of investigation take place into senior officers.
"The public and all ranks of the police service deserve to hear the means by which effective force management will be provided."
Mr Rennie said the SPA's new chairwoman Susan Deacon should also appear before MSPs.
• None Minister urged to 'get a grip' of police
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42129105
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Mugabe 'wasn't offered anything' to resign - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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A resignation mediator says he can't confirm reports that Zimbabwe's ex-leader was given $10m (£7.5m).
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Father Fidelis Mukonori said he could not confirm reports that Zimbabwe's ex-leader was granted $10m (£7.5m) to ease him out of office.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42132027
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Top surgeons call to save Royal Brompton heart unit - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The congenital heart disease surgery unit at Royal Brompton Hospital is earmarked for closure.
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London
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Royal Brompton is the largest specialist heart and lung medical centre in the UK
Two of Britain's top surgeons have called on NHS England to save a world-leading heart unit in London.
Heart transplant pioneer Sir Magdi Yacoub and cancer surgeon Lord Darzi said ending congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery at Royal Brompton Hospital would be a "disaster".
The decision "has been guided" by medical experts, NHS England said.
In an open letter, Lord Darzi, Sir Magdi and Baroness Boothroyd, a former patient of the hospital, said if Royal Brompton's CHD unit went it would render the whole hospital "unviable".
In an open letter former health minister Lord Darzi claimed NHS England "deliberately" defined new guidelines to dismantle CHD services at the Royal Brompton
Royal Brompton is the largest specialist heart and lung medical centre in the UK and works with the children's unit at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, less than half-a-mile away.
But the hospital fails to meet new national guidelines for paediatric heart surgery, which require all children's services to be "co-located" on a single site.
If paediatric heart surgery was removed, the hospital may struggle to meet its targets of having at least three heart surgeons, each carrying out a minimum of 125 operations a year, which would put the whole CHD surgery unit under threat.
The letter claims that the new guidelines have been "defined in such as way as to deliberately result in the dismantling of the services at the Brompton".
"You shouldn't kill a centre of excellence just for planning reasons," Sir Magdi said.
"Closing the Royal Brompton heart surgery unit would be a disaster."
He added: "Anything that comes after won't be as good treating patients and making medical advancements."
A spokesman for NHS England said "isolated children's services are unacceptable; children's cardiac services must be co-located within a hospital providing a broad range of paediatric specialties and services".
The guidelines are supported by medical experts from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, British Congenital Cardiac Association, British Heart Foundation and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
A decision will be announced on 30 November.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42128665
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Who are Egypt's militant groups? - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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A series of deadly attacks has drawn media attention to Islamist groups in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
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Middle East
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IS' Sinai Province, the most prominent jihadist group, posted video showcasing their weapons
More than 200 people have died in an unprecedented attack targeting a Sunni mosque in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula during Friday prayers, highlighting the alarming threat posed by jihadist militants in the region.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest of its kind in the country.
So-called Islamic State (IS) is the most prominent and violent of the militant groups in Sinai, with a record of targeting civilians in that area and in mainland Egypt.
Other groups active in the country are mostly aligned with IS's arch jihadist rival, al-Qaeda.
IS's Sinai affiliate, Sinai Province, has claimed responsibility for many deadly attacks, mostly targeting the army in Sinai. It also claimed the downing of a Russian airliner in October 2015.
Formerly known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, the group first appeared in September 2011 and rebranded itself with an IS pledge of allegiance in November 2014.
The group generally targets Egyptian security forces in northern Sinai, but has also claimed an attack on a tourist site in southern Sinai in April.
In the first part of the year IS stepped up its rhetoric and attacks against Christians in Sinai and elsewhere in Egypt, claiming two deadly attacks on churches in Tanta and Alexandria on 9 April.
IS started to scale up its attacks in Sinai since September, as it started losing territory in Iraq and Syria.
On 24 November, IS boasted about attacks it had carried out earlier in the week targeting policemen in western Arish, the area of the attacked mosque.
In addition to its attacks on Christians, IS has adopted a threatening tone against Sufi Muslims, whom it considers to be heretics.
The head of IS's religious police in Sinai had previously said that Sufis who did not "repent" would be killed. IS has beheaded a number of Sufi men whom it accused of "sorcery".
Screen grab from the video posted by Jund al-Islam
The propaganda and rhetoric of this low-profile group suggests alignment with al-Qaeda.
Its rivalry with IS in Sinai surfaced in November when Jund al-Islam issued a threat to IS militants.
In an audio message released on 11 November, Jund al-Islam claimed responsibility for an October attack on IS militants in Sinai, and vowed to crush the rival group "for committing crimes against Muslims" in the peninsula.
A day later, Jund al-Islam issued another statement condemning the 9 November deadly attack on lorry drivers in northern Sinai, as well as blaming IS and the Egyptian government for the deaths.
In both its recent messages, Jund al-Islam stressed that it did not target "innocent Muslims".
Jund al-Islam's recent communiques follow a lengthy spell of media silence since 2015, and suggest the group is presenting itself as a challenger to IS in Sinai.
The group emerged in September 2013 with a claim of a double suicide attack on the Egyptian military intelligence HQ in the northern Sinai town of Rafah, which borders the Gaza Strip.
It stepped up its propaganda campaign in 2015, claiming rocket attacks on Israel and issuing a propaganda video that hinted at links with al-Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP).
Not to be confused with the former Sahara-based jihadist group al-Mourabitoun, this Egyptian faction announced itself in 2015.
However, since its formation, the group has not been observed to carry out any prominent attacks, and has mainly put out statements and threats.
Given its lack of visible activity, it remains unclear where exactly al-Mourabitoun operates in Egypt.
Its propaganda suggests an al-Qaeda orientation, and veteran jihadist media operatives have linked it to an al-Qaeda attempt to check the rise of IS in Egypt.
Its leader, Abu-Umar al-Muhajir, alias Hisham Ashmawi, is a former Egyptian army officer and a senior figure in Ansar Beit al-Maqdis before it pledged allegiance to IS.
In October 2015, Ashmawi called for the killing of Egyptian military officers, and for revenge in response to the deaths of Palestinians by Israel's security forces.
Ashmawi reiterated that message in March 2016, and urged Muslim clerics to play an active role in encouraging young people to embrace jihad.
This new group, not to be confused with the veteran Ansar al-Islam in Iraq, emerged in November, when it claimed responsibility for a high-profile attack in Egypt's Western Desert.
Ansar al-Islam described the attack, in which more than 50 security personnel died, as "the beginning of our jihad".
The group's attack claim and its founding statement of 3 November was widely circulated by high-profile online supporters of al-Qaeda, which suggested a nod of approval.
Its rhetoric and pledge to fight until the establishment of Islamic law suggest a jihadist orientation.
Ansar al-Islam's statement urged Egyptians to join the jihad, or support the group through words or funds.
Meaning "Soldiers of Egypt", this group appeared in January 2014, and carried out attacks in Cairo over the summer.
It has possible al-Qaeda associations, in that the Yemeni and African branches of that network posted eulogies on the death of its leader in April 2015.
It also coordinated attacks with Ansar Beit al-Maqdis before the latter joined IS.
But Ajnad Misr has repeatedly said that it tries to avoid civilian casualties in its attacks.
Many of the group's members are now thought to be in prison.
In October 2017, the Egyptian authorities sought death sentences for 13 individuals with suspected links to the group.
The individuals are accused of killing soldiers, police officers and civilians, with a verdict expected in December.
The Hasm Movement surfaced in the summer of 2016 and has focused on attacking government and security personnel in Cairo and elsewhere in Egypt.
The Egyptian authorities and media have linked Hasm to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is outlawed in Egypt.
The group's rhetoric is more Islamist and "pro-revolution" than jihadist.
On 1 October Hasm targeted the Myanmar embassy in Cairo with an explosive device to express its solidarity with Rohingya Muslims, it said.
Hasm released its first propaganda video in January in which it showcased its training camps and boasted about the range of attacks it had carried out on the Egyptian authorities.
Slick production and the group's claim of organisation and structure in the video were clearly meant to indicate that Hasm was not a shadowy group, but rather a sophisticated force to be reckoned with.
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34751349
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Tenerife nightclub dancefloor collapses, injuring 40 - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Those hurt at the club include nationals of the UK, France, Belgium and Romania as well as Spain.
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Europe
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Firefighters in Tenerife have released footage of the aftermath of the collapse
The dancefloor of a nightclub in Tenerife has collapsed, injuring 40 people.
Clubbers fell through the floor to the basement of the Butterfly Disco Pub at about 02:30 local time (02:30 GMT) on Sunday morning.
The club is in a shopping centre in Playa de las Americas, a clubbing hotspot in the south of the Spanish island popular with tourists.
Those injured are said to be from a number of different countries, including Spain, France, the UK, Belgium and Romania.
The number of casualties rose from 22 to 40 as it emerged that 18 had made their own way to hospitals.
The extent of the damage can be seen when viewed from the basement
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Two of those injured were seriously hurt, suffering fractures to the femur, or thigh bone, reported the local government. The remainder are believed to have suffered moderate to light injuries.
The club is in a shopping centre in Playa de las Americas
Emergency services scrambled to the scene after a large section of the dancefloor gave way, and spent the next few hours evacuating the wounded.
"After the floor collapsed, the people who were inside fell to the basement from the height of approximately one floor," said the regional government in a statement quoted by AFP news agency.
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Mount Agung: Bali volcano activity prompts 'red warning' - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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It flags the danger of volcanic ash in the skies after Mount Agung emits a huge smoke plume.
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Asia
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Airlines have been issued a "red warning" about the danger of volcanic ash in the skies close to Bali after Mount Agung emitted a thick plume of smoke reaching 4,000m (13,100 feet).
It is the second major emission from the Indonesian island volcano this week, and flights have been disrupted.
The red warning means an eruption is forecast to be imminent, with significant emission of ash likely.
Authorities have begun distributing masks in some areas as ash falls.
Bali is a major tourist destination, although the main resorts of Kuta and Seminyak are about 70km (43 miles) from the volcano.
The island's main airport is for now operating normally, but some airlines have cancelled flights. Volcanic ash can damage plane engines.
Travellers to and from the region are being urged to contact their airline or travel agent to find out the status of their flight.
Ash from the eruption coated roads, cars and buildings near the volcano in the north-east of Bali and emergency officials said hundreds of thousands of masks had been distributed
The ash cloud is said to be moving eastward from Bali towards the island of Lombok, and the main international airport there has been closed entirely.
The information director of Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency tweeted that volcanic ash rain had fallen on the Lombok city of Mataram.
"Tourism in Bali is still safe, except in the danger (zone) around Mount Agung," the agency said in a statement.
It told people within a 7.5km exclusion zone to "immediately evacuate" in an "orderly and calm manner".
Magma - molten rock - has now been detected close to the volcano's surface, said officials and volcanologists.
About 25,000 people are thought to still be in temporary shelters after more than 140,000 people fled earlier this year. Increased volcanic activity had prompted fears a major eruption was imminent.
Most of the islanders outside the immediate exclusion zone were ordered to return home at the end of September, and the mountain has been intermittently rumbling since.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Evacuees from near Mount Agung brought their birds, chickens and dogs with them in September
According to official estimates, the holiday island lost at least $110m (£83m) in tourism and productivity during the major evacuation.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
It is home to more than 130 active volcanoes. The last time Mount Agung erupted, in 1963, more than 1,000 people died.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Survivors of the 1963 eruption on the last time Mount Agung erupted
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42126284
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Durham students miners' strike-themed event 'disgraceful' - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The rugby club party invite asked for "flat caps, filth" and a few "working-class-beating-bobbies".
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Tyne & Wear
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The organisers said to expect "a confrontation bigger than the Battle of Orgreave"
A miners' strike-themed student rugby club event has been criticised as "disgraceful" and swiftly cancelled.
Guests had been asked to come dressed as miners or members of Margaret Thatcher's government.
The Facebook invitation said: "We want flat caps, filth... a few working-class-beating-bobbies wouldn't go amiss."
Durham University said the event was "wholly unacceptable". The organisers have been approached for comment.
Pro-vice chancellor Owen Adams said: "Durham University and Trevelyan College utterly deplore this event."
It had been cancelled by the students concerned, he said.
"We are speaking to those students and we are considering what further action to take in due course," he added.
Organisers of the event, who appeared to be associated with the rugby team at Trevelyan College, asked those playing different positions in the game to take the opposing sides in the 1984 dispute.
Forwards were asked to come as miners and to "think pickaxes... think headlamps... think 12% unemployment in 1984".
Backs were asked to elect one member to be "the Iron Lady herself" with others coming as her government, police officers or Falklands War heroes.
Guests were told to "expect a confrontation bigger than the Battle of Orgreave".
Trevelyan College authorities said they deplored the proposed event
County Durham has a rich mining history with, at its height, tens of thousands of miners working in pits across the area.
The strike saw arrests and clashes between miners and police in villages such as Easington Colliery.
The Durham Miners' Association said it was "appalled" to hear about the event and pleased the university and college had taken "swift and appropriate action".
They said the organisers had a "complete lack of respect for local history" and "ought to be ashamed".
Mr Adams said: "Regrettably, there are occasions where student behaviour falls short of the standards we expect.
"The university reserves the right to take appropriate action against those who fall short of these standards."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-42128595
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Horse dies after Cefn Fforest arson attack on stable - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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A horse dies and its mother is badly burned at the stables of Welsh Grand National-winning breeders.
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South East Wales
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Rodney (here as a foal) was almost three years old and his mother Juwireya is nine
Arsonists killed one horse and injured another in an attack on the stable of Welsh Grand National-winning breeders.
Janet and Brian Vokes were told about the fire in Cefn Fforest, Caerphilly county, at about 06:30 GMT on Sunday.
Two-year-old gelding Rodney died and his mother, Juwireya, nine, was injured. The stable was destroyed.
Mrs Vokes said: "We're absolutely devastated. They're scum - you can't imagine why anyone would do such a thing."
Mr and Mrs Vokes owned the Welsh Grand National-winning Dream Alliance, whose unlikely victory was turned into a film.
Vets are treating Juwireya but it is not yet known how badly injured she was after suffering burns to her face, back and legs.
The cost of the damage to the stable is about £3,000.
Janet and Brian Vokes said they have been left "devastated"
Dream Alliance was funded by a syndicate of friends and drinkers from the local working men's club who paid £10 a week for the horse to be trained.
Rodney, known affectionately as Rodders, was due to follow in Dream Alliance's footsteps and race under the name Impossible Dream.
Rodney had only been back in the stables for about three weeks after staying in a field in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, over the summer.
Mrs Vokes, 64, said: "We've got no enemies, we keep ourselves to ourselves - we've only got our horses here.
"There's no clues up there, it was dark, no lights. We haven't got a clue - we hope someone locally will have the heart to inform the police if they know anything."
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South Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent five crews to tackle the blaze after getting the call just after 06:40.
Head of control at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Jennie Griffiths, tweeted that the blaze was deliberate.
Both the fire service and Gwent Police are carrying out an investigation.
A vet is assessing the extent of Juwireya's injuries
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-42130867
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Yemen war: First food aid arrives at port after blockade eased - BBC News
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2017-11-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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It is the first food aid shipment to get into Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition eased its blockade.
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Middle East
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Millions are on the brink of famine in Yemen, the UN says
A UN aid ship carrying food supplies has been allowed to dock at a rebel-held port in Yemen, after the Saudi-led coalition eased a blockade that has lasted for nearly three weeks.
The blockade worsened the plight of millions at risk of starvation.
Planes carrying medical supplies were allowed to land in the capital, Sanaa, on Saturday but this is the first shipment of food aid to be let in.
The blockade was imposed on 6 November after a missile attack on Saudi Arabia.
The coalition blocked off land, sea and air routes two days after the Houthi rebels they are fighting in Yemen fired the missile at the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It was intercepted over the international airport.
The UN ship, loaded with thousands of tonnes of desperately-needed wheat, has arrived at the port of Saleef.
It is carrying enough food to feed 1.8m people in northern Yemen for a month, World Food Programme country director Stephen Anderson told the BBC.
He said the ship had been forced to "hover off the coast" for two weeks waiting for permission to enter.
A commercial ship carrying 5,500 tonnes of wheat flour earlier docked at the key port of Hudaydah, south of Saleef and also controlled by the Houthi rebels.
"This is also a positive development because humanitarian aid alone will not address the full needs of the people who are in northern Yemen, particularly those who we are not able to assist, those who are slightly better off and who depend on markets," Mr Anderson said.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The BBC's Clive Myrie reports from one hospital on the brink of running out of fuel
Earlier this week, the Saudi-led coalition announced it would reopen access to the Hudaydah port for urgent humanitarian aid and Sanaa's airport to UN aid and relief flights.
But on Friday, the UN's humanitarian affairs office said access to Hudaydah remained blocked.
The easing of the Saudi-led blockade followed a review by the coalition to ensure weapons do not reach the rebels. Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of supplying arms to the Houthis, which Tehran denies.
Planes that arrived in Sanaa on Saturday carried 1.9m doses of vaccines, but the UN's agency for children, Unicef, says that is just a small fraction of what is needed.
"I reiterate my plea to everyone with a heart for children, indeed not to prevent us from delivering what is urgently needed and massively needed," Unicef Middle East Director Geert Cappelaere told Reuters news agency. "Yesterday was just a very small step."
More than 20 million people in Yemen are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Eleven million of those are children and 400,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition.
The coalition intervened in the war between forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and the Houthis in 2015. Since then ground fighting and air strikes have killed more than 8,670 people, according to UN figures.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42131361
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Teenager, 17, guilty of plotting Cardiff terror attack - BBC News
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2017-11-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The 17-year-old is found guilty of plotting an attack on the day of a Justin Bieber concert in Cardiff.
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South East Wales
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The trial heard he searched the internet for details of security at a Justin Bieber concert
A teenager from south Wales has been found guilty of plotting a terror attack in Cardiff.
The boy, from Rhondda Cynon Taff, who cannot be named, was arrested on the day of a Justin Bieber concert at the Principality Stadium on 30 June.
The 17-year-old has been found guilty of five terror-related charges at Birmingham Crown Court.
The trial heard he was found with a "martyrdom letter" when arrested, which revealed details of his planned attack.
The court heard the A-level student, who is white and British, had set up an Instagram account encouraging jihad and supporting al-Qaeda. Police found the password for the account was "truck attack".
One post read: "May Allah bring terrorism to Cardiff on 30th June."
A claw hammer and a gutting knife were found in the boy's school rucksack
Police also found he had conducted numerous online searches into how to carry out a vehicle ramming attack and how to stab and kill.
Other targets he researched included Cardiff Castle, the New Theatre, the Capitol shopping centre, the Central Library and Bridgend's McArthur Glen shopping outlet.
His internet history included searches for "Isis beheading video", "how to create a terror attack" and "what does getting shot feel like".
The court heard he also researched the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby and information on how to steal a car. His mobile phone contained images of the truck attacks in Nice and Berlin.
When arrested, the boy was found with a gutting knife and a hammer in his school rucksack, and the "martyrdom letter" said he was a "soldier of the Islamic state" and "more attacks will follow".
He had also told police in an interview he had been talking to someone called "Al Baghdadi" online, who had told the boy he would go to hell as he did not believe in Islam.
But his defence barrister Delroy Henry argued he was not planning an attack but had a "stupid interest in the gory".
The boy told the jury he wanted to see how easy it was to research terror-related topics online.
The boy was found guilty of one charge of engaging in the preparation of a terrorist act, two charges of encouraging terrorism, and a further two charges of possessing terrorist information.
Sentencing will take place on 10 January.
The court heard the teenager posted a picture of Cardiff Castle online
Sue Hemming, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This teenager's behaviour over many months leaves no doubt that he intended to kill and maim as many people as possible in an attack reminiscent of the incident on Westminster Bridge.
"He was also posting extremist content online that could have encouraged others to commit terrorist acts and downloading instructions on how to carry out 'lone wolf' attacks.
"He will now rightly face the prospect of a substantial prison sentence."
Det Supt Lee Porter, of Wales Extremism Counter Terrorism Unit, said the investigation "prevented further offences being committed" and warned the public to be "vigilant".
He added: "This case has highlighted the ongoing concerns with young people gaining access to extremist material on the internet and how quickly that can lead to radicalisation."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-42143160
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