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Bryan Singer: Illness forces director to stop work on Freddie Mercury film - BBC News
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2017-12-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Work on the new Freddie Mercury biopic is suspended while the director deals with a health issue.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Bryan Singer has been filming Bohemian Rhapsody in the UK
Production on the new Freddie Mercury biopic has been suspended so director Bryan Singer can deal with "a personal health matter".
The film, titled Bohemian Rhapsody, will tell the story of the late Queen frontman's life.
Twentieth Century Fox told the BBC work had been temporarily halted "due to the unexpected unavailability" of Singer.
The director's representative said it was "a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family".
A statement added: "Bryan hopes to get back to work on the film soon after the holidays."
Brian May, pictured with Freddie Mercury in 1984, is among the film's producers
Both Singer and a family member are believed to be suffering from health problems. There's no information about the nature of his illness.
A spokesman for the film studio said: "Twentieth Century Fox Film has temporarily halted production on Bohemian Rhapsody due to the unexpected unavailability of Bryan Singer."
Filming has been taking place in the UK, with Mr Robot actor Rami Malek in the lead role.
The movie is still expected to be released in December 2018 as planned.
As well as directing, Singer is listed as a co-producer, alongside Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor, among others.
Singer's past directing credits include The Usual Suspects, four X-Men movies and Superman Returns.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42193912
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Bob Spink found guilty of election fraud - BBC News
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2017-12-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Former Tory and UKIP politician Bob Spink was found guilty of permitting false signatures on a nomination form.
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Essex
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Bob Spink told the court he had collected more than 1,000 signatures in his career
A former Tory MP and UKIP politician has been found guilty of election fraud.
Bob Spink, 69, former MP for Castle Point, Essex, committed the offences during the Castle Point borough council elections in May last year.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court found him guilty of four counts of permitting a false signature to be included on a nomination form for a UKIP councillor.
UKIP agent James Parkin, 38, of Canvey Island, was also convicted.
He was found guilty on two counts of the same charge.
Judge Ian Graham said: "These types of offences are taken very seriously."
Jurors heard Spink tricked "elderly and infirm" voters into signing the forms in April 2016, without making it clear what the documents were or which party he represented.
The court heard people in Spink's constituency signed forms believing they were petitions, and having no idea they were supporting the UKIP candidate in the Castle Point council elections.
Spink claimed everything was above board; that residents knew what they were signing; and that he only introduced the topic of the local elections once he had gained their support for his campaign to become a police and crime commissioner (PCC).
Mr Spink told the court he had been involved in politics for 30 years
The pair were found guilty by majority verdicts. They will be sentenced in the new year. Both men were released on bail.
Mr Spink, from Benfleet, Essex, was Conservative MP for Castle Point from 1992 to 1997, and again from 2001.
In 2008, he defected from the Conservative Party and joined UKIP, effectively becoming its first MP.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-42201551
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Trump-Russia: Six big takeaways from the Flynn deal - BBC News
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2017-12-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Michael Flynn is facing prison, and the Trump White House is facing a political crisis.
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US & Canada
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. After Flynn's guilty plea, what next for the Russia investigation?
Special Counsel Robert Mueller just dropped the hammer. Again.
On Friday it was Michael Flynn's turn "in the barrel", to borrow a line from Trump confidant Roger Stone. The former national security adviser pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about December 2016 conversations he had with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak and pledged to "fully co-operate" with Mr Mueller's ongoing investigations.
Mr Flynn has admitted he misled the FBI about his discussions regarding new sanctions imposed on Russia by the Obama administration following evidence of alleged meddling in the 2016 election.
There had been hints this was coming, after word last week that Mr Flynn's defence lawyers had stopped co-operating with the Trump legal team. The president's own scattershot behaviour on Twitter this week could also have been a key tell, like a trick knee acting up before a big storm.
So why is this being billed as a major development in the ongoing investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russia? Let us count the ways.
1) Trump's inner circle has been breached
It is difficult to overstate the significance of this felony plea deal. Mr Flynn was a close adviser and confidant of Mr Trump throughout the 2016 presidential race. He was a surrogate for the candidate on television and enjoyed a prominent speaking role at the July Republican National Convention. He had a pivotal role in Mr Trump's presidential transition.
The role of national security adviser in the White House, which Mr Flynn assumed upon Mr Trump's inauguration, is one of the most senior positions in any administration, responsible for being the key conduit between the sprawling US military and intelligence bureaucracies and the president. It is a post that has been held by the likes of Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.
Mr Trump was so partial to Mr Flynn that he was praising him as a "wonderful man" who had been "treated very, very unfairly by the media" just days after firing him.
Now Mr Flynn could be going to jail - and, more importantly, could be sharing damaging information about the Trump inner circle he inhabited for so long.
According to the "Statement of the Offense" filed by the special counsel's office, Mr Flynn is testifying that he had contact with Trump transition team officials before and after his fateful December 2016 conversation with Ambassador Kislyak. "Members of the transition team," the document relates, "did not want Russia to escalate the situation after the Obama administration imposed new sanctions on the Russian government".
These conversations came more than a month after Mr Trump had won the presidency. Mr Flynn had already been announced as the national security adviser in the incoming White House - a top post in the president's inner circle.
The next big question is who exactly were the unnamed senior members of the presidential transition team. Some US news outlets are naming Jared Kushner and former Deputy National Security Adviser KT McFarland. Others seem to indicate it was Mr Trump himself. Eventually, Mr Flynn - and Mr Mueller - will have to lay their cards on the table.
Mr Flynn's assertions about his conversations with the transition team run directly counter to statements made by Mr Trump in a February press conference in which he said Mr Flynn was acting against orders when he reached out to Mr Kislyak.
In fact the White House said at the time that the president dismissed Mr Flynn as national security adviser because he lied to Vice-President Mike Pence about his Russian contacts. The true nature of Mr Flynn's conversations with Mr Kislyak first came out thanks to leaks to the press of information gleaned from government surveillance of Mr Kislyak.
If Mr Flynn has evidence corroborating his account of December contacts with the Trump transition team - which was headed by Mr Pence himself - the White House's explanation for its handling of the Flynn situation, denials of knowledge and all, starts to crumble.
Mr Flynn appeared in court in front of Judge Rudolph Contreras
Anyone in the president's inner circle who told the FBI or Mr Mueller's investigators that they weren't privy to Mr Flynn's activities, when there is evidence that they knew, would be open to another round of charges of lying to the FBI.
The White House response, at least so far, seems to be that Mr Flynn is a lying liar who lies.
"The false statements involved mirror the false statements to White House officials which resulted in his resignation in February of this year," White House lawyer Ty Cobb wrote in a press statement. "Nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr Flynn."
4) Mr Mueller could be building an obstruction of justice case
Dust off that old political saw that "it's not the crime, it's the cover-up". While Mr Flynn's contact with the Russian ambassador is questionable, given that he was undercutting Obama administration policy efforts, it is probably not illegal.
What is illegal, however, is obstruction of justice. Former FBI Director James Comey has testified that on 14 February - the day after Mr Flynn was sacked - Mr Trump urged the director to back off his investigation into Mr Flynn during a private Oval Office meeting.
If the president knew that the ongoing law-enforcement inquiry would discover Mr Flynn had been acting under orders - either by the president or a member of his transition team - that could be the kind of motive that would help support an obstruction of justice charge.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. How Michael Flynn became entangled in Russia probe
5) Only the tip of the iceberg?
There were a lot of rumours and allegations floating around about Mr Flynn before Friday's plea deal news. The special counsel's office was reportedly looking into Mr Flynn's Obama-era work as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. It was scrutinising his 2015 trip to Russia, paid for by the Kremlin-backed RT network, and his undisclosed lobbying on behalf of Turkish government interests.
The charge brought against him, however, was solely related to his December 2016 phone conversations with Mr Kislyak. Although it comes with a possible five-year prison sentence, Mr Mueller hardly threw the book at the former national security adviser. Is this all there is?
Mr Mueller is primarily tasked with investigating possible ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Mr Flynn was a senior adviser to and advocate for Mr Trump's presidential bid. Does the relative modesty of the charges against Mr Flynn indicate he may be offering information directly relevant to this inquiry?
Mr Flynn's plea deal is just one piece of a much larger puzzle the special counsel office is trying to solve.
In October Mr Mueller indicted former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, a top aide with White House ties, on money laundering charges predating their involvement with the Trump campaign.
He also struck a plea deal with former foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who told prosecutors he lied about his own contacts with Russians.
Each move is distinct and not directly related - at least not yet. A some point we are going to learn whether Mr Mueller is building a larger case against the Trump campaign out of these legal moves - or that the sum total of his efforts is nibbling around the edges.
As the president likes to say, stay tuned.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42174518
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Daniel Corneille jailed for Sheerness traffic warden attack - BBC News
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2017-12-01
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The traffic warden suffered a fractured shoulder when he was assaulted by the defendant.
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A man has been jailed for two years for an attack on a traffic warden, which sent his victim crashing into the window of a restaurant, fracturing his shoulder.
Daniel Corneille, 47, of Estuary Road, Sheerness, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced on Thursday.
The traffic warden was issuing Corneille a parking ticket as he was blocking paving which was designed to help visually impaired people cross the road. He was also on double yellow lines.
Corneille started to shout and swear at him before pushing him over, Kent Police said. He then got in his car and drove away.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-42195865
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David Dearlove jailed for 1968 Paul Booth murder - BBC News
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2017-12-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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David Dearlove swung his 19-month-old stepson by his feet and smashed his head on a fireplace.
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Tees
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David Dearlove claimed Paul Booth was injured when he fell out of bed
A man who swung his toddler stepson by the ankles and smashed his head into a fireplace has been been jailed for a minimum of 13 years.
David Dearlove, 71, murdered 19-month-old Paul Booth at their home in Stockton-on-Tees in October 1968.
Paul's brother Peter, who was three years old when he witnessed the attack after he crept downstairs for a drink, went to police in 2015.
David Dearlove was convicted of murder and three child cruelty charges
The inquest into Paul's death in 1968 recorded an open verdict.
But in 2015, Peter went to the police after seeing a photo on Facebook of his little brother sitting on Dearlove's knee.
He said as a three-year-old he had seen Dearlove, now of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, swinging Paul round their living room and witnessed the boy's head striking the fireplace.
Paul Booth was 19 months old when he died
During the trial, Dearlove insisted Paul suffered the fatal head injury when he fell out of bed onto a concrete floor, although he told police when he was arrested in 2015 that the toddler collapsed in the living room.
He claimed he changed his story because he had forgotten the events of 1968.
The court heard Dearlove had been violent towards Peter and Paul as well as their sister Stephanie Marron who also accused him of cruelty, saying he punched her and pulled her down the stairs.
Paul Booth had suffered bruising less than a month before his death
A mannequin was used to show jurors how Paul Booth's injuries were inflicted
Home Office pathologist Mark Egan demonstrated how the toddler could have died by swinging a doll by the ankles and banging its head on the surface of the witness box, causing some of the 10 men and two women of the jury to weep.
He also said he believed it would have taken separate blows to cause the "z-shaped" skull fracture on the side of Paul's head.
Dearlove was also convicted of three child cruelty charges.
Sentencing, Mr Justice Males told him: "You were a young and no doubt immature man.
"You were also a cruel man and you made the lives of those three young children a misery."
Dearlove swung Paul Booth by his ankles, smashing the toddler's head against the living room fireplace
The Crown Prosecution Service said it had not been able to exhume Paul's body as burial records had been lost, with the case relying on the documents prepared for his inquest at the time.
In a statement after the verdict, the Booth family said Dearlove's actions "not only physically killed Paul but also destroyed his memory".
"He was buried into an unmarked grave the location of which remains unknown and he was not spoken about for many years."
Det Insp Mark Dimelow, from Cleveland Police, said the murder investigation had been "challenging due to its historic nature".
"I want to pay tribute to Paul's family and other witnesses who provided such an emotive testimony and I praise their bravery in having to relive events from 50 years ago," he added.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-42155421
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Labour leader calls bankers speculators and gamblers - BBC News
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2017-12-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Jeremy Corbyn retaliates after Morgan Stanley says a Labour government could be a bigger risk than Brexit.
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Business
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has hit back at investment bank Morgan Stanley, telling the company it was right to regard him as a threat.
His comments came after the bank said in a report earlier this week that the risks of an incoming Labour government could be "as significant as Brexit".
On social media, he said bankers were the same "speculators and gamblers" who crashed the economy in 2008.
Bankers like Morgan Stanley "should not run our country", Mr Corbyn added.
Earlier this week, Morgan Stanley's European equity team warned investors: "For the UK market, domestic politics may be perceived as a bigger risk than Brexit.
"From a UK investor perspective, we believe that the domestic political situation is at least as significant as Brexit, given the fragile state of the current government and the perceived risks of an incoming Labour administration that could potentially embark on a radical change in policy direction."
In a video posted on social media Mr Corbyn hit out at bankers like Morgan Stanley.
"Their greed plunged the world into crisis and we're still paying the price, because the Tories used the aftermath of the financial crisis to push through unnecessary and deeply damaging austerity," he said.
Labour was a "government-in waiting," he said, "so when they say we're a threat, they're right.
"We're a threat to a damaging and failed system that's rigged for the few."
Mr Corbyn also said Morgan Stanley's chief executive, James Gorman, was paid £21.5m last year and UK banks paid out £15bn in bonuses, while "nurses, teachers, shop workers, builders, just about everyone is finding it harder to get by".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42190251
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Boy, 5, found drowned after being 'left to go off alone' - BBC News
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2017-12-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Charlie Dunn was pulled from a lagoon by children after being left alone "for hours", a court hears.
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Leicester
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Before Charlie Dunn was pulled out of the lagoon his stepfather was heard swearing about not knowing where the youngster was
A five-year-old boy was found drowned more than two hours after his mother and stepfather let him "go off by himself", a court heard.
Charlie Dunn, who could not swim, was pulled from a lagoon at Bosworth Water Park in Leicestershire in July 2016.
His stepfather Paul Smith was overheard saying he did not know where the boy was, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
Charlie's mother Lynsey Dunn and Mr Smith, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, deny causing death by gross negligence.
Lynsey Dunn and Paul Smith deny causing Charlie's death by gross negligence by permitting him to enter a bathing area unsupervised
Charlie was pulled from the 1.4-metre deep pool, known as the Blue Lagoon, by other children, jurors heard.
Opening the Crown's case, prosecutor Mary Prior QC said Charlie was supervised near the water by strangers - including a man who was mistaken for his father - after being left alone.
Mrs Prior told the court: "No-one knows how it happened, no-one knows why it happened and at the time he died neither Miss Dunn or Mr Smith had any idea where he was.
"Charlie had been permitted to go off by himself. The prosecution say that Charlie died because he was not supervised by any adult."
The court heard Charlie was pulled from the water of a special children's pool at the park
Mrs Prior added that the defendants had shown "ingrained and entrenched indifference" at the time of the tragedy.
She also claimed they only saw Charlie during the two-hour period "for the odd minute" when he returned to their car for something to eat or drink.
Mrs Prior said: "This case is not about parents turning their back for a minute whilst a tragedy occurs.
"This is a gross failure to supervise not for seconds, and not for a few minutes, but for protracted periods of time in circumstances where the child was exposed to danger."
The court also heard that a woman had told the couple in "no uncertain terms that she was not happy that they were not supervising Charlie near to the water" during a previous visit to the park.
Both defendants are said to have replied that Charlie "would be all right".
In 2015, a neighbour prevented the unsupervised toddler, then aged four, from driving a toy car on to a main road, the jury was told.
Mr Smith, 36, and Ms Dunn, 28, of Caledonian, Glascote Heath, both deny causing the youngster's death by gross negligence by permitting him to enter a bathing area unsupervised.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-42182351
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Potsdam Christmas market evacuated as device found - BBC News
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2017-12-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The device filled with nails and wires was sent to a shop near a Potsdam Christmas market.
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Europe
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Police in the German city of Potsdam are investigating a device filled with nails found next to a Christmas market.
The device, that also held batteries and wires, was sent to a pharmacy in the city south-west of Berlin.
Police initially said there were explosives inside, but then clarified there was no detonator.
Germany is on a heightened terror alert, a year after 12 people died in an Islamist attack at a Berlin Christmas market.
The device was found near Brandenburgerstrasse in the centre of Potsdam, which has a number of other Christmas markets.
A police spokesman said an X-ray scan was conducted on the device, which found that it had nails inside. It was then made safe.
The Interior Minister for Brandenburg, Karl-Heinz Schröter, said police were searching the area in case more devices were sent.
"We just don't know at this point if this was a device that could have actually exploded, or a fake, or a test," he said.
More than 2,600 Christmas markets opened across Germany on Monday. They bring in an estimated £2bn (€2.3bn; $2.7bn) of business a year.
There is an increased police presence in city centres this year and car barriers have been put up around some Christmas markets.
Germany's interior ministry said this week that the risk of an attack on its territory or in Europe was "continuously high".
In last December's Berlin Christmas market attack, Anis Amri, a Tunisian asylum seeker, hijacked a lorry and killed its driver before ramming it into shoppers, killing another 11 people.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42201778
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Brexit offer 'must be acceptable to Ireland' - BBC News
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2017-12-01
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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European Council President Donald Tusk says "the key to the UK's future lies - in some ways - in Dublin".
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Europe
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Donald Tusk was speaking after talks with the Irish prime minister in Dublin
The UK's offer on Brexit must be acceptable to the Republic of Ireland before the negotiations can move on, the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has said.
Mr Tusk was speaking after talks with the Irish prime minister in Dublin on Friday.
He said: "The UK's future lies - in some ways - in Dublin".
The European Union has said "sufficient progress" must be made on the Irish border before negotiations can move on.
"The Irish request is the EU's request," Mr Tusk said.
"I realise that for some British politicians this may be hard to understand.
"But such is the logic behind the fact that Ireland is the EU member while the UK is leaving.
The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) said the EU was 'a family which sticks together'
"This is why the key to the UK's future lies - in some ways - in Dublin, at least as long as Brexit negotiations continue."
In a press conference with Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said that the UK's decision to leave the EU had created "uncertainty for millions of people".
"The border between Ireland and Northern Ireland is no longer a symbol of division, it is a symbol of cooperation and we cannot allow Brexit to destroy this achievement of the Good Friday Agreement," he said.
There is a lively debate about whether the Irish government has a veto over the decision - to be taken at the summit of EU leaders on 14 and 15 December - about whether Brexit talks can move to the next phase.
Call it what you like, but now Donald Tusk has told us for sure that the rest of the EU will do what Ireland decides.
There was a put-down for British politicians who may find it "hard to understand" why this is important.
But there was some comfort for the British government: Donald Tusk shares their view that the issue of the border can only be solved when there is more clarity about the UK's future relationship with the EU.
And Mr Tusk ended by saying "the key to the UK's future lies - in some ways - in Dublin." Is this a hint that the Irish government's suggestion that Northern Ireland remain in the EU's single market and customs union is the answer for the whole of the UK?
Or is it just a reminder that Dublin is first among equals among the remaining 27 members of the EU?
"The UK started Brexit and now it is their responsibility to propose a credible commitment to do what is necessary to avoid a hard border.
"As you know, I asked Prime Minister May to put a final offer on the table by the 4th of December so that we can assess whether sufficient progress can be made at the upcoming European Council.
"Let me say very clearly. If the UK offer is unacceptable for Ireland, it will also be unacceptable for the EU."
The taoiseach thanked Mr Tusk for the solidarity demonstrated by all EU partners and called the EU "a family which sticks together".
He said he was optimistic that a deal could be achieved by Monday.
However, he said any UK offer must indicate how a hard border can be avoided and avoid the risk of regulatory divergence.
On Thursday, the DUP's Sammy Wilson said any attempt to "placate Dublin and the EU" could mean a withdrawal of DUP support at Westminster.
He was responding to reports of a possible strategy to deal with the Irish border after Brexit.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Any attempt to 'placate Dublin and the EU' could jeopardise DUP support for Tories
The story suggested that British and EU officials could be about to seek separate customs measures for Northern Ireland after the UK leaves the European Union.
The DUP struck a deal with Prime Minister Theresa May's government in June, agreeing to support Tory policies at Westminster, in return for an extra £1bn in government spending for Northern Ireland.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42202830
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Who are the dual nationals jailed in Iran? - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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An unknown number are in prison, with some serving long sentences and others sentenced to death.
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Middle East
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The plight of British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was detained for almost six years in Iran on spying charges, focused attention on Iranians with dual nationality or foreign permanent residency being held in the Islamic Republic's prisons.
Iran does not recognise dual nationality, and there are no exact figures on the number of such detainees given the sensitive nature of the information. Some of the most prominent are:
Morad Tahbaz and fellow conservationists were using cameras to track endangered species when they were arrested
The 67-year-old businessman and wildlife conservationist, who also holds American and British citizenship, was arrested during a crackdown on environmental activists in January 2018. His Canadian-Iranian colleague, Kavous Seyed-Emami, died in custody a few weeks later in unexplained circumstances.
The authorities accused Tahbaz and seven other conservationists of collecting classified information about Iran's strategic areas under the pretext of carrying out environmental and scientific projects.
The conservationists - members of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation - had been using cameras to track endangered species including the Asiatic cheetah and Persian leopard, according to Amnesty International.
UN human rights experts said it was "hard to fathom how working to preserve the Iranian flora and fauna can possibly be linked to conducting espionage against Iranian interests", while a government committee concluded that there was no evidence to suggest they were spies.
But in October 2018, Tahbaz and three of his fellow conservationists were charged with "corruption on earth", which carries the death penalty. The charge was later changed to "co-operating with the hostile state of the US". Three others were charged with espionage, and a fourth was accused of acting against national security.
All eight denied the charges and Amnesty International said there was evidence that they had been subjected to torture in order to extract forced "confessions".
In November 2019, they were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 10 years and ordered to return allegedly "illicit income".
Human Rights Watch denounced what it said was an unfair trial, during which the defendants were apparently unable to see the full dossier of evidence against them.
The Court of Appeals reportedly upheld Tahbaz's convictions in February 2020.
UN human rights experts warned in January 2021 that Tahbaz's health had continuously deteriorated during his imprisonment and that he had been denied access to proper treatment.
In March 2022, then-UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Tahbaz had been released from Evin prison on furlough.
The announcement came on the same day that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and fellow British national Anoosheh Ashoori were released by Iran and allowed to return to the UK.
However, Tahbaz was returned to Evin just two days later. The UK Foreign Office said the Iranians had told them it was so that he could be fitted with an electronic ankle tag.
He was not allowed to resume his furlough and subsequently went on hunger strike for nine days to protest against his continued detention.
His daughter Roxanne said in April 2022 that he had "made it very clear that he feels abandoned" by the UK government.
The Foreign Office said Iran "committed to releasing Morad from prison on an indefinite furlough", but had "failed to honour that commitment".
In August 2023, Tahbaz was taken out of Evin and moved to house arrest along with three other Americans - including Siamak Namazi and Emad Shargi - after the US and Iran agreed a prisoner exchange.
In return for allowing them and a fifth American already under home confinement to leave, the US will reportedly release five Iranians jailed there and allow Iran to access $6bn (£4.7bn) of assets frozen in South Korea.
Siamak Namazi was arrested in 2015 and later sentenced to 10 years in prison on spying charges
Siamak Namazi, 51, worked as head of strategic planning at Dubai-based Crescent Petroleum.
He was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards in October 2015, while his father Baquer, 86, was arrested in February 2016 after Iranian officials granted him permission to visit his son in prison.
That October, they were both sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Revolutionary Court for "co-operating with a foreign enemy state". An appeals court upheld their sentence in August 2017.
Their lawyer said they denied the charges against them. He also complained that they had been held in solitary confinement and denied access to legal representation, and had suffered health problems. Siamak is also alleged to have been tortured.
Baquer was released to house arrest on medical grounds in 2018, but his health continued to deteriorate. His sentence was commuted to time served in early 2020, but he was only allowed to leave Iran for medical treatment in October 2022.
In January 2023, Siamak went on a week-long hunger strike to protest against the failure of the US to free him and other dual nationals despite President Joe Biden's promise to make bringing them home a top priority.
Seven months later, Siamak was again released to house arrest in anticipation of a prisoner exchange agreed by the US and Iran.
His brother, Babak, said in response: "While this is a positive change, we will not rest until Siamak and others are back home; we continue to count the days until this can happen."
The Iranian-American businessman and his wife moved to Iran from the US in 2017.
Shargi, who is 58, was initially detained by the Revolutionary Guards in April 2018, when he was working in sales for Sarava, an Iranian venture capital fund. He was released on bail that December, when officials told him that a court had cleared him of spying charges that he had denied. However, authorities refused to return his passport.
In November 2020, Shargi was summoned by a Revolutionary Court and told that he had been convicted of espionage in absentia and sentenced to 10 years in prison, his family said. He was not imprisoned immediately and was released on bail ahead of an appeal.
In January 2021, Iran's judiciary spokesman said an unnamed "defendant" facing spying charges had been arrested as he attempted to leave the country while on bail. It came a week after a state-backed news agency reported that Shargi had been detained while trying to cross Iran's western border illegally.
His daughters wrote in the Washington Post in April 2021 that he was "trapped in terrible conditions" in prison and that he had only been allowed a couple of short, monitored phone calls.
In August 2023, Shargi was released to house arrest in anticipation of a prisoner exchange between the US and Iran.
His sister, Neda, said in a statement: "My family has faith in the work that President Biden and government officials have undertaken to bring our families home and hope to receive that news soon."
Ahmadreza Djalali was sentenced to death in October 2017
The 51-year-old specialist in emergency medicine was arrested in April 2016 while on a business trip from Sweden.
Amnesty International said Djalali was held at Evin prison by intelligence ministry officials for seven months, three of them in solitary confinement, before he was given access to a lawyer.
He alleged that he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during that period, including threats to kill or otherwise harm his children, who live in Sweden, and his mother, who lives in Iran.
In October 2017, a Revolutionary Court in Tehran convicted Djalali of "spreading corruption on Earth" and sentenced him to death. His lawyers said the court relied primarily on evidence obtained under duress and alleged that he was prosecuted solely because of his refusal to use his academic ties in European institutions to spy for Iran.
Two months later, Iranian state television also aired what it said was footage of Djalali confessing that he had spied on Iran's nuclear programme for Israel. It suggested he was responsible for identifying two Iranian nuclear scientists who were killed in bomb attacks in 2010.
In February 2018, Sweden confirmed that it had given Djalali citizenship and demanded that his death sentence not be carried out. He had previously been a permanent resident.
In November 2021, Djalali's wife, Vida Mehran-Nia, said he had been informed by prison authorities that he faced imminent execution. He spent five months in solitary confinement, awaiting execution, until April 2021, when he reportedly was moved to a multi-occupancy cell.
Just over a year later, an Iranian judiciary spokesman said Djalali's death sentence was "final" and was "on the agenda" of authorities.
He also insisted that the case was not linked to the war crimes trial in Sweden of former Iranian judiciary official Hamid Nouri, who was sentenced to life in prison over what prosecutors said was his leading role in the mass executions of Iranian opposition supporters in 1988.
Djalali's wife and human rights groups have said Djalali is a "hostage" who Iran is threatening to execute in an attempt to negotiate a swap for Mr Nouri.
Nahid Taghavi was an advocate for women's rights in Iran
The 68-year-old retired architect, who is a German-Iranian dual national, was arrested at her apartment in Tehran in October 2020 and accused of "endangering security".
She was placed in solitary confinement at Evin prison and not given access to lawyers, German diplomats or members of her family, according to her daughter Mariam Claren.
Taghavi was repeatedly subjected to coercive questioning without the presence of lawyers, according to Amnesty International. Interrogators reportedly asked her about meeting people to discuss women's and labour rights, and possessing literature about those issues.
In August 2021, she was convicted by a Revolutionary Court in Tehran of "forming a group composed of more than two people with the purpose of disrupting national security" and "spreading propaganda against the system". She was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison.
Taghavi had denied the charges, the first of which was apparently related to a social media account about women's rights, and Amnesty said the trial was "grossly unfair".
Ms Claren wrote on Twitter that her mother "did not commit any crime. Unless freedom of speech, freedom of thought are illegal".
She has said her mother has been denied adequate healthcare by prison and prosecution authorities, despite doctors saying in September 2021 that she needed surgery on her spinal column.
In July 2022, Taghavi was granted urgent medical leave from prison for treatment for back and neck problems. She was sent back to Evin four months later.
A fellow inmate in the prison warned in June 2023 that Taghavi's life was "in danger" following a further 220 days in solitary confinement.
"The pain is so severe that it can be clearly seen on her face. She can barely get out of her bed," a message posted on human rights activist Narges Mohammadi's Instagram account said.
The 64-year-old researcher at Sciences-Po university in Paris is a specialist in social anthropology and the political anthropology of post-revolutionary Iran, and has written a number of books.
At the time of her arrest in Tehran in June 2019, she was examining the movement of Shia clerics between Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, and had spent time in the holy city of Qom.
Adelkhah was accused of espionage and other security-related offences.
She protested her innocence and after going on hunger strike, she was admitted to hospital for treatment for severe kidney damage.
Prosecutors dropped the espionage charge before her trial began at the Revolutionary Court in April 2020. The following month, the court sentenced Adelkhah to five years in prison for conspiring against national security and an additional year for propaganda against the establishment.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian condemned the sentence and demanded her release.
In October 2020, due to what Sciences-Po called her "health circumstances", Adelkhah was released on bail and allowed to return to her home in Tehran.
However, Iran's judiciary announced in January 2022 that it had returned Adelkhah to prison, accusing her of "knowingly violating the limits of house arrest dozens of times". French President Emmanuel Macron called the decision "entirely arbitrary".
In February 2023, Adelkhah Adelkhah was released from Evin prison after three and a half years in detention.
However, Iranian authorities refused to return her identity papers, making it impossible for her to leave the country or resume her work as a researcher.
Jamshid Sharmahd with his wife (L) and daughter, Gazelle
Sharmahd, 68, who lived in the US, arrived in the United Arab Emirates in July 2020 and was awaiting a connecting flight to India when he disappeared. It is believed that he was kidnapped by Iranian agents in Dubai and then forcibly taken to Iran via Oman.
The following month, Iran's intelligence ministry announced that it had arrested Sharmahd following a "complex operation", without providing any details. It also published a video in which he appeared blindfolded and confessed to various crimes.
In February 2023, Iran's judiciary said Sharmahd had been sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court in Tehran after being found guilty of "spreading corruption on Earth through planning and leading terror operations".
It alleged that he was the leader of a terrorist group known as Tondar and that he had "planned 23 terror attacks", of which "five were successful", including the 2008 bombing of a mosque in Shiraz in that killed 14 people.
Tondar - which means "thunder" in Persian - is another name of the Kingdom Assembly of Iran (KAI), a little-known US-based opposition group that seeks to restore the monarchy overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
According to Amnesty International, Sharmahd created a website to publish statements from the KAI, including claims of explosions inside Iran.
He also read out statements in radio and video broadcasts.
However, he denied his involvement in the attacks, saying he was only a spokesman, and rejected all accusations during his trial.
Amnesty said Sharmahd told his family that he had been tortured and subjected to other ill-treatment in detention, including by being held in prolonged solitary confinement.
He also told them that he had been denied adequate healthcare, with access to medications required for his Parkinson's disease delayed routinely.
In July, Sharmahd's daughter Gazelle told the BBC that he could be executed at any time.
"They're killing him softly in solitary confinement in this death cell. But even if he survives that, they're killing him by hanging him from a crane in public," she said.
The accountant was an adviser to the governor of Iran's central bank and was a member of the Iranian negotiating team for the country's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, in charge of financial issues.
He was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards in August 2016 just before he was due to board a flight to Canada, and was accused of "selling the country's economic details to foreigners".
In May 2017, a Revolutionary Court in Tehran convicted Dorri Esfahani of espionage charges, including "collaborating with the British secret service", and sentenced him to five years in prison.
That October an appeals court upheld Dorri Esfahani's sentence, despite then-Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi insisting that he was innocent.
Dorri Esfahani was due to complete his sentence in 2022, but there were no reports of his release.
Dalili is a retired Iranian merchant navy captain who is a US permanent resident.
He has been detained in Iran since April 2016, when he visited Tehran to attend his father's funeral. He was later convicted of "collaborating with a hostile state" and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
In August 2023, his son, Darian, said he was not part of the prisoner exchange deal between the US and Iran.
"He feels betrayed. He is demoralized. He believes that the US would bring back anyone that they want to bring back," Darian told Reuters news agency.
A US state department spokesman declined to tell reporters why Dalili was not included, but did reveal he had not yet been declared "wrongfully detained" - a designation that would mean the department dedicated more resources to their case and assigned it to a presidential envoy.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41974185
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Man stripped in 50-hour kidnap ordeal in Thornton Heath - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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Police are trying to track down the gang of men responsible for the "vicious and prolonged attack".
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London
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. CCTV of two men wanted in connection with the kidnap and burglary
A man was stripped naked, beaten and tied up in a kidnapping ordeal that lasted 50 hours.
The 24-year-old victim was lured to a house in Thornton Heath, Croydon by two acquaintances, where he was set upon by an armed gang.
His keys were taken by the gang who burgled his parents' home.
As well as the man's £9,000 Rolex watch, a significant amount of cash was taken from the property in Sydenham, south-east London, police said.
The captors had previously forced the man to ring his parents and make a ransom demand for his release, which they could not pay.
On Wednesday, which was the third evening of the hostage ordeal, the victim was taken by car to a Metro bank cash machine in North End, Croydon, so he could withdraw money.
His tormentors waited in the vehicle, apparently out of fear of being captured on CCTV, giving the man an opportunity to escape.
Det Sgt Samuel Bennett, of the Croydon Criminal Investigation Department, said: "This was a vicious and prolonged attack of a nature that thankfully is very rare.
"It has left the victim utterly distraught and traumatised."
The entry of two suspects into the home of the victim's parents was captured on CCTV. The footage has now been released by police in a bid to identify them.
Detectives have also named two other men they want to speak to in connection with the man's ordeal - two brothers, Ali Dervish, 28, and 19-year-old Sinan Dervish.
Ali Dervish is among the suspects wanted in connection with the kidnap and burglary
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42293276
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Snow in UK: Your photos of the wintry scenes - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Snow has fallen across the UK, causing disruption for some and fun for others. Here are some of your photos.
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UK
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Presha Taneja took this photo of driving conditions while stuck near junction 20 of the M25.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42299737
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Portugal's Eurovision winner Salvador Sobral has heart transplant - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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Salvador Sobral, who won this year's contest for Portugal, is doing well, surgeons in Lisbon say.
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Europe
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Salvador Sobral missed a week of Eurovision rehearsals due to his heart condition
Portugal's celebrated Eurovision Song Contest winner, Salvador Sobral, is recovering in hospital after undergoing a heart transplant.
Surgeons at the Santa Cruz Hospital in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, said the 27-year-old was "doing well".
Sobral, who suffered from a longstanding heart condition, won this year's contest with the love song Amar Pelos Dois (Love for Both of Us).
It was the first time Portugal had taken the title.
"The surgery went well," said surgeon Miguel Abecasis, quoted by the Publico daily (in Portuguese).
"He was very well prepared. He is a young man who understood the difficulties of this type of procedure."
Mr Abecasis said that before Friday's operation the singer had wished him "good luck".
The recovery would take a long time, Mr Abecasis added, but said that if all went well, Sobral would have "a completely normal life".
The singer had to wait several months until a suitable donor was found, Publico reported. He announced in September that he was taking a break from performing.
Sobral's winning ballad, written by his older sister, Luisa, made him a national hero in Portugal.
He described it as "an emotional song with a beautiful lyrical message and harmony - things people are not used to listening these days".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42296971
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Beirut protests: 'Jerusalem remains a rallying cry' - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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Protests against US President Donald Trump's controversial decision turn ugly again in Beirut.
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Protests in the Lebanese capital Beirut against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel have turned ugly again, with youths throwing stones at the US embassy.
The BBC's Martin Patience reports from the scene as police use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42300219
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Icy conditions forecast for Monday - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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BBC Weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas looks at the weather for Monday and Tuesday.
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BBC Weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas looks at the forecast for Monday and Tuesday, and lists the parts of the UK which saw the most snow on Sunday.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42304368
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Ashes: Ben Duckett suspended from playing on England Lions tour - BBC Sport
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2017-12-10
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England Lions batsman Ben Duckett is suspended from playing for the rest of their tour of Australia after pouring a drink over James Anderson in a Perth bar.
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Last updated on .From the section Cricket
England Lions batsman Ben Duckett has been suspended from playing on their tour of Australia after pouring a drink over James Anderson in a Perth bar.
Duckett, 23, has also been fined and issued with a final written warning over his conduct as an England player.
The Lions will play three Twenty20 matches against Perth Scorchers and Duckett will remain with the squad.
He was dropped from England's two-day game against a Cricket Australia XI in Perth over the weekend.
The Northants left-hander, who has played four Tests, was set to play at Richardson Park after a number of the Ashes party were rested.
• None Listen: England should be trying to win respect - Agnew
• None Duckett dropped after pouring drink over Anderson in bar
On Thursday, Duckett was at a bar in Perth with members of the Lions and senior squads, who were not under a curfew.
There is no suggestion 35-year-old Anderson, who has played 131 Tests and is England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, has done anything wrong.
Though England coach Trevor Bayliss described the incident as "trivial", team management were left furious at another off-field misdemeanour.
In September, all-rounder Ben Stokes was arrested following an altercation outside a Bristol nightclub and is waiting for a Crown Prosecution Service decision on whether he will be charged.
At the beginning of the Ashes tour, wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow was accused of 'headbutting' Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft.
Though both described that incident as "without malice", England were subsequently placed under a midnight curfew.
After Duckett's indiscretion occurred on the first night the curfew was lifted, Bayliss said he was "fed up" of having to address off-field matters.
"I might review who is in the team," said Bayliss. "They can't keep making the same mistakes.
"Most of the guys are fine, but somewhere along the line some of the guys have to pull their heads in."
Following an investigation led by Lions coach Andy Flower, Duckett is not being sent home but has been fined what the England and Wales Cricket Board describes as the "maximum allowable amount" for a Lions player - thought to be about £1,500.
However, his place on the Lions tour of the West Indies could now be under threat. A new squad will be named for the trip that begins at the end of January.
On Sunday, England all-rounder Moeen Ali said England's players know their behaviour must improve.
"We're all grown men and we should know how to behave," said Moeen. "The individual needs to be responsible for his own behaviour."
Taken in isolation, this was a minor event that ordinarily might not have come to light.
But, after the Bairstow and, in particular, Stokes incidents, England are battling to restore a damaged reputation.
Not only that, but it is yet another distraction on a tour when all of the home players, media and fans will pounce on any weakness.
England management were fuming on Saturday and are considering ending careers of those they think are repeat offenders.
Perhaps it would have been harsh to send Duckett home, but he and everyone else who wants to play for England have been served with the most final of warnings.
Ex-England spinner Monty Panesar, a former Northants team-mate of Duckett, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek
Ben Duckett's probably thinking: 'I wish I hadn't done that.'
He likes the odd drink to relax, but I think this is out of character. He looks up to senior figures, so he's probably devastated right now knowing he's done something out of line which nobody expected him to do.
We don't need any more incidents like this. I hear it was the same bar as Jonny Bairstow greeted Bancroft, so maybe they should avoid that bar.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42298950
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Plymouth Pryzm nightclub deaths: Tributes paid to teenagers - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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The teenagers, who are suspected to have taken ecstasy, were found collapsed in the early hours.
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Devon
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Aaron Reilly (left) and Joshua Brock and were found unconscious at the Pryzm nightclub in Plymouth
Tributes have been paid to two 19-year-old men who died after apparently taking drugs at a nightclub.
Aaron Reilly and Joshua Brock were found unconscious at Pryzm in Plymouth in the early hours of Saturday,
The teenagers, who police said thought they were taking ecstasy, died later in hospital.
The club was evacuated and an 18-year-old man was arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police. He has been released under investigation, the force said.
The family of Mr Reilly, from Newton Abbot, described him as "a much-loved son, brother, grandson and boyfriend" who loved skateboarding and playing computer games.
His younger brother Kian said: "My brother was one of the most responsible people I ever knew and everything he achieved I was so proud of, but I was so envious of his talent.
"I can't believe he was taken from me and my family from one silly mistake, just trying to have fun on a night out with his best mates."
Hundreds of young people had been attending a gig by the Swedish dance artist Basshunter when the pair collapsed
Mr Brock, from Okehampton, was described as "a loving son to Steve and Sandra, an inspirational brother to Liam and Demelza and a loyal mate to all his friends".
"Joshua was in his third year studying for a diploma in aircraft engineering at the Flybe Training Academy in Exeter when his life was cut short," the family said in a statement.
"He was the kindest, most helpful person you could hope to meet and had a great sense of humour.
"His main hobby was keeping fit and eating healthily, so what happened that night is so totally out of character as he was always against drug taking in any shape or form. One moment of madness led to this tragedy."
On Saturday, the nightclub described the deaths as "tragic and very sad", adding that staff were co-operating with the police investigation.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-42301045
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Teachers call for ban on energy drinks in schools - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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A teaching union compares energy drinks to “legal highs” and says pupils are consuming them in “excessive quantities.”
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Health
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One of the UK's largest teaching unions is calling for schools to ban energy drinks from their premises.
The NASUWT is warning about caffeine levels in the drinks, describing them as "readily available legal highs" which can contribute to poor behaviour.
It follows a report by academics, seen by 5 live investigates, calling on the government to consider making the sale of the drinks illegal to under-16s.
But the British Soft Drinks Association says the drinks have been deemed safe.
Academics from FUSE - the Centre for Transitional Research in Public Health in the North East - found children as young as 10 are buying energy drinks because they are "cheaper than water or pop".
Children told them they buy the drinks for as little as 25p, and that they choose energy drinks to "fit in" or "look tough".
They also found that the drinks are targeted at young people online in pop-up adverts, on TV, in computer games, and through sports sponsorship.
A typical energy drink contains 32mg of caffeine per 100ml and cans carry warnings saying they are "not recommended for children".
A single 500ml can contains 160mg of caffeine, equivalent to around two shots of espresso coffee.
The researchers highlight European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidance which recommends an intake of no more than 105mg caffeine per day for an average 11-year-old. They also point out that young people in the UK are among the highest consumers of energy drinks in Europe.
Figures from the British Soft Drinks Association show sales of energy drinks increased by 185% between 2006 and 2015, equating to 672 million litres consumed in 2015, and a total market value of over £2bn.
Darren Northcott, NASUWT national official for education, said: "Teachers have registered concerns with the NASUWT about the contribution of high energy drinks to poor pupil behaviour as a result of pupils consuming excessive quantities of these drinks.
"They are popular among young people who often think they are just another soft drink, and young people and parents are often not aware of the very high levels of stimulants that these drinks contain.
"They are readily available legal highs sold in vending machines, supermarkets and corner shops."
He added: "The evidence of the impact of these drinks, including that uncovered by 5 live, is compelling and serves to emphasise that further action needs to be taken.
"The NASUWT has always been clear that drinks with high levels of sugar should not be sold on school premises. It is time to look again at the School Food Standards, and the enforcement of the standards, to make sure that every school in the country is free of highly-caffeinated soft drinks, as well as those that are high in sugar."
Victoria Stean, from Milton Keynes, started consuming energy drinks when she was 16 and was soon drinking around seven 500ml cans a day.
She said: "I was definitely hooked. I would have a can for breakfast, another one mid-morning, and several in the afternoon.
"It took me a while to wean myself off energy drinks. I would get headaches if I didn't drink them. Since I have stopped drinking them I have lost weight and my vision has improved again.
"Ironically, I also have more energy now and I sleep better."
Victoria was able to lose half her body weight after she stopped drinking around seven 500ml cans of energy drinks a day.
Norman Lamb, chair of the Commons Science and Technology Committee and a former Liberal Democrat health minister, said: "The potential health risks and impact on sleep of energy drinks is something I would like the committee to consider evidence on in the new year.
He added that "given epidemic levels of consumption among under-16s we have to consider banning the sale of these drinks to that group".
In a statement, the British Soft Drinks Association, which represents manufacturers, said: "Energy drinks and their ingredients have been deemed safe by regulatory authorities around the world.
"In 2010 we introduced a voluntary Code of Practice to support consumers who want to make informed choices. In 2015 this was updated to include more stringent guidelines around marketing and promoting, including reference to in and around schools."
The Food Standards Agency said: "The FSA reviews guidance when significant new work in the subject area becomes available. Our current guidance was developed following the European Food Safety Authority's assessment of caffeine in 2015."
5 live Investigates: Energy Drinks is broadcast on Sunday 10th December 2017 at 11am GMT. If you've missed it you can catch up on the iPlayer.
Have you got something you want us to investigate? We want to hear from you. Email us.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42298192
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Prisoner caught in Iran power struggle - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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The case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is first and foremost a story of terrible personal suffering.
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UK
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The case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is first and foremost a story of terrible personal suffering for a young woman, her husband and their baby girl.
Eighteen months into a five-year sentence, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces the prospect of up to 16 years in an Iranian jail.
It is also, however, a story of an internal power struggle in Iran, as well as of the nation's deeply difficult relationship with the UK.
To understand how she fits into this, the first thing to examine is the timing of her arrest. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in April 2016, a few months ahead of the first anniversary of Iran's historic nuclear deal.
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The accord, on which President Hassan Rouhani had staked his reputation, was bitterly opposed by elements of the powerful Revolutionary Guards.
They had often benefited financially from the sanctions regime. They were adamant that the nuclear deal must be seen as a failure, that it had changed nothing and that compromise with the West was a fruitless exercise.
Arrests of a number of Iranians with dual nationality came about in this context:
Iran is in the grip of an ideological power-struggle, with two competing world views.
President Rouhani came to power promising to open Iran up to the world; the supreme leader, the Revolutionary Guards and the judiciary have a far more hardline position, both in relation to how the country should be run as well as its foreign relations.
All the arrests were seen as an attempt by the Revolutionary Guards to undermine not just the president, but the very process of thawing relations with the West.
Of the three dual-national prisoners arrested after the deal was agreed, only one has since been released: Ms Hoodfar was sent home a few months later on what the Iranians called "humanitarian grounds".
The only significant difference between her case and Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's was their nationalities: one was half-Canadian, the other half-British.
To Iranian minds, the UK is viewed with almost unique suspicion. Indeed, in 2009 the supreme leader said that of all the world's "arrogant powers", the UK was the "most evil".
To understand why, one must go back to the 1953 coup-d'état that overthrew nationalist Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, returning the autocratic Shah to power. Behind it were the British and American intelligence agencies.
Almost 300 people were killed in the streets of Tehran after protesting against the prime minister's removal in a US- and British-organised coup in 1953
This led to deep-rooted suspicions of the West's intentions; once the Shah was ousted by the Islamic Revolution of 1979, those suspicions became open hostilities. Relations have never really recovered.
Over the years there have been a number of key points, notably the 1989 fatwah calling for the death of British author Salman Rushdie. His book, The Satanic Verses, was denounced as blasphemous by the supreme leader; he called on Muslims around the world to try and kill Rushdie. The controversy led to a severing of diplomatic ties, which were not repaired until 1998.
In 2007, 15 British Royal Navy personnel were detained off the South Coast of Iran. They were paraded on TV, a show of power by Tehran, but ultimately released under diplomatic pressure.
The 2009 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was followed by peaceful street protests, which the supreme leader accused the West of encouraging. A number of staff at the British embassy were arrested and forced to sign confessions.
In November 2011, relations deteriorated further. After the UK increased sanctions on Iran, the parliament voted to expel the British ambassador. Before he could pack his bags, members of the hardline Basij militia ransacked the British embassy in Tehran. It did not re-open until 2014.
But, it is not just the British government that has been viewed with great hostility. Western media, most notably the BBC's Persian Service, has long been regarded with deep distrust, fear and often hatred by the hardline Iranian establishment.
For years Persian Service journalists have been harassed and intimidated by the Iranian authorities. Two months ago all the assets of 150 BBC staff, former staff and contributors were frozen for "conspiracy against national security".
And here we come to the final part of the story of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Many years ago, she worked for BBC Media Action, the charitable wing of the BBC. Although it has no direct connection to the BBC's Persian service, it has been used as evidence that she was in Iran for political reasons.
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It is, therefore, for this reason that the recent comments by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson were so controversial, and potentially damaging.
By stating that she was involved in "training journalists", he has given ammunition to those elements of the establishment who view her as just another example what the supreme leader described as "an infiltration project" by the West.
All the while, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe languishes in Tehran's Evin jail. Her daughter, who has now forgotten how to speak English, can only see her for an hour-and-a-half a week. Meanwhile her husband Richard suffers in London.
The future of a family, half-British, half-Iranian, has been torn apart by the suspicion and distrust caused by their own countries' pasts.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41907892
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Iraq declares war with Islamic State is over - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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PM Haider al-Abadi says Iraqi troops are now in complete control of the country.
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Middle East
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Recapturing Mosul was the bloodiest conflict - for both combatants and civilians
Iraq has announced that its war against so-called Islamic State (IS) is over.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told a conference in Baghdad that Iraqi troops were now in complete control of the Iraqi-Syrian border.
The border zone contained the last few areas IS held, following its loss of the town of Rawa in November.
The US state department welcomed the end of the "vile occupation" of IS in Iraq and said the fight against the group would continue.
Iraq's announcement comes two days after the Russian military declared it had accomplished its mission of defeating IS in neighbouring Syria.
The jihadist group had seized large swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, when it proclaimed a "caliphate" and imposed its rule over some 10 million people.
But it suffered a series of defeats over the past two years, losing Iraq's second city of Mosul this July and its de facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria last month.
Some IS fighters are reported to have dispersed into the Syrian countryside, while others are believed to have escaped across the Turkish border.
This is undeniably a proud moment for Mr Abadi - a victory that once looked like it might only ever be rhetorical rather than real.
But if the direct military war with IS in Iraq is genuinely over, and the country's elite forces can now step back after a conflict that's taken a huge toll on them, it doesn't mean the battle against the group's ideology or its ability to stage an insurgency is finished - whether in Iraq, Syria or the wider world.
Attacks may be at a lower level than they once were, but Iraqi towns and cities still fall prey to suicide bombers, while the conditions that fuelled the growth of jihadism remain - even in the territory that's been recaptured.
Mr Abadi said on Saturday: "Our forces are in complete control of the Iraqi-Syrian border and I therefore announce the end of the war against Daesh [IS].
"Our enemy wanted to kill our civilisation, but we have won through our unity and our determination. We have triumphed in little time."
The Iraqi armed forces issued a statement saying Iraq had been "totally liberated" from IS.
"The United States joins the government of Iraq in stressing that Iraq's liberation does not mean the fight against terrorism, and even against Isis [IS], in Iraq is over," she added.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated Mr Abadi on a "historic moment" but warned that IS still posed a threat, including from across the border in Syria.
Last month, the Syrian military said it had "fully liberated" the eastern border town of Albu Kamal, the last last urban stronghold of IS in that country.
On Thursday, the head of the Russian general staff's operations, Col-Gen Sergei Rudskoi, said: "The mission to defeat bandit units of the Islamic State terrorist organisation on the territory of Syria, carried out by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, has been accomplished."
Estimates of civilian deaths in Mosul alone vary wildly, with one figure as high as 40,000
He said Russia's military presence in Syria would now concentrate on preserving ceasefires and restoring peace.
The collapse of IS has raised fears that its foreign fighters will escape over Syria's borders to carry out more attacks abroad.
Civilians flee as Iraqi forces battle to retake Mosul in March 2017
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42291985
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Why Jerusalem matters - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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The city's importance explained, as the controversial US embassy move to the city goes ahead.
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The controversial US embassy move to Jerusalem is going ahead amid celebration and protest. The BBC's Yolande Knell explains why the city is so important.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42247428
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How hot is it where you are? - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Compare the temperature in your area to other locations in the UK and around the world.
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UK
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Compare the temperature where you are with more than 50 cities around the world, including some of the hottest and coldest inhabited places. Enter your location or postcode in the search box to see your result.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23252638
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Johnson in 'frank talks' on jailed Briton Zaghari-Ratcliffe - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his Iranian counterpart discuss Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe during meeting.
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UK
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UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his Iranian counterpart have spoken "frankly" in Tehran about jailed Briton Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
He met Mohammed Javad Zarif to urge her freeing on humanitarian grounds, along with other dual nationals held in Iran.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held in Tehran since April 2016, after being accused of spying, a charge she denies.
Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, spoke of his "hopes and fears", telling the BBC "it could go any which way".
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held in Iran since April 2016
In what was described as "a useful meeting", Mr Johnson and the Iranian foreign minister talked for two hours in Tehran on a range of subjects including the nuclear deal, as well "obstacles in their relationship".
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has tweeted his support for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, calling on Mr Johnson to do "everything he can to secure her release".
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Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested on a visit to see her parents with her baby daughter Gabriella.
After the arrest her daughter's passport was confiscated and for the last 20 months she has been living with her maternal grandparents in Iran.
The case was further complicated when Mr Johnson erroneously told a parliamentary committee in November that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been in Iran to train journalists.
The foreign secretary later apologised in the Commons, retracting "any suggestion she was there in a professional capacity".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Why one mother's personal plight is part of a complicated history between Iran and the UK (video published August 2019 and last updated in October 2019)
Reports suggest Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe could appear in court on Sunday to face new charges and possibly have her sentence doubled as a result of Mr Johnson's comments.
"His fate and her fate have been aligned a little bit, and he is now in Iran battling for her," her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, told the BBC. "It's a case of 'watch this space'".
He said he believed Mr Johnson's "charm and presence" in Iran would "make a difference", but the situation remained very unclear.
"It's all up in the air," said Mr Ratcliffe. "We're holding on to the good bits - it could go any which way."
He said he wanted his wife to be with her family in the UK for Christmas but he was not expecting her to be on the foreign secretary's plane when Mr Johnson returns to the UK on Monday.
He added: "Fingers crossed it can be solved by Christmas, which means in the week or so afterwards there might be a happy outcome."
As Boris Johnson and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif shook hands on their way into talks it could have seemed routine.
But there was nothing routine about this encounter. The foreign secretary looked uncharacteristically tense, and with good reason.
His mission - to improve relations - point to Britain's continuing support for the Iran nuclear deal, while at the same time being critical of Iran's actions in Yemen and Syria.
And, hardest of all, argue for prisoner releases, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a case many accuse him of damaging by loose talk last month.
Boris Johnson will say nothing at all publicly while in Iran, such is the sensitivity of his visit.
But in one good sign, Iran's foreign minister confirmed Mr Johnson should be able to meet President Rouhani on Sunday.
We should not expect immediate consequences, but Iran is in little doubt of the importance the British side attaches to getting Ms Zahari-Ratcliffe home.
Relations between the UK and Iran have long been difficult. Mr Johnson's visit is only the third by a British foreign minister to Iran in the last 14 years.
The Foreign Office would not confirm the names or number of other dual nationals being held, saying their families had asked for their cases to be kept out of the public domain.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Johnson said the talks would cover the "bilateral relationship and I will stress my grave concerns about our dual national consular cases and press for their release where there are humanitarian grounds to do so".
Last month, the Free Nazanin Campaign said Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had suffered panic attacks, insomnia, bouts of depression and suicidal thoughts and had been given a health assessment.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42295586
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Jerusalem clashes: Sheltering in a sweet shop - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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People shelter in a sweet shop amid protests after Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital
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After Donald Trump said the US will recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, here is what life is like for one business.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/42294872
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Australian town driven batty by flying foxes - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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Residents of an Australian town are being overwhelmed by thousands of flying foxes.
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Residents of one town in North Queensland are being overwhelmed by bats.
They're demanding action to deal with a situation they call "the stuff of nightmares".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-42298288
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Max Clifford dies in hospital aged 74 - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Former celebrity publicist Max Clifford has died in hospital, aged 74, after collapsing in prison.
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England
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Max Clifford had been serving an eight-year jail sentence for sex offences
Disgraced celebrity publicist Max Clifford has died in hospital, aged 74, after collapsing in prison.
Clifford collapsed in his cell at Littlehey Prison in Cambridgeshire on Thursday and again on Friday, his daughter said. He was taken to hospital where he suffered a cardiac arrest.
He had been serving an eight-year sentence for historical sex offences.
The Ministry of Justice said as with all deaths in custody, there would an investigation by the ombudsman.
A spokeswoman added: "Our condolences are with Mr Clifford's family at this difficult time."
His daughter Louise, 46, had told the Mail on Sunday that Clifford first collapsed in his cell on Thursday when he was trying to clean it, adding: "It was just too much."
She said he collapsed again the next day and was unconscious for several minutes, and after seeing a nurse was transferred to a local hospital where he suffered a cardiac arrest on Friday.
During his trial he accused his victims of being fantasists
The Ministry of Justice confirmed Clifford died in hospital on 10 December.
In May 2014, Clifford was jailed after being convicted of eight historical indecent assaults on women and young girls under Operation Yewtree - the Met Police investigation set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
During this trial, evidence was heard about Clifford's manipulative behaviour, including how he promised to boost the careers of aspiring models and actresses in return for sexual favours.
After his convictions, he continued to protest his innocence.
The Court of Appeal was due to hear his case appealing against his sentence in the New Year.
Clifford's lawyer, John Szepietowski, said his death meant there were a number of unresolved legal issues.
He said Clifford had been suing News International and Mirror Group Newspapers for allegedly hacking his phone.
His daughter Louise supported him through his trial
The lawyer also said Clifford was being sued by a number of women who claimed he had sexually assaulted them.
Mr Szepietowski said his legal team would meet in the coming days to decide whether Clifford's criminal appeal case should continue.
He said Clifford had been receiving legal aid for the appeal, after being declared bankrupt earlier this year and having to sell his Surrey home to pay his debts.
During his long career as a publicist, Clifford, who started his own company at 27, looked after press and publicity for a mixed range of clients such as Marlon Brando, Marvin Gaye, Muhammad Ali and Jade Goody.
He claimed he had helped to launch the career of The Beatles by sending press releases about their debut single, Love Me Do, when record company bosses were unsure about the group's potential.
High-profile clients came to him because of his connections in the tabloid press - while journalists turned to Clifford to provide stories.
However, after 50 years in the showbiz industry allegations against him began to emerge.
In a Facebook post following the announcement that Clifford had died, former X Factor winner Steve Brookstein, claimed Clifford had "orchestrated a media hate campaign" against him.
• None The rise and fall of Max Clifford
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42300593
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Firefighters' surprise role in Perth Theatre panto - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Impromptu stage appearance after smoke alarm disrupts first performance at revamped Perth Theatre
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Tayside and Central Scotland
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They're behind you! Firefighters on stage during the Perth Theatre pantomime
The first performance at Perth Theatre in four years defied all expectations when two real-life firefighters appeared on stage.
A smoke alarm mid-way through Aladdin on Saturday forced the evacuation of the Edwardian theatre which has just had a £16.6m refurbishment.
After checks to the building, the show resumed with one of the actors carried back on stage by the firefighters.
The theatre management blamed a "snagging" fault for the alarm.
Gwylym Gibbons, chief executive of Horsecross Arts which runs the theatre, said: "There was a lovely moment when the firefighters came on stage, carrying one of the cast members.
"The beauty of pantomime is that you can adapt it to the moment - and everyone got back into the panto spirit."
The theatre's 500-seat B-listed Edwardian auditorium has been closed for four years while it was restored to its former glory.
A new 200-capacity performance studio has also been created to encourage new writing, music and dance.
The Edwardian auditorium has been restored to its former glory
The refurbishment includes a new box office, cafe, bar and shop
Artistic director Lu Kemp said the cast became accustomed to dealing with unforeseen events during rehearsals.
She said: "It's been hilarious. At times we've had rehearsals where a couple of builders with a very long pipe will walk through the room.
"But it's nothing that's ever got in the way of rehearsals: it's just added an extra layer of hilarity to the whole event."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-42292776
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Nobel Peace Prize winner Ican warns nuclear war 'a tantrum away' - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, Ican's Beatrice Fihn appears to refer to the North Korean crisis.
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Europe
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Ican's executive director Beatrice Fihn (right) said nuclear disaster may be a "tantrum away"
The world faces a "nuclear crisis" from a "bruised ego", the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Ican) has warned in an apparent reference to US-North Korea tensions.
Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize on Sunday, Ican's executive director Beatrice Fihn said "the deaths of millions may be one tiny tantrum away".
"We have a choice, the end of nuclear weapons or the end of us," she added.
Tensions over North Korea's weapons programme have risen in recent months.
The open hostility between US President Donald Trump and the North Korean leadership under Kim Jong-un has at times descended into personal attacks this year.
Speaking at the ceremony in Oslo, Ms Fihn said "a moment of panic" could lead to the "destruction of cities and the deaths of millions of civilians" from nuclear weapons.
The risk of such weapons being used, she added, was "greater today than during the Cold War".
Ican, a coalition of hundreds of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has worked for a treaty to ban the weapons.
Prior to presenting the prize on Sunday, Nobel committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen offered a similar warning, saying that "irresponsible leaders can come to power in any nuclear state".
Ms Reiss-Andersen commended Ican which, she said, had succeeded in highlighting the dangers of nuclear weapons as well as trying to eradicate them.
Ms Reiss-Andersen also acknowledged the contributions of Setsuko Thurlow, an 85-year-old survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and now an Ican campaigner.
Ms Thurlow, who was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building at the time, said that most of her classmates, who were in the same room, were burned alive.
"Processions of ghostly figures shuffled by," she said on Sunday. "Grotesquely wounded people, they were bleeding, burnt, blackened and swollen."
Mr Trump has warned that North Korea's government will be "utterly destroyed" if war breaks out.
White House national security adviser HR McMaster said last week that the potential for war with North Korea was increasing every day.
In November, Pyongyang said it had tested a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reaching the whole of continental United States.
Ican, formed in 2007 and inspired by a similar campaign to ban the use of landmines, has made it its mission to highlight the humanitarian risk of nuclear weapons.
A coalition of hundreds of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Geneva-based group helped pave the way for the introduction of a UN treaty banning the weapons, which was signed this year.
While 122 countries backed the treaty in July, the talks were notably boycotted by the world's nine known nuclear powers and the only Nato member to discuss it, the Netherlands, voted against.
Only three countries, the Holy See, Guyana and Thailand, have so far ratified the treaty, which requires 50 ratifications to come into force.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42298453
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Two young Devon men die after 'taking drugs at Plymouth Pryzm nightclub' - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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An 18-year-old man was being questioned by police following the pair's deaths in hospital.
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Devon
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Two 19-year-old men have died in hospital in the early hours after apparently taking drugs at a nightclub.
They were found unconscious at the Pryzm club in Plymouth, where hundreds of young people were attending a gig by the Swedish dance artist Basshunter.
Police said the teenagers, from Okehampton and Newton Abbot, were thought to have taken MDMA.
The club was evacuated and an 18-year-old man was arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police.
At about 02:00 GMT the poorly men were taken to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
The two men were believed to have taken the recreational drug MDMA
Det Insp Julie Scoles said the two who died were part of a larger group who took the drug.
"We have located the rest of the group who are thankfully showing no ill-effects at this time," she said.
"I am urging the public, especially those going out and planning to take recreational drugs, to be aware of this incident and think twice before taking any unknown substance - there is always a risk when taking drugs and the only way of staying safe is to avoid drugs altogether."
Next-of-kin have been informed, but formal identification of the victims has yet to take place and police have asked anyone with any information to contact them.
The nightclub said the deaths were "tragic and very sad", and staff were co-operating with the police investigation.
A statement said: "We are devastated by the events of this morning where two young men tragically lost their lives, and we would like to extend our thoughts and condolences to the families and friends at this very sad time."
• None The rise in strength and popularity of ecstasy
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-42293096
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Qatar buys 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets in £6bn deal - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The move will help safeguard thousands of jobs at BAE Systems, mainly at Warton in Lancashire.
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Business
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BAE makes the Eurofighter Typhoon at its Warton plant
A £6bn deal to sell Eurofighter Typhoons to Qatar will help safeguard thousands of UK jobs.
BAE Systems employs about 5,000 people in the UK to build the fighter jets, mainly at Warton in Lancashire.
Qatar's purchase of 24 jets includes a support and training package from BAE, with deliveries due to start in 2022.
The deal was announced in Doha by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah.
Mr Williamson said it was a "massive vote of confidence, supporting thousands of British jobs and injecting billions into our economy".
An RAF Typhoon at the Akrotiri base in Cyprus
BAE chief executive Charles Woodburn said the contract, worth £5bn to the company, was the start of a long-term relationship with Qatar and its armed forces.
"This agreement is a strong endorsement of Typhoon's leading capabilities and underlines BAE Systems' long track record of working in successful partnership with our customers," he said.
The Typhoon entered service with the RAF in 2007 to replace the ageing Tornado fleet.
Although the Qatar order secures the production of the Typhoon at BAE into the next decade, it will not stop the 2,000 job cuts announced in October from going ahead.
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BAE has suffered amid declining military spending among major Nato members, but remains a key contractor on the world's most expensive defence programme, the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project.
The UK's deal with Qatar also includes an agreement with MBDA for Brimstone and Meteor missiles and Raytheon's Paveway IV laser-guided bomb.
Qatar signed a letter of intent in September to buy the 24 jets from BAE.
It is the ninth country to buy the Typhoon, with other customers including Saudi Arabia. Talks about a second batch of sales to the kingdom are ongoing.
In June countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42302767
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California's Thomas Fire scorches area larger than New York City - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Thomas fire is the fifth largest blaze in recorded state history and has grown significantly.
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US & Canada
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Ben Rich updates the situation on the California wildfires
The most destructive wildfire raging in southern California has expanded significantly, scorching an area larger than New York City.
The Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has consumed 230,000 acres (930 sq km) in the past week.
Fanned by strong winds, it has become the fifth largest wildfire in recorded state history after it grew by more than 50,000 acres in a day.
Residents in coastal beach communities have been ordered to leave.
Satellite imagery shows the vast Thomas Fire, north of Los Angeles, which has spread as far as the Pacific coast
On Sunday, firefighters reported that 15% of the blaze had been contained but were forced to downgrade that to 10% as it continued to spread.
"This is a menacing fire, certainly, but we have a lot of people working very diligently to bring it under control," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.
Thousands of firefighters are working round the clock to tackle the blaze, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
The containment operation is not only being hampered by dry winds. It is proving challenging for firefighters because of the location and mountainous terrain.
Firefighters face challenging conditions to contain the Thomas fire
An analyst with the California fire protection department, Tim Chavez, said the emergency services were struggling because "a hot interior" was in parts practically meeting the ocean, making access difficult.
"It's just a very difficult place to fight fire," Mr Chavez said, adding: "It's very dangerous and has a historical record of multiple fatalities occurring over the years."
The other fires hitting California are largely controlled, but 200,000 people have evacuated their homes and some 800 buildings have been destroyed since 4 December.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The Thomas fire has the potential to be one of the worst in California's history
Evacuation orders were issued overnight on Sunday for parts of Carpinteria close to Los Padres National Forest, about 100 miles (160km) northwest of Los Angeles.
Forecasters said wind speeds were expected to increase throughout the day, before dying down again overnight.
The local fire department tweeted pictures of a wall of flames advancing on homes on the outskirts of Carpinteria early on Sunday morning.
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A member of the emergency services in Carpinteria said he would continue working alongside his colleagues until the fire was under complete control.
"What they did last night was amazing," firefighter Michael Gallagher said, adding: "They saved this entire community.
"We've been up, I'm at 29 hours straight, every other day... we are exhausted, but they're not coming off until this is done."
Meanwhile, actor Rob Lowe, who lives in Santa Barbara, a city of close to 100,000 people, tweeted that he was praying for his town as fires closed in.
"Firefighters making brave stands. Could go either way. Packing to evacuate now," Lowe added.
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California has spent the past seven days battling wildfires. Six large blazes, and other smaller ones, erupted on Monday night in southern California.
The Thomas Fire - named according to where it started, near the Thomas Aquinas College - is by far the largest of the fires.
They swept through tens of thousands of acres in a matter of hours, driven by extreme weather, including low humidity, high winds and parched ground.
The authorities issued a purple alert - the highest level warning - amid what it called "extremely critical fire weather", while US President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency.
On Saturday, California Governor Jerry Brown described the situation as "the new normal" and predicted vast fires, fuelled by climate change, "could happen every year or every few years".
Several firefighters have been injured, but only one person has died - a 70-year-old woman who was found dead in her car on an evacuation route.
There are also fears the blaze will seriously hit California's multi-million dollar agricultural industry.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Drivers filmed the flames from their cars near Bel Air
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42303203
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Village sold for 140,000 euros - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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A German village is sold for a bargain price at auction
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The village of Alwine in Germany goes under the hammer and sells for a bargain price.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/42295963
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Egypt uncovers ancient tombs at Luxor - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A mummy dating back about 3,500 years is among items discovered in the two tombs.
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Middle East
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The mummy is believed to be that of a senior official from the New Kingdom
Archaeologists in Egypt have displayed items, including a mummy, from one of two previously unexplored tombs in the ancient Nile city of Luxor.
The mummy is believed to be that of a senior official from Egypt's "New Kingdom", about 3,500 years ago.
The tombs lie in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis, an area famed for its temples and burial grounds.
It is close to the Valley of the Kings where many of ancient Egypt's pharaohs were buried.
Egypt's antiquities ministry said that the tombs had been discovered by a German archaeologist in the 1990s, but were kept sealed until recently.
The identity of the mummified body is not known but the ministry says there are two possibilities.
It could be a person named Djehuty Mes, whose name is engraved on one of the walls, or it could be a scribe called Maati whose name - and the name of his wife, Mehi - are written on funerary cones, officials said.
The other tomb was only recently "uncovered" and has not yet been fully excavated, the ministry said.
In September, archaeologists discovered the tomb of a royal goldsmith near Luxor.
The tomb, which also dated back to the New Kingdom, contained a statue of the goldsmith Amenemhat, sitting beside his wife.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42295162
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Brexit: David Davis wants 'Canada plus plus plus' trade deal - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Brexit secretary says he wants a tariff-free trade deal, as Labour suggests paying for market access.
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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. David Davis: "No deal means we won't be paying the money"
Brexit Secretary David Davis says the UK wants to secure a free-trade deal with no tariffs when it leaves the EU.
He described it as "Canada plus plus plus" - a reference to the free trade deal struck between Canada and the EU.
But unlike the Canada deal, he wants financial services included in the tariff-free area, he told Andrew Marr.
Labour says the UK should "stay aligned" to the EU after Brexit and could pay to access the single market like Norway.
The Conservatives claim this would "mean billions of pounds going to the EU in perpetuity" and the UK "being forced to obey rules over which we have no say".
Canada's deal with the EU, signed last year, removes the vast majority of customs duties on EU exports to Canada and Canadian exports to the EU but without paying for access to the single market.
But Mr Davis said he wanted a "bespoke" deal with the EU and was aiming for "overarching" agreement with no tariffs, that included the service industries - which are a key part of the British economy.
Referring to some of the EU's trade deals, he said: "We'll probably start with the best of Canada, and the best of Japan and the best of South Korea and then add to that the bits that are missing which is the services."
He said the odds of the UK exiting without a deal had "dropped dramatically" following Friday's joint EU-UK statement in Brussels.
But he stressed that the deal struck by Theresa May on Friday to move to the next phase of talks was a "statement of intent" and not "legally enforceable".
And if the UK failed to get a trade deal with the EU then it would not pay its divorce bill, which the Treasury says will be between £35bn and £39bn.
But the Irish government said that as far as it was concerned the agreement signed on Friday between the EU and the UK was binding.
"The European Union will be holding the United Kingdom to account," the Irish government's chief whip told RTE.
"My question to anybody within the British government would be, why would there be an agreement, a set of principled agreements, in order to get to phase two, if they weren't going to be held up? That just sounds bizarre to me," Joe McHugh told RTE Radio's This Week.
Mr Davis stressed in his Marr interview that the UK was committed to keeping a "frictionless and invisible" Irish border and it would "find a way" to do this if there was a "no deal" Brexit.
Mrs May signed an agreement on Friday ruling out the return of a "hard border" on the island of Ireland, protecting the rights of EU and UK citizens and agreeing a formula for the divorce bill.
EU leaders are now expected to recommend starting the next phase of Brexit talks at a summit on Thursday.
Mr Davis stressed Friday's agreement was conditional on getting a trade deal, agreements on security and foreign affairs, as well as the two-year transition period the UK wants after if officially leaves the EU in March 2019.
Friday's agreement includes a fallback position if the UK fails to get a trade deal, which proposes full regulatory "alignment" between the EU and the UK.
This clause had been diluted at the insistence of the Democratic Unionist Party, which fears Northern Ireland would be separated from the rest of the UK, and move closer to Ireland, if it had to adopt EU rules to keep goods flowing across the border.
But there is still controversy, and confusion, over what "full alignment" would mean in practice, with some Brexiteers fearing the UK would have to continue to abide by EU regulations on agriculture and other issues after Brexit and would not be able to strike its own trade deals.
Mr Davis has said "full alignment" would apply to the whole of the UK, not just Northern Ireland, but the Sunday Telegraph said Conservative Brexiteers had been reassured that it was "non-binding" and had been included to secure Ireland's backing for the deal.
Pushed to explain what it meant, Mr Davis told Andrew Marr: "We want to protect the peace process and we also want to protect Ireland from the impact of Brexit for them. This was a statement of intent more than anything else."
The Labour party has ruled out remaining in the EU single market and customs union if it wins power.
But the party's shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted a partnership with the EU that "retains the benefits of the single market and the customs union".
Labour's Sir Keir Starmer suggested the UK could pay for single market access
The EU has asked for more clarity from the UK on what it wants from trade talks. But today it was the opposition who gave more details than ever before.
So far Labour has said, if in power, it would stay in the single market and customs union in a transition period.
But now the shadow Brexit secretary has talked about the benefits of staying in alignment with the EU in the longer term.
And he has even suggested he'd be willing to pay for the type of single market access that Norway enjoys.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry has raised the possibility of staying in a form of customs union.
That might restrict the ability to do global trade deals but - as she puts it - she doesn't want to "kybosh" trade with the EU.
For the Conservatives in the short term it's a political gift - they can portray Labour as rule takers who are prepared to pay far more to Brussels than their divorce settlement.
But it's more likely a sign that "creative ambiguity" across the political spectrum could be unsustainable when serious trade talks begin.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42298971
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James DeGale v Caleb Truax: American wins IBF super-middleweight title - BBC Sport
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2017-12-10
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James DeGale says he will "go back to the drawing board" after his shock defeat by American Caleb Truax at London's Copper Box Arena.
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James DeGale says he will "go back to the drawing board" after his shock defeat by American Caleb Truax at London's Copper Box Arena.
DeGale lost his IBF world super-middleweight title as Truax won 114-114 115-112 116-112 on the cards.
The Briton was as short as 1-100 with some bookmakers as he fought for the first time since January.
"There's something missing in the ring," said 31-year-old DeGale, who had shoulder surgery in July.
Truax, 34, offered constant pressure and rocked DeGale in the fifth as a stiff right drew gasps in the venue.
DeGale, timid for large parts, rallied late on but Truax took the title.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live after the fight, DeGale - who suffered his second professional defeat - added: "I honestly did [think I'd won], I've got to go back to the drawing board.
"My nose is blocked again, I've got to sort it out. The shoulder - I had serious reconstruction - there's no pain but I'll have to go back, have a look and see. I've probably rushed back to be honest, maybe I should have waited till next year."
He added: "I'm going to speak to Al Haymon [his boxing advisor] later, maybe I can get a rematch."
Truax, who extended his record to 29-3, said: "All week all I heard was who he's going to fight next. Well guess what? Those fights are mine now.
"I'd love to [fight in the UK again]. I'm staying until Wednesday - if anybody sees me, buy some pints."
Truax sank to his knees on the bell and was convinced he had landed arguably the biggest shock the sport has seen this year.
While DeGale had questions to answer following shoulder surgery in July and having suffered ear and dental damage in drawing with Badou Jack in January, he was expected to shine against the 34-year-old, who was contesting a world title for the second time.
Big money bouts with WBA super-middleweight champion George Groves, or other stellar names at the weight such as Callum Smith or Chris Eubank Jr will likely now have to wait and afterwards DeGale said he hoped for a rematch.
Shortly after the fight, Groves tweeted: "Call it a day, mate, you ain't got it no more."
Eubank Jr wrote: "After all the trash talk and disrespectful comments James DeGale you go and put on a display like that! All I can say is WOW! You have properly let down British Boxing #Shameful."
Minnesota's Truax achieved his goal in the sport of paying off his student debt with this bout but he will leave the UK with so much more thanks to a game fighting style which unsettled DeGale from the second round onwards.
DeGale, 31, found himself backed to the ropes consistently and while there were flurries of good work, Truax's solid straight shot rocked his head in the third and a left hook landed crisply in the fourth.
But it was the fifth where trouble really arose for the champion. He was bloodied and Truax delivered variety with good body work, a clean uppercut and later ramrod right.
BBC Radio 5 live's ringside pundit Adam Booth pointed to DeGale showing "immense signs of distress" as he offered little in return.
Earlier in the year, DeGale told BBC Sport he did not want too many more battles like he shared with Jack in January. But he had no choice but to dig in and take punishment as this slipped away from him.
Two counter lefts in the seventh gave DeGale hope he had stemmed the flow but the challenger still walked his man down, digging a right hook into the left abdomen in the eighth.
A good body shot from the 2008 Olympic champion briefly threatened to save him in the 10th but Truax was not to be denied as he dished up DeGale's second career loss.
Caleb Truax on BBC Radio 5 live: "He was sleeping and now he's going to have nightmares about me.
"All week all I heard was who he's going to fight next. Well, guess what, those fights are mine now. I'd love to [fight in the UK again]. I'm staying until Wednesday - if anybody sees me, buy some pints."
BBC pundit and world-level trainer Adam Booth: "An hour ago James was world champion and thinking about unifying belts. Now he's being asked if he's a has-been former champion and it's brutal. It's easy for us to say we know what he can do and he didn't do it tonight, so he can't do it anymore. That's not necessarily the case."
Elsewhere on the night, IBF world featherweight champion Lee Selbyclaimed a wide points win against Mexico's Eduardo Ramirez to all but seal an all-British dust up with Leeds' Josh Warrington early in 2018.
Selby could not lose his title after Ramirez failed to make weight for the bout which was supposed form part of a world-title double header. But the 30-year-old excelled nonetheless, showcasing evasive footwork to move to 26 wins from 27 fights.
WBO European light-heavyweight champion Anthony Yarde became the first man to stop the durable Nikola Sjekloca, completing the win with impressive combinations in round four.
And heavyweight prospect Daniel Dubois took his record to six knockouts from six fights with a second-round stoppage of Wales' Dorian Darch.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/42296143
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German spy agency warns of Chinese LinkedIn espionage - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Germany's spy agency says China is using the site to gather information on politicians.
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Europe
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Germany's domestic intelligence agency says China used Linkedin to target at least 10,000 people
China is using fake LinkedIn profiles to gather information on German officials and politicians, the German intelligence agency (BfV) has said.
The agency alleges that Chinese intelligence used the networking site to target at least 10,000 Germans, possibly to recruit them as informants.
It released a number of fake profiles allegedly used for this purpose.
BfV head Hans-Georg Maassen said the accounts show China's efforts to subvert top-level German politics.
"This is a broad-based attempt to infiltrate in particular parliaments, ministries and government agencies," he said.
China has denied similar allegations of cyber espionage in the past and has not yet responded to the German allegation.
The BfV published eight of what they say are the most active profiles used to contact German LinkedIn users. They are designed to look enticing to other users, and promote young Chinese professionals -who do not exist.
Spy chief Hans-Georg Maassen says the accounts show an attempt to infiltrate German politics
Some of the accounts include "Allen Liu", said to be a human resources manager at an economic consultancy, and "Lily Wu", who reportedly works at a think tank in eastern China.
The BfV says both accounts are fake.
The agency is increasingly worried that Chinese intelligence is using the method to recruit high-ranking politicians as informants.
They asked users who believed they had been targeted by suspect accounts to contact them.
Last year, the BfV said they had detected "increasingly aggressive cyber-espionage" including "intensifying" attempts to influence September's parliamentary elections.
They said the hacker group known as "Fancy Bear" or APT28 was especially active - and it is believed to be controlled by the Russian state.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42304297
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Jailed Max Clifford has cardiac arrest after prison collapse - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The disgraced former celebrity publicist collapsed in prison in Cambridgeshire.
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UK
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Clifford is serving an eight-year jail sentence for sex offences
Disgraced former celebrity publicist Max Clifford has suffered a cardiac arrest in hospital after collapsing in prison.
The 74-year-old had been serving eight years in a Cambridgeshire jail for historical sex offences.
It is understood he collapsed in his cell last Thursday while trying to clean it, then again the following day.
His daughter Louise told the Mail on Sunday he was in the critical care unit and was in a "bad way".
A Prison Service spokesperson said the safety and welfare of people in custody was its "top priority". Clifford was serving his sentence at HMP Littlehey.
His daughter said that he was trying to clean his prison cell when he collapsed, adding "it was just too much".
"Next day he collapsed again and was unconscious for several minutes - though he doesn't know how long.
"He was seen by a nurse, who insisted he must be transferred to a local hospital. That's where he had his cardiac arrest, later on Friday."
In May 2014, Clifford was jailed after being convicted of a number of charges under Operation Yewtree - the Met Police investigation set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42299192
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What Trump's Jerusalem decision means for peace - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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The BBC's Lyse Doucet explains what the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital means for peace.
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Tearing up convention, US President Donald Trump has recognised Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel.
The BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet breaks down what the decision means for Middle East peace.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42260141
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UK snow: Ice could add to travel disruption as temperatures drop - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Significant snowfall is forecast for the weekend, with warnings some communities could be cut off.
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UK
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Weather warnings are still in place in large parts of the UK, amid concern that icy conditions could cause travel delays and "cut off" some rural areas.
The Met Office said snow showers would continue to affect parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, northern England and parts of the Midlands.
A few centimetres of snow is likely but up to 20cm is possible in some areas.
There are yellow "be aware" warnings for parts of the country, with an amber "be prepared" alert in place on Sunday.
The Midlands, Wales, northern and eastern England and the far north of Scotland are most likely to have heavy snow early on Sunday morning.
According to BBC Weather, a 10cm spread of snow will initially mount in the Midlands and eastern England, before gradually becoming lighter and patchier throughout the day and into Sunday evening.
Birmingham Airport have warned passengers travelling on Sunday morning to allow more time for their journey as a result.
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Meanwhile southern parts of England and Wales could face heavy rain and gale force winds of up to 70mph (112km/h), the Met Office said. Icy surfaces are likely to be an "additional hazard", it added.
Highways England have urged drivers to "prepare for every eventuality", recommending they carry warm clothing, food, drink, required medication, boots, a shovel and a torch.
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Temperatures are likely to reach lows of -10C (14F) in some parts of Scotland and Wales, particularly in rural areas.
The heaviest and most frequent snow showers are forecast to affect mainly north east Scotland.
On Sunday "there is a good chance that some rural communities could become cut off", the Met Office said.
The Met Office have issued yellow and amber weather warnings for Sunday
Only a small proportion of power cuts affecting homes and businesses across the Midlands, south west England and south Wales are related to the weather, Western Power Distribution said.
All current outages are set to be restored by 23:00 GMT on Saturday, ahead of further possible power cuts on Sunday due to the expected snowfall.
Meanwhile in Scotland, where 18,000 households had been without power, electricity supplies have been restored.
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Highways officials have reported "hazardous" driving conditions and police in Shropshire in the West Midlands advised against driving unless "absolutely necessary".
There are delays to some flights at Manchester Airport and it advises passengers to check with their airline before travelling.
The final day of Lincoln Christmas market has also been cancelled over safety concerns about the expected snowfall.
In the Brecon Beacons, one family made the most of an opportunity for a snowball fight
But it still was not cold enough for trousers in Greater Manchester
Have you experienced any disruption? Please share your experience with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42272554
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Man Utd v Man City: Owen Hargreaves tips Romelu Lukaku for key derby role - BBC Sport
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2017-12-10
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Romelu Lukaku could be the most important player on the pitch in Sunday's Manchester derby, says Owen Hargreaves.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku could be the most important player on the pitch in Sunday's Manchester derby, says ex-England player Owen Hargreaves.
After joining United from Everton for £75m in the summer, Lukaku hit seven goals in his first eight league games but has scored only twice since.
Hargreaves, who played for both Manchester clubs, believes another element of his game will be crucial.
"United will need to get out of defence through Lukaku," he said.
"Everyone said before he came to the club that his hold-up play was not good enough for a top, top player but in the past few weeks it has been much better.
"United need that so they can get players up the pitch. He could be the most important player in the game."
United are second in the Premier League, eight points behind their city rivals.
Pep Guardiola's side boast the most prolific attack in England's top flight, having scored 46 goals in 15 games.
United, meanwhile, have the best defence. They have conceded just nine goals, with only one of those at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho's side adopted a cautious approach in their 0-0 draw at Liverpool in October, and Hargreaves believes they will have to be more adventurous against City if they are to retain hopes of winning the title.
"United have to win," said the 36-year-old, who played for United from 2007-2011 before spending a season at City
"A draw is good for City. How many points are they going to drop over the rest of the season? They've already won the league so the goal for them is to make some noise in the Champions League.
"It is more a must-win game for United. If City win, the title race is over."
Is Pep in for the long run?
Guardiola is in his second season as City manager - and his first was mixed.
He won his first 10 matches in charge before a streak of six games without a win - the worst run of his managerial career - as City finished third.
But the Spaniard has revitalised the squad, and Hargreaves expects him to be City manager for years to come.
He said: "Manchester City were building towards Pep for a long time and I think some of the players that went there before were his mould - the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.
"I would say Pep, with how young the squad is in terms of the players he is signing, that's a long-term project.
"It is hard to think where he could go. He has done Barcelona and Bayern Munich, he isn't going to Real Madrid, so there is only really Paris St-Germain or a national team. I think he will be there for a long time."
Hargreaves does not think the same can be said for Mourinho's spell at Old Trafford.
"If he wins the league, he could fancy a different challenge, or if doesn't work out and United are not in a position where they are pushing City then you could imagine him going after a few years."
A good game to be without Pogba?
United will be without midfielder Paul Pogba on Sunday as he serves the first game of a three-match suspension following his sending-off at Arsenal.
The France international has been hugely influential for the Red Devils this season, but Hargreaves feels United may thrive without him.
He said: "For Pogba, you would have to argue the weakest part of the game is defending. As much as he is irreplaceable, for this one-off game Mourinho might not mind having someone more defensive in.
"Pogba may help with that out ball and the ability to play a precise pass, but in terms of the defensive structure and being disciplined I don't think anything will change for Mourinho, he will demand they defend as a group, break and play on the counter.
"City will dominate the game but Watford and Arsenal had control of their games against United and were beaten comfortably."
We asked you to create your starting XI from the combined squads of Manchester United and Manchester City, and from almost 90,000 teams selected, this was the most popular.
City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne was the most-picked player, closely followed by United goalkeeper David de Gea.
John Stones narrowly missed out on taking one of the centre-back berths, and while United's Antonio Valencia was among the top 11 most-popular players, he failed to make the cut because City's Kyle Walker was by far the most selected player at right-back and right wing-back.
Raheem Sterling has been in superb form for City, and he was the highest-ranked attacking player to miss out on the XI, with United midfielder Nemanja Matic also falling just short of the team.
Data recorded from 00:01 GMT on Wednesday, December to 12:00 GMT on Friday, 8 December.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42288448
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Memorial marks 80 years since Castlecary train disaster - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A snowstorm and a signal error left 35 people dead and 179 hurt in North Lanarkshire in 1937.
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Glasgow & West Scotland
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One of Britain's worst train crashes is to be remembered in a memorial service.
The Castlecary rail disaster cost 35 people their lives in a freezing snowstorm on a December Friday night in 1937.
Another 179 were hurt in the tragedy when an Edinburgh to Glasgow express ploughed into a stationary train just west of Castlecary village.
An inquiry found a signalling error led the driver of the express to believe the line was clear.
The crash happened in the evening of 10 December 1937 as the express from Edinburgh Waverley was travelling at high speed in a blizzard.
Both the express and the other train, from Dundee, were bound for Glasgow's Queen Street Station.
The Edinburgh to Glasgow train crashed into the back of a stationary Dundee train heading for Queen Street
Thirty five people died and 179 were injured in the disaster
The Dundee train was running late and had stopped at signals outside Castlecary Station when the express train rammed into the stationary carriages.
An investigation after the incident found a signaller error was to blame, with driver error and challenging weather conditions contributing factors.
For years the disaster was remembered by the local people in Castlecary with a makeshift memorial by the side of the railway.
But, keen to create a fitting tribute to those who died and those who helped in the aftermath of the terrible tragedy, Castlecary Community Council created a permanent memorial in 2007, made from railway sleepers, pieces of track and a wheel from a piece of rolling stock.
It is at this memorial that the victims of the disaster will be remembered on Sunday evening.
Official documents from the time of the disaster
Secretary of the community council Albert McBeath said the memory of the tragedy endured despite the passage of time.
"I knew a lot of people who remembered and had seen the aftermath," she said.
"It must have been horrendous, in one of our worst winters, the temperature was -20C.
"I moved to the village 30 years ago and have always heard people talking about it.
"Even now, they have grandparents who remember what happened after the crash."
Falkirk councillor Billy Buchanan will be joined for a short service by the Provost of North Lanarkshire to remember those who lost their lives.
They will also pay tribute to a later crash in 1968 which saw the loss of two men.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-42286842
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UK snow: Weather brings travel disruption - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Motorists are warned of "treacherous" road conditions in many parts of the UK.,
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UK
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With nearly 500 schools closed across Wales, families had a chance to enjoy the winter landscape, like this snow-covered wood, near Mold Image caption: With nearly 500 schools closed across Wales, families had a chance to enjoy the winter landscape, like this snow-covered wood, near Mold
Residents in Ruthin, north Wales, woke up to an idyllic white canvas of snow on Monday morning Image caption: Residents in Ruthin, north Wales, woke up to an idyllic white canvas of snow on Monday morning
On Sunday, snowfall caused treacherous conditions in places, leading some people to abandon their cars on the side of the road Image caption: On Sunday, snowfall caused treacherous conditions in places, leading some people to abandon their cars on the side of the road
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-42298366
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Amber snow warning issued for Sunday - BBC Weather
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2017-12-10
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A warning has been issued by the Met Office advising significant snowfall on Sunday
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Parts of England and Wales fall under an amber 'be prepared' weather warning on Sunday. Significant snowfall is forecast with impacts for travel expected. Louise Lear explains the potential impacts.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/42283123
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In Your Face: China’s all-seeing state - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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China has been building what it calls "the world's biggest camera surveillance network".
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China has been building what it calls "the world's biggest camera surveillance network". Across the country, 170 million CCTV cameras are already in place and an estimated 400 million new ones will be installed in the next three years.
Many of the cameras are fitted with artificial intelligence, including facial recognition technology. The BBC's John Sudworth has been given rare access to one of the new hi-tech police control rooms.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-42248056
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I'm A Celebrity 2017 winner revealed - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The winner of the ITV show was crowned by Ant and Dec on Sunday evening.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Georgia Toffolo has been named the winner of this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.
The shocked reality star, known as Toff, was crowned by Ant and Dec on Sunday evening after more than nine million votes were cast.
She was odds-on favourite to win the ITV show, but said: "I am so taken aback. Is this real?"
Former Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas came in second place, with radio and TV presenter Iain Lee coming in third.
Toff, 23, is known for appearing on E4's Made in Chelsea, joining in the seventh series. She also works for The Lady magazine and is head of events for think tank Parliament Street.
The I'm A Celebrity final attracted an average of 9.2 million live viewers on Sunday night. It was ITV's third biggest audience of the year - behind the series' launch show and the One Love Manchester concert - with a 41% share of the total TV audience.
The Strictly Come Dancing results show earlier in the night had more viewers however, with an average of 11.1 million viewers; while the final episode of Blue Planet II attracted an audience of 10.36m.
Jamie Lomas came second in the ITV series
Toff's fellow campmate Stanley Johnson - father of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson - said: "I knew she was going to make it. I said right from the start that Toff is the one."
The winner said her favourite moment of the show was going to collect water with Johnson, with whom she struck up a strong friendship.
She follows in the footsteps of previous Queens of the Jungle Scarlett Moffatt and Vicky Pattinson.
Moffatt, who won last year's series, said: "It's girls like you that make me feel proud to be a young woman. I am so proud of you."
Iain Lee was voted into third place by the public
After her win, Toff welcomed the prospect of earning money on the back of her appearance on the show, admitting: "I haven't paid my rent."
She told Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan she wanted to take a shot at presenting, saying: "I want to do what you guys do. I want to try it. Who knows?"
Toff also said she wanted to "do good" with her win, saying: "There are so many worthy causes that I would love to get involved with."
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42284022
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Heavy snow and flooding hits homes, roads and rail - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Heavy snow and flooding hits roads and rail and leaves about 900 homes without power.
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Wales
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Bethan Hiscocks, a teacher from near Sennybridge, says "there's not much chance of getting out"
Heavy snow, flooding and high winds have caused widespread disruption across Wales.
Sennybridge, near Brecon, Powys, has seen the highest snowfall in the UK - about 30cm (12ins) - and hundreds of homes are without power.
Roads have been shut, some rail routes were blocked and police have advised people not to travel unless necessary.
Nurses in the Cardiff and Bridgend area have been asked to work extra shifts.
Cardiff and Vale Health Board made a social media appeal to boost staff numbers at its University Hospital of Wales and Llandough sites.
A yellow "be aware" warning remains in place for much of Wales until 23:55 GMT, while a warning for ice for the whole of Wales has been issued for Monday morning.
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This car overturned on the A487 at Rhiw Penglais near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion on Sunday
A tree hits a camper van on the A40 in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, but no-one was injured
Snow settles on the Guardian of the former Six Bells colliery site, near Abertillery in Blaenau Gwent
A snow stick shows 20cm of snowfall in the Brecon Beacons
Meanwhile in Carmarthenshire, Coleg Eidyr, a residential college for people with learning disabilities at Rhandirmwym, near Llandovery, is without heat and electricity.
Among the roads closed, is the A4233 Maerdy Mountain Road between Aberdare and Maerdy in Rhondda Cynon Taff, while two milk tankers which came off the road in Llanilar, near Aberystwyth, had to be pulled free by tractors.
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Many roads were treacherous, including the A470 near Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons
North east Wales was particularly badly hit with snow, like here at Chirk Castle, near Wrexham
Derwen Gam near Aberaeron, Ceredigion, is looking picture postcard perfect
Earlier on Sunday, two women were carried to safety by fire crews after their car became stuck in water at Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, while a stream broke its banks at Margam Village in Port Talbot.
Flood water also left cars submerged in the capital and Vale of Glamorgan area with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service reporting water half way up vehicles.
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Western Power Distribution has said hundreds of homes in mid, west and south Wales are without power and advised residents to access its power cut map online.
Scottish Power customers across north Wales can check supply status using its postcode checker.
Two milk tankers which came off the road in Llanilar near Aberystwyth on Sunday had to be pulled free by tractors
The 10:20 GMT flight from Cardiff to Amsterdam was cancelled and Cardiff Airport has advised all passengers to check its live flight information.
A number of rail services have also been affected and Arriva Trains Wales has advised commuters to check if services are still running before travelling.
Powys, Monmouthshire, Flintshire and Wrexham councils have already confirmed some schools will be closed on Monday, with warnings more could follow.
Details of any school closures are available on council websites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-42296521
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Singer Chris Rea collapses on stage - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The 66-year-old singer-songwriter, whose hits include Driving Home for Christmas, is in hospital.
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UK
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Chris Rea is currently touring around Europe and the UK
Singer Chris Rea is said to be in a stable condition in hospital after collapsing during a performance.
Fans posted on Twitter that they saw the 66-year-old "fall backwards" mid-song at the New Theatre Oxford.
Rea, who is known for his hits "Driving Home for Christmas" and "Road to Hell", is on tour to promote his new album.
A concert due to take place in Brighton on Sunday has now been cancelled. A decision has not yet been made on a concert due in Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Darren Fewins, who was in the audience in Oxford, said Rea had been on stage for about 45 minutes when he collapsed halfway through a song.
He told the Press Association that Rea, who was born in Middlesbrough, was "playing the best I have ever seen" before his fall.
South Central Ambulance Service said it was called at 21:30 GMT to an incident at the venue and that one patient had been taken to hospital.
Staff at the theatre tweeted that they "appreciate everyone's patience" and will update people with news when they have it.
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Rea had his pancreas removed in 2001 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He suffered a stroke in 2016, but recovered to launch an album in September and embark on his tour around Europe from October.
He told BBC Breakfast in August this year that he still felt the effects of the stroke.
"I'm fine when I'm sitting down. I've just got a little bit of balance - it's a bit dodgy, just in case anyone thinks I'm drunk on-stage."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42297148
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North Korea: Urgent need to open channels, UN says after visit - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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After the visit, North Korea said it has agreed to better communication with the UN in future.
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Asia
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A top UN official told senior North Korean figures there was an "urgent need" to keep channels open to avoid the risk of war, the organisation says.
The statement follows a visit to Pyongyang by Jeffrey Feltman, the highest-level trip by a UN official to the isolated nation in six years.
North Korea says it has agreed to regular communication with the UN.
Tensions over the North's weapons programme were raised further after a fresh ballistic missile test last week.
North Korea said it was its most advanced missile yet, capable of reaching the continental US.
The test was the latest in a series of nuclear and missile tests conducted in defiance of UN sanctions.
South Korea and the US have meanwhile been carrying out large-scale military drills in a show of force.
On Sunday, South Korea said it will join the US in imposing fresh sanctions against the North.
Twenty North Korean firms and 12 individuals have reportedly been added to a South Korean blacklist, which will take effect from Monday.
The move by Seoul, its second set of unilateral sanctions in a month, was designed to cut off international sources of funding for North Korea's nuclear missile programme, a foreign ministry official in Seoul said.
The measures are in addition to those imposed by the UN Security Council.
The UN continues to operate in North Korea, with programmes providing food, agricultural and health aid but the last visit by a senior official was back in 2011.
After the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Mr Feltman met senior North Koreans all agreed "the current situation was the most tense and dangerous peace and security issue in the world today", according to the statement.
"Noting the urgent need to prevent miscalculations and open channels to reduce the risks of conflict, Mr Feltman underlined that the international community, alarmed by escalating tensions, is committed to the achievement of a peaceful solution," it added.
North Korean state media earlier said current tensions were "entirely ascribable to the US hostile policy".
Some of latest pictures released by North Korea showed Kim Jong-un on Mount Paektu, the country's highest peak
But in its reporting of Mr Feltman's trip, KCNA also said both sides agreed on "communication through visits at different level on a regular basis in the future".
Before leaving for Pyongyang, Mr Feltman held talks in China, North Korea's historic ally and main trading partner.
Despite calls from other world leaders for restraint, this year has seen US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hurl insults at each other, both at one time saying the other was mad.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson though has said that lines of communication are open between the two sides.
North Korea argues nuclear capabilities are its only deterrent against an outside world seeking to destroy it.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42295078
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Ashes: England's Ben Duckett poured drink over James Anderson in Perth bar - BBC Sport
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2017-12-10
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Ben Duckett is dropped from an Ashes tour game and also suspended after pouring a drink over England bowler James Anderson in a Perth bar.
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Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Ben Duckett was dropped from Saturday's Ashes tour game after pouring a drink over England bowler James Anderson in a Perth bar.
The 23-year-old batsman, part of the England Lions squad, was due to play against a Cricket Australia XI as a number of the senior party were rested.
On Thursday, he was socialising with Lions and senior squad members, who were not under a curfew.
"It's trivial, but in the current climate not acceptable," said coach Trevor Bayliss.
Anderson, who has played in 131 Tests, is England's all-time leading wicket-taker and there is no suggestion the 35-year-old did anything wrong.
• None Listen: England should be trying to win respect - Agnew
• None Ballance fails to press England case as he fails in Perth
In September, England all-rounder and vice-captain Ben Stokes was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm after an altercation outside a Bristol nightclub.
Then, at the start of the Ashes tour, Jonny Bairstow was accused of 'headbutting' Australia's Cameron Bancroft in a Perth bar.
"Everyone has been warned about how even small things can be blown out of all proportion," added Bayliss.
"I'm disappointed. With what we have had to go through already with these problems, it is not acceptable."
Duckett has been suspended pending a disciplinary investigation that will be led by Lions coach Andy Flower.
"Andy will look after his player and if anything needs to be said or done with the first team, we'll handle that," added Australian Bayliss.
"I'm not sure what more I can say to the players. I'm sure there will be some stern words from above."
When asked if he is "fed up" about having to address off-field matters, Bayliss replied: "Very much so. I'm here to coach the team and I end up spending most of the time trying to explain behaviour that the boys have been warned about."
The latest indiscretion involving the England team is thought to have left management incredibly angry.
There is a feeling trouble usually centres around the same small group of players and that they could pay with their place in the squad, even if that weakens the overall strength of the team.
"I might review who is in the team," said Bayliss. "They can't keep making the same mistakes.
"Most of the guys are fine, but somewhere along the line some of the guys have to pull their heads in."
Northants left-hander Duckett averages 15.71 in four Tests for England, the last of which was against India in November 2016.
He was replaced in the England team for the game at Richardson Park by Joe Clarke.
England are 2-0 down in the Ashes series and will relinquish the urn if they are beaten in the third Test in Perth, which begins on Thursday.
The Ashes squad had been placed under a curfew after the incident between Bairstow and Bancroft came to light during England's 10-wicket defeat in the first Test in Brisbane.
Though both Bairstow and Bancroft described the occurrence as "without malice", England's players were subsequently required to return to their hotel by midnight.
That curfew was lifted for the first time on the night of Duckett's indiscretion.
It is understood that no members of the public were involved and England team security were present.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42291541
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Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City - BBC Sport
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2017-12-10
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Jose Mourinho says Manchester United's title hopes are "probably over" after their 2-1 loss to "lucky" Manchester City.
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Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said his side's title hopes are "probably" over because referee Michael Oliver failed to award them a penalty in their 2-1 loss to "lucky" Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola's team stretched their lead at the top of the table to 11 points and became the first team to win 14 successive English top-flight games in a single season.
City took the lead their vast superiority deserved when man-of-the-match David Silva hooked home from close range after confusion at a corner on 42 minutes, only for United to be handed a lifeline in first-half stoppage time when poor defending from Nicolas Otamendi and Fabian Delph allowed Marcus Rashford to steal in for a composed finish.
Otamendi made amends nine minutes after the break when Romelu Lukaku - who had a poor game - lashed at a clearance in the area and the City defender pounced on the rebound to score.
• None Has Mourinho lost the battle with Guardiola?
• None My Barcelona philosophy is working in England - Guardiola
Mourinho's post-match focus centred on an incident in the 79th minute, when Ander Herrera went down in the box under a challenge from Otamendi and was booked for diving.
"My first reaction is I feel sorry for Michael Oliver because he had a very good match but unfortunately he made an important mistake," Mourinho told BBC Match of the Day.
"The result was made with a big penalty not given. That would have been 2-2.
"Michael was unlucky because it was a clear penalty."
Asked whether the title race was over, Mourinho replied: "Probably, yes. Manchester City are a very good team and they are protected by the luck, and the gods of football are behind them."
Before Sunday's game, Mourinho had suggested City's players go down too easily - something Guardiola dismissed, along with the Portuguese's assertion United should have had a penalty.
"Last season it was the same - we won here and it was the referee. Today as well," Guardiola said.
"Yesterday he spoke about the referee. We are an honest team. We had 65% ball possession, which means we wanted to play. We came here and did that.
"It's not true that my players go down easily. That is not an argument I believe."
Sunday's result ended United's 40-match unbeaten run at home - which stretched back to City's win here in September 2016.
City, who have dropped only two points in their first 16 league games, had opportunities to extend their lead but it was keeper Ederson who made the decisive late intervention with a miraculous double late save from the luckless Lukaku and substitute Juan Mata.
• None Podcast: Is the Premier League title race over?
Is the title race over?
It is a brave call to declare the title race over in early December - but the statistics and evidence are piling up to suggest the chase is on for second place behind City.
City will effectively have to lose four games while all of their rivals need to keep winning, tough to see with Guardiola's team having won every league match since Everton took a point at Etihad Stadium in the second game of the season.
"We are still in December. If we have 11 points when we play the second derby in April then maybe I will tell you that we have the title," said Guardiola, who was full of praise for his side's performance.
"We won at Old Trafford again, that is why I am the most pleased and of course for the three points," he added. "We played good, with a lot of courage. I'm so satisfied."
The trip to Old Trafford, and the renewal of old rivalries between Guardiola and Mourinho, was the most eagerly awaited game of the season between the two teams at the top of the table and was seen as the acid test of City's apparent infallibility.
Those looking for cracks in the Guardiola armour pointed to City having to secure three wins against Huddersfield Town, Southampton and West Ham United with late, late goals.
If City's confidence had been shaken at all by having to fight for victories, there was no sign here as they played with a composure and positivity that was a level above United.
There can be no doubt City were deserved winners and even showed the street wisdom of champions to run down the clock in the closing seconds, to the fury and frustration of Old Trafford.
The title race may not be over - but there was no escaping the feeling a crucial blow has been inflicted on United and the rest of City's pursuers.
Silva may be small in stature but he stood head and shoulders above every other player in the intense heat of this game.
The Spaniard may now be 31 but it is little wonder City were so delighted to secure him on a new contract until 2020.
Silva showed again why he deserves to be ranked as a Premier League great, and one of the finest players to play for City.
He had more time on the ball than any other player, the hallmark of class, and always seemed to have more options in possession than any other player.
Silva pounced for City's crucial first goal, held his own in the physical exchanges and even shrugged off a heavy bang to the head in a clash with United's Marcos Rojo.
It was a complete performance from a world-class player.
City fans stayed in their seats long after the final whistle, delivering a taunt that had echoed around Old Trafford throughout this landmark victory.
"Park The Bus, Park The Bus, Man United…" was the chant that was met with a muted response from the home support, who had seen City show more attacking intent and flair than Mourinho's side could muster.
Until a predictable late charge, this was a strangely muted display from United. Their need for victory was arguably greater than City's as they started the game with an eight-point deficit, but they spent much of the first half on the back foot.
Mourinho's line-up demonstrated attacking intent with the inclusion of Lukaku, Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial. United also missed the power and influence of Paul Pogba, suspended after his red card at Arsenal.
It was still a surprise, however, to see City so comprehensively dominant from the opening exchanges and United were barely able to believe their luck that they went in at half-time on level terms.
Lukaku's lack of confidence and touch did not help and there was an element of good fortune about Ederson's late saves - but there was no doubt United did not push hard enough for victory and were second best.
• None This was just the second time a team has scored more than one goal in the Premier League at Old Trafford against Mourinho's Manchester United (also City in September 2016, 2-1).
• None Mourinho has lost nine matches in all competitions against Guardiola, more than against any other manager.
• None United posted a 35% possession figure, their lowest at Old Trafford in the Premier League since 2003-04 (when Opta started collecting this data).
• None Rashford has been involved in 11 goals in 12 games in all competitions at Old Trafford this season (six goals, five assists), more than any other United player.
• None Otamendi is now the top-scoring defender in the Premier League this season (four goals).
• None Lukaku has scored just five goals in his past 40 Premier League appearances against the 'big six'.
United welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford on Wednesday at 20:00 GMT and are at West Brom on Sunday, 17 December at 14:15.
City travel to Swansea on Wednesday (19:45), before hosting Tottenham on Saturday (17:30).
• None Attempt saved. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a through ball.
• None Ashley Young (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Delay in match Ederson (Manchester City) because of an injury.
• None Attempt saved. Juan Mata (Manchester United) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
• None Attempt saved. Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
• None Offside, Manchester United. Nemanja Matic tries a through ball, but Juan Mata is caught offside.
• None Offside, Manchester United. Ashley Young tries a through ball, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is caught offside. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42212593
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Two-year degrees to lower tuition fees - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Jo Johnson wants to change a system where three-year degrees have "crowded out" anything else.
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Family & Education
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More students will be encouraged to take degrees in two years
Students in England are going to be offered degrees in two years with a £5,500 saving in tuition fees, says the universities minister Jo Johnson.
Undergraduate courses will be condensed into "accelerated" degrees, with fees 20% less than a three-year course.
Mr Johnson said he wants to "break the mould" of a system in which three-year degrees have "crowded out" any more flexible ways of studying.
The Office for Fair Access says the plan could help to widen opportunities.
But Labour's shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said there was no evidence that "squeezing three years of learning into two will stop the huge drop in part-time students or lead to better outcomes".
Instead she said that in effect it would mean that for each of the two years of study, tuition fees would be more expensive than the current £9,250, at about £11,000 per year.
The idea of a two-year degree had been proposed earlier this year - but this latest version has moved further towards making it cheaper for students.
Students would take the same number of units and have the same amount of teaching and supervision, but degree courses would be delivered in one less year.
As well as reduced tuition fees, students will save on a year's living costs and will be able to start working a year earlier - a package which Mr Johnson says could cut costs by £25,000.
It would also be cheaper for the government, which would have lower tuition fee loans to fund, with this fee arrangement intended to be available from autumn 2019.
It is part of Mr Johnson's push for more value for money for students - after concerns that students did not think they were getting good value from their tuition fees.
It comes ahead of a wider review of fees and university funding expected in the next few weeks.
Jo Johnson says universities have to address value for money for students
The minister says the level of tuition fees for two year courses strikes the "right balance" between the fixed costs for universities, where the teaching hours will be the same as a three-year course, and a reduction for students for less time on campus.
There have been previous attempts to promote two-year degrees, but Mr Johnson said the numbers currently taking them were "pitiful", with only 0.2% of students on such accelerated courses.
"I think this reflects that the incentives in the system are completely skewed against it."
The minister said he wanted to promote a more diverse and flexible set of choices at university level - in a market currently dominated by the traditional three-year, residential degree.
Numbers of mature students have been declining in recent years - and Mr Johnson says that the two-year degree model could be a much more practical option for them.
"This policy will be particularly attractive for mature students who are looking to change their skills and adapt to changes in the economy - and who might want to go through higher education at a faster pace," he said.
Mr Johnson said that if universities saw students being attracted by such courses, there could be a "snowball" effect which would result in such courses becoming widespread.
The universities minister says he wants to move beyond being "stuck with a system that has increasingly focused on offering only one way of benefiting from higher education".
Mr Johnson said he "massively supported" new providers such as Sir James Dyson's engineering institute, which he said provided the kind of innovation that had been "sorely missing in the system".
This is a high-quality, work-focused project, where students learn alongside leading engineers - and where students do not pay tuition fees.
Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said that "making two-year degrees more makes sense", particularly as a way to support mature students.
But he warned that this would mean a higher charge per year in fees than the current three-year degree.
And Mr Hillman warned that "it remains an open question whether there is sufficient support in Parliament for a higher tuition fee cap for a minority of courses".
Prof Les Ebdon, head of the Offa access watchdog, backed the calls for such fast-track courses.
"Accelerated degrees are an attractive option for mature students who have missed out on the chance to go to university as a young person," said Prof Ebdon.
"Having often battled disadvantage, these students can thrive in higher education and I hope that now many more will be able to take up the life-changing opportunity to get a degree."
The proposal was supported by Sir Anthony Seldon, vice chancellor of the University of Buckingham, an institution which already offers two year degrees.
"Two years are the ideal solution for those students who want to get on with their degree and forsake three-month summer holidays," said Sir Anthony.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-42268310
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UK snow: Power and travel disruption across country - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Weather affects travel and leads to power cuts, with hundreds of schools set to stay closed on Monday.
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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. Scenes of fun and frustration over wintry showers
Heavy snow has led to power cuts and disrupted air, rail and road travel in many parts of the UK.
The deepest snow recorded was 30cm (12in) in Sennybridge, near Brecon, while High Wycombe saw 17cm.
Snow is forecast to remain in Northern Ireland and Scotland but give way to icy conditions overnight elsewhere. Met Office yellow "be aware" warnings for ice affect England and Wales.
Hundreds of schools across England and Wales will be closed on Monday.
Flights have been disrupted at several airports, including Heathrow, where snowploughs were used to clear the runways.
Heathrow remains open but says the de-icing of aircraft is resulting in some delays and cancellations. But passengers flying into the airport have also said they are experiencing delays in disembarking from planes.
Electricity supplier SSE said about 5,400 homes in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire remain without power after snow and wind saw tree branches coming into contact with overhead cables.
Its engineers are working to carry out repairs but because of "continuing issues with access to fault locations" about 800 homes in Oxfordshire will remain without power overnight. The company is serving free hot food and drinks to affected customers.
Across the Midland, South West England and Wales, about 9,000 properties served by Western Power Distribution were affected by power cuts. The company says it is working to restore power overnight.
Buckinghamshire County Council and Shropshire Council say the majority of their schools will be closed on Monday because of the snow.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The forecast is for icy conditions on Monday
There have been similar announcements in Denbighshire, Birmingham, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire, while Hertfordshire County Council says some of its schools have taken the decision to shut.
Meanwhile, drivers have been advised by police to avoid non-essential journeys.
The scene on the A40 near Sennybridge in Powys
Temperatures reached lows of -10C (14F) in some parts of Scotland and Wales, falling to as low as -14C (6.8F) in isolated rural areas.
An amber warning for snow was extended on Sunday to cover Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex but areas including Liverpool and South Yorkshire were downgraded to a yellow "be aware" warning.
The Met Office's yellow weather warning for snow and ice on Monday
The Met Office says ice is likely to be the "main hazard" over the next 24 hours as it issued a further yellow "be aware" warning for snow and ice in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It warned of icy surfaces on Monday in Wales and in the Midlands, East of England, London and the South East, the North West, South West, and Yorkshire.
Overnight temperatures into Monday are forecast to be between -1C and 1C in built-up areas but as low as -10C in the countryside.
"Ice is expected to form across many places overnight into Monday morning. Some injuries are likely from slips and falls on icy surfaces as well as icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths," the Met Office said.
"As well as this lying snow from Sunday will continue to be a hazard leading to longer and potentially hazardous journeys."
It said some snow may fall over parts of Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire on Monday morning but it was not expected to settle.
The snow failed to stop the three Premier League matches going ahead - although ground staff were on hand during the Liverpool v Everton derby
The snow showers have swept across London
A gritter ploughs the quiet roads in the Peak District
While this dog owner in Leicestershire braves the cold
A picturesque view was captured in Derwen Gam near Aberaeron, in Wales
Hill walkers made the most of the bright skies over Ben Lawers in Perthshire
The Edward Carson statue in Belfast was barely visible through the snow
But plenty of people were out and about in central London
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42297150
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Actress Zaira Wasim: I was molested on flight - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Indian star Zaira Wasim, 17, says she was touched inappropriately on a flight from Delhi.
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India
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Ms Wasim shared her experience on her Instagram account, which has almost 400,000 followers
An actress who starred in Bollywood's biggest film says she was molested on a flight between Delhi and Mumbai.
Zaira Wasim, 17, said a "middle-aged man" had repeatedly moved his foot up and down her neck and back while she was "half-asleep".
She documented the incident on Instagram and tried to film the man's behaviour but said it was too dark.
The airline, Air Vistara, said it was carrying out a detailed investigation into the incident.
A suspect has been arrested, Indian media reports say, but his identity has not been disclosed.
Ms Wasim posted on her Instagram account early on Sunday. "I was sure of it," she wrote. He kept nudging my shoulder and continued to move his foot up and down my back and neck."
She said she blamed the turbulence at first but was later woken by the man's foot touching her neck.
Ms Wasim shared a video of herself after the flight, in which she was visibly upset. "This is terrible," she said. "No one will help up if we don't decide to help ourselves."
Zaira Wasim made her acting debut in Dangal, the top grossing Bollywood movie of all time
Last year, Ms Wasim made her acting debut in Dangal, which became the top-grossing Bollywood movie of all time.
She was awarded the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement earlier this year by India's President Ram Nath Kovind.
Air Vistara said on Twitter that staff had not become aware of the incident until the plane was on its descent to Mumbai but it apologised for what Ms Wasim had experienced.
"We have zero tolerance for such behaviour," its statement read.
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 Vistara 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.
In recent months, a growing number of women have spoken out about their experiences of sexual harassment.
It followed a campaign encouraging victims to share their stories of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour under the #metoo hashtag.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-42297612
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Netanyahu: Palestinians must face reality over Jerusalem - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Israel's prime minister says Jerusalem has "never been the capital of any other people".
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Middle East
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Israel's prime minister has said Palestinians must "get to grips with" the reality that Jerusalem is Israel's capital in order to move towards peace.
Benjamin Netanyahu said Jerusalem had been the capital of Israel for 3,000 years and had "never been the capital of any other people".
He spoke amid ongoing protests in the Muslim and Arab world at a US decision recognising Jerusalem as the capital.
Violence flared near the US embassy in Lebanon and elsewhere on Sunday.
In Jerusalem itself, a Palestinian was arrested after stabbing and seriously wounding an Israeli security guard at the central bus station.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Netanyahu: Paris is the capital of France, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel
Speaking in Paris after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Netanyahu said efforts to deny the "millennial connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem" were "absurd".
"You can read it in a very fine book - it's called the Bible," he said. "You can read it after the Bible. You can hear it in the history of Jewish communities throughout our diaspora... Where else is the capital of Israel, but in Jerusalem?
"The sooner the Palestinians come to grips with this reality, the sooner we will move towards peace."
Meanwhile a spokesman for the US Vice-President, Mike Pence, strongly criticised the Palestinian Authority, saying it was "unfortunate" that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was declining to meet Mr Pence on his forthcoming trip to the region.
In Egypt, the country's top Muslim and Christian clerics have also cancelled scheduled talks with Mr Pence in protest at the US move.
There has been widespread condemnation of President Donald Trump's decision - announced on Wednesday - to reverse decades of US neutrality on the status of Jerusalem which cuts to the heart of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
The city is home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem.
Israel has always regarded Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 war - as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Sunday has seen a further raft of protests at the US move:
In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told a large rally in Istanbul he would not abandon Jerusalem to a state that "kills children".
Mr Netanyahu said the Turkish leader had "attacked Israel".
"I'm not used to receiving lectures about morality from a leader who bombs Kurdish villages in his native Turkey, who jails journalists, helps Iran go around international sanctions and who helps terrorists, including in Gaza, kill innocent people," he added.
Mr Erdoğan has described Jerusalem as a "red line" issue for Muslims and warned Turkey could end up severing diplomatic ties with Israel over the issue.
Turkey and Israel only restored diplomatic relations last year, six years after Turkey cut ties in protest at the killing of nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists in clashes with Israeli commandos on board a ship trying to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42301004
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Johnny Hallyday: Huge crowds gather to say farewell - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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Hundreds of leather-clad bikers follow the French singer's coffin down the Champs-Elysees.
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Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered to bid farewell to the French rock star Johnny Hallyday, who died this week.
President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the singer in a eulogy at the Madeleine church.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42293127
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Honduras election: Opposition requests annulment - BBC News
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2017-12-10
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The main opposition contender accuses electoral authorities of tampering with the results.
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Latin America & Caribbean
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Opposition parties in Honduras have formally demanded the annulment of last month's presidential election.
The main opposition contender, Salvador Nasralla, accused the electoral authorities of tampering with the results in favour of the incumbent, Juan Orlando Hernández.
Official results show that Mr Hernández won the vote by a narrow margin, but a partial recount is under way.
"We are not making a simple demand," said Mr Nasralla.
"The whole world knows what has happened and I do not believe the world will allow Honduras be robbed of the people's will," he added.
The partial recount was requested by the regional body, the Organisation for American States (OAS).
It said that the electoral court must check a number of alleged irregularities before announcing a result for the 26 November poll.
Votes from nearly 5,000 ballot boxes are being tallied again. Officials say results are due to be announced by Monday.
Mr Nasralla had established a five-point lead over Mr Hernández on the first day of counting.
But the gap began to close after a computer problem was reported at the vote tallying centre in the capital, Tegucigalpa.
Government supporters say the opposition should accept defeat
Thousands of people took to the streets in rival demonstrations over the past two weeks. Human rights group Amnesty International says 14 people died in days of clashes.
The government imposed a curfew, which was lifted after on Friday, as violence was controlled.
The electoral tribunal has until 26 December to publish the result of the election.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-42297201
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Major NHS trust put in special measures - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Health regulator NHS Improvement announces the step after trust chairman, Lord Kerslake, resigns.
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Health
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Lord Kerslake said "our problems lie in the way that the NHS is funded and organised"
A major London hospital trust has been placed in special measures because of funding problems.
NHS Improvement announced the sanction against King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust the day after chairman Lord Kerslake resigned criticising the "unrealistic" approach to NHS finances.
The regulator said a deficit of £92m was now forecast this year - more than twice the original £38m planned for.
Chief executive Ian Dalton said the position was simply "not acceptable".
Can't find your health trust? Browse the full list Rather search by typing? Back to search
If you can't see the NHS Tracker, click or tap here.
"The financial situation at King's has deteriorated very seriously over recent months," he said.
"We understand that the wider NHS faces financial and operational challenges, and other trusts and foundation trusts have large deficits.
"However, none has shown the sheer scale and pace of the deterioration at King's.
"It is not acceptable for individual organisations to run up such significant deficits when the majority of the sector is working extremely hard to hit their financial plans, and in many cases have made real progress."
The regulator has already appointed a new interim chairman - former private health care boss Ian Smith - to replace Lord Kerslake. He will have to work with NHS Improvement's team to carry out a review and agree a recovery plan, which will be closely monitored.
The BBC understands the move comes after NHS Improvement bosses met with Lord Kerslake on Friday, when he was warned special measures would be needed given the decline in financial performance.
In a statement, Lord Kerslake said of his decision to quit: "I do not do this lightly as I love King's but believe the government and regulator are unrealistic about the scale of the challenge facing the NHS and the trust.
"I want to pay tribute to the staff and their excellent patient care."
King's College said Lord Kerslake had led the hospital "through a challenging period"
The peer also paid tribute to the "world-class" care given at the hospital, especially after the Westminster and London Bridge terror attacks, in a self-penned Guardian article.
He added: "There are undoubtedly things that I and the trust could have done better, there always are, but fundamentally our problems lie in the way that the NHS is funded and organised."
Lord Kerslake carried out a review for Labour into the Treasury last year, but has denied there was any political motivation behind his comments.
Lord Kerslake's comments come after the board of NHS England said targets for waiting times could not be met next year even with the extra money allocated in the Budget.
Coming from a figure with such high level Whitehall experience the latest criticism of the government's handling of the NHS carries some weight.
King's College Hospital has been in long-running discussions with the regulator NHS Improvement about reducing its deficit.
It's understood that it was close to being put into a financial special measures regime in which NHS Improvement staff would work alongside hospital management.
Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the resignation was "embarrassing for the government".
King's College Hospital described Lord Kerslake as a "passionate advocate and champion" of the trust who had a "heartfelt commitment to staff and patients".
It added that he had led King's "through a challenging period which has also seen some notable successes, our response to three major incidents in London, the launch of the helipad and delivering some of the highest patient outcomes of any Trust in the UK".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42304490
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The world's youngest island - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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Scientists think Hunga Tunga Hunga Ha'apai might hold clues on where to look for life on Mars.
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Scientists think Hunga Tunga Hunga Ha'apai might hold clues on where to look for life on Mars.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42314269
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Lactalis baby milk in global recall over salmonella fears - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Britain and China are among the countries affected by the recall of baby milk formula products.
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Business
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The global recall affects consumers in several countries including Britain, China and Sudan.
French baby milk formula maker Lactalis has ordered a global product recall over fears of salmonella contamination.
Health authorities in France said 26 infants in the country have become sick since early December.
The recall affects products and exports to countries including Britain, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sudan.
It covers hundreds of baby milk powder products marketed globally under the Milumel, Picot and Celi brands.
Lactalis is one of the world's biggest dairy producers. Company spokesman Michel Nalet told AFP "nearly 7,000 tonnes" of production may have been contaminated, but the company is currently unable to say how much remains on the market, has been consumed or is in stock.
Lactalis believes the salmonella outbreak can be traced to a tower used to dry out the milk powder at its factory in the town of Craon in northwest France, according to AFP.
All products made there since mid-February have been recalled and the company said precautionary measures have been taken to disinfect all of its machinery at the factory.
The recall expands a health scare that started at the beginning of December after 20 children in France under the age of six fell sick.
At the time a limited recall was issued but regulators found the measures Lactalis had put in place to manage the contamination risk were "not sufficient".
Salmonella bacteria can cause food poisoning and symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting.
The illness, caused by intestinal bacteria from farm animals, is dangerous for the very young and elderly because of the risk of dehydration.
It is not the first time the baby milk formula industry has been rocked by a health scare.
Six babies died and around 300,000 others fell ill in 2008 after Chinese manufacturers added the industrial chemical melamine to their infant milk powder products.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42304757
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Snow in UK: Your photos of the wintry scenes - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Snow has fallen across the UK, causing disruption for some and fun for others. Here are some of your photos.
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UK
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Presha Taneja took this photo of driving conditions while stuck near junction 20 of the M25.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42299737
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Snow in Europe triggers transport chaos - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Hundreds of flights are cancelled in the Netherlands and Belgium.
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Europe
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A traffic jam near Mülheim - one of many in snow-bound Germany
Heavy snow blanketing northern Europe has caused many flight cancellations and delays at Schiphol airport in the Netherlands and Brussels airport.
About 400 flights were cancelled at Schiphol - one of Europe's biggest airports - and about 200 in Brussels.
Travellers have been advised to check flight updates at home, rather than set off for the airport in bad weather.
In Germany the heavy snow has caused many car crashes and traffic jams, as well as train delays.
More than 300 flights were cancelled on Sunday at Frankfurt airport, the busiest in Germany.
The Dutch airport at Eindhoven was temporarily closed because of the snow, and many Dutch schools remained shut on Monday.
Conditions improved later at Brussels airport, where planes were able to take off from one de-iced runway. But Brussels Airlines scrapped all its flights.
In the UK, dozens of flights were cancelled at Heathrow and road conditions were described as treacherous in many areas.
The heavy snow left thousands of British homes without electricity and hundreds of schools were shut on Monday.
In France 32 regions were put on an emergency "orange alert" footing, as a storm nicknamed "Ana" battered the Atlantic coast, with winds gusting as high as 150km/h (93mph). Later the alert was reduced to eight regions in the north and far south.
There were also avalanche warnings in some French Alpine ski resorts, after a metre (3.3ft) or more of fresh snow fell above 2,000 metres.
Nationwide at least 120,000 homes had power cuts on Monday, most of them in the Loire Valley.
The motorway section between Calais and Boulogne was closed after heavy snow in northeastern France.
Not what you expect in Venice: snowflakes on the gondolas
Snow also spread southwards to Italy, causing some travel disruption in northern regions.
The snow caused the closure of schools in Liguria, Piedmont and Tuscany, Italy's La Stampa daily reported.
Ferry services to the islands off Naples were suspended because of strong winds.
Val d'Isère, France: The plentiful snow is generally good news for ski resorts
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42310933
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Huntington's disease trial test is 'major advance' - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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It could be faster and cheaper than current methods, researchers say.
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Health
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Scientists say they may have found the world's first blood test that predicts when someone at risk is likely to get Huntington's disease and tracks how quickly damage to the brain occurs.
Experts describe the early research as a "major advance" in this field.
The study, in the Lancet Neurology, suggests the prototype test could help in the hunt for new treatments.
Huntington's disease is an inherited and incurable brain disorder that is currently fatal.
About 10,000 people in the UK have the condition and about 25,000 are at risk.
It is passed on through genes, and children who inherit a faulty gene from parents have a 50% chance of getting the disease in later life.
People can develop a range of problems including involuntary movements, personality changes and altered behaviour and may be fully dependent on carers towards the end of their lives.
In this study, an international team - including researchers from University College London - looked at 200 people with genes for Huntington's disease - some of whom already had signs of the disease, and others at earlier stages.
They compared them to some 100 people who were not at risk of getting the condition.
Volunteers had several tests over three years, including brain scans and clinical check-ups to see how Huntington's disease affected people's thinking skills and movement as the condition became more severe.
At the same time scientists looked for clues in blood samples - measuring a substance called neurofilament light chain (NFL) - released from damaged brain cells.
They found levels of the brain protein were high in people with Huntington's disease and were even elevated in people who carried the gene for Huntington's disease but were many years away from showing any symptoms.
And researchers found NFL levels rose as the condition worsened and as people's brains shrank over time.
Dr Edward Wild, at UCL, said: "Neurofilament light chain has the potential to serve as a speedometer in Huntington's disease, since a single blood test reflects how quickly the brain is changing.
"We have been trying to identify blood biomarkers to help track the progression of Huntington's disease for well over a decade and this is the best candidate we have seen so far."
Researchers suggest it could be more rapid and cheaper than current methods of measuring the progress of the disease, such as invasive tests of spinal fluid and brain scans.
And they say the blood test could be particularly helpful when checking if new treatments show any signs of being able halt the progress of the condition.
Commenting in the Lancet Neurology, Prof Christopher Ross and Prof Jee Bang of John Hopkins University described the study as "remarkable".
They added: "The study represents a major advance in the field of Huntington's disease and neurodegeneration in general…"
But they cautioned that it was important to carry out further, larger trials to confirm the results.
Scientists working on the original study agreed that further experiments were needed to fully understand the pros and cons of the test, before it could be of any help to patients.
Cath Stanley, chief executive of Hungtington's Disease Association, said: "This is a ground breaking piece of research that takes nearer to having a better understanding about Huntington's disease."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-40190598
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Icy conditions forecast for Monday - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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BBC Weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas looks at the weather for Monday and Tuesday.
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BBC Weather presenter Sarah Keith-Lucas looks at the forecast for Monday and Tuesday, and lists the parts of the UK which saw the most snow on Sunday.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42304368
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Grenfell Tower fire: Inquiry 'could bring measure of closure' - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Hearing the voices of the bereaved and survivors is "of great importance", the lead counsel says.
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UK
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Survivors are calling for a more central role in the inquiry
It is hoped the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire will give "some measure of closure" to survivors and the bereaved, its lead counsel says.
Richard Millett said hearing their voices was of "great importance".
But Michael Mansfield QC, representing some of the 71 victims, called for a diverse panel to sit alongside the chairman, Sir Martin Moore-Bick.
He said there was a "distinct feeling today that those people most affected have not been included".
He told Sir Martin: "You yourself cannot be expected to reflect the diversity.... no one person could do that."
Speaking at the start of procedural hearings at Holborn Bars in London, Mr Mansfield said a broader panel would help the victims' families to "respond and engage" with the inquiry.
Sir Martin suggested creating "a consultative panel" instead, able to advise, but not make decisions in the inquiry.
Mr Mansfield said that "would help, but... wouldn't quite solve" the problem.
Sir Martin was warned that he would have to do more to win the victim's trust.
Sam Stein, another lawyer representing some victims said: "The gaining of trust from survivors of a tragedy of this magnitude, whose lives have been broken and ruined by the very state that appointed you, is not easy and it will take time."
The Metropolitan Police is investigating offences including manslaughter, corporate manslaughter, misconduct in public office and breaches of fire safety regulations in relation to the fire, the inquiry heard.
The force has already gathered 31 million documents and 2,500 physical exhibits. Some 1,144 witnesses have given statements and 383 companies are part of the investigation.
The inquiry plans to deliver an interim report into the fire's causes and the emergency response by next autumn.
Ahead of the start of the hearings, it emerged that six months on from the fire, only 42 of the 208 families who needed rehousing after the fire have so far been moved to permanent homes.
Mohammed Rasoul and his family - including two young children and his 86-year-old father, who has dementia - are still living in a hotel room.
"You feel like you're a prisoner living in here," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Speaking about the inquiry, Mr Rasoul was pessimistic, saying: "I personally have lost confidence in our justice system. I hope they can prove me wrong but it doesn't look like people are going to be held accountable."
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Three days after the fire, the prime minister twice stated - unprompted - in a BBC interview that all those affected would be rehoused within three weeks.
But last week, survivors' group Grenfell United said 118 families would still be in emergency accommodation or staying with friends over Christmas.
It said a further 48 households had accepted offers for permanent housing - but have still not been moved in, leaving them in temporary accommodation.
Elizabeth Campbell, leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said "an army of people" had been working to get people rehoused.
"We have been buying homes in this part of London at a rate of about two a day."
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Labour councillor Paul Mason accused Kensington and Chelsea of not caring about those left homeless
She said "every family" in a hotel had been offered "alternative accommodation" - but many had refused "for perfectly understandable reasons".
As the inquiry begins, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) announced its own investigation examining whether authorities failed in their legal obligations to residents.
It will also look at whether the government has adequately investigated the fire - including looking into the public inquiry - and expects to conclude its work in April.
On Monday the inquiry heard from several other lawyers who called for a panel to be appointed to support Sir Martin.
Pete Weatherby, who represents 73 individuals, said: "Our clients are all different, they are young and old, men and women, they are of diverse heritage.
"Most of my clients are Muslim, they need an inquiry that understands their experience as much as possible."
He also raised concerns that companies involved may "not act with candour" and may become "defensive", and said this was delaying the release of documents to survivors and families.
Another representative of survivors, Danny Friedman QC, said people wanted the inquiry "to be a proud and positive example of justice and equality in 21st Century Britain".
However, the families denied that they were trying to "hijack" the process by putting themselves on the panel.
Instead, they believe panel members can be found with expertise in the wider social issues at stake, to give the inquiry a broader view.
Adel Chaoui, who lost his cousin and her family, said: "What we're asking for is reasonable and proportionate - particularly given that past inquiries have had a panel. We're being asked to accept a single point of judgement."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42304266
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Skin betting: 'Children as young as 11 introduced to gambling' - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Gamers as young as 11 bet using virtual weapons within video games which are then exchanged for cash.
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Technology
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. University student Ryan Archer's love of gaming spiralled into gambling when he was 15
Thousands of children and young people are losing money on websites which allow them to trade virtual items, gambling experts have warned.
The Gambling Commission's annual report has, for the first time, looked at the problem of so-called "skin betting".
The items won - usually modified guns or knives within a video game known as a skin - can often be sold and turned back into real money.
The commission says cracking down on the industry is now a top priority.
Experts say third party websites enable children to gamble the virtual weapons - or skins - on casino or slot machine type games, offering them the chance to generate real money.
Overall, the report shows that around 370,000 11-16 year-olds spent their own money on gambling in the past week, in England, Scotland and Wales.
Most commonly, children were using fruit machines, National Lottery scratch cards or placing private bets.
Bangor University student Ryan Archer's love of gaming spiralled into gambling when he was 15 and he became involved in skin betting.
Four years later he has lost more than £2,000.
"I'd get my student loan, some people spend it on expensive clothes, I spend it on gambling virtual items," he said.
"There have been points where I could struggle to buy food, because this takes priority."
Ryan wanted to build an inventory of skins, but when he could not afford the price tag attached to some of them he began gambling on unlicensed websites to try to raise money.
He said: "It's hard to ask your parents for £1,000 to buy a knife on CSGO (the multiplayer first-person shooter game Counter Strike: Global Offensive), it's a lot easier to ask for a tenner and then try and turn that into £1,000."
In CSGO, players can exchange real money for the chance to obtain a modified weapon known as a skin and a number of gambling websites have been built around the game.
"You wouldn't see an 11-year-old go into a betting shop, but you can with this, there's nothing to stop you," Ryan said.
Skins modify the look of a gun
Skins are collectable, virtual items in video games that change the appearance of a weapon - for example, turning a pistol into a golden gun.
Sometimes skins can be earned within a game, but they can also be bought with real money.
Some games also let players trade and sell skins, with rarer examples attracting high prices.
A number of websites let players gamble with their skins for the chance to win more valuable ones.
Since skins won on such a website could theoretically be sold and turned back into real-world money, critics say betting with skins is unlicensed gambling.
Sarah Harrison, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, said: "Because of these unlicensed skin betting sites, the safeguards that exist are not being applied and we're seeing examples of really young people, 11 and 12-year-olds, who are getting involved in skin betting, not realising that it's gambling.
"At one level they are running up bills perhaps on their parents' Paypal account or credit card, but the wider effect is the introduction and normalisation of this kind of gambling among children and young people."
Earlier this year, the Gambling Commission for the first time prosecuted people for running an unlicensed gambling website connected to a video game.
Craig Douglas, a prominent gamer known as Nepenthez, and his business partner Dylan Rigby, were fined £91,000 ($112,000) and £164,000 respectively after admitting offences under the UK's Gambling Act.
The men ran a website called FUT Galaxy that was connected to the Fifa video game and let gamers gamble virtual currency.
Ms Harrison said the regulator was prepared to take criminal action, but said the "huge issue" also required help from parents, game platform providers and payment providers.
Some games providers have put more safeguards in place, but many of the sites are based abroad.
Vicky Shotbolt, from the group Parentzone said: "It's a huge emerging issue that's getting bigger and bigger, but parents aren't even thinking about it.
"When we talk to people about skin gambling, we normally get a look of complete confusion."
She called on regulators to take more action over the issue.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42311533
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Beirut protests: 'Jerusalem remains a rallying cry' - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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Protests against US President Donald Trump's controversial decision turn ugly again in Beirut.
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Protests in the Lebanese capital Beirut against US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel have turned ugly again, with youths throwing stones at the US embassy.
The BBC's Martin Patience reports from the scene as police use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42300219
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Plymouth Pryzm nightclub deaths: Tributes paid to teenagers - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The teenagers, who are suspected to have taken ecstasy, were found collapsed in the early hours.
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Devon
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Aaron Reilly (left) and Joshua Brock and were found unconscious at the Pryzm nightclub in Plymouth
Tributes have been paid to two 19-year-old men who died after apparently taking drugs at a nightclub.
Aaron Reilly and Joshua Brock were found unconscious at Pryzm in Plymouth in the early hours of Saturday,
The teenagers, who police said thought they were taking ecstasy, died later in hospital.
The club was evacuated and an 18-year-old man was arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police. He has been released under investigation, the force said.
The family of Mr Reilly, from Newton Abbot, described him as "a much-loved son, brother, grandson and boyfriend" who loved skateboarding and playing computer games.
His younger brother Kian said: "My brother was one of the most responsible people I ever knew and everything he achieved I was so proud of, but I was so envious of his talent.
"I can't believe he was taken from me and my family from one silly mistake, just trying to have fun on a night out with his best mates."
Hundreds of young people had been attending a gig by the Swedish dance artist Basshunter when the pair collapsed
Mr Brock, from Okehampton, was described as "a loving son to Steve and Sandra, an inspirational brother to Liam and Demelza and a loyal mate to all his friends".
"Joshua was in his third year studying for a diploma in aircraft engineering at the Flybe Training Academy in Exeter when his life was cut short," the family said in a statement.
"He was the kindest, most helpful person you could hope to meet and had a great sense of humour.
"His main hobby was keeping fit and eating healthily, so what happened that night is so totally out of character as he was always against drug taking in any shape or form. One moment of madness led to this tragedy."
On Saturday, the nightclub described the deaths as "tragic and very sad", adding that staff were co-operating with the police investigation.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-42301045
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Three children die in suspicious house fire in Salford - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Three men and a woman are arrested on suspicion of murder after three children died in the blaze.
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Manchester
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Fire crews were called to the scene on Jackson Street at about 05:00 GMT
Three children have died in a house fire in Salford, while a three-year-old is said to be in a critical condition.
A 14-year-old girl, named locally as Demi Pearson, was declared dead at the scene, while an eight-year-old boy and a girl aged seven died in hospital.
Their mother, named as Michelle Pearson, 35, is in a serious condition.
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the fire, which broke out at the house in Jackson Street, Walkden, at about 05:00 GMT.
Ms Pearson has been heavily sedated and has not yet been told that her children are dead, a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson said.
Three men, aged 18, 20 and 23, and a 20-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody for questioning.
A 24-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
GMP confirmed it had had very recent contact with the family and had visited the house in the hours before the blaze.
The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
The roads around Jackson Street have been cordoned off
Ch Supt Wayne Miller said what had happened was "the murder, using fire, of three children and we have a three-year-old girl fighting for her life".
He said officers were "keeping an open mind" over whether the tragedy was related to organised crime.
Appealing for any information "no matter how small", he added the deaths would "devastate this family forever".
Neighbour Susan Smith said she saw the children being carried to the ambulances
Neighbour Susan Smith said she heard "people screaming and shouting and then I opened the bathroom window and it was just like if you can imagine an orange cloud and a bang and fireballs coming from the house".
She said paramedics were "pulling up outside our house and they were carrying the children to the ambulances".
The four children, their mother and one other person were taken to hospital.
Two boys, aged 16, who were also in the house, were described as "walking wounded".
It is understood one of the boys is a family member, while the other is not related.
Police are treating the fire as suspicious
Greater Manchester Fire Service said crews rescued five people when they arrived on the scene, while two people had already got out of the house.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-42313197
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New York Port Authority attack: Man held after Manhattan blast - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A Bangladeshi man is being held after a blast wounded several people at Port Authority bus terminal.
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US & Canada
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The blast hit during New York's rush-hour - this is how events unfolded
A man is being held after an attempted terror attack at New York City's main bus terminal.
"Terrorists won't win," Mayor Bill de Blasio said after a blast at the Port Authority terminal in Manhattan during the morning rush hour on Monday.
The suspect, Akayed Ullah, a 27-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant, was injured by a "low-tech explosive device" strapped to his body, officials say.
Three other people suffered minor wounds when it blew up in an underpass.
A photo circulating on social media shows a man, said to be Akayed Ullah, lying on the ground with his clothes ripped and lacerations on his upper body.
Mayor De Blasio said he was believed to have acted alone.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. NYC police commissioner: 'Suspect has burns and wounds to body'
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said: "This is New York. The reality is that we are a target by many who would like to make a statement against democracy, against freedom.
"We have the Statue of Liberty in our harbour and that makes us an international target."
The explosion occurred at about 07:30 (12:30 GMT). Andre Rodriguez, 62, told the New York Times: "I was going through the turnstile. It sounded like an explosion, and everybody started running."
Another eyewitness, Alicja Wlodkowski, told Reuters news agency that she had seen a group of about 60 people running. "A woman fell. And nobody even went to stop and help her because the panic was so scary," she said.
Nearby subway stations were evacuated, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal temporarily shut.
It is the biggest and busiest bus terminal in the world, serving more than 65 million people a year.
The suspect's home in the New York City borough of Brooklyn is being searched, the New York Times reports.
He may have been recently working at an electrical company, according to the New York Post.
Mr Ullah emigrated to the US on a family visa in 2011. The Bangladeshi government said he had no criminal record in the country, which he last visited in September.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders claimed that if Mr Trump's proposed immigration crackdown had already been in place, "the attacker would have never been allowed to come into the country".
"This attack underscores the need for Congress to work with the president on immigration reforms that enhance our national security and public safety," she added during a daily news briefing on Monday.
Several blocks of the city have been cordoned off
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42312293
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Megan Bannister: Friend calls for 'duty to help' law - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A friend of Megan Bannister says the men who gave her drugs "treated her like trash".
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Leicester
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Megan Bannister was found lifeless on the back seat of a crashed car
The best friend of a teenager who died after taking drugs has called for a law to oblige people to seek help for someone they know is dangerously ill.
Sixteen-year-old Megan Bannister died while in a car driven by the men who had supplied the drugs.
Jason Burder, 29, and Adam King, 28, were jailed for supplying MDMA but cleared of her manslaughter.
Louis King said he wanted a new law that could see people prosecuted for failing to call an ambulance.
"I was angry, I felt that Megan had not had any justice," he added.
Louis King says Jason Burder and Adam King's sentences were not long enough
Louis said Megan's death "counted as an aggravating factor to the drugs charges but I don't think [the sentence] was anywhere near long enough".
What happened has prompted him to call for a change in the law.
"They gave her these drugs and then they recorded her having a completely different reaction to what they were having," he said
"They should have known something was wrong with her, they did know and they did nothing about it.
"It's their fault she is gone, they took away her chance of having any help."
Louis said Burder and King "showed none of the kindness she showed to friends, they just treated her like trash".
Jason Burder (left) was jailed for eight and a half years and Adam King was sentenced to four and a half years
Megan was found lying in the back of a Vauxhall Astra which had crashed near Enderby, Leicestershire, on 14 May.
Their trial heard Burder and King had given Megan ecstasy, then filmed her bad reaction.
The men, both from Leicester, then drove around buying beer and calling escorts while the teenager was left to die.
They were acquitted of manslaughter as it was unclear that their failure to seek medical help had caused Megan's death.
Burder was jailed for eight and a half years and King for four and a half years.
Kirsten Bannister said her family's lives had been ruined
Louis has started an online petition to try to have the idea debated in Parliament.
Megan's sister Kirsten, who is backing the move, said she missed her sister every day.
"Megan was caring, kind and beautiful," she added.
"We are taking each day as it comes and we are lucky to have a big family and a big support network.
"But our lives are ruined, they will never be the same again."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-42294225
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How hot is it where you are? - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Compare the temperature in your area to other locations in the UK and around the world.
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UK
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Compare the temperature where you are with more than 50 cities around the world, including some of the hottest and coldest inhabited places. Enter your location or postcode in the search box to see your result.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23252638
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Manchester derby: Jose Mourinho has water & milk thrown at him in row, Mikel Arteta cut - BBC Sport
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2017-12-11
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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has water and milk thrown at him and Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta suffers a cut head in a post-match row.
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Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho had water and milk thrown at him and Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta suffered a cut head during a post-match row.
United were upset at what they viewed as an excessive City reaction to Sunday's 2-1 win at Old Trafford, which sent them 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
City's players celebrated in front of their fans after the final whistle and coaching staff tried to persuade manager Pep Guardiola to join them, but he refused.
After the players headed down the tunnel, it is understood Mourinho made his feelings known outside the visitors' dressing room as he made his way to post-match interviews.
The City camp reacted, with Brazil goalkeeper Ederson and Mourinho exchanging words angrily in Portuguese - but Mourinho carried out his post-match media engagements as normal and made no mention of it.
Arteta was left with a cut after he was hit by a plastic drinks bottle, but it is not known who threw it and sources from both clubs say no punches were thrown during the incident.
• None The incident started when Mourinho responded to what he perceived to be over the top celebrations.
• None The row took place outside the visitors' dressing room, the door to which was open. It was noisy but lasted no more than two minutes.
• None A one-pint milk carton - which had been left in the City dressing room for tea and coffee - was thrown at Mourinho. The United manager did not get splattered but a member of his staff was.
• None After the row, the Portuguese went into the referees' room, which is opposite the visitors' dressing room, and then to the tunnel to do his post-match interviews.
• None Players from both sides were talking to each other normally after they had got changed.
The Football Association announced on Monday that it will seek observations from both clubs in relation to the incident with the clubs having until 13 December to respond.
The referee, Michael Oliver, did not see the incident and did not include it in his report of the match.
In October 2004, then United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was hit by pizza thrown by Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas after a bad-tempered encounter between the sides at Old Trafford.
In the build-up to Sunday's Premier League game, City were irritated when United denied them permission to use cameras to gather footage for their £10m behind-the-scenes documentary.
The Old Trafford club said there was not enough room because of the number of rights holders wanting to attend the game.
• None City beat United to become first team to win 14 straight English top-flight games in one season
• None We won because he played better - Guardiola
In his pre-match news conference - and again on Sunday - Mourinho said he did not think he would be allowed to make to make a political statement on the touchline like Guardiola.
The City boss has recently worn a yellow ribbon - a symbol of protest against the imprisonment of pro-independence politicians in the Spanish region of Catalonia.
Mourinho also suggested on Friday that City players go to ground too easily, saying: "A little bit of wind and they fall."
However, on Sunday United midfielder Ander Herrera was booked for diving in the second half when he went down in the box under challenge from Nicolas Otamendi - though his Portuguese boss was adamant his side should have been awarded a penalty.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42306141
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Venezuela opposition banned from running in 2018 election - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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President Nicolás Maduro says the three main opposition parties cannot compete against him in 2018.
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Latin America & Caribbean
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Venezuelans look for their names on electoral rolls before voting in Sunday's mayoral polls
Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro, says the country's main opposition parties are banned from taking part in next year's presidential election.
He said only parties which took part in Sunday's mayoral polls would be able to contest the presidency.
Leaders from the Justice First, Popular Will and Democratic Action parties boycotted the vote because they said the electoral system was biased.
President Maduro insists the Venezuelan system is entirely trustworthy.
In a speech on Sunday, he said the opposition parties had "disappeared from the political map".
"A party that has not participated today and has called for the boycott of the elections can't participate anymore," he said.
In October, the three main opposition parties announced they would be boycotting Sunday's vote, saying it only served what they called President Maduro's dictatorship.
President Maduro says his party won more than 300 of the 335 mayoral races being contested. The election board put turn out at 47%.
Venezuela has been mired in a worsening economic crisis characterised by shortages of basic goods and soaring inflation.
Mr Maduro's pronouncement is designed to provoke the opposition. Especially since he justified the move saying it was a condition set out by the National Constituent Assembly - a body that the opposition refuses to recognise because they say it is undemocratic.
Mr Maduro has lost popularity because of the worsening economic crisis. In the face of criticism, his strategy has been one of "divide and conquer" - find ways of weakening the opposition to make them less of a threat.
And he hs succeeded - he has imprisoned some of the most popular opposition leaders like Leopoldo López. He has prevented others like Henrique Capriles from running for office. And now this threat - banning the most influential parties from taking part in future elections. The opposition is in crisis and Mr Maduro is gloating.
Mr Maduro said he was following the criteria set by the National Constituent Assembly in banning opposition parties from contesting next year's election.
But the assembly, which came into force in August and has the ability to rewrite the constitution, is made up exclusively of government loyalists. Opposition parties see it as a way for the president to cling to power.
The presidential vote had been scheduled for December 2018, but analysts say it could now be brought forward.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Your video guide to the crisis gripping Venezuela
Venezuela, in the north of South America, is home to more than 30 million people. It has some of the world's largest oil deposits as well as huge quantities of coal and iron ore.
Despite its rich natural resources many Venezuelans live in poverty. This led President Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chávez, to style himself as a champion of the poor during his 14 years in office.
Now the country is starkly divided between supporters of President Maduro and those who want an end to the Socialist Party's 18 years in government.
Supporters of Mr Maduro say his party has lifted many people out of poverty, but critics say it has eroded Venezuela's democratic institutions and mismanaged its economy.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-42304594
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Akayed Ullah: What we know about New York Port Authority attacker - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The 27-year-old reportedly came to the US from Bangladesh seven years ago.
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US & Canada
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The man suspected of trying to bomb New York City's main bus terminal is 27-year-old Akayed Ullah, according to New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill.
He was wearing an "improvised, low-tech, explosive device attached to his body", which he detonated intentionally, Mr O'Neill said.
The bomber suffered burns and other wounds and was taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.
Mr Ullah came from Chittagong, Bangladesh, and entered the US with his parents and siblings in 2011 on an immigrant visa, according to CBS News.
Bangladesh is not one of the six countries affected by President Trump's travel ban.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Mr Ullah had entered the US on an F43 visa. This means he was the child of someone with an F41 visa, which is available to people who are the "brother or sister of a US citizen at least 21 years old".
Mr Trump has proposed eliminating so-called chain migration, which is when US immigrants legally bring family members into the country.
Mr Ullah was inspired by the Islamic State group but had no direct contact with it, law enforcement officials in the US told the Associated Press news agency.
He said he had been motivated by US air strikes on IS targets in Syria and elsewhere, the New York Times reports.
He told police investigators he had been inspired by Christmas terror attacks in Europe and selected the Port Authority bus terminal after seeing a number of festive posters on the subway walls.
Mr Ullah was a permanent US resident, living in Brooklyn, New York City.
Police in Bangladesh say he last visited that country on 8 September.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The blast hit during New York's rush-hour - this is how events unfolded
He lived in the same apartment building as his brother whom he recently worked with at an electrical company close to Port Authority, police said.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission told CNN that Mr Ullah had held a taxi driver's licence from March 2012 to March 2015.
However, he did not drive a New York yellow taxi or work for Uber.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. NYC police commissioner: "Suspect has burns and wounds to body"
The Inspector General of Police in Bangladesh, AKM Shahidul Haque, said Mr Ullah had had no criminal record in the country.
Bangladesh police are continuing to investigate Mr Ullah's background, police said.
Mr Ullah has, up to now, also held a clean record in the US, with just traffic violations cited by the police.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42316699
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Zaira Wasim: Indian man held after star 'molested' on flight - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Indian man was identified with help from the airline, Air Vistara, after Zaira Wasim complained.
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India
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Ms Wasim shared her experience on her Instagram account, which has almost 400,000 followers
Police have arrested an Indian man accused of molesting a Bollywood actress on a flight from Delhi to Mumbai on Sunday.
Zaira Wasim, 17, said a "middle-aged man" sitting behind her had repeatedly moved his foot up and down her neck and back while she was "half-asleep".
She documented the incident on Instagram and tried to film the man but said it was too dark to see his face.
Indian media reports said that the man had been identified with help from the airline, Air Vistara.
Ms Wasim had accused the airline of not doing anything to help her when she raised the issue, but did not file an official complaint against them.
She posted about the incident on her Instagram account early on Sunday. "I was sure of it," she wrote. He kept nudging my shoulder and continued to move his foot up and down my back and neck."
She said she blamed the turbulence at first but was later woken by the man's foot touching her neck.
Ms Wasim shared a video of herself after the flight, in which she was visibly upset. "This is terrible," she said. "No one will help up if we don't decide to help ourselves."
Ms Wasim made her acting debut in Dangal last year.
Zaira Wasim made her acting debut in Dangal, the top grossing Bollywood movie of all time
She was awarded the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement earlier this year by India's President Ram Nath Kovind.
Air Vistara said on Twitter that staff had not become aware of the incident until the plane was on its descent to Mumbai but it apologised for what Ms Wasim had experienced.
"We have zero tolerance for such behaviour," its statement read.
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In recent months, a growing number of women have spoken out about their experiences of sexual harassment.
It followed a campaign encouraging victims to share their stories of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour under the #metoo hashtag.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-42305391
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Max Clifford dies in hospital aged 74 - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Former celebrity publicist Max Clifford has died in hospital, aged 74, after collapsing in prison.
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England
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Max Clifford had been serving an eight-year jail sentence for sex offences
Disgraced celebrity publicist Max Clifford has died in hospital, aged 74, after collapsing in prison.
Clifford collapsed in his cell at Littlehey Prison in Cambridgeshire on Thursday and again on Friday, his daughter said. He was taken to hospital where he suffered a cardiac arrest.
He had been serving an eight-year sentence for historical sex offences.
The Ministry of Justice said as with all deaths in custody, there would an investigation by the ombudsman.
A spokeswoman added: "Our condolences are with Mr Clifford's family at this difficult time."
His daughter Louise, 46, had told the Mail on Sunday that Clifford first collapsed in his cell on Thursday when he was trying to clean it, adding: "It was just too much."
She said he collapsed again the next day and was unconscious for several minutes, and after seeing a nurse was transferred to a local hospital where he suffered a cardiac arrest on Friday.
During his trial he accused his victims of being fantasists
The Ministry of Justice confirmed Clifford died in hospital on 10 December.
In May 2014, Clifford was jailed after being convicted of eight historical indecent assaults on women and young girls under Operation Yewtree - the Met Police investigation set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
During this trial, evidence was heard about Clifford's manipulative behaviour, including how he promised to boost the careers of aspiring models and actresses in return for sexual favours.
After his convictions, he continued to protest his innocence.
The Court of Appeal was due to hear his case appealing against his sentence in the New Year.
Clifford's lawyer, John Szepietowski, said his death meant there were a number of unresolved legal issues.
He said Clifford had been suing News International and Mirror Group Newspapers for allegedly hacking his phone.
His daughter Louise supported him through his trial
The lawyer also said Clifford was being sued by a number of women who claimed he had sexually assaulted them.
Mr Szepietowski said his legal team would meet in the coming days to decide whether Clifford's criminal appeal case should continue.
He said Clifford had been receiving legal aid for the appeal, after being declared bankrupt earlier this year and having to sell his Surrey home to pay his debts.
During his long career as a publicist, Clifford, who started his own company at 27, looked after press and publicity for a mixed range of clients such as Marlon Brando, Marvin Gaye, Muhammad Ali and Jade Goody.
He claimed he had helped to launch the career of The Beatles by sending press releases about their debut single, Love Me Do, when record company bosses were unsure about the group's potential.
High-profile clients came to him because of his connections in the tabloid press - while journalists turned to Clifford to provide stories.
However, after 50 years in the showbiz industry allegations against him began to emerge.
In a Facebook post following the announcement that Clifford had died, former X Factor winner Steve Brookstein, claimed Clifford had "orchestrated a media hate campaign" against him.
• None The rise and fall of Max Clifford
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42300593
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Mesh risks not passed on to doctors - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A major medical company failed to tell doctors the full extent of some of the risks posed by mesh implants.
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Scotland
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The mesh implants are used to ease incontinence and to support organs
One of the world's biggest medical companies failed to tell doctors and patients of the full extent of some of the risks posed by mesh implants.
A BBC Panorama investigation has seen documents that show one of Ethicon's own in-house doctors warned it had not updated information on complications.
It said doctors were informed of the risks and that the company cared deeply about patient safety.
Over the past 20 years, more than 100,000 women across the UK have had transvaginal mesh implants, which are used to treat prolapse and incontinence, often after childbirth.
The vast majority of women suffer no side effects but others have reported chronic and debilitating pain, with some being left unable to walk.
The plastic meshes, which are made of polypropylene - the same material used to make certain drinks bottles - are used to support organs such as the vagina, uterus, bowel, bladder or urethra which have prolapsed.
The Panorama investigation obtained insider emails that show Ethicon was warned repeatedly by one of their own in-house doctors, about the risks of mesh.
In 2008, Ethicon's associate medical director wrote to managers at the company with her concerns about the fact the information provided by Ethicon to surgeons had not been updated since 2005.
She said "post-market knowledge" of the products had provided much more information than was given to doctors.
Ethicon's own in-house doctor advised updating the information for users
The associate medical director recommended updating the "potential adverse reactions" section of the Instructions for Use (IFUs) for all types of TVTs (tension-free vaginal tape) it had on the market at the time.
In January 2009, she wrote again to say the information for doctors had not been updated and still referred to several complications as "transitory".
"From what I see each day, these patient experiences are not 'transitory' at all," she wrote.
Claire Daisley says she is in constant pain
She struggles to walk after a simple operation to treat a weakened bladder.
Claire had the mesh surgically removed but it can be difficult to take out and after the operation her pain got worse.
She now faces having her bowel removed.
"I don't want to be here any more," she said.
"That's how far it's taken me because sometimes you don't know if you can take the next day."
She is one of 501 women in Scotland now taking legal action.
Dr Agur addressed the Scottish Parliament on the issue of mesh implants
Dr Wael Agur, a consultant urogynaecologist, told Panorama that the information for use leaflet was vital for doctors.
"It's so important for me as a surgeon to understand full the risks of a medical device I'm about to implant during a surgical procedure and my first resource would be the instructions for use," he said.
"I would expect the manufacturer to have a comprehensive list of the adverse events and the risks within the instructions for use so I fully understand these and communicate them."
A spokeswoman for Ethicon said: "The risks associated with the use of a permanent mesh implant were properly identified in Ethicon's Instructions for Use (IFUs)."
Documents seen by Panorama also show that the clinical testing of the vaginal tape TVT Secur before it was put on the market only included trials in sheep and five weeks' monitoring in 31 women.
Carl Heneghan, professor of evidence-based medicine at Oxford University, said: "It's just unacceptable and outrageous.
"It just blatantly says we don't care about patients. We don't care about safety, we just want to get out and start making money."
Claire Daisley struggles to walk after surgery to remove the mesh
Ethicon said that it empathised with those women who had suffered complications but said the company had always had the best interests of patients at heart.
The firm said that all pelvic floor surgery came with a risk and that millions of women had benefited from having treatment for incontinence and prolapse.
Millions of women around the world have had transvaginal mesh implants.
For the vast majority, the surgery has been a success but thousands of women have suffered devastating consequences as a result of mesh surgery.
In some cases the damage is irreversible.
More than 100,000 women around the world are now suing the manufacturers, including Ethicon.
That includes more than 1,000 women in the UK - many of whom are also taking legal action against the NHS who they will claim failed to inform them of the potential risks.
Figures compiled for Panorama show that more than 6,000 women in the UK have had mesh surgery removals in the past decade.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-42307953
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UK snow: Forecasters predicting coldest night of year - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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Snow and ice warnings are extended, with temperatures expected to drop as low as -15C overnight.
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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. BBC forecaster Philip Avery says temperatures will plunge below zero overnight
Freezing conditions are continuing to affect parts of the UK, as forecasters warn it could be facing the coldest night of the year.
A fourth day of wintry weather has caused widespread disruption, affecting flights, trains and ferries.
Yellow Met Office warnings for snow and ice have been extended until 11:00 GMT on Tuesday. Forecasters are predicting temperatures could hit -15C (5F).
Hundreds of schools are to stay closed for a second successive day on Tuesday.
The Met Office's weather warning covers Wales, Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland, the Midlands, London and the South East of England.
Clear skies overnight could lead temperatures to drop lowest in Wales and central England.
A low of -11.6C (11F) was recorded on Sunday night in Chillingham Barns, Northumberland, although Saturday was the coldest night of the year so far, reaching -12.4C.
BBC weather forecaster Steve Cleaton said hazardous conditions would continue in the coming days, although there would be less snow than at the weekend.
"A perishingly cold night is expected as we move through Monday evening into Tuesday, with another widespread and severe frost, and temperatures plummeting to below -10C across any snowfields," he said.
Over 350 schools in the West Midlands are to close for another day, while in Wales about 180 schools so far have said they will shut.
More than 1,000 schools didn't open on Monday - nearly 600 of those were in Wales.
This snowy Monday commute was on the A21 in Hastings
A car turns around after a fallen tree blocks the A40 near Sennybridge, Wales, on Sunday
Meanwhile, a trackside fire at London Waterloo added to the delays, causing major disruption to journeys to and from the station.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
More than 1,000 homes are still without power after 140,000 were cut off on Sunday.
Western Power Distribution said 900 homes were still cut off, including more than 700 in the West Midlands.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said 750 remained cut off in Oxfordshire.
Sunset over the Chiltern Hills on Monday afternoon
Wootton by Woodstock Primary is one of at least 183 schools in Oxfordshire which are closed
Snow on the coast at Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear on Monday morning
Have you experienced any disruption? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42305301
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Buckingham Palace arrest: Man held 'trying to climb wall' - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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Police said the man was arrested after he stepped over an outer fence and tried to climb a wall.
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UK
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A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of trespass at Buckingham Palace.
Police said the man had stepped over a low perimeter fence and was trying to climb an outer wall on Sunday evening.
He was not found to be carrying a weapon and the incident is not being treated as terrorist related. He has been released on conditional bail.
He was also held on suspicion of being in possession of a controlled substance but faces no further action over this.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42316492
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Saudi Arabia to allow cinemas to reopen from early 2018 - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The measure is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform programme.
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Middle East
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Fans dressed as famous film characters at a Comic Con Arabia event in Riyadh last month
Saudi Arabia has announced it will lift a ban on commercial cinemas that has lasted more than three decades.
The ministry of culture and information said it would begin issuing licences immediately and that the first cinemas were expected to open in March 2018.
The measure is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 social and economic reform programme.
The conservative Muslim kingdom had cinemas in the 1970s, but clerics persuaded authorities to close them.
As recently as January, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al al-Sheikh reportedly warned of the "depravity" of cinemas, saying they would corrupt morals if allowed.
Saudi Arabia's royal family and religious establishment adhere to an austere form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism, and Islamic codes of behaviour and dress are strictly enforced.
A statement issued by the culture ministry on Monday said the decision to license cinemas was "central to the government's programme to encourage an open and rich domestic culture for Saudis".
"This marks a watershed moment in the development of the cultural economy in the Kingdom," Culture Minister Awwad Alawwad said.
"Opening cinemas will act as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification; by developing the broader cultural sector we will create new employment and training opportunities, as well as enriching the kingdom's entertainment options."
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. A young crown prince is shaping change in the Saudi kingdom.
The ministry said the move would open up a domestic market of more than 32 million people and that it anticipated there would be more than 300 cinemas with 2,000 screens by 2030.
Vision 2030, unveiled by the 32-year-old crown prince last year, aims to increase household spending on cultural and entertainment activities in the oil-dependent kingdom from 2.9% to 6% by 2030.
"It is a beautiful day in #SaudiArabia!" wrote the Saudi director Haifaa Al Mansour on Twitter following the announcement.
US hip hop artist Nelly and Algerian singer Cheb Khaled will perform in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Thursday, though the event is open to men only.
Hiba Tawaji became the first female musician to perform at a concert in Saudi Arabia last week
In September, King Salman announced that women would be permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia for the first time from June 2018 - another move opposed by clerics,
And at an economic conference attended by foreign investors the following month, Prince Mohammed declared that Saudi Arabia would once again be "a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions, traditions and people".
Seventy per cent of the Saudi population were under 30 and they wanted a "life in which our religion translates to tolerance, to our traditions of kindness ", he said.
He insisted Saudi Arabia "was not like this before 1979", when there was an Islamic revolution in Iran and militants occupied Mecca's Grand Mosque. Afterwards, public entertainment was banned and clerics were given more control over public life.
Prince Mohammed has also cracked down on dissent and launched an anti-corruption drive that has seen hundreds of people, among them senior princes and prominent businessmen, detained and offered pardons in exchange for financial settlements with the state.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42308121
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Putin announces Russian troop withdrawal from Syria during visit - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Russia begins withdrawing some of its troops from Syria, as President Putin visits the country.
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Middle East
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Mr Putin announced the move at the Russian Hmeimim airbase in Syria
Russia has begun withdrawing some of its troops from Syria, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday.
President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial withdrawal during an unannounced visit to Syria on Monday.
Russian support has been crucial in turning the tide of Syria's civil war in favour of government forces, led by president Bashar al-Assad.
When asked how long it would take for Russia to withdraw its military contingent, Mr Shoigu said that this would "depend on the situation" in Syria.
The Russian president was met by Mr al-Assad at the Russian Hmeimim airbase near Latakia.
Mr Putin said: "I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency.
"I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia," he added.
Less than a week after announcing he will stand for re-election, Vladimir Putin flies to Syria and declares victory. Coincidence? Probably not.
Signalling the end of Russia's military operation in Syria will go down well with Russian voters.
Electoral concerns apart, Moscow views its two-year campaign in Syria as a success - and not only in terms of fighting international terrorism.
The Russians have succeeded in keeping a key ally, President Assad, in power. In the process, Russia has been guaranteed a long-term military presence in Syria, with its two bases Hmeimim and Tartus. Moscow has also raised its profile across the Middle East.
Then there's the global stage. The operation in Syria prevented Moscow's international isolation.
Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 had sparked Western sanctions and earned the country, in the eyes of some Western governments, the label "pariah state". The Syria operation forced Western leaders to sit down and negotiate with Russia's leadership.
Mr Putin said that if "terrorists raise their heads again", Russia would "carry out such strikes on them which they have never seen".
"We will never forget the victims and losses suffered in the fight against terror both here in Syria and also in Russia," he said.
He told President Assad that Russia wanted to work with Iran, the government's other key ally, and Turkey, which backs the opposition, to help bring peace to Syria.
Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria since September 2015
Last week, Mr Putin announced the "total rout" of jihadist militants from so-called Islamic State (IS) along the Euphrates river valley in eastern Syria.
Russia launched an air campaign in Syria in September 2015 with the aim of "stabilising" Mr Assad's government after a series of defeats.
Officials in Moscow stressed that it would target only "terrorists", but activists said its strikes mainly hit mainstream rebel fighters and civilians.
The campaign has allowed pro-government forces to break the deadlock on several key battlefronts, most notably in Aleppo.
The Syrian and Russian air forces carried out daily air strikes on the rebel-held east of the city before it fell in December 2016, killing hundreds of people and destroying hospitals, schools and markets, according to UN human rights investigators.
Moscow has consistently denied that its air strikes have caused any civilian deaths.
However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday that Russian air strikes had killed 6,328 civilians, including 1,537 children.
The UK-based monitoring group has documented the deaths of 346,612 people in total since the start of the uprising against Mr Assad in 2011.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42307365
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Oxford teacher investigated for 'misgendering' to sue school - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Joshua Sutcliffe was investigated for referring to a pupil who identifies as a boy as a girl.
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Oxford
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Joshua Sutcliffe said he apologised after the student became angry
A teacher who faced disciplinary action after he referred to a transgender pupil as a girl is taking his school to an employment tribunal.
Joshua Sutcliffe, from Oxford, says he was investigated after he said "well done girls" to a group that included a student who identifies as a boy.
The 27-year-old Christian pastor is now suing the school for constructive dismissal and discrimination.
The secondary school previously said it would be "inappropriate" to comment.
Mr Sutcliffe, who teaches children aged between 11 and 18, said the incident took place on 2 November and he apologised after the pupil became angry.
He said a week-long investigation found he had "misgendered" the pupil and "contravened the school's equality policy".
Mr Sutcliffe claims the school has "systematically and maliciously" breached his rights and he had left his job as it had made it impossible for him to continue working there.
In a letter to the head teacher he wrote: "As a Christian, I do not share your belief in the ideology of transgenderism.
"I do not believe that young children should be encouraged to self-select a 'gender' which may be different from their biological sex.
"Or that everyone at school should adjust their behaviour to accommodate such a 'transition'; or that people should be punished for lack of enthusiasm about it."
The maths teacher, who is also a pastor at the Christ Revelation church in Oxford, said he tried to balance his beliefs with the need to treat the pupil sensitively.
He claimed he did this by avoiding the use of gender-specific pronouns and by referring to the pupil by name.
The state academy school where he was employed said it has received indication Mr Sutcliffe proposes to take legal action against it.
It has not received formal confirmation that he has resigned, it added.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-42312342
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Brighton shoplifter sues Sussex Police over Taser arrest - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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Paul McClelland, who was arrested four years ago in Brighton, is suing Sussex Police for damages.
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Sussex
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Paul McClelland was Tasered in July 2013 in a Brighton car park as he was being arrested
A man suing Sussex Police after he was Tasered has told a court the incident left him anxious and suicidal.
A Taser was used on Paul McClelland in July 2013 in a car park in Brighton as he was being arrested for shoplifting.
A video of the arrest was passed to The Argus newspaper at the time.
In a civil case against the chief constable of Sussex, Mr McClelland is claiming the police used excessive force in carrying out the arrest. Sussex Police has rejected the claim.
Sophie Khan, Mr McClelland's solicitor advocate, said he was bringing the case against Chief Constable Giles York because he believed he was Tasered unreasonably when he was surrendering and moving backwards to be handcuffed.
He was arrested in Western Road, Brighton. An internal police investigation found the force had done everything correctly and there was no evidence of misconduct.
Mr McClelland, 42, pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer, common assault and theft at Brighton Magistrates' Court two months later, and was given a community service order.
On Monday, His Honour Judge Simpkiss, sitting at the County Court at Brighton, was shown the video of what happened.
The court was shown the situation from three different angles, as recorded by council CCTV, a body-worn police camera, and a video filmed by a passer-by.
Mr McLelland admitted he had been sitting on the beach drinking strong lager before the incident.
Before he was Tasered he removed his shirt and adopted a boxing stance, shouting to police: "Come on."
He agreed that he would not have behaved that way had he been sober, the court heard.
He said the pain of the electric shock was like "death".
"You can't breathe, it takes your breath away," he told the court.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-42315333
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Landmark Huntington's trial starts - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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The first trial of a drug correcting the underlying defect that leads to Huntington's disease has started at University College London.
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Health
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The first drug that can potentially correct the underlying defect that causes Huntington's disease has been taken by patients in a clinical trial.
Doctors at University College London, which is leading the study, said it was an important moment in tackling the incurable condition.
Current medication treats the symptoms, but cannot slow or prevent the progressive damage to the brain.
The Huntington's Disease Association said the trial was "very exciting".
The disease is caused by the brain producing a mutant protein called huntingtin which damages and ultimately kills off brain cells.
As Huntington's progresses it leads to uncontrolled movements, behaviour changes and poor cognition. Life expectancy after diagnosis can be as short as 10 years.
The drug, known as ISIS-HTT, is from an experimental class of medicines known as "gene silencers".
The huntingtin gene in a patient's DNA contains the instructions for building the destructive protein.
Those blueprints are carried to a cell's protein-making factories and the drug effectively kills the messenger.
Errors in DNA lead to the production of the mutant huntingtin protein
The trial will be led by Prof Sarah Tabrizi, the director of the Huntington's Disease Centre at University College London.
She told the BBC News website: "It's the beginning of quite an important journey in Huntington's disease, it is clearly very early but this is a step forward.
"The preclinical work shows that if you lower production of the mutant protein then animals recover a large amount of motor function.
"Huntington's is a really terrible disease that blights families. I know a mother whose husband and three children were affected, this would have a massive impact [if it works]."
The trial will test the drug's safety by progressively increasing the dose in 32 patients.
It will be injected into the spinal cord of patients once a month for four months and they will then be observed for a further three months.
Clinicians will be ensuring there are no dangerous side-effects, such as allergic reactions, as well as measuring the impact on levels of the corrupted huntingtin protein.
At the highest doses they hope to halve levels of the protein.
Cath Stanley, the chief executive of the Huntington's Disease Association, told the BBC News website: "There's a lot of different trials and avenues of research, but this is the most exciting.
"People develop Huntington's disease between the age of 30 and 50 so delaying it for a few years allows people to spend more time with family in the prime of their life.
"This is the first, potential, major breakthrough in terms of delaying symptoms of Huntington's disease, it's such an exciting step forward."
The drug has been developed by ISIS-pharmaceuticals.
It targets strands of genetic code called messenger RNA which carry instructions for huntingtin out of a cell's nucleus.
The drug is a manufactured stretch of genetic code that is the mirror-image of the messenger RNA that binds strongly to it to neutralising it.
In the UK, 12 in every 100,000 people have the condition.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34552041
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California's Thomas Fire scorches area larger than New York City - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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The Thomas fire is the fifth largest blaze in recorded state history and has grown significantly.
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US & Canada
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Ben Rich updates the situation on the California wildfires
The most destructive wildfire raging in southern California has expanded significantly, scorching an area larger than New York City.
The Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has consumed 230,000 acres (930 sq km) in the past week.
Fanned by strong winds, it has become the fifth largest wildfire in recorded state history after it grew by more than 50,000 acres in a day.
Residents in coastal beach communities have been ordered to leave.
Satellite imagery shows the vast Thomas Fire, north of Los Angeles, which has spread as far as the Pacific coast
On Sunday, firefighters reported that 15% of the blaze had been contained but were forced to downgrade that to 10% as it continued to spread.
"This is a menacing fire, certainly, but we have a lot of people working very diligently to bring it under control," Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.
Thousands of firefighters are working round the clock to tackle the blaze, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
The containment operation is not only being hampered by dry winds. It is proving challenging for firefighters because of the location and mountainous terrain.
Firefighters face challenging conditions to contain the Thomas fire
An analyst with the California fire protection department, Tim Chavez, said the emergency services were struggling because "a hot interior" was in parts practically meeting the ocean, making access difficult.
"It's just a very difficult place to fight fire," Mr Chavez said, adding: "It's very dangerous and has a historical record of multiple fatalities occurring over the years."
The other fires hitting California are largely controlled, but 200,000 people have evacuated their homes and some 800 buildings have been destroyed since 4 December.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The Thomas fire has the potential to be one of the worst in California's history
Evacuation orders were issued overnight on Sunday for parts of Carpinteria close to Los Padres National Forest, about 100 miles (160km) northwest of Los Angeles.
Forecasters said wind speeds were expected to increase throughout the day, before dying down again overnight.
The local fire department tweeted pictures of a wall of flames advancing on homes on the outskirts of Carpinteria early on Sunday morning.
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A member of the emergency services in Carpinteria said he would continue working alongside his colleagues until the fire was under complete control.
"What they did last night was amazing," firefighter Michael Gallagher said, adding: "They saved this entire community.
"We've been up, I'm at 29 hours straight, every other day... we are exhausted, but they're not coming off until this is done."
Meanwhile, actor Rob Lowe, who lives in Santa Barbara, a city of close to 100,000 people, tweeted that he was praying for his town as fires closed in.
"Firefighters making brave stands. Could go either way. Packing to evacuate now," Lowe added.
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California has spent the past seven days battling wildfires. Six large blazes, and other smaller ones, erupted on Monday night in southern California.
The Thomas Fire - named according to where it started, near the Thomas Aquinas College - is by far the largest of the fires.
They swept through tens of thousands of acres in a matter of hours, driven by extreme weather, including low humidity, high winds and parched ground.
The authorities issued a purple alert - the highest level warning - amid what it called "extremely critical fire weather", while US President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency.
On Saturday, California Governor Jerry Brown described the situation as "the new normal" and predicted vast fires, fuelled by climate change, "could happen every year or every few years".
Several firefighters have been injured, but only one person has died - a 70-year-old woman who was found dead in her car on an evacuation route.
There are also fears the blaze will seriously hit California's multi-million dollar agricultural industry.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Drivers filmed the flames from their cars near Bel Air
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42303203
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Huntington’s breakthrough may stop disease - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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Scientists say it could be the biggest breakthrough in neurodegenerative diseases for 50 years.
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Health
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Peter has Huntington's disease and his siblings Sandy and Frank also have the gene
The defect that causes the neurodegenerative disease Huntington's has been corrected in patients for the first time, the BBC has learned.
An experimental drug, injected into spinal fluid, safely lowered levels of toxic proteins in the brain.
The research team, at University College London, say there is now hope the deadly disease can be stopped.
Experts say it could be the biggest breakthrough in neurodegenerative diseases for 50 years.
Huntington's is one of the most devastating diseases.
Some patients described it as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and motor neurone disease rolled into one.
Peter Allen, 51, is in the early stages of Huntington's and took part in the trial: "You end up in almost a vegetative state, it's a horrible end."
Huntington's blights families. Peter has seen his mum Stephanie, uncle Keith and grandmother Olive die from it.
Tests show his sister Sandy and brother Frank will develop the disease.
The three siblings have eight children - all young adults, each of whom has a 50-50 chance of developing the disease.
The unstoppable death of brain cells in Huntington's leaves patients in permanent decline, affecting their movement, behaviour, memory and ability to think clearly.
Peter, from Essex, told me: "It's so difficult to have that degenerative thing in you.
"You know the last day was better than the next one's going to be."
Huntington's is caused by an error in a section of DNA called the huntingtin gene.
Normally this contains the instructions for making a protein, called huntingtin, which is vital for brain development.
But a genetic error corrupts the protein and turns it into a killer of brain cells.
The treatment is designed to silence the gene.
On the trial, 46 patients had the drug injected into the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord.
The procedure was carried out at the Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Centre at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.
Doctors did not know what would happen. One fear was the injections could have caused fatal meningitis.
But the first in-human trial showed the drug was safe, well tolerated by patients and crucially reduced the levels of huntingtin in the brain.
Prof Sarah Tabrizi , from the UCL Institute of Neurology, led the trials.
Prof Sarah Tabrizi, the lead researcher and director of the Huntington's Disease Centre at UCL, told the BBC: "I've been seeing patients in clinic for nearly 20 years, I've seen many of my patients over that time die.
"For the first time we have the potential, we have the hope, of a therapy that one day may slow or prevent Huntington's disease.
"This is of groundbreaking importance for patients and families."
Doctors are not calling this a cure. They still need vital long-term data to show whether lowering levels of huntingtin will change the course of the disease.
The animal research suggests it would. Some motor function even recovered in those experiments.
Peter, Sandy and Frank - as well as their partners Annie, Dermot and Hayley - have always promised their children they will not need to worry about Huntington's as there will be a treatment in time for them.
Peter told the BBC: "I'm the luckiest person in the world to be sitting here on the verge of having that.
"Hopefully that will be made available to everybody, to my brothers and sisters and fundamentally my children."
He, along with the other trial participants, can continue taking the drug as part of the next wave of trials.
They will set out to show whether the disease can be slowed, and ultimately prevented, by treating Huntington's disease carriers before they develop any symptoms.
Prof John Hardy, who was awarded the Breakthrough Prize for his work on Alzheimer's, told the BBC: "I really think this is, potentially, the biggest breakthrough in neurodegenerative disease in the past 50 years.
"That sounds like hyperbole - in a year I might be embarrassed by saying that - but that's how I feel at the moment."
The UCL scientist, who was not involved in the research, says the same approach might be possible in other neurodegenerative diseases that feature the build-up of toxic proteins in the brain.
The protein synuclein is implicated in Parkinson's while amyloid and tau seem to have a role in dementias.
Off the back of this research, trials are planned using gene-silencing to lower the levels of tau.
Prof Giovanna Mallucci, who discovered the first chemical to prevent the death of brain tissue in any neurodegenerative disease, said the trial was a "tremendous step forward" for patients and there was now "real room for optimism".
But Prof Mallucci, who is the associate director of UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, cautioned it was still a big leap to expect gene-silencing to work in other neurodegenerative diseases.
She told the BBC: "The case for these is not as clear-cut as for Huntington's disease, they are more complex and less well understood.
"But the principle that a gene, any gene affecting disease progression and susceptibility, can be safely modified in this way in humans is very exciting and builds momentum and confidence in pursuing these avenues for potential treatments."
The full details of the trial will be presented to scientists and published next year.
The therapy was developed by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, which said the drug had "substantially exceeded" expectations, and the licence has now been sold to Roche.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42308341
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Qatar buys 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets in £6bn deal - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The move will help safeguard thousands of jobs at BAE Systems, mainly at Warton in Lancashire.
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Business
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BAE makes the Eurofighter Typhoon at its Warton plant
A £6bn deal to sell Eurofighter Typhoons to Qatar will help safeguard thousands of UK jobs.
BAE Systems employs about 5,000 people in the UK to build the fighter jets, mainly at Warton in Lancashire.
Qatar's purchase of 24 jets includes a support and training package from BAE, with deliveries due to start in 2022.
The deal was announced in Doha by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah.
Mr Williamson said it was a "massive vote of confidence, supporting thousands of British jobs and injecting billions into our economy".
An RAF Typhoon at the Akrotiri base in Cyprus
BAE chief executive Charles Woodburn said the contract, worth £5bn to the company, was the start of a long-term relationship with Qatar and its armed forces.
"This agreement is a strong endorsement of Typhoon's leading capabilities and underlines BAE Systems' long track record of working in successful partnership with our customers," he said.
The Typhoon entered service with the RAF in 2007 to replace the ageing Tornado fleet.
Although the Qatar order secures the production of the Typhoon at BAE into the next decade, it will not stop the 2,000 job cuts announced in October from going ahead.
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BAE has suffered amid declining military spending among major Nato members, but remains a key contractor on the world's most expensive defence programme, the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project.
The UK's deal with Qatar also includes an agreement with MBDA for Brimstone and Meteor missiles and Raytheon's Paveway IV laser-guided bomb.
Qatar signed a letter of intent in September to buy the 24 jets from BAE.
It is the ninth country to buy the Typhoon, with other customers including Saudi Arabia. Talks about a second batch of sales to the kingdom are ongoing.
In June countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42302767
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Nobel Peace Prize winner Ican warns nuclear war 'a tantrum away' - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, Ican's Beatrice Fihn appears to refer to the North Korean crisis.
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Europe
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Ican's executive director Beatrice Fihn (right) said nuclear disaster may be a "tantrum away"
The world faces a "nuclear crisis" from a "bruised ego", the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Ican) has warned in an apparent reference to US-North Korea tensions.
Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize on Sunday, Ican's executive director Beatrice Fihn said "the deaths of millions may be one tiny tantrum away".
"We have a choice, the end of nuclear weapons or the end of us," she added.
Tensions over North Korea's weapons programme have risen in recent months.
The open hostility between US President Donald Trump and the North Korean leadership under Kim Jong-un has at times descended into personal attacks this year.
Speaking at the ceremony in Oslo, Ms Fihn said "a moment of panic" could lead to the "destruction of cities and the deaths of millions of civilians" from nuclear weapons.
The risk of such weapons being used, she added, was "greater today than during the Cold War".
Ican, a coalition of hundreds of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has worked for a treaty to ban the weapons.
Prior to presenting the prize on Sunday, Nobel committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen offered a similar warning, saying that "irresponsible leaders can come to power in any nuclear state".
Ms Reiss-Andersen commended Ican which, she said, had succeeded in highlighting the dangers of nuclear weapons as well as trying to eradicate them.
Ms Reiss-Andersen also acknowledged the contributions of Setsuko Thurlow, an 85-year-old survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and now an Ican campaigner.
Ms Thurlow, who was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building at the time, said that most of her classmates, who were in the same room, were burned alive.
"Processions of ghostly figures shuffled by," she said on Sunday. "Grotesquely wounded people, they were bleeding, burnt, blackened and swollen."
Mr Trump has warned that North Korea's government will be "utterly destroyed" if war breaks out.
White House national security adviser HR McMaster said last week that the potential for war with North Korea was increasing every day.
In November, Pyongyang said it had tested a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reaching the whole of continental United States.
Ican, formed in 2007 and inspired by a similar campaign to ban the use of landmines, has made it its mission to highlight the humanitarian risk of nuclear weapons.
A coalition of hundreds of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Geneva-based group helped pave the way for the introduction of a UN treaty banning the weapons, which was signed this year.
While 122 countries backed the treaty in July, the talks were notably boycotted by the world's nine known nuclear powers and the only Nato member to discuss it, the Netherlands, voted against.
Only three countries, the Holy See, Guyana and Thailand, have so far ratified the treaty, which requires 50 ratifications to come into force.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42298453
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Trump sex harassment accusers demand congressional inquiry - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Three women repeat claims the president groped, fondled, forcibly kissed and humiliated them.
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US & Canada
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Jessica Leeds is calling on Congress to open an inquiry into President Trump
Three women who accused President Donald Trump of sexual misconduct have demanded a congressional inquiry.
At a New York City news conference, the trio accused Mr Trump of groping, fondling, forcibly kissing, humiliating or harassing them.
Three of them - Jessica Leeds, Samantha Holvey, and Rachel Crooks - detailed their allegations shortly beforehand live on television.
The White House said the women were making "false claims".
Monday morning's press conference was organised by Brave New Films, which last month released a documentary, 16 Women and Donald Trump, about the claims made by multiple women.
Ms Leeds, Ms Holvey and Ms Crooks originally went public separately with their allegations a month before last year's US presidential election.
The claims have been given a new lease of life by the harassment scandals that have engulfed high-profile public figures since October's fall of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
On NBC News on Monday, Ms Holvey said Mr Trump had ogled her and other competitors in 2006 at the Miss USA beauty pageant, which he owned.
The former Miss North Carolina, who was 20-years-old at the time, said "he lined all of us up" and was "just looking me over like I was just a piece of meat".
"It left me feeling very gross," Ms Holvey told NBC host Megyn Kelly.
She later told the reporters: "They've investigated other Congress members, so I think it only stands fair that he [Mr Trump] is investigated as well
"This isn't a partisan issue, this is, how women are treated every day."
Ms Leeds, now in her 70s, says that when she was 38 she sat next to Mr Trump in the first-class cabin of a flight to New York and he sexually assaulted her.
Ms Leeds said: "He jumped all over me."
She said she came forward because: "I wanted people to know what kind of person Trump really is, and what a pervert he is."
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Speaking in 2016, Apprentice contestant Summer Zervos accuses Donald Trump of 'thrusting his genitals' at her
Ms Crooks said she was kissed on the lips by Mr Trump outside a lift in Trump Tower when she was a 22-year-old receptionist at a real estate company there.
"I was shocked," she said. "Devastated."
The White House said on Monday: "These false claims, totally disputed in most cases by eyewitness accounts, were addressed at length during last year's campaign, and the American people voiced their judgment by delivering a decisive victory.
"The timing and absurdity of these false claims speaks volumes and the publicity tour that has begun only further confirms the political motives behind them."
The president rejected such allegations last year and vowed to sue the accusers, though no lawsuit has yet been filed.
But over the weekend Mr Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said his accusers "should be heard".
Speaking to CBS News, Mrs Haley said she was "incredibly proud of the women who have come forward".
Meanwhile, three Democratic senators - Cory Booker of New Jersey, Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York - called on Mr Trump to resign over the allegations.
During his successful run for the presidency last year, Mr Trump was heard boasting of grabbing women's vaginas in a leaked videotape.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42313637
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St Davids Christmas Mud Run: 17 people with hypothermia - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A woman breaks her ankle and 17 runners collapse with hypothermia at a Christmas Mud Run.
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South West Wales
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Fun in the mud for most of the 200 competitors
Seventeen runners collapsed with hypothermia at a charity mud run in near-freezing temperatures.
Two ambulances were called to the annual Christmas Mud Run in St Davids, Pembrokeshire, as another runner had to be stretchered off with a broken ankle.
About 200 competitors took part in the event run by Man-Up UK on Saturday.
Organisers blamed near-freezing weather conditions and poor preparation by some of the runners taking part in the four-mile race this year.
Competitors had to wade through waist-high mud pits, clamber over obstacles and climb up rocky waterfalls during the race, which is in its eighth year.
Competitors had to run through waist-high mud and water
Man-Up UK director Fintan Godkin - himself an Ironman finisher and marathon runner - said it was the first time the charity race had seen so many casualties.
"They were dropping like flies," he said.
"At the finish line, 17 people were reported to have signs of hypothermia. We immediately wrapped them in space blankets, duvets, anything we could get our hands on to keep them warm and gave them hot drinks.
"Some collapsed soon after crossing the line and others were collapsing in the showers.
"Of the 17, four needed further treatment from paramedics who arrived in two ambulances. One had to be taken to hospital because her blood pressure had dropped very low, but she was discharged from Withybush Hospital later that evening."
Mr Godkin said the runner who broke her ankle had fallen badly as she approached a 20-ft (6.1m) slide near the start of the course.
She was stretchered back to the race headquarters and taken to hospital.
He said temperatures on the day were between 4C and 7C. "Not as cold as some years and certainly not cold enough for us to have considered cancelling," Mr Godkin added.
The course also features gruelling sections of muddy fields
"Of course, the weather was a factor because runners get cold in the mud and water, but I think people also need to look at their preparations for these kind of events.
"They need to ensure they have trained more specifically for the assault course nature of the race, not just the distance."
He said 25 race marshals were out on the course, almost half of whom were qualified first aiders.
Mr Godkin added: "In eight years, we've had 1,750 competitors and this is the first time we've had to call an ambulance."
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said it sent two ambulances to the event, while a number of people were checked over at the scene.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-42309101
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German spy agency warns of Chinese LinkedIn espionage - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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Germany's spy agency says China is using the site to gather information on politicians.
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Europe
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Germany's domestic intelligence agency says China used Linkedin to target at least 10,000 people
China is using fake LinkedIn profiles to gather information on German officials and politicians, the German intelligence agency (BfV) has said.
The agency alleges that Chinese intelligence used the networking site to target at least 10,000 Germans, possibly to recruit them as informants.
It released a number of fake profiles allegedly used for this purpose.
BfV head Hans-Georg Maassen said the accounts show China's efforts to subvert top-level German politics.
"This is a broad-based attempt to infiltrate in particular parliaments, ministries and government agencies," he said.
China has denied similar allegations of cyber espionage in the past and has not yet responded to the German allegation.
The BfV published eight of what they say are the most active profiles used to contact German LinkedIn users. They are designed to look enticing to other users, and promote young Chinese professionals -who do not exist.
Spy chief Hans-Georg Maassen says the accounts show an attempt to infiltrate German politics
Some of the accounts include "Allen Liu", said to be a human resources manager at an economic consultancy, and "Lily Wu", who reportedly works at a think tank in eastern China.
The BfV says both accounts are fake.
The agency is increasingly worried that Chinese intelligence is using the method to recruit high-ranking politicians as informants.
They asked users who believed they had been targeted by suspect accounts to contact them.
Last year, the BfV said they had detected "increasingly aggressive cyber-espionage" including "intensifying" attempts to influence September's parliamentary elections.
They said the hacker group known as "Fancy Bear" or APT28 was especially active - and it is believed to be controlled by the Russian state.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42304297
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Josh Homme: Queens of the Stone Age frontman kicks female photographer - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The rock star says he is sorry for kicking the female photographer, who says he did it on purpose.
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US & Canada
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Josh Homme performing in Los Angeles where the incident happened
Queens of the Stone Age musician Josh Homme has apologised after a female photographer said he kicked her in the head during a concert in Los Angeles.
Chelsea Lauren posted a video on social media showing Homme kicking her camera as she took pictures close to the stage on Saturday night.
"I now get to spend my night in the ER. Seriously, WHO DOES THAT?", she said.
In a statement, Homme apologised and said he would never intentionally cause harm to someone.
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Ms Lauren described the "obviously very intentional" incident to Variety magazine.
"I saw him coming over and I was shooting away," she said. "He looked straight at me, swung his leg back pretty hard and full-blown kicked me in the face. "
She says she will file a police report.
Ms Lauren posted an update to Instagram along with two photographs she had taken seconds before the incident. She said her eyebrow was bruised and her neck was sore.
"I hold nobody accountable for this but Josh himself", she added.
Homme, 44, initially issued an apology through the Queens of the Stone Age Twitter account but following criticism the singer later shared an emotional video response, which has been posted on YouTube.
"I'd just like to apologise to Chelsea Lauren. I don't have any excuse or reason to justify what I did. I'm truly sorry and I hope you're okay," he said.
"I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, and last night was definitely one of them," Homme added.
In his earlier statement, he said that he was "in a state of being lost in performance" when he kicked over some equipment on stage and made contact with Ms Lauren.
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But his post was criticised by some Twitter users, including Homme's friend, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who branded it "weak".
Ms Lauren later thanked the Queens of the Stone Age fan base for their support following the incident.
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Josh Homme was due to appear on the Bedtime Stories series on the BBC children's channel, CBeebies
The episodes featuring Homme will now not be aired "until the matter is resolved", a spokesperson for the channel said.
It is not the first time Homme has been criticised for his on-stage behaviour.
In 2008, he was accused of homophobia after insulting a fan during a concert in Norway. He had threatened to kick the fan in the face before throwing a bottle at him.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42304607
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UK snow: Weather brings travel disruption - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Motorists are warned of "treacherous" road conditions in many parts of the UK.,
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UK
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With nearly 500 schools closed across Wales, families had a chance to enjoy the winter landscape, like this snow-covered wood, near Mold Image caption: With nearly 500 schools closed across Wales, families had a chance to enjoy the winter landscape, like this snow-covered wood, near Mold
Residents in Ruthin, north Wales, woke up to an idyllic white canvas of snow on Monday morning Image caption: Residents in Ruthin, north Wales, woke up to an idyllic white canvas of snow on Monday morning
On Sunday, snowfall caused treacherous conditions in places, leading some people to abandon their cars on the side of the road Image caption: On Sunday, snowfall caused treacherous conditions in places, leading some people to abandon their cars on the side of the road
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-42298366
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Huntington's disease: Anger over access to specialist nurse - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Simon Clark was diagnosed with the condition in 2003 but cannot utilise services of specialist nurse.
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Foyle & West
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A person with Huntington's disease has a 50% chance of passing it on to their children
A Londonderry man with Huntington's disease has said it is outrageous that he cannot be seen by Northern Ireland's only specialist nurse because of where he lives.
Simon Clark was diagnosed with the genetic condition in 2003.
The nurse can only provide support to people who live within the Belfast and South Eastern trust areas.
The health and social care board said that it is working to improve care pathways.
Huntington's disease is an inherited and incurable brain disorder that is currently fatal.
About 10,000 people in the UK have the condition and about 25,000 are at risk.
Mr Clark has said that it is "disgusting" that he cannot get access to the services that he needs.
"It is not fair that there is only one specialist nurse in Northern Ireland," he said.
"There is nothing out there for us and there should be."
Huntington's disease is passed on through genes, and children who inherit a faulty gene from parents have a 50% chance of getting the disease in later life.
Mr Clark is cared for by his 23 year-old daughter, Laura, who has also been told she has a 50% chance of inheriting the condition.
She told BBC Radio Foyle that she is not ready to get tested for the condition just yet.
Simon Clark and his daughter, Laura, both have the Huntington's disease association logo tattooed on their arms.
"It is hard to watch my dad knowing that that might be my future," she said.
"There needs to be more awareness of the disease."
The Western Trust confirmed it is not funded by the Health and Social Care Board for a specialist nurse for Huntington's disease .
They said that patients who are diagnosed with the illness are referred to the neurology service at Belfast City Hospital for expert help and advice.
A spokesperson for the health and social care board said: "The Belfast Trust has one specialist nurse for Huntington's disease who covers the Belfast Trust and South Eastern Trust areas.
"Belfast Trust are currently recruiting a Huntington's disease adviser and are currently working with the board and the Huntington's Disease Association to agree how the region is supported."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-41592854
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Mt Hope installed as 'UK's highest peak' - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Scientists re-measure the tallest mountains in the Antarctic territory claimed by Britain.
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Science & Environment
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Mount Hope is more than twice the height of Ben Nevis in Scotland
Mt Hope, which is sited in the part of the Antarctic claimed by the UK, was recently re-measured and found to tower above the previous title holder, Mt Jackson, by a good 50m (160ft).
Hope is now put at 3,239m (10,626ft); Jackson is 3,184m (10,446ft).
The map-makers at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) were prompted to take another look at the mountains because of concerns for the safety of pilots flying across the White Continent.
"In Antarctica there are no roads, so to get around you have to fly planes. And if you're flying planes you really need to know where the mountains are and how high they are," explained Dr Peter Fretwell.
As well as giving Mt Hope its new status, the reassessment has provided a more complete description of the relief across the quadrant of Antarctica claimed by Britain. This encompasses the long peninsula that stretches north towards South America.
Some of its mountains have now been "moved" up to 5km to position them more accurately on future maps.
Mount Vinson, which sits just outside the British Antarctic Territory, remains the undisputed tallest peak on the continent at 4,892m (16,049ft).
Dr Fretwell's team is releasing its findings on UN International Mountain Day.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Peter Fretwell: "If mountains are missing or in the wrong place on maps - that's dangerous"
Elevation data-sets are a topic of discussion here at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) - the world's largest annual gathering of Earth and planetary scientists.
The BAS group used a combination of elevation models built from satellite data to make the new mountain assessment.
When this medium-resolution information threw up the possibility that Mt Hope had been underestimated, the researchers then ordered in some very high-resolution photos for confirmation.
These pictures, taken from orbit by the American WorldView-2 spacecraft, allowed for a stereo view of the summits of both Hope and Jackson.
"We call this photogrammetry," said Dr Fretwell. "Because we know the position of the satellite so well, if we use it to take two images of a mountain that are ever so slightly offset from each other, we can then employ simple trigonometry to work out the height of that mountain."
The process raised Hope from 2,860m to 3,239m. The measurement technique carries an uncertainty of just 5m, so there should be no argument over the mountain's new-found superiority.
The long chain of peaks that runs down the spine of the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth.
The chain was initially built some 50-100 million years ago when an oceanic tectonic plate slid under the Antarctic continent, said BAS geophysicist Dr Tom Jordan.
"This produced volcanism and a shortening and a thickening of the crust. Then, more recently, the ice sheet and its glaciers have cut deep trenches into the Antarctic Peninsula, removing rock and depositing it offshore.
"As this mass has been removed so the whole of the peninsula has rebounded, uplifting the peaks fairly significantly," he explained.
At the AGU meeting in New Orleans, US researchers are showcasing very similar work - but on a much more extensive scale.
Dr Paul Morin, from the Polar Geospatial Center at the University of Minnesota, has led an effort to re-map the elevation of both the Arctic and the Antarctic.
These projects have access to several years of WorldView images and time on a supercomputer to process all the data.
The Arctic map has an elevation point, or "posting," every 2m across the region. The Antarctic map, due to be released early next year, will have the postings every 8m.
"With this availability of data, Antarctica has gone from the poorest mapped place on the planet to one the best," Dr Morin told BBC News. "It makes better science cheaper and faster to achieve. And it also makes science much safer because we know where everything is."
Artwork: WorldView-2 has one of the sharpest views of Planet Earth
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42238262
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In Your Face: China’s all-seeing state - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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China has been building what it calls "the world's biggest camera surveillance network".
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China has been building what it calls "the world's biggest camera surveillance network". Across the country, 170 million CCTV cameras are already in place and an estimated 400 million new ones will be installed in the next three years.
Many of the cameras are fitted with artificial intelligence, including facial recognition technology. The BBC's John Sudworth has been given rare access to one of the new hi-tech police control rooms.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-42248056
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I'm A Celebrity 2017 winner revealed - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The winner of the ITV show was crowned by Ant and Dec on Sunday evening.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Georgia Toffolo has been named the winner of this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.
The shocked reality star, known as Toff, was crowned by Ant and Dec on Sunday evening after more than nine million votes were cast.
She was odds-on favourite to win the ITV show, but said: "I am so taken aback. Is this real?"
Former Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas came in second place, with radio and TV presenter Iain Lee coming in third.
Toff, 23, is known for appearing on E4's Made in Chelsea, joining in the seventh series. She also works for The Lady magazine and is head of events for think tank Parliament Street.
The I'm A Celebrity final attracted an average of 9.2 million live viewers on Sunday night. It was ITV's third biggest audience of the year - behind the series' launch show and the One Love Manchester concert - with a 41% share of the total TV audience.
The Strictly Come Dancing results show earlier in the night had more viewers however, with an average of 11.1 million viewers; while the final episode of Blue Planet II attracted an audience of 10.36m.
Jamie Lomas came second in the ITV series
Toff's fellow campmate Stanley Johnson - father of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson - said: "I knew she was going to make it. I said right from the start that Toff is the one."
The winner said her favourite moment of the show was going to collect water with Johnson, with whom she struck up a strong friendship.
She follows in the footsteps of previous Queens of the Jungle Scarlett Moffatt and Vicky Pattinson.
Moffatt, who won last year's series, said: "It's girls like you that make me feel proud to be a young woman. I am so proud of you."
Iain Lee was voted into third place by the public
After her win, Toff welcomed the prospect of earning money on the back of her appearance on the show, admitting: "I haven't paid my rent."
She told Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan she wanted to take a shot at presenting, saying: "I want to do what you guys do. I want to try it. Who knows?"
Toff also said she wanted to "do good" with her win, saying: "There are so many worthy causes that I would love to get involved with."
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42284022
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Major Forties oil pipeline to be closed for repairs - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Forties pipeline's owner Ineos says that, despite pressure being reduced, a crack has extended.
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NE Scotland, Orkney & Shetland
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The oil is transported to the Kinneil terminal at Grangemouth where it is processed and stabilised
One of the UK's most important oil pipelines is being closed after a crack was discovered in Aberdeenshire.
The Forties pipeline carries crude North Sea oil across land for processing at Grangemouth.
The crack was discovered last week at Red Moss near Netherley.
The pipeline's owner Ineos said on Monday that, despite pressure being reduced, the crack had extended. The Forties pipeline carries about 40% of North Sea crude oil.
More than 80 platforms will have to suspend production. The price of Brent crude rose about 2% to $64.69 a barrel amid surprise that the pipeline could be shut for about three weeks - far longer than expected.
Ineos said there would be a big impact on the industry but not on consumers.
Ineos said in a statement: "Last week during a routine inspection Ineos contractors discovered a small hairline crack in the pipe at Red Moss near Netherley.
"A repair and oil spill response team was mobilised on Wednesday, after a very small amount of oil seepage was reported.
"Measures to contain the seepage were put in place, no oil has been detected entering the environment and the pipe has been continuously monitored."
The company added: "A 300m cordon was set-up and a small number of local residents were placed in temporary accommodation as precautionary measure. The pipeline pressure was reduced while a full assessment of the situation was made.
"The incident management team has now decided that a controlled shutdown of the pipeline is the safest way to proceed."
Ineos said the shutdown would "allow for a suitable repair method to be worked up based on the latest inspection data, while reducing the risk of injury to staff and the environment".
A spokesman for BP said: "Ineos has been in regular contact with us since this issue came to light last week, as per protocol. Ineos requested, and we have initiated, a temporary shutdown of production through our Andrew, Etap and Bruce hubs until this is resolved.
"We will continue to liaise with Ineos and offer any support we can to help bring this situation to a successful conclusion as quickly as possible."
Deirdre Michie, chief executive of Oil & Gas UK, said: "We have been in touch with Ineos and are closely monitoring the situation and hope this can be resolved safely and as quickly as possible."
A UK government spokeswoman said: "There is no security of supply issue for fuel or gas supplies as a result of the repairs needed to the Forties pipeline. The government will continue to liaise with industry operators to monitor the situation to ensure repairs are undertaken as quickly as possible."
Energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie warned that even a temporary shutdown of the Forties Pipeline System (FPS) would have "wide-reaching implications".
Senior analyst Fiona Legate said: "FPS transports liquids from over 80 fields, including the two largest producers in the UK - Buzzard and Forties.
"Companies with fields utilising the FPS export route will suffer from reduced cash-flows during the shutdown period."
The FPS system runs from the unmanned offshore Forties Unity platform to the onshore terminal at Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire.
From there an onshore pipeline transports oil 130 miles south to the Kinneil terminal, next to Ineos' Grangemouth refinery and chemical plant, where it is processed and stabilised.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-42308437
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Corrie Mckeague: Landfill search for missing airman ends - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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RAF airman Corrie Mckeague was last seen in September 2016 during a night out in Suffolk.
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Suffolk
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The airman was seen on CCTV pictures walking through Bury St Edmunds after a night out
The search of a landfill site for missing RAF airman Corrie Mckeague, who vanished during a night out in September 2016, has ended.
Police believe Mr Mckeague climbed into a waste bin in Bury St Edmunds and was taken away by a bin lorry.
The search of a site at Milton, Cambridgeshire, restarted in October after a search there ended earlier in the year.
Suffolk Police said "no trace" of the airman had been found.
The force said it was "content" he was not in the landfill areas that had been searched and the investigation into his disappearance would continue.
Mr Mckeague's mother, Nicola Urquhart, said by searching the waste site the police had given her "immeasurable peace of mind".
His father Martin said they had a "lifelong debt of gratitude" to all those involved in searching for his son.
The latest landfill search focused on an area next to the original excavation site
Mr Mckeague, who was 23 at the time he went missing, was last seen at 03:25 BST on 24 September 2016.
He was captured on CCTV entering a bin loading bay known as the Horseshoe and his phone was tracked as taking the same route as a bin lorry.
Police started a 20-week search of the landfill site in March before ending it in July.
The latest excavation has been focused on an area next to the site of the original search.
Det Supt Katie Elliott said there were "a number of theories" about what happened to Mr Mckeague and they were "continuing to test the evidence".
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-42315042
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Keith Chegwin: 'True telly legend' dies aged 60 - BBC News
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2017-12-11
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The veteran TV presenter has died aged 60 after a long illness, his family says.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Veteran TV presenter Keith Chegwin has died aged 60 after a long illness, his family has said.
They said he had endured a "long-term battle with a progressive lung condition" which "rapidly worsened towards the end of this year".
He died at home on Monday with his family by his side, who said they were "heartbroken".
Tributes have been paid from the world of entertainment for the "true telly legend".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Noel Edmonds pays a tearful tribute to his "first telly chum" Keith Chegwin
Chegwin was perhaps best known for hosting programmes including children's game show Cheggers Plays Pop, Swap Shop and Saturday Superstore.
The Liverpool-born star began his career as a child actor, starring in films such as Roman Polanski's Macbeth and TV shows including The Liver Birds, The Adventures of Black Beauty and Z-Cars.
He went on to appear in reality TV shows including Celebrity Big Brother.
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The larger-than-life character, described by his family as "a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend", leaves his wife Maria and two children.
Chegwin had been cared for at a hospice in recent weeks.
His last tweet was posted on 28 September.
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Chegwin was previously married to fellow TV presenter Maggie Philbin, whom he had met on Swap Shop.
Philbin paid tribute to her former husband, saying: "It is incredibly sad. Keith was a one-off. Full of life, generous and with a focus on things that mattered - his family.
"I saw him two months ago at his sister Janice's wedding, where he was still attempting to be life and soul of the party despite being on portable oxygen and made sure he knew how much he meant to us all.
"Our daughter Rose flew home from San Francisco to be with him over the last few weeks and I know he was surrounded by so much love from his second wife Maria, their son Ted, his sister Janice, his twin brother Jeff and his father Colin."
Fellow Swap Shop presenter Noel Edmonds said in a statement: "I've lost my first real telly chum and I'm certain I'm not alone in shedding tears for a true telly legend.
"The greatest achievement for any TV performer is for the viewers to regard you as a friend and today millions will be grateful for Keith's contribution to their childhood memories and like me they will mourn the passing of a friend."
Ricky Gervais, who created the series Extras which Chegwin starred in, described him as a "national treasure".
Gaby Roslin, who worked with Chegwin on The Big Breakfast, described him as "so generous and kind" and a "happy and joyous man".
Chegwin had two children, including a daughter with his first wife Maggie Philbin
John Craven, who worked with Chegwin on Swap Shop told BBC News that his colleague "never lost his cool. I never saw Keith when he wasn't happy. He was a great, great character."
He added: "We were great friends for many years, but we lost touch a bit and [his death] came as a huge shock for me."
Presenter Chris Evans, who worked with Chegwin on the Big Breakfast, tweeted: "Very sad and shocked to hear of the passing of Keith Chegwin. The king of outside broadcast."
Bobby Davro said Chegwin was "one of the nicest guys" in showbiz.
And Tony Blackburn said he was "devastated" at the loss of his friend.
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Blackburn told BBC News that Chegwin was "exactly the same (off air) as he was on television" and that he never saw him with a script.
"He was the most lovely person I've ever met and I'm so sad he's no longer with us," he added.
Breakfast presenter Lorraine Kelly said he was "a kind, funny, brave man".
And Fiona Phillips, who also worked with him on breakfast TV, also paid tribute to her friend.
Phillip Schofield, who presented Saturday morning show Going Live, described Chegwin as "one of my many original Saturday morning heroes".
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Chegwin also had a hit single with I Wanna Be A Winner in 1981. The novelty hit, which was recorded by Chegwin and his Swap Shop co-hosts under the name Brown Sauce, reached number 15 in the charts.
His career fell away in the 80s and 90s and he had a well-documented struggle with alcoholism for many years. But it was revived by a stint on the Big Breakfast.
He went on to make infamous Channel 5 nudist gameshow Naked Jungle, appearing naked except for a hat - which he later described as the "worst career move" of his "entire life".
Chegwin - known affectionately by the nickname Cheggers - also appeared in Celebrity Big Brother, Bargain Hunt Famous Finds and Dancing on Ice.
He was due to appear in the 2012 Dancing on Ice series but had to pull out after breaking his ribs during the first day of rehearsal. He returned as a contestant the following year.
He also took part in Pointless Celebrities and Masterchef.
The disease Chegwin had is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which causes scarring of the lungs.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42313706
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