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Catalonia election: Spain's King Felipe warns separatists - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Felipe VI of Spain says separatist leaders must act responsibly after their election success.
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Europe
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The king of Spain has issued a renewed call for unity amid the ongoing fallout from Catalonia's outlawed independence referendum.
In his Christmas message, Felipe VI urged the people of Catalonia to choose coexistence rather than confrontation.
He did not directly mention the leaders of the Catalan separatist movement.
In the wake of October's referendum in the region, the king heavily criticised those spearheading Catalonia's independence movement.
Some Catalans were angered by this, and the fact that he made no mention of the heavy-handed Spanish police operation to block the vote.
BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly says the king's core underlying message about the importance of national unity remains unchanged, but his Christmas broadcast was more cautious and conciliatory.
The king said the politicians elected to the Catalan parliament this week - which included a narrow separatist majority - had to "face the problems that affect all Catalans, with respect to plurality and bearing in mind their responsibility to the common good".
"The road cannot lead again to confrontation and exclusion, which as we already know generate nothing but discord, uncertainty and discouragement," he said from his Madrid residence.
He praised what he called Catalonia's openness and creative spirit.
Carles Puigdemont is calling for talks with the Spanish leadership
The leader of the bloc of separatist parties which won a majority in Thursday's election, Carles Puigdemont, remains in Brussels - a fugitive from the Spanish judicial authorities who have arrested and tried several key separatist leaders in the wake of the illegal referendum.
Mr Puigdemont has called on Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to meet him.
Our correspondent says Mr Rajoy clearly has no intention of responding to this.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42474835
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The Royal Family attend church in Sandringham - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan Markle, join the Queen at church in Sandringham.
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The Queen and members of the Royal Family have been to church on the Sandringham estate for the traditional Christmas carol service.
Prince Harry's fiancee, Meghan Markle, also attended, which is not usual as protocol stipulates that only partners who are married into the family are invited along.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42478299
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The Queen's Christmas message - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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This video has been removed for right reasons.
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Her Majesty the Queen's Christmas message to the people of the Commonwealth.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42480186
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Meghan Markle joins royals for Christmas service - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Crowds gather to watch the Royal Family arrive at the Christmas church service in Sandringham.
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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. Meghan Markle joined the Royal Family for the Christmas service
Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle has joined the Royal Family for the Christmas Day service at the Queen's Norfolk estate.
The couple arrived at a carol service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Queen returned after missing last year's service due to a heavy cold.
Princes Philip and Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also attended, along with other members of the family.
After the service, Ms Markle joined members of the family in greeting the crowds - some of whom had been waiting outside since 05:00 GMT.
The Queen waved to the crowd after the service
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spoke to members of the public
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are expecting their third child, smiled at the crowd.
If royal tradition from previous years was followed, the family will have exchanged presents on Christmas Eve and awoken to a stocking of small gifts and fruit at the end of their beds.
The Queen and Prince Phillip also attended an early Holy Communion service at the church.
They will return home for a traditional turkey lunch, before watching the Queen's speech together.
Prince Charles spoke to the crowds outside the church
This year, the Queen will pay tribute to London and Manchester for the manner in which they dealt with this year's terror attacks, as well as praising the Duke of Edinburgh for his support in the year of the couple's 70th wedding anniversary.
Meghan Markle arrived at the church on the Sandringham Estate looking every inch the future royal.
She walked along in the heart of her new family between her fiance Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
She smiled at the crowd, which in some places, was five deep, some of whom had queued from 2.40am to be a part of the royal Christmas celebrations.
When they left church, Meghan and Harry walked over to a couple of ladies who had been waiting.
Meghan smiled as Prince Harry complimented them on their Christmassy coloured clothes and told them the royal children were so excited it was hard to keep them under control.
The Americans in the crowd were especially thrilled to see her, mainly from the bases at Mildenhall and Lakenheath, happy at the prospect of one of their compatriots marrying into a British institution in May next year.
One was so excited that he brought an engagement ring all the way from Wisconsin for his girlfriend and proposed to her in the queue. She said yes!
A crowd of around 200 were waiting for the family's arrival from early morning.
A number of Americans from nearby RAF Lakenheath made the journey to see the family and their new addition.
Lindsey Wells, from Nebraska, said it was "intriguing" and "exciting" that Ms Markle was marrying into the Royal Family, and she wanted to see them in person.
Prince Edward joined his sister, Princess Anne, on the short walk
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was also in attendance
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For one couple from Texas the wait outside the church took on extra significance. Michael Metz proposed to girlfriend Ashley Millican - and she accepted.
Miss Millican told the Press Association: "I had no idea. I was definitely very surprised. I never thought he would ask me right before we were about to see the Royal Family for the first time!"
Mr Metz added: "It was pretty tough to keep secret as I was so excited. It's memories to cherish forever."
Michael Metz and Ashley Millican marked the service with a proposal of their own.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42477127
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Cambridge burglary victim reunited with photo - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Susan Horrod, 70, always kept the photograph of her late husband in her handbag.
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Cambridgeshire
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The photo found floating in the River Cam by a rower on the water showed a smartly-dressed couple
A woman who had a precious photo of her late husband stolen in a distraction burglary has been reunited with it.
Susan Horrod, 70, had her handbag containing the photo stolen from her home in Milton, Cambridge.
Rower Stephanie Creasey spotted a piece of cardboard floating in the River Cam and fished it out, seeing it was a 1960s photo of a glamorous couple.
A Facebook post found the owner and the photo was returned, with Mrs Horrod's family describing it as "amazing".
Mrs Horrod had her handbag containing the photo stolen from her home in Milton, Cambridge
"It's amazing to have it back in such good condition," said Mrs Horrod's son Martin, 42, also from Milton.
"My mother is particularly pleased to get the photo back as it was an original.
"There was actually no water damage - the frame had disintegrated but the photo remained intact. It looks perfect."
Another potential clue was a stamp on the back with the photographer's name
The picture shows Mr Horrod's mother and father at a friend's wedding in Cambridgeshire and is a particularly fond memory of hers.
"Mum is always telling stories about why she remembers it," he said.
"There were a few photos that she liked to take everywhere with her to keep them safe, and that was one of them."
Ms Creasey, a teacher who lives in Chesterton, Cambridge, has been rowing for eight years but said she had never come across such an interesting object in the water before.
"I'm really interested in old photos and social history, and I thought I'd share the photo on a Facebook page called Cambridge in the Good old Days 1960s," she said.
"Less than an hour after I'd shared it, someone recognised the man in it as a former colleague of hers.
"I managed to make contact with the woman's family and eventually took the photo back to her."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-42453809
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Bob Givens: Bugs Bunny animator dies aged 99 - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Bob Givens was behind the design of many of the 20th Century's most famous animated characters
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US & Canada
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Bob Givens redesigned the Bugs Bunny character for Warner Bros. in 1940
Bob Givens, the animator best known for his redesign of Bugs Bunny, has died aged 99.
Givens' career spanned over 60 years and he worked as an animator for companies such as Disney, Warner Bros, and Hanna-Barbera.
Givens also drew cartoon characters such as Tom & Jerry, Daffy Duck, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Popeye.
His daughter, Mariana Givens confirmed his death on her Facebook page earlier this month.
Givens' first role, in 1937, was at Disney where he worked on Donald Duck and Snow White cartoons.
He joined Warner Bros in 1940 where he became famous for his work on the Bugs Bunny character.
Previous drawings were said to be "too cute" for the cartoons the company wanted to produce.
Givens' redesign became the first official design for the lead character of the Looney Tunes franchise, making him a famous name in the industry.
He served in the US army during the World War Two, before returning to the animation industry. Givens' career spanned over 60 years.
On social media, many paid tribute to Givens' work.
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 Josh Cogan 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.
Other Twitter users responded by posting GIFs of their favourite Givens animations.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post 2 by FilmNoirHolland 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.
• None What we learned from the Disney expo
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42474282
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Trump Turnberry will no longer get business rates relief - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The US president's golf resort in South Ayrshire had previously received business rates relief of more than £100,000.
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Scotland politics
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Donald Trump's Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire is now above the cut-off point for tax relief
A Scottish golf resort owned by US President Donald Trump will no longer qualify for a controversial tax break.
A change in the Scottish government's recent budget will remove Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire from a business rates relief scheme.
The Sunday Herald revealed the resort is now above the cut-off point with a rateable value of £1,650,000.
Scotland's finance secretary Derek Mackay introduced measures in February to help hospitality businesses.
The move was in response to growing pressure to intervene to help struggling restaurants and hotels cope with the first revaluation of the rateable value of businesses since 2010.
Mr Mackay faced calls to reform the transitional business rates relief scheme after it emerged in August that Trump Turnberry had benefited by £109,530 for 2017/18.
In response to a wider review of the business rates system, Mr Mackay announced in September that the transitional scheme would continue next year for "all but the very largest hospitality properties".
Documents published alongside the draft Scottish budget earlier this month state it will only apply for hospitality properties with a rateable value up to £1.5m.
According to the Scottish Assessors Association website, Trump Turnberry is now above the cut-off point with a rateable value of £1,650,000.
Mr Trump bought Turnberry in 2014 but stepped away from the family business empire after being elected US president.
His other Scottish golf course, on the Menie estate in Aberdeenshire, did not qualify for relief because it is defined as a golf course rather than a hotel.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42472775
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Kabul blast: Suicide attack near Afghan intelligence HQ - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Ten people were killed in the bomb blast near the compound in the capital Kabul, officials say.
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Asia
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Security forces sealed off the area after the attack
Ten people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack near the compound of Afghanistan's intelligence agency in Kabul, officials say.
Another five people were injured when the attacker, who was on foot, blew himself up as agency employees were on their way to work.
The victims included women whose car was going past the area at the time of the blast, reports said.
Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State said it was behind the attack.
The director of hospitals in Kabul said the number of casualties could rise.
The number of such bombings in Afghanistan has grown in recent months:
Last week, Islamic State (IS) also targeted a training centre belonging to the intelligence agency. The jihadist group has been active in Afghanistan since January 2015.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42476030
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Tunisia bans UAE Emirates airline from landing in Tunis - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The move comes after Tunisian women reported being stopped from boarding flights to the Gulf nation.
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Africa
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Tunisia has banned Emirates airline from landing in the capital Tunis after a number of Tunisian women were prevented from boarding its flights.
The move comes amid widespread anger in Tunisia, with rights groups condemning "racist and discriminatory" measures.
The transport ministry said the measure would stay in place until Emirates was able to "operate flights in accordance with law and international agreements".
The UAE said "security information" had caused the delays.
"We contacted our Tunisian brothers about security information that necessitated taking specific procedures," Emirati Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash said on Twitter on Sunday.
"We highly value Tunisian women and respect them," he added.
Tunisian government officials said the UAE had banned Tunisian women from flying to or transiting through its territory.
On Friday the Tunisian government said it had asked the UAE ambassador to clarify what was happening and had been told that the measures had been temporary and had already been lifted.
Local media reported that Tunisian women had been blocked from boarding Emirates flights to Dubai over several days.
According to AFP news agency, some Tunisian women said their journeys to the UAE had been delayed and some that their visas had to undergo additional examination.
Tunisia has been trying to improve relations with the UAE that were damaged by its 2011 revolution.
Tunisia's Ennahda party - part of the governing coalition - also has links to Qatar, which has been cut off by the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain over its alleged support for terrorism.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42474716
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Catalan political landscape as divided as ever - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The regional election fails to quell calls for independence from Spain, Kevin Connolly reports.
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Europe
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Pro-independence parties can one again form a majority in parliament
The voters of Catalonia went to the polls for the fourth time in four years on Thursday and once again produced a result which demonstrates how deeply divided their society has become.
The result provoked an outpouring of joyous relief from supporters of parties who want independence from Spain.
They just about hung on to their narrow overall majority in the parliament although the number of seats under their control fell from 72 to 70.
They say this was a victory won under duress.
The leader of one separatist party, Oriol Junqueras, was in solitary confinement in a Spanish prison when he was re-elected.
The head of another - the deposed former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont - was in self-imposed exile political in Brussels from where he told his supporters: "The Spanish state has been defeated, the independence movement has won. This is a majority that wants a referendum."
But Catalonia's political landscape remains crowded and complicated and it is hard to see a way forward through it.
Seven parties will be represented in the new parliament, none of them with more than a quarter of the overall vote.
The largest of them, Ciudadanos (Citizens), is a unionist movement - in other words it's as determined to keep Catalonia's links with Spain as its rivals are to break them.
The party leader, Inés Arrimadas, said: "We'll see how a coalition can be formed. We have a very unjust law in Catalonia so that the pro-independence parties can have a majority (in parliament) that they don't have on the street."
Unionists argue that the voting system is biased against them because the pro-independence parties have strong support in small towns and in villages, where it takes fewer votes to win a seat than it does in Barcelona, where a majority favours staying with Spain.
But the reality is it's very hard to see how Ms Arrimadas has any realistic chance of forming a government when the numbers are stacked against her - however narrowly.
Inés Arrimadas's Citizens party won the biggest number of seats but will struggle to form a government
At the party's "victory" rally in the centre of Barcelona, one of her supporters, Natalia Ferrer told me she thought Ciudadanos had done well enough to make it impossible for its rivals to push for immediate independence.
As she put it: "I am so happy that we have shown to the rest of Europe and the rest of the world that not everyone in Catalonia is against Spain... there are a lot of people here who want to be part of Spain."
And there, of course, is the problem.
One lesson from Thursday's election is that if you keep asking the same people more or less the same question then you'll keep getting, more or less, the same answer.
And here is a further layer of complexity, in case this didn't seem complicated enough.
The real loser in this latest Catalonian election was a man who wasn't even standing, the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
He is an unwavering opponent of the separatist movement and it was his decision to impose direct rule from Madrid after October's illegal referendum.
Spain has an independent judiciary, of course, but it's also on Mr Rajoy's watch that opposition leaders from Catalonia have been sent to prison - and could yet face 30-year jail sentences for rebellion and sedition.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. A look at the key players in Catalonia's regional election
It was Mariano Rajoy's decision to call these latest elections and it seems clear that he was gambling that the constitutional crisis of the past few months would have eroded the support for independence.
That gamble has failed and now he has to decide how to deal with jailed or exiled leaders who have demonstrated again that they have a popular mandate.
He is the man who would presumably have claimed a share of the victory if unionists here had won and on that basis, his is the defeat.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42433670
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How the humble S-bend made modern toilets possible - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Designed in 1775, the S-bend was key to the flushing toilet, and public sanitation as we know it.
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Business
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"Gentility of speech is at an end," thundered an editorial in London's City Press, in 1858. "It stinks!"
The stink in question was partly metaphorical: politicians were failing to tackle an obvious problem.
As its population grew, London's system for disposing of human waste became woefully inadequate. To relieve pressure on cess pits - which were prone to leaking, overflowing, and belching explosive methane - the authorities had instead started encouraging sewage into gullies.
However, this created a different issue: the gullies were originally intended for only rainwater, and emptied directly into the River Thames.
That was the literal stink - the Thames became an open sewer.
Cholera was rife. One outbreak killed 14,000 Londoners - nearly one in every 100.
Civil engineer Joseph Bazalgette drew up plans for new, closed sewers to pump the waste far from the city. It was this project that politicians came under pressure to approve.
The sweltering-hot summer of 1858 had made London's malodorous river impossible to politely ignore, or to discuss obliquely with "gentility of speech". The heatwave became popularly known as the "Great Stink".
If you live in a city with modern sanitation, it's hard to imagine daily life being permeated with the suffocating stench of human excrement.
For that, we have a number of people to thank - but perhaps none more so than the unlikely figure of Alexander Cumming.
50 Things That Made the Modern Economy highlights the inventions, ideas and innovations that helped create the economic world.
A watchmaker in London a century before the Great Stink, Cumming won renown for his mastery of intricate mechanics.
King George III commissioned him to make an elaborate instrument for recording atmospheric pressure, and he pioneered the microtome, a device for cutting ultra-fine slivers of wood for microscopic analysis.
Alexander Cumming's S-bend was crucial in the development of the flushing toilet
But Cumming's world-changing invention owed nothing to precision engineering. It was a bit of pipe with a curve in it.
In 1775, Cumming patented the S-bend. This became the missing ingredient to create the flushing toilet - and, with it, public sanitation as we know it.
Flushing toilets had previously foundered on the problem of smell: the pipe that connects the toilet to the sewer, allowing urine and faeces to be flushed away, will also also let sewer odours waft back up - unless you can create some kind of airtight seal.
Cumming's solution was simplicity itself: bend the pipe. Water settles in the dip, stopping smells coming up; flushing the toilet replenishes the water.
While we've moved on alphabetically from the S-bend to the U-bend, flushing toilets still deploy the same insight.
Rollout, however, came slowly: by 1851, flushing toilets remained novel enough in London to cause mass excitement when introduced at the Great Exhibition in Crystal Palace.
Use of the facilities cost one penny, giving the English language one of its enduring euphemisms for emptying one's bladder, "to spend a penny".
Hundreds of thousands of Londoners queued for the opportunity to relieve themselves while marvelling at the miracles of modern plumbing.
If the Great Exhibition gave Londoners a vision of how public sanitation could be - clean, and smell-free - no doubt that added to the weight of popular discontent as politicians dragged their heels over finding the funds for Joseph Bazalgette's planned sewers.
More than 170 years later, about two-thirds of the world's people have access to what's called "improved sanitation", according to the World Health Organization, up from about a quarter in 1980.
But that still means two and a half billion people don't have access to it, and "improved sanitation" itself is a relatively low bar.
It "hygienically separates human excreta from human contact", but it doesn't necessarily treat the sewage itself.
Fewer than half the world's people have access to sanitation systems that do that.
The economic costs of this ongoing failure to roll out proper sanitation are many and varied, from health care for diarrhoeal diseases to foregone revenue from hygiene-conscious tourists.
The World Bank's Economics of Sanitation Initiative has tried to tot up the price tag.
Across various African countries, for example, it reckons inadequate sanitation lops one or two percentage points off gross domestic product (GDP), in India and Bangladesh over 6%, and in Cambodia 7%.
Open sewers are a common sight in Kibera, in Nairobi, Kenya
The challenge is that public sanitation isn't something the market necessarily provides. Toilets cost money, but defecating in the street is free.
If I install a toilet, I bear all the costs, while the benefits of the cleaner street are felt by everyone.
In economic parlance, that's a "positive externality" - and goods that have positive externalities tend to be bought at a slower pace than society, as a whole, would prefer.
The most striking example is the "flying toilet" system of Kibera, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The flying toilet works like this: you defecate into a plastic bag, and then in the middle of the night, whirl the bag around your head and hurl it as far away as possible.
Replacing a flying toilet with a flushing toilet provides benefits to the toilet owner - but you can bet that the neighbours would appreciate it, too.
Contrast, say, the mobile phone. That also costs money, but its benefits accrue largely to me. That's one reason why, although the S-bend has been around for 10 times as long as the mobile phone, many more people already own a mobile phone than a flushing toilet.
If you want to buy a flushing toilet, it also helps if there's a system of sewers to plumb it into, and creating one is a major undertaking - financially and logistically.
Joseph Bazalgette, standing top right, views the Northern Outfall sewer being built below the Abbey Mills pumping station in 1862
When Joseph Bazalgette finally got the cash to build London's sewers, they took 10 years to complete and necessitated digging up 2.5 million cubic metres (88 million cubic ft) of earth.
Because of the externality problem, such a project might not appeal to private investors: it tends to require determined politicians, willing taxpayers and well-functioning municipal governments.
And those, it seems, are in short supply. According to a study published in 2011, just 6% of India's towns and cities have succeeded in building even a partial network of sewers. The capacity for delay seems almost unlimited.
London's lawmakers likewise procrastinated- but when they finally acted, they didn't hang about. As Stephen Halliday recounts in his book The Great Stink of London, it took just 18 days to rush through the necessary legislation for Bazalgette's plans. What explains this sudden, impressive alacrity?
The Houses of Parliament, photographed in 1858, the year of the Great Stink
A quirk of geography: London's Parliament building is located right next to the River Thames.
Officials tried to shield lawmakers from the Great Stink, soaking the curtains in chloride of lime in a bid to mask the stench.
But it was no use. Try as they might, the politicians couldn't ignore it.
The Times described, with a note of grim satisfaction, how MPs had been seen abandoning the building's library, "each gentleman with a handkerchief to his nose".
If only concentrating politicians' minds was always that easy.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41188465
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Wagamama apology for 'don't be sick' staff notice - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Noodle chain manager took "highly unusual approach" over festive staff shortage fears in London branch.
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UK
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Restaurant chain Wagamama has apologised after a manager warned workers they face disciplinary action for calling in sick over Christmas.
A note on a rota at one of its London branches said it was the responsibility of ill staff to find colleagues to cover shifts.
Wagamama said the manager "feared team member shortages" and "regrettably decided to take this highly unusual approach", which is not company policy.
A note beneath the rota states: "No calling in sick! may I remind you that if you are unable to come in for your shift it is your responsibility [underlined] to find someone to cover your shift (as per contract and handbook).
"Calling in sick during the next 2 weeks will result in disciplinary action being taken".
Wagamama insisted the rule was "strictly not company policy", and said it was an "isolated incident" at its North Finchley restaurant.
A spokesman for the Unite Hospitality union said: "To threaten workers with disciplinary action for being sick is not just morally reprehensible, it may be unlawful under the Health and Safety Act and Equality Act as it discriminates against those with long-term physical or mental health conditions."
The pan-Asian chain, which has been owned by the London-based private equity firm Duke Street Capital since 2011, has more than 100 branches across the UK.
A Wagamama spokesperson said: "Following reports of a notice posted in our North Finchley restaurant we can confirm this was an isolated incident and is strictly not company employment policy.
"The manager involved feared team member shortages over the festive period and regrettably decided to take this highly unusual approach.
"As a company we treat all our team with the greatest respect and understand and appreciate the hard work they all do. We sincerely apologise for what has happened and wish all our team members and customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
The person who brought the rota to Unite Hospitality's attention is a friend of someone who works at Wagamama in North Finchley.
"They sent me that picture," he told the BBC. "They didn't want me to share it at all. But my blood was boiling. I needed to do something about it.
"I don't believe it is company policy. It might have been an idea of the manager because he doesn't know the law."
The rota was put up at Wagamama's branch in North Finchley
He said the note attached to the rota could be "dangerous for the health and safety of people".
"If you force people to work when they are sick they can poison the food. There is something very wrong."
He said many of the staff at that branch were young workers from Eastern Europe and "maybe they are scared to lose their jobs or they don't know the law themselves".
The Green MSP for the West Scotland region, Ross Greer, was one of the first people to post a photograph of the rota on Twitter, writing: "That's the end of my custom with @wagamama_uk. Treat your staff with some respect."
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 Ross Greer 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.
@dtaylor5633 also expresses concern about the potential health risks.
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The rota note has led a #boycottwagamama campaign on Twitter, with people voicing concern the policy may lead to sick workers undertaking shifts.
However, other people say customers should not "vilify a whole company" because of an issue related to a single branch. Former employees in other branches have also taken to social media to say they have not experienced similar practices.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42473679
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Jodie Whittaker makes first Doctor Who appearance - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The actress is the first female Doctor to appear in the BBC TV programme.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Jodie Whittaker as she appeared at the end of Twice Upon a Time
Jodie Whittaker has made her debut as the first female Doctor in the Christmas special of Doctor Who.
Given the role in July, the actress succeeds Peter Capaldi to become the 13th Doctor.
The 35-year-old Broadchurch star said she was "beyond excited" to take up the role and the offer had been "overwhelming, as a feminist".
Whittaker will fully begin her role next year alongside Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole.
Capaldi, who has had the role since 2013, regenerated at the end of the episode to become Whittaker's character.
When she was appointed, Whittaker told fans not to be "scared" by her gender.
"It's more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can't wait," she added.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Actress Jodie Whittaker reveals four facts about herself
Actress Jenna Coleman returned as Doctor Who companion Clara Oswald in the Christmas programme alongside David Bradley.
Bradley playing the first Doctor, originally played by the late William Hartnell, while Pearl Mackie returned as companion Bill Potts.
It was the last episode for Potts and the show also marked an end for the programme's writer Steven Moffat, who has stepped down after seven years.
He has been replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall.
Fans reacted to Whittaker's introduction and Capaldi's departure on Twitter, with some praising the Doctor's gender.
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Others meanwhile were supportive of the actress's roots.
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Elsewhere, Whittaker's predecessor in the role had a few words of comfort for one young fan who was sad to see his favourite Doctor depart this week.
Nine-year-old David McGilloway, from Londonderry, found a letter from Capaldi in his Christmas stocking, which read: "The new Doctor always becomes your favourite and the one that goes... well, he never really goes..."
After all, the Doctor is for life - not just for Christmas.
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If you missed Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time you can watch it on iPlayer.
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-42480116
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Ashes: Tom Curran to make England Test debut on Boxing Day at MCG - BBC Sport
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2017-12-25
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Surrey pace bowler Tom Curran will make his England Test debut against Australia on Boxing Day, replacing the injured Craig Overton.
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Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app
Surrey pace bowler Tom Curran will make his England Test debut against Australia on Boxing Day.
The 22-year-old replaces the injured Craig Overton for the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"He's a feisty character and he gets the ball to move around a bit," said England captain Joe Root.
"He's always in the contest. At no point will he hide away from any challenge. If times become hard he will give it everything."
• None Lehmann to step down as Australia coach after 2019 Ashes
• None Get Ashes alerts sent to your phone
The void left by Overton, who has a fractured rib, could have been filled by fellow fast bowlers Jake Ball or Mark Wood.
There was also the option to hand a debut to 20-year-old leg-spinner Mason Crane, but that would have meant changing the balance of the attack.
England have decided against making further changes, despite having already lost the Ashes, with Australia holding an unassailable 3-0 lead.
"This is the best side to win on this surface," said Root. "Other guys are looking for form, and looking to turn things round, and they have an opportunity to do that this week.
"It's a great opportunity on such a big stage. It's an Ashes Test, with so much to play for."
Australia have also been forced into a change as Mitchell Starc's heel problem has resulted in a recall for fellow paceman Jackson Bird.
Born in Cape Town, Curran is the son of former Zimbabwe, Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire all-rounder Kevin.
Spotted by former Surrey captain Ian Greig, the brother of ex-England skipper Tony, Curran moved to England to attend Wellington School in 2012.
Soon after, his father collapsed whilst jogging and died at the age of 53.
Curran remained at Wellington and made his Surrey debut in 2013, qualifying to play for England on residency grounds in 2015.
His younger brother Sam, a 19-year-old all-rounder, is also a Surrey regular, while a third brother, 21-year-old Ben, is a batsman who has played for four county second XIs and MCC Young Cricketers.
Tom Curran, capped in three Twenty20 internationals and a single one-day internationals, was added to the Ashes squad following an injury to Steven Finn, who himself made the trip to Australia after Ben Stokes was made unavailable.
In the tour game against a Cricket Australia XI before the third Test, he served notice of his batting talent by making an unbeaten 77. His bowling is lively, without being express, and contains the variety of a youngster reared on limited-overs cricket.
"He's skilful and a real competitor," added Root. "It's a great chance for him - what a great occasion to start playing Test cricket.
"He never shies away from a challenge. It gives us a chance to see what he can provide at this level."
The build-up to the fourth Test has again involved the trading of opinions, both from within and outside the respective teams.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said that Root acted like a "little boy" in the aftermath of his side's third Test defeat in Perth.
"He's entitled to his opinion," Root told BBC Sport. "Obviously I think that is a load of rubbish.
"He doesn't see how we go about things behind the scenes, or how I go about things up close and personal. It's important I go about my things in my own way."
Meanwhile, England seamer James Anderson said on his BBC Tailenders podcast that Australia's pace attack has "problems" beyond their first-choice trio of Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
In response, Starc said he hopes that his replacement Bird "sticks it up" England in Melbourne.
And Aussie captain Steve Smith said of Anderson's comments: "That's rubbish, to be honest.
"Does he know that much about Australian domestic cricket? I'm not sure. I know there's plenty of guys who could come in and really do a job for us."
After losing 5-0 in 2013-14, England are looking to avoid a second consecutive whitewash in Australia and a third in 11 years.
The tourists are also on a run of eight successive Test losses down under, having never previously lost nine on the trot.
In addition, they are on a losing sequence of seven Tests away from home, dating back to the trip to India at the end of 2016.
"It's been bitterly disappointing that we haven't been able to get a win yet," Root told BBC Sport. "The mindset and desire within the team is for us to go and do that.
"We won't be happy until we leave this trip with a win under our belts. We won't be changing the way we go about things in terms of effort or energy.
"We won't be tailing off and we'll trying to turn those strong positions into winning ones."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42478097
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Homeless tuck into Christmas dinner at Euston Station - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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Euston Station in London has become a banqueting hall for 200 homeless people on Christmas Day.
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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. Guests were given goodie bags filled with essentials
It's no ordinary commuter Monday at Euston Station in London.
The last train left at 23:00 on Sunday and the passengers are home - but the concourse is busy with people sitting down to a Christmas Day feast.
An arrivals board reads: "Special notice: Network Rail invites you to Euston Station. Merry Christmas!"
For the first time, the transport hub has become a homeless shelter for 200 people - as one of many public spaces that normally lie empty on Christmas.
Some 45 volunteers have worked overnight to transform the station ready for a banquet of smoked salmon, soup, a roast, and Christmas pudding.
Next to barred ticket terminals and a shut WH Smith, Boots and Paperchase, tables and chairs are decorated with red poinsettias.
Sharon has come to Euston for some company on Christmas Day
One of today's guests, Sharon, says she has worn her best dress for the occasion.
"My support worker Christine told me about this a couple of weeks ago," she says.
"I knew I didn't have anything to do. I would be at home on my own and at times you're lonely, especially at Christmas."
Sharon, who moved to London from the US two decades ago, says she had to give up work as a retail manager because of a leg injury, but hopes to return next year.
"I'm on the mend, I'll definitely be dancing today!"
About 120,000 people pass through Euston every day, making it Britain's fifth-busiest train station, according to ticket sales data.
But today is more relaxed; cheers erupt as a pianist plays Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
It's a novelty for those who normally work at Euston, including station manager Joe Hendry.
"I initially didn't think it would be possible," he says.
"But turning up to work today at 06:30 this morning and seeing everyone here - it's wonderful.
"We have a big local homeless population here, so I've seen some familiar faces."
Jay, originally from Cork, moves from place to place in the area, and is currently living in an abandoned solicitors' office.
"If I wasn't here I'd be in the office - there's 20 of us - we would try and have a good time," he says.
Jay squats in local properties, and says he would otherwise be unable to afford a Christmas dinner
"We got tickets for today - it's nice to have something to do, we have bare cooking facilities and don't have much money for nice food."
Outside the station, people - many clutching blankets and shopping bags - are trying to get entry to the dinner, which is ticket-only and tightly guarded by Euston's security staff.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Network Rail's Steve Naybour: "Santa came last night" to Euston
The event was the brainchild of a group of Network Rail workers, including Steve Naybour, who was inspired by the Glastonbury Festival's use of vacant fields.
"Every year the festival uses fallow ground that would otherwise be unused - in a similar way, we thought about how we can use our empty stations," he says.
Steve's used to working over Christmas - and has a shift on Boxing Day - but says today is different.
"It's amazing to see the concourse looking so festive, which would normally be packed with commuters."
Volunteers prepping the alcohol-free four-course meal tweeted their efforts using the #EustonChristmas hashtag.
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Nearly 50 different businesses and organisations have donated items - including food, drinks and thermal clothes - to the event.
Mr Naybour says he has been "blown away" by the generosity, adding: "We've got a whole department store of clothes we're waiting to give out."
Two hundred children from schools in the local area have made Christmas cards to give to the guests, while local kitchens have opened up to help volunteers prepare the meal.
Charity volunteer Jon Glackin says empty buildings should be used as shelters
Jon Glackin, from the charity Street Kitchen, says he "jumped at the chance" to help. "People we've known over the years are coming along," he says.
"Something we've always tried to highlight is empty buildings, for feeding people, for sleeping and for shelters," adds Jon.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42477120
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: A royal shake-up - BBC News
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2017-12-25
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The actress can now help modernise the monarchy alongside Prince Harry.
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UK
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This is no ordinary royal engagement.
Meghan Markle brings something different to the British Royal Family.
She is American, divorced, an actress and mixed race.
She is also a campaigner with a variety of humanitarian interests and won't want her marriage to limit her ability to speak out and support various causes - particularly those of gender equality.
As an advocate for UN Women, Ms Markle has worked on helping young girls reach their leadership potential. When she was first approached about working with the United Nations the Suits star insisted on undertaking a period of "work experience" first.
In her own time she shadowed Elizabeth Nyamayaro, a senior advisor at UN Women. Elizabeth was impressed by the intelligence, commitment and curiosity of the actress.
The pair have since worked together closely on a number of UN missions and Elizabeth has no doubt that her friend and colleague will thrive in her new royal role.
"Her ability to listen, her passion for other people, wanting to create social change with that level of platform can only be a positive thing. She'll be fine, she'll be great in fact."
Ms Markle addressed gender issues at the One Young World forum in Canada
But the media coverage of the relationship in its early days unsettled sections of the British press and its readers.
Prince Harry even took the unprecedented step of issuing a public statement asking for privacy and describing some of the coverage as having "racial undertones".
Much was made of his fiancée's upbringing in Los Angeles, with the area described as gang-infested and a place riddled with racial tension.
However, Ms Markle actually grew up in a very middle class neighbourhood of Los Angeles and attended a private Catholic school.
But in many ways she is an outsider.
Prince Harry isn't following a traditional path - he's not marrying the daughter of a grand aristocratic family.
His wife-to-be now has to negotiate her way through the British aristocracy, in a similar vein to her future sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge.
It is an experience American nutritionist and author Julie Montagu knows well, as the future Countess of Sandwich.
Born and brought up in Illinois, she married the son of the Earl of Sandwich and is now Viscountess Hinchingbrooke.
She splits her time between London and the family estate, Mapperton, in Dorset.
"Even now I still get things wrong," she told me. "The British upper classes have their own way of doing things. But as an American I bring my optimism, positivity and work ethic into the mix which I believe is hugely important."
Ms Markle is joining a family and entering a world unlike anything she has previously experienced. Yes it brings with it great privilege. But it also means a lack of privacy and the acceptance of a public life. As an actress she may find herself well equipped to deal with the scrutiny ahead.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42112647
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Queen's message pays tribute to London and Manchester - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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In her Christmas broadcast, she hails emergency service workers and those caught up in 2017 tragedies.
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UK
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The Queen has paid tribute to London and Manchester in her Christmas Day message for their handling of this year's terror attacks.
She said it was a "privilege" to meet the concert attack survivors in May and stressed both cities' "powerful identities".
The monarch also remembered the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
In the year of her 70th wedding anniversary she praised the Duke of Edinburgh's support.
Despite missing the Christmas morning service last year due to illness, the Queen spent this year at Sandringham with the Royal Family including Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle.
Looking back over 2017, the Queen reflected fondly on her relationship with Prince Philip amid his decision to "slow down a little".
She said: "I don't know that anyone had invented the term 'platinum' for a 70th wedding anniversary when I was born. You weren't expected to be around that long."
This summer Prince Philip retired from his programme of public engagements, although he has continued to attend some events involving the Queen.
In the broadcast, the Queen also praised her husband's "unique sense of humour".
She recorded this year's Christmas message to the Commonwealth a few days ago in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace.
The message's main theme is the importance of home, which she describes as a place of "warmth, familiarity and love", with a "timeless simplicity" and "pull".
Surrounded by family photographs and a picture of newly engaged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Queen said her family "look forward to welcoming new members into it next year".
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child in April. while the prince and Ms Markle will wed in May.
On a table, alongside photographs of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were two pictures of the Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh, one of which was taken on their wedding day in 1947 and the other from their anniversary in November this year.
The Queen was dressed in an ivory white dress by Angela Kelly, which she first wore for the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant in 2012.
The Queen and Prince Philip celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in November
She also expressed gratitude towards emergency service workers in a year of "appalling attacks" and highlighted the "extraordinary bravery and resilience" of survivors.
Referencing the Grenfell Tower fire which claimed the lives of 71 people, the Queen described it as "sheer awfulness".
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who died and those who lost so much, and we are indebted to members of the emergency services who risked their own lives this past year saving others," the Queen said.
Five people: four pedestrians and a police officer, were killed in the Westminster Bridge attack in March.
In May, the Queen visited victims of the bombing at Manchester Arena, in which 22 people died. A suicide bomber struck as they left the venue following a performance by US singer Ariana Grande.
"I describe that hospital visit as a 'privilege' because the patients I met were an example to us all," she said.
The Queen visited victims of the bombing at Manchester Arena in May
The following month, eight people died when three men in a van ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge before going on a knife attack in nearby Borough Market.
Later that June, a man died when a hired van ran into worshippers near the Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park, north London.
The Queen's Christmas message was broadcast at 15:00 GMT on BBC One, and can be watched again on iPlayer.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42475052
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Lewis Hamilton apologises for 'boys don't wear dresses' remark - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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The Formula 1 driver appeared to say the boy's outfit makes him "so sad" in an Instagram video.
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UK
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Lewis Hamilton has apologised for making "inappropriate" comments in a video in which he appeared to mock his nephew's princess dress.
In an Instagram video, which has since been deleted, the Formula 1 driver says "boys don't wear princess dresses".
He was criticised on social media for the clip, which was apparently filmed on Christmas Day.
The 32-year-old tweeted his "deepest apologies", saying he loved that his nephew "feels free to express himself".
The video, posted on his Instagram story, shows Hamilton speaking to the camera before turning it on his young relative.
"I'm so sad right now. Look at my nephew," he says.
The camera then shows the boy wearing a pink and purple dress, while holding a toy magic wand.
Hamilton asks him: "Why are you wearing a princess dress? Is this what you got for Christmas?"
The young boy starts laughing as the British racing driver continues: "Why did you ask for a princess dress for Christmas? Boys don't wear princess dresses."
In response to the video, founder of anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label Liam Hackett tweeted: "Disappointing to see somebody with such a huge platform use it to publicly shame and attempt to undermine a small child."
Meanwhile, Imraan Sathar of discrimination support charity Stay Brave UK, called for the driver to be stripped of his MBE.
Hamilton later apologised for his behaviour and said it was "really not acceptable" to marginalise or stereotype anyone.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42486085
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Mum hopes royal photo can pay for university - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Karen Anvil's image, which she put on Twitter, was liked almost 4,000 times and stoked media interest.
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UK
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A mother who snapped a lucky photograph of four smiling royals is hoping its sale will help her fund her daughter's university education.
Karen Anvil, 39, from Watlington in Norfolk captured a beaming Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Sandringham.
The image, which was posted on Twitter, was liked almost 4,000 times and stoked mainstream media interest.
Ms Anvil told the BBC reaction to the picture has been "bizarre and bonkers".
Ms Anvil and her 17-year-old daughter, Rachel, have been to spot the Royals at their annual Christmas Day service a couple of times before.
She said that, while suffering from an illness last year, she promised her daughter they would go to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham this Christmas.
She said: "Sky News was on and we were looking at the crowds. My daughter said 'I'd love to do that'.
"'I said 'next year, when I'm better we'll go'. And so I took her."
Ms Anvil admitted she had a "fan-girl" moment while with her daughter Rachel, 17
Asked how she got the Royals to look at the camera and capture the shot every photographer dreamt of, Ms Anvil admitted her secret was attracting their attention,
"I'm just very bubbly by nature and I was with my daughter and I got a bit excitable, I suppose.
"I was just sort of shouting and I just went 'Merry Christmas!' like an idiot. I was fan-girling.
"That's all I said and got them to look."
Ms Anvil posted the image on Twitter at about 11:00 GMT and got thousands of likes. Her previous record was just five likes.
Four hours later she was still receiving messages asking for permission to use the picture - and advice from other Twitter users telling her to negotiate a price.
She said: "At first I said oh yeah sure. Have the photo. I know nothing about that."
But soon afterwards she was flooded with suggestions to copyright the photograph and earn some Christmas Day cash.
"The thing is - and I hate to play the single mum card - I'm a single parent, I work two jobs, which I'm proud of and I've always worked.
"Now I want to save money for my daughter for uni and if I can do that, and can get that opportunity that's amazing."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42480224
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North Korea missile developers hit by US sanctions - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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The two men, both key missile developers, are said to be among Kim Jong-un's most trusted aides.
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Asia
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Ri Pyong-chol (L) and Kim Jong-sik (R) are reportedly among Kim Jong-un's most trusted aides
The US has placed sanctions on two North Korean officials it says have led the development of nuclear missiles.
The US treasury named the two men as Kim Jong-sik and Ri Pyong-chol, and said both were "key leaders" of North Korea's ballistic missile programme.
The UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday in response to ballistic missile tests.
North Korea said the move was "an act of war" and tantamount to a total economic blockade.
The new US sanctions will block any transactions by the two men carried out in the US, essentially freezing any American assets they may have.
Both men are regularly photographed alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at missile launches.
In the past year, the country has tested ever more ambitious types of missile, and says it can now reach the entire continental United States.
Ri Pyong-chol has been photographed laughing with Kim Jong-un
A Reuters investigation in May said that the two men, along with weapons developer Jang Chan-ha, were handpicked by Kim Jong-un and were very popular with him.
Their behaviour around him, Reuters said, "is sharply at variance with the obsequiousness of other senior aides, most of whom bow and hold their hands over their mouths when speaking to the young leader".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. How could war with North Korea unfold?
The news agency reported that Ri Pyong-chol was a former air force general educated in Russia and that Kim Jong-sik was a veteran rocket scientist.
They were both among 16 North Koreans placed under UN sanctions on Friday.
The UN sanctions came in response to Pyongyang's 28 November firing of a ballistic missile, which the US said was its highest yet.
In response, North Korea's official KCNA news agency said: "The United States, completely terrified at our accomplishment of the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, is getting more and more frenzied in the moves to impose the harshest-ever sanctions and pressure on our country."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42488696
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Ashes: David Warner hits century on opening day of fourth Test - BBC Sport
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2017-12-26
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David Warner and Steve Smith help Australia close on 244-3 on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG.
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Australia opener David Warner struck a century as England endured a tough time in the field on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Warner dazzled with some fine strokeplay in a one-sided morning session against an England side that looked flattened after surrendering the Ashes in Perth.
The tourists fought back and Warner could have been dismissed on 99, only for Tom Curran to be denied his maiden Test wicket when replays showed that he had overstepped.
Still, Warner was dismissed shortly after reaching three figures and England had an opening when Australia were reduced to 160-3.
But, under a cloudless sky and on a flat surface, home captain Steve Smith made an unbeaten half-century to guide Australia to 244-3 in front of a crowd of 88,172.
England, already 3-0 down, are looking to avoid a second successive Ashes whitewash down under and third in 11 years.
Currently on an eight-match losing streak in Australia, they have never previously lost nine consecutively.
After a lacklustre start, the touring pacemen grew into the day but Moeen Ali posed no threat.
And, ultimately, Joe Root's men are in urgent need of early wickets on day two to prevent Australia from racking up another huge total.
• None How day one unfolded in the live text
The swashbuckling manner in which Warner played during the morning session made run scoring look much easier than it later proved to be and set an ominous tone for England.
The left-hander, faced with boundary sweepers on both sides as early as the fourth over of the match, punched through mid-off, cut, and whipped off his pads, all whilst running with urgency.
Before his scoring was checked, there was a prospect of a century before lunch, but instead he had to settle for 83 of the 102-0 that Australia reached by the interval.
England, however, got a grip on scoring in the afternoon. Warner saw Cameron Bancroft pinned leg before by Chris Woakes for a painstaking 26 and spent eight overs in the 90s.
The tourists' pressure looked to have paid off when Warner, one short of three figures, attempted a pull off Curran and top-edged to Stuart Broad at mid-on.
As England celebrated, the big-screen replay of Curran overstepping brought a huge cheer from the home fans that was superseded one ball later when Warner nudged into the leg side and launched a sustained and emotional celebration to mark his 21st Test ton.
Curran's error was not too costly, with Warner on 103 when he followed one that James Anderson got to move away, resulting in an edge to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.
After losing the toss in scorching heat and on a surface that initially seemed perfect for batting, England were always in danger of enduring a difficult day.
Their new-ball bowling was nothing more than adequate and, as Warner showed his intent to score, the tourists were subdued for large parts of a morning that was barely a contest.
To their credit, they improved immeasurably after lunch. The pace attack had the control to bowl to packed off side fields and Australia's scoring slowed on a pitch that increasingly revealed itself to be two-paced.
From piling on more than 100 before lunch, Australia could only add 43 for the loss of two wickets in an attritional afternoon session.
Curran impressed with seam movement and slower balls and, after tea, Broad ended a personal run of 69 wicketless overs by having Usman Khawaja caught behind.
Off-spinner Moeen, though, remains a concern. A doubt on the morning of the match because of a finger injury, his six overs cost 35 runs and forced Root to turn to Dawid Malan's part-time leg-spin.
For their improvement and endeavour, England have only three wickets and are facing a huge challenge to get back into this match.
Their biggest concern is the continuing presence of Smith, who has already made two big hundreds in this series. The skipper has scored a century in each of the past three Boxing Day Tests and has not been dismissed in Melbourne since 2014.
Smith shared an unbroken stand of 84 with Marsh, the subject of big Broad lbw appeals from the first two balls that he faced, one of which was unsuccessfully reviewed.
The world's number one batsman helped himself to an unflustered, problem-free half-century with the minimum of fuss. There was the occasional boundary through the off side, but scoring mainly came with tucks off the pads.
His scores in first-innings in this series are 141 not out, 40, 239 and now an unbeaten 65.
Smith saw off three overs with the new ball alongside Marsh, who has 31, and Australia have a platform from which they can bat England out of the game.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "David Warner was fantastic. England had triggered his mindset into being negative with the way they've bowled this series. He's thought, 'I'll see off Broad and Anderson' and that's affected his game.
"From the first over today, however, Warner came out with more positivity and that's the best way he plays.
"He's a wonderful player to watch when he bats like he did today.
"I've always felt there is something there in this pitch for the bowlers. Go back to 1998 and 2010 when it did plenty on the first day. You don't get too many draws at the MCG.
"I can't see this Test match being a draw either so England are going to have to bat very well in their first innings."
England seamer James Anderson, speaking to TMS: "It was a long day, we didn't start well or adjust to conditions. It was a flat, slow wicket and we bowled too many bad balls and let them get away.
"But the way we came back in the second session was very impressive. The pace of the pitch didn't help us, but we stuck to our task well and just didn't get the breaks at the end.
"It was not ideal to lose the toss but we were due to lose one. We're still in the game. We need to bowl really well with the new ball tomorrow to get some breakthroughs."
Australia opener David Warner, speaking to BT Sport: "It was a hard fought day. England brought it back in the afternoon and bowled fantastic when the ball reversed but towards the end we got on a bit of a roll and as we have seen over the last couple of years Steve Smith comes in makes it look very easy.
On his century: "I am obviously pleased but disappointed I didn't manage to go on. We talk about cashing in but I felt I let myself and the guys down. Credit to Jimmy he bowled fantastic in that spell."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42482346
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Moscow subway bus crash kills four people - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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It ploughed into a subway entrance, leaving at least four people dead, Russian media say.
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Europe
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The bus hit the entrance of a pedestrian underpass in Moscow
A bus left a road in Moscow before ploughing into a subway entrance, leaving four people dead and 11 injured, Russian officials say.
Footage shows people scattering as the bus ran down wide steps before being brought to a halt by the tunnel's roof.
There is no suggestion it was a terror attack. Russian investigators said the driver told police the vehicle had started to move suddenly.
He tried to apply the brakes but they did not work, the investigative committee said. The crash happened in icy conditions.
All those killed in the crash were knocked down by the bus, which had been at a standstill before it drove on to the pavement and careered down the steps of the underpass.
The victims included a woman in her thirties and a teenager. Health officials said two of the injured were in a serious condition.
Interfax news agency reported that the bus was not even a year old. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin told reporters at the scene that an inspection of the entire Moscow bus fleet had been ordered.
The driver is being held by police
It is not the first deadly incident at the station
Security camera footage broadcast on Russian television showed a number of people being struck by the bus as it went down the steps of the metro station in the west of the city.
A preliminary examination showed the driver of the bus was sober, news agencies said. He has been held by police.
In July 2014, 21 people were killed when a train derailed near the same station after braking abruptly.
Monday is a normal working day in Moscow, where the Orthodox Christmas will be celebrated on 7 January.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42479316
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Tembin: Storm weakens as it nears southern Vietnam - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Storm Tembin killed at least 240 people when it battered the Philippines on its way to Vietnam.
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Asia
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People were earlier evacuated from the Vietnamese province of Ben Tre
A tropical storm that was threatening southern Vietnam has weakened and is expected to dissipate within 48 hours.
The Weather Prediction Center says Storm Tembin, with wind gusts up to 58mph (93km/h), is 170 miles south-southwest of Ho Chi Minh City, and is moving westward.
Nearly a million people were earlier told to prepare for evacuation and some 70,000 were moved from low-lying areas.
Tembin killed at least 240 people as it swept through the Philippines.
Rescuers are searching for more than 100 people still missing.
Bridges and roads on the southern island of Mindanao were destroyed or blocked by landslides, while nearly 1,000 houses were wrecked and many rice fields washed away.
In Vietnam, the government earlier ordered oil rigs and vessels to be secured and warned that about 62,000 fishing boats should not go out to sea, Reuters news agency reports.
"Vietnam must ensure the safety of its oil rigs and vessels," Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was quoted as saying. "If necessary, close the oil rigs and evacuate workers."
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. The aftermath of Storm Tembin on Mindanao island
In the southern province of Bac Lieu, residents from a fishing village were moved to different schools that have been turned into shelters.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42477268
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The time when America stopped being great - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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A year ago Donald Trump produced the biggest political upset in modern day USA, but were there historical clues that pointed to his unexpected victory?
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US & Canada
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A year ago Donald Trump produced the biggest political upset in modern-day America, but were there historical clues that pointed to his unexpected victory?
Flying into Los Angeles, a descent that takes you from the desert, over the mountains, to the outer suburbs dotted with swimming pools shaped like kidneys, always brings on a near narcotic surge of nostalgia.
This was the flight path I followed more than 30 years ago, as I fulfilled a boyhood dream to make my first trip to the United States. America had always fired my imagination, both as a place and as an idea. So as I entered the immigration hall, under the winsome smile of America's movie star president, it was hardly a case of love at first sight.
My infatuation had started long before, with Westerns, cop shows, superhero comic strips, and movies such as West Side Story and Grease. Gotham exerted more of a pull than London. My 16-year-old self could quote more presidents than prime ministers. Like so many new arrivals, like so many of my compatriots, I felt an instant sense of belonging, a fealty borne of familiarity.
Eighties America lived up to its billing, from the multi-lane freeways to the cavernous fridges, from the drive-in movie theatres to the drive-through burger joints. I loved the bigness, the boldness, the brashness. Coming from a country where too many people were reconciled to their fate from too early an age, the animating force of the American Dream was not just seductive but unshackling.
Upward mobility was not a given amongst my schoolmates. The absence of resentment was also striking: the belief success was something to emulate rather than envy. The sight of a Cadillac induced different feelings than the sight of a Rolls Royce.
It was 1984. Los Angeles was hosting the Olympics. The Soviet boycott meant US athletes dominated the medals table more so than usual. McDonald's had a scratch-card promotion, planned presumably before Eastern bloc countries decided to keep their distance, offering Big Macs, Cokes and fries if Americans won gold, silver or bronze in selected events. So for weeks I feasted on free fast food, a calorific accompaniment to chants of "USA! USA!"
This was the summertime of American resurgence. After the long national nightmare of Vietnam, Watergate and the Iranian hostage crisis, the country demonstrated its capacity for renewal. 1984, far from being the dystopian hell presaged by George Orwell, was a time of celebration and optimism. Uncle Sam - back then, nobody gave much thought to the country being given a male personification - seemed happy again in his own skin.
For millions, it really was "Morning Again in America", the slogan of Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign. In that year's presidential election, he buried his Democratic opponent Walter Mondale in a landslide, winning 49 out of 50 states and 58.8% of the popular vote.
The United States could hardly be described as politically harmonious. There was the usual divided government. Republicans retained control of the Senate, but the Democrats kept their stranglehold on the House of Representatives. Reagan's sunniness was sullied by the launch of his 1980 campaign with a call for "states' rights", which sounded to many like a dog-whistle for denial of civil rights.
Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail in 1979
His chosen venue was Philadelphia, but not the city of brotherly love, the cradle of the Declaration of Independence, but rather Philadelphia, Mississippi, a rural backwater close to where three civil rights workers had been murdered by white supremacists in 1964. Reagan, like Nixon, pursued the southern strategy, which exploited white fears about black advance.
Still, the anthem of the hour was Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA and politics was not nearly as polarised as it is today. Even though the Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill reviled Reagan's trickle-down economics - he called him a "cheerleader for selfishness" and "Herbert Hoover with a smile" - these two Irish-Americans found common ground as they sought to act in the national interest.
Both understood the Founding Fathers had hard-wired compromise into the governmental system, and that Washington, with its checks and balances, was unworkable without give and take. They worked together on tax reform and safeguarding Social Security.
The country was in the ascendant. Not so paranoid as it was in the 1950s, not so restive as it was in the 1960s, and nowhere near as demoralised as it had been in the 1970s.
History is never neat or linear. Decades do not automatically have personalities, but it is possible to divide the period since 1984 into two distinct phases. The final 16 years of the 20th Century was a time of American hegemony. The first 16 years of the 21st Century has proven to be a period of dysfunction, discontent, disillusionment and decline. The America of today in many ways reflects the dissonance between the two.
In those twilight years of the last millennium, America enjoyed something akin to the dominance achieved at the Los Angeles Olympics. Just two years after Reagan demanded that Gorbachev tear down the Berlin Wall, that concrete and ideological barricade was gone. The United States won the Cold War. In the New World Order that emerged afterwards, it became the sole superpower in a unipolar world.
A Berliner celebrates in front of the Berlin wall on 15 November 1989
The speed at which US-led forces won the first Gulf War in 1991 helped slay the ghosts of Vietnam. With a reformist leader, Boris Yeltsin, installed in the Kremlin, there was an expectation Russia would embrace democratic reform. Even after Tiananmen Square, there was a hope that China might follow suit, as it moved towards a more market-based economy.
This was the thrust of Francis Fukuyama's thesis in his landmark 1989 essay, The End of History, which spoke of "the universalisation of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government".
For all the forecasts Japan would become the world's largest economy, America refused to cede its financial and commercial dominance. Instead of Sony ruling the corporate world, Silicon Valley became the new high-tech workshop of business.
Bill Clinton's boast of building a bridge to the 21st Century rang true, although it was emergent tech giants such as Microsoft, Apple and Google that were the true architects and engineers. Thirty years after planting the Stars and Stripes on the Sea of Tranquillity, America not only dominated outer space but cyberspace too.
This phase of US dominance could never be described as untroubled. The Los Angeles riots in 1992, sparked by the beating of Rodney King and the acquittal of the police officers charged with his assault, highlighted deep racial divisions.
In Washington, Bill Clinton's impeachment exhibited the hyper-partisanship that was changing the tenor of Washington life. In the age of 24/7 cable news, politics was starting to double as soap opera.
Yet as we approached 31 December 1999, the assertion that the 20th Century had been The American Century was an axiom. I was in the capital as Bill Clinton presided over the midnight celebrations on the National Mall, and as the fireworks skipped from the Lincoln Memorial down the Reflecting Pool to illuminate the Washington monument, the mighty obelisk looked like a giant exclamation mark or a massive number one.
The national story changed dramatically and unexpectedly soon after. While doomsday predictions of a Y2K bug failed to materialise, it nonetheless felt as if the United States had been infected with a virus. 2000 saw the dot-com bubble explode. In November, the disputed presidential election between George W Bush and Al Gore badly damaged the reputation of US democracy.
Why, a Zimbabwean diplomat even suggested Africa send international observers to oversee the Florida recount. Beyond America's borders came harbingers of trouble. In Russia, 31 December 1999, as those fireworks were being primed, Vladimir Putin took over from Boris Yeltsin.
The year 2001 brought the horror of September 11th, an event more traumatic than Pearl Harbor. Post-9/11 America became less welcoming and more suspicious. The Bush administration's "war on terror" - open-ended conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq - drained the country of blood and treasure.
The collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, and the Great Recession that followed, arguably had a more lasting impact on the American psyche than the destruction of the Twin Towers. Just as 9/11 had undermined confidence in the country's national security, the financial collapse shattered confidence in its economic security.
With parents no longer certain their children would come to enjoy more abundant lives than they did, the American Dream felt like a chimera. The American compact, the bargain that if you worked hard and played by the rules your family would succeed, was no longer assumed. Between 2000 and 2011, the overall net wealth of US households fell. By 2014, the richest 1% of Americans had accrued more wealth than the bottom 90%.
To many in the watching world, and most of the 69 million Americans who voted for him, the election of the country's first black president again demonstrated America's capacity for regeneration.
Although his presidency did much to rescue the economy, he couldn't repair a fractured country. The creation of a post-partisan nation, which Obama outlined in his breakthrough speech at the 2004 Democratic convention, proved just as illusory as the emergence of a post-racial society, which he always knew was beyond him.
During the Obama years, Washington descended into a level of dysfunction unprecedented in post-war America.
"My number one priority is making sure President Obama's a one-term president," declared then-Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, summing up the obstructionist mood of his Republican colleagues. It led to a crisis of governance, including the shutdown of 2013 and the repeated battles over raising the debt ceiling. The political map of America, rather than taking on a more purple hue, came to be rendered in deeper shades of red and blue.
Beyond Capitol Hill, there was a whitelash to the first black president, seen in the rise of the Birther movement and in elements of the Tea Party movement. On the right, movement conservatives challenged establishment Republicans. On the left, identity politics displaced a more class-oriented politics as union influence waned. Both parties seemed to vacate the middle ground, relying instead on maximising support from their respective bases - African-Americans, evangelicals, the LGBT community, gun-owners - to win elections.
Throughout his presidency, Barack Obama continued to talk about moving towards a more perfect union. But reality made a mockery of these lofty words. Sandy Hook. Orlando. The spate of police shootings. The gang-related mayhem in his adopted home of Chicago. The mess in Washington. The opioid crisis. The health indices even pointed to a sick nation, in which the death rate was rising. By 2016, life expectancy fell for the first time since 1993.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. US election: Relive the wild ride in 170 seconds
This was the backdrop against which the 2016 election was fought, one of the most dispiriting campaigns in US political history. A battle between the two most unpopular major party candidates since polling began, ended with a victor who had higher negative ratings than his opponent and in the end, three million fewer votes.
Just as I had been on the National Mall to ring in the new millennium in 2000, I was there again on 20 January 2017, for Donald Trump's inaugural celebrations. They included some Reagan-era flourishes. At the eve of the inauguration concert, Lee Greenwood reprised his Reaganite anthem God Bless the USA, albeit with a frailer voice.
There were chants of "USA, USA," a staple of the billionaire's campaign rallies - usually triggered by his riff on building a wall along the Mexican border. There was also an 80s vibe about the telegenic first family, who looked fresh from a set of a primetime soap, like Dynasty or Falcon Crest.
The spectacle brought to mind what Norman Mailer once said of Reagan, that the 40th president understood "the President of the United States was the leading soap opera figure in the great American drama, and one had better possess star value". Trump understood this, and it explained much of his success, even if his star power came from reality TV rather than Hollywood B-movies.
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Yet Trump is not Reagan. His politics of grievance, and the fist-shaking anger it fed off, struck a different tone than the Gipper's more positive pitch. It played on a shared sense of personal and national victimhood that would have been alien to Reagan.
In the space of just three decades, then, the United States had gone from "It's morning in America again" to something much darker: "American Carnage", the most memorable phrase from Trump's inaugural address.
It is tempting to see Trump's victory this time last year as an aberration. A historical mishap. The election all came down, after all, to just 77,744 votes in three key states: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. But when you consider the boom-to-bust cycle of the period between 1984 and 2016, the Trump phenomenon doesn't look so accidental.
In many ways Trump's unexpected victory marked the culmination of a large number of trends in US politics, society and culture, many of which are rooted in that end-of-century period of American dominion.
Consider how the fall of the Berlin Wall changed Washington, and how it ushered in an era of destructive and negative politics. In the post-war years, bipartisanship was routine, partly because of a shared determination to defeat communism. America's two-party system, adversarial though it was, benefited from the existence of a shared enemy. To pass laws, President Eisenhower regularly worked with Democratic chieftains such as House Speaker Sam Rayburn and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson.
Reforms such as the 1958 National Defense Education Act, which improved science teaching in response to the launch of Sputnik, were framed precisely with defeating communism in mind.
Much of the impetus to pass landmark civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s came from the propaganda gift Jim Crow laws handed to the Soviet Union, especially as Moscow sought to expand its sphere of influence among newly decolonised African nations.
Patriotic bipartisanship frayed and ripped after the end of the Cold War. It was in the 1990s the then-Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole started to use the filibuster more aggressively as a blocking device. Government shutdowns became politically weaponised.
In the 1994 congressional mid-terms, the Republican revolution brought a wave of fierce partisans to Washington, with an ideological aversion to government and thus little investment in making it work. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the first Republican to occupy the post in 40 years, personified the kind of abrasive partisan that came to the fore on Capitol Hill.
Grudging bipartisanship was still possible, as Clinton and Gingrich demonstrated over welfare and criminal justice reform in the mid-1990s. But this period witnessed the acidification of DC politics. The gerrymandering of the House of Representatives encouraged strict partisanship, because the threat to most lawmakers came from within their own parties. Moderates or pragmatists who strayed from the partisan path were punished with a primary challenge from more doctrinaire rivals.
By the 112th Congress in 2011-2012, there was no Democrat in the House more conservative than a Republican and no Republican more liberal than a Democrat. This was new. In the post-war years, there had been considerable ideological overlap between liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats. In this more polarised climate, bipartisanship became a dirty word. One leading conservative thinker and anti-tax campaigner, Grover Norquist, likened it to date rape.
Would Congress have impeached Bill Clinton, ostensibly for having an affair with an intern, had America still been waging the Cold War? I sense not - it would have been seen, in those more serious times, as a frivolous distraction. When Congress moved towards impeaching Richard Nixon it did so because Watergate and its cover-up truly rose to the level of high crimes and misdemeanours.
Clinton's impeachment signalled the emergence of another new political trend: the delegitimisation of sitting presidents. And both parties played the game. The Democrats cast George W Bush as illegitimate because Al Gore won the popular vote and the Supreme Court controversially ruled in the Republican's favour during the Florida recount.
The Birther movement, led by Donald Trump, tried to delegitimise Barack Obama with specious and racist claims that he was not born in Hawaii. Most recently, the Democrats have cast aspersions on Trump's victory, partly because he lost the popular vote and partly because they allege he achieved a Kremlin-assisted victory.
Over this period, the political discourse also became shriller. Rush Limbaugh, after getting his first radio show in 1984, rose to become the king of the right-wing shock jocks. Fox News was launched in 1996, the same year as MSNBC, which became its progressive counterpoint. The internet quickened the metabolism of the news industry and became the home for the kind of hateful commentary traditional news outlets rarely published.
Home foreclosures skyrocketed at the end of the last decade
Maybe the Jerry Springerisation of political news coverage can be traced to the moment the Drudge Report first published the name Monica Lewinsky, "scooping" Newsweek which hesitated before publishing such an explosive story. The success of the Drudge Report demonstrated how new outlets, which didn't share the same news values as the mainstream media, could establish brands literally overnight. This lesson was doubtless learnt by Andrew Breitbart, an editor at Drudge who founded the right-wing website Breitbart News.
The internet and social media, trumpeted initially as the ultimate tool for bringing people together, actually became a forum for cynicism, division and various outlandish conspiracy theories. America became more atomised.
As Robert D Putnam identified in his 1995 seminal essay, Bowling Alone, lower participation rates in organisations such as unions, parent teacher associations, the Boy Scouts and women's clubs had reduced person to person contacts and civil interaction.
Economically, this period saw the continuation of what's been called the "Great Divergence" which produced stark inequalities in wealth and income. Between 1979 and 2007, household income in the top 1% grew by 275% compared to just 18% growth in the bottom fifth of households.
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The Clinton-era was a period of financial deregulation, including the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, the landmark reform passed during the depression, as well as legislation exempting credit default swaps from regulation.
Disruptive technologies changed the workplace and upended the labour market. Automation, more so than globalisation, was the big jobs killer during this phase. Between 1990 and 2007, machines killed off up to 670,000 US manufacturing jobs alone.
The Rust Belt rebellion that propelled Trump to the White House has been described as a revolt against robots, not that his supporters viewed it that way. Encouraged by the billionaire, many blamed increased foreign competition and the influx of foreign workers.
The opioid crisis can be traced back to the early 1990s with the over-prescription of powerful painkillers. Between 1991 and 2011, painkiller prescriptions tripled.
America seemed intoxicated by its own post-Cold War success. Then came the hangover of the past 16 years.
Over the past few months, I've followed that same westward flight path to California on a number of occasions, and found myself asking what would an impressionable 16-year-old make of America now. Would she share my adolescent sense of wonder, or would she peer out over the Pacific at twilight and wonder if the sun was setting on America itself?
What would she make of the gun violence, brought into grotesque relief again by the Las Vegas massacre? Multiple shootings are not new, of course. Just days before I arrived in the States in 1984, a gunman had walked into a McDonalds in a suburb of San Diego and shot dead 21 people. It was then the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.
What's different between now and then, however, is the regularity of these massacres, and how the repetitiveness of the killings has normalised them. What was striking about Las Vegas was the muted nationwide response to a gunman killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more.
Once-shocking massacres no longer arouse intense emotions for those unconnected to the killings. A month on, and it is almost as if it didn't happen.
What would she make of race relations? Back in 1984, black athletes such as Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses and Michael Jordan were unifying figures as they helped reap that Olympic golden harvest. Now some of America's leading black athletes are vilified by their president for taking a knee to protest, a right enshrined in the First Amendment. These athletes now find themselves combatants in the country's endless culture wars.
What would she make of the confluence of gun violence and race, evident in the spate of police shootings of unarmed black men and in the online auction where the weapon that killed Trayvon Martin fetched more than $100,000?
Charlottesville, with its torch-wielding and hate-spewing neo-Nazis, was another low point. So, too, were the president's remarks afterwards, when he described the crowd as including some "very fine people" and implied a moral equivalence between white supremacists and anti-racist protesters.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. What Trump said versus what I saw - by the BBC's Joel Gunter
I was at the news conference in Trump Tower that day. An African-American cameraman next to me yelled out "What message does this send to our children?" The question went unanswered, but concerned parents ask it everyday about Donald Trump's behaviour.
What about the monuments debate? The last civil war veteran died in 1959, but the conflict rumbles on in various guises and upon various proxy battlefields, as America continues to grapple with the original sin of slavery.
But what if she landed in the American heartland, rather than flying over it? Coastal separateness can sometimes be exaggerated, but it would be a very different experience than Los Angeles. In the Rust Belt, stretches of riverway are crowded again with coal barges, and local business leaders believe in the Trump Bump because they see it in their order books and balance sheets.
In the Coal Belt, there's been delight at the rescinding of Obama's Clean Power Plan. In the Bible Belt, evangelicals behold Trump as a fellow victim of sneering liberal elites. In the Sun Belt, close to the Mexican border, there's wide support for his crackdown on illegal immigration.
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In many football stadiums, she would hear the chorus of boos from fans who agree with the president that the take-the-knee protests denigrate the flag. In bars, union branches and American Legion halls, you'll find many who applaud Donald Trump for "telling like it is", refusing to be bound by norms of presidential behaviour or political correctness.
There are pointers of national success elsewhere. The New York Stock Exchange is still reaching record highs. Business confidence is on the up. Unemployment is at a 16-year low. Of the 62 million people who voted for Trump, a large number continue to regard him more as a national saviour than a national embarrassment.
In many red states, "Make America Great Again" echoes just as strongly as it did 12 months ago. Trump has a historically low approval rating of just 35%, but it's 78% among Republicans.
In the international realm, it's plausible foreign adversaries fear the United States more under Trump than Obama, and foreign allies no longer take the country for granted. The so-called Islamic State has been driven from Raqqa. Twenty-five Nato allies have pledged to increase defence spending. Beijing, under pressure from Washington, appears to be exerting more economic leverage over Pyongyang.
However, America First increasingly means America alone, most notably on the Paris climate change accord and the Iranian nuclear deal. Trump has also Twitter-shamed longstanding allies, such as Germany and Australia, and infuriated its closest friend Britain, with rash tweets about crime rates and terror attacks.
His labelling of foes such as Kim Jong Un as Little Rocket Man seems juvenile and self-diminishing. It hardly reaches the Reagan standard of "tear down this wall". Indeed, with North Korea, there's the widespread fear that Trump's tweet tirades could spark a nuclear confrontation.
Few countries look anymore to Trump's America as a global exemplar, the "city upon a hill" Reagan spoke of in his farewell address to the nation. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel is routinely described as the leader of the free world, the moniker bestowed on the US president since the days of FDR.
The Economist, which trolls Trump almost weekly, has described Chinese President Xi Jinping as the most powerful man in the world. American exceptionalism is now commonly viewed as a negative construct. "Only in America" is a term of derision.
Ronald Reagan used to talk of the 11th commandment - No Republican should speak ill of another Republican. So it is worth noting that some of Trump's most caustic and thoughtful critics have come from within his own party. Senator Jeff Flake called him "a danger to democracy".
Bob Corker described the White House as an "adult day care centre". John McCain, a frequent critic, has railed against "spurious, half-baked nationalism". George W Bush sounded the alarm about bigotry being emboldened and of how politics "seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication", without specifically naming the current president.
Trump's determination to be an anti-president has arguably had a vandalising effect on the office of the presidency, and to civil society more broadly. Artists have boycotted the White House reception held ahead of the annual Kennedy Center Awards, a red letter night in the country's cultural calendar.
The Golden State Warriors were disinvited from appearing at the White House after their championship win because of the take-the-knee protest. It's new for these kinds of commemorations to become contested.
Trump has even politicised one of the commander-in-chief's most solemn acts, offering condolences to the families of the fallen. It led to an indecorous row with a war widow. Small wonder long time Washington watchers, on both the right and left, consider this the nastiest and most graceless presidency of the modern era.
The corollary is the historical stock of his predecessors is rising. When the five living former presidents appeared together in Texas earlier this month they were greeted like a group of superheroes donning their capes for one final mission. It speaks of these unreal times that George W Bush is spoken of fondly, even wistfully, by long-time liberal foes.
Trump's claim he could be just as presidential as Abraham Lincoln is one of the more comical boasts to come from the White House. Then there are the falsehoods, the "alternative facts" and attacks on the "fake media" - his label for news organisations such as the New York Times and Washington Post, whose reporting has rarely been better. Recently he has even threatened to revoke the licences of networks whose news divisions have published critical stories. To some it has shades of 1984, but Orwell's version.
As for Morning in America, it has a new connotation - checking Trump's Twitter for pre-dawn tweets. The president commonly starts the day by lashing out at opponents or mercilessly mocking them. The new normal, it is often called. But it seems more apt to call it the new abnormal.
There is an extent to which America is politics-proof and president-proof. However bad things got in Washington, my sense has long been that the US would be rescued by its other vital centres of power. New York, its financial and cultural capital. San Francisco, its tech hub. Boston, its academic first city. Hollywood, its entertainment centre.
Adrienne Mccallister, director of Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality business development at Google, speaks during a launch event
But Los Angeles is reeling from the Harvey Weinstein revelations, the Uber scandal has shone a harsh light on corporate ethics in the tech sector and the Wells Fargo affair has once again shown Wall Street in a dismal light.
US universities dominate global rankings, but its top colleges could hardly be described as engines of intergenerational mobility. A study by the New York Times of 38 colleges, including Yale, Princeton and Dartmouth, showed that students from the top 1% income bracket occupied more places than the students from the bottom 60%. Of this year's intake at Harvard, almost a third were the sons and daughters of alumni.
Automation will also continue to be a jobs killer. One study this year predicted that nearly 40% of US jobs will be lost to computers and machines over the next 15 years. Spending time in the Rust Belt valleys around Pittsburgh last year I was struck by how many taxi and Uber drivers used to work in the steel industry. Now America's one-time Steel City is a centre of excellence for robotics and where Uber is road testing its driverless cars.
There's still truth in the adage that America is always going to hell, but it never quite gets there. But how that is being tested. Presently, it feels more like a continent than a country, with shared land occupied by warring tribes. Not a failing state but not a united states.
As I've travelled this country, I struggle to identify where Americans will find common political ground. Not in the guns debate. Not in the abortion debate. Not in the healthcare debate. Not even in the singing of the national anthem at American football games. Even a cataclysmic event on the scale of 9/11 failed to unify the country.
If anything it sowed the seeds of further division, especially over immigration. Some Americans agree with Donald Trump that arrivals from mainly Muslim countries need to be blocked. Others see that as an American anathema.
When I made my first journey to the US all those years ago I witnessed a coming together. Those Olympic celebrations were in some ways an orgy of nationalism, but there was also a commonality of spirit and purpose. From Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue performed on 84 grand pianos to a polyglot team of athletes bedecked with medals.
From the pilot who flew around the LA Coliseum in a jet pack to the customers who left McDonald's with free Big Macs. There was reason for rejoicing. The present was golden. America felt like America again.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41826022
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Twitter #joinin campaign by comic Sarah Millican helps lonely - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Launched by comedian Sarah Millican, the hashtag hopes to bring people together on Christmas Day.
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UK
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People spending Christmas Day alone are finding company thanks to a Twitter campaign called #joinin.
Launched by comedian Sarah Millican several years ago, it encourages people to use the hashtag and link with one another so as not to feel lonely.
People from around the world have already begun to tweet with their experiences.
"The main rule is to be kind," said Millican. "We're all here for each other."
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A number of tweeters explained why they were on their own on Christmas Day.
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Whilst some shared their sadness, others were positive about their situation.
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And there were reminders of the people spending Christmas Day alone to help us all.
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The campaign will run throughout the day. Just use the hashtag #joinin when tweeting to be part of it.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42477266
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White Christmas for some areas of UK - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Light snowfall has been recorded by the Met Office in Cumbria and parts of south Scotland.
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UK
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A white Christmas in Peebles, in the Scottish Borders
It has officially been a white Christmas in the UK for some, with areas of Cumbria and the south of Scotland recording light snowfall.
The Met Office confirmed the snowfall in Spadeadam, Cumbria, at about 22:00 GMT.
In a tweet, the forecaster added that parts of the south of Scotland were "also seeing rain turn to snow".
More wintry showers are expected, with the chance of up to 10cm of snow on the highest ground in Scotland.
The last officially white Christmas was recorded in 2014, when parts of the Northern Isles in Scotland had some snowfall.
A white Christmas used to be defined as the sighting, by a professional meteorologist, of one snow flake falling on the roof of the London Weather Centre.
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The Met Office has widened the rule to include other parts of the country.
However, the snow still must be seen by a professional to count.
The Met Office has warnings covering southern, central and eastern Scotland and the most northern parts of England.
Met forecaster Mark Wilson said the temperature would turn colder on Boxing Day, with averages of 2C and 4C in Scotland, and between 7C and 9C in the south of the UK.
It is also alerting people in Wales and central England to expect rain and snow from 18:00 GMT on Boxing Day until 11:00 GMT on Wednesday.
Persistent rain moving east, from Wales into England, is likely to turn to snow early on Wednesday.
Most of the UK enjoyed a mild Christmas Day, although it has been wet in some areas.
The highest temperature - of 12.5C - was recorded in Hawarden, Flintshire, in north-east Wales.
It failed to match the Christmas Day record of 15.6C in Killerton, Devon in 1920.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42479735
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Briton Laura Plummer jailed in Egypt for drug smuggling - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Laura Plummer is jailed for three years after being accused of smuggling 300 painkiller tablets into Egypt.
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Humberside
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Karl Turner MP: "This is a... decent, honest, hard-working Hull woman, who was simply naive"
A British woman has been convicted of smuggling 300 painkiller tablets into Egypt and jailed for three years.
Laura Plummer, 33, was arrested after she was found with the Tramadol tablets in her suitcase, on 9 October.
Plummer, from Hull, claimed the painkiller, legal on prescription in the UK but banned in Egypt, was to treat her Egyptian partner's back pain.
Her family said her lawyers had lodged an appeal. Plummer previously said she had "no idea" the tablets were illegal.
Plummer's mother Roberta Synclair, who was in court for the hearing, told the BBC: "I'm still in shock after today's verdict. It's difficult and I can't believe it after waiting for two months."
She said her daughter has now been moved to another police station ahead of her move to prison.
Laura Plummer said the prescription pills were for her partner Omar Caboo
The family has previously said Plummer had no idea that what she was doing was illegal and was just "daft".
They said she did not try to hide the medicine, which she had been given by a friend, and thought it was a joke when she was taken aside by officials.
Plummer was detained on arriving at the Red Sea resort of Hurghada for a holiday with her partner, Omar Caboo.
Her sister Rachel Plummer said: "My mum's obviously devastated. She's out there by herself."
It is not clear when an appeal against her sentence might be heard.
She said: "We're just hoping. Even half of that would be better. Anything less than three years. She doesn't deserve that."
Tramadol is a strong painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain.
It is a class C drug and is only available in the UK with a prescription from a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional.
As a class C drug, it is illegal for anyone else to supply Tramadol, to have it or to give it away, even to friends.
Her other sister Jayne Synclair said Plummer had only been trying to help her partner.
"She was taking those tablets to help her man who had been in an accident," she said.
"He did not even know she was bringing them. She was doing it to be kind. How can you be sentenced to three years just for being kind?"
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Jayne Sinclair, sister: "She's on the verge of a mental breakdown"
Reacting to news of the sentence, Karl Turner, MP for Hull East, said the court's decision was "devastating" for Plummer and her family.
He said: "Laura, most of all, will be absolutely devastated. She's not been well lately, she's sleep deprived and she's been very anxious
"I think it's a damning indictment about good sense and fair play."
Mr Turner accepted Plummer had been naive but was "decent, honest and hard-working".
"[She was] going to visit her partner in Egypt, taking what she thought was a painkiller and no more than that," he said.
"It clearly is a banned substance and whilst we must respect the law of other countries there must be good sense and fair play as well."
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We will continue to provide assistance to Laura and her family following the court ruling in Egypt, and our embassy is in regular contact with the Egyptian authorities."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42483135
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Shoppers immune to Boxing Day sales fever - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Previous spending and the income squeeze will hit the traditional Christmas season, a survey suggests.
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Business
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Traditional UK Boxing Day sales will suffer owing to spending on Black Friday and the squeeze on incomes, a survey suggests.
The majority of shoppers (56%) who took part in the survey for BBC Radio 4 think Boxing Day sales have lost their appeal.
Only a handful said they planned to get up early for a sales bargain.
Some 37% of people surveyed expect to spend less this Boxing Day owing to spending on Black Friday.
The survey of 1,000 shoppers was carried out for Radio 4's You and Yours by consumer analysts, Savvy Marketing. It found four out of 10 of people made a purchase during the Black Friday sales this year compared with three out of 10 in 2016.
Satwinder and Jyoti Matoo from Leeds go shopping together every weekend. They told You and Yours they would not be getting up early to go shopping this time.
"The sales are on every day now. You can buy sale stuff whenever you like. I have queued up before on Boxing Day and I've got some bargains, but this year I'm going to stay in bed," said Satwinder.
Catherine Shuttleworth, from Savvy Marketing, said: "The data shows that people spent more money this Black Friday than last year and people can't spend that money twice, so the Boxing Day sales will suffer.
"Shoppers expect things to be discounted because times are tough and family spending isn't as flexible as it has been."
Festive cheer has been in short supply for retailers this season. Consumer spending has fallen for the third month in a row, according to analysis from Visa. The credit card company predicts the UK will see its first fall in overall Christmas spending by consumers since 2012.
Ms Shuttleworth said retailers needed to get as many people into their shops as possible. "If there aren't any deals, shoppers will go elsewhere, so sales are like a drug which retailers can't get off," she said.
Despite this apparent addiction to discounting, 62% of people surveyed thought that constant sales devalued the brand of a shop.
Online retailer Jenny Parker sells 180 different brands through her website. She agreed that year-round sales were detrimental.
"If you look at the brands which are doing well, they don't have blanket discounts. They are strategic about their pricing and when they go into sale," she said.
The British Retail Consortium said other factors such as the weather, the timing of Christmas Day or the health of consumers' incomes could affect how much was spent during post-Christmas sales. Many more people were shopping online, it added.
Rachel Lund, head of retail insight and analytics at the British Retail Consortium, said: "Our data shows that sales of non-food products in the two weeks after Christmas are typically 20% to 30% lower than the average in the weeks leading up to Christmas."
• None Would you sleep in your favourite shop?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42428308
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Vitaly Mutko: Russia football head steps aside amid doping ban - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Vitaly Mutko, who has stood down temporarily, was banned from the Olympics for life over doping.
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Europe
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Vitaly Mutko will remain the chief organiser of the 2018 football World Cup
Russia's most senior football official has temporarily stood down as he fights a ban given for state-backed doping.
Vitaly Mutko was banned from the Olympics for life in early December having been accused of running a huge Olympic doping programme.
Mr Mutko said he would stand down as president of the Russian Football Union while he contests the ban.
He has always denied taking part in doping but Russia was banned from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Mr Mutko will continue to carry out his role as the chief organiser of next summer's football World Cup in Russia.
Whistleblower Vitaly Stepanov, a former Russian anti-doping agency worker, told the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Mr Mutko, a former sports minister, "created and ran" Russia's "state-directed" doping programme.
Mr Mutko, he said, "received help from other state officials" including "Vladimir Putin's authorisation of a decree that required urine and blood samples carried by foreign anti-doping inspectors to be approved".
Mr Mutko was also directly implicated in the McLaren report, an independent investigation looking into whether the Russia state backed doping in sport.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. IOC president: An 'unprecedented attack on the integrity of the Olympics'
Mr Stepanov's testimony, made public in early December, led to Russia's ban from the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Russian athletes who can prove they are clean would be allowed to compete in the Games under a neutral flag.
Mr Mutko, one of Russia's deputy prime ministers, said that he would step down "so that our organisations are not disturbed during the legal investigation". He said he was appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42480603
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Is university free speech under threat? - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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London School of Economics students set up a Free Speech Society in response to what they say is increasing censorship on university campuses. What's behind the row?
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Education & Family
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Students at the London School of Economics set up a Free Speech Society in January in response to what they say is increasing censorship on university campuses. Now students are voting on whether the society should be banned. What's behind the row?
Universities have long been considered places for debate and for ideas to be challenged, but alongside that they are also meant to be places where minorities of all kinds can feel safe, comfortable and not sidelined in a way they may be elsewhere.
These two ideals are currently causing conflict on campuses, fuelled by concepts such as "safe space" and "no platforming" - used by students with a view to gathering and having discussions without views or opinions that are deemed offensive or threatening.
So how can these terms best be defined?
·No platform asserts that no proscribed person or organisation should be given a platform to speak, nor should a union officer share a platform with them.
·A safe space is an accessible environment in which every student feels comfortable, safe, and can get involved free from intimidation or judgment.
The National Union of Students (NUS) has an official no platform list which includes the BNP and Al-Muhajiroun, but individual unions and student groups can decide their own. Some recent decisions have caused a stir.
Feminist writer Julie Bindel was banned from speaking at Manchester University's student union last October as they said her views on transgender people could "incite hatred towards and exclusion of our trans students".
And at Canterbury Christ Church University, an NUS rep refused to share a platform with gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, whom she regarded as having been racist and "transphobic".
This decision and others are still being rowed about online - free speech advocates calling "censorship", but others arguing safe spaces allow free speech for those shut down throughout history.
Brendan O'Neill is one of those who think this all amounts to censorship - the editor of current affairs magazine Spiked Online held a conference last week on the issue.
He first campaigned against no platform while at university two decades ago - then it was only used against racists and Zionists.
"We argued that if you censored these groups, there's nothing to stop the censorious logic from spreading and encapsulating more and more people - and that's exactly what happened.
"When you accept the idea that some thoughts are too dangerous to have in public life, there's nothing to stop other thoughts from being swallowed up."
But NUS president Megan Dunn said: "It's simply not the case that they are banned or censored, it's just whether they are invited to a students' union to speak or not. This is about students' unions, they're democratic organisations."
The Free Speech Society was started at LSE in January in reaction to incidents including the suspension of the rugby team for handing out sexist leaflets. On Friday, in what they describe as an ironic move, students are voting on whether the society should be banned.
Its head, Charlie Parker, believes freedom of expression is being stifled.
"Free speech has always been there to help and protect minorities - if you look at gay rights movements, civil rights movements, feminism, all the great progression under these movements was made possible through the use of freedom of expression," he said.
But many students argue that safe spaces are in place to make sure all students have a voice.
Rayhan Uddin, Labour Society black and minority ethnic officer at LSE says safe spaces are useful in certain circumstances to allow repressed voices to speak.
"Clearly we have some problems when it comes to structural barriers for certain groups. And if women and ethnic minority students on campuses want to self-organise to help overcome some of the barriers they face, I would say all power to them," he said.
Megan Dunn of the NUS said it has to listen to students when they find some views threatening
The National Union of Students said it has to listen to students when they say they find others' views threatening.
"There have certainly been moments in my education when I have been uncomfortable, my views have been challenged - I think most of us will be able to draw a distinction between times we have been uncomfortable and times we have felt threatened," Ms Dunn said.
"Some people would say opinions are threatening to them, and we have to be able to listen to that view as well."
The debate continues but the one thing that everyone I spoke to agreed on is that they want everyone to have a voice at university - they just disagreed about how best to achieve that.
The Victoria Derbyshire programme is broadcast on weekdays between 09:15 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News channel.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35661362
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Heather Menzies-Urich, The Sound of Music's Louisa von Trapp, dies - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Heather Menzies-Urich's son Ryan said she was diagnosed with brain cancer four weeks ago.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Heather Menzies, second right next to Julie Andrews, has died aged 68
Heather Menzies-Urich, who played Louisa Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, has died aged 68.
Her death was announced by the estate of the musical's creators, Rodgers & Hammerstein, on Monday.
She was diagnosed with brain cancer four weeks ago and died on Christmas Eve, news site TMZ quoted her son Ryan as saying.
"She was an actress, a ballerina and loved living her life to the fullest," he told TMZ.
Born Heather Menzies in Toronto, she was 15 when the musical film was released in 1965. It went on to win 10 Oscars, including best picture.
She played the mischievous third Von Trapp child Louisa, but her later television and film appearances did not hit the same heights.
At 23, she posed nude for Playboy magazine under the headline The Tender Trapp, a decision she said horrified her Presbyterian parents, who were originally from Scotland.
She married actor and film producer Robert Urich in 1975, but he died in 2002.
Among those to pay tribute were Kym Karath, who played Gretl in the film.
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"Heather was part of 'the family'," Ted Chapin, of the Rodgers & Hammerstein estate, said.
"Heather was a cheerful and positive member of the group, always hoping for the next gathering. We are all lucky to have known her, and she will happily live on in that beautiful movie. We will miss her."
Her death comes 14 months after that of Charmian Carr, who played the eldest Von Trapp daughter Liesl.
From L to R: Heather Menzies-Urich (Louisa von Trapp), Debbie Turner (Marta) and Kym Karath (Gretl) at the 50th anniversary of the film in 2015
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42479649
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Police break up Westfield Stratford fight - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Footage shows officers separating teenagers at a London shopping centre during the Boxing Day sales.
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Police have dealt with a disturbance at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, east London.
An eyewitness told the BBC the incident happened during the Boxing Day sales, when two groups of teenagers began "pushing and shouting".
Nearby shops closed their shutters, while shoppers gathered above the scene to watch events unfold.
The Met Police said officers said they attended at around 14:30GMT, and "groups causing the disorder were dispersed".
In a statement on Twitter, Westfield Stratford said the "minor disturbance" had been resolved.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42487538
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Police officer and woman killed in Sheffield crash - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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The officer was responding to a call out when his vehicle was in collision with a car on Christmas Day.
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Sheffield & South Yorkshire
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The collision happened on the A57 between Coisley Hill and Moss Way
A police officer and a 61-year-old woman died in a crash on Christmas Day.
The 46-year-old officer was responding to an incident when the marked BMW 3 Series he was driving was in collision with a Citroen C3 on the A57 in Sheffield.
South Yorkshire Police said the officer died at the scene and the woman, who was a passenger in the second vehicle, died in hospital.
The collision happened near to Coisley Hill at about 20:15 GMT.
A force spokesman said the officer was responding to an "immediate incident" when he was in collision with the silver Citroen which was travelling in the opposite direction.
The woman who died was from Sheffield, he added.
A 63-year-old man who was driving the Citroen was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
South Yorkshire Police said the officer died at the scene of the crash on the A57 in Sheffield
Assistant Chief Constable of South Yorkshire David Hartley, said: "On behalf of the force I'd like to offer my sincere condolences to all of those left bereaved by this terrible tragedy - our thoughts, love and support are extended to all those affected.
"We are doing everything we can to support them through this difficult time."
He went on to pay tribute to the officer killed in the collision.
"We have lost a friend and a colleague from our police family in this incident," ACC Hartley added.
"The officer has been with us for 12 years and was a passionate, professional and universally liked officer.
"His colleagues, and everyone across the force, are devastated by what has happened."
The force said the collision had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42486033
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Oxford Street panic: Woman hurt after 'shots fired' false alarm - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Met Police officers cordon off an area around a smashed glass window at House of Fraser.
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London
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Police were called to Oxford Street on Boxing Day
A woman was injured when shoppers fled from London's Oxford Street after false reports of shots being fired.
The Metropolitan Police were called to the scene at 16:50 GMT and cordoned off an area around a smashed glass window at House of Fraser.
The police said that a woman received "non-life threatening injuries" as a result of a fall.
They added there was "nothing to indicate" that shots had been fired or a crime committed.
Officers cordoned off an area around a smashed glass window at House of Fraser
The BBC's James Waterhouse, who is at the scene, said two witnesses told him they saw three women run into the window, knocking displays over as they tried to leave.
He said a police officer told him "it was an accident" and said that "there was a panic and someone tried to get out on the inside".
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One shopper spoke of "craziness in House of Fraser" on Twitter, adding that she had "never been in a stampede before", while another one posted there was a "stampede of people running".
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BBC World Service reporter Faith Orr, who was passing by the scene in a taxi, said a "huge window" was "completely smashed" and that people had been evacuated.
House of Fraser told the BBC the store has now fully reopened.
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Meanwhile, police were called to reports of disturbances at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, east London.
Officers attended at about 14:30 on Tuesday and "groups causing the disorder were dispersed", a Met Police spokesman said.
A man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, the force added.
In a statement on Twitter, Westfield Stratford said the "minor disturbance" had been resolved.
"The centre was not evacuated and is trading normally," it added.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42486797
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'Rocket Man' lands in Seoul - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Meet the leading impersonator of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
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Meet Dragon Kim, the leading impersonator of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and find out how people react to him in different countries.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42428718
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Growing up a prisoner in a cult - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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At exactly 11:15, the front door of a council flat in Brixton opened. Two women stepped out on to a quiet residential street.
The younger woman, Rosie, had an awkward gait. Her movement was stiff and clunky, as though she simply wasn't used to walking any distance. In fact, she had spent the past 30 years - her whole life - in captivity.
Now she was ill and needed urgent medical attention.
Born into a “collective”, she was not allowed to see a doctor, had never been allowed outside alone and had been told that if she tried to leave she would spontaneously combust and die.
Worried she might not survive her illness, on 25 October 2013, Rosie and another woman, Josie, sneaked out.
Waiting for them just round the corner were members of an organisation that helps people who have been abused, trafficked or enslaved. Along with the police, they had helped organise the escape.
It soon became apparent that Rosie and 57-year-old Josie weren't the only women who lived in the flat, and when police officers returned they met Aisha - a 69-year-old woman originally from Malaysia. At first she didn't want to leave, but as they talked, she changed her mind.
In the weeks that followed, it became clear how extraordinary their life had been.
All three women seemed extremely frightened, often referring to an all-powerful force called Jackie, which they believed might seek retribution or cause them terrible harm. They were terrified of electricity, which they called “eeee” and seemed anxious that household appliances might blow up or explode.
As they revealed details of their existence and Rosie gradually became more confident, she decided to change her name to Katy, inspired by the lyrics of Katy Perry's song, Roar, which is about a woman overcoming a difficult relationship and finding her voice.
Katy's own story, and everything she had managed to overcome, proved far stranger than anyone could have imagined.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-b0af7ef5-1031-4e1f-a3ac-b3c21ef0f932
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White Christmas sweeps US states - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Snow storms sweep states from Midwest to Northeast, breaking snowfall records in some parts.
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Snow has swept US states from Midwest to Northeast, breaking snowfall records in some parts.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42486152
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Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 Southampton - BBC Sport
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2017-12-26
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Harry Kane grabs another hat-trick and breaks the record for the most Premier League goals scored in a calendar year as Tottenham thrash Southampton.
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Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Harry Kane grabbed another hat-trick and broke the record for the most Premier League goals scored in a calendar year as Tottenham thrashed Southampton at Wembley.
The Spurs and England striker headed home his 37th league goal of 2017 on 22 minutes to surpass Alan Shearer's landmark, which was set during his time at Blackburn in 1995.
Kane then added two more either side of half-time to bring his total for the year - for both club and country - to 56, two more than Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi.
Before Kane's third, Dele Alli had made it 3-0 on 49 minutes when he drilled in from outside the area, before setting up Son Heung-min two minutes later, who powered a confident finish past Fraser Forster.
Southampton, without top scorer Charlie Austin, got off the mark when Sofiane Boufal struck low under Hugo Lloris, and Dusan Tadic added a second with a lofted effort.
Despite a second-half recovery, Saints never looked like spoiling the Spurs party and have now gone a month without a win in the Premier League.
Spurs, meanwhile, stay fifth after Liverpool beat Swansea 5-0 in Tuesday's late kick-off.
It was an impressive display from Mauricio Pochettino's side, but the game will always be remembered for Kane's record-breaking day, as he cemented his status as one of the top flight's most prolific strikers.
Speaking about his 22-year record being taken, Shearer tweeted: "You've had a magnificent 2017, Harry Kane. You deserve to hold the record of most Premier League goals in a calendar year. Well done and keep up the good work."
• None Kane reached his goal-scoring record in 36 games - six fewer than Shearer in 1995
• None The 24-year-old has scored more league goals this season than Bournemouth, West Brom, Swansea, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Huddersfield
• None He is the first player in Premier League history to score six hat-tricks in a single calendar year
• None Kane has scored eight Premier League hat-tricks, as many as Thierry Henry and Michael Owen - only Alan Shearer (11) and Robbie Fowler (9) have more in the competition.
• None Kane has scored 56 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham and England in 2017. He is Europe's top scorer over the past 12 months in the five major countries (England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France)
• None The Spurs striker has now scored 96 Premier League goals for the club - one off Teddy Sheringham's record
Southampton had drawn three and lost three of their past six games and arrived at Wembley without two key players in Austin, who is injured and suspended, and Virgil van Dijk, who was left out of the squad again amid reports of a January exit.
They looked overwhelmed at times and contributed to Tottenham's dominance.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fouled Danny Rose on the edge of the area and gave away the Christian Eriksen free-kick which led to Kane's opener.
And Nathan Redmond's mistake in the Spurs half gifted the hosts possession and their counter-attack finished with Son's strike for 4-0.
Southampton, three points above the relegation zone in 13th, were able to recover some pride as they twice beat a stuttering Lloris, but it was too little, too late.
Mauricio Pellegrino's side face more tough tasks ahead, with an away trip to Manchester United up next.
"We were a little bit unlucky because in the second half we were close to going 1-2 but once we conceded the third one the game was gone," said Pellegrino.
"I want to see a team with character fighting and playing for the ball. Sometimes you do well, sometimes you do not but the minimum is to show this from the beginning. The wrong thing is we waited until the Tottenham goal to react."
On Van Dijk's omission, the Southampton boss added: "We know that around Virgil there will be a lot of speculation. You will have to wait until January, I pick the best for my team right now. That is my decision."
While Kane will quite rightly dominate the headlines, there were some other stand-out performances for the hosts.
Alli ended his two-month goal drought in the Premier League when he turned on Oriol Romeu and struck a sweet strike from distance, while Son was rewarded for his all-round display with a well-executed finish.
Spurs now have five wins from their past six matches in all competitions, and Pochettino wants their form to continue into 2018.
"We are ambitious but I am happy that we finished the year in a very good way," said the Argentine.
"For next year? We must win - win every game. The mentality is so important for us."
Southampton are back in action on Saturday, 30 December against Manchester United at Old Trafford (17:30 GMT), while Spurs return in 2018, when they travel to Swansea on Tuesday, 2 January (19:45)
• None Attempt missed. Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Dusan Tadic.
• None Dusan Tadic (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt missed. Maya Yoshida (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Dusan Tadic following a set piece situation.
• None Attempt missed. Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Dele Alli.
• None Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 5, Southampton 2. Dusan Tadic (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner following a corner.
• None Attempt saved. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Sofiane Boufal. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42360004
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NUS 'right to have no platform policy' - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Nearly two-thirds (63%) of university students believe the National Union of Students is right to have a "no platforming" policy, a Victoria Derbyshire programme survey suggests.
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Education & Family
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Nearly two-thirds (63%) of university students believe the National Union of Students is right to have a "no platforming" policy, a survey suggests.
The policy means people or groups on a banned list for holding racist or fascist views are not given a platform to speak on student union premises.
And 54% of 1,001 students asked thought the policy should be enforced against people who could be found intimidating.
The NUS said the policy allowed free speech without intimidation.
ComRes interviewed 1,001 UK university students online for the survey, commissioned by the Victoria Derbyshire programme, with data weighted by course year, university type and gender.
The NUS official no platform list contains six groups including the BNP and Al-Muhajiroun, but individual unions and student groups can decide their own.
The Victoria Derbyshire programme broadcast a special programme on the issue of no platform on Monday. If you missed it you can catch up here.
The NUS said it was proud of the policy and that the poll results showed students recognised it was important to stand up to racism and fascism.
"In the past, students have been physically harmed and tragically even killed as a result of such organisations coming on to campuses and inciting hatred. That is why no platform was introduced in the first place, to keep students safe in a very real sense," a spokeswoman said.
"Our policy does not limit free speech, but acts to defend it by calling out violence, hate speech, bullying and harassment, which allows debate to take place without intimidation. Students' unions are champions of debate on campus, in fact a recent survey showed zero out of 50 students' unions had banned a speaker in the past year."
In recent years, individuals believed to be sexist, transphobic or rape apologists have also been banned from speaking at universities.
It is argued these speakers would threaten a "safe space", which is described as an accessible environment in which every student feels comfortable, safe and can get involved free from intimidation or judgment.
At Canterbury Christ Church University, an NUS rep refused to share a platform with gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, whom she regarded as having been racist and "transphobic".
Responding to the charge, he told the Victoria Derbyshire programme's debate on no platforming: "I simply say where is the evidence for that claim? I've asked all my accusers, none of them can provide a single bit of evidence.
"This is what is particularly offensive about some aspects of student politics today - people make false, baseless allegations to try and discredit their opponents."
Feminist writer Julie Bindel was banned from speaking at Manchester University's student union last October as students said her views on transgender people could "incite hatred towards and exclusion of our trans students".
She told the debate: "Thirteen years ago I wrote an article which some transgender activists took offence at. Since then it's been like an anti-feminist witch-hunt against me. I am no platformed by a couple of committees within the NUS and I'm constantly described as being like Hitler. It's deeply offensive but we don't have the right not to be offended.
"I don't mind students not inviting me, but other students get really fed up with me not being invited. I get more emails each week from feminist students who want to hear me speak on how to end men's violence."
Watch the Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-36101423
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Archbishop Welby condemns populist leaders in Christmas sermon - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Church of England's most senior cleric focuses on terrorist atrocities and deceitfulness of "populist leaders" in 2017.
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UK
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has used his Christmas Day sermon to focus on terrorist atrocities and deceitfulness of "populist leaders" in 2017.
Preaching to worshippers at Canterbury Cathedral, the Most Rev Justin Welby compared the Holy Family to modern-day refugees.
He also contrasted Jesus with "populist leaders that deceive" their people.
His Catholic counterpart, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, called for a rejection of "radical individualism" in society.
Preaching at the Sung Eucharist service, the Archbishop said that the nature of power meant those who have it, seek to hold on to it.
He said: "In 2017 we have seen around the world tyrannical leaders that enslave their peoples, populist leaders that deceive them, corrupt leaders that rob them, even simply democratic, well-intentioned leaders of many parties and countries who are normal, fallible human beings."
He condemned terrorist atrocities and those who claimed that terror was "the path to freedom in God".
Like the Pope the Archbishop drew parallels between the Nativity story and the migrant crisis.
He said: "[The Holy Family] flee as refugees, like over 60 million people today.
"Yet their story is the beginning of ours, it is an invitation to lives of freedom, found through God's freely offered love."
In his midnight homily, the Roman Catholic Church's most senior cleric in England and Wales warned of "radical individualism" in society and said there was "conflict in the air, not dialogue".
Cardinal Nichols added he hoped Christmas would bring "green shoots of hope".
Speaking to the BBC before the Christmas midnight Mass in Westminster Cathedral, London, Cardinal Nichols said: "In social media there's a barrage of views and once a statement or claim is made there's immediately a counterclaim, and the mode of exchange is conflict."
He added that society needs "to get over that notion that faith in God and reason are somehow opposed".
He said "the heart has reasons that the mind doesn't always understand".
When asked about the part that religion plays in conflicts, he maintained faith was not the primary reason for unrest in places like the Middle East.
"Even the conflict in Northern Ireland; reading of it it that it was essentially about religious faith, is an inadequate rather superficial meaning.
"Most conflicts are about power and territories and borders and wealth," the cardinal said.
"Often religious identity is in there in the mix but I don't think for the most part it is the key issue."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42475285
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The Queen's Christmas message - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Her Majesty the Queen's Christmas message to the people of the Commonwealth.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42480186
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Meghan Markle joins royals for Christmas service - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Crowds gather to watch the Royal Family arrive at the Christmas church service in Sandringham.
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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. Meghan Markle joined the Royal Family for the Christmas service
Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle has joined the Royal Family for the Christmas Day service at the Queen's Norfolk estate.
The couple arrived at a carol service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Queen returned after missing last year's service due to a heavy cold.
Princes Philip and Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also attended, along with other members of the family.
After the service, Ms Markle joined members of the family in greeting the crowds - some of whom had been waiting outside since 05:00 GMT.
The Queen waved to the crowd after the service
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spoke to members of the public
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are expecting their third child, smiled at the crowd.
If royal tradition from previous years was followed, the family will have exchanged presents on Christmas Eve and awoken to a stocking of small gifts and fruit at the end of their beds.
The Queen and Prince Phillip also attended an early Holy Communion service at the church.
They will return home for a traditional turkey lunch, before watching the Queen's speech together.
Prince Charles spoke to the crowds outside the church
This year, the Queen will pay tribute to London and Manchester for the manner in which they dealt with this year's terror attacks, as well as praising the Duke of Edinburgh for his support in the year of the couple's 70th wedding anniversary.
Meghan Markle arrived at the church on the Sandringham Estate looking every inch the future royal.
She walked along in the heart of her new family between her fiance Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
She smiled at the crowd, which in some places, was five deep, some of whom had queued from 2.40am to be a part of the royal Christmas celebrations.
When they left church, Meghan and Harry walked over to a couple of ladies who had been waiting.
Meghan smiled as Prince Harry complimented them on their Christmassy coloured clothes and told them the royal children were so excited it was hard to keep them under control.
The Americans in the crowd were especially thrilled to see her, mainly from the bases at Mildenhall and Lakenheath, happy at the prospect of one of their compatriots marrying into a British institution in May next year.
One was so excited that he brought an engagement ring all the way from Wisconsin for his girlfriend and proposed to her in the queue. She said yes!
A crowd of around 200 were waiting for the family's arrival from early morning.
A number of Americans from nearby RAF Lakenheath made the journey to see the family and their new addition.
Lindsey Wells, from Nebraska, said it was "intriguing" and "exciting" that Ms Markle was marrying into the Royal Family, and she wanted to see them in person.
Prince Edward joined his sister, Princess Anne, on the short walk
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was also in attendance
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For one couple from Texas the wait outside the church took on extra significance. Michael Metz proposed to girlfriend Ashley Millican - and she accepted.
Miss Millican told the Press Association: "I had no idea. I was definitely very surprised. I never thought he would ask me right before we were about to see the Royal Family for the first time!"
Mr Metz added: "It was pretty tough to keep secret as I was so excited. It's memories to cherish forever."
Michael Metz and Ashley Millican marked the service with a proposal of their own.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42477127
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The Royal Family attend church in Sandringham - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Prince Harry and fiancee Meghan Markle, join the Queen at church in Sandringham.
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The Queen and members of the Royal Family have been to church on the Sandringham estate for the traditional Christmas carol service.
Prince Harry's fiancee, Meghan Markle, also attended, which is not usual as protocol stipulates that only partners who are married into the family are invited along.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42478299
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China power tower flattened in demolition - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Footage from state TV shows a power grid tower brought down in Hubei Province.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42483227
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Shoppers stay home for Boxing Day sales - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Fewer people went bargain hunting, following Black Friday discounts and online shopping.
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Business
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Fewer people have hit the UK's Boxing Day sales this year as Black Friday discounts and savvy online shoppers lowered turnout.
Shop visits dropped by 4.5% up to 5pm compared with last year, according to research group Springboard.
Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said that although it had expected a downturn, "the scale of the drop is greater than expected."
She said: "What we have seen in the last couple of years is a structural shift in the Christmas trading period."
While Black Friday sales have changed the way people shop in the UK, Ms Wehrle said the impact was particularly felt this year, as retailers began discounting a week before 24 November and carried on right up until Christmas.
"The hotspots for Christmas trading around Boxing Day and New Year's Day are dissipating," she said.
On the upside, Springboard said early indicators pointed to a strong rise in online shopping for the full 24-hour Boxing Day period.
It expects internet transactions to surpass last year, when they rose by 6.2%.
But Ms Wehrle said that people were increasingly looking online for bargains before they visited a store or deciding to "click and collect".
As a result of this targeted shopping, there is less window-shopping and fewer spur-of-the-moment purchases.
Footfall on UK High Streets fell by 5.8%, while in shopping centres, it tumbled by 4% in the first 17 hours of Boxing Day.
Chris Daly, chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Marketing, said: "Gone are the days of setting the alarm at 06:00 to be first in line for the Boxing Day sales, something borne out by the footage of quiet shopping centres up and down the country."
However, Hammerson, the property group that owns a number of Britain's largest shopping centres, said that about 600 people were lining up to grab bargains at the retailer Next's store in Birmingham's Bullring. Queues began forming there at half past midnight.
Over the long term, Ms Wehrle believes that shopping habits in the UK have changed for good, with people looking for more of a "leisure experience" when they hit the stores.
"If people go out to eat, they don't have money to spend in the shops," she said.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42486325
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Royal Christmas photograph reaction 'overwhelming' - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Mother who snapped hugely popular picture of royals hopes to use proceeds for daughter's education.
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UK
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Ms Murdoch's photograph has now been seen by millions of people
A mother has been "overwhelmed" by the response to her photograph of four smiling royals, which appeared on the front of numerous national newspapers.
Karen Murdoch, of Watlington, Norfolk, captured a beaming Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Christmas Day at Sandringham.
Her image made the front pages of the Sun, Daily Mail, Mirror, Star, Daily Telegraph and Express newspapers.
Ms Murdoch, 39, said reaction to the picture has been "bizarre and bonkers".
She is hoping to use any proceeds from the snap to fund her daughter's studies. She says she now has an agent working on her behalf.
The amateur photographer told BBC Breakfast: "It was pure luck - I took it on an iPhone and it was a great photograph.
Asked how she got the Royals to look at the camera and capture the shot every photographer dreamt of, Ms Murdoch, who calls herself Karen Anvil on Twitter, said the secret was attracting their attention.
Both Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge are looking directly into the camera with relaxed and natural smiles.
Ms Murdoch admitted she had a "fan-girl" moment while with her daughter Rachel, 17
Ms Murdoch posted the image on Twitter at about 11:00 GMT on Christmas Day - and got thousands of likes. Her previous record was just five.
Four hours later she was still receiving messages from media organisations asking for permission to use the picture. Other Twitter users advised her to negotiate a price.
Arthur Edwards, royal photographer at The Sun and veteran of more than 200 royal tours, was also at the scene - and happily admits Ms Murdoch's image was the best of the day.
He told the BBC News website: "Getting all four of them lined up like that - it was a stunning snap.
"It was pot luck her being in the right spot, but she still got the photo.
"I rang her up to congratulate her on getting the front page of the Sun today."
He added: "We had probably the 20 best photographers in the country there, and she's scooped us all."
Ms Murdoch is now directing enquiries to a photographic agent.
"Now I want to save money for my daughter for uni and if I can get that opportunity that's amazing," she said.
"I hope this will help, because she wants to go into some form of nursing.
"I want to be able to support her as her mum."
Ms Murdoch has tweeted that the Daily Mail paid her £50 to use the image online.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42483201
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Leicestershire's Christmas pork pie tradition - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Experts believe the pork pie was developed as a portable snack for hunters.
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Turkey with all the trimmings was undoubtedly on the Christmas Day menu for millions of Brits.
But in Leicestershire, thousands will have also tucked into a pork pie - for breakfast.
The county's tradition is said to date back to when members of the aristocracy decamped to Melton for hunting season.
It is believed the pork pie was developed as an on-the-go snack for hungry hunters.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-42428449
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Oxford historians object to empire project - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Up to 60 academics say they oppose "the agenda" of a project assessing the ethics of empire.
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Oxford
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The Ethics and Empire project is being hosted by the McDonald Centre based at Christ Church college
Up to 60 Oxford University academics have signed a letter in opposition to "the agenda" of a project assessing the ethics of empire.
The programme is led by Prof Nigel Biggar, who claimed in a recent article in The Times, there are aspects of empire Britain can be proud of.
In a letter, published in The Conversation, the academics expressed their "firm rejection" of his views.
Prof Biggar said none of the academics had raised their concerns in person.
The Ethics and Empire project aims to explore ethical questions of empire, which it has argued are not currently explored, because "most reaches" of academic discourse believe "by definition empire is imperialist" and "wicked".
It will seek to measure apologies and critiques of empire against historical data from around the world, Prof Biggar said.
Prof Nigel Biggar is Regius Professor of moral and pastoral theology at Oxford University
The letter's signatories said the ideas and aims of the project are not representative of Oxford scholarship and were "too simplistic to be taken seriously".
They added they would also not be engaging with the programme because it consists of closed invitation-only seminars.
In response, Prof Biggar said "in the current illiberal climate such discussion is only possible in private" as "enemies of free speech and thought would disrupt it".
He added any of the academics would be at liberty to refuse an invitation, but they "would not close the discussion down".
Common Ground, a student group that aims to examine Oxford's "colonial past", has also criticised Prof Biggar and the project.
It said the University of Oxford should not "stand idly" in the face of his "apologies for colonialism".
A university spokesperson said "arguments and differing approaches" are to be expected, and defended Prof Biggar as an "entirely suitable" person to lead the "valid evidence-led academic" project
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-42423269
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Jodie Whittaker makes first Doctor Who appearance - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The actress is the first female Doctor to appear in the BBC TV programme.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Jodie Whittaker as she appeared at the end of Twice Upon a Time
Jodie Whittaker has made her debut as the first female Doctor in the Christmas special of Doctor Who.
Given the role in July, the actress succeeds Peter Capaldi to become the 13th Doctor.
The 35-year-old Broadchurch star said she was "beyond excited" to take up the role and the offer had been "overwhelming, as a feminist".
Whittaker will fully begin her role next year alongside Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole.
Capaldi, who has had the role since 2013, regenerated at the end of the episode to become Whittaker's character.
When she was appointed, Whittaker told fans not to be "scared" by her gender.
"It's more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can't wait," she added.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Actress Jodie Whittaker reveals four facts about herself
Actress Jenna Coleman returned as Doctor Who companion Clara Oswald in the Christmas programme alongside David Bradley.
Bradley playing the first Doctor, originally played by the late William Hartnell, while Pearl Mackie returned as companion Bill Potts.
It was the last episode for Potts and the show also marked an end for the programme's writer Steven Moffat, who has stepped down after seven years.
He has been replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall.
Fans reacted to Whittaker's introduction and Capaldi's departure on Twitter, with some praising the Doctor's gender.
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 Frances loves Kat 🥀 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.
Others meanwhile were supportive of the actress's roots.
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Elsewhere, Whittaker's predecessor in the role had a few words of comfort for one young fan who was sad to see his favourite Doctor depart this week.
Nine-year-old David McGilloway, from Londonderry, found a letter from Capaldi in his Christmas stocking, which read: "The new Doctor always becomes your favourite and the one that goes... well, he never really goes..."
After all, the Doctor is for life - not just for Christmas.
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If you missed Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time you can watch it on iPlayer.
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-42480116
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Boxing Day dippers brave chilly coastal waters for charity - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Thousands of swimmers, many in fancy dress, brave the chilly waters around the English coast.
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England
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Hundreds of people raced into the North Sea off the Norfolk coast
Boxing Day dips have attracted thousands of swimmers and spectators around the English coast.
Dippers have dashed into the chilly waters off beaches in Northumberland, Tyneside, Wearside and Dorset, among others.
Many were fundraising for charity dressed as Father Christmas, nuns, elves, Christmas puddings and turkeys.
Sea temperatures were estimated to be about 8.9C (48F) in the north and 11.1C (52F) in the south.
Some people braved the sea dressed as Redcar’s famous Lemon Tops
Costumes ranged from simple swimming costumes, wetsuits and sports gear to something more... complicated
Conditions were "the roughest they have been for a number of years" at Tynemouth Longsands, with swim time limited to 10 minutes, according to participants.
Run by the North Sea Volunteer Lifeguards, the dip first took place in 1999.
Swim veteran Geoff Wade said it was a "great way to clear your head after the excesses of Christmas".
"It felt warmer to me but it was my wife's first time and she didn't think the same," he said.
The Tynemouth dip had a time limit, just in case anyone needed it
Some brave Tynemouth dippers didn't even need fancy dress costumes to keep warm
RNLI Lifeboat operations manager Dave Cocks said the Redcar dip had had "as many spectators as we've ever seen".
The weather was "bright but cold" and there had been "lots of young and old doing the dip", he said.
People might run into the water but it's slower work getting out again
Jade Thirlwall, who is a member of pop band Little Mix, returned to her home town of South Shields to raise funds for a local charity at the Little Haven beach dip.
"My great-aunty Norma, she passed away last year from pancreatic cancer so it means a lot to me to do what I can," she said.
Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall was raising money for local charity Cancer Connections
Nearly 200 people dipped at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on the Northumberland coast, with local lifeboat volunteers and coastguard teams providing safety cover.
Just as many spectators watched their efforts from the relative warmth of the beach and promenade.
Speed seemed to be the trick at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
Of the annual dips one of the largest, organised by Sunderland Lions Clubs, has been held since 1974.
It attracts up to 900 dippers and raises tens of thousands of pounds for charity.
And there is always a man in a dress... always
Thousands of pounds is raised for charity by dippers
A 70m (230ft) swim across Weymouth Harbour on Christmas Day attracted 483 swimmers - a record number for the event.
It was started this year by Don Laker, 93, whose father inaugurated the event in 1948 with a swimming bet against a friend.
Weymouth and Portland Lions Club took over running it the 1970s.
The hardy souls of Dorset braved Weymouth Harbour on Christmas Day
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42483981
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Laura Plummer's sister: Drug crime 'was a kind gesture' - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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The sister of jailed Briton Laura Plummer tells the BBC her crime was born out of kindness.
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A British woman convicted of smuggling 300 painkiller tablets into Egypt is "on the verge of a mental breakdown", her sister has told the BBC.
Laura Plummer, who was found with Tramadol tablets in her suitcase, has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Jayne Sinclair says Laura was trying to help her Egyptian boyfriend who was in pain after an accident.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42487536
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Ian Paterson: Surgeon's victims 'may have been missed' - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Ian Paterson was jailed for 20 years for wounding with intent after needless operations.
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Birmingham & Black Country
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Some victims of disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson "may have been missed", say survivors' campaigners.
The Breast Friends group has called on Paterson's ex-employers Heart of England NHS Foundation (HEFT) and Spire Healthcare to contact all patients.
Paterson was found guilty in April of 17 counts of wounding with intent, leaving patients at risk of cancer.
HEFT said of Paterson's 1,206 patients that underwent mastectomies, 675 have since died.
His employers said they will fully cooperate with a new bid to contact his former patients.
Paterson, 60, worked as a consultant at Solihull Hospital from 1998 and carried out "cleavage sparing mastectomies".
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He was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Nottingham Crown Court in April. This was later increased to 20 years.
The Breast Friends group said reviews to date risk missing out victims of Paterson, who underwent general procedures, such as gall bladder removal.
"He was a general surgeon as well as a breast cancer surgeon," said Deborah Douglas, one of Paterson's victims.
"For me, the big thing now is how many other people were affected."
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Debbie Douglas: "He has mutilated me"
HEFT said it had not recalled all of Paterson's patients but has reviewed more than 24,000 mastectomy procedure patients' records to see if Paterson was involved.
Mrs Douglas, 59, said the new drive to contact patients will add figures from the private sector which will be "a step forward".
She added hospital bosses will be "missing a massive trick" if the pathology of the deceased is not reviewed to uncover the rates of cancer recurrence.
But HEFT said a review of deceased patients "cannot repair any damage that has already been caused" or provide "any tangible benefit" to survivors.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-42483386
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Homeless tuck into Christmas dinner at Euston Station - BBC News
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2017-12-26
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Euston Station in London has become a banqueting hall for 200 homeless people on Christmas Day.
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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. Guests were given goodie bags filled with essentials
It's no ordinary commuter Monday at Euston Station in London.
The last train left at 23:00 on Sunday and the passengers are home - but the concourse is busy with people sitting down to a Christmas Day feast.
An arrivals board reads: "Special notice: Network Rail invites you to Euston Station. Merry Christmas!"
For the first time, the transport hub has become a homeless shelter for 200 people - as one of many public spaces that normally lie empty on Christmas.
Some 45 volunteers have worked overnight to transform the station ready for a banquet of smoked salmon, soup, a roast, and Christmas pudding.
Next to barred ticket terminals and a shut WH Smith, Boots and Paperchase, tables and chairs are decorated with red poinsettias.
Sharon has come to Euston for some company on Christmas Day
One of today's guests, Sharon, says she has worn her best dress for the occasion.
"My support worker Christine told me about this a couple of weeks ago," she says.
"I knew I didn't have anything to do. I would be at home on my own and at times you're lonely, especially at Christmas."
Sharon, who moved to London from the US two decades ago, says she had to give up work as a retail manager because of a leg injury, but hopes to return next year.
"I'm on the mend, I'll definitely be dancing today!"
About 120,000 people pass through Euston every day, making it Britain's fifth-busiest train station, according to ticket sales data.
But today is more relaxed; cheers erupt as a pianist plays Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
It's a novelty for those who normally work at Euston, including station manager Joe Hendry.
"I initially didn't think it would be possible," he says.
"But turning up to work today at 06:30 this morning and seeing everyone here - it's wonderful.
"We have a big local homeless population here, so I've seen some familiar faces."
Jay, originally from Cork, moves from place to place in the area, and is currently living in an abandoned solicitors' office.
"If I wasn't here I'd be in the office - there's 20 of us - we would try and have a good time," he says.
Jay squats in local properties, and says he would otherwise be unable to afford a Christmas dinner
"We got tickets for today - it's nice to have something to do, we have bare cooking facilities and don't have much money for nice food."
Outside the station, people - many clutching blankets and shopping bags - are trying to get entry to the dinner, which is ticket-only and tightly guarded by Euston's security staff.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Network Rail's Steve Naybour: "Santa came last night" to Euston
The event was the brainchild of a group of Network Rail workers, including Steve Naybour, who was inspired by the Glastonbury Festival's use of vacant fields.
"Every year the festival uses fallow ground that would otherwise be unused - in a similar way, we thought about how we can use our empty stations," he says.
Steve's used to working over Christmas - and has a shift on Boxing Day - but says today is different.
"It's amazing to see the concourse looking so festive, which would normally be packed with commuters."
Volunteers prepping the alcohol-free four-course meal tweeted their efforts using the #EustonChristmas hashtag.
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Nearly 50 different businesses and organisations have donated items - including food, drinks and thermal clothes - to the event.
Mr Naybour says he has been "blown away" by the generosity, adding: "We've got a whole department store of clothes we're waiting to give out."
Two hundred children from schools in the local area have made Christmas cards to give to the guests, while local kitchens have opened up to help volunteers prepare the meal.
Charity volunteer Jon Glackin says empty buildings should be used as shelters
Jon Glackin, from the charity Street Kitchen, says he "jumped at the chance" to help. "People we've known over the years are coming along," he says.
"Something we've always tried to highlight is empty buildings, for feeding people, for sleeping and for shelters," adds Jon.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42477120
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Syria war: Situation in Eastern Ghouta at 'critical point' - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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The ICRC says life for ordinary people trapped in a besieged rebel-held area is becoming impossible.
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Middle East
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Food shortages have led to the acute malnutrition rate among children rising to 11.9%
The situation in a besieged rebel-held area near Syria's capital has reached a "critical point", the International Committee of the Red Cross has warned.
Scores of civilians have been killed or injured in the Eastern Ghouta in the past month and life is slowly becoming "impossible", the organisation says.
About 500 people are waiting to be evacuated for life-saving medical care.
There are also shortages of food, fuel and medicines, and the cold weather threatens to worsen the hardship.
"Chronic disease sufferers and people with severe injuries are struggling to access care," said the ICRC's Middle East director, Robert Mardini.
"The sick and injured must not be used as pawns in negotiations between the different parties involved in the fighting. Medical attention must be promptly given to those who need it irrespective of who they are."
The 400,000 people trapped in the Eastern Ghouta are also facing a "frightening" food shortage and a huge increase in food prices, according to the ICRC.
"Some families can afford to eat only one meal a day, an especially sad situation for people with children. As a result, most people have been relying entirely on aid from humanitarian organisations," Mr Mardini said.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Children in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta are among those suffering
The Eastern Ghouta has been under siege by government forces since 2013.
The area has been designated a "de-escalation zone" by Russia and Iran, the government's main allies, along with Turkey, which supports the opposition.
But hostilities intensified on 14 November, when the Syrian military stepped up air and artillery attacks on the enclave in response to a rebel offensive.
Although the government agreed to truce on 28 November, the fighting has continued.
Last week, the UN's humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria rebuked Russia and Iran for not doing more to give aid agencies access to the Eastern Ghouta.
Jan Egeland told the BBC that the failure to persuade the government to allow desperately ill children to be evacuated to hospitals only 30 minutes' drive away in Damascus showed "complete impotence".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42394259
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Star Wars actor Alfie Curtis dies aged 87 - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill pays tribute to man who provided "one of the most memorable scenes".
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Entertainment & Arts
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Alfie Curtis, who played Dr Evazan in Star Wars: A New Hope, has died at the age of 87.
The London-born actor had also appeared in the 1980 film The Elephant Man and the 80s UK TV series Cribb.
His Star Wars character famously threatened Luke Skywalker at Mos Eisley Cantina in the first of the original trilogy in 1977, telling him: "I have the death sentence on 12 systems".
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, tweeted his tribute to Alfie Curtis.
He called him a "funny, kind" man who helped provide "one of the most memorable [scenes] I've ever been a part of".
"Alfie Curtis made the #Star Wars Mos Eisley Cantina scene (one of the most memorable I've ever been a part of) even MORE memorable. As horrific as he was on-camera, off-camera he was funny, kind & a real gentleman," he wrote.
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The news broke on the Comic Book Star Wars website on Tuesday evening and the cause of death has not yet been revealed.
The character of Dr Evazan did pop up briefly in the 2016 Star Wars film Rogue One, but the younger version of the character was played by Michael Smiley.
• None The Last Jedi: The most divisive film ever?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42492807
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LA-Tokyo flight turns back after passenger 'boards with wrong ticket' - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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Model Chrissy Teigen live tweets as her flight is turned back to LA after four hours.
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US & Canada
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Chrissy Teigen live tweeted the ordeal to her 9.2 million followers
A Tokyo-bound flight carrying the model Chrissy Teigen and her musician husband John Legend turned back to LA after someone reportedly boarded in error.
According to Ms Teigen, the passenger boarded at LAX airport with a ticket for a different airline, although this was not confirmed by authorities.
The plane turned back four hours into the flight, over the Pacific Ocean.
The airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), said only that there had been a problem with a customer's "flight arrangement".
Adonis Cutchlow, of the LAX Police, told the LA Times there had been no criminal or illegal activity on board the plane, and it was not clear why it had turned back.
The plane should have flown 11 hours to Tokyo. Instead, passengers spent eight hours in the air only to return to the same airport.
According to a series of tweets posted by Ms Teigen to her 9.2 million followers from the plane, the passenger in question boarded the ANA flight with a ticket from United Airlines.
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Online flight tracker Flightaware showed the plane making a sharp turn over the Pacific, just over four hours out of LA, and returning.
One fellow passenger racked up 45,000 retweets and nearly 1,000 followers with a single tweet after posting a picture of the famous couple aboard the flight.
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About six hours after the first flight landed, Ms Teigen reported boarding another plane.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42492467
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Lewis Hamilton apologises for 'boys don't wear dresses' remark - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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The Formula 1 driver appeared to say the boy's outfit makes him "so sad" in an Instagram video.
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UK
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Lewis Hamilton has apologised for making "inappropriate" comments in a video in which he appeared to mock his nephew's princess dress.
In an Instagram video, which has since been deleted, the Formula 1 driver says "boys don't wear princess dresses".
He was criticised on social media for the clip, which was apparently filmed on Christmas Day.
The 32-year-old tweeted his "deepest apologies", saying he loved that his nephew "feels free to express himself".
The video, posted on his Instagram story, shows Hamilton speaking to the camera before turning it on his young relative.
"I'm so sad right now. Look at my nephew," he says.
The camera then shows the boy wearing a pink and purple dress, while holding a toy magic wand.
Hamilton asks him: "Why are you wearing a princess dress? Is this what you got for Christmas?"
The young boy starts laughing as the British racing driver continues: "Why did you ask for a princess dress for Christmas? Boys don't wear princess dresses."
In response to the video, founder of anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label Liam Hackett tweeted: "Disappointing to see somebody with such a huge platform use it to publicly shame and attempt to undermine a small child."
Meanwhile, Imraan Sathar of discrimination support charity Stay Brave UK, called for the driver to be stripped of his MBE.
Hamilton later apologised for his behaviour and said it was "really not acceptable" to marginalise or stereotype anyone.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42486085
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Ukraine crisis: Exchange of hundreds of prisoners takes place - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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It was one of the biggest swaps of prisoners since the conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014.
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Europe
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Ukrainian soldiers have been reunited with their families
Ukraine and separatist rebels in the east of the country have exchanged hundreds of prisoners, in one of the biggest swaps since the conflict began in 2014.
Some 230 people were sent to rebel-held areas in return for 74 prisoners who had been held by pro-Russia rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
It was the first swap in 15 months.
The release and exchange of prisoners was one of the points in the Minsk peace agreement, signed in 2015.
The deal has stalled since and analysts say the swap does not signify wider progress. Both sides continue to hold other prisoners.
The number of prisoners swapped was lower than initially announced after dozens of people who were meant to be returned to rebel-held territory refused to go to the other side.
"Some of them have already been released and the charges against them have been cleared by the Ukrainian authorities and then they prefer to stay in the government-controlled side," Miladin Bogetic, spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ukraine, told the BBC.
The operation was carried out amid tight security
Two Ukrainians - a man and a woman - opted to stay on the rebel side, AFP news agency reports.
The months-long negotiations for the exchange saw the involvement of presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, as well as the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Buses and other vehicles carrying the prisoners assembled at the Mayorsk checkpoint near the city of Horlivka in Donetsk for the swap.
It took months of negotiations for the exchange to happen
Historian Igor Kozlovskiy, 63, who was captured by Donetsk rebels on suspicion of storing weapons, told AFP: "I was in captivity for two years... Still a lot of prisoners remain [in Donetsk]."
The UK government said the prisoner swap was a "welcome step towards meeting the commitments all sides have made".
The conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted in April 2014, soon after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. The UN says more than 10,000 people have died in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42493270
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Drug-smuggling Briton Laura Plummer in 'bad prison' - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Laura Plummer is transferred to a notorious jail in Egypt, her family has said.
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Humberside
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A British woman convicted of smuggling painkiller tablets into Egypt has already been transferred to a notorious jail, her family has said.
Laura Plummer, 33, from Hull, was arrested after she was found with the Tramadol tablets in her suitcase on 9 October.
The shop worker was jailed for three years in Egypt on Boxing Day.
The prison move had left Plummer's mother no chance to say goodbye to her daughter, her family said.
Plummer was detained on arriving at the Red Sea resort of Hurghada for a holiday with her Egyptian partner Omar Caboo.
She was found to be carrying almost 300 Tramadol tablets in her suitcase, a painkiller which is legal on prescription in the UK but banned in Egypt.
Plummer claimed the painkiller was to treat her Mr Caboo's back pain and has previously said she had "no idea" the tablets were illegal.
Laura Plummer said the prescription pills were for her partner Omar Caboo
Plummer's sister Rachel said their mother Roberta Synclair had been told her daughter would be held in police cells so she could visit her.
But the family said Ms Synclair went to the cells only to find that Plummer had already been transferred to a prison in Qena.
"Obviously that's even more devastating for my mum because she's not got to say goodbye to Laura," Rachel Plummer said.
"No prisons are nice but I think Qena's the bad one."
Plummer's lawyer Mohamed Othman told the BBC he was applying for her to be moved to Qanater prison, which is closer to Cairo, and has "better conditions" ahead of an appeal against her conviction.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Laura Plummer's sister Jayne Sinclair: "She's on the verge of a mental breakdown"
However, reports her sister had been attacked in prison were not true, Rachel said.
She said during the trial, Plummer told her mother she couldn't wait to get back to work and "was speaking like she was coming home".
"All the evidence was presented to show that this was a massive mistake and Laura's intentions were as she said, just to treat Omar's back pain," Rachel added.
But, she said, after two hours the judges came back with the judgement and "Laura collapsed crying, she got led away, she got taken away in this cage".
A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We are continuing to provide assistance to Laura and her family following the court ruling in Egypt."
Tramadol is a strong painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain.
It is a class C drug and is only available in the UK with a prescription from a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional.
As a class C drug, it is illegal for anyone else to supply Tramadol, to have it or to give it away, even to friends.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-42495923
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Rihanna's cousin shot dead in Barbados on Boxing Day - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The singer posts a tribute to her cousin and calls for an end to gun violence.
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Newsbeat
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Rihanna has called for an end to gun violence after her cousin was killed in Barbados on Boxing Day.
She's been paying tribute to her 21-year-old relative - they had just spent Christmas together.
Rihanna added the hashtag #endgunviolence to an emotional post on Instagram.
"RIP cousin... can't believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms!" she wrote.
The message was put up with a photo gallery dedicated to her cousin.
Rihanna didn't name him, but according to Barbadian news station Nation News, the victim of a shooting is 21-year-old Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne.
She went on to write: "Never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!!
She also tagged his profile in the series of photos.
In February he posted a heartfelt message under a photo of the two of them together celebrating Rihanna's 29th birthday.
"Your presence in my life is a source of joy and happiness," he wrote.
It's believed Tavon was walking through a track by his house in St Michael, Barbados when he was approached by a man who shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene.
Police are currently on the hunt for the shooter and have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers or the District A Police Station in Barbados.
Gun crime has been rife on the Caribbean island recently with police confirming a significant increase, with 22 out of 28 murders committed there being gun-related.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/articles/42495091
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North Korea missile developers hit by US sanctions - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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The two men, both key missile developers, are said to be among Kim Jong-un's most trusted aides.
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Asia
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Ri Pyong-chol (L) and Kim Jong-sik (R) are reportedly among Kim Jong-un's most trusted aides
The US has placed sanctions on two North Korean officials it says have led the development of nuclear missiles.
The US treasury named the two men as Kim Jong-sik and Ri Pyong-chol, and said both were "key leaders" of North Korea's ballistic missile programme.
The UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday in response to ballistic missile tests.
North Korea said the move was "an act of war" and tantamount to a total economic blockade.
The new US sanctions will block any transactions by the two men carried out in the US, essentially freezing any American assets they may have.
Both men are regularly photographed alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at missile launches.
In the past year, the country has tested ever more ambitious types of missile, and says it can now reach the entire continental United States.
Ri Pyong-chol has been photographed laughing with Kim Jong-un
A Reuters investigation in May said that the two men, along with weapons developer Jang Chan-ha, were handpicked by Kim Jong-un and were very popular with him.
Their behaviour around him, Reuters said, "is sharply at variance with the obsequiousness of other senior aides, most of whom bow and hold their hands over their mouths when speaking to the young leader".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. How could war with North Korea unfold?
The news agency reported that Ri Pyong-chol was a former air force general educated in Russia and that Kim Jong-sik was a veteran rocket scientist.
They were both among 16 North Koreans placed under UN sanctions on Friday.
The UN sanctions came in response to Pyongyang's 28 November firing of a ballistic missile, which the US said was its highest yet.
In response, North Korea's official KCNA news agency said: "The United States, completely terrified at our accomplishment of the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, is getting more and more frenzied in the moves to impose the harshest-ever sanctions and pressure on our country."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42488696
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George Michael's family urge fans to 'raise a glass' - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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George Michael's family pay tribute to the former Wham! frontman a year after his death.
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Entertainment & Arts
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George Michael's family have paid tribute to the former Wham! frontman a year after his death.
A note posted on his website urges fans to "appreciate your family and friends" and to "raise a glass, enjoy his music and think of him fondly".
Michael died aged 53 on Christmas Day 2016 at his home in Oxfordshire as a result of heart and liver disease.
His old band's seasonal song Last Christmas returned to number three in the Christmas singles charts last week.
Young George Michael and childhood friend David in around 1967
The message, which refers to Michael using his family nickname "Yog", is signed "Melanie, Yioda, Jack & David - looking up… Yog, Lesley, Anselmo, Hippy, Mo & Meg - smiling down" and is accompanied by a childhood picture.
Michael's family thank fans for having made his second solo album Listen Without Prejudice number one in the UK album charts again this year.
"This year has been a series of new and tough challenges for those of us close and loyal to Yog, not least of which was steeling ourselves this month, to hear 'Last Christmas' and 'December Song' streaming out of shops, cars, and radios, as it has done for decades, knowing he's no longer here with us, missing him," they say.
"This Christmas will be hard without him, but we know that we are not alone in our mourning the anniversary of his loss, and that the sadness of our wider family, and true friends, is shared by many of you."
The family go on to urge everyone not to hold "important words and feelings inside", adding: "If you can, in his memory this year, take a moment and a deep breath and say those 'I love you's' out loud."
Listen again to Radio 2's tribute to George, one year on, and re-live our George Michael tributes live page from last year.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42492809
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Grenfell firm to pass responsibility for homes to council - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation manages almost 10,000 homes in west London.
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UK
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The firm that managed Grenfell Tower says it will hand over responsibility for thousands of properties to the local council by the end of January.
Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) said it would "temporarily" give control to London's Kensington and Chelsea Council.
The council voted in September to end the contract, a month after the TMO was stripped of responsibility for managing homes in the estate around the tower.
It was heavily criticised after the 14 June fire, in which 71 people died.
In August, it was stripped of its responsibility for the management of properties in the Lancaster West housing estate, including Grenfell Tower.
Then in September Kensington and Chelsea councillors unanimously voted to end the contract with the TMO, saying the firm "no longer has the trust of residents in the borough".
The following month, the TMO and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) said they were working together to secure an "orderly transition".
In a letter to residents, dated 22 December, chairwoman Fay Edwards said the TMO's board had "reluctantly decided" it could "no longer guarantee that it can fulfil its obligations" in regards to its contract with the council.
"The board has decided that it would be in the best interests of all residents that the services which the TMO currently provides are temporarily handed back to the council while it carries out consultation with you about the future management of its housing stock," she said.
She said the consultation "will take some time" and said the handover of responsibilities will take place by 31 January.
The letter continued: "The TMO will continue to exist as an independent corporate entity and the board will continue to be accountable to its members."
Residents demonstrated outside Kensington Town Hall after the fire, criticising the management company and the council
But Joe Delaney, who lived in a block formerly managed by the TMO and is a member of the council's Grenfell recovery scrutiny committee, criticised the decision.
He said: "My main concern at the moment is capacity - [the council] hasn't even shown the capacity to deal with the Grenfell disaster, so how can they demonstrate that they have got capacity to bring stuff in-house at this time?"
He added: "And also, what precisely is KCTMO going to do during this time? It is still going to be getting money from the council to keep itself up and running, but it won't have a job."
A council spokesman said: "We are aware of the update from the TMO to residents and we will be writing to all residents to make sure they have clarity on next steps.
"We are clear, though, that this is only an interim measure."
In a letter which will be sent to residents, deputy council leader Kim Taylor-Smith said they would decide how "you want your homes managed in future".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42489573
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The time when America stopped being great - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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A year ago Donald Trump produced the biggest political upset in modern day USA, but were there historical clues that pointed to his unexpected victory?
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US & Canada
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A year ago Donald Trump produced the biggest political upset in modern-day America, but were there historical clues that pointed to his unexpected victory?
Flying into Los Angeles, a descent that takes you from the desert, over the mountains, to the outer suburbs dotted with swimming pools shaped like kidneys, always brings on a near narcotic surge of nostalgia.
This was the flight path I followed more than 30 years ago, as I fulfilled a boyhood dream to make my first trip to the United States. America had always fired my imagination, both as a place and as an idea. So as I entered the immigration hall, under the winsome smile of America's movie star president, it was hardly a case of love at first sight.
My infatuation had started long before, with Westerns, cop shows, superhero comic strips, and movies such as West Side Story and Grease. Gotham exerted more of a pull than London. My 16-year-old self could quote more presidents than prime ministers. Like so many new arrivals, like so many of my compatriots, I felt an instant sense of belonging, a fealty borne of familiarity.
Eighties America lived up to its billing, from the multi-lane freeways to the cavernous fridges, from the drive-in movie theatres to the drive-through burger joints. I loved the bigness, the boldness, the brashness. Coming from a country where too many people were reconciled to their fate from too early an age, the animating force of the American Dream was not just seductive but unshackling.
Upward mobility was not a given amongst my schoolmates. The absence of resentment was also striking: the belief success was something to emulate rather than envy. The sight of a Cadillac induced different feelings than the sight of a Rolls Royce.
It was 1984. Los Angeles was hosting the Olympics. The Soviet boycott meant US athletes dominated the medals table more so than usual. McDonald's had a scratch-card promotion, planned presumably before Eastern bloc countries decided to keep their distance, offering Big Macs, Cokes and fries if Americans won gold, silver or bronze in selected events. So for weeks I feasted on free fast food, a calorific accompaniment to chants of "USA! USA!"
This was the summertime of American resurgence. After the long national nightmare of Vietnam, Watergate and the Iranian hostage crisis, the country demonstrated its capacity for renewal. 1984, far from being the dystopian hell presaged by George Orwell, was a time of celebration and optimism. Uncle Sam - back then, nobody gave much thought to the country being given a male personification - seemed happy again in his own skin.
For millions, it really was "Morning Again in America", the slogan of Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign. In that year's presidential election, he buried his Democratic opponent Walter Mondale in a landslide, winning 49 out of 50 states and 58.8% of the popular vote.
The United States could hardly be described as politically harmonious. There was the usual divided government. Republicans retained control of the Senate, but the Democrats kept their stranglehold on the House of Representatives. Reagan's sunniness was sullied by the launch of his 1980 campaign with a call for "states' rights", which sounded to many like a dog-whistle for denial of civil rights.
Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail in 1979
His chosen venue was Philadelphia, but not the city of brotherly love, the cradle of the Declaration of Independence, but rather Philadelphia, Mississippi, a rural backwater close to where three civil rights workers had been murdered by white supremacists in 1964. Reagan, like Nixon, pursued the southern strategy, which exploited white fears about black advance.
Still, the anthem of the hour was Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA and politics was not nearly as polarised as it is today. Even though the Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill reviled Reagan's trickle-down economics - he called him a "cheerleader for selfishness" and "Herbert Hoover with a smile" - these two Irish-Americans found common ground as they sought to act in the national interest.
Both understood the Founding Fathers had hard-wired compromise into the governmental system, and that Washington, with its checks and balances, was unworkable without give and take. They worked together on tax reform and safeguarding Social Security.
The country was in the ascendant. Not so paranoid as it was in the 1950s, not so restive as it was in the 1960s, and nowhere near as demoralised as it had been in the 1970s.
History is never neat or linear. Decades do not automatically have personalities, but it is possible to divide the period since 1984 into two distinct phases. The final 16 years of the 20th Century was a time of American hegemony. The first 16 years of the 21st Century has proven to be a period of dysfunction, discontent, disillusionment and decline. The America of today in many ways reflects the dissonance between the two.
In those twilight years of the last millennium, America enjoyed something akin to the dominance achieved at the Los Angeles Olympics. Just two years after Reagan demanded that Gorbachev tear down the Berlin Wall, that concrete and ideological barricade was gone. The United States won the Cold War. In the New World Order that emerged afterwards, it became the sole superpower in a unipolar world.
A Berliner celebrates in front of the Berlin wall on 15 November 1989
The speed at which US-led forces won the first Gulf War in 1991 helped slay the ghosts of Vietnam. With a reformist leader, Boris Yeltsin, installed in the Kremlin, there was an expectation Russia would embrace democratic reform. Even after Tiananmen Square, there was a hope that China might follow suit, as it moved towards a more market-based economy.
This was the thrust of Francis Fukuyama's thesis in his landmark 1989 essay, The End of History, which spoke of "the universalisation of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government".
For all the forecasts Japan would become the world's largest economy, America refused to cede its financial and commercial dominance. Instead of Sony ruling the corporate world, Silicon Valley became the new high-tech workshop of business.
Bill Clinton's boast of building a bridge to the 21st Century rang true, although it was emergent tech giants such as Microsoft, Apple and Google that were the true architects and engineers. Thirty years after planting the Stars and Stripes on the Sea of Tranquillity, America not only dominated outer space but cyberspace too.
This phase of US dominance could never be described as untroubled. The Los Angeles riots in 1992, sparked by the beating of Rodney King and the acquittal of the police officers charged with his assault, highlighted deep racial divisions.
In Washington, Bill Clinton's impeachment exhibited the hyper-partisanship that was changing the tenor of Washington life. In the age of 24/7 cable news, politics was starting to double as soap opera.
Yet as we approached 31 December 1999, the assertion that the 20th Century had been The American Century was an axiom. I was in the capital as Bill Clinton presided over the midnight celebrations on the National Mall, and as the fireworks skipped from the Lincoln Memorial down the Reflecting Pool to illuminate the Washington monument, the mighty obelisk looked like a giant exclamation mark or a massive number one.
The national story changed dramatically and unexpectedly soon after. While doomsday predictions of a Y2K bug failed to materialise, it nonetheless felt as if the United States had been infected with a virus. 2000 saw the dot-com bubble explode. In November, the disputed presidential election between George W Bush and Al Gore badly damaged the reputation of US democracy.
Why, a Zimbabwean diplomat even suggested Africa send international observers to oversee the Florida recount. Beyond America's borders came harbingers of trouble. In Russia, 31 December 1999, as those fireworks were being primed, Vladimir Putin took over from Boris Yeltsin.
The year 2001 brought the horror of September 11th, an event more traumatic than Pearl Harbor. Post-9/11 America became less welcoming and more suspicious. The Bush administration's "war on terror" - open-ended conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq - drained the country of blood and treasure.
The collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, and the Great Recession that followed, arguably had a more lasting impact on the American psyche than the destruction of the Twin Towers. Just as 9/11 had undermined confidence in the country's national security, the financial collapse shattered confidence in its economic security.
With parents no longer certain their children would come to enjoy more abundant lives than they did, the American Dream felt like a chimera. The American compact, the bargain that if you worked hard and played by the rules your family would succeed, was no longer assumed. Between 2000 and 2011, the overall net wealth of US households fell. By 2014, the richest 1% of Americans had accrued more wealth than the bottom 90%.
To many in the watching world, and most of the 69 million Americans who voted for him, the election of the country's first black president again demonstrated America's capacity for regeneration.
Although his presidency did much to rescue the economy, he couldn't repair a fractured country. The creation of a post-partisan nation, which Obama outlined in his breakthrough speech at the 2004 Democratic convention, proved just as illusory as the emergence of a post-racial society, which he always knew was beyond him.
During the Obama years, Washington descended into a level of dysfunction unprecedented in post-war America.
"My number one priority is making sure President Obama's a one-term president," declared then-Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, summing up the obstructionist mood of his Republican colleagues. It led to a crisis of governance, including the shutdown of 2013 and the repeated battles over raising the debt ceiling. The political map of America, rather than taking on a more purple hue, came to be rendered in deeper shades of red and blue.
Beyond Capitol Hill, there was a whitelash to the first black president, seen in the rise of the Birther movement and in elements of the Tea Party movement. On the right, movement conservatives challenged establishment Republicans. On the left, identity politics displaced a more class-oriented politics as union influence waned. Both parties seemed to vacate the middle ground, relying instead on maximising support from their respective bases - African-Americans, evangelicals, the LGBT community, gun-owners - to win elections.
Throughout his presidency, Barack Obama continued to talk about moving towards a more perfect union. But reality made a mockery of these lofty words. Sandy Hook. Orlando. The spate of police shootings. The gang-related mayhem in his adopted home of Chicago. The mess in Washington. The opioid crisis. The health indices even pointed to a sick nation, in which the death rate was rising. By 2016, life expectancy fell for the first time since 1993.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. US election: Relive the wild ride in 170 seconds
This was the backdrop against which the 2016 election was fought, one of the most dispiriting campaigns in US political history. A battle between the two most unpopular major party candidates since polling began, ended with a victor who had higher negative ratings than his opponent and in the end, three million fewer votes.
Just as I had been on the National Mall to ring in the new millennium in 2000, I was there again on 20 January 2017, for Donald Trump's inaugural celebrations. They included some Reagan-era flourishes. At the eve of the inauguration concert, Lee Greenwood reprised his Reaganite anthem God Bless the USA, albeit with a frailer voice.
There were chants of "USA, USA," a staple of the billionaire's campaign rallies - usually triggered by his riff on building a wall along the Mexican border. There was also an 80s vibe about the telegenic first family, who looked fresh from a set of a primetime soap, like Dynasty or Falcon Crest.
The spectacle brought to mind what Norman Mailer once said of Reagan, that the 40th president understood "the President of the United States was the leading soap opera figure in the great American drama, and one had better possess star value". Trump understood this, and it explained much of his success, even if his star power came from reality TV rather than Hollywood B-movies.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Michael Cockerell: The parallels between Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump
Yet Trump is not Reagan. His politics of grievance, and the fist-shaking anger it fed off, struck a different tone than the Gipper's more positive pitch. It played on a shared sense of personal and national victimhood that would have been alien to Reagan.
In the space of just three decades, then, the United States had gone from "It's morning in America again" to something much darker: "American Carnage", the most memorable phrase from Trump's inaugural address.
It is tempting to see Trump's victory this time last year as an aberration. A historical mishap. The election all came down, after all, to just 77,744 votes in three key states: Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. But when you consider the boom-to-bust cycle of the period between 1984 and 2016, the Trump phenomenon doesn't look so accidental.
In many ways Trump's unexpected victory marked the culmination of a large number of trends in US politics, society and culture, many of which are rooted in that end-of-century period of American dominion.
Consider how the fall of the Berlin Wall changed Washington, and how it ushered in an era of destructive and negative politics. In the post-war years, bipartisanship was routine, partly because of a shared determination to defeat communism. America's two-party system, adversarial though it was, benefited from the existence of a shared enemy. To pass laws, President Eisenhower regularly worked with Democratic chieftains such as House Speaker Sam Rayburn and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson.
Reforms such as the 1958 National Defense Education Act, which improved science teaching in response to the launch of Sputnik, were framed precisely with defeating communism in mind.
Much of the impetus to pass landmark civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s came from the propaganda gift Jim Crow laws handed to the Soviet Union, especially as Moscow sought to expand its sphere of influence among newly decolonised African nations.
Patriotic bipartisanship frayed and ripped after the end of the Cold War. It was in the 1990s the then-Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole started to use the filibuster more aggressively as a blocking device. Government shutdowns became politically weaponised.
In the 1994 congressional mid-terms, the Republican revolution brought a wave of fierce partisans to Washington, with an ideological aversion to government and thus little investment in making it work. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the first Republican to occupy the post in 40 years, personified the kind of abrasive partisan that came to the fore on Capitol Hill.
Grudging bipartisanship was still possible, as Clinton and Gingrich demonstrated over welfare and criminal justice reform in the mid-1990s. But this period witnessed the acidification of DC politics. The gerrymandering of the House of Representatives encouraged strict partisanship, because the threat to most lawmakers came from within their own parties. Moderates or pragmatists who strayed from the partisan path were punished with a primary challenge from more doctrinaire rivals.
By the 112th Congress in 2011-2012, there was no Democrat in the House more conservative than a Republican and no Republican more liberal than a Democrat. This was new. In the post-war years, there had been considerable ideological overlap between liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats. In this more polarised climate, bipartisanship became a dirty word. One leading conservative thinker and anti-tax campaigner, Grover Norquist, likened it to date rape.
Would Congress have impeached Bill Clinton, ostensibly for having an affair with an intern, had America still been waging the Cold War? I sense not - it would have been seen, in those more serious times, as a frivolous distraction. When Congress moved towards impeaching Richard Nixon it did so because Watergate and its cover-up truly rose to the level of high crimes and misdemeanours.
Clinton's impeachment signalled the emergence of another new political trend: the delegitimisation of sitting presidents. And both parties played the game. The Democrats cast George W Bush as illegitimate because Al Gore won the popular vote and the Supreme Court controversially ruled in the Republican's favour during the Florida recount.
The Birther movement, led by Donald Trump, tried to delegitimise Barack Obama with specious and racist claims that he was not born in Hawaii. Most recently, the Democrats have cast aspersions on Trump's victory, partly because he lost the popular vote and partly because they allege he achieved a Kremlin-assisted victory.
Over this period, the political discourse also became shriller. Rush Limbaugh, after getting his first radio show in 1984, rose to become the king of the right-wing shock jocks. Fox News was launched in 1996, the same year as MSNBC, which became its progressive counterpoint. The internet quickened the metabolism of the news industry and became the home for the kind of hateful commentary traditional news outlets rarely published.
Home foreclosures skyrocketed at the end of the last decade
Maybe the Jerry Springerisation of political news coverage can be traced to the moment the Drudge Report first published the name Monica Lewinsky, "scooping" Newsweek which hesitated before publishing such an explosive story. The success of the Drudge Report demonstrated how new outlets, which didn't share the same news values as the mainstream media, could establish brands literally overnight. This lesson was doubtless learnt by Andrew Breitbart, an editor at Drudge who founded the right-wing website Breitbart News.
The internet and social media, trumpeted initially as the ultimate tool for bringing people together, actually became a forum for cynicism, division and various outlandish conspiracy theories. America became more atomised.
As Robert D Putnam identified in his 1995 seminal essay, Bowling Alone, lower participation rates in organisations such as unions, parent teacher associations, the Boy Scouts and women's clubs had reduced person to person contacts and civil interaction.
Economically, this period saw the continuation of what's been called the "Great Divergence" which produced stark inequalities in wealth and income. Between 1979 and 2007, household income in the top 1% grew by 275% compared to just 18% growth in the bottom fifth of households.
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The Clinton-era was a period of financial deregulation, including the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, the landmark reform passed during the depression, as well as legislation exempting credit default swaps from regulation.
Disruptive technologies changed the workplace and upended the labour market. Automation, more so than globalisation, was the big jobs killer during this phase. Between 1990 and 2007, machines killed off up to 670,000 US manufacturing jobs alone.
The Rust Belt rebellion that propelled Trump to the White House has been described as a revolt against robots, not that his supporters viewed it that way. Encouraged by the billionaire, many blamed increased foreign competition and the influx of foreign workers.
The opioid crisis can be traced back to the early 1990s with the over-prescription of powerful painkillers. Between 1991 and 2011, painkiller prescriptions tripled.
America seemed intoxicated by its own post-Cold War success. Then came the hangover of the past 16 years.
Over the past few months, I've followed that same westward flight path to California on a number of occasions, and found myself asking what would an impressionable 16-year-old make of America now. Would she share my adolescent sense of wonder, or would she peer out over the Pacific at twilight and wonder if the sun was setting on America itself?
What would she make of the gun violence, brought into grotesque relief again by the Las Vegas massacre? Multiple shootings are not new, of course. Just days before I arrived in the States in 1984, a gunman had walked into a McDonalds in a suburb of San Diego and shot dead 21 people. It was then the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.
What's different between now and then, however, is the regularity of these massacres, and how the repetitiveness of the killings has normalised them. What was striking about Las Vegas was the muted nationwide response to a gunman killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more.
Once-shocking massacres no longer arouse intense emotions for those unconnected to the killings. A month on, and it is almost as if it didn't happen.
What would she make of race relations? Back in 1984, black athletes such as Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses and Michael Jordan were unifying figures as they helped reap that Olympic golden harvest. Now some of America's leading black athletes are vilified by their president for taking a knee to protest, a right enshrined in the First Amendment. These athletes now find themselves combatants in the country's endless culture wars.
What would she make of the confluence of gun violence and race, evident in the spate of police shootings of unarmed black men and in the online auction where the weapon that killed Trayvon Martin fetched more than $100,000?
Charlottesville, with its torch-wielding and hate-spewing neo-Nazis, was another low point. So, too, were the president's remarks afterwards, when he described the crowd as including some "very fine people" and implied a moral equivalence between white supremacists and anti-racist protesters.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. What Trump said versus what I saw - by the BBC's Joel Gunter
I was at the news conference in Trump Tower that day. An African-American cameraman next to me yelled out "What message does this send to our children?" The question went unanswered, but concerned parents ask it everyday about Donald Trump's behaviour.
What about the monuments debate? The last civil war veteran died in 1959, but the conflict rumbles on in various guises and upon various proxy battlefields, as America continues to grapple with the original sin of slavery.
But what if she landed in the American heartland, rather than flying over it? Coastal separateness can sometimes be exaggerated, but it would be a very different experience than Los Angeles. In the Rust Belt, stretches of riverway are crowded again with coal barges, and local business leaders believe in the Trump Bump because they see it in their order books and balance sheets.
In the Coal Belt, there's been delight at the rescinding of Obama's Clean Power Plan. In the Bible Belt, evangelicals behold Trump as a fellow victim of sneering liberal elites. In the Sun Belt, close to the Mexican border, there's wide support for his crackdown on illegal immigration.
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In many football stadiums, she would hear the chorus of boos from fans who agree with the president that the take-the-knee protests denigrate the flag. In bars, union branches and American Legion halls, you'll find many who applaud Donald Trump for "telling like it is", refusing to be bound by norms of presidential behaviour or political correctness.
There are pointers of national success elsewhere. The New York Stock Exchange is still reaching record highs. Business confidence is on the up. Unemployment is at a 16-year low. Of the 62 million people who voted for Trump, a large number continue to regard him more as a national saviour than a national embarrassment.
In many red states, "Make America Great Again" echoes just as strongly as it did 12 months ago. Trump has a historically low approval rating of just 35%, but it's 78% among Republicans.
In the international realm, it's plausible foreign adversaries fear the United States more under Trump than Obama, and foreign allies no longer take the country for granted. The so-called Islamic State has been driven from Raqqa. Twenty-five Nato allies have pledged to increase defence spending. Beijing, under pressure from Washington, appears to be exerting more economic leverage over Pyongyang.
However, America First increasingly means America alone, most notably on the Paris climate change accord and the Iranian nuclear deal. Trump has also Twitter-shamed longstanding allies, such as Germany and Australia, and infuriated its closest friend Britain, with rash tweets about crime rates and terror attacks.
His labelling of foes such as Kim Jong Un as Little Rocket Man seems juvenile and self-diminishing. It hardly reaches the Reagan standard of "tear down this wall". Indeed, with North Korea, there's the widespread fear that Trump's tweet tirades could spark a nuclear confrontation.
Few countries look anymore to Trump's America as a global exemplar, the "city upon a hill" Reagan spoke of in his farewell address to the nation. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel is routinely described as the leader of the free world, the moniker bestowed on the US president since the days of FDR.
The Economist, which trolls Trump almost weekly, has described Chinese President Xi Jinping as the most powerful man in the world. American exceptionalism is now commonly viewed as a negative construct. "Only in America" is a term of derision.
Ronald Reagan used to talk of the 11th commandment - No Republican should speak ill of another Republican. So it is worth noting that some of Trump's most caustic and thoughtful critics have come from within his own party. Senator Jeff Flake called him "a danger to democracy".
Bob Corker described the White House as an "adult day care centre". John McCain, a frequent critic, has railed against "spurious, half-baked nationalism". George W Bush sounded the alarm about bigotry being emboldened and of how politics "seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication", without specifically naming the current president.
Trump's determination to be an anti-president has arguably had a vandalising effect on the office of the presidency, and to civil society more broadly. Artists have boycotted the White House reception held ahead of the annual Kennedy Center Awards, a red letter night in the country's cultural calendar.
The Golden State Warriors were disinvited from appearing at the White House after their championship win because of the take-the-knee protest. It's new for these kinds of commemorations to become contested.
Trump has even politicised one of the commander-in-chief's most solemn acts, offering condolences to the families of the fallen. It led to an indecorous row with a war widow. Small wonder long time Washington watchers, on both the right and left, consider this the nastiest and most graceless presidency of the modern era.
The corollary is the historical stock of his predecessors is rising. When the five living former presidents appeared together in Texas earlier this month they were greeted like a group of superheroes donning their capes for one final mission. It speaks of these unreal times that George W Bush is spoken of fondly, even wistfully, by long-time liberal foes.
Trump's claim he could be just as presidential as Abraham Lincoln is one of the more comical boasts to come from the White House. Then there are the falsehoods, the "alternative facts" and attacks on the "fake media" - his label for news organisations such as the New York Times and Washington Post, whose reporting has rarely been better. Recently he has even threatened to revoke the licences of networks whose news divisions have published critical stories. To some it has shades of 1984, but Orwell's version.
As for Morning in America, it has a new connotation - checking Trump's Twitter for pre-dawn tweets. The president commonly starts the day by lashing out at opponents or mercilessly mocking them. The new normal, it is often called. But it seems more apt to call it the new abnormal.
There is an extent to which America is politics-proof and president-proof. However bad things got in Washington, my sense has long been that the US would be rescued by its other vital centres of power. New York, its financial and cultural capital. San Francisco, its tech hub. Boston, its academic first city. Hollywood, its entertainment centre.
Adrienne Mccallister, director of Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality business development at Google, speaks during a launch event
But Los Angeles is reeling from the Harvey Weinstein revelations, the Uber scandal has shone a harsh light on corporate ethics in the tech sector and the Wells Fargo affair has once again shown Wall Street in a dismal light.
US universities dominate global rankings, but its top colleges could hardly be described as engines of intergenerational mobility. A study by the New York Times of 38 colleges, including Yale, Princeton and Dartmouth, showed that students from the top 1% income bracket occupied more places than the students from the bottom 60%. Of this year's intake at Harvard, almost a third were the sons and daughters of alumni.
Automation will also continue to be a jobs killer. One study this year predicted that nearly 40% of US jobs will be lost to computers and machines over the next 15 years. Spending time in the Rust Belt valleys around Pittsburgh last year I was struck by how many taxi and Uber drivers used to work in the steel industry. Now America's one-time Steel City is a centre of excellence for robotics and where Uber is road testing its driverless cars.
There's still truth in the adage that America is always going to hell, but it never quite gets there. But how that is being tested. Presently, it feels more like a continent than a country, with shared land occupied by warring tribes. Not a failing state but not a united states.
As I've travelled this country, I struggle to identify where Americans will find common political ground. Not in the guns debate. Not in the abortion debate. Not in the healthcare debate. Not even in the singing of the national anthem at American football games. Even a cataclysmic event on the scale of 9/11 failed to unify the country.
If anything it sowed the seeds of further division, especially over immigration. Some Americans agree with Donald Trump that arrivals from mainly Muslim countries need to be blocked. Others see that as an American anathema.
When I made my first journey to the US all those years ago I witnessed a coming together. Those Olympic celebrations were in some ways an orgy of nationalism, but there was also a commonality of spirit and purpose. From Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue performed on 84 grand pianos to a polyglot team of athletes bedecked with medals.
From the pilot who flew around the LA Coliseum in a jet pack to the customers who left McDonald's with free Big Macs. There was reason for rejoicing. The present was golden. America felt like America again.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41826022
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Syria war: Children living under air strikes in Eastern Ghouta - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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Syrian government forces are trying to starve rebels into submission and those suffering include children.
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Syrian government forces are trying to starve rebels in Eastern Ghouta into submission and those suffering include children who dream of a better life.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42245002
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Elephant born on Christmas Day in Planckendael Zoo, Belgium - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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Within 25 minutes, it was making its first steps.
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Within 25 minutes, it was making its first steps.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42497498
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Why no-one heard the Grenfell blogger's warnings - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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One man foresaw, very clearly, the risk of a devastating fire in Grenfell Tower. He wrote about it in a blog, but no journalists were there to follow it up.
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Stories
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When fire engulfed Grenfell Tower nearly six months ago, with the loss of 71 lives, many were astonished that a London tower block could burn so quickly and with such devastating results. But one of the building's residents foresaw it all too clearly - he just couldn't find anyone to listen to his warnings.
Last November, on a grey Sunday with the rain drizzling constantly outside his window, a man sat at his computer on the 16th floor of his West London tower block and began to write a blog.
"It is our conviction that a serious fire in a tower block... is the most likely reason that those who wield power at the KCTMO [Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation] will be found out and brought to justice!"
Six months later, on 14 June, London woke up to the news that a fire had blazed through Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West estate in North Kensington, killing dozens of residents. By the following night the blog had received more than two million hits.
"You know when you just get the pen and just write?" says the blog's author. "That's what happened that day, and looking back it's like a premonition that's so awful. I would never have written that had I known what was going to happen."
The man behind the blog is Edward Daffarn, a 55-year-old social worker who had lived on the estate for 16 years. He was in his flat two-thirds of the way up Grenfell Tower when the fire took hold. Luckily, a neighbour called him in time and urged him to get out. He wrapped a wet towel around his head and ran into the smoke that had already filled the building. That night he lost his home, all his possessions, and the community he loved.
Edward Daffarn lost everything in the fire
Daffarn is understandably emotional when reflecting on the last few months, but more than that he is angry. Angry with the way he feels Grenfell residents were treated by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation - the people who were entrusted to maintain the estate and keep its residents safe. Angry with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, which was meant to scrutinise the KCTMO. Angry with a society which didn't seem to care about people like him - people who live on housing estates - until it was too late.
"The reality is if you're on a housing estate it's indifference and neglect, two words that sum up everything about the way we were treated," he says. "They weren't interested in providing housing services, keeping us safe, maintaining the estate. They were just interested in themselves."
Daffarn and fellow Grenfell resident Francis O'Connor had been blogging on behalf of the Grenfell Action Group since 2012. They wrote about issues that concerned their tight-knit community - air pollution, the closure of the local public library, and their fears that corners were being cut during the refurbishment of the tower.
"We wanted to record for history how a community on a housing estate in the fifth richest country in the world could be ignored, neglected, treated with indifference. We never thought we could make change. We just wanted to record what was happening," he says.
Daffarn and O'Connor shared a theory that Kensington and Chelsea - a London borough more widely known for its museums, designer shops and flower shows - actually wanted its council estates to go into decline, so that the residents would leave and expensive flats could be built in this sought-after location. For this they were described as fantasists.
"We weren't fantasists," he says, visibly hurt. "We were trying to raise genuine concerns about how our community was being run down."
The natural consequence, he concluded, would be loss of life. Which is why on 20 November 2016, frustrated and desperate, Edward wrote the blog post KCTMO - Playing with fire!
"It is a truly terrifying thought but the Grenfell Action Group firmly believe that only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of our landlord."
A few months earlier a fire had ripped through five floors of a tower block in Shepherd's Bush, just down the road. Edward was worried that if a fire broke out in his tower block residents wouldn't know what to do. They had been given no proper fire safety instructions from the KCTMO. There were no instructions on individual floors on how residents should act in the event of a fire, there was only a recent newsletter saying residents should remain in their flats - advice which in the case of the Shepherd's Bush fire would have led to fatalities.
In March 2017 the KCTMO installed fire safety instruction notices in the entrance hallway to Grenfell Tower and outside the lifts on every floor of the building, again urging residents to "stay put" unless the fire was "in or affecting your flat".
It wasn't the first time the Grenfell blog's authors had raised concerns about fire safety.
Before the blog began, when a school was built on the only green space the residents had, they wrote to the borough pointing out that access for fire and emergency vehicles had been compromised.
Later they blogged about the blocking of a fire exit with mattresses during the refurbishment and the power surges in 2013 that manifested in flickering lights, computers and stereos blowing up, and entire rooms filling with smoke. These continued for three weeks, Daffarn says.
"We were tenants we weren't fire safety specialists but we were switched on enough to feel this was important and it was not being dealt with on our estate and that's why we were blogging. It wasn't for us to tell the council what they should be doing., We were just trying to raise an alarm."
An alarm that went unanswered. The November 2016 blog post represented the last moment at which something might have been done to avert the disaster which followed six months later. But why didn't anyone heed or investigate Daffarn's claims?
The other side of Kensington and Chelsea - a golden Ferrari parked outside Chanel on Sloane Street
Hidden within the story of the Grenfell blog is another story of the decline of local media. There simply was no local press on the ground in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea scrutinising the authorities and helping to amplify the voice of people like Edward Daffarn.
The last time he had the attention of a local journalist was in 2014 when Camilla Horrox, the reporter for the Kensington and Chelsea Chronicle ran front page stories about Grenfell residents' concerns regarding the possible presence of asbestos on the site of the new school and about the power surges.
She had met Daffarn several times, and had been concerned about KCTMO's dealings with the residents of the properties it managed.
But when the newspaper was closed down later that year Horrox was made redundant and all her Grenfell articles disappeared from the web. The Kensington and Chelsea Chronicle was incorporated into a website that reports on 29 west London districts. Horrox's replacement was expected to report on three boroughs - Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham - while based in Surrey, an hour's drive away.
Some residents of the borough might have been under the mistaken impression that they did have a local newspaper. In 2015 a free paper, The Kensington and Chelsea News, was established to fill the gap left by the closing of the Chronicle. But when I tracked down its reporter he explained that he was the sole reporter working on the paper, and on two other local newspapers - his salary was £500 a week and he did almost all his reporting from home in Dorset, 150 miles away. He made it to the borough only twice in two-and-a-half years, and the one story he ever published about Grenfell was from a council press release about the installation of the new cladding.
Local News: What Are We Missing? was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Listen again on iPlayer.
Though he always searched for a "good front page splash" for each of the three editions, he also made sure to find two pages of royal stories and two pages of entertainment stories.
Edward Daffarn didn't take his concerns to the media in November 2016 because he no longer thought anyone would listen. But the blog was out there for everyone to see, he points out, if only they had been looking.
"We'd been blogging for three or four years and you go back over that time there's a lot of abusive behaviour evidenced forensically about what was happening to our community, but it wasn't sexy so it never got picked up."
For Edward, what was going on at Grenfell wasn't just a local story, but a national one. A story about invisible people in a society that cared more about celebrity and wealth than its most vulnerable residents.
Close to tears, he admonishes the nation's journalists.
"If you look back now our whole community of North Kensington, the policy that the local authority was taking every public space and privatising it, that that could be missed by the BBC, by Channel Four, by these wider news agencies... The question should be for you, why did you miss it?
"Why aren't our lives important enough for you?"
Responding to Edward Daffarn's allegations, a spokesman for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council said:
"The Tenant Management Organisation was responsible for managing and maintaining Grenfell Tower. Our residents deserve answers about what went wrong and the public inquiry will help provide these.
"We're changing our Council and the way we work with our communities, ensuring residents are at the heart of everything we do. We will provide all households from Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk with the best offer of new housing possible - and we are listening to what they want and moving at their pace."
A spokesman for the Tenant Management Organisation declined to respond to specific allegations because of the public inquiry and police investigation into the tragic events at Grenfell Tower.
He added: "As a resident-led organisation we want to fully understand what happened at Grenfell Tower. We recognise our responsibility to ensure that the public inquiry and police investigation processes are not hampered or undermined in any way; to that end we are co-operating fully with them and are determined to continue to help with these processes."
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Syria war: UN rebukes Russia and Iran over evacuations - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A key official says the failure to get seriously ill people out of a revel enclave shows "impotence".
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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. Children in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta are among those suffering
The UN's humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria has rebuked Russia and Iran for not doing more to give aid agencies access to a besieged rebel enclave.
Jan Egeland told the BBC the failure to persuade the Syrian government, their ally, to allow desperately ill children to be evacuated from the Eastern Ghouta showed "complete impotence".
Another two civilians died this week while waiting for permission to leave.
Some 400,000 people are trapped in the area, which is just outside Damascus.
Dozens of civilians are also reported to have been killed in air and artillery attacks by government forces in the past month, though a ceasefire is now in place.
Food shortages have led to the acute malnutrition rate among children in the Eastern Ghouta rising to 11.9% - five or six times what was reported in January, and the highest so far recorded in the country since the civil war began in 2011.
Limited electricity, fuel, safe drinking-water and basic sanitation services are meanwhile increasing the risk of outbreaks of diarrheal diseases.
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says Mr Egeland was visibly angry when discussing the inability of the UN and its partners to evacuate people with life-threatening medical conditions from an area only 30 minutes' drive from Damascus.
He listed examples of children who he said would die unless they got medical help - Noor, two months old, with a rare form of cancer; and Mohammed, 45 days old, with kidney failure.
"We made the lists of patients. We submitted the first ones in May. We resubmitted in September, October, and in November we got Russians and Iranians and Chinese and Americans and others to say they would work on this. We have collectively failed. It's not good," Mr Egeland said.
Mr Egeland, who is secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said he would press the cases of the 494 men, women and children in urgent need of medical evacuation in meetings with Russian, Iranian and US officials in Geneva.
Dozens of people have reportedly been killed by government bombardment in recent weeks
"My message to them is the following: if you're spending billions and billions of roubles, you have Iranian resources, and you have thousands of soldiers on the ground, and you're flying airplanes in the air, you have to be able to deliver this."
"If not, in my view, [you] show complete impotence, and you also show a lack of interest in humanitarian law and in saving civilian life."
Joint UN and Syrian Red Crescent aid convoys have only been able to deliver enough food and medical supplies for 68,000 of the 400,000 civilians trapped in the Eastern Ghouta over the past two months.
That is despite the area, which has been besieged since 2013, being designated as a "de-escalation zone" by Russia, Iran and Turkey, which supports the opposition.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42267289
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Briton Laura Plummer jailed in Egypt for drug smuggling - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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Laura Plummer is jailed for three years after being accused of smuggling 300 painkiller tablets into Egypt.
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Humberside
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Karl Turner MP: "This is a... decent, honest, hard-working Hull woman, who was simply naive"
A British woman has been convicted of smuggling 300 painkiller tablets into Egypt and jailed for three years.
Laura Plummer, 33, was arrested after she was found with the Tramadol tablets in her suitcase, on 9 October.
Plummer, from Hull, claimed the painkiller, legal on prescription in the UK but banned in Egypt, was to treat her Egyptian partner's back pain.
Her family said her lawyers had lodged an appeal. Plummer previously said she had "no idea" the tablets were illegal.
Plummer's mother Roberta Synclair, who was in court for the hearing, told the BBC: "I'm still in shock after today's verdict. It's difficult and I can't believe it after waiting for two months."
She said her daughter has now been moved to another police station ahead of her move to prison.
Laura Plummer said the prescription pills were for her partner Omar Caboo
The family has previously said Plummer had no idea that what she was doing was illegal and was just "daft".
They said she did not try to hide the medicine, which she had been given by a friend, and thought it was a joke when she was taken aside by officials.
Plummer was detained on arriving at the Red Sea resort of Hurghada for a holiday with her partner, Omar Caboo.
Her sister Rachel Plummer said: "My mum's obviously devastated. She's out there by herself."
It is not clear when an appeal against her sentence might be heard.
She said: "We're just hoping. Even half of that would be better. Anything less than three years. She doesn't deserve that."
Tramadol is a strong painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain.
It is a class C drug and is only available in the UK with a prescription from a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional.
As a class C drug, it is illegal for anyone else to supply Tramadol, to have it or to give it away, even to friends.
Her other sister Jayne Synclair said Plummer had only been trying to help her partner.
"She was taking those tablets to help her man who had been in an accident," she said.
"He did not even know she was bringing them. She was doing it to be kind. How can you be sentenced to three years just for being kind?"
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Jayne Sinclair, sister: "She's on the verge of a mental breakdown"
Reacting to news of the sentence, Karl Turner, MP for Hull East, said the court's decision was "devastating" for Plummer and her family.
He said: "Laura, most of all, will be absolutely devastated. She's not been well lately, she's sleep deprived and she's been very anxious
"I think it's a damning indictment about good sense and fair play."
Mr Turner accepted Plummer had been naive but was "decent, honest and hard-working".
"[She was] going to visit her partner in Egypt, taking what she thought was a painkiller and no more than that," he said.
"It clearly is a banned substance and whilst we must respect the law of other countries there must be good sense and fair play as well."
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We will continue to provide assistance to Laura and her family following the court ruling in Egypt, and our embassy is in regular contact with the Egyptian authorities."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42483135
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Newcastle United 0-1 Manchester City - BBC Sport
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2017-12-27
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Manchester City move 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League as Raheem Sterling scores the only goal in a dominant display away at Newcastle.
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Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said it is "difficult to play" against ultra-defensive teams after his side moved 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win at Newcastle.
Raheem Sterling scored the only goal in a dominant display by the visitors to St James' Park in which they clocked up 78% of possession and 21 shots to Newcastle's six.
"We did absolutely everything but it is difficult to play when the other team doesn't want to play," said Guardiola.
"In the last minutes we played in their rhythm and then it was not easy because it is not over at 1-0 - we created enough chances to win 2-0, 3-0, 4-0.
"As a manager I have to adapt. We have played teams who high press, low press, attack us. Any manager and team can play how they want. And you have to find a way to beat them."
England winger Sterling poked home from Kevin de Bruyne's lobbed pass after Sergio Aguero had twice hit the woodwork in the opening half hour.
Rolando Aarons saw a shot cleared off the line by Nicolas Otamendi in a rare Newcastle raid forward before the break, but City should have been well clear after De Bruyne thumped the post and then side-footed wide in the second half.
The hosts showed more ambition late on and Christian Atsu teed up fellow substitute Dwight Gayle to head wide in the final five minutes.
• None Reaction from St James' Park as leaders City march on
City were not to be denied an 18th successive league victory however as they extended an English top-flight record.
The Magpies' fifth successive home defeat leaves them a point off the relegation zone.
With the very first kick of the match, Jonjo Shelvey thumped a shot at goal which was easily gathered by Ederson. But for the next 30 minutes Newcastle did not get close to another.
Instead the hosts sat so deep they were practically subterranean with lone striker Joselu playing 15 yards inside his own half.
City, brimming with confidence and well used to such tactics, sniffed out space and carved out chances regardless.
Between being denied by the frame, Aguero brought a superb one-handed stop from Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot.
When Vincent Kompany pulled up injured, Pep Guardiola felt confident enough to replace the defender with striker Gabriel Jesus.
The home fans were reduced to cheering throw-ins as their side's possession statistic stayed stubbornly south of 20%.
To hold out would have been one of the great rearguard actions. De Bruyne ensured it wasn't to be. Allowed space and time 40 yards from goal, the Belgian scooped a sublime pass onto Sterling's instep for his team-mate's 13th Premier League goal of the season.
After surviving a raft of City chances, Newcastle gave the leaders some concerns in the final 15 minutes.
Manager Rafael Benitez brought on Gayle and Atsu, urged his side to press higher and generally threw caution to the wind. A home point would have been a heist of the highest order.
Benitez is the most streetwise of tacticians but the Spaniard is hamstrung by a squad that lacks the quality that comes with serious, sustained investment.
The prospect of relegation hangs over the takeover talks between owner Mike Ashley and British businesswoman Amanda Staveley that could be the key to a new era.
Club legend Alan Shearer, watching for BBC Radio 5 live, described his former team as "a Championship side playing in the Premier League".
Encounters against all-conquering City are unlikely to decide Newcastle's fate, but their next three league matches - against Brighton, Stoke and Swansea - will provide a better indication of which side of the relegation divide they will end up in May.
Another win, another milestone for Manchester City.
This was their 11th consecutive away victory, matching the record for the English top flight set by Chelsea between April and December 2008.
Next on the horizon is one of their manager's own.
Beating Crystal Palace away on Sunday would equal the 19 successive wins that Bayern Munich strung together in the 2013-14 season under Guardiola. No team in the English, Italian, German, Spanish or French top flights have ever managed more than that.
'We have to bring someone in' - what the managers said
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez: "We had some chances at the end, and we expected to have to defend and play counter-attack. We needed to stay compact and defend well to play like that.
"In the last 20 minutes we did what was expected, being on top of them and expecting to press high. I am really pleased with the team in terms of organisation, but we discussed we could be better on the ball in the first half.
"We have to bring someone in to help the team but still have a lot of confidence in the team."
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: "Any manager can decide what he wants - I prefer to try to play but I respect a lot what opponents do and we have to try to discover how to attack against them.
"Always you have to expect this kind of situation - and it is not always easy to maintain that level.
"Raheem Sterling is scoring a lot and is playing good - so we are happy with that."
Newcastle's low five at home - the stats
• None Newcastle have lost five consecutive home league matches for the first time since October 1953.
• None Nicolas Otamendi completed 122 passes for Man City in this match - seven more than all the outfield players of Newcastle managed combined (115).
• None Rafael Benitez has now lost six of his past 10 home Premier League matches - he had lost six of his previous 110 before this run; 38% of Benitez's total home Premier League defeats have come this season, six of 16.
• None Since his Premier League debut for Manchester City, Kevin de Bruyne has 36 assists - four more than any other player.
• None In all competitions this season, only Harry Kane (24) has scored more goals than Raheem Sterling (17) among English Premier League players.
• None The Magpies have collected 18 points from their 20 Premier League matches this season - just one more than they managed after 20 games in the 2015-16 season, when they were relegated.
Newcastle play Brighton at home at 15:00 GMT on Saturday, with Manchester City travelling to Crystal Palace on New Year's Eve at 12:00.
• None Attempt missed. Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jamaal Lascelles.
• None Attempt missed. Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Christian Atsu with a cross.
• None Offside, Manchester City. Nicolás Otamendi tries a through ball, but Gabriel Jesus is caught offside.
• None Attempt missed. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.
• None Offside, Newcastle United. Paul Dummett tries a through ball, but Christian Atsu is caught offside.
• None Attempt blocked. Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonjo Shelvey.
• None Offside, Newcastle United. Jacob Murphy tries a through ball, but DeAndre Yedlin is caught offside. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42410914
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Tesla's Elon Musk promises pick-up truck and new features - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Elon Musk promises a pick-up truck and a range of new features for existing Tesla vehicles.
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Technology
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Elon Musk tweeted about Tesla's future plans over a six hour period
Tesla's chief has pledged to make a pick-up truck as part of future plans for the electric vehicle-maker.
Elon Musk made the promise on Twitter after asking his followers for suggestions about how the firm could improve.
He said the open-backed truck would follow the Model Y - a yet-to-be detailed car, which is expected to be based on its Model 3 sedan.
That has led some to question whether the loss-making company can meet its existing commitments - which also include a forthcoming articulated lorry and sports car.
Mr Musk also made several promises about new features Tesla intends to add to its existing vehicles, including intelligent windscreen wipers.
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 Elon Musk 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.
Pick-up trucks are particularly popular in the US, with sales by the three leading manufacturers currently totalling about $90bn (£67bn) a year, according to data from Morningstar Equity Research.
Demand for the trucks has also risen over the past 12 months, despite a drop for other types of "light vehicle".
Mr Musk had previously hinted at his plans when an image showing an obscured pick-up was briefly shown being carried on the back of its Semi lorry at a press conference in November.
An artist's drawing of a pick-up truck was displayed at the unveiling of the Tesla Semi
In his tweets, Mr Musk said the vehicle would likely be "slightly bigger" than Ford's bestselling F-150 pick-up to allow it to contain an unspecified "game-changing" feature.
"[I] have had the core design/engineering elements in my mind for almost five years," he added.
In addition, the entrepreneur also appeared to make several commitments to requested updates for its current vehicle range via a series of brief replies, including:
In November, the firm declared its biggest quarterly loss to date - $619m - and admitted that it was months behind schedule with Model 3 deliveries.
Mr Musk said that Tesla's pick-up truck was likely to be larger than Ford's F-150
It said that problems with battery assembly and steel welding were among reasons for production bottlenecks.
News agency Bloomberg subsequently warned that if the firm did not slow down its losses it would exhaust its cash reserves in 2018 unless it raised fresh funds.
"There are a growing number of people who are looking to Tesla to fulfil on its existing promises rather than make more ones," Paul Newton, an analyst at the IHS Automotive consultancy, told the BBC.
"It has a large number of back orders for the Model 3, and only a handful of painstakingly hand-built cars have been delivered.
"There's bound to be growing scepticism if waiting lists and waiting times grow longer while yet another new model is unveiled."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42493008
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Celtic's Jonny Hayes suffers broken leg in clash with Dundee's Josh Meekings - BBC Sport
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2017-12-27
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Celtic confirm Jonny Hayes sustained a broken leg in a challenge which also left Dundee's Josh Meekings on crutches.
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Last updated on .From the section Celtic
Celtic have confirmed winger Jonny Hayes suffered a broken leg in a tackle with Josh Meekings against Dundee.
Republic of Ireland international Hayes, 30, and Dundee defender Meekings, 25, both went off after coming together in a challenge.
Meekings was able to hobble off but was on crutches after the game.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was hopeful after the game that Hayes had only suffered bruising to this shin, but tests confirmed a broken leg.
"Celtic Football Club has to report that, regrettably, Jonny Hayes suffered a broken leg during the game against Dundee at Dens Park," the club said in a statement.
"Jonny had surgery today and will now be out for some time as he begins the long road back to full fitness. He will make a full recovery but he's unlikely to feature again this season.
"He will receive the best care and attention throughout the months ahead, while the thoughts and best wishes of everyone at Celtic and, indeed, the whole Celtic family, are with Jonny. "
Dundee boss Neil McCann reported that Meekings "is on a set of crutches, so that is never a good sign, but hopefully it is only precautionary".
"Josh took a really sore one on the top of his foot," McCann explained. "I am hoping Jonny is OK as well. It was just one of those challenges - full steam ahead from both players.
"I felt the game should have been stopped immediately, with the noise of it, and Jonny's reaction suggested it was a bad one. But, as long as both players are OK, I won't gripe about that."
McCann admitted there were few positives his side could take from the game.
"It was disappointing in terms of what we have been doing with the players," he explained. "We were a bit too tentative and too often took the easy option - going sideways when we needed a bit more cutting edge.
"We started to trust our game a bit after the first goal but then we gave away a really sloppy second goal.
"There was no great belief that we could get back into it in the second half."
Rodgers, meanwhile, reflected on an "excellent performance" that featured goals by James Forrest and Leigh Griffiths.
"It was about the hunger to win the game and I think that was pretty clear how we started the game," he said.
"We scored a very good goal. Great move. Great passing. Our possession was really good and we opened them up in numbers and finished off really well.
"And the second one was a great demonstration of that hunger."
It was the first time since September that Celtic had won three games in a row, and they will aim to extend that in their last match before a three-week winter break - an Old Firm clash with Rangers on Saturday, 30 December.
"I think we're looking pretty good," Rodgers added. "I think we're looking fit and strong and focused, especially at this time of year.
"It was an important three points for us today. We'll recover now and get ready for what will be another really good game at the weekend."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42486536
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St Petersburg supermarket blast injures at least 10 shoppers - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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President Putin describes the explosion at a popular store in St Petersburg as a terrorist act.
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Europe
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The supermarket in St Petersburg was quickly evacuated by police and emergency services
At least 10 people have been injured in an explosion at a supermarket in the Russian city of St Petersburg.
One person was said to be in serious condition after the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED).
President Vladimir Putin described the blast, at the Perekrestok supermarket chain late on Wednesday, as a terrorist act.
No group has said it carried out the attack, which officials say produced a blast equivalent to 200g (7oz) of TNT.
Russia's investigative committee said the home-made device was packed with lethal components.
The blast took place in an area of the shop that housed lockers for storing bags.
Investigators said they were treating the incident as an attempted murder
The property was quickly evacuated and there were no reports of a fire, but images circulating on social media in Russia showed extensive damage in an area of the store close to the tills.
Mr Putin commented on the blast at a military awards ceremony on Thursday. Officials had earlier suggested the attack was being treated as attempted murder.
Earlier this month, the Russian president and his US counterpart Donald Trump spoke by phone after information provided by the CIA helped Russian security services foil an attack on St Petersburg's Kazan cathedral.
At the time, Russia's Interfax news agency reported that a group had been planning attacks at a number of sites. Several people were reportedly detained.
In April, an explosion on the St Petersburg metro system killed at least 13 people and injured more than 50 others.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42495428
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Arthur Collins admits hiding mobile phone inside crutch in prison - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Arthur Collins wanted to make calls to his pregnant ex-girlfriend, reality TV star Ferne McCann.
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London
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Arthur Collins admitted one charge of possession of a prohibited item while in prison
A man jailed for throwing acid across a packed nightclub has pleaded guilty to hiding a mobile phone inside a crutch while in prison.
Arthur Collins, 25, also hid two Sim cards and two USB sticks in the medical aid while on remand at HMP Thameside.
He was being held there prior to his trial over the acid attack at a London nightclub, which injured 22 people.
Collins, the ex-boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann, appeared via video link at Bromley Magistrates' Court.
He admitted one charge of possession of a prohibited item while in prison and will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court at a later date.
The court heard Collins obtained the phone to make private calls to Miss McCann.
At the time Miss McCann was heavily pregnant with their daughter, who was born in November.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. CCTV of the acid attack in London club
Collins' lawyer, Audrey Mogan, told the court: "He did not have the phone for any sinister purpose."
She said Collins wanted to use the mobile rather than a legitimate phone he had access to in his cell which records calls.
Collins and Miss McCann - who have since split - were being "hounded by the media" and feared recorded calls would be leaked, Ms Morgan said.
The court heard evidence was later found on the phone of calls and messages to family and friends.
The acid attack happened in Mangle E8 in Dalston in April
Collins threw acid at revellers in Mangle E8 in Dalston on 17 April and was sentenced for the attack on 19 December.
He was being held at HMP Thameside prior his trial over the acid attack.
The court heard the phone, Sim cards and USB sticks were found on 10 September when a prison officer removed the rubber stopper from the bottom of the crutch in his private shower during a cell search.
Prosecutor Samantha Mitchell said: "He had been using the crutch because of an ankle injury."
Collins was injured trying to evade police while on the run for the acid attack, which left 16 people with chemical burns and temporarily blinded three people, one of whom still suffers from blurred vision in one eye.
He told his trial at Wood Green Crown Court he did not know the bottle contained acid and said he believed it to contain a liquid date rape drug which he had snatched from two men after overhearing them planning to spike a girl's drink.
But the jury convicted him of five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and nine counts of actual bodily harm in November.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42491163
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Syria war: Eastern Ghouta medical evacuations begin - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Four critically-ill patients are evacuated from rebel-held Eastern Ghouta, outside Syria's capital.
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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. Critically ill children are evacuated from the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus
Medical evacuations are taking place from a rebel-held area on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Four critically-ill patients were taken out of the Eastern Ghouta overnight by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
Another 25 should be evacuated in the coming days as part of a deal agreed by the government and rebels, though hundreds more are in need of treatment.
Some 400,000 residents have been under siege by government forces since 2013.
The Eastern Ghouta has been designated a "de-escalation zone" by Russia and Iran, the government's main allies, along with Turkey, which backs the opposition.
But hostilities intensified six weeks ago, when the Syrian military stepped up air and artillery attacks on the enclave in response to a rebel offensive, reportedly killing dozens of civilians.
There are also severe shortages of food, fuel and medicines, and the cold winter weather is threatening to worsen the hardship.
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) announced early on Wednesday that medics had started to transfer patients from the Eastern Ghouta "after long negotiations".
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It gave no further details, but the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) later confirmed that four people with critical medical conditions had been taken with their families to hospitals in Damascus, and that it hoped that a total of 29 people would be evacuated "over the coming few days".
"The operation is clearly a positive step that will give some respite to the people in Eastern Ghouta, especially those who are in dire need of life-saving medical treatment," spokeswoman Anastasia Isyuk told the BBC.
"We hope this medical evacuation will only be the beginning of more to come, as there many more people in need. It is also vital for humanitarian organisations to reach people in Eastern Ghouta with aid on a regular basis and without conditions."
The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), a medical relief organisation that supports hospitals in rebel-held Syria, said the 29 patients included 18 children and four women suffering from heart disease, cancer, kidney failure, and blood diseases. The seven other patients require advanced surgery.
SARC official Ahmed al-Saour told AFP news agency that the first four patients to be evacuated were "a girl with haemophilia, a child with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a child suffering from leukaemia, and a man in need of a kidney transplant".
The main rebel group in the Eastern Ghouta, Jaysh al-Islam, meanwhile said on Twitter that the government had agreed to the evacuations in exchange for the release of 29 of its prisoners.
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Last week, the UN's humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, Jan Egeland, said 494 people were on the priority list for medical evacuations submitted in November.
"That number is going down, not because we are evacuating people but because they are dying," he said. "We have tried now every single week for many months to get medical evacuations out, and food and other supplies in."
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Children in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta are among those suffering
Mr Egeland said the UN had been waiting for the Syrian government to provide "facilitation letters" to allow ambulances and aid convoys into the Eastern Ghouta.
SAMS said the area's medical infrastructure had been "decimated" by the government's siege and bombardment, and that only 107 doctors remained there to provide care for an estimated 130,000 children and 270,000 adults while facing a severe shortage of medical supplies.
Recently, the UN reported that the rate of malnutrition in children under the age of five had increased to 11.9% - five or six times what was reported in January, and the highest so far recorded in the country since the civil war began in 2011.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42489529
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Ashes: Alastair Cook makes century on day two at the MCG - BBC Sport
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2017-12-27
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Alastair Cook hits an unbeaten century as England close on 192-2 on the second day of the fourth Test, 135 runs behind Australia.
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Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Fourth Ashes Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground (day two of five)
Alastair Cook made his first Ashes century for almost seven years to lead England's resurgence on day two of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
The 33-year-old, in his 151st Test, reached his hundred in the final over of the day to take the tourists to 192-2, a deficit of 135 runs.
That came after Stuart Broad claimed 4-51 as the home side were bowled out for 327.
Australia, who have already secured the Ashes, looked set to push on from an overnight 244-3, with Steve Smith (76) and Shaun Marsh (61) extending their partnership past 100.
But when captain Smith became Tom Curran's first Test wicket, it began a slide that saw the hosts lose their last seven wickets for 67 runs.
On a slow surface, Cook blunted an Australia attack already without the injured Mitchell Starc and further weakened by a stomach upset suffered by Pat Cummins.
The left-hander passed 50 for the first time in six Tests, then had the good fortune of being dropped by Smith on 66.
When England won the Ashes down under in 2010-11, Cook piled on 766 runs but has not reached three figures against Australia since the final Test of that series.
Here, he played with increasing freedom as a crowd of 67,882 gradually emptied to leave the Barmy Army singing the former captain's name.
Cook shared an unbroken stand of 112 with successor Joe Root, who is 49 not out.
On day three, it will be the goal of the third-wicket pair, and the rest of England's batting, to earn a lead large enough to negate batting last on a surface on which the bounce could get lower.
• None How day two unfolded at the MCG
The failure of England's senior players on this tour has been a key factor in relinquishing the urn.
Before this Test, Broad had taken only five wickets and Cook had mustered 83 runs in six innings.
Indeed, ex-captain Michael Vaughan had questioned Broad's place in the side, while former spinner Graeme Swann doubted the "longevity" left in Cook's international career.
Broad, though, responded by picking up his best figures for a year and Cook showed his trademark patience, composure and judgement to sap Australia's bowlers in temperatures in the mid-30s.
The result is a turnaround in a fourth Test where Australia were 102-0 on the first day and later, at the close, in a position from which they could have batted England out of the contest.
Even if they still have plenty of work to do, England have a real opportunity to end an eight-match losing streak in Australia and escape the humiliation of another whitewash.
England have been guilty of squandering strong positions throughout the series and they lost two wickets in very different circumstances.
Opener Mark Stoneman made 15 before offering a leading edge to off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who took a wonderful, one-handed return catch above his right shoulder.
And James Vince was lbw to Josh Hazlewood in the second over after tea for 17, with replays showing that he would have been reprieved by an inside edge had he asked for a review.
Cook, however, stood firm at the other end, moving his feet with certainty and showing an intent to score.
The left-hander played wonderfully straight, but also punished anything short to accumulate square on both sides of the wicket.
Cook's moment of fortune arrived when wicketkeeper Paine came up to the stumps to Mitchell Marsh and, from the next delivery, he edged to slip. Smith tumbled and made two grabs for the ball before it hit the turf.
Root, meanwhile, busily earned his runs off the pads and behind square on the off side.
On 93 as the final over the day began, Cook was greeted by Smith's part-time leg-spin. He bunted a full-toss for four, scampered two more, then pulled a century-clinching boundary.
Earlier, England got their rewards in the field with the help of some good fortune and poor Australian batting.
The lack of pace in the pitch was highlighted by three players chopping the ball on to their own stumps, the first of which was Smith.
The skipper, 65 not out overnight, began in ominous touch and looked nailed on for a fourth successive century in Boxing Day Tests.
But, to Curran's second delivery of the day, he tried to force an innocuous short ball through the off side and disturbed his own stumps to be dismissed in Melbourne for the first time since 2014.
Broad bowled with good pace on a full length and was rewarded when Shaun Marsh, who passed 50 for the third time in the series, was given out lbw on review.
Australia's tail has so often frustrated England, but after Tim Paine's breezy 24 was ended with a play-on off James Anderson, the hosts lost their last three wickets for only two runs.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "It has been a tough tour for the senior pros but for the first time the experienced batsmen have been at the crease for a few hours.
"Throughout the whole day Cook had a mindset of challenging the bowler. The pitch played beautifully in the afternoon session.
"England are in a fantastic position and have won day two convincingly. Can they win day three?
"From what I have seen from this Australia attack and the pitch, England should have plenty to see the day out and get in front but we can't get ahead of ourselves with this England side."
Ex-England batsman Ed Smith: "The sadness is this shows Australia's weakness. It shows if England had performed earlier they could have been beaten."
Australia's Josh Hazlewood, speaking to ABC: "They are a little on top. We were a little inconsistent but it is a very good wicket. We could have bowled straighter and dried the scoring up.
"We should have pushed on to 400-plus but we lost wickets early. We definitely left runs out there."
Asked if Australia were complacent with the bat, he said: "You could say that. Lazy is another way. A few of the boys know that they need to be better."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42491002
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Police officer and woman killed in Sheffield crash named - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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PC Dave Fields and Lorraine Stephenson died in the collision in Sheffield on Christmas Day.
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Sheffield & South Yorkshire
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PC Dave Fields had served with South Yorkshire Police for 12 years
A police officer and a 61-year-old woman who died in a crash on Christmas Day have been named.
PC Dave Fields was responding to an incident when the marked BMW 3 Series he was driving was in collision with a Citroen C3 on the A57 in Sheffield.
The woman, who was a passenger in the Citroen, has been named as Lorraine Stephenson.
In a tribute issued by South Yorkshire Police, PC Field's family said they were "heartbroken" and "devastated".
"Dave was a loving husband and dad-of-two, who was a dedicated officer committed to his job," his family said.
"We are heartbroken by our loss and ask that our privacy please be respected at this devastating time."
Lorraine Stephenson also suffered fatal injuries in the collision
A 63-year-old man who was driving the Citroen was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
Assistant Chief Constable David Hartley said PC Fields had been with the force 12 years and was "a passionate, professional and universally-liked officer".
"His colleagues, and everyone across the force, are devastated by what has happened," he said.
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South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings said he was "deeply shocked" at the news.
"While an incident like this is difficult at any time of year, it is particularly sad at Christmas," he added.
"I hold the families of PC Dave Fields and Lorraine Stephenson, their relatives, friends and colleagues in my prayers at this most difficult time."
South Yorkshire Police said it was flying its flag "at half-mast to mark the tragic death of PC Dave Fields"
PC Fields was also a football referee in his local area.
In a tribute on Facebook, the Sheffield Referees Association paid tribute to the officer.
"He was one of the good guys. Giving up his time to help anyone," it said.
A Just Giving page has been set up to help raise funds for the families affected by the fatal crash.
The force said the collision had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-42492870
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Police break up Westfield Stratford fight - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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Footage shows officers separating teenagers at a London shopping centre during the Boxing Day sales.
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Police have dealt with a disturbance at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, east London.
An eyewitness told the BBC the incident happened during the Boxing Day sales, when two groups of teenagers began "pushing and shouting".
Nearby shops closed their shutters, while shoppers gathered above the scene to watch events unfold.
The Met Police said officers said they attended at around 14:30GMT, and "groups causing the disorder were dispersed".
In a statement on Twitter, Westfield Stratford said the "minor disturbance" had been resolved.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42487538
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Oxford Street panic: Woman hurt after 'shots fired' false alarm - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Met Police officers cordon off an area around a smashed glass window at House of Fraser.
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London
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Police were called to Oxford Street on Boxing Day
A woman was injured when shoppers fled from London's Oxford Street after false reports of shots being fired.
The Metropolitan Police were called to the scene at 16:50 GMT and cordoned off an area around a smashed glass window at House of Fraser.
The police said that a woman received "non-life threatening injuries" as a result of a fall.
They added there was "nothing to indicate" that shots had been fired or a crime committed.
Officers cordoned off an area around a smashed glass window at House of Fraser
The BBC's James Waterhouse, who is at the scene, said two witnesses told him they saw three women run into the window, knocking displays over as they tried to leave.
He said a police officer told him "it was an accident" and said that "there was a panic and someone tried to get out on the inside".
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One shopper spoke of "craziness in House of Fraser" on Twitter, adding that she had "never been in a stampede before", while another one posted there was a "stampede of people running".
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BBC World Service reporter Faith Orr, who was passing by the scene in a taxi, said a "huge window" was "completely smashed" and that people had been evacuated.
House of Fraser told the BBC the store has now fully reopened.
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Meanwhile, police were called to reports of disturbances at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, east London.
Officers attended at about 14:30 on Tuesday and "groups causing the disorder were dispersed", a Met Police spokesman said.
A man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, the force added.
In a statement on Twitter, Westfield Stratford said the "minor disturbance" had been resolved.
"The centre was not evacuated and is trading normally," it added.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42486797
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Hammond challenged to release Brexit studies - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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MPs claim they will be "hamstrung" if they do not get to see the Treasury's Brexit analysis.
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UK Politics
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Philip Hammond said releasing his analysis now would "deeply unhelpful"
A group of Labour MPs are trying to keep pressure on the government to publish reports about how Brexit will affect the economy.
The 25 pro-Remain politicians have written to Chancellor Philip Hammond saying people "have a right to know what the impact of Brexit will be for them and for their families".
Mr Hammond has said it would be "deeply unhelpful" to release his analysis now.
Opposition MPs have been pursuing the "Brexit impact assessments" for months.
But the government has said the sector-by-sector assessments they have been demanding do not exist, and has instead provided MPs with a series of documents it calls "sectoral analyses".
So far, MPs' efforts have mostly focused on Brexit Secretary David Davis.
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Now, a group of Labour MPs who are supporters of the pro-EU Open Britain group have turned their attention to the Treasury.
Mr Hammond said earlier this month that a "whole range of potential alternative structures between the EU and the UK" have been assessed.
The MPs say in their letter to the chancellor: "Without access to the latest taxpayer-funded analysis and research, Parliament will be hamstrung in its ability to scrutinise the government's approach and to present the facts to our constituents.
"It is vital that light is shed on the modelling and analysis that the Treasury has carried out. The best way to achieve that would be for the analysis to be published in its entirety."
Signatories to the letter to Mr Hammond include Chris Leslie, Maria Eagle, Stella Creasy and Alison McGovern.
Stella Creasy signed the letter to the chancellor
In response, the Treasury pointed to Mr Hammond's remarks at the time - where he said that when a final Brexit deal has been negotiated and is going before MPs, "the maximum amount of analysis being placed in the public domain would be helpful".
However, at this stage it would be "deeply unhelpful" for the Treasury's analysis to be made public, he added.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42493730
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Growing up a prisoner in a cult - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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At exactly 11:15, the front door of a council flat in Brixton opened. Two women stepped out on to a quiet residential street.
The younger woman, Rosie, had an awkward gait. Her movement was stiff and clunky, as though she simply wasn't used to walking any distance. In fact, she had spent the past 30 years - her whole life - in captivity.
Now she was ill and needed urgent medical attention.
Born into a “collective”, she was not allowed to see a doctor, had never been allowed outside alone and had been told that if she tried to leave she would spontaneously combust and die.
Worried she might not survive her illness, on 25 October 2013, Rosie and another woman, Josie, sneaked out.
Waiting for them just round the corner were members of an organisation that helps people who have been abused, trafficked or enslaved. Along with the police, they had helped organise the escape.
It soon became apparent that Rosie and 57-year-old Josie weren't the only women who lived in the flat, and when police officers returned they met Aisha - a 69-year-old woman originally from Malaysia. At first she didn't want to leave, but as they talked, she changed her mind.
In the weeks that followed, it became clear how extraordinary their life had been.
All three women seemed extremely frightened, often referring to an all-powerful force called Jackie, which they believed might seek retribution or cause them terrible harm. They were terrified of electricity, which they called “eeee” and seemed anxious that household appliances might blow up or explode.
As they revealed details of their existence and Rosie gradually became more confident, she decided to change her name to Katy, inspired by the lyrics of Katy Perry's song, Roar, which is about a woman overcoming a difficult relationship and finding her voice.
Katy's own story, and everything she had managed to overcome, proved far stranger than anyone could have imagined.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-b0af7ef5-1031-4e1f-a3ac-b3c21ef0f932
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Police officer and woman killed in Sheffield crash - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The officer was responding to a call out when his vehicle was in collision with a car on Christmas Day.
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Sheffield & South Yorkshire
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The collision happened on the A57 between Coisley Hill and Moss Way
A police officer and a 61-year-old woman died in a crash on Christmas Day.
The 46-year-old officer was responding to an incident when the marked BMW 3 Series he was driving was in collision with a Citroen C3 on the A57 in Sheffield.
South Yorkshire Police said the officer died at the scene and the woman, who was a passenger in the second vehicle, died in hospital.
The collision happened near to Coisley Hill at about 20:15 GMT.
A force spokesman said the officer was responding to an "immediate incident" when he was in collision with the silver Citroen which was travelling in the opposite direction.
The woman who died was from Sheffield, he added.
A 63-year-old man who was driving the Citroen was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.
South Yorkshire Police said the officer died at the scene of the crash on the A57 in Sheffield
Assistant Chief Constable of South Yorkshire David Hartley, said: "On behalf of the force I'd like to offer my sincere condolences to all of those left bereaved by this terrible tragedy - our thoughts, love and support are extended to all those affected.
"We are doing everything we can to support them through this difficult time."
He went on to pay tribute to the officer killed in the collision.
"We have lost a friend and a colleague from our police family in this incident," ACC Hartley added.
"The officer has been with us for 12 years and was a passionate, professional and universally liked officer.
"His colleagues, and everyone across the force, are devastated by what has happened."
The force said the collision had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42486033
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White Christmas sweeps US states - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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Snow storms sweep states from Midwest to Northeast, breaking snowfall records in some parts.
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Snow has swept US states from Midwest to Northeast, breaking snowfall records in some parts.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42486152
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UK weather: Snow causes travel delays and power cuts - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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There are ice warnings across the UK as flights are cancelled and motorists face hazardous conditions.
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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. Homes in the Midlands, south-west England and Wales have been left without power
Heavy snow and ice have disrupted road and air travel in parts of the UK and left thousands of homes without power.
Drivers were at a standstill on the A14 in Northamptonshire for several hours, while a lorry crash on the M1 blocked the motorway.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice overnight across most of the UK.
Passengers at Stansted Airport faced long delays as flights were suspended twice to clear snow from the runway.
A spokesman for the airport said the snow had passed over and they were not anticipating any more closures. Many flights have been delayed and almost 30 outbound Ryanair flights have been cancelled.
Some passengers have complained on social media that they have been stuck on planes on the ground for several hours.
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Luton Airport said it had to significantly reduce the number of inbound flights it was accepting.
Some flights have also been cancelled and there have been delays to allow de-icing of aircraft, a spokesman added.
Ryanair apologised for having to cancel "a small number of flights" because of runway closures at several UK airports.
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Meanwhile, Western Power Distribution said about 4,000 homes were without power in the Midlands, south-west England and Wales, but that more than 25,000 customers had had their power restored since Tuesday morning.
The firm said the cuts were all snow-related and extra staff - who had been on standby for poor weather - had been called in to work to reconnect properties.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said about 2,000 customers were still without power at 16:30 GMT.
Andover and Basingstoke in Hampshire, Melksham and Swindon in Wiltshire, Newbury in Berkshire, as well as areas of Oxfordshire, had all been affected, it added.
Power had now been restored to about 17,000 properties, the firm said.
A lorry stuck on the A14 in Northampton
Snow caused problems on the A417 between Gloucester and Cheltenham
An easyJet plane was de-iced before taking off at Luton Airport
Frank Bird, from Highways England, said the worst of the conditions were now over in the West Midlands, as the bad weather had moved eastwards.
He said 2,000 tonnes of salt and grit had been put down in the region overnight, adding that treating roads was a "battle that we are constantly fighting".
One of those caught up in the problems on the A14 was lorry driver Simon Talbot, who told BBC News he had been stuck for more than three hours.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Two mountain walkers were rescued in Snowdonia on Boxing Day
"I've been stationary since about 02:20 GMT westbound on the A14, there is approximately 5ins (12cm) of snow we've had and I'm just stationary," he said.
"I'm on an incline and there are lorries and vans in front that are unable to get up the hill because of the snow. So it is just a waiting game at the moment."
Tara DeFabrizio was stuck on the road for five hours, after leaving home from Northampton at 06:00 GMT.
"It's a complete standstill. I've called my boss now to say I won't be coming in."
She added: "I don't know why it's so bad this time - when we had a lot of snow two weeks ago, I got to work fine."
The Met Office has yellow warnings in place for ice and rain and snow
Heavy snow also affected parts of the M1
Lorries on the A14 in Northampton
Some people woke up on Wednesday to a blanket of snow
Highways England said all lanes are now open on the M3 westbound between junction two and three following an earlier collision.
However, it advised passengers to allow for extra time when travelling on the M25 clockwise, as one lane between junction 26 and 27 remains closed due to an accident.
Referring to an earlier incident on the M1, Leicestershire Police tweeted there had been an accident involving a lorry, which had blocked all three lanes.
The force said the motorway had been reopened shortly after 10:00 GMT.
It added: "Please be aware that snow is falling across the county and in some cases it is settling, causing hazardous conditions for drivers. Please take care and take the necessary precautions."
Officers said there have been "long delays" on the A34 between the M4 and A4185 in Berkshire due to the weather conditions and slow moving traffic.
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Northamptonshire Roads and Armed Policing Team (RAPT) tweeted: "Heavy snow has started. The M1 has quickly become treacherous. RAPT on scene at a single vehicle RTC (road traffic collision)."
Three lanes of the M25 were also closed near Heathrow earlier following an accident.
Elsewhere, the Welsh Grand National horse race was postponed after 6cm (2.3in) of rain and snow fell on the course within 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency currently has flood warnings in place - meaning flooding is expected - in some areas, as well as dozens of flood alerts.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42490947
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Shoplifters taking under £200 worth of goods 'not pursued' - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Retailers warn a rise in shoplifting is partly fuelled by police not investigating smaller thefts.
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UK
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Retailers are warning that a sharp rise in shoplifting is being fuelled partly by police forces not investigating the theft of items worth less than £200.
The Daily Telegraph says persistent offenders are exploiting a change in the law that allows for more minor cases to be dealt with by post.
The government said it did not diminish the seriousness of the crimes.
Police chiefs said their focus on prolific offenders and organised crime networks was working.
The £200 threshold was introduced in England and Wales in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The act allows anyone stealing goods costing less than £200 to plead guilty by post - or face the magistrates' court.
They might then face a fine or up to a year in prison.
But Chris Noice, from the Association of Convenience Stores, said criminals were getting savvy as to how much they could get away with, and only half of those caught were paying their fines.
He also said there was concern that police forces were not sharing information and those that were stealing to fund a drug or alcohol addiction might not be getting the necessary help.
In February, the ACS estimated that convenience stores were losing on average £2,600 a year due to shoplifting - a record high.
Last year, one shop owner in Harwich, Essex resorted to screening CCTV footage on Facebook to "shame" shoplifters, and almost completely cut out thefts.
Nottinghamshire Police is among those forces that say they are no longer able to investigate shoplifting unless violence is involved.
The area's Labour Police and Crime Commissioner, Paddy Tipping, blamed government cuts, saying: "We can't do the job that we used to do when you've got 25% less resources.
"There are tough choices that need to be made and we need to have a debate about what can be expected of the police going forward."
A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said: "Police focus on targeting prolific offenders and organised crime networks as well as prevention measures by businesses are working.
"Forces will continue to work closely with retailers to deter shoplifters and prevent thefts from taking place."
A government spokesperson said shoplifting was not a "victimless crime", coming at a cost to businesses and consumers, and should be reported.
The police were expected to take all reported crimes seriously, for these to be investigated and where appropriate, for the offenders to be taken through the courts, they added.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42492488
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HMRC employs farmyard ducks to 'niggle' taxpayers - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Two farmyard ducks have been reminding people to pay their tax - but have now retired to the country
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Business
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Risking the accusation that the taxman himself has gone quackers, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has employed some farmyard ducks to encourage people to file their tax returns on time.
The online and billboard adverts feature a man in the bath, being niggled by a duck.
Instead of quacking, the duck repeats the word "tax".
HMRC confirmed that real ducks posed for the photos, before being retired to a bird sanctuary in Oxfordshire.
"With the January 31 deadline edging closer we want to help remind our customers to get it done so they can alleviate that niggling feeling, ensuring they can relax and not have to worry about doing their tax return," explained Angela MacDonald, HMRC's director general for customer services.
In the meantime HMRC revealed that more than 16,000 people spent part of their Christmas filing a tax return:
Eleven million people in the UK need to file self-assessment tax returns - including those who are self-employed or who have significant savings income.
Those who fail to complete a return by 31 January face an automatic fine of £100. After that interest is charged on late payments.
Anyone who wants to pay their bill through their PAYE code must complete a return by 30 December.
Earlier this month HMRC announced plans to phase out fines for one-off offenders, although this will not be in place for several years.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42493459
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Pennsylvania woman gets $284bn electricity bill - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A woman gets a shock of her life after receiving an erroneous electricity bill for $284,460,000,000.
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US & Canada
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An electricity bill for more than $284bn (£212bn) left a woman in the US state of Pennsylvania stunned... until she found out the amount was wrong.
Mary Horomanski from Erie said the latest bill showed that she had to pay the entire amount by November 2018.
"My eyes just about popped out of my head," she told the Erie Times-News. "We had put up Christmas lights and I wondered if we had put them up wrong."
The electricity provider later said the actual amount was $284.46.
A company's spokesman said it did not know how the error had occurred, stating that Ms Horomanski had to pay $284,460,000,000 with a first payment of $28,176 due later in December.
"I can't recall ever seeing a bill for billions of dollars," Mark Durbin told the Erie Times-News.
"We appreciate the customer's willingness to reach out to us about the mistake."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42489666
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Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 Southampton - BBC Sport
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2017-12-27
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Harry Kane grabs another hat-trick and breaks the record for the most Premier League goals scored in a calendar year as Tottenham thrash Southampton.
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Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Harry Kane grabbed another hat-trick and broke the record for the most Premier League goals scored in a calendar year as Tottenham thrashed Southampton at Wembley.
The Spurs and England striker headed home his 37th league goal of 2017 on 22 minutes to surpass Alan Shearer's landmark, which was set during his time at Blackburn in 1995.
Kane then added two more either side of half-time to bring his total for the year - for both club and country - to 56, two more than Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi.
Before Kane's third, Dele Alli had made it 3-0 on 49 minutes when he drilled in from outside the area, before setting up Son Heung-min two minutes later, who powered a confident finish past Fraser Forster.
Southampton, without top scorer Charlie Austin, got off the mark when Sofiane Boufal struck low under Hugo Lloris, and Dusan Tadic added a second with a lofted effort.
Despite a second-half recovery, Saints never looked like spoiling the Spurs party and have now gone a month without a win in the Premier League.
Spurs, meanwhile, stay fifth after Liverpool beat Swansea 5-0 in Tuesday's late kick-off.
It was an impressive display from Mauricio Pochettino's side, but the game will always be remembered for Kane's record-breaking day, as he cemented his status as one of the top flight's most prolific strikers.
Speaking about his 22-year record being taken, Shearer tweeted: "You've had a magnificent 2017, Harry Kane. You deserve to hold the record of most Premier League goals in a calendar year. Well done and keep up the good work."
• None Kane reached his goal-scoring record in 36 games - six fewer than Shearer in 1995
• None The 24-year-old has scored more league goals this season than Bournemouth, West Brom, Swansea, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Huddersfield
• None He is the first player in Premier League history to score six hat-tricks in a single calendar year
• None Kane has scored eight Premier League hat-tricks, as many as Thierry Henry and Michael Owen - only Alan Shearer (11) and Robbie Fowler (9) have more in the competition.
• None Kane has scored 56 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham and England in 2017. He is Europe's top scorer over the past 12 months in the five major countries (England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France)
• None The Spurs striker has now scored 96 Premier League goals for the club - one off Teddy Sheringham's record
Southampton had drawn three and lost three of their past six games and arrived at Wembley without two key players in Austin, who is injured and suspended, and Virgil van Dijk, who was left out of the squad again amid reports of a January exit.
They looked overwhelmed at times and contributed to Tottenham's dominance.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fouled Danny Rose on the edge of the area and gave away the Christian Eriksen free-kick which led to Kane's opener.
And Nathan Redmond's mistake in the Spurs half gifted the hosts possession and their counter-attack finished with Son's strike for 4-0.
Southampton, three points above the relegation zone in 13th, were able to recover some pride as they twice beat a stuttering Lloris, but it was too little, too late.
Mauricio Pellegrino's side face more tough tasks ahead, with an away trip to Manchester United up next.
"We were a little bit unlucky because in the second half we were close to going 1-2 but once we conceded the third one the game was gone," said Pellegrino.
"I want to see a team with character fighting and playing for the ball. Sometimes you do well, sometimes you do not but the minimum is to show this from the beginning. The wrong thing is we waited until the Tottenham goal to react."
On Van Dijk's omission, the Southampton boss added: "We know that around Virgil there will be a lot of speculation. You will have to wait until January, I pick the best for my team right now. That is my decision."
While Kane will quite rightly dominate the headlines, there were some other stand-out performances for the hosts.
Alli ended his two-month goal drought in the Premier League when he turned on Oriol Romeu and struck a sweet strike from distance, while Son was rewarded for his all-round display with a well-executed finish.
Spurs now have five wins from their past six matches in all competitions, and Pochettino wants their form to continue into 2018.
"We are ambitious but I am happy that we finished the year in a very good way," said the Argentine.
"For next year? We must win - win every game. The mentality is so important for us."
Southampton are back in action on Saturday, 30 December against Manchester United at Old Trafford (17:30 GMT), while Spurs return in 2018, when they travel to Swansea on Tuesday, 2 January (19:45)
• None Attempt missed. Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Dusan Tadic.
• None Dusan Tadic (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt missed. Maya Yoshida (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Dusan Tadic following a set piece situation.
• None Attempt missed. Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Dele Alli.
• None Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 5, Southampton 2. Dusan Tadic (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner following a corner.
• None Attempt saved. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Sofiane Boufal. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42360004
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Fighter pilot 'debriefed' after near miss with RAF helicopter - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Navigation error is blamed for US fighter pilot's near miss with a helicopter in Snowdonia.
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Suffolk
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A helicopter had to take "immediate evasive action" to avoid the RAF Lakenheath-based F15
A US fighter pilot was involved in a near miss with a helicopter while travelling in a no-fly area.
An RAF Griffin training helicopter was flying over Snowdonia when it detected a fighter jet "closing rapidly".
The incident in July left the helicopter having to take "immediate evasive action" to avoid the Lakenheath-based F15.
The UK Airprox Board, which probes near misses, found the F15 should not have been in the Llanberis Pass.
In its report into the episode the board said the helicopter crew "would not have been expecting such a fast-moving aircraft to be in the vicinity" because the UK Military Low Flying Handbook states that fixed wing aircraft should not enter the Llanberis Pass".
The report said: "It has long been recognised by the [48th Fighter] Wing that the Llanberis Pass is not to be entered by fixed wing aircraft.
"In this case, the crew mistook the Llanberis Pass for the adjacent Nant Ffrancon Pass, which resulted in the Airprox [near miss].
"They have been debriefed accordingly."
However, the board also found the wording and interpretation of current guidance for aircraft training in the Snowdonia area was ambiguous.
It currently says fixed wing aircraft "should not" - rather than "shall not" - go down the Llanberis Pass.
The board said the wording should be reviewed and made clearer to avoid any confusion.
Lt Elias Small, spokesman for the 48th Fighter Wing, said: "Our pilots train every day to improve their skills, and they understand the importance of adhering to local UK flying procedures.
"Although the crew mistook the Llanberis Pass for the adjacent Nant Ffrancon Pass in this instance, we concur with the board's assessment that a review of the regulation will help reduce risk in the future."
• None US jets and RAF plane in 'near miss'
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-42442594
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Snow in the Lake District - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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This footage from a drone shows heavy snowfall in the Lake District.
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This footage from a drone shows heavy snowfall in the Lake District.
Snow in other parts of the UK left 14,000 homes without power.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42493227
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London commuter trains survey: 37% think service is worse - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A survey reveals 37% of Londoners think national rail services have worsened in the last 12 months.
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London
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Londoners think national suburban rail services have got worse
More than a third of Londoners think commuter trains have deteriorated over the last year, a new survey suggests.
The YouGov poll which surveyed 1,087 people found 37% said national rail services had worsened while eight per cent said they had improved.
The findings have been described as a "damning indictment" of rail companies.
Network Rail, which manages rail infrastructure, claims Londoners will benefit from a "huge increase in rail capacity" in the coming months.
A Network Rail spokesperson said this was due to new services, new rolling stock and a £10bn taxpayer-funded investment.
The spokesperson added: "We have the safest, fastest growing network in Europe and the railway is more reliable now than it has ever been."
The poll was released ahead of an average rail fare increase of 3.4% - the biggest in five years - coming into effect.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "These latest figures are a damning indictment of the continuing failure of train operating companies to provide an adequate service for passengers.
"Londoners are fed up with repeated delays, cancelations and overcrowding.
"Growing dissatisfaction with private train companies shows why a further hike in rail fares this January is simply unjustifiable."
The mayor claimed the "only viable long-term solution" was for suburban rail services to be devolved to Transport for London (TfL).
That idea was backed by 61% of respondents as well as the Campaign for Better Transport.
The group's chief executive, Stephen Joseph, said the survey's findings "chime with our own and others' research which shows that the rail services TfL controls consistently outperform most other London rail services".
The Department for Transport (DfT) said in November it would "work with TfL to explore options for transferring selected services such as the West London line to TfL".
Network Rail said "improved working with TfL at times of disruption to the rail network would be helpful in redirecting passengers to other stations where they can complete their journeys."
A DfT spokesperson said decisions on devolution were made "based on what will make journeys better for passengers".
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-42484339
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Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool to sign Southampton defender for world record £75m - BBC Sport
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2017-12-27
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Southampton's Virgil van Dijk will join Liverpool on 1 January for £75m - a world record for a defender.
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Last updated on .From the section Liverpool
Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk will join Liverpool when the transfer window re-opens on 1 January in a world record £75m deal.
The Netherlands international had been expected to join the Reds last summer after he handed in a transfer request.
But a move fell through when Liverpool apologised for making an alleged illegal approach for the 26-year-old.
The fee is the most ever paid for a defender - Manchester City paid £52m to Monaco for Benjamin Mendy in July.
Van Dijk said in a statement he was "delighted and honoured" to sign for the Merseyside club and accepted he had had a "difficult last few months" at St Mary's.
He was left out of Southampton's squad for their 5-2 Premier League defeat by Tottenham on Tuesday, prompting speculation he was set to leave the club.
"Southampton have agreed a fee that will set a new world record for a defender," the south coast club confirmed on Wednesday.
The player only signed a new six-year contract last year, having joined the Saints from Celtic for £13m in September 2015.
However, Liverpool's interest in the summer prompted a transfer request from the player which saw him forced to train alone by manager Mauricio Pellegrino.
He returned to first team action in September, featuring in a win at Crystal Palace.
Van Dijk's former club Celtic will benefit from the record transfer fee - the Scottish champions are understood to have had a 10% sell-on agreement on any future deal.
Though he will join the club on 1 January, Van Dijk will not be able to register as a player until 2 January so will not be available for Liverpool's trip to Burnley on Monday.
The Anfield club also announced he will wear the number four shirt.
The Van Dijk fee tops the £48m release clause the Reds have agreed for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, who will move to Anfield next summer.
'Proud to join one of biggest clubs in world' - Van Dijk statement
"Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool FC player. Today is a proud day for me and my family as I join one of the biggest clubs in world football.
"I can't wait to pull on the famous red shirt for the first time in front of the Kop and will give everything I have to try and help this great club achieve something special in the years to come.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Les Reed, the board, manager, players, fans and everyone at Southampton.
"I will always be indebted to the club for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League and despite a difficult last few months, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Saints and have made friends for life at the club."
It has cost Liverpool an additional £15m and half a season, but manager Jurgen Klopp has finally got his man.
Southampton pulled the plug on a proposed £60m deal during the summer, such was their unhappiness at the way they were being railroaded into a transfer.
However, the tell-tale sign Klopp knew who he wanted to address defensive deficiencies and wouldn't be changing his mind came through the fact Liverpool did not try for an alternative.
After conceding 23 goals in 20 Premier League games so far, Klopp has been reminded often enough he needed to strengthen his defence.
Now he has done it, he will hope his side can retain their attacking brilliance and close the gap to Manchester United and Chelsea and, in time, start to challenge at the very top of the Premier League table.
Liverpool's desire to sign Van Dijk comes through the size of the fee, which Manchester City - who were also interested - were not prepared to match.
As for Southampton, they have got rid of a player who clearly had no wish to remain on the south coast and generated the funds that will allow them to reinforce a squad that has struggled for the past 12 months and led to speculation manager Mauricio Pellegrino is on dodgy ground.
France full-back Benjamin Mendy moved from Monaco to Manchester City in 2017, with Kyle Walker joining Pep Guardiola's side from Tottenham in the same year.
David Luiz joined Paris St-Germain from Chelsea in 2014, while John Stones arrived at City from Everton in 2016.
Van Dijk will become the sixth Southampton player signed by Liverpool since 2014 - at a total cost of £171.5m.
The other five to have joined are: Sadio Mane (£34m), Adam Lallana (£25m), Dejan Lovren (£20m), Nathaniel Clyne (£12.5m) and Rickie Lambert (£5m).
Southampton have got one hell of a deal. Van Dijk is a good player, yes, but for £75m? No, he's not worth it at all.
Southampton could have named any price they wanted. They knew Liverpool were absolutely desperate for a centre-half. Everyone is aware they are desperate - we have seen them come up short several times this season.
When Liverpool try and sign a goalkeeper - which they also desperately need - they will find the same thing.
We've been saying it for a number of years now - that transfer fees have gone through the roof - and this one has taken it to another level.
It seems inevitable for Southampton to lose top players every year. It must be disappointing to see so many players leave. Their scouting system has been good - they tend to sell and make profits but eventually that will back fire. They're in a relegation battle this season - they're going to have to scrap.
It's crazy money for a central defender. When he was at Celtic, a lot didn't think he was good enough for a top-six club at that time. Southampton took a chance and suddenly his fee has gone through the roof. It's a crazy fee. Southampton have been good at finding replacements, but whether they can do that again is now the question.
It has always been on the cards. It was just a case of when and for how much. Virgil has been outstanding at Southampton. I looked at him as a player who could quite literally go to any club in the world. He is that good.
I would say since he came back into the side this season he hasn't quite been firing on all cylinders and looking quite as good as he was before the injury, but that could be said for the whole side.
Tom McCarron: £75m for Van Dijk? Football has officially gone mad; that's 1 Gareth Bale or 2 Mohamed Salah's or 315 Luke Chadwicks
David Jennings: Just got to say... £75m... really?!
Ajay Yadaz: Liverpool signing Virgil van Dijk for £75m tells us something is wrong with modern football. Amazed, gutted, pathetic.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637
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World Cup 2018: Vitaly Mutko leaves role as chief organiser - BBC Sport
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2017-12-27
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Russian deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko steps down from his role as chief organiser of next summer's World Cup in Russia.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Vitaly Mutko has stepped down from his role as chief organiser for next summer's World Cup in Russia, two days after he temporarily left his post as Russian Football Union (RFU) president.
Russia's deputy prime minister was banned from the Olympics for life having been accused of running a huge "state-directed" doping programme.
Mutko stood down from his RFU position on Monday while he contests the ban.
And he has now left his World Cup role to "concentrate on government work".
Mutko said Alexei Sorokin will instead chair the World Cup 2018 organising committee.
"There is still a lot of work, but I am absolutely sure that everything will be ready on time," he told R Sports.
The organising committee spoke of its "great regret" at Mutko's decision, but added it would not affect its plans for the tournament, which starts on 14 June.
Football's world governing body Fifa said it had "taken note of the decision" and thanked Mutko for his work so far.
Whistleblower Vitaly Stepanov, a former Russian anti-doping agency worker, told the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Mutko, a former sports minister, "created and ran" the country's "state-directed" doping programme.
He has always denied being part of a doping programme, but Russia was banned from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Last month, Mutko told BBC sports editor Dan Roan it was a "huge disappointment" there was so much focus on doping issues in the build-up to World Cup 2018.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42495112
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Damaged Scottish reef 'biggest of its kind' - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Divers estimate that about 250 million flame shells exist on the bed of a Highlands loch where dredging caused damage.
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Highlands & Islands
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Flame shell beds act as a nursery for other marine life such as scallops
A rare marine feature wrecked by a dredging boat has been identified as the biggest known reef of its kind.
Divers have estimated that about 250 million flame shells exist on the bed of Loch Carron in Wester Ross.
Ministers will now seek to make the emergency measures put in place to protect the reef permanent.
In April, a scallop dredger dragged its gear through the reef on two occasions causing damage from which it is likely to take decades to recover.
Fishing on Loch Carron was immediately banned and divers have been assessing the size of the reef.
They have discovered it is two-and-a-half times larger than a similar feature in Loch Alsh, previously thought to be the biggest.
Fishermen have urged caution on the widespread use of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) which prevent them operating in sensitive areas.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: "This is an astonishing find and I think that we would be completely remiss not to take notice of it and to do what we can to protect it.
"The measures that get put in place for MPAs we put in place in consultation with the fishermen to make sure they are reasonable and appropriate."
The reef, which is inhabited by numerous other creatures, is much larger than previously thought
Dredging involves towing gear across the seabed to scrape-up the scallops which live there. They can also be caught in smaller numbers by divers.
The dredger which damaged the Loch Carron reef was operating legally because no protection measures existed at the time.
Nick Underdown, from Open Seas, said: "Flame shells are highly sensitive to damaging fishing activities like scallop dredging and prawn trawling. It just does not make sense to tow across these fragile habitats."
Fishermen's groups have distanced themselves from the skipper's actions, saying he did not belong to any industry organisation.
Bertie Armstrong, from the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), said: "The Scottish Fishermen's Federation is foursquare behind environmental protection. We are working closely with Marine Scotland on the identification, designation and management measures for the MPA network seeking a balance with sustainable economic activity.
"Flame shells are already covered by a number of representative areas. Inclusion of additional examples of any feature will always be considered carefully, again taking due account of all the needs of fishing communities.
"SFF member associations have no objection to formalising the emergency provisions for the Loch Carron flame shell bed."
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has conducted a series of dives at the site to establish the extent of the damage and the size of the reef.
The vibrant red flame shells are not normally visible as they live a few centimetres into the sand. Their beds are nursery grounds for young scallops.
After the dredger had crossed the reef, flame shells were uprooted and scattered across the loch.
Ben James, from SNH, said: "They used to be much more widely distributed and the habitat, whilst it's a firm mesh if you like, it's like fabric and it's very sensitive and easily ripped and torn apart.
"They sort of ripped the beds up and all the flame shells were exposed, and once they're exposed the flame shells die."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-42454290
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Corey Lewandowski accused of sexual assault by Joy Villa - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Singer Joy Villa files charges against the president's former campaign manager.
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US & Canada
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Corey Lewandowski pictured on Donald Trump's campaign trail in 2016
A US singer has filed a sexual assault claim against President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski.
Joy Villa says Mr Lewandowski hit her twice on the backside during an event in Washington last month.
She told the US media she spoke to the police on Christmas Eve, having been persuaded to launch a formal complaint by friends.
Mr Lewandowski has not responded to US media's requests for comment.
The accusations are the latest in a long line of sexual harassment and assault claims linked to celebrities, politicians and companies, which have gathered pace in the past year, particularly following the downfall of film mogul Harvey Weinstein.
"I was initially fearful to come forward with this," she said, according to the Associated Press news agency. She said she did not want to embarrass Mr Lewandowski's family or hers.
Ms Villa, who is a vocal Trump supporter and wore a "Make America Great Again" dress to the 2017 Grammy Awards, was at a gathering at Trump International Hotel when she posed for a photograph with Mr Lewandowski, whom, she says, she had never met before.
She alleges he hit her once on the buttocks, and when she asked him to stop and joked about reporting him for sexual harassment, he did it again. She said he laughed, adding "I work in the private sector".
She said the hard slaps felt "disgusting and shocking and demeaning".
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News site Politico first reported on the incident last week, saying they had talked to a witness who spoke out before she did.
Ms Villa has previously said she is considering running for Congress - and President Trump has tweeted his support.
Mr Trump fired Mr Lewandowski as campaign manager in June 2016.
Earlier last year, he was charged with battery after allegedly yanking a female reporter out of Mr Trump's way after a campaign event. The charges were later dropped.
More on sexual assault and harassment:
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42496777
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Shoppers stay home for Boxing Day sales - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Fewer people went bargain hunting, following Black Friday discounts and online shopping.
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Business
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Fewer people have hit the UK's Boxing Day sales this year as Black Friday discounts and savvy online shoppers lowered turnout.
Shop visits dropped by 4.5% up to 5pm compared with last year, according to research group Springboard.
Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said that although it had expected a downturn, "the scale of the drop is greater than expected."
She said: "What we have seen in the last couple of years is a structural shift in the Christmas trading period."
While Black Friday sales have changed the way people shop in the UK, Ms Wehrle said the impact was particularly felt this year, as retailers began discounting a week before 24 November and carried on right up until Christmas.
"The hotspots for Christmas trading around Boxing Day and New Year's Day are dissipating," she said.
On the upside, Springboard said early indicators pointed to a strong rise in online shopping for the full 24-hour Boxing Day period.
It expects internet transactions to surpass last year, when they rose by 6.2%.
But Ms Wehrle said that people were increasingly looking online for bargains before they visited a store or deciding to "click and collect".
As a result of this targeted shopping, there is less window-shopping and fewer spur-of-the-moment purchases.
Footfall on UK High Streets fell by 5.8%, while in shopping centres, it tumbled by 4% in the first 17 hours of Boxing Day.
Chris Daly, chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Marketing, said: "Gone are the days of setting the alarm at 06:00 to be first in line for the Boxing Day sales, something borne out by the footage of quiet shopping centres up and down the country."
However, Hammerson, the property group that owns a number of Britain's largest shopping centres, said that about 600 people were lining up to grab bargains at the retailer Next's store in Birmingham's Bullring. Queues began forming there at half past midnight.
Over the long term, Ms Wehrle believes that shopping habits in the UK have changed for good, with people looking for more of a "leisure experience" when they hit the stores.
"If people go out to eat, they don't have money to spend in the shops," she said.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42486325
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Royal Christmas photograph reaction 'overwhelming' - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Mother who snapped hugely popular picture of royals hopes to use proceeds for daughter's education.
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UK
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Ms Murdoch's photograph has now been seen by millions of people
A mother has been "overwhelmed" by the response to her photograph of four smiling royals, which appeared on the front of numerous national newspapers.
Karen Murdoch, of Watlington, Norfolk, captured a beaming Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Christmas Day at Sandringham.
Her image made the front pages of the Sun, Daily Mail, Mirror, Star, Daily Telegraph and Express newspapers.
Ms Murdoch, 39, said reaction to the picture has been "bizarre and bonkers".
She is hoping to use any proceeds from the snap to fund her daughter's studies. She says she now has an agent working on her behalf.
The amateur photographer told BBC Breakfast: "It was pure luck - I took it on an iPhone and it was a great photograph.
Asked how she got the Royals to look at the camera and capture the shot every photographer dreamt of, Ms Murdoch, who calls herself Karen Anvil on Twitter, said the secret was attracting their attention.
Both Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge are looking directly into the camera with relaxed and natural smiles.
Ms Murdoch admitted she had a "fan-girl" moment while with her daughter Rachel, 17
Ms Murdoch posted the image on Twitter at about 11:00 GMT on Christmas Day - and got thousands of likes. Her previous record was just five.
Four hours later she was still receiving messages from media organisations asking for permission to use the picture. Other Twitter users advised her to negotiate a price.
Arthur Edwards, royal photographer at The Sun and veteran of more than 200 royal tours, was also at the scene - and happily admits Ms Murdoch's image was the best of the day.
He told the BBC News website: "Getting all four of them lined up like that - it was a stunning snap.
"It was pot luck her being in the right spot, but she still got the photo.
"I rang her up to congratulate her on getting the front page of the Sun today."
He added: "We had probably the 20 best photographers in the country there, and she's scooped us all."
Ms Murdoch is now directing enquiries to a photographic agent.
"Now I want to save money for my daughter for uni and if I can get that opportunity that's amazing," she said.
"I hope this will help, because she wants to go into some form of nursing.
"I want to be able to support her as her mum."
Ms Murdoch has tweeted that the Daily Mail paid her £50 to use the image online.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42483201
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Prince Harry on Meghan Markle's first royal Christmas - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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Prince Harry says his fiancee's first Christmas with the Royal Family was "fantastic".
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Prince Harry discusses his fiancee Meghan Markle's first Christmas with the Royal Family.
The fifth in line to the throne was interviewed as part of his guest editorship of Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42491785
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Crocodile found walking Melbourne street on Christmas Day - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Police think a 1m (3.2ft) freshwater crocodile found wandering the streets is likely an escaped pet.
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Australia
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This Christmas croc was found in a Melbourne suburb
Australian police are looking for the owner of a small crocodile found wandering the streets of Melbourne on Christmas Day.
Locals taking an evening stroll stumbled across the reptile outside a suburban business.
Victoria Police said they were initially sceptical and went to the scene expecting to find a large lizard.
Instead they found a 1m (3.2ft) long freshwater crocodile "sitting quietly on the footpath".
Snake catcher Mark Pelley was called on to handle the unusual Christmas find in the suburb of Heidelberg Heights.
He said police called him that night saying: "There's a crocodile walking the streets and it's currently outside a medical centre."
Mr Pelley told local radio station 3AW he rushed to the scene where he found "five police members being stared down by a decent-sized crocodile, about three and a half foot, and the crocodile wouldn't back down".
The 1m (3.2ft) crocodile was found "walking the streets" of Melbourne on Christmas
The crocodile attempted to scamper off into the bushes but was caught by its tail and is now in the care of state wildlife authorities.
"We're running on the presumption that it was a pet at some stage, it's a long way from any bodies of water," Acting Sergeant Daniel Elliott said on Tuesday.
Pet owners in Victoria are allowed to keep crocodiles up to 2.5m in length.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-42489757
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UK snow: Images of wintry scenes - BBC News
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2017-12-27
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Snow has fallen in parts of the UK, causing disruption but it's not all gloom as your pictures show.
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UK
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This image taken by Mark Toms shows that some people are still enjoying their Christmas holidays in Surrey.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42493619
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