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Have Republicans forgotten how to govern? - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Americans gave Republicans a gift - control of the presidency and Congress. Will it be squandered?
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US & Canada
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On election day last year, American voters gave the Republicans a powerful gift - unified control of the presidency and Congress for the first time in a decade. But turning a governing majority into enacted policies is proving to be a challenge for a party that spent the past eight years throwing political bombs from the sidelines.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan took to the lectern for a press conference on Thursday morning facing a crisis. The healthcare reform legislation he has tried to shepherd through Congress is in serious peril.
Conservative members of his chamber, like Dave Brat of Virginia, were savaging the legislation for not fully dismantling the existing Obamacare system.
Moderates and even some middle-of-the-road Republicans, like Florida's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, said they could not support it because cuts to the Medicaid programme for the poor were too severe.
Mr Ryan has been forced to walk a political tightrope, balancing the competing and often conflicting interests in his caucus in an attempt to get the first step in a multi-part reform effort through the House.
It is a feat that will require a combination of diplomatic finesse, political muscle, relentless focus and more than a bit of luck.
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That's not what reporters wanted to talk about, however.
Instead, the first question was about Donald Trump's allegation - and continued insistence - that his communications had been monitored by Barack Obama's White House during the 2016 presidential campaign.
And therein lies the heart of the problem facing conservatives just a few months into the Trump presidency. At a time when a concerted political effort on the part of Republican leadership in Congress and the White House is essential to the success of a key part of their agenda, distractions and dissent rule the day.
While Mr Ryan is undertaking his juggling act, the president seems intent on throwing baseballs at his head.
Time and again the president has undermined Republican political priorities with off-message comments and tweets.
Behaviour that helped throw opponents off-balance and demonstrate his unorthodoxy during the campaign are proving less helpful when conducted from the confines of the White House.
Mr Trump's remarks about wiretapping and earlier allegations of widespread voter fraud, wholly unnecessary given his victory last November, have forced the White House to scramble with after-the-fact explanations and thrown unwelcome obligations on congressional Republicans to conduct investigations.
On Wednesday, a visibly frustrated Devin Nunes, chair of the House Intelligence Committee and Trump ally, straight-up said Mr Trump was "wrong" about the surveillance.
The Senate Intelligence Committee would later issue a statement that they found "no indications of monitoring Trump Tower by any element of the United States government".
Mr Trump's own words, as well as statements made by his advisors since inauguration day, also helped torpedo the president's second effort at instituting a travel ban on some majority Muslim nations.
House Intelligence committee chair Devin Nunes (foreground) and the committee's ranking Democrat, California's Adam Schiff, said there was no evidence of Trump's wiretapping claims
"The record before this court is unique," wrote the federal judge who suspended the travel order on Wednesday. "It includes significant and unrebutted evidence of religious animus driving the promulgation of the executive order and its related predecessor."
Even without the travel ban and wiretapping controversies roiling Washington politics, Republicans were going to have a challenge transitioning from being the party of opposition, intent on thwarting the efforts of the Obama administration, to the party of action.
While it was easy for the conservatives in Congress to pass straight-up Obamacare repeal legislation when they knew Mr Obama would veto it, crafting legislation that the party has to stand behind - and explain to voters in coming elections - is much trickier.
During a Wednesday night televised town hall forum on healthcare there was a telling moment when Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price listened to a cancer patient lament that he would lose his medical coverage under the Republican plan.
Mr Price's response was to criticise past Democratic promises on healthcare.
The questioner wasn't buying it. Republicans have to come up with solutions now, not just identify problems.
As any Democrat in office during the past eight years will explain, saying "our plan is less bad than the existing system" isn't a recipe for political success.
Yes, it's still the first few months of the Trump presidency, and the drive to pass something, anything on healthcare after eight years of promises will be strong.
Mr Trump could find new focus and use some of his much-advertised dealmaking acumen to pull competing factions within the Republican Party together. His party has the votes in Congress to get things done, and with a bit of positioning he could put significant pressure on Senate Democrats up for re-election next year in states he carried in 2016.
Trump back in rally mode, this time with the seal of the president
Then again, Mr Trump has shown few signs of easing back on his social media rants.
He says he will hold large public rallies every few weeks, where his unscripted comments often set off new controversies.
There also may be powers within the White House - such as senior advisor Steve Bannon - who would be happy if the Republican congressional agenda comes crashing down, bringing the remnants of the party's establishment with it.
For Republican congressional leadership, healthcare reform is only the first piece of the legislative puzzle. The longer that takes, the less time will remain for comprehensive tax reform, which has its own sticky political issues.
A massive budget fight, with the threat of a government shutdown, also looms on the horizon.
Mr Trump's aggressive funding priorities are already coming under fire. Democrats are digging in to defend social programmes on the chopping block.
Some Republicans object to billions of dollars for Mr Trump's border wall and sharp reductions in foreign aid and agricultural subsidies.
If negotiations over healthcare reform go south, Republicans in Congress will be less inclined to give Mr Trump the benefit of the doubt in the coming days. Democrats will smell blood, and the subsequent political lifts will be all the more difficult.
Democrats like Senator Elizabeth Warren have attacked the healthcare bill
By next year members of Congress will be focused on the coming midterm elections and less inclined to take risks on big legislative actions with uncertain prospects.
There's already evidence of a time bomb underneath the Republican Party. Polls show uneasy independents and near universal opposition to their agenda from Democrats, but for the time being their supporters held firm.
If those numbers dip, however, and enthusiasm diminishes, it could spell ruin for congressional Republicans in 2018.
Ever since Mr Obama swept to power with Democratic congressional majorities in 2008, Republicans have been promising their voters that real conservative change is just an election away.
Yes, they won the House of Representatives in 2010, but they still needed the Senate. Yes, they won the Senate in 2014, but the presidency was in Democratic hands.
Now they have Congress and the presidency, leaving few excuses. After two months of intra-party bickering and a president who can't keep his hands off his Twitter account, it may only be a matter of time before their base gets restless.
Conservative humourist PJ O'Rourke once quipped that "Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and then they get elected and prove it".
For the past few months that line has seemed less of a joke than a prophecy.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39295295
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Six Nations 2017: England hunt repeat Grand Slam against Ireland in Dublin - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Only Ireland can prevent England from becoming the sixth team in 107 years to complete back-to-back Grand Slams.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Coverage: First two matches on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 live sports extra. Final game on BBC Radio 5 live, plus live text on all matches on BBC Sport website.
Only Ireland can prevent England from becoming the sixth team in 107 years to complete back-to-back Grand Slams, in Saturday's final Six Nations round.
Last week's 61-21 defeat of Scotland, combined with Ireland's loss to Wales, ensured England are chasing history rather than trophies in Dublin, with the tournament already won.
They can also set a new top-tier record with their 19th successive Test win.
But former coach Sir Clive Woodward has warned England to expect an "ambush".
England's Grand Slam bid is the headline act on Saturday but there is plenty of intrigue elsewhere, with Scotland hoping to send departing coach Vern Cotter off in grand style with a big win over Italy, while Wales will be targeting a potentially significant win over France in Paris.
But it is undoubtedly to Dublin where most eyes will be turned and Woodward, who led England to 2003 World Cup glory, knows what a dangerous place it can be after seeing his team beaten at the old Lansdowne Road as they attempted to complete a clean sweep in 2001.
England did clinch the 2003 Grand Slam in Dublin, but fell short in the city again in 2011.
"The Irish will have an ambush planned, they have 80 minutes to resurrect their season and I can guarantee you Eddie Jones will not consider this a successful season unless they get the job done in Dublin," Woodward told the Mail on Sunday.
Jones, who has steered England to second from eighth in the world rankings since taking charge in January 2016, has warned his side to expect an aerial bombardment.
• None Read more: The childhood friends driving on England
• None Who are Jerry Guscott's Six Nations hot steppers?
"We know what Ireland will bring - a strong, physical challenge at the breakdown, pressure on our half-backs and high balls," the Australian said.
"It will be raining high balls. It will be 'kick and clap' and the fans at the Aviva Stadium love it."
Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton shrugged off Jones' prediction, saying he was instead focused on carrying out coach Joe Schmidt's instructions.
Former Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy, meanwhile, says the pressure of going one better than New Zealand's mark of 18 straight victories "brings this great unknown".
There is a family connection that links the two camps, however, with England centre Owen Farrell's father Andy now installed as Ireland defence coach.
A combination of wins for England and Wales and a bonus-point victory of their own over Italy at Murrayfield could see Scotland in second, their highest finish in the Six Nations era.
In addition to that landmark, the Scots will attempt to exorcise the memories of their 40-point defeat at Twickenham last weekend.
That afternoon began with the players harbouring real hope of ending a 34-year wait for a win at the auld enemy's headquarters, but ended with questions over their British and Irish Lions credentials before the summer tour of New Zealand.
It will also be New Zealander Cotter's final match in charge of the team before he is replaced by Glasgow boss Gregor Townsend.
"Vern won't want us focusing on him but it will definitely be something in the background," scrum-half Henry Pyrgos said.
"We are conscious that we want to finish his reign in the right way."
Wales interim boss Rob Howley has overseen an underwhelming campaign, partly redeemed by a hard-fought victory over Ireland last weekend.
They will have one eye on besting the Irish once again as the tournament comes to a climax.
Victory over an improved France team, combined with England sealing their Grand Slam in Dublin, would elevate Wales above Ireland and into a top-tier seeding for May's 2019 Rugby World Cup draw, and ensure they avoid being drawn alongside New Zealand, England or Australia in the group stages.
Howley - who has not included any of the seven uncapped squad players in his Six Nations squad in a match-day 23 - has once again been consistent in his team selection, resisting calls to give Ospreys' Sam Davies a chance at fly-half ahead of Dan Bigger.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39304467
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George Osborne: From history buff to austerity editor - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Will the former chancellor be able to juggle journalism, politics and his other jobs?
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Entertainment & Arts
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A student of modern history in his undergraduate days at Oxford, his is that cast of mind with a tendency to see himself as the inheritor of distant traditions.
When I had a cup of tea with him in No 11 a couple of years ago, he spent the first seven or eight minutes talking about the provenance of the grand portraits in his room, and the figures there depicted. I got the message pretty clearly. Here was a historic figure, he seemed to imply, who felt he had no judge so fair or firm as posterity.
"He's fascinated by history," the Tory MP and historian Keith Simpson told the Financial Times a few years ago. "He looks at different historical institutions and mechanisms which may have lapsed and sees whether they can be given new life."
Like the mechanism by which being an MP is very much a part-time job, perhaps.
Osborne will need to mobilise all his knowledge of history when defending the decision to mix two full-time jobs - that of an MP and a newspaper editor - with each other, let alone with his four days a month at BlackRock, the asset manager, for which he gets an annual figure of £650,000 - what most people earn in around a quarter of a century.
Many journalists, including Winston Churchill, have gone on to be politicians
The fact is, he has no journalistic credentials whatsoever.
Most people who edit newspapers will have spent years crafting headlines, sub-editing copy, designing pages, planning stories, and above all reporting.
Osborne has never done any of that, and will need to grasp some basic skills very quickly if he is to keep Standard staff on-side.
Of course, there is a long tradition of journalists becoming politicians, from Churchill and Horatio Bottomley to Nigel Lawson, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper, Michael Gove, Ruth Davidson, Benito Mussolini (who edited two socialist papers) and the fictional Jim Hacker.
Fewer have tended to go the other way. Bill Deedes was an editor of a newspaper (the Daily Telegraph) and a cabinet member, though not at the same time.
Boris Johnson, who in ancient history was thought of as Osborne's main rival for the Tory crown, was editor of the Spectator while MP for Henley. And, long before he entered politics, Michael Foot was editor of the Standard at 28.
Evgeny Lebedev, the 36-year-old who is now Osborne's boss, is fond of Evelyn Waugh and 20th Century literature generally (full disclosure: I was for several years Lebedev's adviser, and then his editor at the Independent).
I imagine Lebedev will like the idea of reviving quaint, romantic 20th Century ideas about the relationship between politics and newspapers.
But Osborne's constituents have daily concerns that are more rooted in 21st Century Britain. He has a huge majority, but together with his four days a month at BlackRock - which is around a fifth of a full-time job in itself - he won't have much time for parliamentary representation.
Frankly, I can't see this arrangement lasting. Perhaps forthcoming boundary changes to the constituency will concentrate his mind - and that of his electorate.
Tatton has a population of around 85,000, which intriguingly is almost exactly a tenth of the Standard's readership. The latter are his new constituency. What kind of editor will he be for them?
Osborne flirted with journalism before entering politics. Years ago he was interviewed for a job on the Economist, the publication whose world view he most closely adheres to, by Gideon Rachman, now the Financial Times' brilliant foreign affairs commentator. He didn't get the job, despite having grown up on the same street as Rachman, and having the same first name (Gideon) and alma mater (St Paul's).
There is a strong resemblance between the politics of the Standard, which backed the Remain camp and Zac Goldsmith's mayoral campaign, and Osborne's: globalist in outlook, metropolitan rather than provincial, socially liberal, unashamedly in favour of capitalism, and reliably Tory.
The Evening Standard has a circulation of 850,000
In the past, Osborne has also spoken at length about his faintly bohemian upbringing, and his interest in the arts, particularly theatre, is genuine.
Naturally he will sharpen the paper's political edge, and his appointment serves up the truly delicious prospect of several assaults, under varying degrees of disguise, on the prime minister who so unceremoniously dispatched him to the back benches.
Ultimately he will be judged not just on the paper he produces, but on whether together with the commercial team at ESI Media he can reinvent the company.
Heavily reliant, like Metro, on print display advertising which is disappearing at the rate of around 20% a year across the industry, ESI Media - which houses the Standard, Independent, and TV station London Live - needs to be re-engineered, perhaps with events, data and ticketing to the fore.
Among his key lieutenants beyond the editorial floor will be Manish Malhotra, the former finance director who now runs the company, and Jon O'Donnell, the managing director for commercial whose ad team is outperforming the rest of the market.
Osborne was one of 30 applicants, 10 of whom were interviewed, and four of whom were shortlisted.
In four meetings in central London with Lebedev, he sought and received reassurance about the proprietor's willingness to invest in the paper and its website.
He can take heart from the fact that the Independent, which is now digital-only (I was the last editor of the print edition) is now humming commercially, well ahead of budget and set to make a multi-million pound profit this year.
Unimaginable even three years ago, the Independent is currently the financial powerhouse within ESI Media, of which TV channel London Live is the other component.
The Independent is co-owned by Justin Byam Shaw, who is also the chairman of the Standard and attended two of the four meetings between Lebedev and Osborne.
Relative to the rest of Fleet Street, Osborne won't have much in the way of an editorial budget, and the need to raise revenues means sponsored content and native advertising of a sort that journalists instinctively resist may creep further into his pages.
Then again, doing more with less - or austerity - was the ethos that defined his contribution to political history. Not in this for the money, because he will be paid substantially less than his predecessor, the Austerity Chancellor has just been reborn as the Austerity Editor.
What his constituents make of that we're about to find out.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39304904
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Josh Edmondson: Ex-Team Sky rider says he secretly injected vitamins - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Josh Edmondson tells BBC sports editor Dan Roan he broke cycling's rules by secretly injecting himself with a cocktail of vitamins when riding for Team Sky.
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British cyclist Josh Edmondson has told the BBC he broke the sport's rules by secretly injecting himself with a cocktail of vitamins when riding for Team Sky.
The 24-year-old, who was on the team's books in 2013 and 2014, also said he had severe depression after independently using the controversial painkiller Tramadol.
Edmondson said the pressure of his selection for a major race in 2014 led to him breaching the UCI's 'no-needle' policy "two or three times a week" for about a month.
• None Listen: a BBC Radio 5 live BeSpoke special looks at the issue
Team Sky say legal vitamins and a needle were found in Edmondson's room, but they did not report the incident because he denied using them, and over concerns he "could be pushed over the edge".
Edmondson says he confessed to Team Sky at the time but there was "a cover-up" by senior management.
Team Sky are renowned for their robust, no-needle, no-Tramadol stance.
In a wide-ranging and emotional interview, Edmondson told the BBC:
• None He travelled to Italy from his training base in Nice to purchase a variety of legal vitamins and intravenous equipment.
• None He risked giving himself a heart attack by self-administering the medication secretly at night.
• None He independently took powerful opioid Tramadol during the 2013 Tour of Britain. Team Sky say this was given to him without their knowledge by the race doctor, rather than their own team doctor.
• None He didn't leave his house for two months because of severe depression partly caused by using Tramadol.
"In 2014 I was under a lot of pressure, not just from the team but from myself," said Edmondson.
"You want to renew your contract for one thing, and for me the bigger thing was not letting anyone down - this team had given me a chance by signing me and a bigger chance by letting me go to a Grand Tour [the Vuelta a Espana].
"I think it was just before the Tour of Austria, I went to Italy to buy the vitamins that I was going to later inject. I brought them all back to Nice. I bought butterfly clips, the syringes, the carnitine [a supplement], folic acid, 'TAD' [a supplement], damiana compositum, and [vitamin] B12, and I'd just inject that two or three times a week maybe. Especially when I wanted to lose weight, I'd inject the carnitine more often because it was very effective."
The vitamins Edmondson bought are legal, but the UCI - the sport's governing body - brought in rules in 2011 banning cyclists from using needles.
"It dawned on me while I was doing it how extreme it was, putting the needle in and making sure there are no bubbles because if there is air in it, it can give you a heart attack and people can die from that," he said.
"It is a very daunting thing to be doing, especially as I was sat in a room in a foreign country alone at night. It's just a very surreal thing you do. It's not something you take lightly. You're doing it out of necessity really."
Edmondson admits he was tempted to dope, adding: "But this was my way of closing the gap a little without doping. Some people think there is a grey area, and that's why there is a no-needle policy, but people across sport have been injecting vitamins for years and it is an alternative to doping.
"It's not the same - if you were doping, you are getting massive gains. This is just freshening what you do naturally."
Edmondson says he is prepared to now talk to the anti-doping authorities about his past.
While Edmondson was racing at the Tour of Poland, his secret was exposed when a team-mate took photographs of the vitamins and equipment he had bought, and reported it to team management.
"I got back from that and noticed all the vitamins which had been hidden in my room were on top of this chest of drawers - and I realised I'd been caught out," said Edmondson.
"At that point I was panic-stricken. I'd never known anything like it. You just go weak and I had no idea what to do."
Edmondson said Team Sky's then head of medicine, Dr Steve Peters, informed him of the discovery of the evidence.
"He said 'there's been an incident' and I broke down. I was crying, I was in shock. And he said, 'somebody has sent us some photos of this intravenous equipment and the vitamins'."
Dr Peters confirmed to the BBC that a member of Team Sky who shared a house with Edmondson had found "a needle and some vials", and had taken a photograph of the evidence.
But Team Sky say the incident was not reported, after Edmondson told Dr Peters via Skype that he had not used the equipment.
"He fell apart at the seams quite dramatically. A number of things I asked him during that interview really alarmed me," said Dr Peters.
"I was now in a position where I can say the welfare of the athlete was number one. Obviously, I'm working with the team and anti-doping is a secondary issue but a really important one, and we have to address it, so Josh explained that he had never used needles before.
"He was in a very stressful situation. He was aware that his role in the team was in jeopardy. We sent off the vials, there was only one that was open, the rest were sealed. They turned out to be vitamins which you can buy over the counter, so I asked him 'why on earth would you?' And he had not done any injection, he said he did not know how to use it. All he said was: 'I did not know what to do so I left it.'
"This didn't quite ring true to me. I felt this is very odd from what I've experienced in the past when I've been involved with anti-doping issues. So I said to the team: 'I want to stop here.'
"Wearing my hat as a doctor, for somebody to be culpable they cannot be ill and I suspect he was ill. If he's not able to give informed consent to what he is doing and say, 'I understand this', then in my world, as a psychiatrist, you are not culpable, because your illness is talking.
"The second point from me is, let's say we went ahead at that point because obviously I do not want to cover anything up - there is no way I'm going to do that. But what is the consequence of him suddenly being exposed if I'm right and he's not well? The reason I stopped it in its tracks is my concern has always got to be for the welfare of the individual."
Dr Peters said he then met Edmondson on 2 September 2014, when supervision and a behavioural programme was set up until the end of his contract.
"Once a week he reported to one of the team managers, and she would check on how it was going. She would report back to me, because I can't forcefully get people to speak to me. I don't know what happened to him after that because he did not want to engage with us."
Team Sky say they took legal advice at the time of the incident and say that, although Edmondson had been in breach of team rules by possessing the equipment, they were under no obligation to report the case to the authorities.
'It was a lot of agonising'
Asked whether Team Sky should have handled the case differently, Dr Peters said: "We could have reported it. We could have made a different decision. We'll never know in hindsight. I suppose if I'm looking at safety issues I did think there was a really big risk this lad would be pushed over the edge. I stand by my decision.
"I think I'd definitely have told them if I thought this young man was trying to cheat, but I don't think he was doing that. I think it was a panic reaction. He is making very poor decisions because he is not well, and therefore we need to treat him first of all and then get to the bottom of it. But actually to put him through some kind of investigation or disciplinary at that point could've been very serious and damaged this lad's health.
"I'm not saying that we shouldn't have reported him. We had to make a judgement call which was difficult. I don't think you could go back and think maybe we should've done it and took that risk. I don't think it was easy and I think the problem is if you look at it in black-and-white terms it makes it so that there is a right and a wrong.
"There are shades of grey. Let's be honest, none of us were comfortable but we had a lot of discussion around this and one thing we could say was he violated our rules. On the UCI technicality, he had not violated because he told us very clearly at the time that he had not done the injection because he did not know how to use the needle. This is what he told us at the time."
When asked if there were members of Team Sky's senior management who wanted to report it, Dr Peters replied: "Yeah. We had a lot of debate and discussion. It wasn't just something we decided that we won't bother saying anything. That did not happen. It was a lot of agonising.
"We've got this in the minutes. I'm named as the person saying: 'Please stop until I make sure this young man is OK.' I was involved right from the beginning and I'm trying to explain it is a difficult one. We could have judged differently. I could've done it. I'm saying take it to me, not the team.
"We did it on good faith and decided on two counts. One, we didn't think he'd violated any rules and second and, most important, he was not in a good place."
Edmondson now claims he did tell Team Sky's senior management he had self-injected at the time, but that there was a "cover-up".
"I think that would have meant a bigger admission for them," he said.
"They'd have had to say publicly a kid was injecting. Injecting anything's bad. It's not like they were banned substances but injecting is against the rules - to self-administer anything, I believe."
Team Sky firmly deny the claim. Dr Peters said: "It's not a cover-up. Once you use that word you are saying there was an intent behind us to conceal and that was never the case."
'I felt like someone had thrown me down stairs'
Edmondson also told the BBC he had severe depression after independently using controversial painkiller Tramadol.
He said: "I was depressed sometimes, because if you use it in a race and you come out of the race afterwards you're just absolutely battered.
"Tramadol makes you feel 'dead' the next day. I felt hungover. The withdrawal from the Tramadol made me feel depressed. It feels like you're hungover, so you need to to just get through and I think the withdrawal from that... just immediately after a race, I was just depressed. I felt like someone had thrown me down some stairs for a few days.
"The dangerous thing about it is you don't know when you're coming to your limit. It's not a performance-enhancing drug, it doesn't make you any better, you're not getting any more from your body, you are just pushing yourself a bit harder.
"When you're young and you are facing some kind of depression and it might be linked to some sort of drug you are definitely in denial about what that problem is - I just saw it as the stress of doing that job and training hard. I wouldn't have ever acknowledged that Tramadol was doing that.
"It was a serious problem for me especially towards the end of 2014. I didn't leave the house for two months. It doesn't get much worse than that."
Tramadol has been blamed for causing crashes in cycling by making riders drowsy, and there are concerns it may have addictive side-effects. The Mouvement pour le Cyclisme Credible, and both the UK and US Anti-Doping Agencies have called on the World Anti-Doping Agency to ban it.
In 2014, former Team Sky rider Michael Barry said he and some of his team-mates had used Tramadol between 2010 and 2012.
Team Sky responded by saying: "None of our riders should ride while using Tramadol - that's the policy of this team. This has been our firm position for the last two seasons." The team have also called for it to be banned.
When asked why he chose not to tell Team Sky about his difficulties, Edmondson said: "I was just really worried how it would look and it was a naive thing to do because I know now that if I'd gone to someone, like Dr Freeman or Wiggo [Bradley Wiggins] or anyone really, someone I'd trusted, they would have helped me, and there'd have been no problem.
"It just seemed at the time that if I'd gone to them and told them, 'I'm having this too much, I might be abusing it a little', I didn't think they would help me, just see it as a negative thing.
"I'm not trying to pass the buck. I realise I made that mistake. It was something I was doing and I don't want to be that guy moaning about how they didn't pick up on it, but if there was another rider in that position now I would want to help them and I would want there to be a system in place to help someone like that. You'd have thought there'd be a system in place to pick up on someone who's depressed, regardless of drug use."
In a statement, Team Sky said: "We are confident we have mechanisms in place which encourage a rider to bring any issues they may be experiencing to staff in confidence.
"We are also satisfied that staff are equipped and able to raise any concerns they may have regarding a rider's welfare, and for the team to offer support."
Last year, former Team Sky rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke told the BBC he had been offered Tramadol at the 2012 World Championships in the Netherlands when riding for Great Britain.
He retired recently after serving a two-year doping ban for a biological passport infringement prior to his spell at Sky.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39293763
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Is robotics a solution to the growing needs of the elderly? - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Using robotic carers and nurses to help the elderly could ease strains on the global healthcare system.
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Business
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Nadine started life as a robotic receptionist but Professor Nadia Thalmann believes she can be developed into a carer
The receptionist at the Institute of Media Innovation, at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, is a smiling brunette called Nadine.
From a distance, nothing about her appearance seems unusual. It's only on closer inspection that doubts set in. Yes - she's a robot.
Nadine is an "intelligent" robot capable of autonomous behaviour. For a machine, her looks and behaviour are remarkably natural.
She can recognise people and human emotions, and make associations using her knowledge database - her "thoughts", so to speak.
At IMI, they are still fine-tuning her receptionist skills. But soon, Nadine might be your grandma's nurse.
Research into the use of robots as carers or nurses is growing. It's not hard to see why.
The global population is ageing, putting strain on healthcare systems.
Although many 80-year-olds may only need a friend to chat to, or someone to keep an eye out in case they fall, increasingly the elderly are suffering serious ailments, such as dementia.
Friendships like that between Frank Langella's character and his robot carer in the film Robot and Frank could be a thing of the future
How can we provide quality care to address this array of needs? Many experts think an answer could be robots.
Nadine is being developed by a team led by Prof Nadia Thalmann. They have been working on virtual human research for years; Nadine has existed for three.
"She has human-like capacity to recognise people, emotions, and at the same time to remember them," says Prof Thalmann.
Nadine will automatically adapt to the person and situation she deals with, making her ideally suited to looking after the elderly, Prof Thalmann says.
The robot can monitor a patient's wellbeing, call for help in an emergency, chat, read stories or play games. "The humanoid is never tired or bored," says Prof Thalmann. "It will just do what it is dedicated for."
Nadine isn't perfect, though. She has trouble understanding accents, and her hand co-ordination isn't the best. But Prof Thalmann says robots could be caring for the elderly within 10 years.
US technology giant IBM is also busy with robo-nurse research, in partnership with Rice University, in Houston, Texas.
They have created the IBM Multi-Purpose Eldercare Robot Assistant (Mera).
Mera can monitor a patient's heart and breathing by analysing video of their face. It can also see if the patient has fallen, and pass information to carers.
However, not everyone is ready for a robot carer, acknowledges Susann Keohane, IBM global research leader for the strategic initiative on aging.
This view is backed by research by Gartner, which found "resistance" to the use of humanoid robots in elderly care.
People were not comfortable with the idea of their parents being cared for by robots, despite evidence it offers value for money, says Kanae Maita, principal analyst in personal technologies innovation at Gartner Research.
Amid this scepticism, IBM believes its Internet of Things (IoT) research may prove more immediately valuable.
The firm is studying how sensors and IoT can identify changes in physical conditions or anomalies in a person's environment.
By recording atmospheric readings - such as carbon dioxide - in a patient's room, carers could understand a person's habits, such as when they eat lunch, or take a walk, without invading their private space. Carers could spot changes remotely and respond accordingly.
Ms Keohane says: "There's a real opportunity to create new innovative solutions, including the use of robotics and the Internet of Things, that will help people extend their independence, and enrich their quality of life."
While widespread use of humanoids may be a long way off, robo-pets are already in use across the world.
Robotic Paro seal trials with dementia patients have had positive results
Developed in Japan, Paro is a therapeutic baby seal that has been shown to reduce the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
The seals respond to touch and are designed to make eye contact. About 5,000 are in use.
Clinical trials with dementia patients, conducted by Dr Sandra Petersen's team at the University of Texas at Tyler, found Paro improved symptoms such as depression, anxiety and stress. The need for symptom-related medication reduced by a third.
In some cases the results were even more remarkable. Dr Petersen says: "Some patients that were non-verbal began speaking again - first to the seal, then to others about the seal."
There are drawbacks to robo-pets, Dr Petersen admits - notably the cost. A Paro costs about $5,000 (£4,000).
There is also a reluctance by some in the medical profession to adopt non-pharmacological therapies.
Nonetheless, Dr Petersen believes the Paro may have a role in many health-related settings, as the seal's artificial intelligence allows it be programmed to adapt to a variety of behaviours.
"I think the Paro may have a role in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, in neurocognitive rehabilitation with stroke patients, and with pain management or palliative care patients," she says.
"Autism-spectrum children may benefit from interaction with the seal."
Inevitably, there are downsides to robotic solutions.
One issue, says Prof Sethu Vijayakumar, director of Edinburgh University's Centre for Robotics, is whether the spread of humanoid carers could lead to the increasing isolation of the elderly.
"We have to ask: are [robots] isolating people more, or really helping people?" Prof Vijayakumar says.
The use of robotics also raises concerns about personal data issues, he says.
"The quality and personalisation of [robotic] services are directly proportionate to the amount of data you're willing to release to the system. Your data becomes a type of currency for access to better services.
"It's an interesting ethical trade-off. A very sensitive area."
Doubts aside, Prof Vijayakumar says the growth of robo-care is inevitable. "Demographics being the way it is, we will see significant use of robotics in dealing with the problems of old age."
Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter and Facebook
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39255244
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Reality Check: Is education spending at a record level? - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The prime minister claims spending is at record levels but the National Audit Office says schools will have to make £3bn in cuts.
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Education & Family
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The claim: The government is spending record amounts on education in England.
Reality Check verdict: The absolute amount of money in the pot for schools in England is at record levels but once you factor in rising pupil numbers, inflation and running costs, schools will have to cut approximately 8% from budgets by 2020.
Theresa May said at Prime Minister's Questions that spending on education is at its highest level, something she has insisted on a number of occasions.
She was talking about England, because education is a devolved matter and is funded separately in the other UK nations.
But head teachers in England have been raising the alarm about growing holes in their budgets.
When the prime minister talks about record amounts of funding going into education, she is referring to the Dedicated Schools Grant, which is the whole block of money going to schools in England. This stands at £40bn this year.
It is true that this is the biggest pot in cash terms, but, of course, how generous the pot is depends on how many pupils there are in the system.
There was a baby boom in the early 2000s, which has been hitting primary schools for several years and is now moving up through the secondary system.
Between 2009 and 2016, the school system expanded to take in an extra 470,000 pupils.
The Department for Education says that between 2016 and 2025 there will be a further increase in the state school system, up from about 7.4 million pupils to about 8.1 million.
So looking at how much is being spent per pupil is a more meaningful figure.
David Cameron in 2015 committed to freezing school spending per pupil in cash terms. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned that this would result in an 8% real-terms cut in school spending per pupil due to inflation and the rising cost of wages, pensions and National Insurance contributions.
This amounts to the biggest fall in spending on each pupil in 30 years.
The National Audit Office estimates that schools will have to make £3bn worth of cuts as a result of these factors.
The government is consulting on a new funding formula, which it says will be a fairer way of allocating the cash to schools around the country. Under current plans, almost 11,000 schools stand to gain and around 9,000 will lose funding.
How the funding formula could work
The following types of schools would get extra funding:
This model is what the Department for Education wants every school to move towards eventually but, for the first two years, transitional protections are in place meaning no school can lose more than 3% of their funding.
This means that the best-funded schools under the current system will still get more than £4,312 basic funding per Year 11 pupil for the two year period because of these protections.
For now, one pupil might attract more funding than another with the same characteristics in terms of deprivation, attainment and so on in another part of the country. The idea is that, eventually, two pupils with the same characteristics will attract the same amount of funding no matter what school they attend.
It's fair to say the majority of the schools at the very bottom of the pile are in urban areas and the biggest winners are mostly in rural areas.
The top 30 winners are almost all in Cumbria, Shropshire and Cornwall, while 13 of the bottom 30 are in London or Birmingham. Other losers are in Coventry, Rotherham and Wakefield.
However, it's not quite as simple as urban loses, rural wins. There is a chunk of losers in the funding formula in Lincolnshire, for example, while some London schools are gaining too because of the changes in the way the government assesses need.
But analysis from independent think tank the Education Policy Institute suggests the gains made by some schools will be wiped out by the overall cuts they will need to make to keep up with rising cost pressures.
It's also worth pointing out that the schools budget, which is for five to 16-year-olds, is distinct from overall education spending.
Mrs May claims spending on education is at record levels in absolute terms. In fact, while schools have done well in terms of funding per pupil in the longer term - it will be at least 70% higher in real terms in 2020 than it was in 1990 - the IFS says spending on pupils in sixth forms and further education will be no higher in 2020 than it was 30 years previously.
• None Is school funding the next crisis?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39302746
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George Osborne: From history buff to austerity editor - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Will the former chancellor be able to juggle journalism, politics and his other jobs?
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Entertainment & Arts
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A student of modern history in his undergraduate days at Oxford, his is that cast of mind with a tendency to see himself as the inheritor of distant traditions.
When I had a cup of tea with him in No 11 a couple of years ago, he spent the first seven or eight minutes talking about the provenance of the grand portraits in his room, and the figures depicted. I got the message pretty clearly. Here was a historic figure, he seemed to imply, who felt he had no judge so fair or firm as posterity.
"He's fascinated by history," the Tory MP and historian Keith Simpson told the Financial Times a few years ago. "He looks at different historical institutions and mechanisms which may have lapsed and sees whether they can be given new life."
Like the mechanism by which being an MP is very much a part-time job, perhaps.
Osborne will need to mobilise all his knowledge of history when defending the decision to mix two full-time jobs - that of an MP and a newspaper editor - with each other, let alone with his four days a month at BlackRock, the asset manager, for which he gets an annual figure of £650,000 - what most people earn in around a quarter of a century.
Many journalists, including Winston Churchill, have gone on to be politicians
The fact is, he has no journalistic credentials whatsoever.
Most people who edit newspapers will have spent years crafting headlines, sub-editing copy, designing pages, planning stories, and above all reporting.
Osborne has never done any of that, and will need to grasp some basic skills very quickly if he is to keep Standard staff on-side.
Of course, there is a long tradition of journalists becoming politicians, from Churchill and Horatio Bottomley to Nigel Lawson, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper, Michael Gove, Ruth Davidson, Benito Mussolini (who edited two socialist papers) and the fictional Jim Hacker.
Fewer have tended to go the other way. Bill Deedes was an editor of a newspaper (the Daily Telegraph) and a cabinet member, though not at the same time.
Boris Johnson, who in ancient history was thought of as Osborne's main rival for the Tory crown, was editor of the Spectator while MP for Henley. And, long before he entered politics, Michael Foot was editor of the Standard at 28.
Evgeny Lebedev, the 36-year-old who is now Osborne's boss, is fond of Evelyn Waugh and 20th Century literature generally (full disclosure: I was for several years Lebedev's adviser, and then his editor at the Independent).
I imagine Lebedev will like the idea of reviving quaint, romantic 20th Century ideas about the relationship between politics and newspapers.
But Osborne's constituents have daily concerns that are more rooted in 21st Century Britain. He has a huge majority, but together with his four days a month at BlackRock - which is about a fifth of a full-time job in itself - he won't have much time for parliamentary representation.
Frankly, I can't see this arrangement lasting. Perhaps forthcoming boundary changes to the constituency will concentrate his mind - and that of his electorate.
Tatton has a population of around 85,000, which intriguingly is almost exactly a tenth of the Standard's readership. The latter are his new constituency. What kind of editor will he be for them?
Osborne flirted with journalism before entering politics. Years ago he was interviewed for a job on the Economist, the publication whose world view he most closely adheres to, by Gideon Rachman, now the Financial Times' brilliant foreign affairs commentator. He didn't get the job, despite having grown up on the same street as Rachman, and having the same first name (Gideon) and alma mater (St Paul's).
There is a strong resemblance between the politics of the Standard, which backed the Remain camp and Zac Goldsmith's mayoral campaign, and Osborne's: globalist in outlook, metropolitan rather than provincial, socially liberal, unashamedly in favour of capitalism, and reliably Tory.
The Evening Standard has a circulation of 850,000
In the past, Osborne has also spoken at length about his faintly bohemian upbringing. His interest in the arts, particularly theatre, is genuine.
Naturally he will sharpen the paper's political edge, and his appointment serves up the truly delicious prospect of several assaults, under varying degrees of disguise, on the prime minister who so unceremoniously dispatched him to the back benches.
Ultimately he will be judged not just on the paper he produces, but on whether together with the commercial team at ESI Media he can reinvent the company.
Heavily reliant, like Metro, on print display advertising which is disappearing at the rate of around 20% a year across the industry, ESI Media - which houses the Standard, Independent, and TV station London Live - needs to be re-engineered, perhaps with events, data and ticketing to the fore.
Among his key lieutenants beyond the editorial floor will be Manish Malhotra, the former finance director who now runs the company, and Jon O'Donnell, the managing director for commercial whose ad team is outperforming the rest of the market.
Osborne was one of 30 applicants, 10 of whom were interviewed, and four of whom were shortlisted.
In four meetings in central London with Lebedev, he sought and received reassurance about the proprietor's willingness to invest in the paper and its website.
He can take heart from the fact that the Independent, which is now digital-only (I was the last editor of the print edition) is now humming commercially, well ahead of budget and set to make a multi-million pound profit this year.
Unimaginable even three years ago, the Independent is currently the financial powerhouse within ESI Media, of which TV channel London Live is the other component.
The Independent is co-owned by Justin Byam Shaw, who is also the chairman of the Standard and attended two of the four meetings between Lebedev and Osborne.
Relative to the rest of Fleet Street, Osborne won't have much in the way of an editorial budget, and the need to raise revenues means sponsored content and native advertising of a sort that journalists instinctively resist may creep further into his pages.
Then again, doing more with less - or austerity - was the ethos that defined his contribution to political history. Not in this for the money, because he will be paid substantially less than his predecessor, the Austerity Chancellor has just been reborn as the Austerity Editor.
What his constituents make of that we're about to find out.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39310613
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Champions League draw: Leicester City face Atletico Madrid in quarter-final - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Leicester City are drawn against Spanish side Atletico Madrid in their maiden Champions League quarter-final.
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Leicester City have been drawn against Spanish side Atletico Madrid in their maiden Champions League quarter-final.
The Premier League champions progressed to the last eight by beating Spanish title-chasers Sevilla 3-2 on aggregate.
Leicester will play the first leg against last year's beaten finalists away from home on 12 April, with the return leg on 18 April.
Holders Real Madrid face Bayern Munich, while Barcelona take on Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund play Monaco.
• None Podcast: 'Leicester must think they can win the Champions League'
"Facing a team who have reached the final in two of the past three seasons is a massive challenge but it's just the kind of tie you expect in the quarter-finals of the Champions League," said Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare.
"Atletico Madrid are a very good team with some fantastic individuals with experience in the competition, but we'll be ready to give everything to progress.
"It will be a brilliant occasion for our supporters and for everyone at the club, but before the players can begin to think about these games, we have Premier League matches to come that are of huge significance to our season.
"They will be our sole focus."
Atletico are the only side left in the quarter-finals who Leicester have previously played, but the Foxes have not beaten the Spaniards in their four previous meetings.
Diego Simeone's side were beaten by neighbours Real Madrid on penalties in last season's Champions League final.
The 2014 Spanish champions are fourth in La Liga this season, five points adrift of third-placed Sevilla.
Winnable? That was my first reaction. That and revenge following the clubs' meeting in the 1997-98 Uefa Cup.
Referee Remi Harrel sent off Garry Parker in the second leg at Filbert Street with the game in the balance. It eventually finished 4-1 to Atletico on aggregate.
I was in the crowd that night and felt sick afterwards.
It's a winnable tie. Atletico are fourth in La Liga and won't like the Foxes' style of play. They'll have seen how they dispatched Sevilla and won't be looking forward to Jamie Vardy running at them. Wishful thinking, maybe, but it's a good draw.
The dream continues. Revenge, 20 years on? Yes, please.
The team everyone wanted to avoid?
Leicester, 5000-1 shots to win the Premier League last season, are considered the rank outsiders to win the Champions League by most bookmakers.
But after the Foxes beat Europa League winners Sevilla on Tuesday, two of European football's biggest names said they were hoping to avoid them in the last eight.
After sacking title-winning manager Claudio Ranieri last month, Leicester have won all three games under Shakespeare.
"I don't think there will be a single coach who is hoping they face Leicester," said Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane on Thursday. "They keep achieving what they are told they can't achieve."
Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon said: "They are a dangerous and passionate team who can cause trouble for opponents who take the initiative."
Holders Real Madrid travel to German champions Bayern Munich, who are managed by former Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian, 57, led Madrid to 'La Decima' - the 10th time they were crowned European champions - by beating rivals Atletico 4-1 after extra time in the 2014 final.
Ancelotti is aiming to be the first coach to lead three different clubs to the title, after also coaching AC Milan to two Champions League victories.
Spanish champions Barcelona will meet Italian counterparts Juventus in a rematch of the 2015 final, when Barca won 3-1 to be crowned European champions for a fifth time.
Juve, who are aiming for a sixth straight Serie A title, are competing in the quarter-finals for the first time since that defeat.
French leaders Monaco will go to German side Borussia Dortmund after beating Manchester City on away goals after a thrilling 6-6 aggregate draw.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39303277
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FA Cup: Chelsea v Tottenham semi-final live on BBC One - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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The FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Tottenham at Wembley Stadium will be broadcast live on BBC One.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
The FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Tottenham at Wembley Stadium will be broadcast live on BBC One.
The London derby will kick off at 17:15 BST on Saturday, 22 April.
Spurs are one of only four clubs to beat Premier League leaders Chelsea this season - a 2-0 victory in January.
The second Wembley semi-final between Arsenal and Manchester City, which will kick off at 15:00 BST on Sunday, 23 April, will be shown on BT Sport, with highlights later on BBC One.
Tottenham won the 1967 FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Chelsea, while the Blues beat Spurs 5-1 in a semi-final at the new stadium on their way to winning the competition in 2012.
It is the third meeting between the sides the season - Chelsea won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in November - and Spurs will hope to have striker Harry Kane back from an ankle injury.
Football Focus will come live from Wembley on the Saturday as part of the build-up to the semi-final.
Chelsea beat holders Manchester United 1-0 on Monday to reach the semi-finals, a day after Tottenham thrashed League One side Millwall 6-0 in their quarter-final.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39301267
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Cheltenham 2017: Nichols Canyon wins Stayers' Hurdle ridden by Ruby Walsh - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Nichols Canyon is the big winner as jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins win four races on a day dominated by the Irish at Cheltenham.
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Last updated on .From the section Horse Racing
Coverage : Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live & BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app
Nichols Canyon was the big winner as jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins claimed four races on a day dominated by the Irish at Cheltenham.
Nichols Canyon shocked odds-on favourite Unowhatimeanharry to win the Stayers' Hurdle, after Yorkhill won the JLT Chase and Un De Sceaux landed the Ryanair Chase.
Walsh completed the first Cheltenham four-timer for a jockey on Let's Dance.
Irish-trained horses won six of the day's seven races, with the four wins for Walsh and Mullins coming in at combined odds of 179-1 which cost bookmakers an estimated £10m.
Mullins and Walsh came into Thursday without a win to their names at this year's Festival but started the day with victory thanks to the 6-4 favourite Yorkhill in the Novices' Chase, before Un De Sceaux won in thrilling style in the Ryanair Chase.
Success there will have been sweet for Mullins, who saw Ryanair owner Michael O'Leary remove 60 horses from his stables last September.
Jockey Noel Fehily was looking for a big-race treble on Unowhatimeanharry after winning the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday and Wednesday's Champion Chase, but despite being well placed coming off the penultimate fence had no answer to 10-1 shot Nichols Canyon's kick for the line.
If Wednesday will live long in the memories of Walsh and Mullins for the wrong reasons after Douvan's shock defeat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Thursday was a swift and spectacular return to form.
Yorkhill won by a length in the day's opener before Walsh let Un De Sceaux go ahead after just five fences of the Ryanair - and he never looked back.
Walsh admitted he "was just a passenger" as Un De Sceaux powered to victory to give Mullins his 50th Cheltenham win as trainer.
And after Nichols Canyon stayed well placed throughout the second half of the Stayers' Hurdle, Walsh rode him home to deny Lil Rockerfeller victory.
Mullins said: "I wouldn't like to tell you what was going through my mind on Wednesday night, but on the other side of that coin, when we analysed all the runners, apart from Douvan we didn't have any other runner that should have won.
"People expect us to have winners here, we just hope to have winners here and have huge respect for the place."
Walsh added: "What a day. The horses ran well the first two days, they just weren't winning.
"Everything can't go your way all the time and you have to prepare for that.
"It's been a tough year for Willie but he's taken it great. I've worked for him since I was 17 so could eulogise about him all day.
"In previous years we were front-loaded and this year we were back-loaded. We knew we had great chances today and we think we have a couple on Friday."
Six out of seven for Ireland
With Presenting Percy a fine winner in the Handicap Hurdle for Davy Russell and Patrick Kelly, the Festival was set for a day of all-Irish winners with three races remaining.
And Road to Respect made it five out of five for Ireland with a win in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase.
A sixth Irish win - and a fourth for Walsh - was sealed as Let's Dance comfortably came away to win the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
An Irish clean sweep - or 'green sweep' - was prevented when Gina Andrews steered Domesday Book to a surprise 40-1 win in the day's final race, the Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
Two horses had to be put down after suffering injuries - Toe The Line after a fall on the flat in the early stages of the penultimate race, and Hadrian's Approach who fell in the final contest.
I said the other day that a successful Cheltenham Festival for Willie Mullins and team after a tumultuous season would read like a movie plot.
Even more so now after they bounced back from the gloom with a sparkling third afternoon here.
To these eyes, the highlight was Un De Sceaux's win, as breathtaking as Douvan's day-two defeat was surprising, though only just ahead of the masterful rides given by Walsh on, particularly, I thought, Let's Dance.
Let's Dance, quiet as a mouse at the back until scything through her opponents, was a joy to watch.
More success for Mullins on Friday?
Cue Card will bid to make amends for a late fall last year when he lines up for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.
The popular steeplechaser, under the guidance of trainer Colin Tizzard, will have stablemate Native River among his rivals.
A strong Irish challenge includes the two-time runner-up Djakadam who bids to secure a first win for trainer Willie Mullins.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/39291298
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The mystery of the murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The murder of Neil Heywood in China in 2011 brought one to an end the career of one top Chinese politician - and allowed another, Xi Jinping, to amass huge personal power.
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Magazine
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Five years ago, China's most charismatic politician, Bo Xilai, was toppled from power. His disgrace allowed his great rival, Xi Jinping, to dominate the political stage in a way unseen in China since the days of Chairman Mao.
All this was made possible - writes BBC China editor Carrie Gracie - by the murder of a British business fixer, Neil Heywood, in the Lucky Holiday Hotel.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39297987
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Super League: Leeds Rhinos 38-14 Wakefield Trinity - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Kallum Watkins scores two tries as Leeds beat Wakefield to secure their fourth Super League win of the season.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby League
Leeds secured their fourth win in six Super League matches as they scored six tries in their victory over Wakefield.
The hosts led 20-4 at the break thanks to two Kallum Watkins tries and one for Anthony Mullally, with Tom Johnstone replying for the visitors.
Ryan Hall increased the Rhinos' lead before David Fifita powered over to give Wakefield hope of a comeback.
Adam Cuthbertson and Matt Parcell also went over for Leeds, while Johnstone ran in his second try for the visitors.
The Rhinos have now won two games in a row at a canter following their 66-10 hammering at Castleford at the start of March.
Watkins put Leeds ahead as he timed his jump to perfection to gather Danny McGuire's kick to run in and score.
Wakefield were soon on the board as Jacob Miller's kick out wide found Johnstone, who ran in from 50 metres.
Mullally, who had a loan spell at Wakefield in 2015, powered in for the home side's second try and Parcell's neat pass set up Watkins for his second of the night as Leeds opened a 16-point half-time advantage.
Ashton Golding was successful with all three conversion attempts and also added a penalty in the first half.
The hosts only need four minutes in the second half to get on the board again as Hall went over in the corner from Brett Ferres' pass
Wakefield replacement Fifita stormed over from close range and Sam Williams added the conversion to close the gap to 16 points with half an hour to go.
But Leeds responded quickly and Rob Burrow's pass sent Cuthbertson under the posts, while Parcell sneaked over from dummy half.
Goulding's conversion took his tally for the night to 14 points, before the final play of the game saw Johnstone grab his second score as he went over in the corner.
"Wakefield will want to be better than that. I know they're a better team than that and I'd imagine they'll be disappointed with how they played.
"I don't think we saw the best of Wakefield.
"My man of the match would be Matt Parcell - I thought he was outstanding.
"While he's not making breaks or creating many line breaks, he holds the ruck accountable and gives Danny McGuire, Adam Cuthberton and Joel Moon a bit of breathing space."
"We were out-muscled and out-enthused all night. They ran the ball a lot harder than we did and we were no match for them. We got blown away by Leeds. We couldn't live with them.
"I could tell in the first 10 minutes that we were a bit dishonest in the things we were doing. Leeds were by far the best side and it could have been a bit more had they executed a bit better.
"We were poor straight from the kick-off and got beaten by a far better team tonight. I can't repeat what I said at half-time.
"I was very disappointed with certain individuals and the way we performed out there. Maybe a few of the guys have fallen in love with themselves after a couple of really good wins."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/39274156
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England side can surpass 1992 team says Will Carling - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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The current England side will eclipse the 1992 team if they match their achievement of back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams, says Will Carling.
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Last updated on .From the section English Rugby
Coverage: Live on Radio 5 live and on the BBC Sport website.
The current England side will eclipse the 1992 team if they match their achievement of back-to-back Grand Slams, says ex-captain Will Carling.
Eddie Jones' team face Ireland on Saturday seeking a second Grand Slam in a row - a feat last achieved by England during the Five Nations 25 years ago.
Carling, who captained England in both 1991 and 1992, said it would be an "exceptional" achievement.
"We are just left in the wake," he told BBC 5 live's Six Nations preview show.
"They went to Australia and won 3-0, never achieved before by England.
"They've then put together back-to-back Grand Slams and a world-record run. It would be a massive achievement."
England thrashed Scotland 61-21 on Sunday to retain their Six Nations title and equal New Zealand's world record of 18 consecutive Test wins.
Victory in Dublin would mean they become the first team to secure back-to-back Grand Slams in the Six Nations era.
Only three England sides have won consecutive Grand Slams, and all occurred before the introduction of Italy in 2000. France were the last side to accomplish the feat in 1998.
Carling, who won 72 caps - 59 as captain - is surprised it has taken England so long to stand on the cusp of making history.
"I think I'm disappointed in how few Grand Slams England have won in the past 10-15 years," he said.
"Look at the resources England have, the number of players and the financial clout. England should do better.
"Don't expect us to do it on an annual basis but we should be doing it a few times a decade."
The 51-year-old does believe, however, that Jones' team are capable of surpassing the 2003 World Cup winners as England's best.
"It's all out there in front of them and there are not many teams that have the chance to better Martin Johnson's," he said.
"They could. It's about delivering."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39295532
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Why transgender Africans turned against a famous feminist - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Nigeria's LGBT community respond to transgender comments made by writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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BBC Trending
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A leading African writer has transfixed the internet with her comments on gender - but fellow Nigerians say they feel hurt.
Transgender women in Africa have benefited from "male privilege" because they grew up as men. With this argument, writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie kicked off a vexed discussion, trending everywhere from Facebook to Teen Vogue.
But a less noticed discussion has been the pained one among gay and transgender Nigerians. BBC Trending has been speaking to the leading voices.
It all began last weekend when Adichie, a best-selling Nigerian novelist and outspoken feminist, was asked in an interview with Channel 4 News whether a transgender woman was "any less of a real woman."
"I think if you've lived in the world as a man with the privileges the world accords to men, and then switched gender, it's difficult for me to accept that then we can equate your experience with the experience of a woman who has lived from the beginning in the world as a woman, and who has not been accorded those privileges that men are."
The interview has sparked a passionate online debate around the world. But specifically among Africans, one of Adichie's most vocal critics is London-based, Nigerian transgender model Miss Sahhara, who runs an online support community for transgender women called transvalid.org.
Miss Sahhara says transgender women in Nigeria rely on online communities for support
Writing on her Facebook page she said Adichie - who has written several essays and given a viral TED talk on feminism - was divisive in her comments.
"Ahhhhh, I am fuming, these TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist) feminists always think they are above all women who don't fit into their narrative of what a woman should be."
"What happened to being inclusive and tolerant of all women, no matter their life histories?"
"I get a lot of online messages from Nigerian trans girls who are there now and they find it so difficult. A nightmare," Sahhara told BBC Trending, "there's no male privilege for trans women in Africa."
Growing up in rural northern Nigeria, where homosexual activity can be punishable by death (although no executions by law for homosexual activity have been verified), Sahhara says that it was "obvious to all" that she was "a girl in a boy's body".
Nigeria is one 34 African countries that outlaws same-sex relationships, and since the Nigerian government tightened its anti-gay laws in 2014, punishments have become much harsher.
"My uncles beat me up for the way I behaved," Sahhara says. "It's the way it's done in Africa."
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Sahhara moved to the UK 13 years ago, but is in close online contact with the LGBT community in Africa.
She says that social media is a vital lifeline for the transgender community there, who often live in secret. Sahhara lives openly as an LGBT activist in the UK, and many of these women get in touch with her through her Facebook page.
"I've had transgender women from South Africa get in touch with me and ask what hormones I recommend," Sahhara says, "or women from Nigeria saying 'listen sister, a friend of mine has been locked up, can you raise awareness online?'."
"They communicate with me on my Facebook page, or secretly through private digital groups I refer them to".
Mike Daemon (not his real name) who runs an LGBT advocacy website called No Strings Nigeria told BBC Trending: "Africa's transgender women rely on a secret digital life involving Whatsapp groups and closed Facebook groups."
"People are added through referrals and recommendations when they are trusted."
However he reflected the nuanced response Chimanda Ngozi Adiche's comments. Many of those commenting acknowledged Adicihie's feminist contribution and that the issue is complex. Daemon said Adichie was being "realistic" and that trans women and biologically born women have "different journeys."
Miss Sahhara, for her part, is hesitant when BBC Trending asked her if she identifies as a feminist.
"I believe in equal rights and pay for women," she says but, "when I start hearing the ladies from the TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist), it discourages me from wanting to be part of feminism. We are fighting for equality and yet you say other women are not equal because you don't feel comfortable with who they are or who they used to be."
Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, a vocal advocate of LGBT rights in Africa, declined an interview with BBC Trending and referred us to her statement on Facebook.
"I think the impulse to say that trans women are just like women born female comes from a need to make trans issues mainstream," she says there. "Because by making them mainstream, we might reduce the many oppressions they experience. But it feels disingenuous to me. The intent is a good one but the strategy feels untrue. Diversity does not have to mean division."
Next story: The mysterious death of a live-streaming gamer
Brian Vigneault had been playing for more than 20 hours continuously when he died
The death of a young father leads to a conversation about marathon gaming sessions. READ MORE
You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, and find us on Facebook. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-39271690
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Jose Mourinho: Manchester United are not ready to dominate Premier League - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Manchester United "are not ready to be a dominant force", manager Jose Mourinho tells BBC Sport's Premier League Show.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United "are not ready to be a dominant force" and fans should forget about a return to the days of Sir Alex Ferguson, manager Jose Mourinho has told BBC Sport.
United won 13 Premier League titles under Ferguson, but Mourinho says it is now impossible to be so dominant.
Asked if he could return the club to its former greatness, the Portuguese said: "Forget it.
"Don't try to go 10, 20 years ago because it is not possible any more."
In a wide-ranging interview with Gary Lineker for the Premier League Show, Mourinho also said:
• None United do not need to qualify for the Champions League to attract top players.
• None He would not have sold forwards Angel di Maria, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck had he been United manager.
• None It has not been easy for midfielder Paul Pogba to adjust back to English football.
'We are not ready to be Manchester United'
Mourinho, 54, signed a three-year contract last May to replace Louis van Gaal, who was sacked despite winning the FA Cup.
The Red Devils have finished seventh, fourth and fifth in the three full seasons since Ferguson's retirement, and have been in sixth place since 6 November.
Mourinho does not believe a return to winning the Premier League every year is close, but does not want the season to peter out after winning the EFL Cup last month.
"We are not ready to be Manchester United," he said.
"We are not ready to be a dominant force. We are not ready to try and win everything.
"Because of the nature of the club, and of myself, we are ready to fight for every game, every point. But there is a space between the general ambition of such a giant club and what we are in reality."
Mourinho said United - who beat Premier League champions Leicester City in the Community Shield in August - had won "one and a half" trophies this season.
"Many other teams in England are going to finish the season without a trophy," he said. "But we have to fight for the top four, we have to fight for the Champions League. The cup is not enough to say that the season is over."
Since Mourinho took charge, United have spent an estimated £150m on midfielders Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and defender Eric Bailly, and brought in striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for free.
But the Portuguese said the club's previous transfer dealings caused him concern.
He named three forwards - PSG's Angel di Maria, Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez and Arsenal's Danny Welbeck - as players he would not have sold.
"I found a sad club," he said. "Manchester United sold players that I would never sell, bought players that I would never buy."
Mourinho would not name the players he would not have signed, but in January he allowed midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin and forward Memphis Depay to leave for Everton and Lyon respectively.
He has largely frozen out former Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and has handed just seven league starts to left-back Luke Shaw, who cost £27m from Southampton in 2014.
Mourinho said he was not worried about attracting players if United fail to qualify for the Champions League, pointing to last summer as proof the club can still sign the best players.
"Manchester United is very powerful, it doesn't need to be in the Champions League to attract the best players," he said.
"Zlatan could still be in Paris. Mkhitaryan could be at Borussia Dortmund. Pogba could be at Juventus. We were able to attract the players because they know that Manchester United sooner or later will get there.
"If any player decides not to come because of that, then I am happy that they are not coming."
'Pogba doesn't disappoint me at all'
Pogba, 24, has scored seven goals since joining United for a world-record £89m last summer, but has been criticised for a perceived lack of impact in matches.
Mourinho says the France international will improve.
"It isn't easy for Pogba," he said.
"The country is so different to Italian football. It is hard for him. I'm not disappointed at all. The most important thing is his personality. He is professional and he will improve for sure."
Mourinho also praised the contribution of 35-year-old Ibrahimovic, who has scored 26 goals this season.
"Zlatan is not a surprise for me," he said. "I know the personality, I know the body, I know the ambition that brought him here.
"Could he do it in the best league in the world? He has done it everywhere else. He's doing amazingly well."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39291303
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How Victoria Gayle hid her dead son for over a decade - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Kyzer died in 2005 when he was 13-15 months old. His mother hid the fact from her friends, family and the authorities.
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Magazine
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When Kyzer Gayle died in 2005 he was little over a year old. But it would be 10 years before the authorities knew about his death and longer still before they discovered what had happened to the boy from north London.
When asked about the whereabouts of her son, Victoria Gayle, 32, told different tales to different people. Friends and family heard that the boy - Kyzer Gayle - was with his dad. A London man who believed himself to be the child's father thought Gayle had custody. Some official agencies were informed that Kyzer had been fathered by a traveller who took him away at a young age. But the stories were false.
Kyzer died in 2005 when he was 13-15 months old and his mother hid the fact for more than a decade. Despite asking Gayle questions, no-one had tested the truth of her replies by establishing where her son really was.
A police investigation was triggered only by the accidental death of Gayle's two-year-old daughter, Ava, in 2015. Medical treatment was sought when Ava became ill, but her condition deteriorated and she died. A subsequent inquest - recording a verdict of accident - determined that she had swallowed a tiny battery, causing fatal internal injuries.
Kyzer Gayle was born in Northwick Park Hospital in February 2004
Following the tragedy, local investigators in Barnet, north London reviewed what was known about Kyzer. Finding themselves unable to account for the child, the case was referred to Scotland Yard. Beyond 2004, the year of his birth, there appeared to be no record of Kyzer being seen by anyone in authority. No attendance at school. No GP visits. No registrations with public bodies.
Inquiries revealed that some people who had met Kyzer as an infant were under the impression that he lived with his father in north London. Police traced the man, but he had not seen Kyzer for more than a decade. He said that following a brief relationship with Gayle in 2003, she later made contact to say he had fathered a son called Kyzer.
He told detectives he then had occasional contact with the child until, on one occasion when Gayle brought Kyzer to his home, she left and did not return. The man said he cared for the child for about five months until Gayle suddenly reappeared and demanded Kyzer back, which he felt he had to accept. He never saw the boy again.
Other witnesses described seeing a baby fitting Kyzer's description at Gayle's north London flat. These are thought to be among the last sightings of the boy.
Gayle has been described as a hoarder and the child was said to have been seen in a buggy in a junk-filled room.
Pen Mehmet, Victoria Gayle's former neighbour, reported her concerns to the authorities
Pen Mehmet, a former neighbour, told the BBC that Gayle was a "compulsive liar" whose flat was so packed with rubbish that "I couldn't tell you where her kitchen was".
She said Gayle had claimed in recent years that Kyzer "lives with his dad" and "that was the best way because that's how the dad wanted it". Ms Mehmet says she became so troubled by elements of Gayle's behaviour that she reported her concerns to the authorities.
During contact with Gayle, some official agencies did ask about her son's whereabouts. She told them the boy's father was a member of the traveller community and had taken responsibility for Kyzer at a young age. The claim appears to have been accepted and no-one ever sought out the boy.
A photograph of the shed where the baby was found, taken after the police had removed the body
When Gayle was later evicted from her home, she stored some of her possessions in the garden shed of her mother and step-father who lived nearby, which was where detectives eventually found Kyzer's remains.
Lead investigator Det Ch Insp Noel McHugh told the BBC: "Within the shed we found a box. Within the box was what can best be described as a cocoon of gaffer tape, which concealed a cut-down buggy and in there was the clothed skeletal remains of the child we believe to be Kyzer." A bandage had been applied to the entire length of one leg. Gayle's mother and step-father denied knowing what had been stored on their property.
Before the discovery, Gayle had repeated to detectives the story about Kyzer's traveller father taking him away. Once his remains had been found, she admitted the story was untrue. But she denied harming Kyzer and claimed she had simply found him dead in his cot one morning - to which her reaction had been shock followed by denial. She said that recent internet searches for sulphuric acid had nothing to do with attempts to cover up the death.
Gayle said that, until the eviction, Kyzer's body had been kept in her home and she had covered up what happened because she was afraid of being judged and blamed for it. The passage of time means that experts have been unable to establish a cause of death, although there was evidence of malnutrition and arrested growth. Tests showed the north London man who looked after Kyzer for several months was actually not his father, although detectives eventually identified someone who was.
Victoria Gayle outside Kingston Crown Court in December last year
At Kingston Crown Court last December, Victoria Gayle pleaded guilty to preventing Kyzer's lawful burial. She denied charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice, which have been left to lie on file. She has been sentenced to 21 months in prison with the judge criticising Gayle's "web of lies" and saying the the full truth of her son's "sad and short life" will never be known.
A serious case review is investigating potential failings by Barnet Council and other official bodies. In a statement, the council said: "The death of any child is tragic and we are working with Barnet Safeguarding Children's Board to provide information for their serious case review and to establish any learning from our involvement with the family."
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has also opened an inquiry - currently on hold pending the serious case review - into potential police deficiencies. An IPCC spokesperson said it was "a complex case spanning more than a decade, and we now know the family of the child had significant contact, not just with the police, but also with other agencies".
Noel McHugh led the investigation that discovered the child's remains
Detectives are still making inquiries and Det Ch Insp McHugh told the BBC he was appealing for people to come forward who knew Gayle around 2004, when Kyzer was born. Police are also particularly interested in the period between 2007 and 2013, and are asking Gayle's former partners if she had any pregnancies or births police do not know about.
Jon Brown, from children's charity the NSPCC, says he finds it "deeply disturbing" that a child can "go missing for a decade". He told the BBC there were "a number of significant and important questions that are going to need to be addressed by the serious case review and by the IPCC investigation".
Pen Mehmet, Gayle's former neighbour, agrees and says she is angry and bewildered that Kyzer's death could go unnoticed for so long. "I think it's absolutely disgusting because this child's been missing and nobody knew.
"How can nobody know? I don't understand, how can nobody know?"
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39290872
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Is this the 'worst pint of Guinness imaginable'? - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Paul Ryan lifts a glass in a gesture of friendship to the Irish, but purists were distracted.
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US & Canada
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Speaker of the House Paul Ryan lifted a pint of Guinness at the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon in Washington, DC.
But the symbolic act may have backfired due to the look of the beer in the glass.
"First Mike Pence says 'top of the morning', then Paul Ryan holds up this appalling pint, grave missteps by the US," wrote Irish journalist Naomi O'Leary.
The toast came at the end of a speech on Ryan's Irish roots.
"Ireland may be a small island, but look at all she has given us. Her light floods the world. To America, she is, as General Washington himself said, 'friend of my country in my country's most friendless day.' "
Ryan raised the glass - with a thin layer of foam inches away from the top of the rim - as a gestures of friendship during the annual luncheon, which has occurred since 1983.
US President Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny were also in attendance.
"To what our forefathers have started, and our children will continue. May the light always shine upon them. Slainte," he said.
On Twitter, pint purists ignored his warm words, and instead focused on his poor pour.
"In a subtle yet cavalier act of diplomacy, Enda has given Paul Ryan the worst pint of Guinness imaginable," wrote Irishman Conor O'Neill.
"Just how long has that pint been sat there? I can barely look..." wrote Neil Wilson, campaigns director for Conservatives for Liberty.
"The tremendous amount of real estate at the top of that pint, probably pulled an hour before," lamented Boston-based music critic Emily Reily.
And some couldn't help draw comparisons to the frothy pint Barack Obama enjoyed on a trip to Ireland in 2011.
But the bottom line remains: Ryan was drinking a beer at lunch while many Americans - and Irish - were still stuck at their desks.
And that raises the question: is a bad pint of Guinness better than no pint at all?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39261330
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Manchester United 1-0 FC Rostov (Agg: 2-1) - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Manchester United reach the Europa League quarter-finals with victory over Rostov thanks to a goal from Juan Mata.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United edged a nervy encounter with Russian minnows FC Rostov at Old Trafford to reach the Europa League quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Juan Mata got the decisive goal for United when he stabbed in from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's flick, but Rostov threatened to take the game to extra time and Sergio Romero made two good saves late on.
The United goalkeeper first kept out Sardar Azmoun's flicked header before thumping away Christian Noboa's free-kick.
It was a largely frustrating night for United, who dominated for large periods without really threatening and also lost midfielder Paul Pogba to a hamstring injury.
Their best chances before the goal came in the first half, when Henrikh Mkhitaryan shot wide when one-on-one and Ibrahimovic twice hit the post.
United will find out on Friday who they will play in the quarter-finals, with the draw taking place at 12:00 GMT.
Who is into the last eight?
Can United go all the way?
The Europa League is the only major trophy that has so far eluded United, but winning the competition is not just about collecting another piece of silverware.
With a guaranteed place in next season's Champions League for the winners, United, who are sixth in the Premier League, would not have to rely solely on finishing in the top four.
Mourinho showed he was in no mood to take any chances by naming a strong side against Rostov, with Ibrahimovic - who is serving a three-match domestic ban - reinstated.
The Swedish striker, absent from Monday's 1-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Chelsea, looked fresh and hungry from the outset, hitting the post from close range early on before cracking another effort against the upright before the break.
Those chances aside, United struggled to find a way through a packed Rostov defence and it looked as though they would have to rely on the goal they scored in Russia to scrape into the quarter-finals.
An inventive bit of skill by Ibrahimovic helped make the breakthrough in the end, but United know they will need to improve if they are to go all the way in the competition, with better sides than Rostov waiting.
It was a victory that came at a cost for Mourinho as he lost Pogba and Daley Blind to injury.
Midfielder Pogba has come in for criticism recently, but Mourinho clearly sees the £89m midfielder as a crucial part of his side.
The France international was making his 41st appearance of the season for United but has rarely dominated a game, and he was largely a peripheral figure here before pulling up with an apparent hamstring injury early in the second half. He will miss Sunday's Premier League game at Middlesbrough.
Mourinho was then forced into another change, and a reshuffle at the back, when defender Blind went off midway through the half with suspected concussion.
With a congested fixture list caused by United battling for Europa League success and a place in the Premier League top four, Mourinho will hope neither player is out for an extended period.
What they said
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, speaking to BT Sport: "We were afraid of extra time. It was a difficult game.
"We have lots of enemies. Normally the enemies should be Rostov but we have a lot of enemies. It's difficult to play Monday with 10 men, it's difficult to play now, it's difficult to play 12 o'clock on Sunday. We have a lot of enemies.
"A lot of people might say we should have scored more goals. But a lot of things are going against us. The boys are amazing boys. We will probably lose the game on Sunday. Fatigue has a price.
"I will remember forever when I spoke to the Uefa delegate in Rostov. He told me if any of our players gets injured, the insurance paid. Whoever decided the Monday and Sunday games probably thinks the same way."
• None Mourinho has won each of his past eight European home games (Chelsea 3, Man Utd 5), his teams scoring 21 goals and conceding just two.
• None In fact, Mourinho has not lost a home game in European competition since a 3-1 semi-final second-leg loss to Atletico Madrid in April 2014 (W10 D2).
• None The Red Devils are now unbeaten in their past 16 European matches at home (inc qualifiers, W13 D3), last losing in March 2013 to Real Madrid.
• None Since the start of 2015-16, Russian clubs have faced English teams eight times in European competition and have not won any of those matches (W0 D3 L5).
• None Man Utd's goal was Mata's 10th of the season, equalling his highest tally from the previous two seasons for the Red Devils (10 goals in each).
• None Ibrahimovic has been directly involved in a goal in each of his four Europa League appearances at Old Trafford this season (4 goals, 2 assists).
• None Ibrahimovic has provided 17 assists in European competition since Aug 2011; only Cristiano Ronaldo (20) has provided more.
United are next in action when they travel to Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Sunday (12:00 GMT).
• None Attempt saved. Christian Noboa (FC Rostov) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
• None Attempt blocked. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Antonio Valencia.
• None Aleksandr Bukharov (FC Rostov) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Offside, Manchester United. Marcos Rojo tries a through ball, but Juan Mata is caught offside.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Delay in match Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United) because of an injury. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39173788
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Europa League quarter-final draw: Man Utd drawn against Anderlecht - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Manchester United are drawn against Belgian side Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-finals.
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Manchester United will face Belgian league leaders Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-finals.
United, considered the favourites by many bookmakers, are the only British team left in Europe's secondary club competition.
Jose Mourinho's team edged past Russians FC Rostov with a 2-1 aggregate win in the last 16.
The first legs are set to take place on Thursday, 13 April and the return games will follow a week later.
Manchester United have lost only two of their six previous meetings with Anderlecht - which includes a club-record 10-0 win in their first European fixture.
The Red Devils, under legendary manager Matt Busby, thrashed the Belgians in the European Cup preliminary round second leg in September 1956.
The sides last met in the 2000-01 Champions League first group stage - Andy Cole's hat-trick helping United to a 5-1 win at Old Trafford before they lost 2-1 in Belgium.
Anderlecht, who are Belgium's most successful team with 33 domestic titles, finished as Pro League runners-up in 2016.
They finished top of the league at the end of the regular season last weekend, two points clear of Club Brugge before the end-of-season play-offs.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39303290
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Could your barber save your life? - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Local communities around the country are doing their bit to help prevent suicides.
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Health
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A barber who listens - Tom Chapman wants men to open up
Torquay barber Tom Chapman wants to let everyone know it's OK to talk to him - about anything.
Since losing a good friend to suicide, he has made it his mission to help men in a similar frame of mind by encouraging them to come to his shop and open up about their emotional and mental health.
"Men have a fear of being seen to be weak and that's why they don't open up but they get nothing but support when they do.
"It's like there's a stigma we've built up inside ourselves," he says.
He set up the Lions Barber Collective, which started with a book to raise money and has now snowballed into a national campaign to increase awareness of men's mental health.
Barbers around the country are being trained to recognise signs of depression and suicidal tendencies, listen to clients' mental health issues and advise them on the best places to go for support.
If Tom is worried about someone, he will ask important questions like, 'Are you suicidal?' and 'Have you tried to take your own life?'".
At his barbershop, next to the football stadium in Torquay, men are directed to the Samaritans, Mind and suicide prevention charity Papyrus, and made aware of local free counselling.
Tom knows he can't turn every barber into a counsellor, but he does want men to know that barbershops are a safe place to talk.
The collective is now training hairdressing students to adopt their approach and there are plans to develop an app.
And the efforts appear to be working. Just the other day a bearded, tattooed biker gang leader came by to chat.
"We saved three lives in Torquay last year," Tom says, proudly.
Quads bikes enable the Brighton and Hove seafront team to get to people in crisis quickly
In Brighton and Hove, the eight miles of coastline can be a treacherous place and Roger De Casanove and his seafront team are usually the first to identify someone in distress.
Equipped with quad bikes and a patrol vehicle, complete with basic medical kit, they can be anywhere on the seafront in less than eight minutes - much faster than an ambulance.
Roger has done the job for just a year but admits he has been "astounded" by how much of his time is spent preventing and dealing with suicides.
"Seeing someone in a state of hopelessness and despair is very hard.
"But, for me, it is being able to provide a service that can make a real difference to people in crisis," he says.
The seafront officers, who are responsible for everyone's safety along the coastline, have been trained specifically to respond quickly in these kinds of situations.
Quad bikes and surfboards are often used to rescue vulnerable people off Brighton and Hove
Working with a team of 30 lifeguards who are posted along the beach, they try to stop people from harming themselves in the sea, saving lives using equipment such as surfboards and tubes.
Sometimes it means working closely with other emergency services such as the police, coastguard and the NHS.
On other occasions it may just mean offering support and advising people where to go next for professional help.
A local charity, Grassroots Suicide Prevention, trained up the seafront team on how to be alert to people at risk of suicide, how to prevent and intervene in suicide attempts and how to handle self-harm.
None of it is easy to handle, Roger says, but the response is much more co-ordinated than it used to be.
A&E departments can now call the seafront team direct if they are worried about someone who has just left their care. This means they will try to engage with people who seem vulnerable before they get into danger.
Last year, 12 vulnerable people were rescued from the water along the seafront and many more were helped to address mental health problems.
The House of Commons health committee says the current rate of suicide is unacceptable and may not be an accurate reflection of the true scale of loss of life.
Suicide is the main cause of death in young people under 35 - more than 1,600 take their own lives every year, three-quarters of them young men.
Councils were given the responsibility of developing local suicide action plans in 2012 and now 95% of local authorities have one.
Like Brighton's seafront team, projects involving barbers in Torbay and a rural support network for farmers in Lincolnshire have been a huge success.
But MPs say there is more that can be done in other areas.
The health committee wants to see:
Rural support networks target farmers, who have one of the highest suicide rates in the UK
Farmers are often hard-to-reach groups who can be vulnerable to mental health issues, says Alison Twiddy, project manager at the charity Lincolnshire Rural Support Network.
She says the nature of the job can mean people are isolated both geographically and from communities - and sometimes a stoic spirit means they don't always reach out for help.
It may also be getting harder and more complicated to run small businesses with more legislation and paperwork involved, she says. But it is not easy to get away from the business for a break when you have made it your home.
All these things and many more factors contribute to the reasons famers have one of the highest suicide rates in the UK.
To help, the charity has set up health checks in farmers' markets. While nurses, employed by the NHS, do blood pressure and blood sugar tests, they ask how the farmers are doing - whether they are sleeping well and whether there are any troubles on the farm or with family, for example.
During health checks, farmers are also asked about their worries
Alison says because the health checks have become part of the community and the nurses ask questions informally, people sometimes open up and tell them about their struggles.
Sometimes farmers are concerned about how to keep a farm going or whether the land will be passed on. Others, for example, feel overwhelmingly guilty about no longer wanting to farm when the land has been in their families for countless generations. For some people a combination of worries can just be too much to bear.
If the charity is concerned about any farmers or their families, it can suggest they get in contact with their GPs or other services. But it also has a host of volunteers who can help with practical advice.
There are land agents, solicitors and accountants who sometimes volunteer for the charity and offer advice to help people get back on track.
Alison says: "Most of our work is around a farm table. We try to get the right volunteers involved and try to get some solutions."
If you are affected by any of the topics in this article, the Samaritans can be contacted free on 116 123 or through their website.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-39281204
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If 'not now' when will a second referendum take place? - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Prime Minister Theresa May says "now is not the time" for a second Scottish referendum, but is she willing to sit down with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and discuss a date that suits?
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Scotland politics
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Nicola Sturgeon: "I am up for continued discussion."
Delegates at the SNP conference in Aberdeen are being told today Scotland will have another referendum.
The party faithful are being promised by the leadership that they will not be denied a vote on independence.
But is that a promise their leaders can keep?
The SNP firmly believe they have the moral authority to call another referendum. But it is the UK government who have the legal authority to decide when or if there is another referendum.
So what are Nicola Sturgeon's options now?
I've just asked her what she will do if Theresa May refuses to discuss the possibility of another vote.
The First Minister says she is convinced the PM's position is not sustainable, that she cannot continue to deny Scotland a vote without incurring major political damage and possibly even strengthening the case for independence.
For the SNP this argument about who has the right to decide when or if Scotland can have another referendum is an example of why Scotland should leave the UK.
It allows them to make the case that Scotland is once more being dictated to by Westminster and says that shows why independence would be a better option.
Just saying no might be a politically risky path for the Prime Minister but if she sticks to that position what can the Scottish government do?
They can demand negotiations over when a referendum could take place. But they can't enter discussions with someone who won't speak to them.
There is the option of holding a referendum without the authority from the UK government. That would have no legal standing and it could be challenged in the courts.
But it could also demonstrate the strength of feeling in Scotland.
Theresa May has said "now is not the time" for Nicola Sturgeon to call for an independence referendum
Ms Sturgeon will not yet discuss that possibility, saying she is concentrating on the vote in the Scottish Parliament next week and then making a formal request to Theresa May to give the authority for another vote.
Speaking to me today, Ms Sturgeon indicated she might be prepared to discuss the timing of another vote with Mrs May.
The Scottish government want a referendum between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019.
It looks like they would be prepared to negotiate a different, later, date.
However, it is not yet clear that the UK government are prepared to talk about a date.
The PM did say "now is not the time" for another referendum. She didn't say never. So, will she talk about holding a vote in the future?
That seems to be the question today.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39306159
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Bhanwari Devi: The rape that led to India's sexual harassment law - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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Twenty-five years after she was gang-raped, Bhanwari Devi is still fighting for justice.
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India
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Bhanwari Devi is an unlikely heroine.
Nearly a quarter of a century after the illiterate, low-caste woman was allegedly gang-raped by her high-caste neighbours in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, she refuses to give up her fight for justice.
It was her case that resulted in the Indian Supreme Court formulating guidelines to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace, but her attackers remain free, cleared of rape charges by the trial court while her appeal has been heard just once in the high court over the past 22 years. In the interim, two of the accused have died.
The attack took place on 22 September 1992 and with the passage of so much time, Bhanwari Devi, now 56, no longer remembers the days and dates clearly, but the memory of the assault is still vivid in her mind.
"It was dusk. My husband and I were working in our fields when they started beating him up with sticks. There were five of them," she told me when I visited her at home in Bhateri village, 50km (about 30 miles) from the state capital, Jaipur.
She ran to help her husband, pleading with the men to show some mercy, but two of the attackers pinned him down, while the remaining three took turns to rape her.
Pioneering Indians is part of the India Direct series. It looks back at men and women who have helped shape modern India. Other stories from the series:
The attackers were Gujjars, the affluent and dominant caste group in the village. Bhanwari Devi and her husband, Mohan Lal Prajapat, are from the low-caste potter community, Kumhar.
The men were angry with her for trying to prevent a nine-month-old Gujjar girl's wedding a few months earlier.
Bhanwari Devi had worked as a saathin (friend) for the state government's Women's Development Programme (WDP) since 1985, says Jaipur-based women's rights activist Prof Renuka Pamecha.
Bhanwari Devi was assaulted in front of her husband Mohan Lal Prajapat
Her job involved going door-to-door in the village, campaigning against social ills - she would tell women about hygiene, family planning, the benefits of sending their daughters to school, and she would discourage female foeticide, infanticide, dowry and child marriages.
Rajasthan has a huge tradition of child marriages and thousands of children, many just months old, are married off every year.
Bhanwari Devi herself was a child bride - she told me she had been married when she was five or six and her husband was eight or nine.
Her campaign against child marriage was not an attempt to challenge patriarchy or fight the feudal mindset, but she was just doing her job.
And she knew that meddling in the affairs of the Gujjars could invite a backlash, says Dr Pritam Pal, who headed the WDP's training programme and worked very closely with Bhanwari Devi.
But, Bhanwari Devi says, she had no choice in the matter.
Massive protests were held in Jaipur with thousands marching through the city streets, demanding justice for Bhanwari Devi
Many women's rights activists in Rajasthan have worked tirelessly for years to help Bhanwari Devi
"I told the officials that these people were dangerous and that they would come after me. But they said we had to stop all child marriages and a policeman was sent to stop the wedding. But he came, ate wedding sweets, and left."
The family accused her of humiliating them, and still managed to marry off the baby the next day - then seething with anger, they came after Bhanwari Devi.
In India's conservative society, even now victims of rape often hesitate to talk about their ordeal because of the shame and stigma associated with sexual crimes. Twenty-five years ago, the situation was worse.
"But Bhanwari Devi is nothing if not a fighter," says Dr Pal.
When she went public with her complaint, she was accused of lying. Her attackers denied rape and said there had only been a quarrel.
A rally was held in Jaipur on 15 December 1995 to protest against the acquittal of the rape accused
When Bhanwari Devi (centre) went public with her complaint, she was accused of lying
Dr Pal says the police treated her with derision, didn't take her complaint seriously and botched up the investigation. Her medical test was conducted 52 hours later when it should have been done within 24 hours, her scratches and bruises were not recorded, her complaints of physical discomfort were ignored.
After local newspapers reported Bhanwari Devi's plight and protests by women's activists, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India's federal police.
The five accused were finally arrested more than a year after the crime, and were charged with harassment, assault, conspiracy and gang rape.
While denying them bail in December 1993, Rajasthan high court Judge NM Tibrewal wrote in his order: "I am convinced that Bhanwari Devi was gang-raped in revenge for attempting to stop the marriage of [one of the accused] Ramkaran's daughter, a minor."
The judgement acquitting the accused men caused immense outrage in India and globally
Things, however, went downhill for Bhanwari Devi from there. Over the course of the trial, judges were inexplicably changed five times and, in November 1995, the accused were acquitted of rape - instead, they were found guilty of lesser offences like assault and conspiracy and were all given just nine months in jail.
"It was a dubious judgement," says Bharat of the Jaipur-based NGO Vishakha, one of the groups fighting to get justice for her. He cites some of the "bizarre reasons" the judge gave while clearing the accused of rape:
The judgement caused immense outrage in India and globally. Massive protests were held in Jaipur with thousands marching through the city streets, demanding justice.
Congress party MP from Rajasthan Girija Vyas called the decision "politically motivated". Mohini Giri, who was then head of the Indian government's National Commission for Women, said the court order "ignored principles of justice" and wrote a letter to the chief justice appealing to him to "intervene".
The state government, which seemed reluctant to appeal against the order, finally challenged it in the Rajasthan high court, but only one hearing has been held in 22 years.
Prof Pamecha says justice has remained elusive for Bhanwari Devi, but she is the reason why millions of Indian women are now legally protected against sexual harassment in the workplace.
"The state authorities had refused to help her, saying as her employer, they were not responsible since she was assaulted in her fields. We said the government must take responsibility since the attack on her was because of her work."
So a group of activists from Jaipur and Delhi-based organisations filed a public interest petition in the Supreme Court, demanding that "workplaces must be made safe for women and that it should be the responsibility of the employer to protect women employee at every step".
Bhanwari Devi's plight was covered by the local media
In 1997, the top court came out with Vishakha Guidelines, laying down norms to protect women from sexual harassment in workplaces.
"It was a revolutionary judgement based on the fundamental rights of women. And the guidelines later became the basis for a 2013 law passed by the Indian parliament to prevent sexual harassment of women at the workplace," says Prof Pamecha.
"Bhanwari Devi had no direct role in this law, but she was the catalyst for this, she was the main factor," she adds.
"Bhanwari is a very brave woman," says Dr Pal. "The couple were ostracised by the villagers who refused to sell them milk or buy their clay pots. Even their families boycotted them.
"She didn't even get invited to family weddings. But I have never seen a moment when she said she wouldn't fight. She has always wanted justice."
She continues to live in the same village as her attackers
Over the years, she has won several awards for her exceptional courage, most recently being recognised by the Delhi Commission for Women on 8 March.
But she continues to live in the same village, still carrying on her work as a saathin, still hoping for justice.
I ask her and her husband if they ever feel afraid?
"Not for a minute," she answers fiercely. "Didn't you just walk into my house when you came here today? Would I leave my doors unlocked if I was afraid?" she asks.
Her husband Mohan Lal adds: "What is there to fear? They can kill us only once."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-39265653
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Prince William: How hard has he worked in 2017 so far? - BBC News
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2017-03-17
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The Duke of Cambridge was criticised after he was seen partying on a ski holiday.
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UK
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Headlines questioning Prince William's work ethic have dominated the tabloids after he was pictured on a ski holiday while other senior royals attended a service with Commonwealth leaders.
"Throne Idle" and "Ice work if you can get it" were among the newspaper puns to greet the future king as he returned to the UK, having missed the Commonwealth Day events.
When he's not dad-dancing in Verbier or spending time with his young family, the Duke of Cambridge splits his time between royal duties, a part-time job as a pilot and his charitable work.
So far this year, the 34-year-old has attended royal engagements on 12 days, including a trip to south Wales, a gala dinner and an investiture at Buckingham Palace.
The record of these attendances is detailed in the Court Circular, which was last updated on 10 March and does not specify the hours of each event.
Nor does it take into account behind-the-scenes activity or preparation for royal events.
Since 2015, the prince has worked as a helicopter pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service. There, he works 9.5 hour shifts, clocking up an average of 20 hours per week - the salary for which is donated to charity.
Based on these hours and the royal engagements, Prince William will have worked the equivalent of 34 of the possible 53 working days in 2017 so far.
Earlier this year he announced he would be leaving his ambulance job in the summer to take on more royal duties.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a service of commemoration earlier this month
This is not unfamiliar terrain for Prince William or indeed for his family.
To be found wanting in the eyes of the tabloids is an occupational hazard that has dogged them for decades.
When the prince decided to ski with his mates rather than leave early and attend a church service that mattered to his grandmother, he could have predicted that he would be judged to have made an error of judgement.
It was an error that he can regret at leisure.
But what he couldn't necessarily have predicted was that he would have remained headline news for so long. The future king is wary of the media. The newspapers are increasingly concerned at his attempts to bypass them and use social media instead.
The next test will come in the autumn when he becomes a full-time senior royal.
If by then there isn't a noticeable increase in his royal workload, there's a risk the tabloids will once again sit in judgement and once again find Prince William wanting.
In 2016, Prince William clocked up 80 days of royal engagements - well behind the busiest member of the royal family, Princess Anne, with 179 days of engagements.
Prince Charles, 68, came second with 139 and the Queen, 90, matched her grandson with 80 days.
Despite denouncing the work-shy claims as "absolute rubbish" and "grossly unfair", royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the headlines were "irresistible" for the tabloid press.
"It's an unfair perception that the photographs reinforce," he said.
Prince William has said criticism of being work-shy was not something he ignored, but not something he "took completely to heart" either.
Prince William works about 80 hours a month as a co-pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance
Prince William is patron or president to 23 organisations, including the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
Not all the work he does to fulfil these roles is classed as a royal engagement.
Centrepoint - the youth homelessness charity of which the Prince has been a patron since 2005 - said the royal visits hostels publicly and privately, volunteering alongside staff and regularly meeting with the Centrepoint parliament.
Chief executive Seyi Obakin, said: "Within the last three months, he has publicly and actively supported our plans to create a national helpline for homeless young people.
"Last month, he launched with us the Centrepoint helpline."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry race during the Team Heads Together London Marathon Training Day in February
Prince William has also campaigned vigorously against animal poaching. At an international conference in November he called on the UK government to pass a total ban on the domestic ivory trade.
This week, the Cambridges are visiting Paris and in July, the royal couple are due to make an official visit to Germany and Poland, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Kensington Palace declined to comment when contacted by the BBC.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39280761
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England complete Women's Six Nations Grand Slam with win over Ireland - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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England complete a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam by beating a physical Ireland 34-7 at Donnybrook.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
England completed a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam by beating a physical Ireland 34-7 at rainy Donnybrook.
Amy Wilson Hardy went over in the corner as England scored from their only chance in the first half.
Ireland struggled to breach England's solid defence and were made to pay as the world champions ran in four tries.
Forwards Laura Keates and Amy Cokayne extended the visitors' lead before backs Emily Scarratt and Lydia Thompson rounded off the win with fine tries.
With the under-20 men's side having won a Grand Slam earlier on Friday, England's men will look to complete a hat-trick by beating Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
The women, who return to Ireland in the summer to defend their world title, have won their first Six Nations title since 2012.
Wing Wilson Hardy completed a fine England move in the 16th minute, but then Ireland dominated play.
Centre Sene Naoupu came within a metre of going over but was stopped by a superb tackle from flanker Marlie Packer, and home captain Paula Fitzpatrick was prevented from touching down by a posse of England players.
England regrouped after half-time and extended their lead when replacement prop Keates drove over the line from two metres out.
Ireland were reduced to 14 players two minutes before the hour when substitute Mairead Coyne made a deliberate knock-on.
Hooker Cokayne burst through to increase England's advantage but Ireland hooker Leah Lyons responded to give Ireland hope.
However, Scarratt finished off an excellent England move to put the result beyond doubt and then replacement winger Thompson showed her pace to score England's fifth try.
'It gives us a springboard now'
England head coach Simon Middleton: "The difference between winning and not winning this match would have been huge.
"It gives us a springboard now and it keeps our winning mentality going.
"It also gives us confidence that what we're doing is right. We know we can get better, fitter and stronger.
"That will be our next focus, but to come here to the lion's den and beat a side that are going to be hosting the World Cup is massive for us. I'm absolutely thrilled."
England captain Sarah Hunter: "It was phenomenal from the team to pull out that performance in the second half. To be Grand Slam champions is an incredible feeling but we were made to work hard for it.
"We have worked for five long years to get that Grand Slam and to get our hands back on that trophy. We fell short last year and we learned a lot about ourselves and this year we have learned to stick with the process and trust in each other."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39293663
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Bristol City 4-0 Huddersfield Town - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Tammy Abraham scores his 22nd goal of the season as Championship strugglers Bristol City stun high-flying Huddersfield Town.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Tammy Abraham scored his 22nd goal of the season as struggling Bristol City stunned Huddersfield Town to dent the Terriers' automatic promotion hopes.
Lee Tomlin rounded Danny Ward to slot City ahead, after Town's Jonathan Hogg was taken off on a stretcher following a 14-minute stoppage.
Chelsea loanee Abraham made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, before Aden Flint superbly flicked in City's third.
Lee Johnson's side, who had won only twice in 22 league matches prior to beating Wigan Athletic last Saturday, have now recorded back-to-back successes for the first time since 1 October and move up to 19th in the table.
Huddersfield had won eight of their previous 10 Championship games to keep up the pressure on the top two, but remain six points adrift of second-placed Brighton after coming up against a Bristol City side in inspired form.
David Wagner's team struggled to impose their familiar high-tempo, high-pressing game on the Robins, and never really recovered after Hogg had to be withdrawn in the first half following a clash with team-mate Mark Hudson.
The 28-year-old received lengthy treatment to his neck and back from both sets of medical staff before being stretchered off to applause from all four sides of Ashton Gate.
He was understood to be conscious and talking in the dressing room before being taken to hospital for a scan.
Tomlin's composed finish deservedly put City in front, and 19-year-old Abraham doubled the advantage after displaying brilliant movement and striker's instinct to stab home at the near post.
Centre-half Flint, who struck the winner at Wigan, made it 3-0 with a brilliant between-the-legs flick before Cotterill's penalty into the top corner lifted the Robins back out of the relegation zone.
'This result will be a massive tonic for dad'
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson: "As far as my players are concerned, I was delighted with every one of them. They carried out our game plan perfectly and it was great to produce such a terrific performance in front of our own fans.
"I hope we silenced a few doubters tonight. I saw this display coming and was confident before the game. Now we go into the international break with real momentum."
On father and Cheltenham Town manager Gary Johnson, who underwent heart surgery on Thursday: "This result will be a massive tonic for dad and I want to thank the football world for all the goodwill expressed towards him and our family.
"The heart surgery was performed by Joe Bryan's dad, which we didn't want to talk about before the game.
"I am grateful to him and all the hospital staff. Dad is doing okay and the test results are encouraging.
Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner: "Bristol City were strong and we under-performed. I have never spoken about automatic promotion and we now need to use the international break to refresh and respond to this result.
"We are in a very good position with nine games to go and we have been through too much together as a group for me to question my players."
• None Attempt saved. Rajiv van La Parra (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Philip Billing.
• None Korey Smith (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Goal! Bristol City 4, Huddersfield Town 0. David Cotterill (Bristol City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
• None Penalty conceded by Philip Billing (Huddersfield Town) after a foul in the penalty area. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39227074
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Super League: Leigh Centurions 22-8 Warrington Wolves - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Warrington Wolves remain bottom of Super League as Leigh Centurions earn a deserved win at the Leigh Sports Village.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby League
Warrington Wolves' losing start to the season stretched to five straight Super League defeats as Leigh Centurions earned a deserved win in an electric atmosphere at the Leigh Sports Village.
Tries from Gareth Hock and Ben Crooks gave Leigh a 12-2 half-time lead.
Adam Higson and Hock extended the hosts' advantage after the break before Tom Lineham crossed to give Wolves hope of a comeback that never looked likely.
Ben Reynolds missed three conversions but his late kick capped a big win.
Warrington managed the first win by an English club over Australian opponents since 2012 when they beat Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Series in February - after a 2016 season in which they enjoyed a +250 points difference. This season they remain rooted to the bottom of Super League without a point.
By contrast, newly promoted Leigh have already earned more points this term than in any previous Super League campaign in their history.
Hock showed his strength to cross early on and Reynolds added the conversion before Crooks raced over to make it 10-0, Reynolds striking the post with his kick.
The teams traded two-pointers before the break to maintain Leigh's 10-point lead.
Both sides were temporarily reduced to 12 men in the second half as first Leigh's Glenn Stewart saw yellow for a high tackle on Kevin Brown, and then Wolves' Lineham was binned for lashing out at Ryan Hampshire.
Handling errors let Warrington down and enabled Leigh to withstand heavy pressure when they were a man down before sealing victory with further unconverted tries from Higson and Hock, to move up to fourth in Super League.
"It was a real tough opening six games and to get 50 percent of them as wins is a real credit to the boys. We're finding our feet, we're getting battle-hardened.
"It's a cauldron here. We're starting games well but we're also finishing them strong so we're getting some consistency.
"Our defence was outstanding. Warrington are a class side and we did a real good job to put them under pressure,
"It never looked in doubt. I was disappointed with the try we conceded at the end but I can't complain too much."
"They out-enthused us. Both teams made a reasonable amount of errors in the first half and we gave away too many penalties.
"There was an amount of self-inflicted pain again. My players are trying hard but just coming up with wrong options and it's hurting us.
"Once we start making better decisions, we will come out the other side and get on a roll.
"We will re-group. We'll get in tomorrow into some hard work and fix it up. We'll have Stef Ratchford back next week but we've got to get some the people who are already out there back in their best form."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/39274018
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Cheltenham Festival 2017: Sizing John wins Gold Cup - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Irish challenger Sizing John wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup for jockey Robbie Power and trainer Jessica Harrington.
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Last updated on .From the section Horse Racing
Sizing John, ridden by Robbie Power and trained by Jessica Harrington, powered home to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Victory completed a big-race double for the 7-1 chance, who won the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February.
He finished two and three quarter lengths ahead of Minella Rocco (18-1) in the Cheltenham showpiece, with Native River (7-2) in third.
Lizzie Kelly, the first woman for 33 years to ride in the race, was unseated from Tea for Two at the second fence.
The 3-1 favourite Djakadam hit the second-last fence when leading and ended up finishing fourth, while the much-loved Cue Card again fell three fences from home.
Harrington and Power finished the Festival in style by winning the last race, the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase, with Rock the World (10-1).
The seven-year-old winner was a first Cheltenham Gold Cup entry for Harrington after moving to her yard from Henry de Bromhead's earlier in the season.
Harrington, the most successful female trainer ever at the Festival, had previously enjoyed big-race success with Moscow Flyer in the 2003 and 2005 Queen Mother Champion Chases, and with 2014 Champion Hurdle winner Jezki.
"It's amazing - he has gone from running two miles at Christmas to three miles here," she told BBC Radio 5 live.
Down to the last he absolutely pinged it
"He jumped like a buck and it was his jumping that got him there.
"I never seemed to have any stayers before for this race - I can't believe it."
Harrington is the third woman to train a Gold Cup winner, following Jenny Pitman, who guided Burrough Hill Lad (1984) and Garrison Savannah (1991), and Henrietta Knight with Best Mate (2002-2004).
Power, who won the Grand National on Silver Birch in 2007, said: "It's unbelievable. Jessica Harrington is a genius.
"I was only 25 when I won the National and I'm 35 now. When you're 25 you think you can win everything, so this is very special.
"Down to the last he absolutely pinged it and then it was just a case of seeing it out. It's what every jockey dreams of and I never thought I would until we got this lad.
"I had a bad injury before Christmas and I rushed back to ride him in the Irish Gold Cup"
Being thrilled to feeling robbed - what the rest said
Minella Rocco trainer Jonjo O'Neill: "It was his first run proper of the season. He has no miles on the clock and he'll improve a ton on that. I'm thrilled, he had a great spin round and finished as strongly as anything."
Native River owner Garth Broom: "I felt we were slightly robbed of second right on the line, but finishing third in a Gold Cup with a seven-year-old is something you can't complain about.
"He wears his heart on his sleeve and we are so proud of him. We had two dreams - to have a runner in the Gold Cup and to win one, and we've achieved the first.
Djakadam jockey Ruby Walsh: "The mistake at the second-last cost me second place but I don't believe I would have done better than that."
Cue Card assistant trainer Joe Tizzard: "He has come back safe and that is the main thing we were concerned about."
The 2017 Gold Cup was billed as competitive, but not necessarily the greatest staging in the race's 90-plus-year history.
You probably can't say at this stage that Sizing John is all set to be a great champion, but given time, who knows?
He's got that certain something about him - racing purists would say 'class' - he's only seven years old, technically some way short of his prime, and the time of the race was decent.
There had been doubts about the horse's stamina lasting out the demanding three and a quarter miles, but he had plenty of reserves to positively bound up the final hill.
Paul Townend rode a 356-1 double for Willie Mullins after top weight Arctic Fire (20-1) took the County Hurdle after being off the track for 13 months, while Penhill then triumphed in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
Penhill's win was Mullins' first in the race and gave him a sixth win of the meeting.
Gordon Elliott matched him with his sixth win when Champagne Classic (12-1) took the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle for JJ Slevin.
However, Elliott clinched the leading trainer award thanks to his three second places compared to two from Mullins.
A delighted Elliott said: "To win the trainer award is something special. Willie is an amazing man and a gentleman. We are absolutely thrilled.
"When we get home now, we will have a party with all the staff."
Champagne Classic's owner, airline boss Michael O'Leary, was somewhat surprised by the horse's achievement.
"I think that was a miraculous event. He is probably the worst horse we own!" said O'Leary
"We buy them in numbers and you get a few duds - he is one of the duds!"
The rest of the day's action
Bryony Frost triumphed on Pacha Du Polder in the Foxhunters Chase, the same horse on whom former Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton finished fifth in last year's race,
Frost's win meant that for the first time all three races for amateur riders at the Festival were won by female jockeys.
She was also following in a family tradition - her father Jimmy rode Morley Street to victory in the 1991 Champion Hurdle, while brother Hadden won at the 2010 Festival.
The day's other race, the Triumph Hurdle, was won by the 5-2 favourite Defi Du Seuil, ridden by champion jockey Richard Johnson and trained by Philip Hobbs.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/39307278
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Six Nations 2017: Billy Vunipola & Anthony Watson return for England - BBC Sport
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2017-03-17
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Number eight Billy Vunipola and wing Anthony Watson return from injury to start in England's Grand Slam meeting with Ireland.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Number eight Billy Vunipola and wing Anthony Watson return to the starting XV as England aim to win the Six Nations Grand Slam against Ireland.
Vunipola replaces Nathan Hughes and Watson comes in for Jack Nowell in the two changes to the side that thrashed Scotland to win the Six Nations.
Elliot Daly is fit to start on the left wing after a head knock.
England are chasing a record-breaking 19th straight win, while victory will also secure back to back Grand Slams.
Flanker Tom Wood is set to win his 50th cap from the bench.
Vunipola made his comeback from a knee injury against Scotland, while Watson returned following a hamstring problem. Both scored tries from the bench in the Calcutta Cup match.
Daly was forced off in the win over Scotland after an illegal tip-tackle that earned Scotland hooker Fraser Brown a yellow card, but has been declared fit to play after tests for a possible concussion.
"We're very excited ahead of a huge opportunity," said England head coach Eddie Jones. "It's going to be quite an occasion in Dublin so we understand we have to be prepared emotionally, physically and mentally.
"Ireland not having anything to play for means they have the courage to fail which frees them up mentally.
"We are a little bit vulnerable because we have already been crowned the Six Nations champions and we had a big win against Scotland, so for us it's getting the right mind-set for the game."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39290748
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Six Nations 2017: Scotland 29-0 Italy - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Scotland win a third Six Nations match in the same year for only the second time to send coach Vern Cotter out on a high.
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Scotland won a third Six Nations match in the same campaign for the first time since 2006 to send departing coach Vern Cotter out on a high at Murrayfield.
Stuart Hogg's long-range penalty put the hosts ahead before Finn Russell finished off heavy pressure to score.
Replacement Matt Scott touched down the second for a 15-0 lead, with Italy's Carlo Canna missing three penalties.
The Azzurri botched two scoring chances before further tries from Tim Visser and Tommy Seymour sealed a bonus point.
Four tries brought Scotland's tally for the championship to 14, surpassing their record, set last year, of 11 for a Six Nations campaign.
Despite their three victories, the Scots had to settle for a repeat of last year's fourth-place finish, on points difference, after victories for France against Wales, and Ireland over England.
This was a 12th Six Nations defeat in a row for Italy, who finished with the Wooden Spoon for a 12th time in 18 seasons.
In the Edinburgh rain, mistakes were inevitable but the opening half was an error and penalty-fest, a grind that Scotland slowly but surely took control of.
Italy were a creative desert, a line-out horror-show, a goal-kicking nightmare. They lost four of eight line-outs in the first 40 minutes and missed three out of three kicks at goal. Two of those were straightforward, but Canna made a hash of both.
Scotland were ahead with a booming Hogg penalty, but the hosts had serious problems of their own despite having the lead.
Referee Pascal Gauzere got on their case early and he kept pinging them all day long. The Scots conceded five penalties in the opening 20 minutes, seven in the first 40 and a stratospheric 12 by the early minutes of the second half.
Of course, they also had a healthy lead by then. The first came at the end of mountainous pressure, Ali Price eventually put Russell over in the corner. The downside was that they lost Huw Jones to injury in the creation of the score, Scott replacing him.
Unlike poor Canna, Russell's kick was good and Scotland were ahead 10-0. Canna missed a second sitter and, soon after, Scotland had a second try when Price chipped over the top close to the Italian line for Hogg to win the aerial dual against Giovanbattista Venditti and bat the ball back into Scott's path. The centre had the easiest job in dotting it down.
Scotland had battled their way into the lead with the knowledge that Italy's second-half performances have been a calamity in this Six Nations. Before this game they conceded 70% of their points in the second half and an average of 20 points in the last 20 minutes of the second half.
It was Italy who came back strong, though. They camped themselves in the Scottish 22, forced Hogg into making a try-saver on Angelo Esposito, then went again. They won penalty after penalty. John Barclay disappeared to the bin and they won more penalties after that.
When it looked like they were about to break through, Edoardo Padovani knocked on with the line at his mercy. It was painful stuff for the visitors. They were undone by Scotland's defence, yes, but mostly by their own lack of wit. Italy had a chronic lack of imagination and accuracy.
Just after the hour, Scotland got their third try when Hogg scampered up the left wing, chipped ahead and Visser got the touchdown. Russell's conversion made it 22-0. For them, it was all about the four-try bonus point now.
Scotland started to hit their stride and the crucial fourth try came after multiple phases drained the life out of the tiring Italians, Russell's lovely hands finding Hogg who put Seymour over. Once again Russell, kicking beautifully, was successful with the conversion.
Job done for Scotland. A third win in a championship that has seen them score more points (122) and more tries than they have ever done in the Six Nations. A decent farewell to Cotter, a man who has done so much to take the Scots from despair to hope.
Replacements: 16-Brown (for Ford, 66), 17-Dell (for Reid, 56), 17-Berghan (for Fagerson, 66), 18-Du Preez (for Wilson, 49), 19-Swinson (for Gilchrist, 57), 20-Pyrgos (for Price, 54), 22-Weir (for Scott, 73), 23-Scott (for Jones, 26).
Replacements: 16-Ghiraldini (for Gega, 41), 17-Panico (for Lovotti, 63), 18-Chistolini (for Cittadini, 41), 19-Van Schalkwyk (for Fuser, 54), 20-Ruzza (for Biagi, 75), 21-Minto (for Mbanda, 54), 22-Violi (for Gori, 54), 23-Sperandio (for Canna, 63).
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39297548
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Arsene Wenger: Arsenal boss will announce future plans 'very soon' - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he will announce his plans "very soon" after reaching a decision over his future.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Arsene Wenger will announce "very soon" whether he will remain at Arsenal after reaching a decision on his future.
The Gunners boss was speaking after a 3-1 Premier League loss at West Brom, a fourth league defeat in five matches.
The loss increased the pressure on the beleaguered Frenchman and left Arsenal facing the prospect of failing to finish in the top four for the first time since he joined the club in 1996.
"I know what I will do," said Wenger. "You will soon know."
The 67-year-old continued: "Today I do not necessarily worry about that. We are in a unique bad patch we never had in 20 years.
"We lose game after game at the moment and that for me is much more important than my future."
Wenger's contract expires at the end of the season but he has been offered a new two-year deal.
Analysis - 'My reading is he'll go'
Former England striker Alan Shearer on Match of the Day
"From that, I read that he is going to go. He looks a broken man.
"There's been a lot of chat from the media and the pundits about Arsene Wenger. There hasn't been a lot spoken from his players. His players spoke today in that game.
"Judging by that performance and their recent performances, they don't want him in that job. They lacked heart, they lacked fight, they lacked direction. Every player other than Alexis Sanchez, I thought, was pretty embarrassing."
Wenger has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks, with fans responding to defeats in the Premier League, and the 10-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, by calling for him to leave.
More anti-Wenger banners were held aloft by Gunners fans in the closing stages at The Hawthorns, while in the first half two planes pulled banners overhead - one criticising the Frenchman and the other supporting him.
"We've never had this before," he said about his side's run of form. "We face big problems to regroup and find resources to sort the problem."
After the international break, Arsenal's next Premier League game is against Manchester City, the side they face in next month's FA Cup semi-final.
Wenger told Sky Sports. "I think we have a hell of a task to fight back but we need to regroup and focus on the games coming up because we have many big games.
"Even though it is a disappointing result, everybody goes away now to recover and prepare well."
'We face some serious challenges'
Arsenal went down on Saturday to two Craig Dawson headers following corners and a goal from substitute Hal Robson-Kanu, scored with only his second touch.
The Gunners did rally quickly after falling behind, Alexis Sanchez's 18th league goal of the season pulling them level, but that was overshadowed by their vulnerability at the back.
Their problems were compounded by injuries to goalkeeper Petr Cech in the first half and forward Sanchez in the second.
Wenger said Cech was forced off with a calf problem, while Sanchez was substituted with possible ankle ligament damage.
"It was a typical Premier League game. A team that likes to play and a team that defends well," Wenger told Match of the Day.
"It was a tough performance. They caught us on set-pieces and one break and that made the difference.
"We were a bit naive, maybe, on the corners. Then we were punished. It's a shame. We looked in the second half to take completely over."
Wenger admitted his side had not created enough chances, particularly in the second half.
"We lost Sanchez in the second half, he was very dangerous in the first," he said.
"We face some serious challenges. The City game at home is a big game for us."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39316047
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Six Nations 2017: Ireland 13-9 England - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Gutsy Ireland end England's bid for a second Grand Slam in a row and a world record 19th straight Test win.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Ireland wrecked England's Grand Slam dream and ended their world record run of victories with a dramatic win at a rejoicing Aviva Stadium.
The home side overwhelmed the Six Nations champions with their intensity and physicality, just as they had in Slam deciders here in 2011 and 2001.
In the process they also halted England's winning run at a record 18 Tests, leaving them level with New Zealand, who were also beaten by Ireland to bring to an end their record run back in November.
A first-half try from Iain Henderson and eight points from the boot of a battered Johnny Sexton established a lead that England never looked like closing, despite Owen Farrell's three penalties.
It was a horrible, chastening evening for Eddie Jones' men, the first defeat of his reign coming with arguably the worst performance of his 18 matches in charge, although they at least have the consolation of retaining their Six Nations title.
Ireland had come into the match having lost two of their four matches in the championship, but a green-shirted gale blew the men in white away, their much-vaunted finishers unable to get them out of jail one more time.
The victory ensured Ireland finished second in the table, ahead of France and Scotland on points difference.
Once again England will leave the Irish capital with their hopes of a Grand Slam in tatters, slow out of the blocks, sloppy with ball in hand and nowhere near their record-breaking best.
They were second best at the breakdown and unable to get a grip on a contest they had begun as clear favourites to win, Ireland with two-thirds of both territory and possession.
They appeared flustered from the opening moments and never found their precision.
In a city still celebrating St Patrick's Day it was another joyous piece of party-pooping, England's disappointment compounded by having to receive their Six Nations trophy when the players felt only defeat.
Having already lost first-choice scrum-half Conor Murray to injury, Ireland then had to reorganise minutes before kick-off when Jamie Heaslip hurt himself in the warm-up, CJ Stander moving to number eight and Peter O'Mahony coming into the starting line-up and producing an outstanding performance.
In an opening every bit as frenetic as expected, both sides had early chances, Farrell's pass hitting Mike Brown on the shoulder with Elliot Daly free outside him, Jared Payne delaying his own pass to Keith Earls down the other end.
After Sexton and Farrell exchanged penalties, Ireland then struck again, twice kicking penalties to the corner, Henderson reaching out after a driving maul to slam the ball over the try line.
A 10-3 lead reflected Ireland's grip on the match, with almost 75% territory and possession in the first quarter.
England were rattled, Courtney Lawes knocking on, Ford kicking out on the full from outside his 22, the men in white being forced to make three times as many tackles as their opponents.
The only silver lining for Jones was that the deficit was not greater, the bad news that England had never come from behind at half-time in Dublin to win a Six Nations match.
The English mistakes kept coming. Anthony Watson dropped a pass in space, a line-out that had been near-flawless through the first four rounds began to fail.
Then England made a mess of an Irish line-out on the 10-metre line, won the turnover and Farrell thumped over the long-range penalty to narrow the gap to four points.
It brought the contest to a fresh head, a battle of voices in the stands matched by a new intensity on the pitch.
Payne escaped through two tackles to thunder deep into England's 22 to halt their momentum, and after a late hit on Sexton the battered fly-half stepped up to drill over his second penalty for 13-6.
Jones had his finishers on, Jamie George for captain Dylan Hartley, Ben Te'o for Ford, Wood for Haskell, and a relentless driving maul brought a penalty that Farrell knocked over for 13-9 with 13 minutes left.
With rain hammering down from the evening sky, England began to make dents, only to lose a critical attacking line-out to O'Mahony when Farrell had opted to kick a long-range penalty to touch.
Never again would they get close to the Irish line, the capacity crowd celebrating wildly as Brown's final knock-on snuffed out England's final hopes.
What did the coaches make of it?
"We just wanted to make sure all the bits and pieces we needed to get right to get a skinny margin over a super team, we ticked those boxes.
"The bit of pride we can take is the three teams that sit above us in the world we have beaten in the last six months."
"Everything was wrong with the preparation because we played like that. I take full responsibility, I didn't prepare the team well and we will respond in the future.
"It was a tight old game. One or two things go your way and the game flips, they didn't go our way today, we didn't work hard enough to get those opportunities and that's what happens."
And what about the pundits?
"I'm applauding Ireland, that was one of the finest Ireland displays I've seen in a long time, the opposition are world class and Ireland have stepped up yet again, a fantastic display.
"I know how these England players feel, they will be low, dejected, but they should be extremely proud of how they have transformed English rugby."
"This will definitely rank as one of Ireland's greatest wins, going in truly against the odds against what is a tremendous England team."
*both New Zealand and England's 18-Test winning runs were ended by Ireland
Replacements: Conway for Earls (41), L McGrath for Marmion (69), C Healy for J McGrath (60), Scannell for Best (73), J Ryan for Furlong (76), Toner for D Ryan (65), Leavy for O'Brien (66).
Replacements: Nowell for Joseph (68), Te'o for Ford (63), Care for Youngs (63), M Vunipola for Marler (41), George for Hartley (55), Sinckler for Cole (78), Wood for Haskell (60), Hughes for B Vunipola (63).
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39270065
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West Bromwich Albion 3-1 Arsenal - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Craig Dawson scores twice as West Brom inflict a big blow to Arsenal's hopes of a top-four finish with victory at The Hawthorns.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Arsenal suffered a fourth defeat in five league games as Craig Dawson's double helped West Brom inflict a major blow to the Gunners' hopes of a top-four finish.
Dawson capitalised on some awful defending from the Gunners to head both of his goals from corners - the first to give the Baggies the lead, the second to seal their win.
Arsenal had initially rallied after falling behind, levelling through Alexis Sanchez's close-range finish - the Chilean forward's 18th league goal of the season.
However, they fell behind again 10 minutes into the second half when substitute Hal Robson-Kanu rolled the ball home with only his second touch after coming on.
Arsenal, who lost goalkeeper Petr Cech to injury, were outfought and unable to rally a second time, their challenge wilting soon after Danny Welbeck's header from a corner struck the crossbar.
It was an eventful encounter, both on the pitch and above it as two planes pulling banners - one pro-Arsene Wenger and the other against the Arsenal boss - made circles around The Hawthorns.
It was the anti-Wenger camp who were most present and vocal by the end, though, holding aloft banners declaring 'Enough is enough' and booing their beleaguered manager's decision to substitute Sanchez, who had picked up a knock.
After the game, Wenger said that he would announce "very soon" whether he will remain at the club after reaching a decision on his future.
The current facts are these - Arsenal trail fourth place by five points (albeit with a game in hand).
They must arrest a run that has seen them win just one of their last five league games if they are to continue their proud record of finishing in the top four in each of Wenger's 20 seasons at the club so far.
• None Wenger to reveal future plans 'very soon'
After claiming a top-two finish in every season between 1997-98 and 2004-05, Arsenal have often flirted with fifth or worse since, but this is looking increasingly likely to be the campaign when they drop below the division's premier quartet.
There is also a growing feeling this is likely to be Wenger's last as manager.
A two-year contract extension remains on the table but with fan protests growing in size and volume, rumours of players wanting away from the club and form deteriorating, there may be no appetite for it to be signed, by either manager or club.
This result felt like a new low during Wenger's tenure.
The Gunners boss is used to seeing his side outfought and beaten at the home of teams managed by Tony Pulis - he has only managed one win in eight such encounters - but the lack of chances they created from almost 77% possession and the speed with which they fell apart after Robson-Kanu's goal, lays bare a side with dwindling belief and backbone.
They rallied efficiently after falling behind, but this also speaks to their over-reliance on Sanchez, whose movement made the goal and who remained their only real creative spark, despite the heavy-handed treatment dealt out to him by the home side.
Their vulnerability at the back is alarming. They knew about West Brom's threat from corners - the Baggies have now scored 14 from them this season - but yet they were unable to prevent Dawson twice getting his head to the ball first in the box to score.
Robson-Kanu's goal was equally damning as Ospina proved an inadequate replacement for Cech, sliding out to meet a chipped ball over the top and gifting the striker his finish.
West Brom have never managed more than 49 Premier League points. Prior to Saturday they had not managed to beat a top-seven team this season.
Having rectified the latter, they now look on course to better the former.
They came into this game having lost their last two games and from the off it was clear they were not prepared to entertain the prospect of suffering three successive defeats for the first time this campaign.
But for Cech, they could have been ahead before Dawson broke the deadlock, with the Gunners keeper tipping away Darren Fletcher's goalbound drive.
When they were pegged back by Sanchez, their belief held, as did their faith in Pulis' game plan, which also stretched to superbly-timed substitutions.
It helps, of course, when you are so lethal from set-pieces and your opponent so incapable of defending them.
'We face some serious challenges' - What the managers said
West Brom manager Tony Pulis, after ending a run of two defeats: "I think everybody's got to calm down. You're always going to have runs of games where you don't pick points up. You raise the expectation and people get carried away.
"The lads have worked so hard in all the games. I thought we'd never play as well as what we have played. They've never given anything but their best.
"The lads were a bit disappointed with two defeats. They've done fantastically well. They've carried on working so hard together as a group. I thought on the counter we always looked dangerous.
"We've got 43 points. We know where we are as a football club. We're not getting carried away.
"We'll do the best we possibly can. If we win games, brilliant. If we don't we've still got a group of honest players who give everything."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "It was a typical Premier League game. A team that likes to play and a team that defends well.
"It was a tough performance. They caught us on set-pieces and one break and that made the difference.
"Overall our record against set-pieces is quite good. We were a bit naive, maybe, on the corners. Then we were punished. It's a shame. We looked in the second half to take completely over.
"We didn't create enough. We lost Sanchez in the second half, he was very dangerous in the first. He came out in the second half and he couldn't move any more. In the first half he was a guy who created a lot.
"It leaves us in a unique situation that we've never had before. We face big problems to regroup and find resources to sort out the problem. We need some togetherness.
"We face some serious challenges. The City game at home is a big game for us."
Sanchez hits 100 - the stats you need to know
• None Arsenal have lost four out of five Premier League games for the first time in since April 1995.
• None Alexis Sanchez has been involved in 27 PL goals this season (18 goals, nine assists) - more than any other player in the competition.
• None Overall, Sanchez has now been involved in 100 goals for the Gunners in all competitions, scoring 64 and assisting 36.
• None There were just two minutes and 45 seconds between the first two goals in this game.
The international break means the Gunners host Manchester City on Sunday, 2 April.
West Brom take on the other Manchester side that weekend, with United hosting the Baggies on Saturday, 1 April.
• None Attempt missed. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Danny Welbeck.
• None Attempt blocked. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
• None Attempt missed. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Shkodran Mustafi with a cross.
• None Attempt blocked. Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Aaron Ramsey with a cross.
• None Goal! West Bromwich Albion 3, Arsenal 1. Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion) header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by James McClean with a cross following a corner.
• None Attempt blocked. Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39240147
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Premier League predictions: Lawro v boxer & Man Utd fan Anthony Crolla - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson takes on boxer and Manchester United fan Anthony Crolla in this week's Premier League predictions.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson is pitting his wits against a different guest each week this season.
Lawro's opponent for this weekend's Premier League fixtures is boxer Anthony Crolla.
Crolla, who is looking to regain his WBA lightweight title when he fights Jorge Linares in Manchester on 25 March, is a Manchester United fan who says his all-time favourite player is Eric Cantona.
"Growing up, I absolutely idolised 'The King' and everything he did," Crolla told BBC Sport. "When I played at school, my collar would always be up like Eric's. Before any boxer, he was my first childhood hero.
"As I got older I was a big Paul Scholes fan as well - I think he is appreciated more now than he was back in the day - but Cantona is still the greatest."
United striker Wayne Rooney is well known for his love of boxing but how does Crolla think the England captain would do in a bout with team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
"It is hard to go against Zlatan but I might do here," Crolla explained. "I know Zlatan is big into mixed martial arts and would have a bit of height and reach on Wayne, but he would not be able to use his feet.
"It would be a great fight because the pair of them have got great attributes for being a boxer, but I've seen Wayne hit the pads first-hand and, honestly, he can punch.
"Wayne comes from a boxing background too so I would go with him. I know he can box a bit."
You can make your Premier League predictions now and compare them with those of Lawro and other fans by playing the BBC Sport Predictor game.
A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.
All kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless otherwise stated.
Crolla's prediction: This is a tough away game for Arsenal. I think they are feeling the pressure lately so I'm going for a bit of an upset here. 1-0
*Does not include scores from postponed games.
Lawro's worst score: 20 points (week 28, but only five games played so far) or 30 points (week four v Dave Bautista)
How did Lawro do last week?
Lawro picked the correct winners of all four of last weekend's FA Cup quarter-finals and was spot on with the scoreline of Manchester City's win over Middlesbrough, giving him a total of 70 points.
Lawro was up against Sophie Rose from Chelsea supporter channel CFC Fan TV and Manchester United followers Adam McKola and Stephen Howson from Full Time DEVILS.
He came out on top because Sophie got four correct results with no perfect scores for 40 points, while the Full Time DEVILS picked three correct results with no perfect scores, giving them 30 points.
Lawro was also up against Sophie and the Full Time DEVILS for the weekend's five Premier League games, including Manchester City's draw with Stoke which was rearranged to midweek.
Lawro got two correct results, with no perfect scores, for a total of 20 points.
As things stand, he is ahead of Sophie (one correct result, no perfect scores = 10 points) but behind the Full Time DEVILS (three correct results, no perfect scores = 30 points) but their full tally will not be known until the games postponed because of the FA Cup are played.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39270121
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The most fashionable Englishwoman in Paris - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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It was the place to be in 19th Century Paris - the city's most successful political and literary salon. And it was run by a remarkable Englishwoman.
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Magazine
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It was the place to be in 19th Century Paris - the city's most successful political and literary salon, where the great and good of French society would gather. And it was run by a remarkable Englishwoman.
For 250 years Paris was renowned for its literary and political salons, and for the fashionable women - the salonnieres - who guided discussion among the eminent figures of the age.
In much of the 19th Century, one of the most influential of the salons was held at 120 Rue du Bac in the Saint-Germain district. Here gathered writers and thinkers like Victor Hugo and Alexis de Toqueville, politicians like the Adolphe Thiers, the future president, painters like Eugene Delacroix, historians, orientalists, economists.
And presiding over them all was an Englishwoman.
Clarkey was her nickname. Madame de Mohl became her formal title. Mary Clarke was how she was born in 1793 in London.
Over the next 90 years, Mary Clarke Mohl lived an extraordinary life at the crossroads of French and British culture and society. Nearly all of it was spent in Paris, where she saw three revolutions and was on friendly terms with so many of the great names of the day.
But she never lost her attachment to Britain and in the Rue du Bac she offered a home-from-home to William Thackeray and Elizabeth Gaskell, the Brownings and the Trollopes, as well as to many aristocrats, diplomats and politicians. She was also one of Florence Nightingale's closest friends and provided vital encouragement to launch her career in nursing.
Much of what we know of Clarkey comes from other people's memoirs in English and French. But she also wrote hundreds of letters, many to her husband, the German orientalist Julius Mohl, and these were collected and published after her death.
She had an unusual start in life, one which goes a long way to explaining the unconventional course it was subsequently to take. At the age of eight she left for France in the sole company of her mother and grandmother, and apart from annual trips she never lived in England again.
Both her guardians were strong and independent-minded women. Her Scottish grandmother had hobnobbed with thinkers like David Hume and Adam Smith in Edinburgh and before the French Revolution lived in Dunkirk. Mary's mother Elizabeth was a progressive free thinker.
Later, when they lived through the July 1830 uprising in Paris, Mary remembered scrambling through the barricades to get back home.
"Mama said: 'Tell me the news, for Heaven's sake - I have been quaking in my shoes.' I said, 'But I told you I would take care.' 'Oh,' she said, 'It was not you I was worried about; it was the common people!'"
Living in Paris under the restored Bourbon monarchy after 1815, Mary Clarke came to know Juliette Recamier, who was the great salonniere of the time (we know her through her famous painting by Jacques-Louis David). Through her, she met literary greats such as Stendhal, Hugo, Prosper Merimee and Chateaubriand. Chateaubriand - author of Memoirs from Beyond the Grave - was by now a grumpy old man, but he cheered up when entertained by "la jeune anglaise".
But by 1838, Recamier's rule was coming to an end. So Clarke - still with her mother - moved into the third floor apartment at 120 Rue du Bac (above Chateaubriand) and set about the task of becoming her successor.
Seen from the distance of 150 years, Clarkey comes across as the most splendidly original and sympathetic of characters.
Appearance was a clue to her very British eccentricity. She was small with a turned-up button nose and a mass of frizzy curls. The future prime minister Francois Guizot used to say that "Madame Mohl and my little Scotch terrier have the same coiffeur".
In a description given by Henry James, "Mme Mohl used to drop out of an omnibus, often into a mud-puddle, at our door, and delight us with her originality and freshness. I can see her now, just arrived, her feet on the fender before the fire, her hair flying, and her general untidiness so marked as to be picturesque."
Her at-homes were on Friday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. Guests were welcomed into two adjoining drawing-rooms filled with sofas and arm-chairs, with two windows looking out over gardens that belonged to the Catholic Church's Foreign Missions, as they still do today.
The rules were simple. According to Kathleen O'Meara, a contemporary memoirist and Paris correspondent for The Tablet: "You were expected to contribute to the general fund either by talking or listening, but you must not be bored.
"You were not allowed to sit staring at the company through an eyeglass; anyone who offended in this way was pounced upon at once… Another unpardonable offence was making tete-a-tetes in corners or chatting about the room in duets or trios when conversation, real conversation was going on."
No opinions were barred - save, from 1850 to 1870, any mention of support for the emperor Napoleon III. Madame Mohl abhorred the man, referring to him contemptuously as "celui-ci" (this one) with a thumb jabbed back over her shoulder. She far preferred the bourgeois domesticity of the previous King Louis-Philippe, who was ousted in 1848.
Mary Clarke Mohl saw herself as standing in a long line of great French women, starting with Madame de Rambouillet in the early 17th Century, who had wielded their intellect and charm in the service of culture, politics and reason. Often she drew comparisons with the fate of women in the UK, who she felt sorely lacked the freedom offered in France.
In a letter written in 1862 she laments how in England, "The men talk together; the lady of the house may be addressed once in a way as duty, but the men had all rather talk together and she is pretty mute… They have no notion that a lady's conversation is better than a man's."
Her own conversation - according to the memoirist Mary Simpson - was "spontaneous, full of fun, information and grace of expression. She spoke French and English with the fluency and accent of a native, yet with the care and originality of a foreigner. And when there was no word in either language to fit her thoughts, she would coin one for the occasion".
She could also be alarmingly rude - especially about women who she thought were failing to exercise their brains correctly. According to O'Meara: "It was a source of genuine astonishment to her that women were so addicted to idle gossip. 'Why don't they use their brains?', she would ask angrily."
Indeed, as a young girl Clarkey had been told by her grandmother that she was "as impudent as a highwayman's horse" - apparently a reference to the way highwaymen's horses would stick their heads into carriages as the hapless victims surrendered their purses.
Though to call her feminist would be inaccurate, she was one of a generation that laid the ground for the changes that followed in women's lives. From their letters, we know that she was a rock-like figure for Florence Nightingale, persuading her to stick with her vocation despite the horrified opposition of Florence's family. On her way to Crimea in 1854, Florence came via Paris where Mohl helped with her arrangements.
Clarkey lived so long she spanned the ages. Born in the aftermath of Revolution, she died almost in the modern era. As a young woman she had been in love with the handsome historian Claude Fauriel, but that came to nothing, so in 1847 she married the charmingly donnish Julius Mohl, who was seven years her junior.
Anthony Trollope's brother Thomas described Monsieur Mohl as so absolutely surrounded by books "built up into walls around him, as to suggest almost inevitably the idea of a mouse in a cheese, eating out the hollow it lives in". But the couple were devoted to each other, and when he died in 1876 Mary was said to be like "a lost dog going about searching for its master".
Seven years later, Clarkey herself died and was buried next to him in the Pere Lachaise cemetery.
"Where she entered, dullness and ennui fled," said another memoirist, Grace Anne Prestwich, in an article written after her death.
Conversation, said Madame Mohl, was not the same as talk. The English talked, but the French knew that conversation was "the mingling of mind and mind (and) the most complete exercise of the social faculty".
"Society is a necessity to me," she said on another occasion. "We all depend dreadfully on each other. We live in a world of looking-glasses, and it is the mind - not the face - which is given back to us by the reflexions."
Mary Clarke Mohl mixed English and French customs in a way that few have done before or since. She was entertaining, provocative, unpretentious, rude, generous and loving. She saw no reason why women could not hold their intellectual own.
The salon tradition died out around the end of the 19th Century. Clarkey was a fitting and original last champion.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39128908
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Mo Farah & Kadeena Cox win British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards awards - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Sir Mo Farah and Kadeena Cox win sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the 2017 British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards.
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Last updated on .From the section Sport
Sir Mo Farah and Kadeena Cox were named sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the 2017 British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards.
Farah won gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Olympics in Rio last year, while Cox won cycling and athletics gold at the Rio Paralympics.
The special lifetime achievement award went to 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton was named England coach of the year.
The third BEDSAs were hosted by British comedian Sir Lenny Henry in London on Saturday and are supported by Sport England, UK Sport, the Football Association, the Tennis Foundation, Youth Sport Trust, England Athletics, the British Army, Mind and Spirit of 2012.
They are organised by Sporting Equals, whose chief executive Arun Kang said the purpose of the awards was to "celebrate diversity at both an elite and grassroots level".
"It really means a lot to be named as your sportsman of the year," said Farah. "And congratulations to my fellow nominees as well.
"It's so great to see everyone come together this evening to celebrate the incredible achievements of our diverse sporting communities."
Cox said: "I'm very honoured to have won this award and would like to give a massive thanks to Sporting Equals for all the work they do in BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/39314017
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Six Nations 2017: England hunt repeat Grand Slam against Ireland in Dublin - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Only Ireland can prevent England from becoming the sixth team in 107 years to complete back-to-back Grand Slams.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Coverage: First two matches on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 live sports extra. Final game on BBC Radio 5 live, plus live text on all matches on BBC Sport website.
Only Ireland can prevent England from becoming the sixth team in 107 years to complete back-to-back Grand Slams, in Saturday's final Six Nations round.
Last week's 61-21 defeat of Scotland, combined with Ireland's loss to Wales, ensured England are chasing history rather than trophies in Dublin, with the tournament already won.
They can also set a new top-tier record with their 19th successive Test win.
But former coach Sir Clive Woodward has warned England to expect an "ambush".
England's Grand Slam bid is the headline act on Saturday but there is plenty of intrigue elsewhere, with Scotland hoping to send departing coach Vern Cotter off in grand style with a big win over Italy, while Wales will be targeting a potentially significant win over France in Paris.
But it is undoubtedly to Dublin where most eyes will be turned and Woodward, who led England to 2003 World Cup glory, knows what a dangerous place it can be after seeing his team beaten at the old Lansdowne Road as they attempted to complete a clean sweep in 2001.
England did clinch the 2003 Grand Slam in Dublin, but fell short in the city again in 2011.
"The Irish will have an ambush planned, they have 80 minutes to resurrect their season and I can guarantee you Eddie Jones will not consider this a successful season unless they get the job done in Dublin," Woodward told the Mail on Sunday.
Jones, who has steered England to second from eighth in the world rankings since taking charge in January 2016, has warned his side to expect an aerial bombardment.
• None Read more: The childhood friends driving on England
• None Who are Jerry Guscott's Six Nations hot steppers?
"We know what Ireland will bring - a strong, physical challenge at the breakdown, pressure on our half-backs and high balls," the Australian said.
"It will be raining high balls. It will be 'kick and clap' and the fans at the Aviva Stadium love it."
Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton shrugged off Jones' prediction, saying he was instead focused on carrying out coach Joe Schmidt's instructions.
Former Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy, meanwhile, says the pressure of going one better than New Zealand's mark of 18 straight victories "brings this great unknown".
There is a family connection that links the two camps, however, with England centre Owen Farrell's father Andy now installed as Ireland defence coach.
A combination of wins for England and Wales and a bonus-point victory of their own over Italy at Murrayfield could see Scotland in second, their highest finish in the Six Nations era.
In addition to that landmark, the Scots will attempt to exorcise the memories of their 40-point defeat at Twickenham last weekend.
That afternoon began with the players harbouring real hope of ending a 34-year wait for a win at the auld enemy's headquarters, but ended with questions over their British and Irish Lions credentials before the summer tour of New Zealand.
It will also be New Zealander Cotter's final match in charge of the team before he is replaced by Glasgow boss Gregor Townsend.
"Vern won't want us focusing on him but it will definitely be something in the background," scrum-half Henry Pyrgos said.
"We are conscious that we want to finish his reign in the right way."
Wales interim boss Rob Howley has overseen an underwhelming campaign, partly redeemed by a hard-fought victory over Ireland last weekend.
They will have one eye on besting the Irish once again as the tournament comes to a climax.
Victory over an improved France team, combined with England sealing their Grand Slam in Dublin, would elevate Wales above Ireland and into a top-tier seeding for May's 2019 Rugby World Cup draw, and ensure they avoid being drawn alongside New Zealand, England or Australia in the group stages.
Howley - who has not included any of the seven uncapped squad players in his Six Nations squad in a match-day 23 - has once again been consistent in his team selection, resisting calls to give Ospreys' Sam Davies a chance at fly-half ahead of Dan Bigger.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39304467
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Rowan Cheshire: Halfpipe skier finishes sixth in world final - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Halfpipe skier Rowan Cheshire crashes in all three of her final runs but claims Britain's best World Championship result in the event.
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Last updated on .From the section Winter Sports
British halfpipe skier Rowan Cheshire crashed in all three of her final runs, but still secured Britain's best-ever World Championship result in the event.
Cheshire, 21, who has missed much of the past three years because of repeated concussions, finished sixth.
"I'm really happy with my progression, but I just couldn't put it down tonight," she told BBC Sport.
"It happens and I'm going to take positives from being out there against the best in the world."
Japan's Ayana Onozuka (89.80) took gold in Sierra Nevada ahead of France's Marie Martinod (87.00) and American Devin Logan (84.20).
Cheshire was regarded as a potential medallist at the Sochi Winter Olympics, but a heavy crash in training resulted in a serious concussion that meant she missed the event.
She suffered two further concussions and experienced panic attacks over the next 18 months, only returning to full-time competition this season with under a year to go to the Pyeongchang Games.
"I'm over all of my head injuries," she said. "I'm in a really good place, feeling super-confident and enjoying it more than ever."
Earlier on Saturday, James Woods and Izzy Atkin qualified for their respective slopestyle finals, which will take place on Sunday.
Woods, who finished fifth in Sochi, scored 86.00 to finish fourth in his heat while Atkin, who won GB's first ski slopestyle World Cup gold medal earlier this month qualified in third place.
Although GB's Tyler Harding, Cal Sanderson and Michael Rowlands all missed out, organisers subsequently revised their rules and have added a semi-final on Sunday with the top four to qualify for an extended 16-strong final.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/winter-sports/39316767
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Reality Check: Is education spending at a record level? - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The prime minister claims spending is at record levels but the National Audit Office says schools will have to make £3bn in cuts.
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Education & Family
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The claim: The government is spending record amounts on education in England.
Reality Check verdict: The absolute amount of money in the pot for schools in England is at record levels but once you factor in rising pupil numbers, inflation and running costs, schools will have to cut approximately 8% from budgets by 2020.
Theresa May said at Prime Minister's Questions that spending on education is at its highest level, something she has insisted on a number of occasions.
She was talking about England, because education is a devolved matter and is funded separately in the other UK nations.
But head teachers in England have been raising the alarm about growing holes in their budgets.
When the prime minister talks about record amounts of funding going into education, she is referring to the Dedicated Schools Grant, which is the whole block of money going to schools in England. This stands at £40bn this year.
It is true that this is the biggest pot in cash terms, but, of course, how generous the pot is depends on how many pupils there are in the system.
There was a baby boom in the early 2000s, which has been hitting primary schools for several years and is now moving up through the secondary system.
Between 2009 and 2016, the school system expanded to take in an extra 470,000 pupils.
The Department for Education says that between 2016 and 2025 there will be a further increase in the state school system, up from about 7.4 million pupils to about 8.1 million.
So looking at how much is being spent per pupil is a more meaningful figure.
David Cameron in 2015 committed to freezing school spending per pupil in cash terms. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned that this would result in an 8% real-terms cut in school spending per pupil due to inflation and the rising cost of wages, pensions and National Insurance contributions.
This amounts to the biggest fall in spending on each pupil in 30 years.
The National Audit Office estimates that schools will have to make £3bn worth of cuts as a result of these factors.
The government is consulting on a new funding formula, which it says will be a fairer way of allocating the cash to schools around the country. Under current plans, almost 11,000 schools stand to gain and around 9,000 will lose funding.
How the funding formula could work
The following types of schools would get extra funding:
This model is what the Department for Education wants every school to move towards eventually but, for the first two years, transitional protections are in place meaning no school can lose more than 3% of their funding.
This means that the best-funded schools under the current system will still get more than £4,312 basic funding per Year 11 pupil for the two year period because of these protections.
For now, one pupil might attract more funding than another with the same characteristics in terms of deprivation, attainment and so on in another part of the country. The idea is that, eventually, two pupils with the same characteristics will attract the same amount of funding no matter what school they attend.
It's fair to say the majority of the schools at the very bottom of the pile are in urban areas and the biggest winners are mostly in rural areas.
The top 30 winners are almost all in Cumbria, Shropshire and Cornwall, while 13 of the bottom 30 are in London or Birmingham. Other losers are in Coventry, Rotherham and Wakefield.
However, it's not quite as simple as urban loses, rural wins. There is a chunk of losers in the funding formula in Lincolnshire, for example, while some London schools are gaining too because of the changes in the way the government assesses need.
But analysis from independent think tank the Education Policy Institute suggests the gains made by some schools will be wiped out by the overall cuts they will need to make to keep up with rising cost pressures.
It's also worth pointing out that the schools budget, which is for five to 16-year-olds, is distinct from overall education spending.
Mrs May claims spending on education is at record levels in absolute terms. In fact, while schools have done well in terms of funding per pupil in the longer term - it will be at least 70% higher in real terms in 2020 than it was in 1990 - the IFS says spending on pupils in sixth forms and further education will be no higher in 2020 than it was 30 years previously.
• None Is school funding the next crisis?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39302746
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George Osborne: From history buff to austerity editor - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Will the former chancellor be able to juggle journalism, politics and his other jobs?
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Entertainment & Arts
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A student of modern history in his undergraduate days at Oxford, his is that cast of mind with a tendency to see himself as the inheritor of distant traditions.
When I had a cup of tea with him in No 11 a couple of years ago, he spent the first seven or eight minutes talking about the provenance of the grand portraits in his room, and the figures depicted. I got the message pretty clearly. Here was a historic figure, he seemed to imply, who felt he had no judge so fair or firm as posterity.
"He's fascinated by history," the Tory MP and historian Keith Simpson told the Financial Times a few years ago. "He looks at different historical institutions and mechanisms which may have lapsed and sees whether they can be given new life."
Like the mechanism by which being an MP is very much a part-time job, perhaps.
Osborne will need to mobilise all his knowledge of history when defending the decision to mix two full-time jobs - that of an MP and a newspaper editor - with each other, let alone with his four days a month at BlackRock, the asset manager, for which he gets an annual figure of £650,000 - what most people earn in around a quarter of a century.
Many journalists, including Winston Churchill, have gone on to be politicians
The fact is, he has no journalistic credentials whatsoever.
Most people who edit newspapers will have spent years crafting headlines, sub-editing copy, designing pages, planning stories, and above all reporting.
Osborne has never done any of that, and will need to grasp some basic skills very quickly if he is to keep Standard staff on-side.
Of course, there is a long tradition of journalists becoming politicians, from Churchill and Horatio Bottomley to Nigel Lawson, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper, Michael Gove, Ruth Davidson, Benito Mussolini (who edited two socialist papers) and the fictional Jim Hacker.
Fewer have tended to go the other way. Bill Deedes was an editor of a newspaper (the Daily Telegraph) and a cabinet member, though not at the same time.
Boris Johnson, who in ancient history was thought of as Osborne's main rival for the Tory crown, was editor of the Spectator while MP for Henley. And, long before he entered politics, Michael Foot was editor of the Standard at 28.
Evgeny Lebedev, the 36-year-old who is now Osborne's boss, is fond of Evelyn Waugh and 20th Century literature generally (full disclosure: I was for several years Lebedev's adviser, and then his editor at the Independent).
I imagine Lebedev will like the idea of reviving quaint, romantic 20th Century ideas about the relationship between politics and newspapers.
But Osborne's constituents have daily concerns that are more rooted in 21st Century Britain. He has a huge majority, but together with his four days a month at BlackRock - which is about a fifth of a full-time job in itself - he won't have much time for parliamentary representation.
Frankly, I can't see this arrangement lasting. Perhaps forthcoming boundary changes to the constituency will concentrate his mind - and that of his electorate.
Tatton has a population of around 85,000, which intriguingly is almost exactly a tenth of the Standard's readership. The latter are his new constituency. What kind of editor will he be for them?
Osborne flirted with journalism before entering politics. Years ago he was interviewed for a job on the Economist, the publication whose world view he most closely adheres to, by Gideon Rachman, now the Financial Times' brilliant foreign affairs commentator. He didn't get the job, despite having grown up on the same street as Rachman, and having the same first name (Gideon) and alma mater (St Paul's).
There is a strong resemblance between the politics of the Standard, which backed the Remain camp and Zac Goldsmith's mayoral campaign, and Osborne's: globalist in outlook, metropolitan rather than provincial, socially liberal, unashamedly in favour of capitalism, and reliably Tory.
The Evening Standard has a circulation of 850,000
In the past, Osborne has also spoken at length about his faintly bohemian upbringing. His interest in the arts, particularly theatre, is genuine.
Naturally he will sharpen the paper's political edge, and his appointment serves up the truly delicious prospect of several assaults, under varying degrees of disguise, on the prime minister who so unceremoniously dispatched him to the back benches.
Ultimately he will be judged not just on the paper he produces, but on whether together with the commercial team at ESI Media he can reinvent the company.
Heavily reliant, like Metro, on print display advertising which is disappearing at the rate of around 20% a year across the industry, ESI Media - which houses the Standard, Independent, and TV station London Live - needs to be re-engineered, perhaps with events, data and ticketing to the fore.
Among his key lieutenants beyond the editorial floor will be Manish Malhotra, the former finance director who now runs the company, and Jon O'Donnell, the managing director for commercial whose ad team is outperforming the rest of the market.
Osborne was one of 30 applicants, 10 of whom were interviewed, and four of whom were shortlisted.
In four meetings in central London with Lebedev, he sought and received reassurance about the proprietor's willingness to invest in the paper and its website.
He can take heart from the fact that the Independent, which is now digital-only (I was the last editor of the print edition) is now humming commercially, well ahead of budget and set to make a multi-million pound profit this year.
Unimaginable even three years ago, the Independent is currently the financial powerhouse within ESI Media, of which TV channel London Live is the other component.
The Independent is co-owned by Justin Byam Shaw, who is also the chairman of the Standard and attended two of the four meetings between Lebedev and Osborne.
Relative to the rest of Fleet Street, Osborne won't have much in the way of an editorial budget, and the need to raise revenues means sponsored content and native advertising of a sort that journalists instinctively resist may creep further into his pages.
Then again, doing more with less - or austerity - was the ethos that defined his contribution to political history. Not in this for the money, because he will be paid substantially less than his predecessor, the Austerity Chancellor has just been reborn as the Austerity Editor.
What his constituents make of that we're about to find out.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39310613
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'The language more beautiful than words' - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Deaf TV producer William Mager was in his 20s when he learned sign language and says the experience has enriched his life and made him a better communicator.
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Disability
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This week is sign language week in the UK. As debate continues about whether British Sign Language should be taught in schools, See Hear series producer William Mager reflects on what signing means to him.
I'm not a native sign language user. I didn't grow up signing from an early age and I didn't have any deaf friends as a kid. I went to a mainstream school where I was the only deaf child in class but I could get by with speaking and lip-reading.
But if a deaf person had met me 20 years ago, they would have been shocked at my inability to communicate with them.
Learning sign language changed all that and brought many benefits to my life.
In my early 20s, I took my first tentative steps into the deaf world in London. Deaf people would gather at pubs in train stations every month to chat away in sign language, knock one another's pints over and terrify the bar staff caught unawares by a sudden invasion of a seemingly alien race who communicated mostly through their hands.
William hopes his son Barnaby, who is hearing, will be proud of using sign language
I would go to these gatherings and try to communicate. I could use some basic gestures and spoke clearly so people could lip-read, but I wasn't a signer in any way, shape or form and I think they often just humoured me.
Then one Friday evening, at one of these nights in a pub in Victoria, I saw a beautiful blonde girl chatting to a friend in sign language. I nudged him and asked who she was. He looked at her, then back at me, and shook his head. "No chance."
But I persevered and at the third time of asking we struck up a conversation and one thing led to another.
But communication was difficult. She couldn't lip-read me, and although she spoke, she also liked to sign. We spent long evenings together, her teaching me the finger-spelling alphabet, the basic signs for what, how, where, why and when and how to use facial expressions with signs.
As our communication improved, so did our relationship. But I still wasn't a perfect signer.
Pupils at Blanche Nevile and Highgate Primary School learn BSL together
Soon after, a job came up which involved making deaf information videos for the British Deaf Association.
The interview was a shambles - I sat opposite two interviewers, one deaf, one hearing, and an interpreter.
The deaf interviewer would sign his questions to me and make eye contact. I replied in speech. The interpreter would start to translate my answers into sign language, and the deaf man looked away from me to the interpreter.
Every time he broke eye contact with me I stopped talking. It was a long and painful interview - but I got the job.
On my first day, he took me upstairs to my desk and pointed to my computer, then to my phone. I shook my head in bewilderment. He had assumed that because I didn't sign I had enough hearing to use the phone.
A few days later, he signed me up for level one sign language classes.
Hear more from William Mager as he talks to BBC Ouch about sign language, whether deaf and blind people can be friends and which bits of office gossip deaf people pick up on.
Don't forget to subscribe to the weekly podcast and for more disability news, follow BBC Ouch on Twitter and Facebook.
I was the only deaf person in the class and the look on the deaf teacher's face when I walked in was a picture - he was used to teaching basic sign language to relatives or colleagues of deaf people, so he must have wondered what was going on.
As we painstakingly finger-spelled our names to one another, I felt like an idiot. But I learned about storytelling, grammar, signs for the weather, how to hold a basic conversation and, finally, things clicked.
Sign language will never be my first language, but I'm so glad I have access to it. I can watch the videos that people post on social media and I can use it to speak to hundreds of people in a crowded room.
I have only one regret - that I came to sign language relatively late in life. Looking back at my childhood, interpreters would have been hugely helpful in the classroom and for socialising with other deaf people. To be able to fingerspell would have helped me with the more complicated words in geography lectures.
There is no downside to learning sign language, whether you're deaf or hearing. It enriches your life and makes you a better communicator. It has a beauty and grace that cannot be put into words.
It was too late for me, but maybe it's not too late for other deaf children who are just starting out in school, surrounded by hearing children.
That cute blonde that I saw in the pub 15 years ago is now my wife, and we have a beautiful boy, who is hearing. But I'd love sign language to be taught in his school.
See Hear, the long-running programme for deaf people, can be seen on the first Wednesday of every month on BBC Two at 08:00
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-39302109
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Obituary: Chuck Berry - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Musician whose guitar licks helped lay the foundations of rock music.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Chuck Berry's trademark four-bar guitar introduction and quickfire lyrics reflected the rebelliousness of the youth of the 1950s.
He was one of that exclusive group who took rhythm and blues from its black roots and "crossed over" to make it part of most teenagers' lifestyle.
He influenced generations of succeeding rock stars, most notably the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys.
Yet he faced major financial difficulties through mismanagement and had frequent brushes with the law.
Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born into a middle-class family in St Louis, Missouri, on 18 October 1926.
As a teenager he began playing concerts in his local high school but his education was curtailed after he was convicted of armed robbery and spent three years in a reformatory for young offenders.
He had one of the first rock and roll hits
On his release he made a living as a hairdresser, playing in a trio in the evenings with Ebby Harding on drums and Johnnie Johnson on piano. Johnson would remain with Berry throughout his career
He was influenced by blues heroes such as Muddy Waters and T-Bone Walker, as well as white country and western music, though his singing style owed much to the clarity of Nat King Cole.
"My music is simple stuff," he once said.
"Anyone can sit down, look at a set of symbols and produce sounds the music represents."
His recording career began in 1955 with the legendary Chess label in Chicago, where his first release Maybellene became one of rock and roll's first hits.
In the next few years, he scored a succession of hits, all aimed at an adolescent audience, including Roll Over Beethoven, Sweet Little Sixteen, Carol and the classic Johnny B. Goode.
His music transcended the colour bar that plagued many contemporary black artists as affluent white teenagers in Eisenhower's America reached out for something new.
"I play the songs they want to hear," he said.
"That makes them feel they're getting what they came for."
He appeared in several rock films including Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr Rock and Roll, both from 1957; Go Johnny Go from 1959; and Jazz on a Summer's Day in 1960.
In 1962 he was charged with transporting a minor across state lines for immoral purposes.
The girl in question was a 14-year-old from Texas who he claimed he had brought to Missouri to check hats at his St Louis nightclub.
After he fired her, she complained to the police. In court, the judge's summing-up was blatantly racist and the trial was eventually declared null and void.
His conviction at a second trial and the resulting two-year sentence left him embittered.
His release coincided with the rhythm and blues revival in Britain. With his material being covered by bands like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones, his work was discovered by a new generation.
"If you tried to give rock and roll another name," John Lennon famously said, "you might call it Chuck Berry."
On stage with Keith Richards at a 60th birthday tribute
Successful tours followed. He scored a few more hits with No Particular Place to Go and Memphis, Tennessee. His biggest hit came later in Britain with the atypical 1972 novelty record, My Ding-a-Ling, replete with double entendres.
When he wasn't churning out the hits, Chuck Berry was thrilling audiences with his live performances. His trademark became his duck walk, a crouching movement across the stage made during his guitar solos.
Offstage, he could be a prickly character, exemplified in the 1987 film Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll which featured a tour with a backing band organised by devotee Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
In the same year, he published an explicit autobiography genuinely penned by himself.
Berry's attitude to money was notorious. He demanded cash upfront for many of his concerts and in 1979, he served a 100-day jail term for tax evasion.
There were further brushes with the law. In 1988 he settled a lawsuit from a woman he allegedly punched in the face.
Two years later he was sued by a group of women after it was discovered that a hidden camera had been placed in the toilets of his restaurant in Missouri.
Still on the road at the age of 87
He also received a suspended jail sentence for marijuana possession.
Despite the advancing years, he continued playing one-night concerts and embarked on a European tour in 2008 at the age of 82.
In January 1986, Berry was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a citation that summed up his contribution to popular music.
"While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll, Chuck Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together."
Berry himself had a simple explanation for his success.
"It amazes me when I hear people say, 'I want to go out and find out who I am.' I always knew who I was. I was going to be famous if it killed me."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11991161
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Sizing John wins Cheltenham Gold Cup: 'Beginner's luck' for Jessica Harrington - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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One woman made headlines before the race, but it was another who celebrated victory in the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
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Last updated on .From the section Horse Racing
One woman made headlines before the race, but it was another who celebrated victory in the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"Beginner's luck," joked Jessica Harrington, a distinguished trainer whose first runner in the famous race - 7-1 chance Sizing John - triumphed in a dramatic renewal.
Lizzie Kelly, the first female jockey for 33 years to ride in jump racing's showpiece contest, was unseated at the second of 22 fences aboard Tea For Two.
As the 23-year-old punched the ground in frustration, it was Harrington - more than three times her age - who watched the race unfold in her favour.
Under an accomplished ride from Robbie Power, seven-year-old Sizing John held off runner-up Minella Rocco by two and three quarter lengths, with Native River third and Djakadam fourth.
Popular steeplechaser Cue Card again fell at the third-last fence, just as he did 12 months ago.
'Jewel in the crown' for shocked Harrington
Harrington, 70, was in shock after the decision to step the horse up in trip earlier in the year paid rich dividends and capped a record-breaking week for Irish-trained horses.
"I have never had a runner in the race so to train the winner, I don't know when I am going to come back to earth," said the County Kildare-based trainer, wearing a cast on her left arm after a skiing accident.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet. I can't believe it is true. I am sitting here, I am about to wake up and it hasn't happened. This is the jewel in the crown. It is amazing to win the Gold Cup - this is the one I have always wanted to win."
Harrington was enjoying her 10th Festival triumph, with previous successes including the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice with Moscow Flyer, and Jezki in the Champion Hurdle three years ago.
Owner Alan Potts names his horses after the mining term 'sizing', which means to extract minerals by crushing. He invented a machine to do this and made millions from it. Sizing John had been a runner-up seven times over two miles to Douvan, and Power suggested running the horse over further. He won the three-mile Irish Gold Cup and now the Cheltenham prize over three and a quarter.
"I have not had a horse I have considered for the Gold Cup before - they have either been two-milers, handicappers or not good enough," said Harrington, a former Olympic eventing rider.
She paid tribute to Henry de Bromhead, who trained Sizing John before owners Alan and Ann Potts decided to move their entire stock - including Fellow Festival winner Supasundae - elsewhere last year.
"I feel very sorry. Henry de Bromhead did all the hard work, on both this horse and on Supasundae, and I only inherited them in September," said Harrington.
De Bromhead handled the Potts decision gracefully and had been asked earlier in the week how he would view victory for Sizing John.
"You'd be disappointed if a Gold Cup winner left your yard but I'd be delighted for the horse and his connections - and my wife and I who bought him. At least we'd have a Gold Cup winner," he said.
Winning jockey Power, himself a former show jumper, was celebrating 10 years after his Grand National win at Aintree on Silver Birch, but perhaps savoured this one even more.
He was sidelined for a couple of weeks at the end of January with a ruptured disc in his back and wore protective goggles until recently for an eye injury he sustained last year.
"The nicest words I ever heard were 'Gold Cup-winning jockey' announced on the podium. That sounded sweet," said Power, who was having his first ride in the Gold Cup and saluted Harrington as "a genius".
"When I won the Grand National I was 25 and thought I was going to win everything - now I am 35 and realise I am not going to win everything so to win a Gold Cup is fantastic."
Sizing John is the first horse to complete the Irish Gold Cup-Cheltenham Gold Cup double since Imperial Call in 1996. Harrington is the third female trainer to win the Gold Cup after Jenny Pitman (Burrough Hill Lad 1984, Garrison Savannah 1991) and Henrietta Knight (Best Mate 2002-2004). She is the most successful female trainer at the Festival with 11 wins. Willie Mullins, five times the leading Festival trainer, is still to win the Gold Cup, with favourite Djakadam finishing fourth.
Victory for Bryony Frost in the Foxhunter Chase, immediately after the Gold Cup, marked another notable achievement for women in racing.
It is the first time all three races for amateur riders run at the Festival have gone to female jockeys, after Lisa O'Neill won the JT McNamara National Hunt Chase on Tiger Roll and Gina Andrews took the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase aboard Domesday Book.
Riding Pacha Du Polder, on whom former Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton finished fifth in last year's race, Frost beat Wonderful Charm (Katie Walsh) by a neck at odds of 16-1.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," said Frost after triumphing aboard the Paul Nicholls-trained runner.
The week was dominated by the Irish, who claimed a record 19 victories from 28 races, surpassing last year's best of 15.
Gordon Elliott and Mullins had six winners apiece, but Elliott took his maiden leading trainer honour thanks to more second-place finishes.
"It is great to do. We are absolutely thrilled and it's unbelievable," said Elliott.
Ruby Walsh's historic four-timer for Mullins on Thursday ensured the Festival's all-time top rider was top jockey for the 11th time.
From the beginning on Tuesday - with Elliott's Laiback - to the end on Friday, the Irish were in the ascendancy.
Harrington's only caveat in giving post-Gold Cup interviews was to be free to watch her runner in the final race.
It was little wonder as Rock The World won the Grand Annual Chase for Power and Harrington on a day the duo ruled the racing world.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/39311316
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Andy Murray withdraws from Miami Open with elbow injury - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Britain's world number one Andy Murray pulls out of next week's Miami Open with an injury to his right elbow.
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World number one Andy Murray has pulled out of next week's Miami Open because of an injury to his right elbow.
A lacklustre Murray lost to Canadian world number 129 Vasek Pospisil in the second round at Indian Wells last week.
The 29-year-old Briton, who won in Florida in 2009 and 2013, said: "The focus is on getting ready for the clay-court season. Apologies to the fans, it's one of my favourite tournaments."
The Briton will be replaced in the draw by world number 136 Taylor Fritz.
Murray could return to action in next month's Davis Cup quarter-final against France, which is due to begin on 7 April on an indoor clay court in Rouen.
He indicated last month that he expected to play in the tie after missing the 3-2 victory over Canada in the World Group first round.
Murray served poorly in his second-round defeat by Pospisil in Indian Wells. He said he was at a loss to explain why, but it now seems as if his right elbow was at least partially to blame.
It has been reported that Novak Djokovic may also miss Miami because he, too, has an elbow injury. If they both have to sit out the event, then Murray's lead over Djokovic at the top of the rankings will stretch to more than 4,000 points as the world number two will lose the points he earned from winning the title last year.
But it will still be a cause of great frustration to Murray that he won't have a chance to boost his tally. He has a mountain of points to defend when the clay season gets under way next month.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39317104
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Super League: Leeds Rhinos 38-14 Wakefield Trinity - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Kallum Watkins scores two tries as Leeds beat Wakefield to secure their fourth Super League win of the season.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby League
Leeds secured their fourth win in six Super League matches as they scored six tries in their victory over Wakefield.
The hosts led 20-4 at the break thanks to two Kallum Watkins tries and one for Anthony Mullally, with Tom Johnstone replying for the visitors.
Ryan Hall increased the Rhinos' lead before David Fifita powered over to give Wakefield hope of a comeback.
Adam Cuthbertson and Matt Parcell also went over for Leeds, while Johnstone ran in his second try for the visitors.
The Rhinos have now won two games in a row at a canter following their 66-10 hammering at Castleford at the start of March.
Watkins put Leeds ahead as he timed his jump to perfection to gather Danny McGuire's kick to run in and score.
Wakefield were soon on the board as Jacob Miller's kick out wide found Johnstone, who ran in from 50 metres.
Mullally, who had a loan spell at Wakefield in 2015, powered in for the home side's second try and Parcell's neat pass set up Watkins for his second of the night as Leeds opened a 16-point half-time advantage.
Ashton Golding was successful with all three conversion attempts and also added a penalty in the first half.
The hosts only need four minutes in the second half to get on the board again as Hall went over in the corner from Brett Ferres' pass
Wakefield replacement Fifita stormed over from close range and Sam Williams added the conversion to close the gap to 16 points with half an hour to go.
But Leeds responded quickly and Rob Burrow's pass sent Cuthbertson under the posts, while Parcell sneaked over from dummy half.
Goulding's conversion took his tally for the night to 14 points, before the final play of the game saw Johnstone grab his second score as he went over in the corner.
"Wakefield will want to be better than that. I know they're a better team than that and I'd imagine they'll be disappointed with how they played.
"I don't think we saw the best of Wakefield.
"My man of the match would be Matt Parcell - I thought he was outstanding.
"While he's not making breaks or creating many line breaks, he holds the ruck accountable and gives Danny McGuire, Adam Cuthberton and Joel Moon a bit of breathing space."
"We were out-muscled and out-enthused all night. They ran the ball a lot harder than we did and we were no match for them. We got blown away by Leeds. We couldn't live with them.
"I could tell in the first 10 minutes that we were a bit dishonest in the things we were doing. Leeds were by far the best side and it could have been a bit more had they executed a bit better.
"We were poor straight from the kick-off and got beaten by a far better team tonight. I can't repeat what I said at half-time.
"I was very disappointed with certain individuals and the way we performed out there. Maybe a few of the guys have fallen in love with themselves after a couple of really good wins."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/39274156
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The mystery of the murder in the Lucky Holiday Hotel - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The murder of Neil Heywood in China in 2011 brought one to an end the career of one top Chinese politician - and allowed another, Xi Jinping, to amass huge personal power.
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Magazine
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Five years ago, China's most charismatic politician, Bo Xilai, was toppled from power. His disgrace allowed his great rival, Xi Jinping, to dominate the political stage in a way unseen in China since the days of Chairman Mao.
All this was made possible - writes BBC China editor Carrie Gracie - by the murder of a British business fixer, Neil Heywood, in the Lucky Holiday Hotel.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39297987
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Mountain man: The bank boss who reached the top aged 33 - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Joe Gordon, boss of telephone and online bank First Direct has just two years' experience in banking.
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Business
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Joe Gordon likes to climb mountains. Among his conquests is Mount Teide, a 12,000ft volcano in Tenerife.
"I like to walk up hills and mountains," he says. "I am a big fan of a healthy body and a healthy mind."
It is perhaps just as well that he has a head for heights.
Because, just 24 months after getting his first job in banking, he is now the boss of telephone and online bank First Direct.
At the age of 33 he is one of the youngest people ever to have made it to the top of the UK banking industry.
It is Joe himself who greets us at the reception of First Direct's steely grey office block in Leeds.
Despite having 2,900 employees in the building, he speaks to both the receptionist and a server in the cafe by name.
This weekend marks the end of his first month in the job, which he got two years after joining First Direct's parent company, HSBC.
While he admits he hasn't been in banking very long, he does have plenty of experience of handling customers.
"I've worked in customer service since day one. Ultimately what we're trying to achieve is great customer service. So if somebody comes in who can deliver customer service, I think that's a bit of credibility for me."
But in an era when 90% of his customers bank on the internet, personal contact has become harder.
It was all so different when First Direct launched in 1989 as the UK's first telephone bank, pioneering banks without branches.
Joe's formative experience was in the grocery section of Sainsbury's, where he worked as a graduate trainee.
"You step in there with bravado, and the first thing they said to me was: 'You're on the carrots, mate,' which was a great grounding.
"Some well-to-do women educated me on the difference between chicory and endive. That's where I first got involved in customer service. And that's where I first started to think: how do you improve things, how do you make it better for people?"
But the boss of a bank also needs to be good with numbers.
So a later stint in the forecasting department, where he had to predict how many Easter eggs the supermarket would sell, probably helped.
Lawrence Christensen, a Sainsbury's director at the time, remembers him well.
"He's very good at IT, and a very quick learner. But his ability to integrate into a team, build a team and run a team would be his greatest strength."
Joe went on to work for BT, on its fast-track programme, where he visited call centres in India no fewer than 22 times.
Top of Joe's to-do list is keeping pace with technology.
First Direct customers can already use a voice recognition system to log in to their accounts, or a fingerprint system on the app.
"I like fingerprint and voice ID, because it speaks to technology solving problems," he says.
"There is a problem with passwords - and if you forget your password, your memorable word, and your inside leg measurement when you were five. But actually technology can solve that."
To make sure it keeps up-to-date, the bank is now studying possible applications for artificial intelligence.
However, there are other issues on the horizon that are harder to foresee.
Last summer the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) heralded the era of so-called open banking.
This will allow third-party providers - with our consent - to access our banking details, and recommend where we should go for the cheapest loan, the best mortgage or the highest savings rates.
When it starts to take effect from 2019, it could turn the banking industry upside down.
But Joe believes it is a positive development.
"This, for us, is a massive opportunity, and an opportunity we will relish."
However, the future of banking still has many unknowns.
"In a world where the biggest taxi firm doesn't own any cars, where the biggest accommodation provider doesn't have any real estate, and where the biggest news website doesn't own any content - we want to play a part in shaping what banking will look like in that world.
"Can you paint a wildly dystopian future? Yes, but you can also paint a reality where we've got a very real part to play."
First Direct already faces serious competition.
Back when it started, it was the lean kid on the block, without the expense of branches to maintain.
But put against the new internet-only banks such as Atom, Tandem and Starling, which employ a handful of people, its wages bill is considerable.
Other challenger banks are also in attack mode. In 28 years, First Direct has acquired 1.35 million customers. Yet after just seven years, Metro Bank has already acquired 915,000.
"Anywhere where disruptors, or fintech, or challenger banks will come in is where they see gaps," says Joe.
"It's for us to make sure we don't leave those gaps."
In the meantime his personal life is also going to be busy. He and his partner have a baby on the way.
And he is planning more expeditions.
"I would like to do Kilimanjaro," he says, adding after a pause, "or maybe next year."
With so many mountains in Joe Gordon's future, he will certainly need his penchant for altitude.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39303747
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How Victoria Gayle hid her dead son for over a decade - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Kyzer died in 2005 when he was 13-15 months old. His mother hid the fact from her friends, family and the authorities.
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Magazine
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When Kyzer Gayle died in 2005 he was little over a year old. But it would be 10 years before the authorities knew about his death and longer still before they discovered what had happened to the boy from north London.
When asked about the whereabouts of her son, Victoria Gayle, 32, told different tales to different people. Friends and family heard that the boy - Kyzer Gayle - was with his dad. A London man who believed himself to be the child's father thought Gayle had custody. Some official agencies were informed that Kyzer had been fathered by a traveller who took him away at a young age. But the stories were false.
Kyzer died in 2005 when he was 13-15 months old and his mother hid the fact for more than a decade. Despite asking Gayle questions, no-one had tested the truth of her replies by establishing where her son really was.
A police investigation was triggered only by the accidental death of Gayle's two-year-old daughter, Ava, in 2015. Medical treatment was sought when Ava became ill, but her condition deteriorated and she died. A subsequent inquest - recording a verdict of accident - determined that she had swallowed a tiny battery, causing fatal internal injuries.
Kyzer Gayle was born in Northwick Park Hospital in February 2004
Following the tragedy, local investigators in Barnet, north London reviewed what was known about Kyzer. Finding themselves unable to account for the child, the case was referred to Scotland Yard. Beyond 2004, the year of his birth, there appeared to be no record of Kyzer being seen by anyone in authority. No attendance at school. No GP visits. No registrations with public bodies.
Inquiries revealed that some people who had met Kyzer as an infant were under the impression that he lived with his father in north London. Police traced the man, but he had not seen Kyzer for more than a decade. He said that following a brief relationship with Gayle in 2003, she later made contact to say he had fathered a son called Kyzer.
He told detectives he then had occasional contact with the child until, on one occasion when Gayle brought Kyzer to his home, she left and did not return. The man said he cared for the child for about five months until Gayle suddenly reappeared and demanded Kyzer back, which he felt he had to accept. He never saw the boy again.
Other witnesses described seeing a baby fitting Kyzer's description at Gayle's north London flat. These are thought to be among the last sightings of the boy.
Gayle has been described as a hoarder and the child was said to have been seen in a buggy in a junk-filled room.
Pen Mehmet, Victoria Gayle's former neighbour, reported her concerns to the authorities
Pen Mehmet, a former neighbour, told the BBC that Gayle was a "compulsive liar" whose flat was so packed with rubbish that "I couldn't tell you where her kitchen was".
She said Gayle had claimed in recent years that Kyzer "lives with his dad" and "that was the best way because that's how the dad wanted it". Ms Mehmet says she became so troubled by elements of Gayle's behaviour that she reported her concerns to the authorities.
During contact with Gayle, some official agencies did ask about her son's whereabouts. She told them the boy's father was a member of the traveller community and had taken responsibility for Kyzer at a young age. The claim appears to have been accepted and no-one ever sought out the boy.
A photograph of the shed where the baby was found, taken after the police had removed the body
When Gayle was later evicted from her home, she stored some of her possessions in the garden shed of her mother and step-father who lived nearby, which was where detectives eventually found Kyzer's remains.
Lead investigator Det Ch Insp Noel McHugh told the BBC: "Within the shed we found a box. Within the box was what can best be described as a cocoon of gaffer tape, which concealed a cut-down buggy and in there was the clothed skeletal remains of the child we believe to be Kyzer." A bandage had been applied to the entire length of one leg. Gayle's mother and step-father denied knowing what had been stored on their property.
Before the discovery, Gayle had repeated to detectives the story about Kyzer's traveller father taking him away. Once his remains had been found, she admitted the story was untrue. But she denied harming Kyzer and claimed she had simply found him dead in his cot one morning - to which her reaction had been shock followed by denial. She said that recent internet searches for sulphuric acid had nothing to do with attempts to cover up the death.
Gayle said that, until the eviction, Kyzer's body had been kept in her home and she had covered up what happened because she was afraid of being judged and blamed for it. The passage of time means that experts have been unable to establish a cause of death, although there was evidence of malnutrition and arrested growth. Tests showed the north London man who looked after Kyzer for several months was actually not his father, although detectives eventually identified someone who was.
Victoria Gayle outside Kingston Crown Court in December last year
At Kingston Crown Court last December, Victoria Gayle pleaded guilty to preventing Kyzer's lawful burial. She denied charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice, which have been left to lie on file. She has been sentenced to 21 months in prison with the judge criticising Gayle's "web of lies" and saying the the full truth of her son's "sad and short life" will never be known.
A serious case review is investigating potential failings by Barnet Council and other official bodies. In a statement, the council said: "The death of any child is tragic and we are working with Barnet Safeguarding Children's Board to provide information for their serious case review and to establish any learning from our involvement with the family."
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has also opened an inquiry - currently on hold pending the serious case review - into potential police deficiencies. An IPCC spokesperson said it was "a complex case spanning more than a decade, and we now know the family of the child had significant contact, not just with the police, but also with other agencies".
Noel McHugh led the investigation that discovered the child's remains
Detectives are still making inquiries and Det Ch Insp McHugh told the BBC he was appealing for people to come forward who knew Gayle around 2004, when Kyzer was born. Police are also particularly interested in the period between 2007 and 2013, and are asking Gayle's former partners if she had any pregnancies or births police do not know about.
Jon Brown, from children's charity the NSPCC, says he finds it "deeply disturbing" that a child can "go missing for a decade". He told the BBC there were "a number of significant and important questions that are going to need to be addressed by the serious case review and by the IPCC investigation".
Pen Mehmet, Gayle's former neighbour, agrees and says she is angry and bewildered that Kyzer's death could go unnoticed for so long. "I think it's absolutely disgusting because this child's been missing and nobody knew.
"How can nobody know? I don't understand, how can nobody know?"
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39290872
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Stoke City 1-2 Chelsea - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Gary Cahill makes up for conceding a penalty with a late winner as Premier League leaders Chelsea move 13 points clear.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Gary Cahill made up for conceding a penalty by scoring a late winner as Chelsea moved a step closer to the Premier League title with victory at Stoke.
The England defender settled a heated encounter three minutes from time by sweeping home after Stoke failed to clear a Cesc Fabregas corner.
It sent Chelsea 13 points clear at the top with 10 games to play.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa was involved in a running battle with Stoke's defenders - being booked himself and involved in incidents that saw Bruno Martins Indi and Phil Bardsley cautioned.
And the home side were reduced to 10 men in added time when Bardsley was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Willian had given Chelsea a first-half lead with an inswinging free-kick from the left that caught out keeper Lee Grant at his near post.
Martins Indi had a goal ruled out for a push by Saido Berahino on Cesar Azpilicueta, but the hosts drew level when Cahill was ruled to have pushed Jon Walters, who blasted in the penalty.
The visitors had nearly all the chances, with Marcos Alonso firing a free-kick against the bar and Pedro denied by a fine Grant save.
Even the absence of Eden Hazard with a muscle problem did not ultimately thwart Chelsea, whose relentless consistency has been extraordinary.
Hazard's absence, only confirmed an hour before kick-off, was the major surprise as Antonio Conte's side sought a fifth successive win.
Pedro proved a willing deputy, but it was two players who scored against Stoke in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge who provided the goals.
Willian, who struck twice in a 4-2 win over Hughes' side on New Year's Eve, caught out Grant with a marvellous piece of quick thinking to whip his first-half free-kick inside the near post.
Cahill's winner actually came after a decent five-minute spell of Stoke pressure as the game opened up in the closing stages.
The decisive goal was a tribute to the work ethic Conte has instilled in his players - coming from a corner won after substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek harassed Erik Pieters into over-hitting a back pass.
Chelsea have now won 20 of their past 23 matches in all competitions, and look unstoppable.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes has spoken in the past of his admiration for Costa - a striker of undoubted talent who plays on the edge.
Hughes, a fearsome centre-forward in his playing days, has suggested he sees a bit of his own playing style in Costa's game.
The Spain international certainly did his best to rough up Stoke's defenders, and seemed in danger of getting sent off after he was booked with barely a quarter-of-an-hour gone.
His tussles with Martins Indi were a feature of the game from the off, and referee Anthony Taylor had to speak to both players following an early off-the-ball tangle.
Costa, though, drew the Stoke defenders into the battle - and then concentrated more on his football after half-time to keep himself out of trouble.
He made sure not to retaliate when Bardsley clattered him shortly before the break, then forced Martins Indi into a challenge for which he was booked.
There was to be no goal for Costa - chasing his 50th in the Premier League - but he still came out smiling as Stoke lost their discipline.
Hughes has managed a consistency of his own since arriving at Stoke in 2013 - three successive ninth-place finishes, and a fourth more than likely.
His players showed they were more than ready to match Chelsea physically, as Martins Indi and Ryan Shawcross relished their battle with Costa, but the home side were second best here.
Walters' penalty was their only shot on target, and although they did well to stay in the game for so long, there was no question the visitors deserved their win.
Stoke, nonetheless, showed the grit that earned them a draw at Manchester City in their last match, and Geoff Cameron did a fine job in helping out his defenders when Chelsea's sharp passing threatened to overwhelm them.
In the end, it was not enough - and Stoke remain without a win this season against any side currently in the top half of the table.
• None Eight of Willian's past 19 goals for Chelsea have been from direct free-kicks.
• None The Brazilian's goal was his sixth in the Premier League this season - his best tally in a single campaign in the competition.
• None Stoke have won only one of their 13 Premier League games against teams placed top of the table on the day of the game (W1 D2 L10).
• None Cahill is the first Chelsea player to score a goal and concede a penalty in the same Premier League game since Salomon Kalou did so against West Ham in April 2009.
• None Walters has been directly involved in 60 Premier League goals for Stoke (42 goals, 18 assists); more than any other Potters player.
• None Azpilicueta made his 150th Premier League appearance for Chelsea, becoming the first Spaniard to reach the milestone for the Blues.
• None Stoke have won only two of their 18 Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D3 L13).
The Premier League takes a break for the next round of World Cup qualifiers, after which Chelsea host Crystal Palace on 1 April, the same day Stoke visit Leicester.
• None Second yellow card to Phil Bardsley (Stoke City) for a bad foul.
• None Attempt blocked. Diego Costa (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas.
• None Attempt saved. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pedro.
• None Diego Costa (Chelsea) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Pedro.
• None Geoff Cameron (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt missed. Pedro (Chelsea) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Cesc Fàbregas following a corner. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39240187
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If 'not now' when will a second referendum take place? - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Prime Minister Theresa May says "now is not the time" for a second Scottish referendum, but is she willing to sit down with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and discuss a date that suits?
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Scotland politics
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This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Nicola Sturgeon: "I am up for continued discussion."
Delegates at the SNP conference in Aberdeen are being told today Scotland will have another referendum.
The party faithful are being promised by the leadership that they will not be denied a vote on independence.
But is that a promise their leaders can keep?
The SNP firmly believe they have the moral authority to call another referendum. But it is the UK government who have the legal authority to decide when or if there is another referendum.
So what are Nicola Sturgeon's options now?
I've just asked her what she will do if Theresa May refuses to discuss the possibility of another vote.
The First Minister says she is convinced the PM's position is not sustainable, that she cannot continue to deny Scotland a vote without incurring major political damage and possibly even strengthening the case for independence.
For the SNP this argument about who has the right to decide when or if Scotland can have another referendum is an example of why Scotland should leave the UK.
It allows them to make the case that Scotland is once more being dictated to by Westminster and says that shows why independence would be a better option.
Just saying no might be a politically risky path for the Prime Minister but if she sticks to that position what can the Scottish government do?
They can demand negotiations over when a referendum could take place. But they can't enter discussions with someone who won't speak to them.
There is the option of holding a referendum without the authority from the UK government. That would have no legal standing and it could be challenged in the courts.
But it could also demonstrate the strength of feeling in Scotland.
Theresa May has said "now is not the time" for Nicola Sturgeon to call for an independence referendum
Ms Sturgeon will not yet discuss that possibility, saying she is concentrating on the vote in the Scottish Parliament next week and then making a formal request to Theresa May to give the authority for another vote.
Speaking to me today, Ms Sturgeon indicated she might be prepared to discuss the timing of another vote with Mrs May.
The Scottish government want a referendum between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019.
It looks like they would be prepared to negotiate a different, later, date.
However, it is not yet clear that the UK government are prepared to talk about a date.
The PM did say "now is not the time" for another referendum. She didn't say never. So, will she talk about holding a vote in the future?
That seems to be the question today.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39306159
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Six Nations 2017: George Ford & Owen Farrell - childhood friends to England axis - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Friends steeped in rugby league, George Ford and Owen Farrell are the axis around which England revolve, writes Tom Fordyce.
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Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and follow text commentary on the BBC Sport website.
A buccaneering England team with George Ford at fly-half and his friend Owen Farrell at inside centre. Scotland are the opponents. Early on, Ford sends Farrell into space; a pass later, Jonathan Joseph goes over in the corner.
Near half-time, the two instinctively swap positions, Farrell at first receiver, Ford at second. Off quick ruck ball, Farrell finds Ford, Ford passes round his back to Farrell, the ball goes right, Joseph dives over for his second try.
They say history repeats, not least because no-one listens. Sometimes too it's because very few were watching. This was not last weekend at Twickenham, in front of 84,000 in the stadium and nine million more on television, but a half-empty Kingston Park, Newcastle, in 2009, Ford aged 16, Farrell 17.
• None Who are Jerry Guscott's Six Nations hot steppers?
Much has changed since the pair were the standout stars in that England Under-18s side. For a long time at senior level they have been rivals in the Premiership and battled for the same number 10 shirt at international level, together but seldom in harmony, contrasting rather than complementary.
Much has stayed the same. This weekend the two - childhood friends, products of the same inadvertent yet remarkable rugby hot-housing, past and present linked by an almost telepathic on-field understanding - will start alongside each other in white once again, the essential pivot in a side with all sorts of history in its sights.
"Rugby is about connections," says John Fletcher, the first coach to pick the two together, when he took a 15-year-old Ford on tour to Argentina with his England Under-18 side in the summer of 2008, who let the pair room together as they moved up the age groups over the next three years.
"What the two of them had from a very young age, because of their relationship, their experience and their upbringing, was a very strong connection.
"You could tell they liked each other. They are fond both of each other's abilities and each other's personalities. They are very similar in lots of ways - both very driven, very determined, quite obsessive with their practice and preparation, and they spent so much time together they built an awareness of what the other one was going to do before he did it.
"Rugby is a sport where you see pictures, and you have to make decisions based on the pictures you see. What those two have always had is they often see the same picture.
"Both were ridiculously skilful for their age. Their run, kick, pass, their awareness, their decision-making, were really strong. And if you were to stop them at any time in a game or training session and ask them to vocalise what they're seeing and why they're doing it, they would be very similar."
Ford and Farrell were first introduced to each other's abilities while playing rugby league as under-11s, Farrell at the famous Wigan St Pat's club, Ford from 30 miles east in Saddleworth. But they were already linked, both born into league royalty, raised with ball in hand and obsession the all-around norm.
Ford, the son of Mike, scrum-half for Wigan, Oldham and Castleford; elder brother Joe, a Premiership 10 himself; younger brother Jacob to scrap with and wrestle; his next-door neighbour Paul Sculthorpe, St Helens and Great Britain great, always happy to throw a ball around with the kid on the street outside.
Farrell, his dad Andy making his full Wigan debut at 16, winning the Challenge Cup at 17, playing for England at 18, becoming the youngest Great Britain skipper in history at 21; his uncle Wigan captain Sean O'Loughlin; his grandfather Keiron O'Loughlin, who played 260 times for Wigan and 119 times for Widnes, including at stand-off in the Challenge Cup final win over Wigan at Wembley in 1984.
"There were always rugby balls in the house," Farrell tells BBC Sport. "Pretty much everyone in my family used to play. My dad taught me how to kick.
"That's what you want to do as a kid - kick a ball. If there were two of you, you'd go to a field and kick it as far as you can, and the more you have the ball in your hands, messing around, the more you pick up. Just to have a ball in your hand, throwing it around, playing touch rugby with your mates."
When Mike became Saracens head coach in 2005 and made Andy his first major signing, the two families moved into adjacent houses on the same street in Harpenden. And then the burgeoning talents began to coalesce, pushing each other without realising, finding a bond in where they came from and where they wanted to go.
"It would be, 'we're not going in for tea until we do 20 perfect passes'," remembers Mike Ford, now head coach at French club Toulon.
"If you get to 19 and the 20th one isn't quite right, you start again. 'We're going to put 30 kicks together.' They've got to be perfect, or we start again. They could be out there a long time, but it mattered.
"They're just rugby nuts. They just wanted to play rugby. They both grew up in an environment that was rugby dominated, and they were very much alike.
"Rugby balls in the house when they were two, three and four, always being thrown about. Going to watch their dads play. Going to watch them train. Training themselves. Even talking over dinner, it was all about rugby.
"That was where they learned. Without thinking it, they were preparing to be where they are today. And it was all fun."
The young Farrell had sat in a Wigan dressing-room containing talents like Jason Robinson, Kris Radlinski and Denis Betts. Ford, 18 months younger but never deferring to his older and bigger friend, had followed his father through his peripatetic coaching career: living in camp with Ireland aged eight; going on the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour as an 11-year-old; sitting in England's dressing-room before the 2007 World Cup final.
Hanging round the old Lansdowne Road when his dad was defence coach for Ireland, Ford would field the kicks of fly-halves Ronan O'Gara and David Humphreys. With England, he would cadge free tuition from Jonny Wilkinson. With Farrell, he would do all he could to ensure they had maximum time to put those lessons into practice.
"George was a bit more organised than me," admits Farrell. "He'd do his homework a week in advance, whereas I'd leave it to the last minute. So if I had a bit of homework for the next day, I'd do one and he'd do the other, so we could get out to play."
English Grand Slams have always been built on the essential understanding between fly-half and inside centre: Wilkinson and Will Greenwood, Rob Andrew and Will Carling. Never before have they had the ability to switch roles so naturally and to such attacking effect.
After a spell when international 12s were supposed to be bulldozers and bashers, after four years when England's previous coaching regime tried and failed to find a second point to the attack, when Ford and Farrell were seen as an either/or rather than alliance, Eddie Jones' decision to reunite his northern axis has set his backline free.
Only twice in his 17 matches in charge has he not started Ford and Farrell together - the first time, against Wales last summer, when Farrell was unavailable because of club commitments. In the other, the first Test against Australia in Brisbane a fortnight later, it took him only 29 minutes to haul off Luther Burrell, push Farrell out to 12 and bring Ford off the bench.
It is an old partnership bringing a new look to England, two street footballers bringing a different accent to both dressing-room and style of play.
Wilkinson and Greenwood were public schoolboys, Andrew a Cambridge Blue, Carling an army man (and, like Greenwood, a product of the rugby nursery Sedburgh School, and Hatfield College at Durham University).
Farrell and Ford are the league influence on English rugby union come full circle: born when league's brightest talents were being poached by union, raised when coaches were going the same way, maturing with the best of both codes in their feet and fingertips.
"If you grow up in rugby league you're making 20 tackles a game," says Mike Ford. "You're running with the ball 15 times.
"It's massive that they both played league. You look at their core skills. The try England scored at the end against Wales - it looks simple, but those passes George and Owen put together say it all."
Carling, the epitome of the old school, is relishing what the new breed can bring.
"It allows England to play in a variety of ways," he told BBC Sport.
"They are both footballers. They have both got great distribution, as we saw from Elliot Daly's try in the dying minutes against Wales. Both of them can kick, so you can do the tactical kicking game, or you can play with width, because both of them have great awareness of space.
"Rob [Andrew] was more of a Jonny Wilkinson-type, with other sorts of strengths, not least in terms of defence, whereas my role was basically to try to make tries for Jerry Guscott. Even Martin Johnson's team - they relied on Greenwood as that pivot to give them extra width if they wanted it.
"George plays that little bit flatter, which sometimes allows you to attack that little bit more freely than we might have done with Rob. Playing and defending against this England becomes pretty hard."
Mike Ford watched that England Under-18 match in 2009 alongside Wilkinson and the World Cup winner's father. Two years later he would watch his son in the Junior World Cup final, Farrell outside him, the two combining as intuitively as ever in the move that led to England's final try.
They came off second best that afternoon, alongside Joe Launchbury, Mako Vunipola, Daly and Joseph, to a New Zealand side featuring Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau and Brodie Retallick.
Against Ireland on Saturday, successive Grand Slams and a world record of 19 consecutive Test victories in their sights, second will only be seen as failure.
"I watched George and Owen play in every age group, and what they were doing at first and second receiver, we're only just seeing it at this level," says Ford Sr.
"Like against Scotland, how the ball comes off the top of the line-out and Owen's at first receiver and finds George and Joseph scores his first try, or how for Watson's try they swapped it round.
"They're both the same. They see each other driving to be the best they can every day, and being together it rubs off on them both. They both train that little bit harder. Get two, three, four players in your team who do that, and you've got a pretty special team - and that's what England have at the moment.
"They have their best rugby ahead of them. What Eddie [Jones] has done brilliantly is challenging them. Asking them to get better all the time.
"And they love that. You go back to the 20 passes. 'Lads, come in for your tea. Have you done your 20 perfect passes?'"
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39306051
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Six Nations 2017: France 20-18 Wales - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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France seal a dramatic and controversial win over Wales in their Six Nations finale in Paris.
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Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugby
France snatched a dramatic and controversial Six Nations win over Wales in an extraordinary encounter.
Trailing by five points with the clock ticking past 100 minutes, Damien Chouly drove over from close range and Camille Lopez's conversion clinched the win.
Leigh Halfpenny had kicked six penalties - three from 50 metres-plus - to cancel Remi Lamerat's early try.
But the match will live long in the memory for the 20-minute added-time barrage on the Wales line.
Referee Wayne Barnes issued a yellow card to Samson Lee in the 82nd minute and had to deal with a claim of biting on Wales wing George North in the face of a tumultuous home crowd at the Stade de France.
The television match official Peter Fitzgibbon could not find any clear footage so the game was allowed to continue.
Barnes also allowed France to replace tight-head prop Uini Atonio with Rabah Slimani who had earlier been replaced, with the France team doctor insisting Atonio needed a head injury assessment.
• None Was this the day rugby lost its head?
Lee had returned to bring Wales back up to 15 men before Chouly claimed the decisive score after a series of penalties near the Wales line.
It was a remarkable end to a difficult Six Nations campaign for Wales which sees them finish fifth and with three defeats for the first time since 2010.
France moved onto 14 points and second place before Ireland denied England a Grand Slam in Dublin to finish second behind the visitors.
Rob Howley's Wales finished one place above winless Italy after securing two tournament triumphs - against Italy and Ireland - and following defeats by England and Scotland.
The incredible finale followed what had been a low-key match until the 77th minute, with French indiscipline allowing the immaculate Halfpenny to wipe out an early 10-point deficit with a flawless display of place-kicking.
But Wales rarely threatened the French line, and struggled throughout at the scrum.
They were also hampered by injuries to second rows Alun Wyn Jones and Jake Ball, with Taulupe Faletau pressed into duty in the boiler house and replacement hooker Scott Baldwin playing in the back row.
For their part, France's forward dominance eventually paid dividends with the immaculate Louis Picamoles and Kevin Gourdon carrying powerfully.
And Wales flanker Sam Warburton will no doubt regret the rush of blood to the head which saw him kicking the ball long downfield after turning over possession during a France attack.
The ball went from Wales' 10-metre line and over the French dead-ball line - allowing the home team to set up the bridgehead which eventually led to their winning score.
France started brilliantly and were ahead within seven minutes when Lopez chipped the ball over the onrushing defence for Lamerat to beat his team-mate Gael Fickou to the ball and touch down.
Lopez increased the lead to 10 points before referee Barnes intervened to send Virimi Vakatawa to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock on.
Halfpenny's angled penalty calmed Wales nerves and by half-time the full-back had struck twice more - one from more than 50 metres - and the French were left wondering how their dominance had resulted in just a one-point interval lead.
After the break Halfpenny drilled two long-range kicks to give Wales a five point lead, which he then restored after Lopez kicked one of his own.
But that was before arguably the most thrilling, nerve-shredding, energy-sapping finish in the tournament's history.
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England complete Women's Six Nations Grand Slam with win over Ireland - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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England complete a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam by beating a physical Ireland 34-7 at Donnybrook.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
England completed a Women's Six Nations Grand Slam by beating a physical Ireland 34-7 at rainy Donnybrook.
Amy Wilson Hardy went over in the corner as England scored from their only chance in the first half.
Ireland struggled to breach England's solid defence and were made to pay as the world champions ran in four tries.
Forwards Laura Keates and Amy Cokayne extended the visitors' lead before backs Emily Scarratt and Lydia Thompson rounded off the win with fine tries.
With the under-20 men's side having won a Grand Slam earlier on Friday, England's men will look to complete a hat-trick by beating Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
The women, who return to Ireland in the summer to defend their world title, have won their first Six Nations title since 2012.
Wing Wilson Hardy completed a fine England move in the 16th minute, but then Ireland dominated play.
Centre Sene Naoupu came within a metre of going over but was stopped by a superb tackle from flanker Marlie Packer, and home captain Paula Fitzpatrick was prevented from touching down by a posse of England players.
England regrouped after half-time and extended their lead when replacement prop Keates drove over the line from two metres out.
Ireland were reduced to 14 players two minutes before the hour when substitute Mairead Coyne made a deliberate knock-on.
Hooker Cokayne burst through to increase England's advantage but Ireland hooker Leah Lyons responded to give Ireland hope.
However, Scarratt finished off an excellent England move to put the result beyond doubt and then replacement winger Thompson showed her pace to score England's fifth try.
'It gives us a springboard now'
England head coach Simon Middleton: "The difference between winning and not winning this match would have been huge.
"It gives us a springboard now and it keeps our winning mentality going.
"It also gives us confidence that what we're doing is right. We know we can get better, fitter and stronger.
"That will be our next focus, but to come here to the lion's den and beat a side that are going to be hosting the World Cup is massive for us. I'm absolutely thrilled."
England captain Sarah Hunter: "It was phenomenal from the team to pull out that performance in the second half. To be Grand Slam champions is an incredible feeling but we were made to work hard for it.
"We have worked for five long years to get that Grand Slam and to get our hands back on that trophy. We fell short last year and we learned a lot about ourselves and this year we have learned to stick with the process and trust in each other."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39293663
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Bristol City 4-0 Huddersfield Town - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Tammy Abraham scores his 22nd goal of the season as Championship strugglers Bristol City stun high-flying Huddersfield Town.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Tammy Abraham scored his 22nd goal of the season as struggling Bristol City stunned Huddersfield Town to dent the Terriers' automatic promotion hopes.
Lee Tomlin rounded Danny Ward to slot City ahead, after Town's Jonathan Hogg was taken off on a stretcher following a 14-minute stoppage.
Chelsea loanee Abraham made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, before Aden Flint superbly flicked in City's third.
Lee Johnson's side, who had won only twice in 22 league matches prior to beating Wigan Athletic last Saturday, have now recorded back-to-back successes for the first time since 1 October and move up to 19th in the table.
Huddersfield had won eight of their previous 10 Championship games to keep up the pressure on the top two, but remain six points adrift of second-placed Brighton after coming up against a Bristol City side in inspired form.
David Wagner's team struggled to impose their familiar high-tempo, high-pressing game on the Robins, and never really recovered after Hogg had to be withdrawn in the first half following a clash with team-mate Mark Hudson.
The 28-year-old received lengthy treatment to his neck and back from both sets of medical staff before being stretchered off to applause from all four sides of Ashton Gate.
He was understood to be conscious and talking in the dressing room before being taken to hospital for a scan.
Tomlin's composed finish deservedly put City in front, and 19-year-old Abraham doubled the advantage after displaying brilliant movement and striker's instinct to stab home at the near post.
Centre-half Flint, who struck the winner at Wigan, made it 3-0 with a brilliant between-the-legs flick before Cotterill's penalty into the top corner lifted the Robins back out of the relegation zone.
'This result will be a massive tonic for dad'
Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson: "As far as my players are concerned, I was delighted with every one of them. They carried out our game plan perfectly and it was great to produce such a terrific performance in front of our own fans.
"I hope we silenced a few doubters tonight. I saw this display coming and was confident before the game. Now we go into the international break with real momentum."
On father and Cheltenham Town manager Gary Johnson, who underwent heart surgery on Thursday: "This result will be a massive tonic for dad and I want to thank the football world for all the goodwill expressed towards him and our family.
"The heart surgery was performed by Joe Bryan's dad, which we didn't want to talk about before the game.
"I am grateful to him and all the hospital staff. Dad is doing okay and the test results are encouraging.
Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner: "Bristol City were strong and we under-performed. I have never spoken about automatic promotion and we now need to use the international break to refresh and respond to this result.
"We are in a very good position with nine games to go and we have been through too much together as a group for me to question my players."
• None Attempt saved. Rajiv van La Parra (Huddersfield Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Philip Billing.
• None Korey Smith (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Goal! Bristol City 4, Huddersfield Town 0. David Cotterill (Bristol City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
• None Penalty conceded by Philip Billing (Huddersfield Town) after a foul in the penalty area. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39227074
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Cheltenham Festival 2017: Sizing John wins Gold Cup - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Irish challenger Sizing John wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup for jockey Robbie Power and trainer Jessica Harrington.
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Last updated on .From the section Horse Racing
Sizing John, ridden by Robbie Power and trained by Jessica Harrington, powered home to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Victory completed a big-race double for the 7-1 chance, who won the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February.
He finished two and three quarter lengths ahead of Minella Rocco (18-1) in the Cheltenham showpiece, with Native River (7-2) in third.
Lizzie Kelly, the first woman for 33 years to ride in the race, was unseated from Tea for Two at the second fence.
The 3-1 favourite Djakadam hit the second-last fence when leading and ended up finishing fourth, while the much-loved Cue Card again fell three fences from home.
Harrington and Power finished the Festival in style by winning the last race, the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase, with Rock the World (10-1).
The seven-year-old winner was a first Cheltenham Gold Cup entry for Harrington after moving to her yard from Henry de Bromhead's earlier in the season.
Harrington, the most successful female trainer ever at the Festival, had previously enjoyed big-race success with Moscow Flyer in the 2003 and 2005 Queen Mother Champion Chases, and with 2014 Champion Hurdle winner Jezki.
"It's amazing - he has gone from running two miles at Christmas to three miles here," she told BBC Radio 5 live.
Down to the last he absolutely pinged it
"He jumped like a buck and it was his jumping that got him there.
"I never seemed to have any stayers before for this race - I can't believe it."
Harrington is the third woman to train a Gold Cup winner, following Jenny Pitman, who guided Burrough Hill Lad (1984) and Garrison Savannah (1991), and Henrietta Knight with Best Mate (2002-2004).
Power, who won the Grand National on Silver Birch in 2007, said: "It's unbelievable. Jessica Harrington is a genius.
"I was only 25 when I won the National and I'm 35 now. When you're 25 you think you can win everything, so this is very special.
"Down to the last he absolutely pinged it and then it was just a case of seeing it out. It's what every jockey dreams of and I never thought I would until we got this lad.
"I had a bad injury before Christmas and I rushed back to ride him in the Irish Gold Cup"
Being thrilled to feeling robbed - what the rest said
Minella Rocco trainer Jonjo O'Neill: "It was his first run proper of the season. He has no miles on the clock and he'll improve a ton on that. I'm thrilled, he had a great spin round and finished as strongly as anything."
Native River owner Garth Broom: "I felt we were slightly robbed of second right on the line, but finishing third in a Gold Cup with a seven-year-old is something you can't complain about.
"He wears his heart on his sleeve and we are so proud of him. We had two dreams - to have a runner in the Gold Cup and to win one, and we've achieved the first.
Djakadam jockey Ruby Walsh: "The mistake at the second-last cost me second place but I don't believe I would have done better than that."
Cue Card assistant trainer Joe Tizzard: "He has come back safe and that is the main thing we were concerned about."
The 2017 Gold Cup was billed as competitive, but not necessarily the greatest staging in the race's 90-plus-year history.
You probably can't say at this stage that Sizing John is all set to be a great champion, but given time, who knows?
He's got that certain something about him - racing purists would say 'class' - he's only seven years old, technically some way short of his prime, and the time of the race was decent.
There had been doubts about the horse's stamina lasting out the demanding three and a quarter miles, but he had plenty of reserves to positively bound up the final hill.
Paul Townend rode a 356-1 double for Willie Mullins after top weight Arctic Fire (20-1) took the County Hurdle after being off the track for 13 months, while Penhill then triumphed in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
Penhill's win was Mullins' first in the race and gave him a sixth win of the meeting.
Gordon Elliott matched him with his sixth win when Champagne Classic (12-1) took the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle for JJ Slevin.
However, Elliott clinched the leading trainer award thanks to his three second places compared to two from Mullins.
A delighted Elliott said: "To win the trainer award is something special. Willie is an amazing man and a gentleman. We are absolutely thrilled.
"When we get home now, we will have a party with all the staff."
Champagne Classic's owner, airline boss Michael O'Leary, was somewhat surprised by the horse's achievement.
"I think that was a miraculous event. He is probably the worst horse we own!" said O'Leary
"We buy them in numbers and you get a few duds - he is one of the duds!"
The rest of the day's action
Bryony Frost triumphed on Pacha Du Polder in the Foxhunters Chase, the same horse on whom former Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton finished fifth in last year's race,
Frost's win meant that for the first time all three races for amateur riders at the Festival were won by female jockeys.
She was also following in a family tradition - her father Jimmy rode Morley Street to victory in the 1991 Champion Hurdle, while brother Hadden won at the 2010 Festival.
The day's other race, the Triumph Hurdle, was won by the 5-2 favourite Defi Du Seuil, ridden by champion jockey Richard Johnson and trained by Philip Hobbs.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/39307278
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Frances reveals Paul McCartney's songwriting tips - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Pop star Frances was taught by Paul McCartney and has been compared to Adele. She tells us her story.
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Entertainment & Arts
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The singer started learning violin as a child, but decided to become a singer-songwriter
Beware of Frances: She's on a one-woman mission to force all the water in your body out through your tear ducts.
Nominated for the Brits critics' choice award and the BBC Sound of 2016, the singer has a knack for achingly beautiful ballads that tug at the heartstrings.
Songs like Let It Out and Say It Again have earned her more than 50 million streams on Spotify - and top 10 singles around the world (although not at home, thanks to the current state of the UK singles chart).
Born Sophie Frances Cooke in Berkshire, she was an aspiring violinist when her teacher sent her to see a film composer for career advice.
On a whim, she played him a pop song she'd written for fun - and moved him to tears.
"It was a bit awkward," she recalls. "I was like, 'Are you ok?' and he said, 'Yeah. But you need to do that. You have to do that for the rest of your life."
She took his advice - choosing to attend the pop-focussed Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts instead of her original choice, the Birmingham Conservatoire.
By the time she reached her third year of studies, she'd already been signed by a record label and moved to London.
Her debut album, Things I've Never Said, comes out this week. A warm and wistful collection of perfectly-crafted piano pop, it has already won the singer comparisons to Adele and Carole King.
Meanwhile, her single Grow has been selected to soundtrack a new campaign by Refuge, the charity supporting female victims of domestic violence.
The 23-year-old sat down to tell the BBC about that video; the perks of fame; and what it's like to get school lessons from Paul McCartney.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Hello Frances... Or should I call you Sophie?
I'm Sophie to my family and friends - but I once thought, "If I'm going to be an artist, my name's got to look good on a piece of paper". Sophie is very curly, it looks very young, whereas Frances is a lot more angular. So it just kind of stuck.
But then up until the age of 16, everyone called me Cookie. So anything goes.
It's been three years since your first single - you must be relieved the album is finally out?
I'm so excited. It's definitely been a while. I wrote some of these songs when I was 18 or 19, and so they've literally been with me for five years.
It's unusual for people to stay fond of the songs they wrote in their teens.
Actually, at the time, I didn't think much of them! But they made it through all the label cuts and slashes. They stood the test of time.
What are the oldest ones on there?
I wrote Drifting and Sublime in my room at LIPA - the performing arts school up in Liverpool.
That's the one that Paul McCartney founded, right? Did he ever show up?
A couple of times. He'd come in to do little Q&As.
He was really nice, if you saw him walking past, you could just say "hi" and he was always really sweet.
What's the best advice you got from him?
He said that when he and John [Lennon] were writing, they didn't have anything to record what they were doing… Whereas now, if I'm writing in a session, I've got my phone there recording everything. And so if I forget something I can go back and find it.
But he said, "We didn't have that luxury. So if we forgot something, it wasn't good enough and we didn't use it."
I was like, "Oh my God, that's so true." Because if you've written something and 10 minutes later you don't remember it, then it's not good enough.
Do you stick to that advice even now?
No, because my memory's terrible!
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch an excerpt for Frances' video for Grow
One of the first songs you released was Grow... and that's now being used in a very powerful video for Refuge.
It's amazing. It's about a woman called Melanie Clark, who had a terrible time, a really abusive partner, and she managed to get out of it by seeking help from Refuge.
They've animated her story. It's basically about her feeling invisible until one woman, who represents Refuge, notices her for the first time. It's a campaign to encourage victims of domestic abuse to seek help. We want people to realise they are not alone.
The original song isn't about domestic abuse at all. Were you surprised by how well the words and the images complement each other?
It's weird how the lyrics make so much sense alongside the story. I just hope it will resonate with people all over the world. It's an amazing animation and everyone's done it for free.
The singer has collaborated with Disclosure and Spice Girls writer Biff Stannard - but is keeping those songs for a later record
Would it be fair to say you've always wanted to play music?
Absolutely. My best friend's parents were professional violinists. When I was about eight, I went round to her house, picked one up and fell in love with it. Then her dad taught me all the way up 'til I was about 16 or 17.
What was your exam piece?
I did a kind of a gypsy piece called Csardas. It's so fast - and it speeds up towards the end, as well. And then I started the piano when I was 10 - but I only got to grade six. I couldn't be bothered to do scales any more.
Do you remember your first stage performance?
I was three, dressed as an ice cream in a production of The Hungry Caterpillar at the Royal Festival Hall! And then throughout school, I was always on stage, playing violin or piano. And I played in the Berkshire Youth Orchestra.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Frances performs Grow at the BBC Introducing SXSW showcase in 2016.
You sound like a high achiever. Were you good academically, too?
I was quite lucky at school. I had this little charm - I could not do my homework and somehow get away with it.
Everyone knew I worked so hard at music. I was doing stuff after school every day, so the teachers were quite lenient.
And then you went to LIPA...
Actually, I didn't get in the first time. They put me on their foundation course, which cost like 10 grand or something. My parents, bless them, scrambled together every penny we had and I worked at Waitrose trying to get money to go.
I put a song called Coming Up For Air on SoundCloud in early 2014. It was quite calculated - because at the time London Grammar were really big, so I thought, "OK, I'm going to write something like that, so all the blogs listen and pick up on it". Eventually, a few started writing about it and then Tom Robinson from 6 Music played it which was really cool.
After that, we ended up having a meeting with [boutique record label] Kitsuné, and released a single.
Don't Worry About Me was a big breakthrough for you. How did that come about?
One of my friends was quite ill - and I wrote the song to say, "look after yourself and I'll be here for you".
I wrote it really quickly. I was just getting off the bus on Kilburn High Road when I came up with the phrase, "I'll feel the fear for you, I'll cry the tears for you, don't worry about me." I ran home thinking, "I need to get to a piano quickly, I don't want to lose this."
I think because I wrote it so quickly. I was thinking about my friend and the lyrics just came out.
The star has been compared to Adele and Carole King
Don't Worry About Me has been played nine million times on Spotify. How do you wrap your head around that?
I don't really. I always said that if I won the lottery, I'd be more excited by £100,000 than I would with £1m because I can't understand a million pounds. I've never seen that. I can't quantify it. Whereas a hundred grand, I can think, "ah, that's a really nice car".
It's a weird period for music at the moment… You can have all those plays, and millions of people know your song, but it hasn't troubled the charts in the UK.
It's a really weird time. In Belgium, Don't Worry About Me was in the top 20 for 10 weeks and that's mainly because in Belgium the singer-songwriter world is their Radio 1. In Australia, it hung around the chart for ages. In the UK, I've just come out at a really funny time. There's a weird limbo.
But I'm so proud of my album. I know it's not going to sell 20 million copies but that's OK. I want to be an artist that's going to be around for 20 or 30 years.
In a strange way, you're famous to the people who know you and nobody else.
It's actually lovely because I can walk down the street and not be bothered. Apart from in John Lewis once, where the manager recognised me while I was buying a sofa.
He was like, "Excuse me, can I ask you a question?" and I thought, "Oh no, my card's been rejected" but he was like, "Can I get a picture with you?"
And I think he paid for my sofa because I took out finance and I haven't paid a penny yet.
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Is North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un rational? - BBC News
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2017-03-18
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Analysing the aims of the head of the controversial regime.
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Asia
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Is Kim Jong-un rational? The new US ambassador to the United Nations thinks he is not. Nikki Haley said after North Korea's simultaneous launch of four ballistic missiles: "This is not a rational person." But is she right?
Kim Jong-un may have many flaws. He is without doubt ruthless - the bereaved relatives of the victims of his regime, including within his own family, would testify to that. He may have driven through an economic policy that keeps his people living at a standard way below that in South Korea and, increasingly, China.
And he seems to have personal issues, such as eating a lot - photographs show his bulging girth - and being a fairly heavy smoker.
But whatever these failings and foibles, is he actually irrational - which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as "not logical or reasonable, not endowed with the power of reason"?
Scholars who study him think he is behaving very rationally, even with the purging and terrorising of those around him. Prof Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University in Seoul told the BBC: "He is perfectly rational. He sometimes overdoes it. He sometimes tends to apply excessive force. Why kill hundreds of generals when dozens will do?
Kim Jong-nam, Kim-Jong-un's half-brother, was killed while in Malaysia in February 2017
"Most people he kills would never join a conspiracy but he feels it's better to overdo it. It's better to kill nine loyal generals and one potential conspirator than to allow a conspirator to stay alive.
Prof John Delury of Yonsei University in Seoul said that even having his half-brother killed (as the allegation is - denied by Pyongyang) would be a rational act; not nice but rational.
"A sad fact of history is that young kings often kill their uncles and elder brothers. It may be cruel, but it is not 'irrational'. If you don't take my word for it, read Shakespeare."
On this assassination of Kim Jong-nam, allegedly at the hands of agents of the regime, Prof Lankov says it is similar to the Ottoman Empire, where concubines of the Sultan had countless children, any of whom had a bloodline that might one day legitimise a claim to the throne.
Prof Lankov thinks that Kim Jong-nam was, accordingly, a threat, probably not that great a one but still intolerable: "Probably he was not that dangerous but you never know. He was definitely under Chinese control."
Prof Delury said that there was nothing irrational about Kim Jong-un's drive to obtain credible nuclear weapons: "He has no reliable allies to guarantee his safety, and he faces a hostile superpower that has, in recent memory, invaded sovereign states around the world and overthrown their governments.
"The lesson North Koreans learned from the invasion of Iraq was that if Saddam Hussein really possessed those weapons of mass destruction, he might have survived."
Could Kim Jong-un's drive to achieve a nuclear capability safeguard his regime's future?
This was compounded by the lesson of Libya, according to Prof Lankov: "Did American promises of American prosperity help Gaddafi and his family? Kim Jong-un knows perfectly well what happened to the only fool who believed Western promises and renounced the development of nuclear weapons. And he's not going to make that mistake. Once you don't have nuclear weapons you are completely unprotected.
"Did Russian or American and British promises to guarantee Ukrainian integrity help Ukraine? No. Why should he expect American, Russian or Chinese promises to help him stay alive? He is rational."
If he is rational, what does he want? On this, scholars are divided. Prof Brian Myers of Dongseo University in Busan in South Korea said that Kim Jong-un wants security but also a united Korea as the only way he and the regime can survive in the long term.
"As every North Korean knows, the whole point of the military-first policy is 'final victory', or the unification of the peninsula under North Korean rule."
A credible nuclear force would give him the ability to pressure the United States to remove its troops from the peninsula.
"North Korea needs the capability to strike the US with nuclear weapons in order to pressure both adversaries into signing peace treaties. This is the only grand bargain it has ever wanted," said Prof Myers.
Some analysts believe North Korea's strategy aims to see the US withdraw from South Korea
And once the US troops had gone, on this argument, North Korean rule would be unstoppable.
Prof Lankov doesn't agree with the emphasis. He thinks survival is by far the most important motive behind Kim Jong-un's actions: "Above all, he wants to stay alive. Second, economic prosperity and growth - but it's a distant second."
So what's to be done? Prof Lankov sees no good options: "I don't see any solution right now." He thinks the best option is to persuade North Korea to freeze its development of nuclear weapons at a particular size of arsenal "but it will be very difficult and North Koreans may not keep their promises".
And money would have to be paid. "But this deal isn't good from an American point of view because it means paying a reward to a blackmailer, and if you pay a reward to a blackmailer once, you invite more blackmail.
"The second option which might work is a military operation but that is likely to trigger a second Korean war and will permanently damage American credibility as a reliable ally and protector.
"Worldwide, a lot of people would see that it's better to have enemies than such friends."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39269783
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Six Nations 2017: England will have more setbacks - Eddie Jones - BBC Sport
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2017-03-18
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Eddie Jones says England are "14 months into a four-year project" after hopes of a second straight Grand Slam are ended by Ireland.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Eddie Jones said England will "have more setbacks" after his side's hopes of a second straight Grand Slam and a world-record 19th Test win were ended by Ireland on Saturday.
Jones' side had already retained the Six Nations title before their campaign ended with a 13-9 defeat in Dublin.
The Australian said England are "14 months into a four-year project".
"It would have been great to be Grand Slam champions and world record holders but it wasn't our day," he added.
The defeat means England's winning run ends on 18 Tests, level with New Zealand, who saw their series of victories also ended by the Irish, in Chicago in November.
"To win the World Cup you've got to win seven in a row, you've got to cope with that pressure," added Jones.
"How many teams average a 90% win rate? Not many, only the All Blacks."
Jones said the hosts used the conditions "superbly", adding: "Full credit to Ireland, they were brilliantly coached and executed their plan well."
But he said England did not play to their potential and that he would take full responsibility for the defeat.
"We knew it was going to be a tough, physical game, we just weren't good enough today. I didn't prepare the team well," he said.
"We're all human beings, we're not perfect, and that's why world records finish at 18 games because it's hard to keep [winning].
"The next Test we play I'll prepare them better. I'm human like everyone else, I make mistakes. Even [legendary Australia batsman] Don Bradman got a zero in his last Test."
'This will keep us grounded'
England captain Dylan Hartley said his team had "big lessons to learn" from the defeat.
"We set out to win the tournament and we've done that. Obviously we're disappointed not to win this final game because we had high hopes, we had high expectations of ourselves," added the hooker.
"Credit to Ireland. We seemed to back up every error with another error. We are not the finished article. This will keep us grounded."
'I can't wait to play New Zealand'
The British and Irish Lions will travel to New Zealand in June looking for a first Test series win there since 1971.
England are not due to face the All Blacks until 2018, but Jones hopes the Rugby Football Union (RFU) can secure a fixture against the world champions in November.
"I expect at least 15 of our guys to go on the Lions tour, I'd be disappointed if we don't have that many guys in," said Jones. "And I think they'll have a massive shout [of winning the Test series].
"New Zealand, as Ireland have shown, are there for the taking.
"I can't wait for us to play them either. We're very keen to play them, I've had a discussion with Ian [Ritchie, RFU chief executive] and we're raring to go.
"There's a lot of discussions to go. A lot of discussions with New Zealand and within the rugby community, there's still a lot to go."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39318171
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Arsene Wenger: Arsenal boss will announce future plans 'very soon' - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he will announce his plans "very soon" after reaching a decision over his future.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Arsene Wenger will announce "very soon" whether he will remain at Arsenal after reaching a decision on his future.
The Gunners boss was speaking after a 3-1 Premier League loss at West Brom, a fourth league defeat in five matches.
The loss increased the pressure on the beleaguered Frenchman and left Arsenal facing the prospect of failing to finish in the top four for the first time since he joined the club in 1996.
"I know what I will do," said Wenger. "You will soon know."
The 67-year-old continued: "Today I do not necessarily worry about that. We are in a unique bad patch we never had in 20 years.
"We lose game after game at the moment and that for me is much more important than my future."
Wenger's contract expires at the end of the season but he has been offered a new two-year deal.
Analysis - 'My reading is he'll go'
Former England striker Alan Shearer on Match of the Day
"From that, I read that he is going to go. He looks a broken man.
"There's been a lot of chat from the media and the pundits about Arsene Wenger. There hasn't been a lot spoken from his players. His players spoke today in that game.
"Judging by that performance and their recent performances, they don't want him in that job. They lacked heart, they lacked fight, they lacked direction. Every player other than Alexis Sanchez, I thought, was pretty embarrassing."
Wenger has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks, with fans responding to defeats in the Premier League, and the 10-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, by calling for him to leave.
More anti-Wenger banners were held aloft by Gunners fans in the closing stages at The Hawthorns, while in the first half two planes pulled banners overhead - one criticising the Frenchman and the other supporting him.
"We've never had this before," he said about his side's run of form. "We face big problems to regroup and find resources to sort the problem."
After the international break, Arsenal's next Premier League game is against Manchester City, the side they face in next month's FA Cup semi-final.
Wenger told Sky Sports. "I think we have a hell of a task to fight back but we need to regroup and focus on the games coming up because we have many big games.
"Even though it is a disappointing result, everybody goes away now to recover and prepare well."
'We face some serious challenges'
Arsenal went down on Saturday to two Craig Dawson headers following corners and a goal from substitute Hal Robson-Kanu, scored with only his second touch.
The Gunners did rally quickly after falling behind, Alexis Sanchez's 18th league goal of the season pulling them level, but that was overshadowed by their vulnerability at the back.
Their problems were compounded by injuries to goalkeeper Petr Cech in the first half and forward Sanchez in the second.
Wenger said Cech was forced off with a calf problem, while Sanchez was substituted with possible ankle ligament damage.
"It was a typical Premier League game. A team that likes to play and a team that defends well," Wenger told Match of the Day.
"It was a tough performance. They caught us on set-pieces and one break and that made the difference.
"We were a bit naive, maybe, on the corners. Then we were punished. It's a shame. We looked in the second half to take completely over."
Wenger admitted his side had not created enough chances, particularly in the second half.
"We lost Sanchez in the second half, he was very dangerous in the first," he said.
"We face some serious challenges. The City game at home is a big game for us."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39316047
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The most fashionable Englishwoman in Paris - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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It was the place to be in 19th Century Paris - the city's most successful political and literary salon. And it was run by a remarkable Englishwoman.
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Magazine
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It was the place to be in 19th Century Paris - the city's most successful political and literary salon, where the great and good of French society would gather. And it was run by a remarkable Englishwoman.
For 250 years Paris was renowned for its literary and political salons, and for the fashionable women - the salonnieres - who guided discussion among the eminent figures of the age.
In much of the 19th Century, one of the most influential of the salons was held at 120 Rue du Bac in the Saint-Germain district. Here gathered writers and thinkers like Victor Hugo and Alexis de Toqueville, politicians like the Adolphe Thiers, the future president, painters like Eugene Delacroix, historians, orientalists, economists.
And presiding over them all was an Englishwoman.
Clarkey was her nickname. Madame de Mohl became her formal title. Mary Clarke was how she was born in 1793 in London.
Over the next 90 years, Mary Clarke Mohl lived an extraordinary life at the crossroads of French and British culture and society. Nearly all of it was spent in Paris, where she saw three revolutions and was on friendly terms with so many of the great names of the day.
But she never lost her attachment to Britain and in the Rue du Bac she offered a home-from-home to William Thackeray and Elizabeth Gaskell, the Brownings and the Trollopes, as well as to many aristocrats, diplomats and politicians. She was also one of Florence Nightingale's closest friends and provided vital encouragement to launch her career in nursing.
Much of what we know of Clarkey comes from other people's memoirs in English and French. But she also wrote hundreds of letters, many to her husband, the German orientalist Julius Mohl, and these were collected and published after her death.
She had an unusual start in life, one which goes a long way to explaining the unconventional course it was subsequently to take. At the age of eight she left for France in the sole company of her mother and grandmother, and apart from annual trips she never lived in England again.
Both her guardians were strong and independent-minded women. Her Scottish grandmother had hobnobbed with thinkers like David Hume and Adam Smith in Edinburgh and before the French Revolution lived in Dunkirk. Mary's mother Elizabeth was a progressive free thinker.
Later, when they lived through the July 1830 uprising in Paris, Mary remembered scrambling through the barricades to get back home.
"Mama said: 'Tell me the news, for Heaven's sake - I have been quaking in my shoes.' I said, 'But I told you I would take care.' 'Oh,' she said, 'It was not you I was worried about; it was the common people!'"
Living in Paris under the restored Bourbon monarchy after 1815, Mary Clarke came to know Juliette Recamier, who was the great salonniere of the time (we know her through her famous painting by Jacques-Louis David). Through her, she met literary greats such as Stendhal, Hugo, Prosper Merimee and Chateaubriand. Chateaubriand - author of Memoirs from Beyond the Grave - was by now a grumpy old man, but he cheered up when entertained by "la jeune anglaise".
But by 1838, Recamier's rule was coming to an end. So Clarke - still with her mother - moved into the third floor apartment at 120 Rue du Bac (above Chateaubriand) and set about the task of becoming her successor.
Seen from the distance of 150 years, Clarkey comes across as the most splendidly original and sympathetic of characters.
Appearance was a clue to her very British eccentricity. She was small with a turned-up button nose and a mass of frizzy curls. The future prime minister Francois Guizot used to say that "Madame Mohl and my little Scotch terrier have the same coiffeur".
In a description given by Henry James, "Mme Mohl used to drop out of an omnibus, often into a mud-puddle, at our door, and delight us with her originality and freshness. I can see her now, just arrived, her feet on the fender before the fire, her hair flying, and her general untidiness so marked as to be picturesque."
Her at-homes were on Friday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. Guests were welcomed into two adjoining drawing-rooms filled with sofas and arm-chairs, with two windows looking out over gardens that belonged to the Catholic Church's Foreign Missions, as they still do today.
The rules were simple. According to Kathleen O'Meara, a contemporary memoirist and Paris correspondent for The Tablet: "You were expected to contribute to the general fund either by talking or listening, but you must not be bored.
"You were not allowed to sit staring at the company through an eyeglass; anyone who offended in this way was pounced upon at once… Another unpardonable offence was making tete-a-tetes in corners or chatting about the room in duets or trios when conversation, real conversation was going on."
No opinions were barred - save, from 1850 to 1870, any mention of support for the emperor Napoleon III. Madame Mohl abhorred the man, referring to him contemptuously as "celui-ci" (this one) with a thumb jabbed back over her shoulder. She far preferred the bourgeois domesticity of the previous King Louis-Philippe, who was ousted in 1848.
Mary Clarke Mohl saw herself as standing in a long line of great French women, starting with Madame de Rambouillet in the early 17th Century, who had wielded their intellect and charm in the service of culture, politics and reason. Often she drew comparisons with the fate of women in the UK, who she felt sorely lacked the freedom offered in France.
In a letter written in 1862 she laments how in England, "The men talk together; the lady of the house may be addressed once in a way as duty, but the men had all rather talk together and she is pretty mute… They have no notion that a lady's conversation is better than a man's."
Her own conversation - according to the memoirist Mary Simpson - was "spontaneous, full of fun, information and grace of expression. She spoke French and English with the fluency and accent of a native, yet with the care and originality of a foreigner. And when there was no word in either language to fit her thoughts, she would coin one for the occasion".
She could also be alarmingly rude - especially about women who she thought were failing to exercise their brains correctly. According to O'Meara: "It was a source of genuine astonishment to her that women were so addicted to idle gossip. 'Why don't they use their brains?', she would ask angrily."
Indeed, as a young girl Clarkey had been told by her grandmother that she was "as impudent as a highwayman's horse" - apparently a reference to the way highwaymen's horses would stick their heads into carriages as the hapless victims surrendered their purses.
Though to call her feminist would be inaccurate, she was one of a generation that laid the ground for the changes that followed in women's lives. From their letters, we know that she was a rock-like figure for Florence Nightingale, persuading her to stick with her vocation despite the horrified opposition of Florence's family. On her way to Crimea in 1854, Florence came via Paris where Mohl helped with her arrangements.
Clarkey lived so long she spanned the ages. Born in the aftermath of Revolution, she died almost in the modern era. As a young woman she had been in love with the handsome historian Claude Fauriel, but that came to nothing, so in 1847 she married the charmingly donnish Julius Mohl, who was seven years her junior.
Anthony Trollope's brother Thomas described Monsieur Mohl as so absolutely surrounded by books "built up into walls around him, as to suggest almost inevitably the idea of a mouse in a cheese, eating out the hollow it lives in". But the couple were devoted to each other, and when he died in 1876 Mary was said to be like "a lost dog going about searching for its master".
Seven years later, Clarkey herself died and was buried next to him in the Pere Lachaise cemetery.
"Where she entered, dullness and ennui fled," said another memoirist, Grace Anne Prestwich, in an article written after her death.
Conversation, said Madame Mohl, was not the same as talk. The English talked, but the French knew that conversation was "the mingling of mind and mind (and) the most complete exercise of the social faculty".
"Society is a necessity to me," she said on another occasion. "We all depend dreadfully on each other. We live in a world of looking-glasses, and it is the mind - not the face - which is given back to us by the reflexions."
Mary Clarke Mohl mixed English and French customs in a way that few have done before or since. She was entertaining, provocative, unpretentious, rude, generous and loving. She saw no reason why women could not hold their intellectual own.
The salon tradition died out around the end of the 19th Century. Clarkey was a fitting and original last champion.
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Mo Farah & Kadeena Cox win British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards awards - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Sir Mo Farah and Kadeena Cox win sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the 2017 British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards.
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Last updated on .From the section Sport
Sir Mo Farah and Kadeena Cox were named sportsman and sportswoman of the year at the 2017 British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards.
Farah won gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Olympics in Rio last year, while Cox won cycling and athletics gold at the Rio Paralympics.
The special lifetime achievement award went to 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton was named England coach of the year.
The third BEDSAs were hosted by British comedian Sir Lenny Henry in London on Saturday and are supported by Sport England, UK Sport, the Football Association, the Tennis Foundation, Youth Sport Trust, England Athletics, the British Army, Mind and Spirit of 2012.
They are organised by Sporting Equals, whose chief executive Arun Kang said the purpose of the awards was to "celebrate diversity at both an elite and grassroots level".
"It really means a lot to be named as your sportsman of the year," said Farah. "And congratulations to my fellow nominees as well.
"It's so great to see everyone come together this evening to celebrate the incredible achievements of our diverse sporting communities."
Cox said: "I'm very honoured to have won this award and would like to give a massive thanks to Sporting Equals for all the work they do in BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/39314017
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Why it's hard to be a Kevin in France - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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What happens when your name is perfectly reasonable in your home country, but raises a sympathetic smile when you're abroad?
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Magazine
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What happens when you have a name that seems perfectly reasonable in your home country, but raises a sympathetic smile when you're abroad? BBC Europe Correspondent Kevin Connolly has been finding out the hard way.
There is a theory called nominative determinism, much beloved of students of literature and other idlers. It holds that your character will come over time to match your name.
So if you are called Max Power or Chuck Handgrenade then you are predestined to life as a man of action - and if you're called Ray O'Sunshine or Sunny B Happy then you will be lovability incarnate.
I'd never expected to find myself touched by the theory personally, being equipped as I am with a wholly unremarkable name. I wasn't even given a middle initial on the utilitarian grounds that they're only useful to professional cricketers and American politicians.
That all changed when a colleague drew my attention to an article in a French magazine called The Curse of Kevin.
Its point was that, in the French-speaking world, that Christian name - my Christian name - more or less predestines you to being considered an idiot. And not necessarily a particularly lovable idiot either.
The city of lights. Not of Kevins
My Irish mother would have been mortified to hear this.
To her, Kevin was a respectable saint's name and added the music of alliteration to the prosaic sound of Connolly.
I've never been entirely persuaded myself - Kevin was a curmudgeonly hermit celebrated for pushing a woman who made overtures towards him into a bed of nettles.
If he were alive today I can't help thinking that Kevin would be receiving court-ordered counselling rather than the prayers of the faithful. But of course I had no say in the matter.
And the name wasn't always a curse in the Francophone world either.
When I lived in Paris in the 1990s, I wouldn't say it was enjoying a vogue exactly, but it was experiencing a kind of blip of recognition.
We even settled - in our office at least - on an agreed pronunciation of K'veen. It broke the rules of French phonetics a bit - it should surely be Ke-van - but people had at least heard of the name.
It was never quite clear why it suddenly surged briefly from obscurity, but we know that in 1991 a total of 14,087 French children were given the name Kevin - and no reason to doubt it was a winning ticket in the lottery of life.
We were never sure why. There were the Hollywood Kevins of course - Costner, Bacon and Spacey - but none of them seemed well-known enough individually to explain the phenomenon. Perhaps, we theorised, when you added them together they achieved a kind of critical mass - like a celebrity nuclear reaction.
We need to talk about Kevins
Rival theorists suggested that the name was copied from members of boy bands, or even, God forbid, from the American film Home Alone, in which the geeky super-child at the heart of the story is also called Kevin.
Anyway, our moment in the sun was brief indeed.
The number of new Kevins in France has slowed to a dreary trickle these days, with potential parents frightened off, perhaps, by the trenchant manner in which French sociologists analyse such matters.
Kevin, they say, simply was popular with the lower classes and Kevin was never well-perceived by his betters.
Kevin, in short, is an oik, shown in surveys to have as much as a 30% lower chance of being hired when compared with Philippe, or Jean-Luc or Vincent.
The online discussion that followed the article did not contain, as it might in Britain or America, an angry rejection of this tendency to isolate and marginalise the Kevin, although it did include a handy list of other, equally cursed names, including Brian, Brandon, Jessica and Dylan. It didn't discuss whether this varies according to whether you're named after the American singer or the hippy rabbit from the Magic Roundabout.
Anyway, a novel has now been published in French which tells the story of how a young man improves his chances of being accepted into the intellectual salons of Paris by changing his name from Kevin to Alexandre.
I'm not sure my own disqualification from those salons was ever entirely down to my name but it all feels like a timely reminder of the exclusion which now appears to be part and parcel of the life of a Kevin in the Francophone world.
I'd like to say that I just don't understand it. But then, of course, that's the curse of nominative determinism. Anyone called Kevin is destined to not quite understand anything.
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Afghanistan: Horror at Kabul's military hospital - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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The Afghan capital was rocked by a brutal militant attack last week on the city's military hospital.
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Asia
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In the Afghan capital, Kabul, there's still widespread shock and anger at the brutal militant attack last week on the city's main military hospital.
The authorities have acted swiftly, sacking the deputy interior minister and arresting 24 hospital and military officials, including an army general.
But for many Kabul residents it feels too little, too late.
A local man interviewed on the street this week by state TV spoke for many.
"If this government can't fulfil its responsibilities, someone else needs to take over," he said.
"People have had enough of this situation."
Officials put the death toll at 50, with 31 injured - though these figures are disputed
The 400-bed Sardar Daud Khan hospital is set in extensive grounds in Kabul's diplomatic district, not far from the US embassy, Nato headquarters and the Afghan state television building.
People are demanding to know how such a supposedly secure defence ministry facility could be so vulnerable to attack.
The issue has been furiously debated in parliament and continues to be a key subject of conversation on social media.
Smoke billowing out during the attack at Sardar Daud Khan Hospital
At a hastily arranged press conference this week, defence ministry officials presented their initial findings.
But their version appeared to contradict the accounts of some eyewitnesses and Afghan politicians, and many key questions remain unanswered.
One of the biggest is how the attackers were able to get into what was supposed to be a heavily-guarded compound.
A medical technician who has worked at the hospital for almost a decade told the BBC that security was always very tight.
"Everyone entering the building, including staff, is frisked and their bags are checked," she said.
So did the attackers have help from inside?
Deputy Defence Minister Gen Helaludin Helal briefed reporters about the attack on Wednesday
The defence ministry says five people were involved and that they entered the compound in a car with fake number plates.
One blew himself up at the hospital gates and the others ran inside.
But eyewitnesses, including one who spoke to the BBC, reported hearing gunfire in the hospital corridors at exactly the same time as the blast at the entrance - suggesting at least some of the group could have already been inside.
One eyewitness who spent three hours hiding inside the cardiology department told the BBC that a colleague had seen men in white coats opening fire on people in the corridor.
Ahmad Nesar Hares, a member of the Afghan Senate Committee investigating the attack, told a heated Senate debate this week that according to his information as many as 17 militants were involved and that they had been let in by "an enemy who worked in the hospital for three months".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Special forces were involved in an operation to stop the hospital attackers
"He transferred weapons, guns and ammunition to the hospital and nobody caught him," the senator said.
In a similar vein, some media reports have quoted hospital staff as saying two of the people involved in the attack were interns who had been working there for several months.
The defence ministry says it has no evidence so far that the attackers were helped by medical staff but investigations are ongoing.
The attackers were eventually killed after several hours of fighting
One thing that is not disputed is the brutal nature of the attack.
The defence ministry said the attackers were armed with AK47s, grenades and military issue knives. They also confirmed reports circulating locally that patients had been shot and stabbed to death in their hospital beds.
The exact death toll continues to be disputed.
The defence ministry revised its official figure up to "around 50" with 31 people injured. However, some hospital workers quoted in local media reports insist it was much higher.
The eyewitness who spoke to the BBC said the corridor outside her ward had been full of people when the attack started.
She described watching a scene of horror unfold with her patients, who were finally rescued by Afghan commandoes.
"There were bodies lying everywhere," she said. "Patients, doctors, people I knew and worked with. It was terrible. I will never ever forget it."
It's still not clear who exactly carried out the attack.
The Afghan defence ministry says that both Afghan and foreign nationals were involved, but has dismissed social media speculation about their identity.
It is still not clear who was behind the attack
While the violence was still going on, so-called Islamic State (IS) issued a statement via its Amaq news agency claiming responsibility.
However Afghan security experts have questioned whether a group still thought to be relatively small in Afghanistan could be capable of planning and carrying out such a large scale operation.
Afghan fighters who have declared allegiance to IS are thought to control just a handful of villages in eastern Nangarhar province.
Some eyewitnesses have told local media that the attackers were shouting slogans in support of the Taliban.
One patient who spoke to the BBC said he saw men he described as "Taliban" shouting Allahu Akbar ("God is greatest") and throwing grenades in the corridor.
It's been widely reported that the wards containing Taliban patients were left untouched.
The defence ministry confirmed that injured Taliban fighters were being treated in the hospital but said they were in locked wards with barred windows, and that they were not involved in the violence.
The ministry has asked for patience as it continues to investigate what it said was "a complex case" and has pledged to share more information in the coming weeks.
Syed Anwar and Jenny Norton contributed to this report.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39309469
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Middlesbrough 1-3 Manchester United - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Manchester United go fifth in the Premier League as Middlesbrough's first game since sacking Aitor Karanka ends in defeat.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester United moved up to fifth in the Premier League as Middlesbrough's first game since the departure of manager Aitor Karanka ended in defeat.
Ashley Young's deep cross found Marouane Fellaini at the back post to head past Victor Valdes, before Jesse Lingard's terrific strike doubled United's lead after the break.
Boro, with head coach Steve Agnew in charge, were invited to apply pressure and when Chris Smalling made a mess of an easy clearance in the box, substitute Rudy Gestede pounced.
But former United keeper Valdes slipped in stoppage time and Antonio Valencia's tap-in secured the three points.
Jose Mourinho's side leapfrog Arsenal and Everton into fifth, while Middlesbrough remain 19th in the table and are five points from safety.
Having parted ways with Karanka on Thursday, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson charged Agnew with helping the Riverside club avoid the drop.
But the former assistant manager was unable to inspire his side to a fifth Premier League win this season despite dominating possession for large periods of the game.
Alvaro Negredo looked isolated up front before Agnew introduced Gestede on 67 minutes, and with two in attack Boro looked capable of drawing level.
But United, showing seven changes from their Europa League win over FC Rostov in midweek, ground out a tricky three points.
This was Manchester United's 600th victory in the Premier League - making them the first side to reach the landmark.
And while this was a notable moment for the club, their manager will surely be more concerned with their rise up the Premier League table and their ability to grind out a win without suspended top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and injured record signing Paul Pogba.
United finish the day inside the top five of the Premier League table for the first time in 184 days.
And they are also on an 18-game unbeaten run in the competition stretching back to a 4-0 loss to Chelsea in October, but have only moved up two places, from seventh to fifth, during that spell.
They have finally moved away from sixth spot - a position they have made their own this season - and are now in a position to challenge for the top four.
New boss, same old Boro
Middlesbrough dominated possession in the first 15 minutes as they started the game on the attack.
But the lowest scoring team in the Premier League, with just 20 goals, once again failed to turn pressure into points.
Fresh from taking over from Karanka, Agnew made four changes, three of them in attack, from his side's FA Cup defeat by Manchester City.
Gaston Ramirez, Stewart Downing and Alvaro Negredo replaced Adama Traore, Gestede and Cristhian Stuani - but Ramirez was the only player to force a save from United goalkeeper David de Gea in the first half.
And once Fellaini found the back of the net on 29 minutes, the stats looked even more grim for Boro.
Boro have gone behind 16 times this season, and only picked up two points from a losing position.
And the last time United lost a Premier League game having taken the lead was away at Swansea in August 2015.
Agnew's side did produce a response once 2-0 down, with Gestede netting Boro's first goal in eight and a half hours of football, but a lack of clinical finishing once again proved to be their downfall.
Gestede's impact on the game also included a clash with United defender Eric Bailly which prompted a mass confrontation between the two sides, while the ill-feeling appeared to continue as the players headed for the tunnel after full-time.
What they said
Middlesbrough head coach Steve Agnew: "If we show that commitment and that sort of intensity until the end of the season then we have a real chance of staying in this league.
"It is a relief to get a goal and I felt that when we got that goal, we had Manchester United defending in the box for their lives and again we didn't quite get the bounce of the ball to get the equaliser, which on the balance of play I thought we deserved.
"I know that we will take that fighting spirit for the rest of the season."
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: "[I applaud] our attitude and desire and our way of thinking. We don't have plan B, C, D, E, F and G - but we have M, N, O, P and S.
"It is fantastic because we manage in the same week, to go to the quarter-finals of the Europa League which is an important target for us.
"At the same time, we got these three points that keep us in the race for the fourth position so we still have two doors for Champions League football next season.
"These guys gave everything, we started the game really well. Valdes made three fantastic saves before our first goal. We controlled everything until our second goal."
The Premier League takes a break for the next round of World Cup qualifiers, after which both Middlesbrough and Manchester United face hectic April schedules.
Middlesbrough have six games in the packed month, but the next two games could define their season.
On Sunday, 2 April (13:30 BST) they travel to relegation rivals Swansea before another away trip to Hull City three days later (19:45 BST).
Swansea sit five points above them, just outside the relegation zone in 17th, with Hull in 18th, two points adrift of Middlesbrough.
United host West Brom in the Premier League - the first of eight fixtures in April as they chase Europa League success and a top-four finish.
Mourinho criticised the Premier League during the week, bemoaning their fixture schedule and reluctance to aid clubs competing in Europe.
But United are no strangers to a busy back end of the season.
Both the 2008-09 and 2010-11 campaigns, under Sir Alex Ferguson, also featured eight April fixtures.
They lifted the Premier League title in both seasons, despite two semi-final exits in the FA Cup and losses to Barcelona in Champions League finals.
And back in 1999, 14 games in 54 days were the climax to the most successful season in their history as United secured the FA Cup, Champions League and Premier League Treble.
• None This was Middlesbrough's 1,000th top-flight league defeat; the 14th team to reach this tally.
• None Lingard scored his fifth Premier League goal for United - still one fewer than he has collectively in other competitions (one in the Community Shield, two in Europa League, one in EFL Cup, two in FA Cup).
• None United have scored more goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season (six) than they did in 2015-16 (five).
• None Fellaini's strike ended his run of 30 Premier League appearances without a goal.
• None Thirteen of Fellaini's 33 Premier League goals have been headers (39%).
• None Gestede's goal was the first Middlesbrough have scored in the Premier League in 509 minutes of action.
• None This was the first time Mourinho has started a league game with a three-man defence since 15 May 2011 (Villarreal 1-3 Real Madrid in La Liga).
• None Goal! Middlesbrough 1, Manchester United 3. Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner.
• None Attempt blocked. Álvaro Negredo (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rudy Gestede with a headed pass.
• None Attempt missed. Álvaro Negredo (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Substitution, Manchester United. Anthony Martial replaces Jesse Lingard because of an injury.
• None Delay in match Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) because of an injury. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39246750
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Obituary: Chuck Berry - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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Musician whose guitar licks helped lay the foundations of rock music.
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Entertainment & Arts
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Chuck Berry's trademark four-bar guitar introduction and quickfire lyrics reflected the rebelliousness of the youth of the 1950s.
He was one of that exclusive group who took rhythm and blues from its black roots and "crossed over" to make it part of most teenagers' lifestyle.
He influenced generations of succeeding rock stars, most notably the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys.
Yet he faced major financial difficulties through mismanagement and had frequent brushes with the law.
Charles Edward Anderson Berry was born into a middle-class family in St Louis, Missouri, on 18 October 1926.
As a teenager he began playing concerts in his local high school but his education was curtailed after he was convicted of armed robbery and spent three years in a reformatory for young offenders.
He had one of the first rock and roll hits
On his release he made a living as a hairdresser, playing in a trio in the evenings with Ebby Harding on drums and Johnnie Johnson on piano. Johnson would remain with Berry throughout his career
He was influenced by blues heroes such as Muddy Waters and T-Bone Walker, as well as white country and western music, though his singing style owed much to the clarity of Nat King Cole.
"My music is simple stuff," he once said.
"Anyone can sit down, look at a set of symbols and produce sounds the music represents."
His recording career began in 1955 with the legendary Chess label in Chicago, where his first release Maybellene became one of rock and roll's first hits.
In the next few years, he scored a succession of hits, all aimed at an adolescent audience, including Roll Over Beethoven, Sweet Little Sixteen, Carol and the classic Johnny B. Goode.
His music transcended the colour bar that plagued many contemporary black artists as affluent white teenagers in Eisenhower's America reached out for something new.
"I play the songs they want to hear," he said.
"That makes them feel they're getting what they came for."
He appeared in several rock films including Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr Rock and Roll, both from 1957; Go Johnny Go from 1959; and Jazz on a Summer's Day in 1960.
In 1962 he was charged with transporting a minor across state lines for immoral purposes.
The girl in question was a 14-year-old from Texas who he claimed he had brought to Missouri to check hats at his St Louis nightclub.
After he fired her, she complained to the police. In court, the judge's summing-up was blatantly racist and the trial was eventually declared null and void.
His conviction at a second trial and the resulting two-year sentence left him embittered.
His release coincided with the rhythm and blues revival in Britain. With his material being covered by bands like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones, his work was discovered by a new generation.
"If you tried to give rock and roll another name," John Lennon famously said, "you might call it Chuck Berry."
On stage with Keith Richards at a 60th birthday tribute
Successful tours followed. He scored a few more hits with No Particular Place to Go and Memphis, Tennessee. His biggest hit came later in Britain with the atypical 1972 novelty record, My Ding-a-Ling, replete with double entendres.
When he wasn't churning out the hits, Chuck Berry was thrilling audiences with his live performances. His trademark became his duck walk, a crouching movement across the stage made during his guitar solos.
Offstage, he could be a prickly character, exemplified in the 1987 film Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll which featured a tour with a backing band organised by devotee Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
In the same year, he published an explicit autobiography genuinely penned by himself.
Berry's attitude to money was notorious. He demanded cash upfront for many of his concerts and in 1979, he served a 100-day jail term for tax evasion.
There were further brushes with the law. In 1988 he settled a lawsuit from a woman he allegedly punched in the face.
Two years later he was sued by a group of women after it was discovered that a hidden camera had been placed in the toilets of his restaurant in Missouri.
Still on the road at the age of 87
He also received a suspended jail sentence for marijuana possession.
Despite the advancing years, he continued playing one-night concerts and embarked on a European tour in 2008 at the age of 82.
In January 1986, Berry was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a citation that summed up his contribution to popular music.
"While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll, Chuck Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together."
Berry himself had a simple explanation for his success.
"It amazes me when I hear people say, 'I want to go out and find out who I am.' I always knew who I was. I was going to be famous if it killed me."
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11991161
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France v Wales: Six Nations officials to review incidents at end of game - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Six Nations officials are reviewing events in the closing stages of Wales' loss to France, including an alleged bite on George North.
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Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugby
Six Nations officials are reviewing events in the closing stages of Wales' 20-18 loss to France, including an alleged bite on wing George North.
Wales coach Rob Howley was left to "question the integrity of our game" after France replaced Uini Atonio with Rabah Slimani during the 20 minutes of added time that were played.
France's team doctor said Atonio needed to go off for a head injury assessment.
North, meanwhile, said he was bitten in the build-up to France's final try.
Referee Wayne Barnes asked television match official Peter Fitzgibbon to check the incident, but he could not find any clear footage so the game resumed without action being taken.
Six Nations Rugby said an independent citing commissioner would review "all relevant incidents" and raise any issues in due course, normally within 48 hours of the end of the match.
It added it was "aware of concerns" about the head injury assessment in added time and "is looking into the matter".
Speaking after Saturday's game, Howley said: "In terms of the process, I think we have reason to complain.
"You can hear Wayne Barnes ask him if he is OK. He said he had a sore back, but that he was OK. And then the doctor comes on, and he goes off.
"I've no issues about the result, it's just about the process."
France coach Guy Noves said his medical staff told him Atonio was injured.
He added: "We will do a medical check-up. I hope the injury is not too serious, and he will be able to play again soon."
Wales led 18-13 at the end of the 80 minutes but Damien Chouly drove over for the try that brought France level, and Camille Lopez's conversion was decisive.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39322772
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Michail Antonio: West Ham winger to miss England duty with hamstring injury - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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West Ham winger Michail Antonio withdraws from the England squad to face Germany and Lithuania because of a hamstring injury.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
West Ham winger Michail Antonio has withdrawn from the England squad because of a hamstring injury.
The uncapped 26-year-old reported the injury after Saturday's 3-2 Premier League defeat by Leicester City.
Antonio was able to complete the 90 minutes at London Stadium, but West Ham manager Slaven Bilic indicated afterwards that he was a doubt.
England face Germany in a friendly on Wednesday before hosting Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
Antonio's absence further weakens the attacking options of England boss Gareth Southgate.
Forwards Harry Kane, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney are all out through injury, while Theo Walcott was left out of the squad.
In addition to Antonio, West Ham lost centre-back Winston Reid to a leg injury, while midfielder Pedro Obiang was taken off on a stretcher after rolling his ankle.
On the injuries to Antonio and Reid, Bilic said: "Hopefully, they will be fit after the international break."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39317665
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Chuck Berry's only number one: My ding-a-ling - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The late Chuck Berry had many hits, but only one of them made it to number one.
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US & Canada
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Is Chuck Berry's only number one also his worst song?
"My ding-a-ling, my ding-a-ling, I want to play with my ding-a-ling."
Chuck Berry had many hits, but this one, to the chagrin of some of his fans but apparently not Berry himself, was his only number one single in the United States and UK.
Rolling Stone once listed it as one of 22 "terrible songs by great artists".
The ditty, replete with double entendre, was recorded in the UK in 1972. Berry was performing in Coventry as part of the Lanchester Arts Festival.
Playing at the Locarno Ballroom, the rock and roll legend cajoled the audience to sing the song's chorus. The women sang "my" and the men sang the "ding-a-ling" refrain.
"I want you to play with my", the women continued, "ding-a-ling", the men finished. It was juvenile stuff, but Berry was clearly delighted. He apparently was unaware that the show, which was followed by a Pink Floyd gig, was being recorded.
The song was released as a single at about four minutes in length, and later appeared on the album The London Chuck Berry Sessions at a whopping 11 minutes.
While it may make diehard fans cringe, Berry considered it to be as good as any of his other songs. It fit with his performing philosophy of giving "people what they want", he told Rolling Stone in a 2010 interview.
"I'm searching for who is attentive out there in the audience. I can look around and be singing My Ding-A-Ling and stop and sing 'The Lord's Prayer' because some people will be sitting out there looking like they're from church," he told the magazine.
And the financial rewards from the number one hit pleased a man with a notorious attitude to money. "Made a lot of money: a $200,000 cheque. I'll never forget that cheque. And it's all dirt. Nice, cleeean dirt!" Rolling Stone quoted him as saying.
But the song, despite cloaking its sexual references in metaphor, caused consternation in some quarters.
In 1973, the conservative activist and campaigner Mary Whitehouse wrote to the BBC director general to complain after a performance of the song on Top of the Pops.
A teacher had written to her National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, she said, complaining that she had found a class of young boys "with their trousers undone, singing the song and giving it the indecent interpretation which - in spite of all the hullaballoo - is so obvious".
The BBC's then-director general Charles Curran replied that he believed that "the innuendo is, at worst, on the level of seaside postcards or music hall humour".
Clearly the public agreed. The single reached number one in Britain, too.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39320370
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Mountain man: The bank boss who reached the top aged 33 - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Joe Gordon, boss of telephone and online bank First Direct has just two years' experience in banking.
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Business
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Joe Gordon likes to climb mountains. Among his conquests is Mount Teide, a 12,000ft volcano in Tenerife.
"I like to walk up hills and mountains," he says. "I am a big fan of a healthy body and a healthy mind."
It is perhaps just as well that he has a head for heights.
Because, just 24 months after getting his first job in banking, he is now the boss of telephone and online bank First Direct.
At the age of 33 he is one of the youngest people ever to have made it to the top of the UK banking industry.
It is Joe himself who greets us at the reception of First Direct's steely grey office block in Leeds.
Despite having 2,900 employees in the building, he speaks to both the receptionist and a server in the cafe by name.
This weekend marks the end of his first month in the job, which he got two years after joining First Direct's parent company, HSBC.
While he admits he hasn't been in banking very long, he does have plenty of experience of handling customers.
"I've worked in customer service since day one. Ultimately what we're trying to achieve is great customer service. So if somebody comes in who can deliver customer service, I think that's a bit of credibility for me."
But in an era when 90% of his customers bank on the internet, personal contact has become harder.
It was all so different when First Direct launched in 1989 as the UK's first telephone bank, pioneering banks without branches.
Joe's formative experience was in the grocery section of Sainsbury's, where he worked as a graduate trainee.
"You step in there with bravado, and the first thing they said to me was: 'You're on the carrots, mate,' which was a great grounding.
"Some well-to-do women educated me on the difference between chicory and endive. That's where I first got involved in customer service. And that's where I first started to think: how do you improve things, how do you make it better for people?"
But the boss of a bank also needs to be good with numbers.
So a later stint in the forecasting department, where he had to predict how many Easter eggs the supermarket would sell, probably helped.
Lawrence Christensen, a Sainsbury's director at the time, remembers him well.
"He's very good at IT, and a very quick learner. But his ability to integrate into a team, build a team and run a team would be his greatest strength."
Joe went on to work for BT, on its fast-track programme, where he visited call centres in India no fewer than 22 times.
Top of Joe's to-do list is keeping pace with technology.
First Direct customers can already use a voice recognition system to log in to their accounts, or a fingerprint system on the app.
"I like fingerprint and voice ID, because it speaks to technology solving problems," he says.
"There is a problem with passwords - and if you forget your password, your memorable word, and your inside leg measurement when you were five. But actually technology can solve that."
To make sure it keeps up-to-date, the bank is now studying possible applications for artificial intelligence.
However, there are other issues on the horizon that are harder to foresee.
Last summer the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) heralded the era of so-called open banking.
This will allow third-party providers - with our consent - to access our banking details, and recommend where we should go for the cheapest loan, the best mortgage or the highest savings rates.
When it starts to take effect from 2019, it could turn the banking industry upside down.
But Joe believes it is a positive development.
"This, for us, is a massive opportunity, and an opportunity we will relish."
However, the future of banking still has many unknowns.
"In a world where the biggest taxi firm doesn't own any cars, where the biggest accommodation provider doesn't have any real estate, and where the biggest news website doesn't own any content - we want to play a part in shaping what banking will look like in that world.
"Can you paint a wildly dystopian future? Yes, but you can also paint a reality where we've got a very real part to play."
First Direct already faces serious competition.
Back when it started, it was the lean kid on the block, without the expense of branches to maintain.
But put against the new internet-only banks such as Atom, Tandem and Starling, which employ a handful of people, its wages bill is considerable.
Other challenger banks are also in attack mode. In 28 years, First Direct has acquired 1.35 million customers. Yet after just seven years, Metro Bank has already acquired 915,000.
"Anywhere where disruptors, or fintech, or challenger banks will come in is where they see gaps," says Joe.
"It's for us to make sure we don't leave those gaps."
In the meantime his personal life is also going to be busy. He and his partner have a baby on the way.
And he is planning more expeditions.
"I would like to do Kilimanjaro," he says, adding after a pause, "or maybe next year."
With so many mountains in Joe Gordon's future, he will certainly need his penchant for altitude.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39303747
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Six Nations 2017: Echoes of the past as Ireland dash English hopes once again - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Beaten by Ireland in Dublin with glory in their sights? England have been here before, writes Tom Fordyce.
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Knowing that a tornado is coming your way doesn't mean it won't blow your house down.
Once again England came to Dublin with a Grand Slam in their sights. Once again they were overwhelmed by an Ireland team playing with a pace and intensity they could not match. A team of champions engulfed in unfamiliar panic, a side untouched in 18 matches turned over by one unbeaten at home for three rollicking years.
England have made unprecedented strides under Eddie Jones, been transformed from the nearly-men of the Six Nations and the never-weres of the 2015 World Cup to back-to-back title winners and joint world record holders.
This soggy Saturday evening exposed just how far they might still have to go. Jones, his ultimate target the next World Cup in 2019, had wanted to see what his side were like under World Cup-like pressure. The answer was as clear as the skies overhead were murky.
• None We'll have more setbacks, warns Jones
All great teams have phases of development. The All Blacks that won their home World Cup in 2011 had processed the lessons of their own shortcomings four years earlier, when a sudden collective brain-freeze had done for them against France in Cardiff.
England's champions of 2003 held strong in the last critical moments of extra time in Sydney in part because they had failed to do so at Lansdowne Road, Murrayfield and Wembley in decisive battles that came before.
Maybe this England side will be the same. Better for it to happen here than in Japan in three years' time, came the co-ordinated message afterwards.
That's the hope, for the white-shirted supporters who came across the Irish Sea with great expectations and left with familiar regrets, if not always the logic.
There is no golden sporting treaty that painful defeats must automatically be followed by redemptive triumphs. England's team that won a title but lost a Slam in Ireland six years ago stumbled out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals five months later, undisciplined and unloved. The side that went to Cardiff in 2013 with the same clean sweep in their sights were taken apart that night and then collapsed again in the crunch contests in the ill-fated autumn of 2015.
For all that Jones has done, for all those wins that piled up, this was a chastening way for his own first epoch to close.
*both New Zealand and England's 18-Test winning runs were ended by Ireland
The 2013 loss in Cardiff, Dublin defeats of 2011 and 2001, and the Slam successes in Paris a year ago and here in Dublin in 2003, all illustrated how important it is to win the opening exchanges of these deciders. It sets the tone. It quietens the crowd. It calms your fears and sets doubt loose among your opponents.
Mike Brown comfortably caught the first two high balls, aimed his way, his opposite number Jared Payne spilling the first of his. That was as good as it got for England.
Twenty minutes in, Ireland had almost 75% of both territory and possession. England were playing as if in a daze, second best at the breakdown, slow with ball in hand, caught out by a plotline we have all seen several times before.
Ireland, two defeats in four coming into this, were ferocious, relentless, fast up out of defence, all teetering kicks and battering runs. Of course they were. It's how they were in 2011 and 2001, how they were always going to be when an English party is there to be pooped.
It had rained all morning. It blew all day. Everyone saw the tornado coming.
And yet England could do little about it, in that opening quarter, as knock-ons followed burgled line-outs followed kicks put out on the full. In the closing moments, when they were still within four points and had an attacking line-out on the Irish 22, man of the match Peter O'Mahony stole it from Maro Itoje's fingertips. At the death, Brown spilt the final pass in the championship's final seconds.
Too many of their big hitters were unable to get off the ropes: Itoje and Billy Vunipola nowhere close to their buccaneering best, their ball-carriers too often taking the ball stationary and unable to dent the gain-line, the George Ford-Owen Farrell axis starved of quick ball and precious time.
Only when Farrell's hurried pass hit Brown on his right shoulder with Elliot Daly overlapping down the left at the very start did they look like scoring a try. Only when Jones threw on his finishers did they gather any momentum, and familiar old memes like the Irish choke tackle and grubber kick soon slowed that down to an exhausted crawl.
It has been a chaotic championship. Scotland beat Wales, who beat Ireland, who beat England, who beat everyone else. It is arguably tighter in this oldest of competitions than ever before; take a punch-drunk Italy out of it, and the only away win in the competition was England's late, late show in Cardiff.
England should still have anticipated the green-shirted bedlam that came their way on Saturday. They should also have coped with it better when it blew in and found solutions more quickly than they did.
"In a World Cup you have to win seven games in a row," said Jones afterwards. "You have to deal with teams coming at you. That was like a World Cup final out there, and we weren't good enough."
Jones, as canny as they come, will use this defeat to drive his charges on. While he was quick to take responsibility in public - "I didn't prepare them well enough, I'll prepare them better next time" - behind closed doors he will be brutally honest about what must come next.
The All Blacks side whose record-breaking run was ended by Ireland in Chicago in November have continued to develop despite that reverse. A few days later they gained rapid revenge over Joe Schmidt's men; should the rumoured rejig of this autumn's fixtures come off, a game against New Zealand will provide the next benchmark for the Jones project.
"We're all human beings, we're not perfect," said the Australian, still grinning the same laconic grin that has greeted win after win and now a first defeat.
"We're 14 months into a four-year project. Realism shows us we still have a lot to do. We'll have more setbacks on the way to the World Cup.
"We're batting at a pretty good average. Even [legendary Australia batsman] Don Bradman got a zero in his last Test. It's not the end of the world."
Not the end of the world, but the end of something special, even if it could also be the start of something even bigger.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39318149
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How Victoria Gayle hid her dead son for over a decade - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Kyzer died in 2005 when he was 13-15 months old. His mother hid the fact from her friends, family and the authorities.
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Magazine
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When Kyzer Gayle died in 2005 he was little over a year old. But it would be 10 years before the authorities knew about his death and longer still before they discovered what had happened to the boy from north London.
When asked about the whereabouts of her son, Victoria Gayle, 32, told different tales to different people. Friends and family heard that the boy - Kyzer Gayle - was with his dad. A London man who believed himself to be the child's father thought Gayle had custody. Some official agencies were informed that Kyzer had been fathered by a traveller who took him away at a young age. But the stories were false.
Kyzer died in 2005 when he was 13-15 months old and his mother hid the fact for more than a decade. Despite asking Gayle questions, no-one had tested the truth of her replies by establishing where her son really was.
A police investigation was triggered only by the accidental death of Gayle's two-year-old daughter, Ava, in 2015. Medical treatment was sought when Ava became ill, but her condition deteriorated and she died. A subsequent inquest - recording a verdict of accident - determined that she had swallowed a tiny battery, causing fatal internal injuries.
Kyzer Gayle was born in Northwick Park Hospital in February 2004
Following the tragedy, local investigators in Barnet, north London reviewed what was known about Kyzer. Finding themselves unable to account for the child, the case was referred to Scotland Yard. Beyond 2004, the year of his birth, there appeared to be no record of Kyzer being seen by anyone in authority. No attendance at school. No GP visits. No registrations with public bodies.
Inquiries revealed that some people who had met Kyzer as an infant were under the impression that he lived with his father in north London. Police traced the man, but he had not seen Kyzer for more than a decade. He said that following a brief relationship with Gayle in 2003, she later made contact to say he had fathered a son called Kyzer.
He told detectives he then had occasional contact with the child until, on one occasion when Gayle brought Kyzer to his home, she left and did not return. The man said he cared for the child for about five months until Gayle suddenly reappeared and demanded Kyzer back, which he felt he had to accept. He never saw the boy again.
Other witnesses described seeing a baby fitting Kyzer's description at Gayle's north London flat. These are thought to be among the last sightings of the boy.
Gayle has been described as a hoarder and the child was said to have been seen in a buggy in a junk-filled room.
Pen Mehmet, Victoria Gayle's former neighbour, reported her concerns to the authorities
Pen Mehmet, a former neighbour, told the BBC that Gayle was a "compulsive liar" whose flat was so packed with rubbish that "I couldn't tell you where her kitchen was".
She said Gayle had claimed in recent years that Kyzer "lives with his dad" and "that was the best way because that's how the dad wanted it". Ms Mehmet says she became so troubled by elements of Gayle's behaviour that she reported her concerns to the authorities.
During contact with Gayle, some official agencies did ask about her son's whereabouts. She told them the boy's father was a member of the traveller community and had taken responsibility for Kyzer at a young age. The claim appears to have been accepted and no-one ever sought out the boy.
A photograph of the shed where the baby was found, taken after the police had removed the body
When Gayle was later evicted from her home, she stored some of her possessions in the garden shed of her mother and step-father who lived nearby, which was where detectives eventually found Kyzer's remains.
Lead investigator Det Ch Insp Noel McHugh told the BBC: "Within the shed we found a box. Within the box was what can best be described as a cocoon of gaffer tape, which concealed a cut-down buggy and in there was the clothed skeletal remains of the child we believe to be Kyzer." A bandage had been applied to the entire length of one leg. Gayle's mother and step-father denied knowing what had been stored on their property.
Before the discovery, Gayle had repeated to detectives the story about Kyzer's traveller father taking him away. Once his remains had been found, she admitted the story was untrue. But she denied harming Kyzer and claimed she had simply found him dead in his cot one morning - to which her reaction had been shock followed by denial. She said that recent internet searches for sulphuric acid had nothing to do with attempts to cover up the death.
Gayle said that, until the eviction, Kyzer's body had been kept in her home and she had covered up what happened because she was afraid of being judged and blamed for it. The passage of time means that experts have been unable to establish a cause of death, although there was evidence of malnutrition and arrested growth. Tests showed the north London man who looked after Kyzer for several months was actually not his father, although detectives eventually identified someone who was.
Victoria Gayle outside Kingston Crown Court in December last year
At Kingston Crown Court last December, Victoria Gayle pleaded guilty to preventing Kyzer's lawful burial. She denied charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice, which have been left to lie on file. She has been sentenced to 21 months in prison with the judge criticising Gayle's "web of lies" and saying the the full truth of her son's "sad and short life" will never be known.
A serious case review is investigating potential failings by Barnet Council and other official bodies. In a statement, the council said: "The death of any child is tragic and we are working with Barnet Safeguarding Children's Board to provide information for their serious case review and to establish any learning from our involvement with the family."
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has also opened an inquiry - currently on hold pending the serious case review - into potential police deficiencies. An IPCC spokesperson said it was "a complex case spanning more than a decade, and we now know the family of the child had significant contact, not just with the police, but also with other agencies".
Noel McHugh led the investigation that discovered the child's remains
Detectives are still making inquiries and Det Ch Insp McHugh told the BBC he was appealing for people to come forward who knew Gayle around 2004, when Kyzer was born. Police are also particularly interested in the period between 2007 and 2013, and are asking Gayle's former partners if she had any pregnancies or births police do not know about.
Jon Brown, from children's charity the NSPCC, says he finds it "deeply disturbing" that a child can "go missing for a decade". He told the BBC there were "a number of significant and important questions that are going to need to be addressed by the serious case review and by the IPCC investigation".
Pen Mehmet, Gayle's former neighbour, agrees and says she is angry and bewildered that Kyzer's death could go unnoticed for so long. "I think it's absolutely disgusting because this child's been missing and nobody knew.
"How can nobody know? I don't understand, how can nobody know?"
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-39290872
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Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Manchester City and Liverpool have to settle for a point apiece as they battle out a thrilling draw at Etihad Stadium.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester City and Liverpool had to settle for a point apiece as they battled out a thrilling draw at Etihad Stadium.
A hugely entertaining game was littered with talking points, astonishing misses and a sense of injustice for both sides as they felt they were on the receiving end of debatable decisions from referee Michael Oliver.
James Milner put Liverpool ahead against his former club with a penalty six minutes after the break, after Gael Clichy was penalised for a raised boot on Roberto Firmino.
Sergio Aguero scored against Liverpool for the fifth successive Premier League game at Etihad Stadium from Kevin de Bruyne's perfect cross after 69 minutes - before both sides wasted glorious opportunities to secure a vital win in the race for top-four places.
Aguero was particularly culpable, stumbling at the vital moment after his superb approach play had fashioned a clear chance eight yards out. After he fluffed his shot, De Bruyne hit the loose ball against the post.
Adam Lallana produced a candidate for miss of the season when he somehow failed to tap Firmino's pass into an empty net before, in stoppage time, Aguero volleyed over the sort of chance he normally takes with comfort.
• None One of my most special days in management - Guardiola
The scoreline only scratches at the surface of a game that was enthralling from start to finish, illustrating the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, who possess verve in attack but frailty in defence.
City and Liverpool both created and missed the sort of chances that could have turned one point into three and made life a little easier in the closing stages of the season.
City's Raheem Sterling could not find the final touch to David Silva's cross in the first half, with Fernandinho missing a presentable finish standing behind him.
The second half was when the real gifts were passed up.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp threatened to rip his cap off in a mixture of shock and disgust when Lallana, the ball presented on a plate by Firmino for what should have been a formality, somehow contrived to fail with his connection and the ball rolled apologetically away.
Sterling then lobbed Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet but the ball drifted wide - with City's real opportunity coming deep into stoppage time when Aguero sent a volley off target at the far post from another superb De Bruyne delivery.
Both sides had to settle for a draw - but both know it could have been so much more.
The life of a referee was summed up by the sight and sound of Michael Oliver incurring the wrath of both sets of players at various points throughout a chaotic 90 minutes.
Liverpool felt they were denied a penalty when Sadio Mane tumbled under a challenge from Nicolas Otamendi in the first half, although the striker also inadvertently made contact with his own leg as he shaped to shoot after escaping the City defender with embarrassing ease.
Yaya Toure was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card after a wild lunge on Emre Can caught the Liverpool midfielder in the chest, while City were furious their penalty claims were ignored as Sterling went down under a challenge from Milner as he closed in on a finish in the six-yard area.
City's players were furious after Liverpool's penalty award - many continuing the discussion with Oliver long after Milner had completed the formalities - but Oliver got this big call right.
Clichy's foot was dangerously high on Firmino as he raced in on goal and Oliver had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
It was a tough afternoon for the official as the big decisions came thick and fast.
City boss Pep Guardiola and counterpart Klopp were both delighted with the performance from their teams - but the body language in the technical area also revealed huge frustration.
Victory for either man would have been a crucial psychological blow as they fight for a place in the top four but both saw their teams waste the sort of chances that could have secured what they craved.
Guardiola and Klopp were both animated in frustration in the first 45 minutes, especially at one point when they were united in mutual dissatisfaction in the technical area, the Catalan racing towards his opposite number for an exchange that concluded with a flamboyant high five.
Klopp was leaping around in frustration, threatening to throw his cap to the floor as Liverpool squandered good positions, while Guardiola almost slumped to the turf in anguish after Aguero's later miss.
City remain a point ahead of Liverpool in third with a game in hand as Klopp's side lay fourth - while the result suited Manchester United best of all as they are now four points behind the Merseysiders with two games in hand after their win at Middlesbrough.
'One of the happiest days of my career' - what the managers said
"Congratulations to Liverpool and Manchester City. It is one of the days I am proud the most.
"I have not had a long career as manager and it is one of the most special days of my life.
"The Champions League defeat was so tough for us and we recovered today with our mentality and attack, but we could not attack more because Liverpool are a top team.
"I want to stay here and help this club make a step forward and the battle to qualify for the Champions League will go until the last day.
"We played three days after going out of the Champions League. How the players suffer and fight to qualify against Barcelona, Borussia Monchengladbach, how we play in the second half against Monaco, to be out was so tough for all of us.
"The players in training did not speak. How they reacted against Liverpool means a lot."
"Our players did really well. I struggled on the final whistle to be really happy but it's a success to get a point at City and to play like this.
"It's more than OK what we did but we needed a bit more luck.
"The Sadio Mane situation - it was a red card and a penalty. In a game like this, it would've killed them.
"But maybe they could've and should've had a penalty too. 1-1 is better than nothing.
"They are too good to always defend perfectly. When we started playing football in the game, it was really difficult for them.
"Between 50 and 65 minutes we could have decided the game and we didn't.
"We can't speak today about faults and mistakes. Before the game, if someone told me I would get a point at City, I would have taken it."
• None City have gone seven consecutive games without defeat in the Premier League (W4 D3 L0), their longest streak in the competition under Guardiola.
• None Liverpool have won more points in 10 games against the top six this season (20) than they have in 10 games against the bottom six (19).
• None Milner has scored seven penalties in the league this season - only Steven Gerrard (10 in 2013-14) has scored more for Liverpool in a Premier League campaign.
• None Milner now holds the record for the most Premier League games scored in without losing (47 games: W37 D10 L0).
• None Only Gylfi Sigurdsson (11) has made more assists than De Bruyne (10) in the Premier League this season. The Belgian has assisted Aguero more times than any other player this term (3).
• None City have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their past 13 games in all competitions against Liverpool, shipping 24 in the process (W2 D5 L6).
Manchester City have another crucial period coming up after the international break which could decide their top-four status.
First they travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal on Sunday, 2 April (16:00 BST) and three days later they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, 5 April (20:00 BST).
Liverpool's next Premier League fixture is not an easy one either - they host Everton in the Merseyside Derby on Saturday, 1 April (12:30 BST).
• None Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
• None Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross.
• None Sadio Mané (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by David Silva.
• None Attempt missed. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Sadio Mané following a fast break.
• None Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by David Silva with a through ball.
• None David Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39246699
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Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Southampton - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Tottenham claim a hard-fought win over Southampton to ensure they remain second in the table heading into the international break.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Tottenham overcame the absence of leading scorer Harry Kane to secure a hard-fought win over Southampton that ensures they remain second in the table heading into the international break.
Goals from Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli - the latter a penalty - in an effective display underlined that Spurs are more than just their talismanic 24-goal striker.
The win extends Tottenham's club-record run of successive home Premier League wins to 10, the same number of points by which they trail leaders Chelsea.
Southampton lost in-form striker Manolo Gabbiadini to injury in the first half but gave a good account of themselves in the second, at the start of which James Ward-Prowse scored from close range.
But they were unable to gain parity as Tottenham's stubborn backline and industrious central midfield held them at bay.
Defeat leaves the Saints 10th in the table and needing an improbable 30 points from the 33 available to them to match last season's tally of 63.
With Chelsea in superb form, this season's title race is unlikely to go as deep into the season as the last campaign, but Tottenham will be hopeful of improving on their third-place finish by at least one spot.
No Kane, but Spurs remain able
Prior to Sunday's match, Spurs had won just three of nine top-flight games without Kane this season, during which they had managed just eight goals.
However, one of those victories was the impressive 2-0 triumph over Manchester City in October, illustrating there are goals elsewhere in this talented side - a fact Eriksen and Alli demonstrated on Sunday with their 10th and 17th goals of the campaign respectively.
Eriksen's strike was powerful, low and accurate to find the bottom corner of Fraser Forster's net, while Alli's penalty was efficiently dispatched after he had been fouled in the box by Steven Davis.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino had urged summer signing Vincent Janssen to step up in Kane's absence, but opted instead to start Son Heung-min, who scored a hat-trick in last weekend's 6-0 FA Cup win over League One Millwall.
The South Korean had two good chances to carry on Kane's good work but failed to convert either as Forster turned away his shot in just the third minute before his sluggishness in the box allowed a tackle to deny him once more.
He was replaced by Harry Winks as Spurs were forced into a more conservative approach in the second half, while Janssen was handed a late cameo that saw him draw a good save from Forster with a powerful drive.
Southampton have beaten Tottenham just once in their past nine league meetings and have enjoyed just three victories in 17 Premier League visits to White Hart Lane.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, having lost the exciting Gabbiadini during a largely passive first-half display, it looked like being a miserable afternoon all-round for Southampton.
However, they came out with renewed vigour and intent in the second half and immediately got themselves back into the game through Ward-Prowse's goal, set up by a low cross from Ryan Bertrand that evaded Jan Vertonghen.
Tottenham, though, have conceded just seven goals in 14 matches at White Hart Lane this season and their three-man defence of Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier, shielded by the hard-working Victor Wanyama and Dembele, wrestled back control of the game and saw it out.
Having lost 4-1 at home to Pochettino's Spurs in December and 3-0 at Ronald Koeman's Everton the following month, Southampton will be glad to see the back of sides managed by their former bosses for this season.
'We were better and deserved to win' - What the managers said
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: "To get three points you need to work hard. It was difficult. In the end we were better and deserved to win.
"First half we played very well. Second half we conceded a goal with our mistake and we allowed Southampton to score. It is another victory, we keep our position second and we have reason to be happy.
"The aim is the next game. We have 10 days without our players we hope nothing happens and all will arrive in good position."
Southampton manager Claude Puel: "It was strange. In the first half without pressure we took two goals and it is difficult to accept this.
"In the second half we came back with good attitude and scored quick. At 2-1 there was a possibility to come back. In the end a draw would have been normal. It is disappointment. It was difficult for us but also for Tottenham."
Spurs eye unbeaten home season - the stats you need to know
• None Spurs have now won 10 successive league games at White Hart Lane - their longest run since October 1987 (14 in a row).
• None The only previous top-flight season that Spurs have remained unbeaten at home was 1964-65 (21 games, 0 defeats).
• None Alli has scored in three successive league appearances at White Hart Lane for the first time in his career.
• None Alli is the third Spurs player to score a penalty in the Premier League this season (after Kane & Janssen). Only in one previous Premier League season have Spurs seen 3+ players score a penalty for them - 1993-94; Sheringham (4), Barmby (1), Hazard (1) & Gray (1)
• None James Ward-Prowse has scored three goals in 21 Premier League appearances this season; the same tally as he had scored in 107 Premier League appearances before 2016-17.
After the international break Tottenham have successive away games at Burnley on 1 April and Swansea four days later. Southampton are at home against Bournemouth on the Saturday and at St Mary's again on the Wednesday when Crystal Palace are the visitors.
• None Vincent Janssen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Oriol Romeu (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Vincent Janssen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Offside, Southampton. Oriol Romeu tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside.
• None Attempt missed. Sofiane Boufal (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse.
• None Attempt saved. Vincent Janssen (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Mousa Dembélé.
• None Attempt blocked. Jay Rodriguez (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cédric Soares.
• None Sofiane Boufal (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Offside, Southampton. Steven Davis tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39246612
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Manchester City v Liverpool: Pep Guardiola & Jurgen Klopp on their rivalry - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Man City manager Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp share their admiration for their counterpart's coaching philosophy before Sunday's Premier League meeting.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp share their admiration for their counterpart's coaching philosophy before Sunday's Premier League meeting at Etihad Stadium.
Listen to live coverage of Manchester City v Liverpool on BBC Radio 5 live, Sunday, 19 March from 16:30 GMT.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39315843
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Six Nations 2017: Wales coach Rob Howley 'questions integrity of our game' - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Wales coach Rob Howley is left to "question the integrity of our game" after a controversial end to their Six Nations defeat by France.
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Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugby
Wales coach Rob Howley was left to "question the integrity of our game" after a controversial end to his side's 20-18 Six Nations defeat by France.
France replaced tight-head prop Uini Atonio with Rabah Slimani 11 minutes into the 20 minutes of added time that were played at the Stade de France.
Slimani had earlier been replaced, but France's team doctor said Atonio needed to go off for a head injury assessment.
"In terms of the process, I think we have reason to complain," said Howley.
France coach Guy Noves said his medical staff told him Atonio was injured.
He added: "We will do a medical check-up. I hope the injury is not too serious, and he will be able to play again soon."
Rugby's rules allow replacement props to be substituted if they are injured, or if they need a head injury assessment - a series of cognitive, balance and memory tests given to any player who has a suspected concussion.
Howley said: "What happened in the last 10 minutes of that game should never happen again on the international rugby field.
"You can hear [referee] Wayne Barnes ask him if he is OK. He said he had a sore back, but that he was OK. And then the doctor comes on, and he goes off.
"I've no issues about the result, it's just about the process."
Wales led 18-13 at the end of the 80 minutes but Damien Chouly drove over for the try that brought France level, and Camille Lopez's conversion was decisive.
In the build-up to France's final try, Wales wing George North claimed he had been bitten as he made a tackle.
Barnes asked television match official Peter Fitzgibbon to check the incident, but he could not find any clear footage so the game resumed without action being taken.
Howley said: "Ultimately they've made a decision on that and it's absolutely fine. I am 100% behind that decision in terms of the pictures they saw.
"There's evidence on George's arm to suggest something did happen and ultimately you trust and believe your players."
Asked about the incident, Noves said: "I am sorry, I haven't seen, so I don't know."
Leigh Halfpenny had kicked six penalties - three from more than 50 metres - as Wales fought back after Remi Lamerat's early try.
But defeat ended a tournament in which they beat Italy, then lost to England and Scotland, before victory over Ireland last week.
Howley added: "The players were unbelievable in the last 10-15 minutes of that game.
"We put a great effort in and unfortunately we weren't rewarded for that and it's hugely disappointing."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39306295
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Six Nations 2017: France 20-18 Wales - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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France seal a dramatic and controversial win over Wales in their Six Nations finale in Paris.
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Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugby
France snatched a dramatic and controversial Six Nations win over Wales in an extraordinary encounter.
Trailing by five points with the clock ticking past 100 minutes, Damien Chouly drove over from close range and Camille Lopez's conversion clinched the win.
Leigh Halfpenny had kicked six penalties - three from 50 metres-plus - to cancel Remi Lamerat's early try.
But the match will live long in the memory for the 20-minute added-time barrage on the Wales line.
Referee Wayne Barnes issued a yellow card to Samson Lee in the 82nd minute and had to deal with a claim of biting on Wales wing George North in the face of a tumultuous home crowd at the Stade de France.
The television match official Peter Fitzgibbon could not find any clear footage so the game was allowed to continue.
Barnes also allowed France to replace tight-head prop Uini Atonio with Rabah Slimani who had earlier been replaced, with the France team doctor insisting Atonio needed a head injury assessment.
• None Was this the day rugby lost its head?
Lee had returned to bring Wales back up to 15 men before Chouly claimed the decisive score after a series of penalties near the Wales line.
It was a remarkable end to a difficult Six Nations campaign for Wales which sees them finish fifth and with three defeats for the first time since 2010.
France moved onto 14 points and second place before Ireland denied England a Grand Slam in Dublin to finish second behind the visitors.
Rob Howley's Wales finished one place above winless Italy after securing two tournament triumphs - against Italy and Ireland - and following defeats by England and Scotland.
The incredible finale followed what had been a low-key match until the 77th minute, with French indiscipline allowing the immaculate Halfpenny to wipe out an early 10-point deficit with a flawless display of place-kicking.
But Wales rarely threatened the French line, and struggled throughout at the scrum.
They were also hampered by injuries to second rows Alun Wyn Jones and Jake Ball, with Taulupe Faletau pressed into duty in the boiler house and replacement hooker Scott Baldwin playing in the back row.
For their part, France's forward dominance eventually paid dividends with the immaculate Louis Picamoles and Kevin Gourdon carrying powerfully.
And Wales flanker Sam Warburton will no doubt regret the rush of blood to the head which saw him kicking the ball long downfield after turning over possession during a France attack.
The ball went from Wales' 10-metre line and over the French dead-ball line - allowing the home team to set up the bridgehead which eventually led to their winning score.
France started brilliantly and were ahead within seven minutes when Lopez chipped the ball over the onrushing defence for Lamerat to beat his team-mate Gael Fickou to the ball and touch down.
Lopez increased the lead to 10 points before referee Barnes intervened to send Virimi Vakatawa to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock on.
Halfpenny's angled penalty calmed Wales nerves and by half-time the full-back had struck twice more - one from more than 50 metres - and the French were left wondering how their dominance had resulted in just a one-point interval lead.
After the break Halfpenny drilled two long-range kicks to give Wales a five point lead, which he then restored after Lopez kicked one of his own.
But that was before arguably the most thrilling, nerve-shredding, energy-sapping finish in the tournament's history.
• None Get all the latest Six Nations news by adding
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39284877
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Dundee 1-2 Celtic - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Goals from Jozo Simunovic and Stuart Armstrong move Celtic to within three points of a sixth straight Premiership title.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Celtic moved to within one win of their sixth straight Scottish Premiership title with victory at Dundee.
The hosts frustrated Celtic for most of the first half, Dedryck Boyata's header cleared off the line by Paul McGowan.
But Jozo Simunovic's flick towards goal deflected off Kevin Gomis to creep in, and Stuart Armstrong headed in a James Forrest cross to double the lead.
Marcus Haber missed two good chances for Dundee, but Faissal El Bakhtaoui's 25-yard stunner ensured a nervy finale.
Ultimately though, Brendan Rodgers' side extended their unbeaten domestic run this season to 36 matches.
With a 25-point lead over second-placed Aberdeen and nine games left, Celtic could clinch the title in their next Premiership match against Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday, 2 April, although they would already be champions if the Dons fail to secure at least a point at Dundee on 31 March.
Paul Hartley's side remain in eighth place, four points off the top six.
We have witnessed many different types of performances from the Celtic juggernaut as it rolls relentlessly towards six titles in a row. This was a mixture of the good and the ugly - there is rarely bad.
When things are not going their way, they simply put their heads down and grind away at teams until they finally buckle.
It's not always pretty but it's usually positive, and so it was in the first half against a very well organised Dundee side determined to change their fortunes after two straight defeats.
Celtic dominated but despite trying to progress down both flanks and through the middle, and enjoying set-pieces galore, Dundee stood firm and looked likely to head into the break all-square.
But the buckle came just seconds before the whistle when - moments after McGowan cleared Boyata's header off the line - Simunovic fired in at close range, with a little help from a deflection off the back of Gomis.
The goal certainly fired Celtic up and took some of the wind out of Dundee's sails.
Rodgers' side flew at the Dark Blues from the restart and doubled their lead via a 12th goal of the season from Armstrong, who flicked his header expertly past Scott Bain after a fabulous run and cross from Forrest.
Most observers of Celtic this season would have bet their mortgage on that being game over. Ultimately that proved correct but the thanks for that went to the defence.
Hartley's side went into this fixture having failed to pick up a point or score a goal in March, following a productive February that featured an impressive 2-1 win over Rangers.
The same spirit was evident at the start and end of this match as Dundee fought, pressed and harried Celtic all over the pitch and made life difficult for the visitors' flair players such as Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair.
Hartley once again showed his tactical prowess when he changed things in the second half and watched his side claw their way back through a spectacular solo effort from El Baktaoui.
The Moroccan striker came off the bench and skipped through the Celtic midfield before firing into Craig Gordon's top right-hand corner. It was simply stunning.
Haber should have scored before that but screwed his effort wide. It was a defeat for the Dee but far from a demoralising one.
Dundee boss Paul Hartley: "I felt, especially in the second half, we were excellent.
"We knew they would have a lot of possession but even in the first half they never really cut us open, and it was a bit of sucker punch with the opening goal, where they got a bit of fortune.
"We conceded a poor second goal but we changed the shape to 4-4-2, Marcus Haber had an excellent opportunity and we scored an excellent goal. I'm pleased with the players' attitude - they never gave in, they kept believing.
"El Bakhtaoui has that in his locker, but he has just not been consistent enough. He has jumped up two leagues (after scoring 30 goals for Dunfermline in League One last season), and we knew it was never going to be easy for him. But he just needs to produce it more often."
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers: "Dundee have picked up of late, they make things very difficult and we knew it would be a tough game.
"But we deserved the victory, even if it was a bit closer in the end than it should have been.
"At times we played some fantastic football and had chances to make it more comfortable but we didn't make the final pass, and we gave away a poor goal on the defensive side, although it was a great finish.
"Then we had to show we could stand up to a lot of high balls coming into our box, but the players did magnificently to defend that.
"There is a different competition in itself, to see who can maybe be the first (domestic) team to beat Celtic. But we can only apply ourselves as well as we possibly can. I've told the players not to worry about headlines in terms of 'invincibles' or 'trebles'. My worry is just to play the best football we can, and if we do that, we will win games."
• None Kevin Holt (Dundee) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Craig Wighton (Dundee) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Attempt missed. Marcus Haber (Dundee) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
• None Attempt blocked. Moussa Dembele (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
• None Attempt missed. Faissal El Bakhtaoui (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
• None Goal! Dundee 1, Celtic 2. Faissal El Bakhtaoui (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Kevin Holt.
• None Eboue Kouassi (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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Jocky Wilson: Darts champion celebrated in new play - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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In the days when darts players chain-smoked and drank pints of lager between trips to the oche, Jocky Wilson was one of Scotland's most unlikely sporting heroes.
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Scotland
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Jocky Wilson prepares to throw a dart during the British Open in 1984
In the days when darts players chain-smoked and drank pints of lager between trips to the oche, Jocky Wilson was one of Scotland's most unlikely sporting heroes.
Wilson, from Kirkcaldy in Fife, only turned professional at the age of 29, after winning £500 in a tournament at Butlins holiday camp in Ayr.
The tiny, overweight Scot with the distinctive throwing action and toothless grin quickly became a household name as darts gained massive popularity on terrestrial TV in the UK.
He was world champion twice, in 1982 and 1989, but walked away from darts in the mid-90s when he was diagnosed with diabetes and his drinking began to catch up with him.
He lived his final years as a virtual recluse on disability benefits in a council flat in Kirkcaldy.
Wilson died five years ago, at the age of 62, and there were tributes from many who had played against him, including his great rival Eric Bristow, "the Crafty Cockney", whom he beat in the 1989 final.
Wilson's story is now the subject of a new play by sister and brother team Jane Livingstone and Jonathan Cairney.
Livingstone said his rise and fall meant that some people saw him as a great Scottish hero but others were a little embarrassed by him.
"He's a great Scottish character and he's also from Fife, as are we, and we saw this as a great opportunity to get a Fife character on the stage," she said.
"He's someone we were always aware of and impressed by his achievements."
Floral tributes outside Kirkcaldy crematorium following Jocky's funeral in April 2012
Cairney says the play, which will be performed at Oran Mor in Glasgow, is "imagined" but it is based on a real-life incident early in his career.
"One story we really picked up on was when he was over in America for an exhibition match," said Cairney. "[He] missed his lift to get to the next destination and he ended up trying to hitchhike 400 miles across the Nevada desert.
"We thought that would be an ideal setting to place him in that difficult situation and see how he reacts to it.
"He's such a warm character, people root for him. He's the classic underdog."
It's true that Wilson defied the odds to become world champion.
Jocky Wilson was world champion twice but gave up darts in 1995
John Thomas Wilson spent years in an orphanage after being rejected by his parents and joined the Army at a young age.
Despite working as a coal delivery man, a fish processor and a miner, he struggled for money and was unemployed when he decided to try his hand at darts professionally.
Within three years he was world champion and a folk hero.
His gestures to the crowd, face-pulling and pint-swilling made him one of the most recognised personalities in sport.
His picture even ended up on Top of the Pops behind Dexys Midnight Runners when they sang Jackie Wilson Said, a song about the famous soul singer.
Kevin Rowland from the band later claimed that he had put the picture up as a joke because their names sounded so similar, but there was no doubt that most of the audience in 1982 would have known who the darts player was.
Actor Grant O'Rourke, who plays Wilson in the production, says the man had "an unbelievable will to win".
"He had an amazing amount of determination to succeed and become world champion."
The actor confesses to not being good at darts but gets away with it in the play because not a single arrow is thrown.
However, O'Rourke says he watched lots of videos of Wilson to give him an idea of the way he held himself and moved.
He says: "It has given me a new respect for darts. To be able to throw a dart from 8ft away into a target that is about a centimetre wide, often with thousands of pounds hanging on one throw, the pressure is incredible."
Another Scottish darts world champion, Gary Anderson, told BBC Scotland he was "disappointed" that he never met Jocky.
"I think he finished just as I started in the BDO but I've heard plenty of stories about him," he said.
Despite being 20 years younger than Wilson, Anderson, from Eyemouth in the Borders, says they share a similar "working class" approach to the sport.
"I'm probably still like what Jocky was. I still like a good laugh and a bit of carry-on but some of the youngsters now are darts and darts-only."
Anderson, who won the PDC world championship in 2015 and 2016, says that despite the huge crowds that watch darts now the characters of the past are hard to shift from the public's mind.
"You meet anyone now and talk about Scottish darts players and Jocky Wilson is always the first name they come out with."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-39293870
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Frances reveals Paul McCartney's songwriting tips - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Pop star Frances was taught by Paul McCartney and has been compared to Adele. She tells us her story.
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Entertainment & Arts
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The singer started learning violin as a child, but decided to become a singer-songwriter
Beware of Frances: She's on a one-woman mission to force all the water in your body out through your tear ducts.
Nominated for the Brits critics' choice award and the BBC Sound of 2016, the singer has a knack for achingly beautiful ballads that tug at the heartstrings.
Songs like Let It Out and Say It Again have earned her more than 50 million streams on Spotify - and top 10 singles around the world (although not at home, thanks to the current state of the UK singles chart).
Born Sophie Frances Cooke in Berkshire, she was an aspiring violinist when her teacher sent her to see a film composer for career advice.
On a whim, she played him a pop song she'd written for fun - and moved him to tears.
"It was a bit awkward," she recalls. "I was like, 'Are you ok?' and he said, 'Yeah. But you need to do that. You have to do that for the rest of your life."
She took his advice - choosing to attend the pop-focussed Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts instead of her original choice, the Birmingham Conservatoire.
By the time she reached her third year of studies, she'd already been signed by a record label and moved to London.
Her debut album, Things I've Never Said, comes out this week. A warm and wistful collection of perfectly-crafted piano pop, it has already won the singer comparisons to Adele and Carole King.
Meanwhile, her single Grow has been selected to soundtrack a new campaign by Refuge, the charity supporting female victims of domestic violence.
The 23-year-old sat down to tell the BBC about that video; the perks of fame; and what it's like to get school lessons from Paul McCartney.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Hello Frances... Or should I call you Sophie?
I'm Sophie to my family and friends - but I once thought, "If I'm going to be an artist, my name's got to look good on a piece of paper". Sophie is very curly, it looks very young, whereas Frances is a lot more angular. So it just kind of stuck.
But then up until the age of 16, everyone called me Cookie. So anything goes.
It's been three years since your first single - you must be relieved the album is finally out?
I'm so excited. It's definitely been a while. I wrote some of these songs when I was 18 or 19, and so they've literally been with me for five years.
It's unusual for people to stay fond of the songs they wrote in their teens.
Actually, at the time, I didn't think much of them! But they made it through all the label cuts and slashes. They stood the test of time.
What are the oldest ones on there?
I wrote Drifting and Sublime in my room at LIPA - the performing arts school up in Liverpool.
That's the one that Paul McCartney founded, right? Did he ever show up?
A couple of times. He'd come in to do little Q&As.
He was really nice, if you saw him walking past, you could just say "hi" and he was always really sweet.
What's the best advice you got from him?
He said that when he and John [Lennon] were writing, they didn't have anything to record what they were doing… Whereas now, if I'm writing in a session, I've got my phone there recording everything. And so if I forget something I can go back and find it.
But he said, "We didn't have that luxury. So if we forgot something, it wasn't good enough and we didn't use it."
I was like, "Oh my God, that's so true." Because if you've written something and 10 minutes later you don't remember it, then it's not good enough.
Do you stick to that advice even now?
No, because my memory's terrible!
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch an excerpt for Frances' video for Grow
One of the first songs you released was Grow... and that's now being used in a very powerful video for Refuge.
It's amazing. It's about a woman called Melanie Clark, who had a terrible time, a really abusive partner, and she managed to get out of it by seeking help from Refuge.
They've animated her story. It's basically about her feeling invisible until one woman, who represents Refuge, notices her for the first time. It's a campaign to encourage victims of domestic abuse to seek help. We want people to realise they are not alone.
The original song isn't about domestic abuse at all. Were you surprised by how well the words and the images complement each other?
It's weird how the lyrics make so much sense alongside the story. I just hope it will resonate with people all over the world. It's an amazing animation and everyone's done it for free.
The singer has collaborated with Disclosure and Spice Girls writer Biff Stannard - but is keeping those songs for a later record
Would it be fair to say you've always wanted to play music?
Absolutely. My best friend's parents were professional violinists. When I was about eight, I went round to her house, picked one up and fell in love with it. Then her dad taught me all the way up 'til I was about 16 or 17.
What was your exam piece?
I did a kind of a gypsy piece called Csardas. It's so fast - and it speeds up towards the end, as well. And then I started the piano when I was 10 - but I only got to grade six. I couldn't be bothered to do scales any more.
Do you remember your first stage performance?
I was three, dressed as an ice cream in a production of The Hungry Caterpillar at the Royal Festival Hall! And then throughout school, I was always on stage, playing violin or piano. And I played in the Berkshire Youth Orchestra.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Frances performs Grow at the BBC Introducing SXSW showcase in 2016.
You sound like a high achiever. Were you good academically, too?
I was quite lucky at school. I had this little charm - I could not do my homework and somehow get away with it.
Everyone knew I worked so hard at music. I was doing stuff after school every day, so the teachers were quite lenient.
And then you went to LIPA...
Actually, I didn't get in the first time. They put me on their foundation course, which cost like 10 grand or something. My parents, bless them, scrambled together every penny we had and I worked at Waitrose trying to get money to go.
I put a song called Coming Up For Air on SoundCloud in early 2014. It was quite calculated - because at the time London Grammar were really big, so I thought, "OK, I'm going to write something like that, so all the blogs listen and pick up on it". Eventually, a few started writing about it and then Tom Robinson from 6 Music played it which was really cool.
After that, we ended up having a meeting with [boutique record label] Kitsuné, and released a single.
Don't Worry About Me was a big breakthrough for you. How did that come about?
One of my friends was quite ill - and I wrote the song to say, "look after yourself and I'll be here for you".
I wrote it really quickly. I was just getting off the bus on Kilburn High Road when I came up with the phrase, "I'll feel the fear for you, I'll cry the tears for you, don't worry about me." I ran home thinking, "I need to get to a piano quickly, I don't want to lose this."
I think because I wrote it so quickly. I was thinking about my friend and the lyrics just came out.
The star has been compared to Adele and Carole King
Don't Worry About Me has been played nine million times on Spotify. How do you wrap your head around that?
I don't really. I always said that if I won the lottery, I'd be more excited by £100,000 than I would with £1m because I can't understand a million pounds. I've never seen that. I can't quantify it. Whereas a hundred grand, I can think, "ah, that's a really nice car".
It's a weird period for music at the moment… You can have all those plays, and millions of people know your song, but it hasn't troubled the charts in the UK.
It's a really weird time. In Belgium, Don't Worry About Me was in the top 20 for 10 weeks and that's mainly because in Belgium the singer-songwriter world is their Radio 1. In Australia, it hung around the chart for ages. In the UK, I've just come out at a really funny time. There's a weird limbo.
But I'm so proud of my album. I know it's not going to sell 20 million copies but that's OK. I want to be an artist that's going to be around for 20 or 30 years.
In a strange way, you're famous to the people who know you and nobody else.
It's actually lovely because I can walk down the street and not be bothered. Apart from in John Lewis once, where the manager recognised me while I was buying a sofa.
He was like, "Excuse me, can I ask you a question?" and I thought, "Oh no, my card's been rejected" but he was like, "Can I get a picture with you?"
And I think he paid for my sofa because I took out finance and I haven't paid a penny yet.
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-39307498
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Is North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un rational? - BBC News
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2017-03-19
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Analysing the aims of the head of the controversial regime.
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Asia
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Is Kim Jong-un rational? The new US ambassador to the United Nations thinks he is not. Nikki Haley said after North Korea's simultaneous launch of four ballistic missiles: "This is not a rational person." But is she right?
Kim Jong-un may have many flaws. He is without doubt ruthless - the bereaved relatives of the victims of his regime, including within his own family, would testify to that. He may have driven through an economic policy that keeps his people living at a standard way below that in South Korea and, increasingly, China.
And he seems to have personal issues, such as eating a lot - photographs show his bulging girth - and being a fairly heavy smoker.
But whatever these failings and foibles, is he actually irrational - which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as "not logical or reasonable, not endowed with the power of reason"?
Scholars who study him think he is behaving very rationally, even with the purging and terrorising of those around him. Prof Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University in Seoul told the BBC: "He is perfectly rational. He sometimes overdoes it. He sometimes tends to apply excessive force. Why kill hundreds of generals when dozens will do?
Kim Jong-nam, Kim-Jong-un's half-brother, was killed while in Malaysia in February 2017
"Most people he kills would never join a conspiracy but he feels it's better to overdo it. It's better to kill nine loyal generals and one potential conspirator than to allow a conspirator to stay alive.
Prof John Delury of Yonsei University in Seoul said that even having his half-brother killed (as the allegation is - denied by Pyongyang) would be a rational act; not nice but rational.
"A sad fact of history is that young kings often kill their uncles and elder brothers. It may be cruel, but it is not 'irrational'. If you don't take my word for it, read Shakespeare."
On this assassination of Kim Jong-nam, allegedly at the hands of agents of the regime, Prof Lankov says it is similar to the Ottoman Empire, where concubines of the Sultan had countless children, any of whom had a bloodline that might one day legitimise a claim to the throne.
Prof Lankov thinks that Kim Jong-nam was, accordingly, a threat, probably not that great a one but still intolerable: "Probably he was not that dangerous but you never know. He was definitely under Chinese control."
Prof Delury said that there was nothing irrational about Kim Jong-un's drive to obtain credible nuclear weapons: "He has no reliable allies to guarantee his safety, and he faces a hostile superpower that has, in recent memory, invaded sovereign states around the world and overthrown their governments.
"The lesson North Koreans learned from the invasion of Iraq was that if Saddam Hussein really possessed those weapons of mass destruction, he might have survived."
Could Kim Jong-un's drive to achieve a nuclear capability safeguard his regime's future?
This was compounded by the lesson of Libya, according to Prof Lankov: "Did American promises of American prosperity help Gaddafi and his family? Kim Jong-un knows perfectly well what happened to the only fool who believed Western promises and renounced the development of nuclear weapons. And he's not going to make that mistake. Once you don't have nuclear weapons you are completely unprotected.
"Did Russian or American and British promises to guarantee Ukrainian integrity help Ukraine? No. Why should he expect American, Russian or Chinese promises to help him stay alive? He is rational."
If he is rational, what does he want? On this, scholars are divided. Prof Brian Myers of Dongseo University in Busan in South Korea said that Kim Jong-un wants security but also a united Korea as the only way he and the regime can survive in the long term.
"As every North Korean knows, the whole point of the military-first policy is 'final victory', or the unification of the peninsula under North Korean rule."
A credible nuclear force would give him the ability to pressure the United States to remove its troops from the peninsula.
"North Korea needs the capability to strike the US with nuclear weapons in order to pressure both adversaries into signing peace treaties. This is the only grand bargain it has ever wanted," said Prof Myers.
Some analysts believe North Korea's strategy aims to see the US withdraw from South Korea
And once the US troops had gone, on this argument, North Korean rule would be unstoppable.
Prof Lankov doesn't agree with the emphasis. He thinks survival is by far the most important motive behind Kim Jong-un's actions: "Above all, he wants to stay alive. Second, economic prosperity and growth - but it's a distant second."
So what's to be done? Prof Lankov sees no good options: "I don't see any solution right now." He thinks the best option is to persuade North Korea to freeze its development of nuclear weapons at a particular size of arsenal "but it will be very difficult and North Koreans may not keep their promises".
And money would have to be paid. "But this deal isn't good from an American point of view because it means paying a reward to a blackmailer, and if you pay a reward to a blackmailer once, you invite more blackmail.
"The second option which might work is a military operation but that is likely to trigger a second Korean war and will permanently damage American credibility as a reliable ally and protector.
"Worldwide, a lot of people would see that it's better to have enemies than such friends."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39269783
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Six Nations 2017: England will have more setbacks - Eddie Jones - BBC Sport
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2017-03-19
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Eddie Jones says England are "14 months into a four-year project" after hopes of a second straight Grand Slam are ended by Ireland.
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Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Eddie Jones said England will "have more setbacks" after his side's hopes of a second straight Grand Slam and a world-record 19th Test win were ended by Ireland on Saturday.
Jones' side had already retained the Six Nations title before their campaign ended with a 13-9 defeat in Dublin.
The Australian said England are "14 months into a four-year project".
"It would have been great to be Grand Slam champions and world record holders but it wasn't our day," he added.
The defeat means England's winning run ends on 18 Tests, level with New Zealand, who saw their series of victories also ended by the Irish, in Chicago in November.
"To win the World Cup you've got to win seven in a row, you've got to cope with that pressure," added Jones.
"How many teams average a 90% win rate? Not many, only the All Blacks."
Jones said the hosts used the conditions "superbly", adding: "Full credit to Ireland, they were brilliantly coached and executed their plan well."
But he said England did not play to their potential and that he would take full responsibility for the defeat.
"We knew it was going to be a tough, physical game, we just weren't good enough today. I didn't prepare the team well," he said.
"We're all human beings, we're not perfect, and that's why world records finish at 18 games because it's hard to keep [winning].
"The next Test we play I'll prepare them better. I'm human like everyone else, I make mistakes. Even [legendary Australia batsman] Don Bradman got a zero in his last Test."
'This will keep us grounded'
England captain Dylan Hartley said his team had "big lessons to learn" from the defeat.
"We set out to win the tournament and we've done that. Obviously we're disappointed not to win this final game because we had high hopes, we had high expectations of ourselves," added the hooker.
"Credit to Ireland. We seemed to back up every error with another error. We are not the finished article. This will keep us grounded."
'I can't wait to play New Zealand'
The British and Irish Lions will travel to New Zealand in June looking for a first Test series win there since 1971.
England are not due to face the All Blacks until 2018, but Jones hopes the Rugby Football Union (RFU) can secure a fixture against the world champions in November.
"I expect at least 15 of our guys to go on the Lions tour, I'd be disappointed if we don't have that many guys in," said Jones. "And I think they'll have a massive shout [of winning the Test series].
"New Zealand, as Ireland have shown, are there for the taking.
"I can't wait for us to play them either. We're very keen to play them, I've had a discussion with Ian [Ritchie, RFU chief executive] and we're raring to go.
"There's a lot of discussions to go. A lot of discussions with New Zealand and within the rugby community, there's still a lot to go."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39318171
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Luis Enrique: Barcelona boss to step down at end of season - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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Barcelona boss Luis Enrique says he will step down at the end of the season, because he needs to "rest".
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique will step down at the end of the season, saying he needs to "rest".
The 46-year-old, in his third season in charge of Barca, was speaking after their 6-1 win over Sporting Gijon.
He won the Champions League as part of the treble in his first year and led them to a domestic double last season.
But they are on the verge of elimination from the Champions League after losing 4-0 to Paris St-Germain in the last-16 first leg.
• None 'Writing was on the wall for exhausted Enrique'
• None 'Everton's Koeman could be Enrique successor at Barcelona'
"It is a difficult, measured and well thought-out decision and I think I have to be loyal to what I think," said Enrique, who will leave at the end of his contract this summer.
"I would like to thank the club for the confidence they have shown in me. It's been three unforgettable years.
"It's about how I live with my profession, with a never-ending quest for solutions and to improve my team. That means I have very little time to rest, very few hours to disconnect.
"I think it will be good for me at the end of the season, because I need to rest. That's the principle motive.
"The most important thing is we have three exciting months left in all three competitions. In one of them, we are in a difficult situation but if the stars align, we will have a chance to turn it around."
Barca's win over Sporting took them to the top of La Liga, one point clear of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand. They face Alaves in the Copa del Rey final on 27 May.
Former Spain midfielder Enrique featured for Barcelona between 1996 and his retirement from playing in 2004.
He then coached their B team from 2008 to 2011, returning to the club as first-team boss after spells managing Roma and Celta Vigo.
'Thank you for all he has done'
Former Barca coach Pep Guardiola paid tribute to his ex-Nou Camp team-mate.
"I have two reactions, as a supporter," Guardiola said after his Manchester City side's 5-1 FA Cup win over Huddersfield.
"I am sorry it is the club of my heart. I am so sad because we will miss the perfect trainer for Barcelona, from his personality and his character.
"His three years he played unbelievable football, with unbelievable players. I am like a fan with a membership of Barcelona. I can say thank you for all he has done in his three years at my club."
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: "Luis Enrique has brought us great success and he can still bring us more. The players are motivated to do it.
"We accept Luis Enrique's decision. He has been a great coach. Now it is time to end his spell in the best possible way."
Analysis - Koeman or Laudrup for the job?
"This could be a good moment - it could be a stimulation for the team, a release. When we are watching Barcelona we are watching a team that is losing its essence. Luis Enrique is losing control of the team - the midfield especially. What remains of Pep Guardiola's team seems smaller and smaller every day.
"Barcelona is a big club and I'm not sure Enrique was a coach for many, many years. He's explosive. He expends a lot of energy.
"Jorge Sampaoli has brought something exceptional to Sevilla, but I don't think he is the appropriate man for the club because he doesn't know FC Barcelona. A Ronald Koeman or a Michael Laudrup would be more appropriate because they know the philosophy of the club."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39136312
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'All-out offensive' in Xinjiang risks worsening grievances - BBC News
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2017-03-02
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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What really lies behind China's huge show of force in its far west?
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China
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Large rallies by security forces have been held in Xinjiang recently
China is in the midst of what it calls a "people's war on terror" in its far west. What sparked this latest campaign was a knife attack.
After five people were killed on 14 February in Xinjiang, home to China's Muslim Uighur minority, Beijing began an "all out offensive". It flew in thousands of armed troops to hold mass police rallies and deploy columns of armoured vehicles on city streets.
Xinjiang's Communist Party boss Chen Quanguo urged these forces to "bury the corpses of terrorists in the vast sea of a people's war".
Judging from the reaction on Chinese social media, at least some people approve.
"Terrorists will never be stamped out unless we weaken Muslim religious forces," urged one post on China's Twitter-like Weibo.
Then on Monday the so-called Islamic State released a video, which appeared directly to threaten China and which showed Uighur fighters training.
But the ethnic Uighur population of Xinjiang has no discernible voice. In the midst of an "all-out offensive" it is dangerous for them to speak up, unless to echo the government's message.
One contact in Kashgar told the BBC that the situation is "hypersensitive", with all business in the city closed down by night. He said members of his family are summoned to weekly meetings to demonstrate political allegiance.
"We are reliving the Cultural Revolution", he said.
So what lies behind China's biggest show of force in Xinjiang in nearly a decade?
The incident in Pishan on 14 February is the only deadly attack to be reported this year. Details are still scarce but there is no suggestion of the kind of outside involvement or large scale co-ordination which might explain such an enormous response.
Instead, unofficial reports suggest the trigger for the attack may have been something far more personal: the police punishment of a Uighur family who held a Muslim prayer meeting at home.
This is surely not the kind of scenario which requires the deployment of thousands of paramilitary reinforcements.
But the state controlled Xinjiang Daily newspaper has urged security forces to prepare "for a battle between good and evil, lightness and dark" and the region's Communist Party boss warned of "grim conditions" in the fight against terrorism.
As well as the firm hand of Beijing, Uighurs are involved in the running of their semi-autonomous region
So are conditions really grim?
Notwithstanding the video threat, outside Xinjiang, there has been no significant terrorist attack in China since 2014 and reported attacks in the region have been sporadic and small-scale.
By contrast, France has seen numerous terror attacks in recent years, including several major atrocities. But the French government did not declare a frontline, fly in thousands of troops or mount mass armed rallies on city streets.
It's hard to escape the conclusion that China is wielding a hammer to crack a nut. But Xinjiang's security forces are already well armed with every form of "nutcracker", including highly trained manpower, rapid response units, mobile police stations, surveillance cameras, helicopters, drones, satellite tracking of vehicles, biometrics and grid style management of every community right down to the individual household.
Police control and public surveillance is on the rise across China
So what explains the force?
It's possible that the current security situation in Xinjiang is worse than appears and that there are many attacks going unreported.
Or that China has a very different risk calculus from other countries and feels a hammer is the appropriate response to every nut.
A third possibility is that warning of "grim conditions" in counter-terrorism serves an unrelated purpose and the nut must be redefined as an existential threat to justify the hammer.
My feeling is that all three explanations play a part.
The first is the least significant.
It's hard to verify occasional unofficial reports of small scale attacks in remote parts of Xinjiang because it's extremely difficult and dangerous for local Uighurs to contact foreign reporters. But it's unlikely that the authorities could cover up a major atrocity even if they wished to.
The risk calculus is a much bigger factor. It's a sweeping generalisation unsupported by hard evidence, but in my experience Chinese citizens are risk averse.
They have a higher expectation than, for example, British citizens, that their government must keep them safe.
China's growing authoritarianism means there is no vocal constituency arguing that civil liberties are worth a certain price in national security. Besides which, low trust in official news sources makes Chinese society susceptible to rumour and panic.
So China's leaders have to be risk averse when dealing with a high density population, which is only grudgingly loyal in the first place and unlikely to be resilient to terror or tolerant of failure to prevent it.
In Xinjiang, recent attacks may be small, but Beijing needs to show its public that it is doing something about them, even if that something is ineffectual or worse, counter-productive.
The region's security forces are already well trained and armed
Turning to the third possible motive for an "all-out offensive" against scattered enemies armed only with knives, China has powerful vested interests whose objectives are advanced by talking up the security threat.
The politicians involved want to strengthen their hand before a crucial Communist Party Congress in the autumn, the security services want to expand their bureaucratic empire, and the businesses producing surveillance equipment and software have money to make.
Ethnic riots in 2009 left nearly 200 dead and led to mass arrests, against which these women protested
Despite China's best efforts to cut off the routes of escape via Central and South East Asia, more than 100 Uighur fighters have made their way to Iraq and Syria. And now, IS is using footage from Xinjiang in its propaganda videos.
It's impossible to judge how far this would have happened without policies of religious and cultural repression in Xinjiang.
Banning beards and head scarves in public places, forcing Muslims to break their rules on fasting, demolishing mosques, micromanaging religious education, exacting outward shows of ideological loyalty serves to alienate Uighurs in Xinjiang.
Some Uighurs feel their distinct culture is under threat
In many countries terror triggers the impulse to repress and punish the community which appears to harbour the "terrorist". But other societies debate the dangers of alienation and the risk that those criminalised may become even more vulnerable to exploitation by extremists.
In 2014, making the case for an honest appraisal of the dangers of repression earned the Uighur academic Ilham Tohti a life sentence in prison.
The risk of demonising such mild dissent is to leave China's Uighurs only the voice of the separatist, the "terrorist" or the religious fundamentalist.
Despite relatively moderate activism, Uighur academic Ilham Tohti was jailed for life
At present, the cost of this silence is experienced only by Uighurs and by Han Chinese who live and work in Xinjiang. But this may change.
Already the technologies of an Orwellian police state are advancing across China. Security services have no inhibitions about accessing social media accounts and private financial records to build an increasingly complete picture of the lives of persons of interest.
A vaguely worded new anti-terror law and accompanying narrative of foreign threats justify every constriction of civil liberties and detention of human rights lawyers, labour activists, religious believers and feminists.
Most of the Uighur ethnic minority, which makes up about 45% of Xinjiang's population, practise the Muslim faith
Occasionally the Chinese public pushes back with complaints on social media about aggressive policing or miscarriages of justice.
And China does have traditions of soft power as well as hard - strains of Confucian paternalism in which a benign emperor rules through wisdom and natural authority, not through fear.
But in 2017, these strains are absent in Xinjiang. There's no significant pushback to the Communist Party message that the security of the state trumps the liberty of the citizen.
So China will go on failing to win the battle for hearts and minds in Xinjiang, and failing to convince the outside world that its offensive there is a clear-cut battle between good and evil.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-39137420
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Russian doping scandal: Lord Coe says progress is being made - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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IAAF president Lord Coe says that the Russian authorities have "grasped the enormity of the challenge" as they tackle doping in the country.
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Last updated on .From the section Olympics
IAAF president Lord Coe says that the Russian authorities have "grasped the enormity of the challenge" as they tackle doping in the country.
Athletics' governing body has banned Russian athletes from all competition over reports of state-sponsored doping.
"The tough decision we made is starting to bear fruit," he said.
The World Anti-Doping Agency says it has been "encouraged" by Russian President Vladimir Putin's admission his country's own system "didn't work".
While denying allegations of a state-sponsored programme of systematic cheating, Putin said his country should acknowledge its anti-doping failures.
Coe confirmed that "there is a real possibility" of Russia being reinstated to international athletics, as expected, in November, after August's World Championships in London.
"The new federation is populated by people who I do genuinely think have grasped the enormity of this challenge," Coe told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We should acknowledge the progress that is being made.
"We need to make sure that we continue to do everything we can to get clean Russian athletes back into the international fold.
"That was always the task once the federation had been suspended."
The Wada-commissioned McLaren report claimed in December that more than 1,000 Russian athletes had benefited from state-backed cheating between 2011 and 2015.
That followed the suspension of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency by Wada after it was declared "non-compliant with immediate effect" in November.
On Monday, Alexander Zhukov, the head of the country's Olympic Committee, dismissed the McLaren report, telling Russian state TV channel Rossiya 1 on Monday, it was "clear that the serious evidence in the report does not exist".
Wada has said that it has full confidence in the report, despite discrepancies in the supporting evidence.
President Putin struck a more conciliatory tone as he promised to move responsibility for anti-doping to an autonomous body - a key part of the requirements set out for its readmission by Wada.
"We will transfer this system from the sports ministry to an independent organisation, as has been done in many countries in the world," he said, adding that a new testing facility would be built at the Moscow State University.
Both the International Association of Athletics Federations and Wada have drawn up conditions that Russia must meet to be re-admitted to their organisations. The IAAF's list includes an "appropriate official response" to the points in the McLaren report.
"Wada is encouraged by this sign of progress," said president Sir Craig Reedie.
"This public admission is an important step in the right direction."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/39138150
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'Why I quit my dream job as a police detective' - BBC News
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2017-03-02
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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With a police investigator shortage now a "crisis", ex-detectives reveal why they quit their jobs.
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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. 'Why I quit my dream job as a police detective'
The lack of police investigators in the UK is in crisis, according to a new report. Former detectives have told BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme why they have quit their jobs.
Being a police officer was Angelina Dawson's dream job. It was "all I ever wanted to do", she says.
A police officer who won commendations, she was "dead chuffed" when she finally became a detective helping to solve some of London's most serious crimes.
"I loved the challenge of trying to work out what happened and putting the pieces of the puzzle together and getting the result, getting to court when people are being convicted of terrible things," she says.
"You really feel you've made a difference. It was worth all of those long hours."
However, in February - after 10 years as a Metropolitan Police officer and having become a detective - she decided to walk away from the police.
"I decided it's not good for me, it's not good for my health. It is so pressurised now. There just isn't enough of us," she says.
A shortage of detectives in the force meant some officers were having to investigate up to 20 crimes at once, she says.
Angelina at her passing out parade, in 2007
"That is a massive workload, that's a minimum of 20 victims, a minimum of 20 suspects," she says. "There just isn't enough hours in a day to do everything."
Eventually, she says, the job began to harm her health, at which point she decided to leave it behind, albeit with a heavy heart.
"I would often wake up with headaches because I wasn't having enough sleep," she says.
"No matter how much you try to be organised at work and keep on top of everything, there was just more and more and more and there just wasn't enough of us to cope with what was coming in.
"I just ended up thinking I can't do this anymore. It made me feel a bit of a failure to be honest, that I couldn't stick at it. It made me sad."
Simon Davison says he quit the police rather than move to another team for a promotion
Simon Davison, another former Met Police detective, says the workload in some CID units in the capital had become "insurmountable" before he left.
Last month, he resigned as a detective in the Met's "flying squad" - a unit that investigates serious organised crime.
He says he would have had to move away from his specialist unit in order to win a promotion.
However, he took the decision to quit the force altogether rather than transfer to one of London's 32 borough constabularies, where he says numbers have been "decimated".
"They've often got one detective sergeant and a trainee detective and that's it for the borough," he says.
"It only takes a couple of serious incidents and they are completely stretched.
"So I certainly noticed that going into the CID offices, that they just had very few numbers and you could sense the morale was quite down."
The seemingly glamorous lure of becoming a police detective and catching some of London's most fearsome criminals has also diminished, according to Mr Davison.
"The mystique of the CID has gone," he says.
"It used to be something that you aspired to but now I think something where you are either put or it is seen as the easy way out.
"I've seen departments with very few people.
"The experience has gone, and they just have an insurmountable work load."
The Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) report on police effectiveness describes the shortage of investigators - including detectives - as a "national crisis", calling for a UK-wide response.
"Some crimes are apparently being shelved without proper investigations taking place," the report says.
Inspectors say the Met Police is currently short of 700 detectives, and they are "very concerned" that too often officers without the right skills and experience are investigating crimes.
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file police officers, says the overall number of officers in London has not reduced.
Instead, the organisation says, cuts to civilian staff numbers have piled more pressure on officers, while there are also fewer people coming forward to join CID.
It is urging forces to make the role of a detective constable more appealing.
The Met said in a statement that "detective recruitment and retention is being addressed as a priority".
"In an organisation as large and complex as ours, ensuring we have the right people in the right roles to deal with an ever changing pattern of demand will always be very challenging, even more so in the current financial climate," the force said.
It added: "The Met has more officers than ever before taking the detective exam."
The Home Office said in a statement: "We have protected police funding through the 2015 Spending Review, and the public should be in no doubt that forces will continue to have the resources they need to cut crime and keep our communities safe."
Watch the Victoria Derbyshire programme on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News channel.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39128725
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Fernando Torres: Atletico Madrid striker 'stable & conscious' after head injury - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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Atletico Madrid say striker Fernando Torres is "stable, conscious and lucid" in hospital after suffering a head injury in the 1-1 draw with Deportivo.
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Atletico Madrid say striker Fernando Torres is "stable, conscious and lucid" in hospital after suffering a head injury in the 1-1 draw with Deportivo.
The ex-Liverpool and Chelsea striker fell heavily in an 85th-minute aerial challenge with Alex Bergantinos.
The Spain international, 32, will have more tests on Friday, but Atletico confirmed scans showed he has "no traumatic alterations or injuries".
Torres said: "It was just a scare. I hope to come back very soon."
Players from both teams immediately rushed to Torres and called for medical help.
He was assisted for several minutes by doctors before being taken off on a stretcher and transferred to a hospital.
Speaking at his post-match news conference, Atletico coach Diego Simeone said he was "worried and nervous" when the incident happened.
"We heard the blow from the bench, we saw how he fell and we were afraid," he said. "We didn't know if that noise was Fernando's neck or not."
Atletico finished the game with 10 men, having used all three substitutes, but earned a point thanks to Antoine Griezmann's stunning 30-yard strike.
Deportivo had taken an early lead in Pepe Mel's first game in charge when Florin Andone capitalised on a poor Jan Oblak goal-kick.
"Everybody was speechless in the dressing room because of what happened," said Griezmann.
"In the end I do not care about the result. I just want to know what's up with Fernando and hopefully he's fine. And he gets back to us soon."
Atletico left-back Filipe Luis added: "It's very ugly to see it, we were all scared but at least the news we have received so far is good and the most important thing is that Fernando is well."
The draw leaves Atletico fourth in La Liga - 11 adrift of leaders Barcelona - while Deportivo are now 17th.
• None Offside, Atlético de Madrid. José Giménez tries a through ball, but Diego Godín is caught offside.
• None Yannick Carrasco (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Fernando Torres went off injured after Atlético de Madrid had used all subs.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Álex Bergantiños (Deportivo de La Coruña) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
• None Delay in match Fernando Torres (Atlético de Madrid) because of an injury.
• None Juanfran (Deportivo de La Coruña) wins a free kick on the right wing. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39149076
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Will Cuba embrace the internet revolution? - BBC News
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2017-03-02
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How a pilot scheme in Havana might point the way to an internet-connected Cuba.
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Latin America & Caribbean
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No matter how much you warn visitors to Cuba that they'll be offline during their stay, they often won't believe it until they actually arrive in Havana.
On arrival, they find their iPads and smartphones suddenly only serve for taking photos which, to their dismay, can't be immediately posted to their Instagram or Facebook accounts.
Whether Snapchat-obsessed millennials or email-addicted workaholics, they stare at their phones in disbelief, waiting in vain for the familiar "4G" symbol to appear, as the realisation dawns that an enforced digital detox is upon them.
Conversely, plenty of travellers to Cuba relish the chance to disconnect from the office emails and the constant barrage of WhatsApp alerts and tweets.
Yet what for the tourist is either a temporary inconvenience or a welcome offline breather is a very different reality for ordinary Cubans.
For years, it felt to many on the island like the internet was something happening elsewhere, to other people.
People use public wi-fi to connect their devices in a street in Havana
Recently though, it is easier, and cheaper, to get online in Cuba than it used to be.
There are now more than 240 public access wi-fi spots dotted around the country and the price for an hour of internet access, while still expensive by international standards, has dropped by more than half, to $1.50 (£1.20) for an hour.
It is now a common sight to see people sitting with their laptops or phones in parks and public plazas connecting with their families abroad via video-chat technology.
In the latest development, the state telecommunications company, Etecsa, has installed internet connections in around 2,000 homes in the capital's colonial district, Old Havana, as part of a two-month pilot scheme.
Among the lucky few is Jose Antonio Ruiz.
His modest apartment in one of the neighbourhood's newer buildings is part of the government's domestic online experiment. As a private business owner who rents rooms to tourists, Mr Ruiz has found the new "luxury" helped him in two main ways.
First, he says, he can advertise his apartment more easily on popular accommodation websites like Airbnb, and answer his clients' emails much more promptly than before.
Guesthouse owner Jose Antonio Ruiz says internet access has benefited his business
Secondly, he can offer his guests a unique service giving him a competitive advantage over other guesthouses.
"The guests are really pleased when you tell them we have internet," Jose Antonio explains. "They relax as they know they can check their flights from here, read their emails or contact their families."
During the pilot, the connection is free but once it's over the government is expected to publish prices, so users can choose whether to keep the service or live without it.
It hasn't yet been confirmed but it is believed it will cost around $15 (£12) for 30 hours at the slowest speed of 128 kilobits per second, and up to $110 (£90) for the fastest - two megabits per second.
With the average wage in Cuba about $25 (£20) a month, those prices would be prohibitively expensive for many Cubans.
Jose Antonio's connection is not fast enough to stream video, for example. Still, it is an improvement on the dial-up connections that some state employees have at home and he says he'd pay to keep it as it's enough for what he needs.
One day, though, those needs could change, says Cuban youth blogger Ariel Montenegro.
"The digital transformation of a country is not just giving people the internet, but giving them services on the internet, Cuban services," he explains at a public access wi-fi point in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana.
Increased connectivity provides a boost to businesses like property rental companies
"Like banking or paying your bills or buying tickets for the movie theatre or applying to college. When those kinds of national services start to happen online then people will naturally become more impatient."
Such a move will take time, he thinks. However, much has already happened in a relatively short period.
"If you compare it with the rest of the world, of course we're still behind," admits Mr Montenegro. "But it's progress. When I started college, although we had the internet, it was really, really, really slow. You could barely do anything."
"In five years' time, I believe that at least every university will have a really fast internet connection as well as in libraries, in schools and more public wi-fi spots."
The Cuban government's position on the internet is twofold.
First it blames the US economic embargo for the lack of information technology in Cuba, saying that many of the major IT firms around the world fear running foul of Washington's strict rules on trading with Cuba.
Vice-President Miguel Angel Diaz Canel is believed to be open to greater online access
Since the bilateral thaw of December 2014, that has been harder to argue, of course. Last year Google reached an agreement with Etecsa on storing its online content, such as YouTube video and Gmail, on servers inside Cuba to improve local access. Google executives are also keen to provide further internet-based solutions to challenges on the island.
However, there is also a lingering official distrust of unfettered internet access.
Whether stemming from an ill-advised USAid-run programme intended to undermine the Castro government via a text message-based form of "Cuban Twitter" called ZunZuneo or a broader suspicion of social media as a tool of dissent, the authorities have traditionally been wary of the net.
Following his meeting with Raul Castro last year, the then British Foreign Secretary, Phillip Hammond, told the BBC that the 85-year-old Cuban president "clearly understands the power of the digital economy to drive growth" but had also raised his concerns over "the negative aspects of the internet from online radicalisation to child sexual exploitation".
Mr Castro has a little under a year to go before he steps down from the presidency. His expected successor, Vice-President Miguel Angel Diaz Canel, is thought to be receptive to greater online access after he once publicly defended a group of young bloggers who had posted relatively critical material online.
As the home internet pilot scheme draws to an close, the Cuban government must next decide whether to shut it down or roll it out across the island.
Depending on the price, many thousands of potential users are ready to connect.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-39119873
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Who are the Guantanamo Brits? - BBC News
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2017-03-02
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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A profile of the 17 British citizens and residents who were detained by the US in the camp on Cuba.
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UK
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Seventeen British citizens or residents were detained by the United States at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. But who are they, how did they come to be there and what became of them following their release?
Born Ronald Fiddler to a Christian Caribbean family in Manchester, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Jamal al-Harith before eventually dying as a so-called Islamic State suicide bomber in Iraq, under the alias Abu Zakariya al-Britani.
He was seized by US forces in Afghanistan, transferred to Guantanamo Bay in February 2002 and released just over two years later.
Al-Harith was paid compensation by the government in order to prevent an expensive class action by former detainees.
The BBC has seen registration papers signed by al-Harith in April 2014, when he crossed into Syria and joined IS.
His wife told Channel 4 News he may have used some of the compensation payout to fund his trip.
Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal and Rhuhel Ahmed became known as "the Tipton three" - friends from the West Midlands who were among the first detainees sent to Guantanamo Bay, in early 2002, after being handed over to American forces in Afghanistan.
Their lawyers filed a habeas corpus suit in 2004 that led to a landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court allowing detainees the right to legally challenge their detention.
The three were released and returned to the UK in March 2004, where they were interviewed by police but never charged.
The men regularly spoke out about their alleged mistreatment.
Theirs were among the first accounts of alleged mistreatment by their American captors and included claims of collusion by the British state.
Rhuhel Ahmed claimed that during MI5 interrogation sessions in Afghanistan, there had been "a guy standing on the backs of my legs and another holding a gun to my head".
Mr Ahmed, who trained as a plumber when he got back to England, told the BBC: "I don't really care if people think I'm a terrorist or not.
"They've let me go, and that's good enough for me.
"I want to move on in my life."
As with all of those from Britain held in Guantanamo, the men were paid compensation by the British government.
Ethiopian national Binyam Mohamed spent six years in US detention after being arrested in Pakistan in 2002.
He was accused of being a would-be bomber - but, in a series of seminal court hearings, his lawyers alleged he had been tortured in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan.
The Court of Appeal ordered the release of documents that confirmed Washington had told London of the ill treatment.
Mr Mohamed was released from Guantanamo in 2009 and returned to his family.
The former bookseller from Birmingham spent almost three years in US detention, in Afghanistan and then Guantanamo, accused of being an al-Qaeda operative.
Since returning to the UK in January 2005, he has become the most outspoken opponent of British and US counter-terrorism policies of those Britons held at Guantanamo.
He has always denied the allegations.
An attempt to prosecute him in the UK for terrorism dramatically collapsed in October 2014 after police and prosecutors were handed secret intelligence material.
Outside prison Mr Begg said: "Little has changed since the beginning of the early days in the war on terror."
Omar Deghayes came to the UK as a refugee from Col Muammar Gaddafi's Libya.
He was held at Guantanamo for five years, accused of training in terror camps, and was mistakenly said to have been photographed on jihad in Chechnya.
He has always denied he was a fighter, claiming to have travelled to Afghanistan to see first-hand what the Taliban were doing.
He says he lost sight in an eye following mistreatment by a guard in Guantanamo and described the camp as "a very black page in American history".
Since his return to his home on the south coast of England, Mr Deghayes has campaigned for the release of the remaining detainees in Guantanamo.
Three of his nephews left their home in Brighton to fight jihad in Syria.
Two of them have been killed.
Bisher al-Rawi is an Iraqi refugee who settled in London and was held at Guantanamo for four years.
He came to the attention of MI5 because of his friendship with the radical Palestinian-Jordanian cleric Abu Qatada.
Having been tipped off by MI5, American intelligence detained Mr al-Rawi and his travelling companion, Jamil al-Banna, on a business trip to Gambia.
The pair were put on a rendition flight to Afghanistan before arriving in Guantanamo in 2003.
In a rare TV interview, Mr al-Rawi told the BBC he had fought an internal battle to control his anger over how he had been treated.
"I thought if you go down that road, you will destroy yourself," he said.
Like many of his fellow detainees, Tarek Dergoul has suffered from bouts of depression since his release from Guantanamo, in 2004.
Five years later, he told me it had taken until then "to get back into the groove".
Mr Dergoul lost an arm after being hurt in a US missile strike on Afghanistan after 9/11.
Over the years, he has refused media requests to discuss what he was doing there
He was accused of having links to al-Qaeda, but he was never charged or put before a military tribunal.
He once told me that Guantanamo had tested him.
"I like to think I did OK… but it's not over until it's over," he added.
In 2011 Mr Dergoul was convicted of assaulting a traffic warden whom he thought had been spying on him.
Mr Dergoul has not replied to the BBC's attempts to contact him.
A Jordanian refugee from London, Jamil al-Banna was on the same trip to Gambia as his friend Bisher al-Rawi.
Having been tipped off by MI5, American intelligence detained the pair, putting them on a rendition flight to Afghanistan before transferring them to Guantanamo in 2003.
Mr al-Banna was released four years later, when he returned to England and a daughter born soon after his detention.
Following a Spanish extradition request, he was arrested, but the charge was dropped in 2008.
He has stayed out of public life since then.
Born in Uganda, Feroz Abbasi moved to Britain with his family when he was eight and settled in Croydon, south London.
Following his conversion to Islam, the troubled teenager fell into the orbit of the radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri, who, it was claimed, dispatched his young charge to the terror training camps of Afghanistan.
Mr Abassi was detained by US forces, who accused him of being a member of al-Qaeda who had volunteered to carry out a "martyrdom mission".
One of the first detainees sent to Guantanamo, he was released without charge in January 2005.
He has refused to grant press interviews since then but has done some work for the controversial campaigning group, Cage.
Martin Mubanga is a joint Zambian and British national seized by US intelligence in Zambia in 2002.
Accused of having received terror training in Afghanistan, he was sent to Guantanamo.
There, the Joint Task Force claimed, he had admitted being a member of al-Qaeda and been assessed as "high risk".
But he was later cleared for release and returned to London in January 2005.
He joined other former detainees in successfully seeking compensation from the British authorities.
His lawyers argued that papers disclosed during the civil claim showed the British government could have prevented his transfer to Guantanamo.
In a newspaper interview soon after his release, he said: "The authorities wanted to break me, but they strengthened me.
"They've made me what I am - even if I'm not quite sure who that person is."
Richard Belmar is a west London convert to Islam sent to Guantanamo in October 2002 after allegedly being captured in an al-Qaeda safe house in Pakistan.
He was released in January 2005, when he told a newspaper he had been beaten and sexually humiliated in US detention.
It's not known where he currently lives.
Abdenour Sameur is an Algerian army deserter who came to Britain in 1999 and was later granted refugee status.
He was arrested in Pakistan, accused of attending terror training camps linked to al-Qaeda, and sent to Guantanamo in June 2002.
He was released along with Jamil Al-Banna and Omar Deghayes in December 2007.
It isn't known what he did afterwards.
Ahmed Errachidi is a Moroccan who came to London in the mid-1980s, where he worked as a chef.
He was detained in Pakistan in 2002, for allegedly attending an al-Qaeda training camp, and sent to Guantanamo.
He was released in May 2007 after his lawyers proved he had been working in London when he was accused of being at a training camp.
He returned to his family in Morocco and has since written a book about his experiences in captivity on the Cuban island.
Ahmed Belbacha is a former footballer from Algeria who came to Britain in 1999.
He was detained in Pakistan and accused of being sent to Afghanistan by the radical cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri for terror training.
He was transferred to Guantanamo in early 2002 and, despite being cleared for release five years later, freed only in 2014.
Mr Belbacha was returned to Algeria after his lawyers received assurances he would be treated fairly and humanely.
Originally from Saudi Arabia, Shaker Aamer was the last British resident to leave Guantanamo, having being held there without trial for 13 years.
He was accused of being an associate of Osama Bin Laden.
His lawyers say the case against him came from unreliable allegations extracted during torture.
He was repatriated to the UK in 2015.
In an interview with the BBC, he said the the best thing about being free was "just to wake up and know that nobody's going to tell you what to do".
• None What does the future hold for Guantanamo?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39115761
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Manchester City 5-1 Huddersfield Town - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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Manchester City cruise into the FA Cup quarter-finals after fighting back to beat visitors Huddersfield in their fifth-round replay.
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Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester City cruised into the FA Cup quarter-finals after fighting back to beat much-changed Championship promotion hopefuls Huddersfield in their fifth-round replay.
After a 0-0 draw in the original tie, the visitors led when Harry Bunn's shot went through Claudio Bravo's legs.
But tap-ins from Leroy Sane and Pablo Zabaleta, with Sergio Aguero's clinical penalty in between, turned the replay in City's favour before half-time.
Aguero swept in Raheem Sterling's cross at the near post for City's fourth, before substitute Kelechi Iheanacho poked in with the last kick of the game.
City's reward is a quarter-final trip to Premier League rivals Middlesbrough on Saturday, 11 March (12:15 GMT).
Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City last summer with the clear remit from owner Sheikh Mansour to take the club to "a new level".
While that demand is largely thought to mean success in the Champions League, the City hierarchy will also want to see the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach deliver domestic trophies.
Winning the Premier League looks to be a uphill task with Chelsea 11 points clear, while Manchester United took the season's first silverware by claiming the EFL Cup.
But they have moved into the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time in four seasons after overcoming an early scare against Huddersfield.
"Seeing their biggest rivals United bag the first trophy of the season means City will be thinking 'we want a piece of that'," said Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer.
"I think this is their best chance of silverware this season."
Not a Bravo performance - or was it?
Despite the relative ease of extending their unbeaten run to eight matches, there were still some concerning sights for Guardiola. Namely more uncertain goalkeeping from the returning Bravo.
Guardiola reiterated his confidence in the former Barcelona keeper before the replay, despite trusting Willy Caballero instead in City's past four Premier League matches and the Champions League last-16 win against Monaco.
However, he watched the Chilean make another error to gift the opening goal to former City youngster Bunn.
The 33-year-old stopper, who was dropped after conceding 16 goals from the previous 24 shots on target he had faced in the Premier League, let Bunn's low strike through his legs in Huddersfield's first effort on target.
That led to ironic applause from the home fans when Bravo blocked Huddersfield's second shot at goal shortly before half-time.
Guardiola did not appear pleased, turning around to glare at the supporters behind him.
Afterwards the Spaniard described Bravo's performance as "top", adding "his performance with the foot helped us build up".
All not lost for promotion-chasing Town
Huddersfield had lost only one of their previous 18 games in all competitions, putting them third in the Championship and in the thick of the promotion race.
Playing in the Premier League for the first time is clearly their priority.
Head coach David Wagner, sat in the stands after being given a two-match touchline ban, made nine changes to his regular team - but it hardly showed in the opening 20 minutes.
Bunn's opener sent the 7,200 travelling fans into delirium and, although the Terriers could not sustain the same level as the game wore on, credit must be given for the way they continued to try to attack after the break.
Joe Lolley wasted an excellent chance for Town to get back in the game when he headed over the bar from close range, while away fans hopefully demanded a penalty when Collin Quaner fell in the box under the lightest of challenges from John Stones.
While the scoreline ended heavily in favour of their opponents, Huddersfield will return to their promotion challenge full of heart before what could be a memorable run-in.
Aguero's future has been subject to much speculation after he was dropped by Guardiola last month, with leading European clubs said to be expected to bid for the Argentina international this summer.
Here he showed the City boss exactly what he can offer: movement, energy, tenacity - and goals. Guardiola was suitably impressed, praising the striker's performance as "the best I've seen from him".
"Even in the moment (when we conceded) we were playing quite good, we made good things against a good team.
"We are happy because we're in the quarter-finals. I was impressed with Huddersfield in both halves - they have good quality players. We missed a lot of the last passes. But OK - we knew how tough it could be and we play in a good performance.
"It's the best Sergio Aguero ever. Today the performance was amazing. The runs were at the right moment and the right tempo. His performance was top - the same with Claudio Bravo, his performance with the foot helped us build up."
"Of course the start was positive because we went in front but we were not at our best, performance-wise.
"We have shown too much respect, unfortunately, against a very strong Manchester City side.
"Congratulations to Pep. The result was fair. We made too many easy mistakes when we had the ball and when we defended we were not aggressive enough.
"When you play against Manchester City you have to be very aggressive."
Both sides go back to the pursuit of the top two in their respective leagues.
City travel to relegation-threatened Sunderland on Sunday (16:00 GMT), while Huddersfield host leaders Newcastle in a promotion clash on Saturday (17:30 GMT).
• None Goal! Manchester City 5, Huddersfield Town 1. Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jesús Navas with a cross.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Attempt missed. Collin Quaner (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
• None Attempt blocked. Jack Payne (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Collin Quaner.
• None Delay over. They are ready to continue.
• None Delay in match Martin Cranie (Huddersfield Town) because of an injury.
• None Offside, Manchester City. Kelechi Iheanacho tries a through ball, but Raheem Sterling is caught offside.
• None Fernandinho (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
• None Goal! Manchester City 4, Huddersfield Town 1. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
• None Offside, Huddersfield Town. Jon Gorenc Stankovic tries a through ball, but Collin Quaner is caught offside. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39035253
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Gordon Brown calls for second Leveson press abuse inquiry - BBC News
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2017-03-02
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The former prime minister says the majority of recent press abuses are down to the Murdoch press.
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UK
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Gordon Brown has called for the second part of the Leveson Inquiry to go ahead - and said the majority of press abuses in recent years were from the Murdoch press.
Speaking to the former prime minister for Thursday's BBC News at Ten, I asked him why we need it, given the criminal trials that followed the first part and high cost to the public.
"There are so many unanswered questions about what the Murdoch News International group did… blagging, impersonation, email interception, breaches under the law itself... that unless there is a full and proper inquiry we'll never be able to clear the air," he said.
"And we'll always have suspicions about how the media was acting for a whole decade at the start of the 21st century."
As things stand, there is a judicial review into the terms of a government consultation into both whether the second part of Leveson should happen and also if Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (which imposes costs of legal actions against publishers on to those publishers if they don't sign up to an approved regulator) should be implemented.
The second Leveson Inquiry was to look specifically at allegations of unlawful or improper conduct within News International, other newspaper organisations and, as appropriate, other organisations within the media,
Most of the people I speak to in Westminster think it is unlikely that a government so focused on leaving the European Union will want the distraction of another inquiry.
For Brown, that is not good enough - and the fact that David Cameron promised it would happen counts for plenty.
"Leveson himself said this was only the first part of his inquiry, Mr Cameron when prime minister said there had to be a Leveson Two, the House of Lords has looked at this and agreed there has to be a second inquiry," he said.
"Mr Cameron said that was to happen when he was prime minister. It does seem strange that we're now not going to have it unless we keep pushing for it.
"Leveson One could only deal with part of the problem. The whole of the problem has to be dealt with, including the way Murdoch newspapers impersonated people, including the way there were breaches of the law, including also how email interception might have happened, as well as telephone interception. And the media itself should want an inquiry to clear the air."
Brown believes there is fresh evidence that has not been sufficiently raked over. And it was clear in speaking to him how personally he was affected by press intrusion.
"There is fresh evidence. We have the Daniel Morgan murder inquiry and that is revealing fresh evidence almost every month. We have the statements made by people who were in police at the time that have been sent to [Culture Secretary] Karen Bradley as a reason for taking action.
"We have the evidence that people like me have that I was impersonated, that my bank account was broken into, that my lawyer's office was besieged by calls impersonating me from the Murdoch newspapers.
"These are all things that happened and have not been properly accounted for by the Murdoch empire."
I asked Brown whether, as many of his critics contend, this was really the vendetta of a wronged man.
His response was: "I can only explain what happened to me. I know I was impersonated. My lawyer's office received questions by impersonation. My bank accounts and mortgage accounts were broken into.
"I am in a position to defend myself. There are thousands who don't know what happened to them. People who have less power to defend themselves than me deserve this inquiry."
Murdoch, with whom Brown was thought at one point to have developed a trustful relationship, deserted Labour at the 2010 election, endorsing the Conservatives in a manner timed to inflict maximum damage on Brown's ambitions.
The bid by 21st Century Fox for the 61% of Sky it does not already own is imminent. It is currently being bounced between Fox and the European Commission as part of what are known as "pre-notification talks". They are a formality.
Very soon, Fox will formally notify Karen Bradley of their bid and she will have 10 days to decide whether to refer the bid to telecoms regulator Ofcom.
James Murdoch gave evidence to the first Leveson Inquiry
I asked Brown specifically whether he thought that the Murdochs, and James Murdoch, were fit and proper to hold a broadcasting licence.
"Before you make a decision about the ownership of a very important media organisation, you should know all the facts.
"Because we haven't had Leveson Two there is always going to be doubt as to whether we know what is happening in this organisation, whether we know whether there are fit and proper people governing this organisation."
I asked him finally why he seemed to be targeting Murdoch particularly. After all, it was not just the Murdoch press that did wrong. But that is not really how Brown sees it.
"All the major instances of abuse that merit inquiry in recent years have come out of the Murdoch press. We have the fake Sheikh, we have the telephone hacking, we have issues about email hacking.
"Most of them resolve at least in the main around the Murdoch media and that's where the inquiry has got to start."
News UK declined to comment on these assertions. Their position is simple and has been made publicly many times: there have been extensive criminal trials into many of these accusations, with several journalists in the dock.
We don't need yet more flagellation of the press.
Watch the interview on BBC News at Ten at 22:00 GMT on BBC One on Thursday or on iPlayer for 24 hours afterwards.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39145261
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Donald Trump and the end of American exceptionalism? - BBC News
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2017-03-02
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Does Trumpism mean making a definitive break from the America's past as a beacon of democracy?
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US & Canada
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When a German Chancellor feels the need to explain the refugee convention to an American president, the speaker of British House of Commons says the leader of its closest ally is not welcome to address parliament, China positions itself as the grown-up in the room by chiding him for his blunt Twitter diplomacy and the botched travel ban is denounced not just by US adversaries, such as Iran, but allies, such as France and Canada, is it not time to sound the death-knell of American exceptionalism?
That is, the credo pushed by successive presidents that the United States is a beacon of democracy, an exemplar of human rights, an indispensable country imbued with special values and beliefs that grants it the moral authority and national self-belief to influence and admonish other countries, friend and foe alike.
Donald Trump, rather than being heralded as the leader of free world, has been pilloried. By protesters who took to the streets - and snow - from Australia to Antarctica as part of more than 600 protests worldwide on the first weekend of his presidency.
By satirists who came up with the "Netherlands Second" viral video - and all its other cheeky iterations - in response to Trump's "America First" doctrine.
By models at Milan Fashion Week who paraded on the catwalk wearing the now iconic pink pussy hats that first appeared on the Washington Mall at the massive women's march.
By graphic designers who have created a gallery of scolding magazine covers, including, most shockingly, Der Spiegel's depiction of the US president holding aloft the severed head of the Statue of Liberty.
When Jimmy Kimmel joked during his Oscars opening monologue that Donald Trump had made 225 countries hate America, he was exaggerating. As with all well-aimed satire, however, it contained more than a kernel of truth.
It is a measure of Trump's unpopularity that George W Bush, the last US president to attract such international ire, is being rehabilitated in the global mind as a cool-headed statesman and staunch defender of American press freedom.
Last year, at the height of the presidential campaign, a Pew Research Center poll suggested that 85% of Europeans have "no confidence" in Donald Trump to do the right thing as president.
A poll conducted by Gallup International Association suggested that, were the US election to be held in 45 foreign countries, Hillary Clinton would have won a landslide victory in every single one, with the sole exception of Russia. The French President Francois Hollande even said the brash billionaire made people "want to retch".
Though international leaders are now more respectful, few could be described as being genuinely admiring. It will take more than his speech before the joint session of Congress, in which Trump sought to stabilise his presidency, to assuage global concerns.
During his inaugural address, Donald Trump paid lip service to the notion of American exceptionalism, though he did not use the phrase.
"We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example," he declared. "We will shine for everyone to follow."
But rather than painting a picture of sunny American uplands, his inaugural address sketched out something darker and more dystopian: a country marred by poverty-stricken and crime-ridden inner cities and "rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape".
The speech will be remembered not for his brief invocation of American exceptionalism, but rather his depiction of "American carnage" and his pledge to put "America First." It was bunker America rather than beacon America.
In his speech to the joint session of Congress, there was another perfunctory acknowledgment of exceptionalism thinking when he said the "torch is now in our hands. And we will use it to light up the world."
But although softer in tone than his angry inaugural, Tuesday night's address was stridently nationalistic nonetheless. "My job is not to represent the world," he affirmed. "My job is to represent the United States of America."
Donald Trump has already signalled he believes that America can be great without it being exceptional. In a jaw-dropping interview with Bill O'Reilly of Fox News broadcast on Super Bowl Sunday, Trump seemed to reject the central tenet of exceptionalist thinking: that American values are the global gold standard.
Asked why he favoured closer ties with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom O'Reilly characterised as "a killer", Trump responded: "There are a lot of killers. We've got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country's so innocent?"
For critics, it implied a moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, a country that in recent years has annexed Crimea, been accused of murdering internal opponents, allegedly committed war crimes in Syria and severely curtailed LGBT rights.
Donald Trump also appears to set more store in hard power, the use and threat of force, than soft power, the use of more subtle forms of suasion such as diplomacy and international aid.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Donald Trump addressed Congress for the first time.
Just look at this week's budget proposal, which calls for an almost 10% splurge on defence spending to be paid for in part by cuts to State Department funding and international aid. Promoting human rights abroad, a central tenet of the exceptionalist creed, no longer appears to be an urgent priority.
The United States is even said to be considering withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council, partly because of what it perceives as UN bias against Israel.
Acting on another exceptionalist impulse, America has traditionally championed press freedom around the world. The First Amendment resonates way beyond these shores.
But with Donald Trump continuing to rage against the US media in an attempt, seemingly, to delegitimise it, America's clarion voice on press freedom has at best been compromised and at worst been rendered mute.
Rather than wanting America to be emulated, it would appear that Trump prefers it to be feared. And although local criticism, from media organisations like the New York Times, lays bare his thin skin, international criticism seems almost to have an emboldening effect.
If other countries are railing against him, it is a sign he is doing his job and delivering on his campaign promises.
It brings to mind the famed chant heard from the stands of Millwall FC, one of the least fashionable clubs in the English football league: "No-one likes us, we don't care."
Right now, it's American adulation that he seems to crave more than global admiration.
To many international ears, American exceptionalism has long sounded like bogus boosterism, a vain conceit.
What right did a country that countenanced slavery and the racial apartheid of Jim Crow have to lecture others?
Even in World War Two, when America became the "arsenal of the democracy" in the defeat of fascism, it was a segregated US military that took to the battlefield.
Vietnam, Watergate, Guantanamo Bay, the Iraq war and electronic eavesdropping. To foreign critics, American exceptionalism doubles as American hypocrisy.
Barack Obama sought to revive the concept after the Bush years, when America's global stock was low, and regularly spoke of exceptionalism. Under his presidency, however, it continued to have negative connotations. America was exceptional because of its high rates of gun crime, its multiple killings and its racial flare-ups.
Rebels in Syria wondered why the Obama administration wasn't doing more to help it oust a murderous despot like Bashar al-Assad. Moreover, Guantamano Bay, a US landmark that loomed larger in the post-911 era than the Statue of Liberty in many Muslim countries, remained open.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Ian Pannell reports from the city of Baltimore: "Hope has given way to despair"
US democracy was also widely seen as falling into disrepute, because of the dysfunction in Washington, the rise of hyper-partisan oppositional politics and the anger that poisoned the entire polity.
The 2016 presidential campaign, pitting two such deeply unpopular candidates against each other in a hugely uninspiring contest, presented an ugly shop window. The Electoral College, for those unversed in its intricacies and anomalies, also seemed demonstrably undemocratic.
How could Donald Trump emerge the victor, they asked, when Hillary Clinton received almost three million more votes?
American exceptionalism was looking shaky even before Donald Trump took the oath of office.
A key difference is that Barack Obama continued until his final days to talk of building a more perfect union, an aspiration that sprung from his exceptionalist ethos, while Donald Trump continues to talk of building that wall along the Mexican border.
Over the centuries, what has set US global leadership apart from the European powers that used to dominate the world is a fundamental difference in national mindset: America came to believe it was born to lead rather than born to rule.
Having won its independence from an imperial power, it sought to colonise the planet with its values and ideas rather than building a territorial empire.
Ever since Franklin Delano Roosevelt brought America into the war, the assertion of global leadership, and the promulgation of its ideas that goes with it, has been deemed central to the national self-interest.
But Trumpism, with its narrower homeland focus, looks like making a definitive break from this past.
His planned wall could end up serving as the metaphor for his presidency.
Trump's America might end up being a forcefully protected citadel, but will it be a city on a hill?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39133677
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British Cycling chairman apologises after bullying & doping claims - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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The head of British Cycling apologises for "failings" following accusations of bullying and sexism against top-level cyclists.
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Last updated on .From the section Cycling
The head of British Cycling has apologised for "failings" following accusations of bullying and sexism against top-level cyclists.
Chairman Jonathan Browning said the governing body will be making changes to be more caring to riders.
"Where there are failings we apologise," Browning told BBC sports editor Dan Roan.
He added the organisation would also address concerns raised by MPs at a select committee hearing into doping.
An investigation into the culture at British Cycling was launched last year after ex-riders complained about their treatment.
A report on the findings of the investigation is imminent.
But the governing body says work on an action plan to address any "failings" is already under way.
"Athlete and participant welfare is our highest priority," said Browning.
He said the organisation had achieved "remarkable success" in not only winning races, but bringing new people into the sport.
However, he added: "We deeply regret any instance where we have failed to deliver."
He accepted there had been "well reported" incidences where behaviour had been "unacceptable" and needed to be addressed.
"My ambition for athletes is anyone leaving the programme says 'I would recommend it to my younger brother or sister'," he said.
Browning said British Cycling was now "committed to implementing the recommendations of the independent review in full" to ensure the best possible environment in which its athletes could flourish.
• None Providing "whole life" development opportunities for every rider and supporting those who leave the programme
• None Developing a "refreshed set of values, behaviours and leadership principles" by which British Cycling will operate
The independent review was commissioned last April by British Cycling alongside UK Sport, which provides elite funding to the organisation.
It came after former technical director Shane Sutton, who was was later cleared of eight of nine allegations, was found to have used sexist language towards cyclist Jess Varnish.
UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl says the independent review has "identified valuable lessons" both for British Cycling and other sports it funds.
The organisation set out its own action plan to help British Cycling, which includes "placing more emphasis on the importance of culture and duty of care".
Browning added: "Athlete development has been and will continue to be the key to our success at the highest level.
"This is not about complying to protect funding, this is about running and leading our organisation in a way that is consistent with our ambition to be a world-class governing body and a great place to work."
'We need to show we are clean'
The release of British Cycling's action plan comes a day after MP Damian Collins said the body's credibility was "in tatters" following a separate inquiry into doping.
MPs heard "some detailed and worrying" evidence from former British Cycling coach Simon Cope and UK Anti-Doping chief Nicole Sapstead, covering poor record-keeping of riders' medical details to the mysterious contents of a jiffy bag delivered from British Cycling to Team Sky at a race in France.
Browning, who only took on the role of chairman last month, said he had been left "really disappointed" by the hearing, adding: "We're still looking for clear answers. Not only do we need to be clean but we have to be able to demonstrate it.
"I've not come across any evidence of cheating. I've found an organisation that's changed quickly and needs to reset its priorities - it's something we are going to fix."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39140041
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Trump slump? US tourism industry fears downturn - BBC News
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2017-03-02
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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Are President Trump's new policies negatively affecting travel to the US?
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US & Canada
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Travel experts began warning even before the 2016 election that Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric could cause a decline in tourism. So has the so-called "Trump slump" arrived?
Stephen Mumford, a professor of metaphysics at Durham University in north-east England, had some money to burn thanks to a large research fellowship grant he was awarded in October 2016. Always eager to travel to other countries and present his research, he began making arrangements for trips to several academic conferences in the United States.
In his first month in office, the Trump administration imposed a travel ban on seven majority-Muslim countries, and empowered US Customs and Border Protection agents to enforce immigration laws more assertively at ports of entry.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Protesters gather at Dulles airport: "Welcome to the USA!"
Mumford started to hear stories he didn't like - like the British Muslim school teacher who was separated from his students and removed from a flight bound for the US, or that incoming travellers were being asked to turn over their mobile phones and social media passwords.
Last month, Mumford made what he says was a difficult decision: to cancel all his planned travel to the US.
"I don't want to go to a conference if other people are excluded simply because they belong to a particular group," he says.
"I don't feel I can just walk in and think, 'I'm OK', and forget the guy behind me can't come in just because he's a Muslim. That's being a party to the unfairness."
Thousands of professors around the globe have pledged not to travel to the US.
A growing list of Canadian schools who once made regular trips across the border for sports, music and other educational events are cancelling their journeys for fear that foreign-born students could be singled out.
In Philadelphia, at least one large conference worth an estimated $7m in revenue to the city has been cancelled, and the tourism board of New York City recently reversed its pre-election projection that the city would see an increase of 400,000 international travellers in 2017.
The board now predicts 300,000 fewer foreign tourists will visit the Big Apple this year than did in 2016.
Anecdotes like these are the worst fears of travel industry analysts, who've been warning for weeks that the US could be entering a tourism "Trump slump".
The online booking site Kayak reported that searches by UK citizens for US destinations had "fallen off a cliff", and that hotel prices in cities like San Francisco, New York and Las Vegas dropped between 32-39%.
Hopper, another travel site, released data showing that searches for flights to America had dropped globally an average of 22%.
By contrast, the online travel agent site Tripsta reported a spike in one-way flights from the UK to the US in January and February of 2017, but hypothesised the cause could be "the return of non-US nationals concerned about restrictions to international travel".
The Global Business Travel Association estimated that for the week Trump's travel ban was in effect, the US lost $185m in travel bookings (£150m).
A Syrian refugee family who was previously banned by Trump's executive order celebrate their entry into the US
But the president can't shoulder all the blame.
Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics, characterises the slowing of tourism interest as a "trifecta of travel hindrances": a weak global economy, a strong US dollar and the "falling favourability" of the US in the eyes of the international community.
International travel was already down in 2016 by about 0.9% compared to 2015. Travel to the US from Canada was down 1.4% in December 2016 compared to the previous month, but overall, 2016 was the third consecutive year that fewer Canadians went to the States.
"We expected 2017 to be a fairly subpar year in any case - very modest growth," he says. "[But] this couldn't come at a worse time.
"The US is an expensive destination, we have a muted global economy and now we pile this on - that's why the impacts are as significant as they are."
His firm projects a loss of 6.3 million visitors by next year, which translates into $10.8bn in lost revenue, including what Sacks calls "Trump-induced" losses.
Henry Harteveldt, an analyst with the Atmosphere Research Group, says the US tourism industry has probably already bounced back from the immediate impact of the blocked travel ban. However, industry insiders are anxiously awaiting the language of the new executive order to replace it.
"There are a lot of unknowns. The travel industry, which is already a discretionary industry, hates uncertainty," he says.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Iraqi Fuad Suleman, who was turned back in Cairo, says he and his family had been preparing to emigrate to the US for two years
Harteveldt points to a survey his firm conducted weeks before the executive order took place, which showed that in 15 countries around the world about 20% of the respondents reported that as a result of the presidential election they were either somewhat or highly unlikely to travel to the US or had actually cancelled a planned trip.
"The fact that in 15 countries so many people had either cancelled trips or had such an unfavourable view of the United States was really alarming to me as an analyst," he says.
"Events that transpired during the presidential election just created a very bad impression of the US in many people's minds."
Trump's travel ban inspired protests around the globe, including this one in London
Lori, a mother of two boys in Edmonton, Alberta, says they used to make regular trips to the Twin Cities in Minnesota. After Trump's executive orders on immigration, her sons urged her to cancel a trip in March.
"For our oldest, it was out of outrage: the majority of his friends are either visible minority immigrants/refugees, or the children of immigrants or refugees; some of them are Muslim," she wrote in an email.
"For our 11 year old, it was fear: he equates the word 'America' with violence and discrimination against innocent people now."
Although some of the frenzy over President Trump may cool in the coming months, Sacks says that international travellers are booking their spring and summer holidays now.
"This is a massive negative economic impact that's at stake here. It will result in appreciable declines in tax revenues, and will affect household income and also employment and profitability for the industry," he says.
How much it will hurt will be more apparent later, once the high travel seasons of spring and summer arrive, and after publicly held airlines, hotels and travel agencies file their earnings reports in mid-April.
The US government also has not yet released this year's visa-entry figures, which will also reveal more about how travel has been affected.
Mumford says that though his decision not to attend a prestigious conference in California could hurt him professionally, he can't put aside his unease over the changes he sees happening in the US.
"I've got the travel money, and if I'm not wanted or regarded suspiciously, then I'll go elsewhere," he says.
"I feel I'm showing solidarity with my friends in America by this minor protest."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39121276
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Formula 1: Ferrari fastest for second time in four days with simulated conditions - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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Ferrari produce another fast performance on the final day of testing in Barcelona with simulated weather conditions.
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Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Ferrari set the fastest lap for the second time in four days as the first pre-season test came to an end.
Kimi Raikkonen was 0.897 seconds quicker than Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Lewis Hamilton did not run after Mercedes discovered an electrical problem with the car, while team-mate Valtteri Bottas was eighth-fastest.
Williams were unable to test because of damage done to their car in a crash by rookie Lance Stroll on Wednesday.
A chassis needed repairing after the 18-year-old Canadian spun into the barriers in his third off-track moment in two days.
Williams said they "aimed to be back on track" for the start of the second and final test on Tuesday.
Mercedes were afflicted by reliability problems for the first time in what has been an otherwise impressive first test, with the team stopping Bottas early when it discovered an anomaly in the computer data.
Englishman Jolyon Palmer continued what has been an encouraging first test for Renault with the third fastest time.
"I am driving with such a big smile on my face because the car feels so nice to drive," Palmer said. "Everything at the moment is pointing in a good direction."
Read more: 'I am like a kid on a rollercoaster ride' - drivers love 'fastest ever' new F1 cars
The final day of the first test was intended for teams to try out a new range of wet tyres designed by Pirelli after criticisms last year.
Drivers had asked for changes to the 'extreme' tyre, used in the heaviest rain, because it was too prone to aquaplaning.
Haas driver Romain Grosjean said there had been "a lot of progress made from last year" but said the 'intermediate' tyre "got destroyed a bit too early, so some work is to be done".
Stroll, who is making his debut in F1 this season, is bringing considerable financial backing to Williams - said to be at least £20m this year.
That is in addition to a similar amount last year, when the team provided him with an extensive test programme in a two-year-old car at circuits around the world to prepare him for his debut.
But he has had a torrid introduction to F1 in Spain this week.
On Tuesday, his first day in the 2017 Williams car, Stroll crashed at the high-speed Turn Nine after just 12 laps and damaged the front wing.
Williams had to stop running for the day while the wing was sent back to their base in Oxfordshire for repairs and a new one was flown out for Wednesday.
Stroll then completed 100 laps before crashing again at Turn Six.
Williams engineering chief Rob Smedley said Stroll had been caught out by the lack of grip on cold tyres.
"Lance was out on cold tyres, on an out-lap with a lot of fuel in the car, and the tyre stepped away from him," Smedley said.
"He was an innocent victim of that happening and what should have been an innocuous sideways moment brought him around into the barrier and did some damage. That happens and we expect it to happen, there is no blame on his part."
The second and final pre-season test runs from 7-10 March, with the first race of the season in Australia on 24-26 March.
Fastest times on day four of testing
Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz, Williams' Felipe Massa and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton did not run.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39139492
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IOC warns Tokyo 2020 over men-only golf course - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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The International Olympic Committee warns it will move the Tokyo 2020 golf from its current venue if it does not admit women.
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Last updated on .From the section Golf
The International Olympic Committee has warned it will move the Tokyo 2020 golf event from its current venue if it does not admit women.
The Kasumigaseki Country Club does not allow women to become full members or play on Sundays.
"I respect it's a private club but our position is clear. We will only go to a club that has non-discrimination," said IOC vice-president John Coates.
"At some point there has to be a cut-off."
However, Coates added that he did not expect to have to find another host for the event.
"It's possible to go elsewhere but I think this is going to work out," he added.
"My understanding is as recently as this week there have been more discussions with the club, that it's heading in the right direction for them to have a non-discriminatory membership.
"It would appear that we should be able to have this resolved by the end of June."
In February, club chairman Kiichi Kimura described the controversy as "annoying" after initial internal discussions had not resulted in any decision on Kasumigaseki's membership policy.
"We are baffled," he said.
"We agreed to host at their request, but we never made a bid."
World number one and Rio 2016 silver medallist Lydia Ko has said that she wants to see the bar to women at the club lifted , while the Japan Golf Council - a group aimed at modernising the game - has sent the IOC a letter recommending an alternative course.
Rio 2016 was the first time golf event had been part of the Olympic programme since 1904. South Korea's Inbee Park won the women's title, with Great Britain's Justin Rose securing the men's.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39140603
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Andy Carroll: Chinese clubs fell in love with West Ham striker, says Slaven Bilic - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic says Chinese clubs "fell in love" with striker Andy Carroll, but the Hammers did not want to sell him.
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Chinese Super League clubs "fell in love" with striker Andy Carroll when scouting the Premier League this season, says manager Slaven Bilic.
But Bilic says there was "no way" West Ham were going to sell the 28-year-old in the January transfer window.
The former Newcastle and Liverpool striker has scored six times in 12 Premier League appearances for the Hammers despite an injury-hit campaign.
"He is one of our best players and we want to keep him," said Bilic.
"Chinese clubs send their representatives over to investigate. They were watching other players, but they fell in love with Andy. The club didn't try to sell him."
Bilic says Carroll heard about the interest and was no doubt "flattered by it", but that it had not been discussed.
Bilic 'not bothered' by new contract
Former Hammers defender Bilic rejoined the club as manager in 2015 and has 18 months to run on his current deal, but cited ex-Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri as an example when suggesting he was not stressing about his contract at the minute.
He said: "The way I see it. I'm very happy. I have a contract and I am very happy. I don't think that much about it.
"I wouldn't lie, yes, it would be nice but I have a year-and-a-half contract and there's no difference when you consider what happened to Ranieri. The biggest one and the best one.
"Who has the safest job? We would all say Ranieri. Everyone would have said that. Ranieri. And then what happened with that? So I'm not that bothered about that to be fair."
West Ham finished seventh in Bilic's first season in charge, but a move to London Stadium and the loss of influential playmaker Dimitri Payet to Marseille have contributed to a difficult second term.
Bilic said: "Well it was a hard season, but every season is hard. I consider this season as a great season for me individually for the team and club.
"This season we experience negative things, we moved the stadium, the training ground, a very strange pre-season. And then we were hit of lots of injuries, some positions we didn't have any players.
"To come out of that in such a good way, of course we want to improve but it looks pretty good now. It makes you stronger. It's different if you are eighth, ninth and 10th and stay there. This way you enjoy it and it gives you more experience for the future."
'Chelsea can still slip up'
West Ham face Premier League leaders Chelsea on Monday, having knocked them out of the EFL Cup in October. And Bilic is a fan of Blues boss Antonio Conte.
He said: "I'm surprised how good they have been. I was expecting him to have a strong impact because he had it at Juventus.
"I watched Juve quite a lot and I was studying his game. I didn't know because no-one knows.
"I expected him to do great long term and it is a surprise they are 10 points clear. Conte is a great manager, he done it at Juve, he done it with Italy. A brilliant manager of course.
"It [the title race] is still very open. Many, many points. If they slip up, which you can in every game, other teams need to be ready."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39141348
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Dubai Championships: Andy Murray beats Philipp Kohlschreiber to reach semi-finals - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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Andy Murray saves seven match points in a 31-minute tie-break before beating Philipp Kohlschreiber in the Dubai Championships.
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Andy Murray saved seven match points in a 31-minute second-set tie-break before beating Philipp Kohlschreiber in the Dubai Championships quarter-finals.
The world number one needed eight set points to edge the German 20-18 in the tie-break and level the match.
No men's tour-level match has featured a tie-break with more than 38 points since 1991 - six have finished 20-18.
Murray then raced to victory in only 30 minutes in the final set to win 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (20-18) 6-1.
• None Djokovic knocked out by Kyrgios in Mexico
The Briton, who said he had "never played a tie-break like that in my life", will face number seven seed Lucas Pouille in the last four on Friday.
Fernando Verdasco and Robin Haase will meet in the other last-four tie.
Murray, who is playing his first tournament since his fourth-round defeat at the Australian Open in January, looked out of sorts in the first set and served two double faults as he lost the tie-break 7-4.
The 29-year-old broke early in the second and seemed to be cruising, but Kohlschreiber, who was scoring consistently with his forehand, had other ideas and broke back as the Scot served for the set.
It was the German who faltered first in the tie-break and Murray had four set points before Kohlschreiber went ahead at 9-8.
A stubborn Murray played some inspired tennis to stay in the match, including a stunning cross-court drop shot to save the first match point, while the German sent numerous groundstrokes wide on further chances to secure the match.
In the end Murray was able to capitalise on Kohlschreiber's wastefulness to level.
Kohlschreiber capitulated in the final set as Murray broke twice to race to victory in a set that lasted a minute less than the second set tie-break.
"I've never played a tie-break like that ever, not in juniors, nothing has been close to that," said Murray. "I'll probably never play another one like that again. I've been playing on the tour for 11, 12 years now and nothing, nothing's been close to that."
'It was a special match to win'
Murray lost to world number 50 Mischa Zverev at the Australian Open having been beaten by Novak Djokovic in the final of the Qatar Open at the beginning of January.
The three-time Grand Slam winner said the manner of his victory over Kohlschreiber would give him "a lot of confidence".
He said: "They can be very important matches to get through. I could have easily lost tonight, but the way I played when I was behind will give me a lot of confidence after what was a tough start to the year. I want to keep that going now, it was a special match to win because of how it went."
In a tie-break players must change ends every six points, but Murray, Kohlschreiber and the umpire forgot to do so at 15-15.
Murray added: "I realised at 16-16, the umpire said he forgot and the machine didn't recognise it, I do not know if the machines are made to go that high, it doesn't happen every often."
Kohlschreiber said: "Of course losing is always disappointing, but I'm not sad. I think I played great tennis, one of my best matches. You can be thinking about one or two shots, but it was just a great match. It's well-deserved, he's a great fighter, he never gave up."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/39145681
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Alistair Brownlee: 'I may not compete at Olympics again' - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee says he may not return to triathlon for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but is not ruling it out.
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Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee says he may not return to triathlon for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The World Triathlon Series starts in Abu Dhabi on Friday but Brownlee, 28, is not racing as he prepares to step up to the longer half-Ironman distance.
The Yorkshireman claimed triathlon gold at Rio 2016, defending his title from London 2012.
"There's a chance I could never be at an Olympic Games again but to say I'll never do it is impossible," he said.
"The Olympic Games are just fantastic and I'd definitely love to be there but the course in Tokyo is going to play a big part in terms of whether I feel I can go there and win.
"It's going to be a case of sitting down at the end of 2018 and weighing it up - am I enjoying the long distance stuff? Am I still able to be competitive enough to win a medal in Tokyo?"
Brownlee will once again look to win the Leeds leg of the World Series on 11 June, but that is his only confirmed race so far this season, while brother and Rio silver medallist Jonny begins his campaign from the second race in the Gold Coast on 8 April.
For the rest of the year, Alistair Brownlee will combine standard Olympic length events - 1.5km swim, 40km on the bike and 10km run - with half Ironman distance competitions, also referred to as Ironman 70.3 in reference to the total number of miles covered.
He added that the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in September is an "obvious" target as he builds up to the full Ironman distance, which he says has always been on his "bucket list".
"Ironman has got to be one of those things you always want to do - it's like the London or Boston marathon of triathlon," he added.
The two-time gold medallist added that his Rio 2016 win was slightly marred by the absence of long-term rival and London 2012 silver medallist Javier Gomez, who withdrew from the Games after breaking his elbow in a cycling accident.
"It definitely took a bit away from my gold in Rio that Gomez wasn't there," said Brownlee.
"You want to be there in your best shape and race the best athletes in their best shape - we were fortunate to have that in London and it would have been fantastic to have had that in Rio as well but what happened happened.
"But on that day, on that course, I'm fairly confident I'd have had him anyway."
With Gomez, 33, back from that injury, Brownlee expects the Spaniard to challenge for the World Series title, alongside compatriot and current champion Mario Mola, 27.
And the older Brownlee expects Jonny, 26, to complete the podium and says his brother could claim the title with "a bit of luck and a fair wind behind him".
Alistair Brownlee says he may have been "bored" returning to World Series racing, having experienced the "same kind of racing against basically the same people for the last 10 years".
However, he adds that he is motivated by his new goals, which could include competing in 10,000m running races and the marathon.
"I now have an opportunity to try these other things without hurting my chances if I do decide I want to compete in four years in Tokyo," he said.
"I thought about a lot of things after Rio. I definitely want to run a marathon and that might be in the not too distant future.
"The other obvious thing is cycling and trying to make a wholehearted jump into being a professional cyclist but although that's possible, I'm very aware that in that arena and in running, I can be good and get to a level where I could be professional, but never to a level where I can win stuff.
"I still feel like I want to be the best at what I'm doing so that's why I'm choosing things I feel like I can win."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/triathlon/39146954
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David Haye v Tony Bellew: Fighters argue at news conference - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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David Haye says he will provide "a real destruction job" against Tony Bellew on Saturday, who says he wants to win "by any means necessary".
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David Haye says he will provide "a real destruction job" against Tony Bellew on Saturday, who says he wants to win "by any means necessary".
Listen to live coverage on BBC Radio 5 live on Saturday 4 March from 2200 GMT.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/39147400
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Reality Check: Did the government protect police funding? - BBC News
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2017-03-02
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https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
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The Minister for Policing says police budgets have been protected, but not all areas have benefited equally.
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UK
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The claim: Failing police forces have "no excuse" because their budgets have been protected.
Reality Check verdict: Overall the police budget in England and Wales has been protected in real terms, but not every individual force will feel the benefit because the money is being targeted at specialist areas of policing. This relatively small funding boost comes off the back of five years of deep cuts.
In 2015, the government announced that overall police budgets would be protected. This meant the amount of money the police receive from the government would increase each year in line with inflation for the following five years.
The Minister for Policing, Brandon Lewis, flagged this in response to a report by the independent inspector of police forces, which found a "worrying" variation in the quality of policing across England and Wales, despite improvements overall.
Police funding in Scotland is devolved and Northern Ireland has different funding arrangements so they were not included in the report.
The report was compiled by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and Mr Lewis said: "This Government has protected police funding, through the 2015 Spending Review.
"There can be no excuse for any force that fails to deliver on its obligations - those identified as inadequate or requiring improvement must take HMIC's findings very seriously and I expect to see rapid improvements."
The inspectorate had warned that some police forces were "struggling to respond to shrinking resources".
It is true to say that the overall policing budget was protected in real terms in 2015 but this figure disguises some regional variation. Part of the £900m extra funding over the following five years is going on specific areas of policing like cybercrime and tackling child sexual exploitation which are often dealt with regionally, so not every individual force will see the benefit of this uplift.
A Home Office statement at the time of the announcement said that it would provide funding to maintain individual police force budgets at current cash levels. Not every police force will necessarily receive enough money to keep up with inflation.
Spending on policing had been rising steadily for at least 15 years until austerity cuts began to kick in from 2010. It rose particularly rapidly in the 10 years to this date, going up by more than 30%.
Following the 2008 crash and the swathe of cuts to public spending that followed, the part of police forces' budgets that are paid for by central government shrunk by 22% on average.
Before the 2015 announcement there was already regional variation. This is in large part because of the two main ways policing is funded: through a grant from central government and council tax.
Different areas rely to different extents on the central government grant; for example last year Northumbria and the West Midlands police forces raised 12% of their revenue through council tax while Surrey raised almost half (49%) of its revenue in this way.
This often corresponds to how well-off an area is - generally poorer areas have lower tax takes and rely more on government grants. As these grants have reduced, a larger proportion of budgets is coming from council tax. Since the grant was cut by the same percentage around the country, areas that lean most heavily on central government money, and are the least able to raise money through council tax, will have felt those cuts most sharply.
You can see this in the real-term reductions to funding in different police forces. Between 2010 and 2016 Northumbria suffered a 23% cut while in Surrey it was only 12%.
The areas that raised funding by the smallest amount during the previous good years have also experienced the biggest cuts in the lean years.
However, it is also worth noting that the variation in quality raised in the HMIC report does not correspond directly to how much budgets have been cut. Bedfordshire, the only force to be rated inadequate, experienced a cut over the last five years that was about average for the country - a 17% fall compared with a fall of 18% across England and Wales.
Durham, the only force to be rated outstanding, suffered an above average 20% cut.
Of course, simply comparing budget cuts to performance does not take account of demographic differences and crime levels.
So while it is true to say that policing is being protected at least to some extent, this comes off the back of five years of deep cuts - cuts which feel larger relative to large increases in spending in the preceding years.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39144620
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West Indies v England: Ben Stokes says he has grown up before ODI series - BBC Sport
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2017-03-02
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England all-rounder Ben Stokes says he has grown up as his side prepare for a three-match ODI series against West Indies.
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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
England all-rounder Ben Stokes says he has grown up as his side prepare to start their one-day series against West Indies in Antigua on Friday.
Stokes, 25, was ruled out of the 2014 World Twenty20 after punching a dressing room locker in Barbados.
He was hit for four sixes in the last over of last year's World Twenty20 final as West Indies won the title.
"I'll still have that same desire and hunger and want to get into people's faces," he told Test Match Special.
Stokes was named vice-captain of the Test team under Joe Root last month, after deputising during England's one-day tour of Bangladesh in October.
"I like to think I've grown. I think that's just from playing more and getting a few demerit points and a few tellings-off after games," he said.
But the Durham man, who famously clashed with Marlon Samuels during England's Test tour of the West Indies in 2015, and again during the World T20 final, added: "That's what makes me the cricketer I am and I don't want to lose that.
"I'm probably going to have to take maybe a step back a few times."
Read more: Stokes on reaction to IPL deal and England team news
Stokes is playing in his first series since he became the Indian Premier League's most expensive foreign player in February.
He was the subject of a bidding war between five IPL sides before Rising Pune Supergiants bought him for £1.7m.
Stokes says his England team-mates have joked about the fee paid for him.
"I found it tough to talk about but the group that we have, it's funny to be around them because it's just taking the mickey out of everyone," Stokes said.
"Everyone gets brought back down to earth. It's just the way we operate, which is why it's such a good environment to be in at the moment."
England have won nine of their past 10 ODIs against West Indies and secured a 25-run victory when the two sides last met at the same venue in 2014.
West Indies are ranked ninth in the world in 50-over cricket, a standing that denied them a place in this year's Champions Trophy, and will field an inexperienced side after changes to national selection.
Players can only appear for the international side in limited-overs cricket if they have played the relevant format domestically in the Caribbean since 2010.
"We can't be going into this game thinking it's just going to be a walk in the park," Stokes added.
"We know how talented the West Indies team are - their batsmen can hit the ball out of the ground whenever they choose to and they've always had good quick bowlers."
England captain Eoin Morgan confirmed that fast bowler Steven Finn will start Friday's match in place of Jake Ball, who suffered a knee injury in a warm-up game on Monday in St Kitts, and ahead of recent call-up Tom Curran.
Sam Billings is also expected to open the batting alongside Jason Roy, with Alex Hales not yet match-fit despite joining up with the squad after recovering from a hand fracture.
Morgan said his side "have one eye on the Champions Trophy" on home soil in June but added that West Indies could prove as tough a challenge as the 2-1 series loss in India in January.
"The way we play, aggressively and positively, isn't the easiest to adapt to West Indies conditions with slow, turning wickets," he said.
"The wickets here will be more challenging here than in India - those wickets were a lot more batter-friendly than we thought they were going to be."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/39135621
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